Merry Christmas! Have a great break and see you in 2018!

Merry Christmas! Be sure to check out a few books to read over the Christmas break. I'm looking forward to having some down time in front of the fire curling up with a good book reading. I hope you have time with friends and relatives enjoying the true meaning of the season. See you in 2018! 

Here it comes: READY PLAYER ONE - the movie!!

For those of you that have read Ernest Cline's book, Ready Player One, I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that the movie is coming out March 30, 2018! 

Other YA books to movies that will be apprearing soon are:

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, will be coming March 6, 2018.
• James Dashner's book, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, coming on January 26, 2018.
• Becky Alvertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, which will now go by the title of Love, Simon, will be out March 16, 2018. 
• To All the Boys I've Loved Before, by Jenny Han, whose release date hasn't been released.
• Angie Thomas's debut novel, The Hate U Give, is also being filmed with no release date yet.

Make sure YOUR college apps are up to speed!

For this post I am shamelessly copying an email I received from Shmoop:

Hi Shmoopers, College application season is in full swing, and the stress of it all can sometimes lead to silly mistakes—including the dreaded missed deadline. We can't set a cal reminder for you to submit those apps, but we can help you get through your personal statements without any hitches. Start with the list below, and then head over to Shmoop's College Essay Lab to start crafting the perfect essay. 6 Mistakes to Avoid on Your College Application Essay 1. Don't be offensive. Listen. We love pushing people's buttons. But be careful not to overstep the bounds of good taste in your essay when ruminating on faith, race, politics, or anything else that can turn a dinner party into a food fight. 2. Don't be negative. Don't talk about your dead dog in your college essay, unless Fido's death spurred you into caring about the plight of homeless animals so much that you felt compelled to start your city's first animal shelter.  3. Beware the overshare. Sob stories can be a win, but there are some things that the admissions office does not need—or want—to know. Remember, there is such a thing as TMI. 4. Don't get too creative. The admissions office at Vanderbilt is looking for a solid, well-written piece of prose—not a Shakespearean sonnet. We can say for sure that those 14 lines would get you noticed, but we can't promise it'd be in a good way. 5. Keep your eye on the prize—er, prompt.  Answer the prompt, for crying out loud. Sound familiar? That's because it goes for all kinds of essays. They asked you the question for a reason, so answer it. 6. Don't spell the name of the college wrong. It's Berkeley, not Berkley. Columbia, not Colombia. Rensselaer, not...however else we tried spelling it before resorting to Google. Good luck if you're applying to any of the state schools in Massach—uh, sorry, we have to go. Good luck with those apps, and don't forget to let us help.

Patricia McCormick was great!

On Monday night six CHS students joined me at Wenatchee High School to watch the movie SOLD and to hear the book's author, Patricia McCormick. Mrs. Gemeinhart and her daughter, Mrs. Kert and her daughter, and Mr. Taylor and his wife also sat with us. All the CHS students enjoyed hearing her talk about the research she did and her writing process. The movie was totally sobering, but did a great job of gently portraying the story. We viewed the 55 minute PG "school" version, but you can view the 90 minute version for free on Hoopla with a public library card. You just need to create an account using your library card number. I would encourage you to read the book SOLD if you haven't and consider reading other books by this great author, Patricia McCormick.

I met Marissa Meyer!

I attended the School Library Summit at the Washington Library Association in Tacoma this past weekend with my friend Mrs. Skaar who is the librarian at Eastmont High School. Friday night we got to go to the "Mad Hatter's Feast", the banquet inspired by Marissa Meyer's book: Heartless. We enjoyed meeting Marissa Meyer (who is from Tacoma) and I got to purchase her new book for our library. I hope you get to read her books from the series, the Lunar Chronicles, or her new book,  Renegades. 

This is what Amazon says about this first book in an exciting new series:

"From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer, comes a high-stakes world of adventure, passion, danger, and betrayal.
Secret Identities.
Extraordinary Powers.
She wants vengeance. He wants justice.
The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies―humans with extraordinary abilities―who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.  Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice―and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to the villains who have the power to end them both."

 It's always a thrill to meet an author and Marissa Meyer did not disappoint me.

Patricia McCormick is coming to town!

Did you know author Patricia McCormick is coming to Wenatchee on Monday, November 13th? You can hear her speak and view the movie version of Sold. Please sign up with Mrs. H. We will be leaving CMS at 4:15, be there by 4:00.

Note: this is a direct copy of the NCRL's blog. For more information, click here.

Friday, October 13, 2017

A CONVERSATION WITH PATRICIA MCCORMICK

We’re just a few short weeks away from the arrival of bestselling young adult author Patricia McCormick! She’ll be visiting high schools in all five counties in our service area, as well as headlining a free community event in Wenatchee.

McCormick is a journalist and writer of realistic fiction for young adults, and will be speaking primarily about her award-winning book Sold, which tells the story of a 13-year-old Nepalese girl from a destitute family whose stepfather sells her into prostitution.

She’s written several other critically-acclaimed books about surviving the killing fields of Cambodia, the murder of a boy in Iraq, teen substance abuse, and self injury. She also worked with Malala Yousafzai on the YA version of I Am Malala, the story of a Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for wanting an education.

“She does excellent research to share stories and voices from around the world on some very important topics,” said Luke Ellington, NCRL’s teen services manager. “She’s bringing teen readers into worlds they might otherwise never be aware of.”

To prepare for her five-day visit, we provided 1,300 copies of Sold to schools in Quincy, Ephrata, Chelan, Omak, Okanogan, Tonasket, Republic, Wenatchee, and East Wenatchee. McCormick will visit those schools while she is here, and several neighboring school districts will transport students to hear her speak. In addition, she will meet with teens in juvenile detention at Okanogan County and Chelan County detention centers.

On Nov. 13, the public is invited to hear McCormick talk about Sold at the Wenatchee High School Auditorium. The event is free and no tickets are required. At 5 p.m., a movie based on the book will be shown, and at 6pm McCormick will speak. People may attend either or both the movie and the talk.

McCormick recently chatted with our Public Relations specialist about Sold, her writing process and her upcoming visit:

Why do you think it’s important for kids to read about these sensitive, tough topics like child trafficking?

When the book first came out (in 2006) not many people knew about trafficking. Now people are very aware. Kids are particularly aware and are at the forefront of the campaign to end it. They very much see the injustice that these kids who have been trafficked are experiencing.

I don’t use graphic language. The writing stays in the frame of a 13-year-old girl’s experience. She’s not going to use graphic language. She’s going to express confusion, bewilderment, hurt, a sense of being so completely betrayed and lost. I think that’s the emotional level at which kids connect to the story. It’s less about the sex. 

It’s important for kids to hear about these kinds of topics because it’s happening to their peers. It can also happen to them. We tend to think of trafficking as something that happens to people over there somewhere. But the truth is that kids in the U.S., kids who run away, are very quickly trafficked. I think it’s important for youth readers to know that’s happening to kids in the U.S. and that it’s a risk you take when you run away. I also think it’s also important for them to see that kids who are caught up in this are victims. It’s easy to look at urban kids, or kids who run away and get involved in prostitution, as tough. If you talk to them they’ll say “No one is taking advantage of me; I’m doing this because I want to.” But despite all that bluster, they are children and they are victims. We need to treat them as victims and not be judgmental or start shaming and blaming them.

Why do you write about tough topics— and do you worry that your books might not be appropriate for some teenagers?

My son teases me about the books I write. He says, “Where do you come up with the ideas for your books, Mom? What do you do, google the word ‘sad’?”

But seriously, I’m simply drawn to these topics — things I can consider substantive. If I’m going to spend three years working on a book I want it to really be about something important. I want to bring attention to issues people might not otherwise know about and I want to change attitudes.

Sold ends just as the main character is freed from prostitution? Why didn’t it tell what happens next for her?

When I wrote the book, I kept on going past the moment where the girl is liberated. I wrote about her stepping into the sunshine, feeling the warmth of the sun on her shoulders, breathing fresh air, buying a clean dress, burning her old dress, taking a bath, getting an HIV test, going to counseling. But my editor said no. The book ends at the pivot point where she encounters a change. That way it hangs on your mind uncomfortably. You must fill in the blanks. You wonder if she went home, if she’s HIV positive, all those things that engage a reader and keep the book in your head long after you close the last page.

What do you hope people will take away from reading Sold?

It’s not like certain books where you are eager to dive in and start reading. You know you’re getting into something difficult when you open the book. But so many kids have tapped into their own sense of wanting to be activists for social justice. The idea that you can read a book, be transported to an experience so different than your own and feel a kinship with the characters and want to make a difference. It’s no good if we read about the sad experiences of someone else and then do nothing about it.

So how do you go from reading a book about sex trafficking to doing something meaningful to help?

It really starts with awareness. You talk with your parents. You talk with your friends. We aren’t the people who have our hands on the levers of power…but I think public opinion creates a moral pressure on people who are in power. I also think we can help by changing our views on things we casually encounter every day — certain song lyrics that are disrespectful of women or rejecting what kids call the pimping culture, where they dress like a pimp and treat women and girls like conquests. When you read a book like this it opens up your thinking to other areas where you may have tolerated lower levels of respect toward women. You can stop a classmate from talking a certain way about girls. You can choose not to buy a song. Put things on on social media to say you are opposed to the objectification of women. All of a sudden there is a ripple effect.

A second piece would be activism. Calling a legislator to get laws changed. Making a financial contribution to an organization that is working to stop trafficking. Even if you give a small donation, it’s a way of saying: "I decided not to go out to lunch today and I’m using some of my hard earned money to help someone else". 

How do you deal with the emotions of writing a story like this, visiting a brothel and talking with women and girls who were sold into the sex trade?

You have to bring all your empathy to the interviewing process and come to care about these people very much. Then you have to go home and bring all your artistic and journalistic ability to convey the story with as much power as you can. In the middle is the really hard part. When I left Calcutta and came back home after visiting the brothels and talking with survivors, it was late November. People were doing Christmas shopping, I shuffled around New York feeling so depressed and so daunted. I thought that I don’t have what it takes to really convey this experience so all the people with all their holiday packages will stop and do something to help. I mean, what my family spent on wrapping paper will feed a family in Nepal for a year.

What I did was start writing one vignette at a time. It’s all I could deal with. The material was so dark. But little by little, the story started to come out. Then my whole mode and attitude changed. I went from feeling depressed to feeling a sense of urgency and a sense of power over the problem. Instead of feeling daunted, I was bringing the gifts I have to this issue. I could make people aware. I could change attitudes. I can’t help those people who were so generous in sharing their stories with me. But I can help in a bigger way by bringing their stories to the world.

What has changed in the world of trafficking since the book was written?

Our government gave the government of Nepal a fleet of motorcycles. It doesn’t sound like a lot. But the border between India and Nepal is immense. They had been walking it on foot. With motorcycles they can cover more territory. Their police have also undergone training to look for young girls in the company of older men, girls who looked stunned, girls who are crossing the border without family members.

I feel like this is an issue that has really captured people’s interest because of the blatant cruelty of it. Lots of organizations are active on this front. In addition, airlines are now aware of tell-tale signs of women and children being trafficked. Hotels and taxi companies have been made aware of their role in the chain of events that gets child to customer. Hospitals have been made aware that they are often the first contact a trafficked person has with the outside world. Law enforcement has been better trained. I really feel like things have changed significantly.

What do you like most about talking with students?

They keep you on your toes. They are both excited and challenging. Some kids read with heart and soul, buying into the story completely and your characters take up residence in their heads. Other kids are constantly insisting that you prove things to them; you have to win them over. They want to know why they should read this book rather than being online or doing a million other things they could be doing that are easier and less demanding than reading.

You asked to speak with kids at juvenile detention centers here. Why is that? 

While I was doing a talk in Texas, a woman asked if I would go to a juvenile detention center while I was there. When I got there, I thought to myself ‘This is going to bomb. What are urban kids in juvenile detention going to care about a girl living in a mud hut in Nepal.” What I discovered is they get it on a visceral level. They had similar experiences of being let down or betrayed by a parent. They relate to the sheer unfairness of it. They relate to the idea of being captive. They are captive to a system and have lost control of their liberties. When they see a young girl who’s captive and fighting for her dignity and working toward her freedom, I think it’s inspiring to them. I also love to visit those kids because they feel as if they’ve been forgotten. And if there’s ever a group of kids that need good adult attention, it’s those kids.

What are you working on now? 

I have a new book that just came out last month: Sergeant Reckless: The True Story of the Little Horse That Became A Hero. It is a children’s picture book about a horse who is the only animal ever to officially hold a military rank and be awarded a Purple Heart for valor on the battlefield. Otherwise, I’m looking for my next project.

An introduction to MLA 8 containers . . .

I came across this great video the other day . . .

Even though this is for a retail store, the message is still great.
Escape today on the other side with a book!

Celebrate National Read a Book Day

I didn't know it was "National Read a Book Day", did you?

Learn more here: Celebrate National Read a Book Day

Welcome Back! What did you do this summer???

I'm excited that school is starting in a few days and we will begin another school year - my 23rd at CHS! 
The highlight of my summer was camping at Lake Chelan State Park with my grandchildren, daughters and cousins. We had a great time, it was before the fire restrictions and the weather was great.

My trip to two of California's National Parks was also very fun. My two sisters and I traveled to Yosemite National Park to visit my cousin Bob who is a ranger there. We also got to go through Lassen Volcano National Park, What a fun trip!

Before school started my family celebrated my grandson's 4th birthday in Walla Walla, that was also a blast. It's so nice to have them close enough to be together on special occasions.

Another fun thing I did was I got a little article published in the July issue of the magazine The Good Life. The article features our own ladies staff restroom that Mrs. Bailey painted so beautifully last summer. I was happy to see it come out and share our special little oasis. If you want to read the article online, click here.   

I hope we all have a great year! See you soon in the library 😍😍😍.

Summer Reading . . .

Avoid the "Summer Slide"!  NCRL has many opportunities for you to participate in this summer.

           Click here to go NCRL "Teen Home" page.

Try using FlipGrid for book suggestions

I want to know what books you would like for me to purchase for next year. Please use this link to use a new app that I'm trying out, thanks!

 https://flipgrid.com/kfei6uj

Free Audiobooks now with Sync!

Sync now for free audio books, 

click the "Sync" image above for more info!

April is Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month.

I hope you all take a little time to read or write a poem to celebrate. 
You can sign up for a . . .
 poem-a-day  

or read 

Poetry 180 / A Poem a Day for American High Schools

or visit the

dear poet project

Here is something I found recently, I think you'll like:

                                                http://play.magneticpoetry.com/poem/Kids/kit/

13 Reasons Why | Official Trailer | Netflix

Jay Asher's book, Thirteen Reasons Why, has been very popular at the CHS Library since we first bought it in 2007. We have five copies that are usually all checked out. Wow - that says something about the quality and enduring value of this important book that deals with teen suicide.  If you haven't read the book yet, please try to find a copy and read it. The Netflix movie comes out March 31. I'm hoping it is as good as the book, but movies rarely are. However, Jay Asher has a major role in the production, according to an article in TeenVogue* and that makes me very hopeful it is going to be well done. Each reason is a episode in the Netflix series. I hope you enjoy the Netflix production as much as the book.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

*

The Author Behind Selena Gomez’s New Netflix Show Gets Real About Working With the Star

teenvogue.com

And how he came upon the story of Hannah and Clay.

 De Elizabeth

MAR 7, 2017 8:30AM EST

Selena Gomez and Her Mom Are Producing a TV Series About Teen Suicide

teenvogue.com

​'13 Reasons Why​' will be hitting your queue soon.

Brianna WiestJAN 28, 2016 10:09AM EST

*

Wen-Con and the NCRL Pop-up

The Wenatchee Library will have a booth at Wen-Con, Wenatchee's Pop-Culture Convention, Saturday, April 8th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm.

NCRL Library Pop-Up: where Fans can meet local librarians for reading recommendations, research advice and strategies for content creators. There’s even a comfy area where you can escape into a story with borrowed materials from the in-house collection. There’s something for everyone, no matter their age!

This sounds like fun, check it out!

Time to Vote for the Evergreen Teen Book Award

Please vote and turn in you ballots to Mrs. Hightower for your favorite nominee. 

Help choose Washington State's favorite book!

Read any two or more of the nominated books and vote for your favorite. Get your ballot from Mrs. Hightower or vote online.
Use this link to vote online.

Update - April 10th: and the winner is . . . .
The votes are in and the winner of the 2017 Evergreen Teen Book Award is.....The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. This year it was a tight race with all the books earning a respectable number of votes. The Crossover just edged out its competition with 22% of the total vote.

Reading Without Walls Announcement

Monument 14 series!!!

OK, I'm a big fan of post apocalyptic and dystopian YA novels. I loved the Rule of Three, Divergent, Legend, Life as we knew it, The Hunger Games, The Giver, 1984, and The Handmaiden's Tale. Well, my newest favorite is the Monument 14 series by Emmy Laybourne. This three book series, full of suspense, action and survival, will keep you on the edge of your seats. It's a fast paced thriller that many readers will enjoy. Check it out today!

For more information, see the author's website. 

Hey, Hey, hey...This is a library ｜西雅图华盛顿大学： 这里是图书馆

I don't know if you saw this young man who recently squelched protesters at a University of Washington library, but I think he is my new hero!

Book club is the MVP of Patriot wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell's career

Do you go to the Cashmere Public Library?

There are two events coming up that I wanted to showcase this month. If you have never got to use a 3-D printer, now you can on Feb. 16th here in Cashmere! Also, Mrs. Geneinhart's husband will be speaking at the Cashmere Public Library March 2nd. Both events should be great!

Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy - Confidence

Did you know you can practice for the SAT for FREE???? The officials at the College Board and Khan Academy have teamed up and created a FREE test-prep program that can be tailored to fit your needs. Check it out at satpractice.org

10 Ways to Spot a Fake News Article - EasyBib Blog

studpidpartymathvmyth.com

snopes.com

There's a lot of hype right now about "Fake News". If you are interested learning more, this is a good article to read concerning this increasing concern.

10 Ways to Spot a Fake News Article - EasyBib Blog: Fake news is popping up everywhere! Use these 10 tips to spot them a mile away.

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2017! 

I suppose many of you took time to make a few resolutions for the new year. Well, if you haven't, here's a suggestion: "I will read more in 2017!" If you need a couple of book ideas, consider these . . .

All the Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven, is another book I have recently read that deals with mental health, this time specifically suicide. However, the topic is handled so carefully in this lovely story about Finch and Violet. This unlikely duo teams up to work on a project that takes them throughout their state, and in doing so both of them grow closer. Both Violet and Finch deal with their own fears past and present, but somehow bring out the best in each other - for a time. As Violet grows out of her own hole, Finch slides deeper into his. It is soon to become a movie, so make sure you read it before you see it in the theater. 

Another book that is coming out in a movie, A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness, who wrote it in 2011 from an idea he received from the late Siobhan Dowd. Again, you should read it before you see the movie. It's been awhile since I have read it, but I remember being moved by this book that deals with grief, death, love and loss. The artwork is amazing and won the Kate Greenway Medal for illustrations. It also has won the Carnigie Medal for literature. Because it has illustrations, you might think this is a children's book, but anyone could read this book and be challenged by its amazing journey through Conor's nightmares as he deals with his mother's illness and father's remarriage.