Next-Gen 2.0

Warrior or Tattoo?

Dragon and Thief by Timothy Zahn, the first book in the Dragonback series.

Why did I read it?

I’ve signed up for a listserv from YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association), where librarians and educators discuss books and ask questions. Recently, the Dragonback series showed up on the radar, and I remembered seeing the books as I shelved as a page, and as I keep the YA section looking spiffy.

What happened?

Just before the book opens, Jack Morgan, nephew of a thief, did a smuggling gig that went south; one of the containers had something in it when he took off, but was completely empty when he landed. Obviously, the people he was delivering to weren’t too happy about that. Hiding on a deserted planet, Jack witnesses a huge space battle ending in a damaged cruiser smashing into the planet below. When he goes to check out the wreckage, he is amazed to find a symbiotic alien, Draycos, who needs him as a host to survive. Draycos exists in a three-dimensional form, but can become two-dimensional when needed; basically becoming a living tattoo, that can then spring into a powerful warrior lizard. The damaged ship was the first in a refugee fleet. Draycos and Jack have to team up to clear Jack’s name and figure out how to warn Draycos’s people of the terrible enemy that was somehow aware that they were coming.

What did I like or not like?

I really enjoyed the idea of an alien that is very powerful and can become two-dimensional, but needs a fourteen year old kid to survive. The difference in ethics between a warrior and a kid raised as a thief also raises some interesting questions.

Time-Crossed Lovers

A Book Blurt on Timeless by Alexandra Monir.

Why did I read it?

I get the chance to sneak a peak at many of the new YA books added to our collection before they hit the shelves, and this one caught my eye. The tagline read, “What if the person you’re meant to be with lives in another time?” It sounded interesting.

What happened?

Michele Windsor is the daughter of an exiled heiress. When her mother was young, she fell in love with a man who was wonderfully old-fashioned and traditionally romantic, and ran away with him, cutting herself off from her wealthy parents. But, after a short time together, he disappeared, and the only thing that made it bearable was her baby daughter. As the book opens, Michele’s mother is taken in a tragic car accident, and Michele is sent to live with her grandparents who probably ruined her parent’s relationship. Her cold grandparents and high-class classmates don’t make the loss of her mother any easier. But then, Michele is accidently sent back in time through a key her father owned, and she sees him, Philip Walker, the man of her dreams. Even though he is the only one that can see her, she has to find a way to be near him, because he is the only thing worth living for.

What did I like or not like?

I loved the historical detail and twists and turns through time. In an effort to get back to Philip, Michele visits the Gilded age, the Roaring Twenties, and the World War II years. Each time the story gets more interesting, more layered, and reveals more about Michele’s mysterious father and past. The love story itself is sweet, and hoping that the time-crossed lovers will eventually end up together keeps you reading.

A SuperHeroVillain

Enjoyed reading The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell this week.

Why did I read it?

In short, because I’m a sucker for super heroes. I watched Thor in the opening weekend, and I’m looking forward to Green Lantern, X-Men: First Class, and Captain America: The First Avenger. I saw Renegade X in a magazine of new and upcoming titles and when it showed up in our stacks, I had to grab it.

What happened?

Golden City is known for being a tourist town, but not for large skyscrapers or history; no, this town is a tourist trap because of the high concentration of super heroes and super villains. Damien Locke has been raised as a super villain, and he can’t wait for his 16th birthday when his thumbprint will transform into a V signifying his evil (this happens to all children of heroes and villains on their 16th birthday. Heroes get an H, Villains get a V). But, instead of turning into a V, Damien gets the unpleasant surprise of receiving an X, which is the worst thing he can imagine. That means his mother is super villain, but his dad was a hero. This could seriously ruin his plans to enter Vilmore, the super villain academy. Especially when his tight-wearing superhero father forces Damien to live with him for six weeks in an effort to turn his X into an H instead of a V.

What did I like or didn’t like?

I loved the tongue-in-cheek feel of this book. It is laugh out loud hilarious in some parts, and the idea of super heroes and super villains being commonplace is awesome. There is a cool theme of whether a hero is born that way, or whether they choose it. But, there is quite a bit of making out, feeling up, and the thoughts, feelings, and conversations that go with it. Fun read though.

The Things We Take for Granted...

This week I read This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer. It is the third book in a post-apocalyptic series. The two main characters from the first two books (Miranda Evans from Life as We Knew It, and Alex Morale from The Dead & The Gone) come together in this final installment.

Why did I read it?

Sometimes I try to be clever and come up with books that are popular on the YA scene and are well-written. Other times, other people are clever for me. My boss, Karen, read this book a few months back, and she said it was really good. So, I decided to check it out.

What happened?

This book opens with Miranda going through the day to day existence in a world where there is no sun, no flowers, and rarely electricity or food. (A year before the book opens, an asteroid had struck the moon and brought it closer to earth causing world-wide changes and destruction.) She writes in a diary to keep herself sane, and hopes that her father and her stepmom, Lisa had their baby and are still alive. In the meantime, Miranda deals with the survival of her mother and two brothers. About half-way through the book, Miranda’s dad returns with his wife, their alive and healthy baby named Gabriel, and three strangers who traveled with them. Alex is one of the strangers, who is obsessed with protecting his younger sister Julie, no matter the cost. (After reading a synopsis of The Dead & The Gone, I can see why). Miranda and Alex seem to be at odds with each other, but they quickly realize might they want more than anything else is to be with each other.

What did I like or didn’t like?

This book is gripping and normal all at the same time. Most of the book is just the day to day routine of characters, but then something monumental happens that shows who they really are. After reading this book, you are left with a feeling of hope in times of trouble. But, you are also left with a sinking feeling of so much death and bad things happening. The ideas of what is right when the world is turned on its head and how you can hope in tomorrow when tomorrow might be just as bad are some themes that run throughout the book. I’m not sure I can say I liked it as it is rather depressing. But, I can say it is a good read the keeps you wanting to figure out what is going to happen.

Never Hurts to Ask

So I was sitting down to write a blog post, and I was thinking that I didn’t have too much to write about. But, then I took a look at my calendar, and I realized I had done a whole bunch this week.

Ka-Boom was this Monday, and it was encouraging to get a full group again. Last month, we only had 4 kiddos, which kind of scared me. Do they not like the program? Did I not let people know? But, having 10 people again this month told me that last month was a fluke instead of the rule, and I like that.

We also did a slightly different set-up this time. Instead of doing a bunch of experiments, I just had some things set out, and the kids could experiment with them as they wanted to. There were some books to search through, a potato and a hammer to experiment with balance, and a microscope. Kids still seemed to enjoy it, and mixing things up is always fun.

On Wednesday I went to a workshop. The Inland Northwest Council of Libraries does an annual workshop, and this year it was on creating customer experiences. David Lee King, the Digital Branch & Services Manager at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (kind of a mouth full), was the presenter. He had some great ideas on using your website and your building to create a better experience for our customers; you. In addition to his great ideas, David encouraged us to think about the material being covered, so my mind was stewing on how I could take his suggestions and make them work for my library.

Another aspect of my week was promoting our summer reading programs. Last week, I sent out an email to some of my contacts at the schools, and several of them have gotten back to me on ideas to promote summer reading. I guess it never hurts to ask, because you might actually get what you ask for.

One idea was creating video spots for video announcements at the schools. For one school, I’m creating the spot, but for another school, the video production class is going to create the spot. So, to give them the idea, I got to discuss my programs with some middle school video makers on Thursday. It was exciting to be in the schools, and to know that a whole bunch of kids are going to be hearing about the programs through the announcements.

That’s about all for this week, so I’ll catch you later.

The Means of Education

So a momentous occasion has occurred…I graduated last Sunday with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts! So it might not be a momentous occasion, but I think it’s pretty cool lol

Interestingly I’ve been working on a college education for a fifth of my entire life (funny to think about isn’t it? I’ve only been living for 21 years, and I’ve been in college for 4. Weird…) and it’s kind of weird that this stage is over. I’m probably going into a program to get my Masters in Information and Library Science (so I can keep being a Young Adult Librarian), but I’ll never be an undergrad student again. As I look back its kind of an “already?” and “finally!” all at the same time.

But, also as I look back, I think about what I have learned and what I have accomplished. I think back on all the classes I have taken and I ask myself, what do I remember from them? Answer: not too much. If I looked back over the course work, I’m sure I would remember a whole bunch of stuff, and the next time certain topics are brought up, I’ll already have some basic knowledge on them. But, did I spend the last four years learning stuff I’m just going to forget?

My answer is yes on one hand; but on the other, my college education has taught me things that I would never have learned anywhere else. First, it has let me meet people I never would have met before. I got to hang with awesome teachers, passionate classmates, and interesting people that have very different stories and lives.

Another great thing about my education is that I’ve learned to put forth effort to get something accomplished. I’ve had to learn to be more organized, to procrastinate less (even thought I still struggle with that lol), and keep going even when it is hard. Having goals and projects to work toward has taught me a whole bunch about how I work and how I can work better.

College education is also important because it opens doors to so many opportunities. Think about it. I’m working as the young adult librarian for the Community Library Network at Hayden. I’m sure one of the reasons they’ve kept me around is because I have continued my education. It takes a certain kind of person and attitude to keep going in education, and employers appreciate that.

Finally, even though I’ve forgotten many of the facts that I learned in college, I will never forget how I learned those facts. I will never forget how to research, how to study, how to force myself to absorb something. This is something I will keep for the rest of my life. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The things taught in schools and colleges are not an education, but the means of education.”

For those who are looking into college, I would highly recommend it. Not only because it opens doors, but because it will continue to teach you to learn.