Against The Odds

 If you were in a life-threatening situation, would you be able to gather your wits and all available resources to survive?

 

15 year-old Robie lives on the Midway Atoll with her parents, who are scientists. She visits her aunt on Honolulu, but when  Jillian has to leave town unexpectedly, Robie plans to stay there by herself for a few days and enjoy a rare taste of freedom. When Robie is accosted by a dangerous stranger on the street, she decides to fly back to Midway on a cargo plane, a trip that she has taken many times. However, when an unxpected storm hits, the plane crashes in the Pacific, and Robie is thrown from the window with a life raft by Max, the co-pilot. Adrift for several days in the middle of the ocean with hunger, thirst, and sharks as their constant companions, Robie and the semi-conscious Max must figure out how to stay alive against formidable obstacles. What would you do?

 

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen is one of the most exciting survival stories I have read in a long time.

 

I also highly recommend Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.

A Courageous Fight For Survival

What do you do when your future suddenly takes an unexpected turn?

 

When you face a crisis can you learn to become resourceful and strong?

 

Matilda Cook is a strong-willed sixteen-year-old girl who lives in Philadelphia, which, at the end of the eighteenth century, was the nation's capital. She complains about being overworked and her mother's steadfast determination to find her a "suitable" husband.. She helps her mother and grandfather run their family's coffee house, and envisions how to make it the most prominent business establishment in the neighborhood so she can become rich. However, during the summer of 1793, the yellow fever descends on Philadelphia with a vengeance, and decimates the population. Mattie's concerns are soon forgotten, because when her mother becomes ill, the teen and her grandfather are sent to the countryside to escape the disease. When Mattie returns to Philadelphia to await the end of the epidemic, she finds that her mother has disappeared, and a once vibrant city is fraught with danger at every turn. How will Mattie survive on her own?

 

Fever 1793 is an exciting work of historical fiction that is based on a real-life yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia that killed thousands of people in just a few months.The author expertly interweaves a compelling story, well-researched facts, and engaging characters.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover!

 

 R.J. Palacio's Wonder, a sensitively written and extraordinary story, introduces us to August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy, who has severe facial deformities and was homeschooled his entire life. In addition to endless hospitalizations for his condition, he had to endure the stares and taunts of insensitive people on the street. Now that the majority of his numerous surgeries have been completed, his parents have decided to send him to a private school in his neighborhood where he will attend fifth grade. August is worried that he will be bullied, and fears the reactions of his classmates. Will they be cruel or compassionate? Will he fit in? This book is a "wonder" because it makes us contemplate the nature of courage, kindness, and heroism. Be sure to read the companion volume 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts.

Wandering Spirits

Down A Dark Hall by Lois Duncan is an absorbing and suspenseful book that masterfully combines well-defined characters, a supernatural mystery, and a chilling sense of dread that fills every page. Independent and resourceful fourteen year-old Kit Gordy is sent to Blackwood, an exclusive school for carefully selected, gifted students, while her mother and new stepfather take a long honeymoon trip. When Kit sees the mansion for the first time, one word echoes in her mind: evil. As she begins her studies, and tries to adjust to her new surroundings, she discovers that her initial impression of Blackwood is correct. Kit begins to hear rumors that the school is haunted, has frightening dreams at night, sees a shadowy man following her down the corridors, and discovers that the letters to her family have been intercepted. In addition, why do students who have never shown talent in music, writing, and art suddenly produce great masterpieces? When the truth about the school is finally revealed in a shocking twist, Kit wonders if escape is possible. Lois Duncan is a unique writer who takes readers to the edge of their seats and keeps them thinking long after the story's conclusion.

Deception and Fear

                                             
How wary are you of strangers? Can you be tricked into a dangerous situation? Master of suspense Peg Kehret (Ghost Dog Secrets) has written a gripping story about every parent's worst nightmare - child abduction. When six year-old Matt Sholter doesn't arrive at the school bus to go home, the police determine that he was lured into a car by a stranger. The culprit is Matt's biological father, Denny Thurman, whom he has never met. Matt's thirteen year-old sister, Bonnie, who immediately becomes involved with the search effort, notices that the family dog has disappeared. Is this a random occurrence, or is there a definite connection between the two events? Coincidentally, Bonnie locates her missing brother at a Mariners baseball game with his captor. She quickly decides to follow them, and is also abducted. On many occasions, Bonnie and Matt could have been helped by bystanders who noticed that something was amiss, yet chose not to get involved. How will the children escape? This book also provides alot of helpful information about the procedures that are undertaken in a missing child case, and the technology that is used, such as The Amber Alert System.

A World In Turmoil

Have you ever thought about the things that matter most to you? Who or what gives your life meaning? In Susan Beth Pfeffer's gripping page-turner, Life As We Knew It, Miranda, a Pennsylvania high school student, has the usual concerns: shifting friendships, the admiration of boys, exams, and grades. When news reports indicate that an asteroid is on a collision course with the Moon, Miranda, along with her friends and neighbors, is fascinated, but not unduly concerned. However, when the asteroid does hit the Moon, the stage is set for an unprecedented global disaster, because the Moon is pushed into a closer orbit, causing a series of unimaginable climatic changes on Earth - tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and devastating storms. Miranda's priorities suddenly change, as she now must focus on helping to keep her family alive as the number of deaths mount, starvation looms, and epidemics rage. How does one find hope in a bleak future, with every day a constant struggle for the basic essentials of life? The other titles in the series are The Dead And The Gone, This World We Live In, and The Shade of the Moon. I have loved Ms. Pfeffer's books since I was a teenager, and she always provides amazing and unforgettable reading experiences.

 

 

Welcome To Our Library Media Center!

The beginning of a new school year is always exciting because we dream of the infinite gifts of learning and expanding our horizons.

My name is Mrs. Goldstein, and I am glad to be back at IS 141 for my second year as your librarian. It has been a pleasure to get to know the school community and the beautiful neighborhood of Astoria, Queens.

There is always a reason to visit our library. We will have class visits, author programs, new books, opportunities to use technology, Parent Workshops, and homework and research help.

As you know, Children's and Young Adult Literature are my great loves. Please check my blog for reviews of recommended books and digital resources.

Do you have any suggestions for our library? What kinds of materials would you like to see? Please swing by if you have any questions or suggestions.

Let's have a wonderful year!

Summer Fun!

 

Our supportive and devoted school community has made our library a wonderful place to read, conduct research, and study. It has been a terrific academic year, and we enjoyed student and faculty visits. The library's popular Open Access program was enjoyed by all!

 

Remember...library activities do not have to end in the summer.

 

Go to the beautifully crafted Queens Public Library website www.queenslibrary.org and www.summerreading.org which have a menu of activities to keep you busy. You can log all of the books you read, share your favorite titles with friends, and investigate summer reading lists that have been compiled and recommended by librarians.

 

You can also practice your database navigation skills in preparation for the upcoming academic year.

 

I look forward to seeing you in the fall! Enjoy the summer!

Secrets And Lies

 

 

Justin and Sean, both twelve years old, have been best friends for a long time. They live in the Red Hook Projects in Brooklyn, a tough neighborhood in New York, are half Puerto Rican and African-American, and love hip hop and rap music. Suddenly, Sean's behavior markedly changes - he becomes very aggressive, gets into fights, pulls away from his friends, and disregards his dropping grades. He also takes mysterious out-of-town trips with his mother on weekends, which he explains with lies. Justin becomes determined to uncover the truth about his friend's double life. What is Sean's secret? Author Torrey Maldonado, who is from Brooklyn, is a teacher and an inspiring public speaker. He has an excellent ear for teens' dialog and skillfully takes readers into the heart of their world.

A Turning Point

Marcy Lewis is a very intelligent, yet insecure teenager. She is shy, overweight, refuses to change in the locker room because she is afraid the other students will make fun of her body, and doesn't think she'll ever have a boyfriend. Her father is verbally abusive and bullies her family, while her passive mother refuses to get involved. Life begins to turn around in a positive way with the arrival of a young, talented English teacher named Ms. Finney, who has a wonderful rapport with her students and encourages communication and self-expression. Marcy flourishes in Ms. Finney's classroom, and begins to realize her self-worth. One day, Ms. Finney is suspended for her "unorthodox" teaching methods, and Marcy becomes one of the leaders in the fight to have her favorite teacher reinstated. This decision changes her life, and those around her, forever. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit beautifully crafts the "turning point" in the tumultuous life of an adolescent, and is also an insightful book that illustrates how a dedicated teacher can have a profound influence on her students.

Living Next Door To Al Capone

 

What would it be like to live on an island that houses the maximum security prison, Alcatraz, where ruthless criminals such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly are incarcerated?

 

Twelve year-old Moose Flanagan and his family have moved to Alcatraz Island in 1935, where Moose's father can work as a prison guard in Alcatraz, and his older sister, Natalie, can attend a school for kids with special needs. Moose finds a host of challenges awaiting him: the adjustment to having a prison in the immediate vicinity, helping his autistic sister, and the navigation of a wary friendship with the warden's daughter, Piper, whose schemes get all of the island kids in trouble.

 

This is an outstanding work of historical fiction that is engaging and funny. Be sure to read the two sequels Al Capone Shines My Shoes and Al Capone Does My Homework.

Choices Of The Heart

 

How does one choose between two loves? How does one choose between a predetermined path and one not yet known? In our society these choices are constantly and successfully faced and resolved. However, in Matched, by Ally Condie, a stunning and thought-provoking dystopian novel which is the first of a trilogy, teenager Cassia Reyes is a dutiful citizen of the Society. Society Officials make all the choices for its inhabitants: occupation, future mate, diet, recreational activities, and more. At first, Cassia is delighted when it is revealed at her Match Banquet that her best friend, Zander, has been chosen as her life's partner. However, these carefully laid plans are thrown into turmoil when she loads her Match microchip into her home portal screen, and to her utter shock, sees another boy on the screen as her match - Ky Markham, a mysterious arrival to her community. Is this a mistake, or is a more sinister force at work? As Cassia begins to fall in love with Ky, and begins to rebel against the confines of her world, she realizes that her heart will lead her on a remarkable journey that will forever change her life and the lives of those she loves. Be sure to read the next two installments Crossed and Reached.

Presenting: An Amazing Online Resource!

Have you ever wondered how to navigate through the complex and multifaceted world of information that is provided by The Internet?

Are you looking for some wonderful websites for your children to use for educational and recreational purposes?

What is the controversy surrounding popular sites such as Google and Wikipedia?

What are some websites that you like to use?

The library will host a Parent Workshop on Friday, April 25th at 9:00 AM where we will discuss a comprehensive and engaging online resource called Great Websites For Kids: gws.ala.org. This tool is a treasure trove of authoritative and user-friendly websites which cover all of the academic disciplines for children up to the age of 14.  The sites have been evaluated and selected by The Great Websites For Kids Committee, which is part of The Association For Library Service To Children-experienced practitioners in the field of library science. New sites are added three times a year and are evaluated twice a year for currency and relevance.

 

During this session, parents will have the opportunity to work on the library's laptop computers to explore the sites on their own, and ask questions.

 

Please let me know what topics you would like to see covered in future library workshops.

 

I look forward to working with you!

A Light In The Darkness

 

 

                                   

  

 

Anne Frank was a thirteen year-old German-Jewish girl who went "into hiding" in an Amsterdam office building with her family and four other people for over two years when the Nazis came to power and began to deport Jews to concentration camps. She wrote about her experiences and feelings in a diary (later published and called Diary of A Young Girl) which was accidentally discovered by Miep Gies, a young woman who risked her life by helping the Franks when they were secreted away, by bringing supplies, and news of the outside world. Anne died in The Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany, when she was just under sixteen years old. The diary continues to live on as a unique voice of a young person who lived during one of the darkest times in history.



                                           
 

 

"My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."

 

                                                                    -Miep Gies

                                                                     Anne Frank Remembered

 

In Anne Frank Remembered written by Miep Gies and Alison Gold, Miep recounts the story of her childhood as a refugee from Austria, how she came to work for Otto Frank in his spice business, and made the decision to help take care of the Franks when they were in hiding. Through Miep's unique perspective, we can feel the tension of the people in hiding, their reactions to the events happening in the world around them, and mostly, we learn about Anne Frank, who loved movie stars, spending time with her friends, and writing in her diary. When Anne and her family were betrayed and arrested, it was Miep who found the diary which the Nazis had carelessly tossed aside in their raid of the hiding place, and gave it to Otto Frank, the only survivor of the families in hiding.

 

This is a beautifully written, heartfelt, and touching account of a person who decided not to be a bystander and follow the dictates of her own heart as the world crumbled around her. It is a stunning tribute to what makes us human.

 

 

Eerie Secrets

 

 

   

The prolific Mary Downing Hahn (Closed For The Season) has masterfully crafted another suspenseful tale of the supernatural that will keep readers hooked from the very first page.

 

Sometimes the adventure of a lifetime can begin when we least expect it to happen.

 

Teenaged Ali's world changes when she finds an ordinary photograph of three girls - her mother, her Aunt Dulcie, and what should be a third person. Oddly, this portion of the photograph has been ripped out. Ali asks her mother and aunt who the missing person is, but only receives vague and unsatisfactory answers.

 

When Ali goes to visit her aunt and four year-old cousin in her family's former summerhouse in Maine, she thinks she will finally be able to solve this mystery which has troubled her for so long, but gets more than what she bargained for.

 

An angry young girl named Sissy soon arrives on the scene, and begins to talk about a girl named Teresa who drowned under mysterious circumstances - her body never recovered. Soon this "ghost story" takes on frightening new dimensions. What is the link between Sissy and Teresa? Do Ali's mother and aunt know more about the drowning than they have revealed? How long can a painful secret be kept?

 

Ms. Hahn has a wonderful gift for getting into the minds of her characters and showing us their world in a vivid and unforgettable manner. The dialogue is real, and the issues (e.g. correcting past mistakes, justice) are well-presented. This is one of her best books, and I have been her devoted fan since I was a teenager.

 

Get The 411 On Bullying!

Bullying 411: Take A Stand!

An Information Session

Presented by Hillary Goldstein, Librarian

The library will host a Parent Workshop on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 9:00 AM about a problem that is constantly in the headlines and is prevalent in our society: bullying. We will discuss what bullying is, describe strategies we can use to assist our children, explain how communities and schools can provide support to bullies, their targets, and bystanders, and share resources for further information.

 

Please join us in Room 320 for a thought-provoking discussion and the opportunity to  make friends who share your interest in this topic. Let's find solutions to a complex problem! We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

Look Behind You

What do you do when the life you have known inexplicably changes? Suddenly, you have to leave your friends behind, change your name, radically alter your physical appearance, and move to an unknown destination. Zach Granger and his family must enter the Witness Protection Program, carve out new identities, and always look over their shoulders for any possible sign of danger. However, Zach too quickly discovers that the most foolproof plan can become breached. Can Zach and his family survive an uncertain fate and the terrors of the unknown? If you enjoy heartracing suspense, then read Zach's Lie by Roland Smith, a superb craftsman of adventure stories, and be sure to read Jack's Run, the exciting sequel.

A Dystopian Nightmare

Do you want to read a book that will change the way you think about freedom and the power to make choices?

 

Imagine a society where all of your choices are made for you - job, spouse, children, hairstyle, and clothing - in a meticulously planned manner where there are no mistakes. Jonas, a twelve year-old member of this futuristic society, is nervous, because at today's Ceremony of Twelve he is given his lifetime assignment: he will be the Receiver of Memory for his community. When he begins his training with a solitary elder called The Giver, who also holds the society's memories, Jonas slowly realizes the sinister and unexpected ramifications of this job, and his future. What is the devastating truth about the Community that he is only now starting to realize?

I have read and re-read this powerful and insightful book numerous times, and always find something new to ponder. It is a shattering account about a dystopian society and what it means to be free.

The Giver is the first in a series of books called The Giver Quartet, and is a Newbery Award-winning title.

The titles in the series are: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.