Overdrive

Friday, September 28, 2012

The Rules of the Library


Welcome to Fall...or here in Texas...welcome Indian summer!

       We are now through the last week of the 1st 6 weeks...technically we are 1/6 done with the school year. If you have come into the library over the past five weeks, you know that it has been the busiest I have ever seen it. Since our district moved to ILA classes (combination Reading and English classes), they have been having book projects and daily SSR time, which as a librarian I love!! So students are reading like crazy!
      Throughout this crazy time I have had a lot of students ask me how I get my books and why some series are not here. Since I get this so much, I thought I would share the answer with you. I have to follow certain rules in order to get certain books in the library. Here are the questions I ask myself:

-Is it reviewed for a middle school grade level? Material selection should be guided by published, professional reviews. The following review journals may be considered: Booklist, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Horn Book, Library Media Connection, School Library Journal, and Voice of Youth Advocates. What this means is that if one of these journals has a positive review for one or all of the middle school grades then it is something that I can purchase.

-After that I ask, "Do we have an audience for this type of book?"  Sometimes this might be a few students and sometimes it might be more than that. This is a very tricky question but that is why I try and get to know so many of our students. I have learned so many things about them and I realize we have a few gaps, such as the scary stories.

- The last question I ask is, "How many copies?" Some books I know that I am going to need more than one copy. With budget though, I have to limit how many copies. I try and keep it to the max of 2 unless it is a Lone Star book, then it is 3.

So as much as I wish that I could just give you guys any book you want, there is a process to it. :-)

Questions?? Remember to always ask!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Author Visit...IT WAS AWESOME!

I have said it before and I will say it again...authors are my superstars. I get all giddy when they are coming and I get to meet them. Then give me two and it has made my year. Margaret Peterson Haddix and Lisa McMann were amazing and so nice. We had lots of students who got their books signed and had a chance to meet with the author. I just wanted to share with you guys come of the pictures from the visit last week.




Lisa McMann sharing Chapter 1 of Unwanteds with us.


Margaret Peterson Haddix explaining what Caught is all about.

Lisa McMann and me

Margaret Peterson Haddix and me

Our students getting a chance to have their books signed by these two amazing authors.


(I know some of the pictures are side ways. :-)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The next Harry Potter???

So everyone is looking for a new series to be the next Harry Potter. Supposedly this is it. Check out the book trailer. Here is also an article about the possible movie to be made.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/12/dreamworks-harry-pottershadow-and-bone/


We have this book in the library . After this trailer I am going to have to read it!

Monday, September 10, 2012

End of an Era

I have been with the Maximum Ride series since the beginning. I was there when Angel was taken the first and the second time. I was there for Max and Fang's first kiss. I was there with Gasman and Iggy and their many explosions. I was there with Nudge and her many attempts at trying to civilize the group. And to be honest, I was very sad to say good-bye to them. They were apart of my thoughts to become a librarian.

So here is what I am going to do... instead of a review I am going to write a thank you note.

Thank you James Patterson for writing a series that has strong characters and kids that other kids can look up too. Thank you for creating a series that makes kids want to read more. Thank you for trying to focus not on what a character is wearing but what is happening to the earth. Thank you!

(In case you did get the undertones of this entry, YOU MUST READ THIS!)

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Summary
When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination. It's hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate until he discovers that instead of a "death farm," what awaits him is a magical place called Artime. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle. (Taken from Titlewave.com)

Mrs. Lassley's Review
I am a HUGE fan of Hunger Games and Harry Potter, so when this book stated that it was a mix of these it was automatically on my list. It did not disappointment. Lots of magic, lots of adventure and plenty of character development. I am putting this on my must read for students and I know I am going to need more copies of it just so students quit asking me for more! Cannot wait to start the second one!

Margaret Peterson Haddix and Lisa McMann coming to Stafford!


Words cannot express how excited I am to meet these two amazing authors. As a librarian I have been able to meet some pretty great authors, and it never gets old. They are my superstars. And I love sharing this with the students. Because the authors cannot be there for long only so many students can see them. Those students are very excited. I will try and post pictures in the next week.