Check out some of the pictures.

      

     

         

Annexed is the imagined story of Peter van Pels, the real life boy who was stuck in the attic with Anne Frank. Sharon Dogar uses Anne Frank's diary and historical facts to imagine Peter's side of the story. Ms. Dogar imagines what life must have been like for Peter, a teenaged boy stuck in an attic with two girls and so she imagines him falling in love with Anne Frank. At first, Peter thinks of Anne as an annoying child who is always going through his "room" to get to the attic. After Anne and Peter are in hiding for several months, they can't really avoid each other and become friends. They spends lots of time in the attic looking out at a little peice of sky trying to remember the outside. Peter starts to notice things about Anne, like how she smells, and he begins to fall in love with her. Make no mistake, this is a story about the Holocaust and if you are familiar with Anne Frank's story, you know this story does not have a happy ending. But...I loved reading this book from Peter's perspective and will recommend it to everyone I see!

I actually wrote a review of Annexed for VOYA. When I have to write a professional review, I never look the book up online or talk about it with anyone because I dont want anything to sway my opinion of the book. I decided to write this blog post and went in search of some links, I found some interesting articles that note that Annexed has caused some controversy:

The Guardian has an article titled 'Sharon Dogar fights back over 'sexed up' Anne Frank Novel"

The NYDailyNews.com also published an article called "Anne Frank's cousin angry about racy fictional Peter van Pels diary, 'Annexed,' by Sharon Dogar"

I've read the book and never ever came away with the idea that Peter and Anne had sex. They do share a kiss, but definitely no sex. I wonder if the people criticizing Annexed really read it. Hmm....check it out (it comes out in October 2010) and decide for yourself.

Photo by Avolore

"Back to school. Back to school,
to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool.
I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight,
I hope I don't get in a fight.
Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school.
Back to school. Well, here goes nothing."
- Adam Sandler in Billy Madison

This time of year, I always get the song that Adam Sandler sung in Billy Madison stuck in my head. That movie came out my freshman year of high school and it's still one of my favorite silly movies of all time.

I've always loved fall and going back to school. I still get excited when school supplies start showing up in stores and all the fall clothes come out. I think one of the coolest things about fall is the promise of new and the ability to reinvent yourself. New clothes, new teachers, new supplies, maybe even new schools and new friends. Fall and going back to school brings so much possibility!

Ugh, I know! Who wants to think about SCHOOL when there's still so many days of vacation left? Well, right now your summer vacation days are numbered, my friends. School starts next week for most of you.

We wanna know:
 What are you most looking forward to as you head back to school this fall?

Here is a little background information for you. Botswana is north of South Africa, west of Namibia and east of  Zimbabwe. Total population equals @2 million. Median age 22. It is late winter in Botswana right now so the weather is perfect, mid to high 80s during the day and low 50s at night.  PERRFECT!

I end my stay in Africa at Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya--the Smoke that Thunders). I plan on white water rafting down the Zambezi River.  Pictures will be posted when I get back.

    photo by Smithsonian Institution

I will be gone for two weeks and I while I am gone, y'all will be starting back to school. WOW where has the summer gone. It seems like yesterday that the summer reading program was starting. I hope everyone enjoys your first week back to school. I look forward to seeing everyone again.

 

Old Worthington Library:

 

Paige Maynard

photo by Worthington Libraries

Northwest Library:

 

Kaela Kunsch

photo by Worthington Libraries

Worthington Park Library:

 

Elsie Ansong

photo by Worthington Libraries

Congratulations, not only to our raffle winners but to all of you who completed the 2010 Summer Reading Program.

You're all winners in our books!!

Here is a quick peek at the homepage of the YA Fantasy Showdown. None of the team names have been chosen but teams have been picked. Katsa and Edward Cullen (Team #1) vs. Christopher Grant and Hermione Granger (Team #2)  There are 16 teams in the tournament. It will be interesting to see who reigns supreme.

Mockingjay (The Final Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins comes out August 24th

 

Anyone going to the Ohio State Fair this year? Once again I will be abstaining from the pleasure of fried Snickers,  the 1200lb hog (though I have seen pictures from Sarah Cofer's husband) the heat and the rides. I honestly don't know why I am so not interested in going to the fair but I am. 

Here is a bit o trivia for you to research. Which state boasts hosting the largest state fair? and Which state has the oldest?

  Photo by Delano, Jack,, 1914-, photographer

 

 

 

Photo by Robert Couse-Baker

Before the part that I saw, there were a lot of musicians that covered Paul McCartney songs, including the Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Dave Grohl, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello and Jack White. The coolest part of the whole show was getting to see Obama and his family rocking out to the Beatles songs Michelle, Eleanor Rigby, and Let it Be. At the end, all of the musical guests and the Obama family got up on stage and sang & rocked out to Hey Jude, which just happens to be my very favorite Beatles song. It was a neat show.

Do you like the Beatles? What kind of music are you listening to lately?

BTW, there are only 3 DAYS left to the Summer Reading Program.

 

The very first book (#100) listed was The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (1985). 

               As of July 29 the list is down to (#51) Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (2000).

The list is pretty interesting, do I necessarily agree with some of the choices, no, but as with every "Top" list people will argree to disagree on the choices.

 

It's about Maddie, Zoe and Angela, best friends since forever, who are in the 10th grade and sort of growing apart. The entire book is written in IMs between the three friends. I've never read anything by Ms. Myracle before. I really enjoyed it and thought that the IM format was clever.

I already blogged about the plot of Numbers (you can read the post here), and my reserve finally came in the other day. I'm about 2/3 of the way through and I can't wait to find out what happens to the main characters. It's really suspenseful!

On my to-read list is Countdown,  a novel set in the 60's that has bits and pieces of history and historical documents sprinkled throughout the story :

I also want to read The Outsiders, just because I never have and I think I should.

What are you reading?

Today is the retirement reception for a wonderful woman that I've had the honor and pleasure to work with for the past 9 years.  Meribah Mansfield, director of the Worthington Libraries, is retiring after 19 years and we will miss her. She has been an excellent boss, mentor and a great supporter of teens. Here is an article about her service to the Worthington Libraries in the Columbus Dispatch.

Congratulations, Good Luck and We Will Miss You!

   

 

 

Photo by Worthington Libraries               

Katniss
Peeta
Gale
Prim
Haymitch

Got any great ideas to throw out there?

Photo by Leo Reynolds

Hey guys and gals, I can't believe how fast the time has gone this summer!

Including today, there are only 12 days left for this year's Summer Reading Program.

So, how are you doing with your reading records? Have you gotten the coupon sheet yet? Have you finished and recieved the clock and entered into the $50 Polairs Gift Card raffle?

What've you been doing to fill in spaces on your record? Reading? If so, what? Posting on the blog? Attending programs? What has been your favorite library program you've attended this summer? What programs are you looking forward to still?

Post a comment and let us know!

"Check which famous writer you write like with this statistical analysis tool, which analyzes your word choice and writing style and compares them with those of the famous writers. "

You need to put in at least two or three paragraphs of your own writing for the analysis tool to really "work". The first time I put in some of my writing  from my personal blog it came up with David Foster Wallace. The second time I did it, with a different blog entry, Stephen King. Hmmm. It is kind of fun to see what the answers are.

The website also includes quotes from writers about writing. You can even follow I Write Like on Facebook or Twitter.

That said I Write Like is not a serious site but just something to kill time. HAVE FUN!!

Check it out, and tell us about your favorite romances!

 

I hadn't until I watched a news special on him about a month or so ago. He's a nineteen year old who's been on the run from authorities since he escaped from a halfway house in the state of Washington in 2008. Apparently he's broken into homes in Washington, Idaho and Canada, stolen cars, boats and at least five airplanes. He also doesn't like to wear shoes, which is how he got the nickname "Barefoot Bandit."  I read an article that said he had no formal flight training, yet he flew a stolen plane from Indiana to the Bahamas. That's insane!  It amazes me in this day and age how it's possible to outrun the police, but this guy's done it for almost two years. Until he got busted in the Bahamas on Sunday during a high speed boat chase. He was barefoot and wearing a bullet proof vest at the time.

He pleaded guilty to stealing a plane and illegally landing in the Bahamas at his first court appearance in Nassau today and he faces burglarly and theft charges in several U.S. states.

I guess there are a lot of people who think Colton's a hero. They've written songs about him, made t-shirts proclaiming his innocence and he even has a facebook fan page with over 60,000 followers. People seem to think he's awesome because he's committed "victimless" crimes.

Should stealing property make you a hero? I certainly don't think so. It's not victimless, that's for sure. Think of the people whose boats, cars and planes got stolen, and whose homes and businesses got broken into. Just because he didn't murder or injure anyone doesn't mean that the crimes are victimless. Someone's always a victim when a crime is committed.  

What do you think?