Pick of the Week- When I Was the Greatest

Ms. Y's pick of the week is the award-winning When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds.  First-time author Reynolds creates engaging characters who confront raw emotion related to abandonment, violence and true friendship.  The narrator, Ali, lives in a Brooklyn brownstone with his mother and sister.  He becomes friends with two brothers nicknamed Noodles, who acts tough but secretly loves to draw comic books and Needles, who has Tourette's Syndrome.  Though they are neighbors, Ali and brothers have vastly different families- Ali's mother is a social worker who is loving and nurturing to her children while Noodles and Needle live in a dilapidated building with a neglectful mother.  Though the three teenagers stay away from the drugs and gangs that surround their Bed-Stuy neighborhood, they get drawn into a conflict that rock their friendship and test their character.  This novel offers a window into inner city life- showing the challenges and strength of the community.

Pick of the Week- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

is the The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  As we finish banned books week, it is fitting that my pick this week be one of the most challenged books of this century. Basketball fans will love Alexie's semi-autobiographical novel about growing up on a reservation in Washington state.  The conflict Arnold feels between loyalty to his home and the mostly white high school he attends brings to light many of the social issues faced by young Native Americans today. Don't miss this modern classic.

Pick of the Week- Iron Trial

The Iron Trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare is this week's pick. This is the first in a four book series by these two local authors (they both live in Amherst). Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy the interesting world Black and Clare have created. Mystery surrounds Callum Hunt's past as he joins a the Magisterium, an underground school for magic. He and his friends are training to be mages in a world where everyone has been touched by the aftermath of a great struggle between magic of good and evil. As Callum works through his first year, he will face challenges and a surprising revelation that will want make you yearn for the next book in the series!

It's Banned Books Week!

"What!?!  The library is banning books?"
No.  Quite the opposite.  Banned Books week is a celebration of your right to read.  Every year, the American Library Association collects the titles of the most challenged books across the country in an effort to promote that we defend your freedom to read.
So check out a banned book today!

Pick of the Week- American Born Chinese

This week, my pick is American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.  This is a coming of age graphicnovel about Jin, Chinese-American who runs from his ethnicity.  But through a meaningful friendship, he comes to embrace his culture.  Yang artfully weaves together three stories and cleverly uses allegories to illustrate Jin's internal conflict.  American Born Chinese has won many awards and is an instant classic.  

Summer Reading update

This year, students have the option to do their summer reading assignment digitally.  Please note, that students who do a digital project cannot participate in the voting/competition for the Kindle or other prizes.

To submit your digital project:
1. Name your file: homeroom_lastname
2. Go to http://dropitto.me/msyanusk
3. Enter the password: gorams
4. Upload your document
5. Go to http://goo.gl/forms/ttH7rOhjJS to submit a weblink (for Prezi, Glogster, etc.) and to confirm your submission.

If you have any questions, see Ms. Y in the library.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the 2015-16 school year!  Please be patient until September 21 as we get the library up and running.  The library will be open for after school and for lunch starting then.

In the meantime, don't forget summer reading is due September 15!