Truce
Truce by Jim Murphy
In July of 1914, the world’s peace was shattered as one by one, the European nations entered into conflict. But just a few months later in December of that same year, peace was momentarily restored when troops openly defied their commanders’ orders and met their enemies in the war-torn barren ground between the trenches of the Western Front, known as No Man’s Land. There they sang carols, exchanged small gifts, and attempted to bring about the oft-repeated refrain of “Peace on Earth, goodwill to men.” Murphy’s impeccable research and powerful storytelling not only bring to life the story of the Christmas Truce–as it came to be called–but provide one of the most articulate explanations I’ve seen of the complex events leading to the start of World War I. Archival photographs and artwork illustrate the story, and several maps help readers make sense of the changing geography. A list that includes books (fiction and nonfiction), movies and websites about World War I gives interested readers a starting place for learning more about this pivotal point in history. History buffs or anyone looking for a book that exemplifies the spirit of Christmas will want to read this book.
Princess of the Midnight Ball
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
In this book, George brings to life one of my favorite fairy tale, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Rose and her 11 sisters are bound by a contract made by their mother before they were born to dance before the wicked King of the Under Stone every night. Hoping to discover the cause of their exhaustion and tired of replacing worn out dancing slippers every day (times twelve gets expensive, even for a king!), their father offers a portion of the kingdom and one of his daughter’s hand in marriage to the prince who can discover their secret. Of course, the arrogant candidates who follow have no chance at all of discovering the curse. But more troubling is the fact that each one meets an unusual death within weeks of their attempt. Neighboring countries begin to grumble and worry about the strange coincidences, and Rose fears her country may be heading back into a terrible war.
George’s imaginative retelling is engaging and full of interesting characters, including a soldier/gardner young man who knits–yes, a boy who knits! What could be better? Fans of Robin McKinley, Donna Jo Napoli, Gail Carson Levine, and George’s other works (Dragon Slippers; Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow) will want to read this one.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
The summer of 1899 was exceptionally hot in Calpurnia’s sleepy Texas town, but she’s discovered at least one advantage to being the only girl out of seven children–her own room–which allows her to escape the house for the river while the rest of her family naps during the heat of the day. While exploring the natural world around you, she also gets to know her cantankerous old grandfather, whose interest in science and nature mimics her own. At eleven years old, she’s also becoming more aware of the expectations for a girl at the turn of the century, and wondering whether there is a place in the new century for a female scientist.
Kelly’s debut novel is a veritable wealth of fascinating characters. Calpurnia is an inquisitive, thoughtful girl who is more than able to keep up with her six brothers, all of whom are named after Texan heroes. Her grandfather is an excellent mentor for Calpurnia’s scientific queries, although having lived so long in his own world, he occasionally forgets the reality of life for women in the society of the turn of the century. Even so, he treats his grandaughter as an equal scientific partner, and enlightens her to other possibilities available to her. Kelly’s gentle exploration of gender roles and family relationships are thought provoking. Readers will enjoy this sweet, but quietly powerful story.
Going Bovine
Check out this hilarious video of author Libba Bray on her new book, Going Bovine.
Banned Books Week
Check out this fantastic website from the Carnegie Library.
College Workshop
Join us on Tuesday September 22 at 5:30 pm for a fabulous workshop with “SueB” Bracksieck from ENMU. Do you have questions about college prep classes, scholarship applications, and college entrance exams like the ACT? Do you want to know what you can do to prepare for a great college experience? Then come to this free workshop for parents and teens in grades 7 through 12. Imagine yourself in college, and find out what you can do to make it happen!
Winners Announced!
The winners of the Picturing America Essay Contest are:
1st Place: A Byrd’s Eye View by Megan Byrd
2nd Place: A Nation of Choice by Katie Bickley
3rd Place: My America by Jennifer Salomon
Congratulations to all our winners! You can read all three winning essays in this Sunday’s edition (August 16) of the Portales News Tribune.
Digital Fun
Teens had fun playing with digital photography at today’s teen program. Here are some of the results:
