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Ms Gammon is in the library the following hours:
Monday + Wednesday 8:45am-12:30pm and 1-3pm Tuesday + Thursday 8:45am-12pm and 12:30-3pm Friday 8:45am-1:45pm If I am away from my desk during open times, be patient, I'll be right back!
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A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
This book is about to be released as a movie, and the trailer looks a bit sentimental for my tastes. It looks like a movie about sunshine, rainbows and lollipops and all things overly sweet. Here's the trailer: A Dog's Purpose Movie See what I mean?? Looks good, right? (if you are a pre-teen in love with Justin Bieber, fuzzy pink slippers and The Disney Channel!!). Well, the book is sooooo much better! I'm writing this review because, if you love dogs, I really want you to read this book BEFORE you go to the movie. If you love any animals at all, you should read this book. It is a wonderful tribute to dogs, our relationship with our pets, finding a purpose in life, and it's about all sorts of love. The book takes on syrupy sweet subject matter without becoming saccharine. I did cry (a few times, to be honest), but I also laughed out loud! And I came away feeling as though I understood my own dog better than ever. I LOVE this book. Is it in my top 10? No. Is it literary genius? No. Is it one of the best books you will ever read? Probably not. But, this book changed things for me. It changed the way I interact with my pets. It may have even changed my views on life and death. Most importantly, though, it entertained me. I hope it does the same for you. Ms. Gammon Banned Book Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. This year held September 25th to October 1st, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Book Week brings together the entire book community; librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types, in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
Here at Vincent Massey, we have displayed a number of books that have been recently challenged or banned in one or more libraries in North America (often small town USA). These titles include, but are not limited to, Harry Potter series, Fault in our Stars, Eleanor & Park and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Wow. So, live the controversy. Check out a Banned Book today!! Do you use Goodreads.com? You should! It's a great resource for book reviews, learning what's new, browsing lists, making like-minded friends, etc. For starters, here is a list of Best Young Adult Books - you can even be part of the process by voting for your favorites!
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/43.Best_Young_Adult_Books?page=1 Please note: on Friday October 14, there will be no librarian in the Learning Commons. Check-out of items is not available, and there will be no pre/post school hours supervision.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart Here is a YA novel I will remember for a long time to come. A wealthy family spends all their summers together on their private island. A group of four friends/cousins - known as The Liars - happily reside two months of the year together in blissful, restful, mischievous enjoyment of everything summer offers. But there are politics, lies, love, secrets. And a plot twist... I had no expectations when I picked up this book. I didn't even read the back cover to see what I was getting into. Once I started the book, it didn't take long to feel like I was spending time with the family, looking over the shoulder of the narrator (Cadence), who is unreliable at best in her telling of events, and I liked her. I felt a connection with her and her feelings toward those around her. I imagined I could see the island of their summers (it helps that there is a map on one of the end pages), and I thought about what I would do with my time on that island. I was absorbed, interested, and whizzing through the pages. Then I went camping, and read the last few chapters while sitting in my chair in the sun. Some may have thought I had tears pouring down my cheeks, but it was just the sun making my eyes water. The plot twist ending had no effect over me. Really. I'm no liar. Read this book. It's awesome. I really enjoyed it. Ms. Gammon As with all book reviews, it's important you realize this is a subjective opinion. IF you enjoy a good love story, IF you enjoy dystopian novels, IF you enjoy a little YA tragedy, this is the book (and review) for you.
This is the story of 17-year old Lena, who lives in an alternative American civilization where it has been discovered that love is actually a disease (amor deliria nervosa) for which there is a surgical cure everyone undergoes when they turn 18. Apparently the disease of love "affects your mind so you cannot think clearly, or make rational decisions about your own well-being", leading to an unhappy and unproductive society full of crazies. Everyone must undergo the procedure, which is not without risk. Lena is excited to be disease-free and is counting the days until she gets the cure. Then she meets Alex. "They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie." Although this is definitely a dystopian novel, it's also a love story, a drama, a tragedy. And I fell for all of it! It was a page-turning read, and I found myself really caring about what happens to the characters. I found it to be well-written, well-imagined and beautifully descriptive. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for true love. Now I can't decide if I should read part two, Pandemonium, or look for my next unexplored adventure! Ms. Gammon |
AuthorThis book lover's blog is brought to you by the Learning Commons at Vincent Massey School, Calgary. Specifically, Ms. Gammon and various student book reviewers. We want to share our favorite titles with you! Archives
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