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.