Gardening Pick Ups

If springtime weather has you thinking about picking up a gardening trowel, here are several books on gardening you may really enjoy.

Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Henk Gerritsen & Piet Oudolf

            This book is written by two Dutch garden designers specializing in the ?natural? contemporary look.  I like it because of the wide variety of plants they showcase, but I don?t think you will find many of these plants at Meister?s.  This book is for gardeners who order out of catalogs or start seeds themselves.  Not all of these plants are hardy here either.  Still, it?s fun to dream.

Gardening with Grasses by Michael King and Piet Oudolf

This book does a nice job of showing how grasses can be used in garden design.  The photography is also nice, although the cultural information can be a bit sparse.  The reader should be careful to note hardiness zones and look out for the word ?invasive?.  Finding a source for these plants might prove to be tricky as only one American supplier is listed in the back.

            The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses by Rick Darke

            This ?encyclopedia? of grasses lives up to its name.  More scientific in its scope than the King/Oudolf book, there is a wealth of information here that might make some gardeners? eyes glaze over.  This is a book to be studied.  My favorite section is Chapters 4 & 5 that discusses learning from grasses in native habitats, and using grasses in garden design.  I?d like to go to each one of the places in the photos!

            Front Yard Gardens ? Growing More Than Grass by Liz Primeau

            This book is full of great ideas on how to get ?rid of? the grass in the front yard. Many of the gardens are from cold climates (Ontario) and one is from Appleton, Wisconsin.  This book inspired the design of my front garden and may inspire you too!

            The Gardener?s Atlas ? The Origins, Discovery, and Cultivation of the World?s Most Popular Garden Plants by Dr. John Grimshaw

            This book is great for learning about the history of our common garden plants and where they come from. Each chapter is filled with biographical and historical information on famous plant hunters and early horticulturalists who contributed so much to the study of botany and made available exotic plant species from around the world.

            The Intimate Garden- Twenty Years and Four Seasons in Our Garden by Gordon Hayward and Mary Hayward

            What?s great about this book is that Gordon Hayward is a professional who is not afraid to admit that he has made mistakes.  Also, he and his wife garden in Vermont, which is Zone 4 ? just like Marquette!

            Native Plants of the Northeast ? A Guide for Gardening & Conservation by Donald J. Leopold

            Donald J. Leopold is on a mission to teach gardeners about natural plants and how to use them in landscaping. The book?s introduction includes a map showing the Upper Peninsula as part of the ?Transition Pine-Aspen Forest?, a regional plant community influenced by many factors including climate, geology, physical geography, and soils.  This book has good growing information and photos that can help regional gardeners use native plants effectively.

            The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada by William Cullina

            This book is a great nuts and bolts guide on how to grow wildflowers because it spells out all the details.  I would buy this one as a reference book (but I borrow it from the library instead!)  There are other books that have more wonderful photography and design ideas, but this one has the information.  If only all these plants were hardy here.          

by Margaret Boyle with Lisa Shirtz, Circulation Department 

Oscars and Beyond

PWPL purchases most of the Oscar winning films each year and some of the nominees as well. Among the noteworthy titles just added to the Library?s collection is LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. The indie treat garnered two Oscars this year. Olive is a young girl who dreams of winning the ?Little Miss Sunshine? beauty pageant held in California . Determined to make her dream come true, Olive?s family takes a cross-country trip in their VW bus. But the group is so quirky and dysfunctional they can barely make it through a day without a disaster.

Director Deepa Mehta?s controversial film WATER is set in the 1930s during India ?s struggles against British colonial rule. The Oscar nominated film tells the profoundly moving story of a girl married and widowed at eight-years-old. She is forced to move to a home with other Hindu widows. The girl?s feisty presence deeply affects the other residents causing each to confront their faith and society?s prejudice.

A number of other Oscar winners and contenders are already on the library shelves. Martin Scorsese?s THE DEPARTED won Best Picture and Best Director. In the film an undercover cop infiltrates the mob. An audience favorite, DREAMGIRLS is inspired by the story of the Supremes. Tragedy strikes a married couple on vacation in the Moroccan desert in the complex drama, BABEL .  C.R.A.Z.Y. charts the tricky trajectory of closeted gay adolescence. In Pedro Amoldovar?s fantasy VOLVER, a mother returns to her hometown after her death in order to fix the situations she couldn't resolve during her life.

Al Gore scored an Oscar hit with a documentary about global warming, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. The irreverent mockumentary BORAT delivers edgy humor that has viewers wondering whether to laugh or get angry. The documentary JESUS CAMP offers a fascinating first-ever look into an intense training ground that inspires born-again Christian children to become an active part of America 's political future.

The Library?s CineArts Film Series features award-winning independent and international films. After showing a film, the DVD is then available to check out. Most of the CineArts films are unrated and may not be appropriate for younger viewers. In the past year, the CineArts Series included films from South Korea , India , Australia , Belgium and Canada .

Named one of Canada ?s top ten films, A SIMPLE CURVE, is a thoroughly delightful story set in beautiful British Columbia . The film tells the tale of twenty-seven-year-old Caleb?s quiet revolt against his idealistic father, Jim whose small carpentry shop is struggling to stay in business. Caleb senses that the time to forge his own path has arrived. The film?s portrayal of an independent back-to-nature lifestyle is by turns funny and thought provoking.

AALTRA is a brilliantly deadpan Belgian comedy, starring two characters whose sudden and unexpected disability proves no impediment to them being as selfish, sarcastic or unpleasant as they ever were before. Add in a refreshingly unsentimental approach, and the end result is a surreal, politically incorrect road movie.

The South Korean film, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER?AND SPRING has a timeless quality. This lovely film takes place in an isolated island temple, where an old monk teaches a young disciple.  Complications arise when a young woman arrives one summer.

BE WITH ME, a prize-winning film from Singapore was inspired by the life of Theresa Chan, a deaf-blind 60-year-old. The film is a tapestry of three stories woven around the themes of love, hope and destiny.

The gritty western, NED KELLY is based on the story of a legendary Australian outlaw. The action takes place in 1870s-era Australia . Orlando Bloom shines in his role as Ned Kelly?s best friend.

Probably the most popular event in the CineArts series is Bollywood Night, which highlights the musical films of India . PAHELI is an excellent introduction to this lively genre. Inspired by a traditional folk tale, the film offers a love story that tells the dilemma faced by bride when an incarnated ghost takes the place of her absent husband. Paheli is a fairy-tale like film with beautiful costumes, sets and wonderfully choreographed dance scenes. A few other Bollywood or Bollywood inspired films in the PWPL collection include Black, Monsoon Wedding, Awara, Veer Zaara and Parineeta.

by Claire Rose, Deputy Director

Mysteries with a Theme

Some of the themed mystery series available at Peter White Public Library are:

Peter Abresch introduces James P. Dandy, yes Jim Dandy, in Bloody Bonsai.  James goes to an Elderhostel on the Jersey shores grumbling all the way. He is only marginally interested in learning how to design, cut, sculpt, mold, trim, water & grow bonsai trees. He is a recent widower and has little interest in meeting new people either. Dodee Swisher is one of the cast a characters Jim meets. When a motel employee is murdered with a Bonsai tree, James & Dodee must find the real killer before they are jailed for the deadly deed. Abresch skillfully builds plot and suspense and offers good insights into aging.

Nancy Thayer & Jane Isenberg & Anne George all have mysteries series for the over 40 reader.

The Virginia Lanier bloodhound series began with the release of Death In Bloodhound Red in 1998.

We're introduced to feisty JoBeth Sidden, a near-thirtyish trainer of bloodhounds, who also has her own company which does search and rescue operations for local police authorities. In this debut, JoBeth is involved with an abusive ex-husband, Bubba; the mysterious will of her deceased artist father; the new lawyer in town; escaped criminals; missing children; a handsome private investigator; and lots more. JoBeth is even framed for attempted murder. Lanier has a flair for Southern life, dialect and mannerisms, and her characters are sharply drawn and developed. And the bloodhound lore woven into the story is fascinating.

If you enjoy mysteries and pets try Susan Conant?s Cat Lover?s and  Dog Lover?s series, too.

Victoria Houston mysteries take place in Loon Lake , Wisconsin . The first book in this series is Dead Angler.

Where we meet Lewellyn "Lew" Ferris, chief of police in Loon Lake , Wisconsin and retired dentist, Paul "Doc" Osborne. Lew is the first female police chief in this small town. She works hard, and spends most of her free time fishing. Doc finds his long, unused fly-fishing equipment and decides to take lessons with experienced fisherman, Lew. Doc meets "him" and quickly discovers he is meeting a female...and one that can catch fish better than most men in town. During his first lesson, Doc trips over a dead body. Finding the dead body is just the start of this case. They quickly discover that their small town has been hiding a lot of very large secrets. The characters are likable because they seem real. The setting is warm & inviting. Even if you don?t love to fish, you will probably long to stop at Loon Lake and see what is biting.

If you?re hooked on fishing, another series for you is Philip R Craig?s Martha's Vineyard Mystery series.

Roots of Murder is Janis Harrison?s earliest gardening mystery.

A genial balance of gardening and murder, Harrison's debut introduce lead character forty-five-year-old Bretta Solomon who owns The Flower Shop in River City , Missouri . When a local Amish man contacts Bretta about his brother Isaac?s unexpected death, she calls on the skills she honed with her recently deceased cop husband. Isaac grew fields of flowers that were coveted by several characters, some colorful and some simply unsavory. Harrison gives readers a winning look at what promises to be an intriguing series marked by quick pacing, engaging characters and a touch of romance.

For other gardening mysteries look for Rebecca Rothenberg and Ann Ripley books.

Rett MacPherson?s initial genealogy mystery is Family Skeletons. 

It introduces Victory "Torie" O'Shea as a smart, sassy & full of spunk, resident historian, genealogist, and tour guide of the historic German town of New Kassel , Missouri . Torie agrees to help local shop owner Norah Zumwalt trace her family tree in order to find out what happened to her father. Soon after Torie finds some answers, she discovers Norah murdered. Struggling to balance the murder investigation and her family is tough enough, but when the Mississippi floods, it might be all Torie can do to keep her head above water.

This book is an entertaining look at family history and how it shapes our lives.

Killer Stuff by Sharon Sloan introduces the reader to Jane Wheeler.

Jane has had some big changes in her life lately. She was laid off from her PR job, separated from her husband, found out her father was going in for some medical tests, and discovered her next door neighbor's wife dead in her living room. However, Jane keeps herself busy with her new job as a "picker" for an antique dealer. She spends her time scrounging around through moldy basements, dusty attics and anywhere else she can find treasures at estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, rummage sales. Unfortunately, Jane's unlucky streak continues when she and her best friend since elementary school, Tim, discover the dead body in Tim?s flower shop. Detective Oh, another great character, is fascinated by Jane and her collector tendencies and uses Jane's powers of observation to help him gather evidence.

Colorful supporting characters, a somewhat screwy family situation, and plenty of knowledgeable chitchat about the collecting and storing of found treasures make Fiffer's series enjoyable reads.

Miss Zukas and the Library Murders is Jo Deresko?s initial book in the library mystery series.   You meet Miss Helma Zukas the very proper, conscientious, and relentlessly curious librarian.  She has moved to Bellehaven , Washington to be the non-fiction history and applied sciences librarian who never fails to notice the slightest deviation from what is her norm for everyday life. Her childhood friend, six-foot tall, flamboyant Ruth Winthrop, helps her solve the crime and put her life back in order.

This is a fast-paced thriller with wonderful, multi-dimensional characters and delightful plot twists.  Miss Zukas is never too busy at the Reference Desk to help solve another library mystery.

Monica Ferris?s first Needlecraft mystery is Crewel World published in 1999.

Betsy Devonshire has just suffered her second divorce. Not sure what she wants out of life, she packs her belongings and sets out from California toward Minnesota and her sister. Margot Berglund is a widow who has made a name for herself in the small town of Excelsior running Crewel World, a shop devoted to needlecraft of all kinds. Still, Margot is the only person Betsy felt she could turn to in her time of crisis. Then, one night, Margot is murdered in the back of the shop. Betsy begins to poke around to figure out what really happened while dealing with her own emotional pain at the loss of her sister.

Betsy is interesting as the sleuth, she is blunt and not very subtle and other characters reaction to her is amusing.  Ferris includes a handicraft pattern in every book.

Laura Childs? premier Tea Shop Mystery is Death by Darjeeling .

Theodosia Browning is the owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston South Carolina ?s historic district. When developer Hughes Barron is poisoned by tea, Theo is the prime suspect. Now she has to prove her innocence and track down the real killer-before someone else takes their last sip.  Childs has just the right blend of cozy fun and clever plotting.  She gives the reader a sense of traveling through the streets of historical beautiful Charleston , SC. She has cleverly named Theo?s dog, Earl Grey.

Ms. Childs also has begun a series of Scrapbooking Mysteries with Keepsake Crimes.

This book introduces Carmela Bertrand and her booming scrapbooking shop, Memory Mine, on the fringe of New Orleans 's French Quarter. When Carmela's estranged husband is named a suspect in a Mardi Gras murder, it is Carmela who must find the clues to the real killer-in one of her customer's scrapbooks.

Maddy Hunter?s Passport to Peril mysteries begins with Alpine for You.

Emily Andrew goes on a Senior tour to Switzerland with her grandmother expecting grand scenery, classy European hotels, and great food (where better to get chocolate than Switzerland ?).  All her visions of the perfect trip disappear when the disagreeable tour guide, Andy Simon, is found dead. She takes over as tour guide, but other members of the group are found dead. Emily must do something. Hunter has combined an excellent development of the characters with a mix of mystery and humor.

by Susan Sandy, Reference Department

Math Stories

What?s the difference between a math book and a math story?  A math book teaches the concepts of mathematics, while the math story uses numbers and mathematical operations within the context of a story.  Math stories reinforce number knowledge by presenting math in a linguistic format and making it fun.

Mij Kelly has demonstrated how something as simple as counting sheep can become a tale of suspense and bravery in One More Sheep.  When Sam brings his sheep in from a thunderstorm, he has trouble counting them all before falling asleep himself.  This wouldn?t be a problem, except there?s a wolf in sheep?s clothing outside the door, asking to be let in.  How will Sam know if he?s missing a sheep when he can?t stay awake to count them?  The sheep, in pen and ink drawings, will find a way.  The illustrator, Russell Ayto, creates fantastic watercolors that span both pages all the way to the edge.  He supplements the text skillfully with simple lines and strong hues of muted color.  You?ve never before seen sheep like these!

Roger Tory Peterson?s Numbers: A Book for Beginner Bird Watchers and Counters is exactly what the title states, but there?s a hidden element.  The author, Rudy Hoglund, has taken his personal love of bird watching to a new, younger audience.  By using colorful, realistic bird illustrations by Roger Tory Peterson, creator of Peterson?s Field Guides, the author presents a unique counting book with substance.  The rhyming text for numbers 1-10 is engaging for young children.  Hoglund?s other new title is Roger Tory Peterson?s Colors: A Book for Beginner Bird Watchers and Crayon Users.

A Million Dots by Andrew Clements starts with a single dot on the first page and continues until one million dots have been used throughout the book.  Illustrator, Mike Reed, cleverly covers each digital illustration with a grid of dots, like pixels on a computer screen.  He adds a tab of bright color on each page to encase bits of math trivia, such as the number of hairs on an average human head, and much more! 

Word problems, in the form of riddles, are made simple with You Can, Toucan, Math by David A. Adler.  Birds are the focus of this problem-solving fun.  ?Robins resting the first day of fall.  Six here.  Seven there.  How many in all??  The artwork shows six robins in one birdhouse and seven robins nesting next door.  Calculate in your head or count them one by one to come up with the answer, which is written sideways on the page.  Edward Miller, the illustrator, visually represents the numbers in a way that enables young mathematicians to grasp the concept of word problems.  Other math stories by David Adler are Fraction Fun, Calculator Riddles, How Tall, How Short, How Far Away? and Shape Up!: Fun with Triangles and Other Polygons.

Little 1 is a creative tale in which the main character, the number 1, searches for friends in two?s, three?s, four?s, and so on.  These small groups reject offers of friendship, leaving the number 1 all alone again.  Can you guess what happens when the number 0 drops by?  Ann Rand and her graphic designer husband, Paul, collaborated on this story way back in 1962.  They illustrated the story with line drawings against bold blocks of color, and all that on an expanse of white.  The large text looks like it came from an old-fashioned typewriter.  The Rand?s were front-runners in writing math stories for the elementary grades.  It?s a treat to see Little 1 reprinted for a new generation of readers.

Math lovers may find themselves drawn to the history of numbers with Ann McCallum?s The Secret Life of Math.  She begins with the counting of fingers and toes, moves on to reveal ancient Egyptian and Roman numerical systems, and explores the evolution of basic number operations.  Information is presented in small pieces, accompanied by eye-catching border art that changes for each chapter.  The illustrator, Carolyn McIntyre Norton, also includes photos and drawings that make the text interesting and easy to understand. 

Look for math stories mixed in with picture books or in a small section of nonfiction books, between the Dewey Decimal numbers of 510 and 520.  Take one home to read!

by Lynette Suckow, Youth Services

New Fantasy Group Selections

Fantasy fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will find plenty of exciting alternatives in the Teen Fiction section of the Peter White Public Library. For teens interested in sharing their love of fantasy and science fiction, the library?s Fantasy Book Group offers an opportunity for lively discussions. The group is currently reading Feed by M.T. Anderson and will meet to discuss it at 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 20, in the Shiras Room. Anyone age 12 to 18 is welcome to join. The following titles have been recommended by Fantasy Book Group members and are available for checkout:

When Henry Atherton offers to help old Mr. Fogarty with household chores, he doesn?t expect to meet Pyrgus Malvae, crown prince of the Faerie realm, who has escaped the dangerous Faeries of the Night through a portal to the human world. Faerie Wars, by Herbie Brennan, takes readers into a parallel world, where glue factory owners, a demon prince, and the leader of the Faeries of the Night are all out to kill Pyrgus and seize his crown. With help from his sister, Holly Blue, and Henry, Pyrgus must find a portal that will take him back in time to save the Faerie realm from threats of war. Readers who enjoy this book will also want to check out its sequels, The Purple Emperor and Ruler of the Realm.

In Everlost, by Neal Shusterman, Nick and Allie collide with each other while heading down a tunnel toward the light after being killed in a car accident. They land in Everlost, a place between the living and the end of the tunnel. The rules newcomers need to know to survive in Everlost are: keep moving, watch out for gangs, don?t seek out the living, and avoid Everlost?s monster, the McGill. In Everlost, nothing is as it seems.

Sharp North by Patrick Cave is a futuristic thriller set in a dangerous and environmentally damaged Great Britain, where reproduction is strictly limited and families keep ?spares? (illegal clones) of themselves, just in case a replacement is ever needed. When fifteen-year-old Mira witnesses a murder and finds a paper with her name on it underneath the victim?s body, she leaves her small arctic settlement to search for answers in the perilous city.

Not your usual dragon story, The Fire Within by Chris D?Lacey features magical clay dragons and a squirrel rescue drama. When college student David Rain rents a room from Liz and her daughter Lucy, he has to decide whether to keep Gadzooks, the special ?writing? dragon Liz has made for him. This first book of the Fire Star trilogy explores the power of discovering one?s creativity, while its sequel Icefire is packed with the mystery, action, and dragon lore appreciated by many fantasy fans.

In Tithe by Holly Black, an edgy and independent 16-year-old named Kaye travels with her mother?s rock band, until a frightening attack forces her to return to her childhood home on the New Jersey shore. Kaye finds herself caught up in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms, a situation that could mean her death. This dark, urban fantasy, which cleverly twists the Scottish tale of Tam Lin, should appeal to older teens.

Imagine a future in which citizens have given up all of their civil rights for safety?s sake, where it is illegal to insult others or to run without protective gear. In the late 21^st century Bo Marsten is unjustly accused of causing a rash that spreads through his entire high school, and finds himself imprisoned on the Canadian tundra making pizzas sixteen hours a day. Rash, by Pete Hautman, is a laugh-out-loud funny satire complete with illegally brutal football games, a runaway artificial intelligence, and man-hunting polar bears.

Feed by M.T. Anderson is set in a future where people have computer chips implanted in their brains to control their thoughts and spending habits. Titus, a teenager whose ?feed? has nearly destroyed his ability to read, learn, and think for himself, finds his life changing after he falls for a girl who challenges everything he and his friends hold dear. Unlike the oblivious teenagers around her, Violet cares so much about what?s happening in the world that she risks her life to fight the feed.

by Mary Schneeberger, Teen Services Coordinator

New Materials

For a sweet fictional series based on life in the English countryside, as viewed by a veterinary practice, check out one of the Barleybridge novels by author, Rebecca Shaw. Country Affair, and Country Wives, are the first two in the trilogy, with Country Lovers, due out in April of this year.  If you enjoy one, you?ll want to read them all, as each book sets the stage for what follows.  There is light romance, eccentric characters, warm family relationships, and the usual conflicts in the workforce to keep you entertained.  If you enjoy reading about animals, the author makes the fictional beasts very life-like and endearing.  It?s always fun to read about the different customs, cuisine and life challenges on the ?other side of the pond?, so to speak.

            New in our DVD collection, is Under the Greenwood Tree, a BBC production adapted from the novel by Thomas Hardy.  While the Barleybridge novels are set in modern England, this film presents the dilemmas of Victorian English tradition and the demands of true love, for schoolteacher Fancy Day.  Upon returning to her father?s home and completing her education, Fancy receives not one, but three marriage proposals! Should she marry the rich, Farmer Shiner, the respectable and educated Reverend Maybold, or the young, handsome deliveryman, Dick Dewy?  The 93 minute long video, contains wonderful performances by Keeley Hawes, James Murray, Ben Miles and Steve Pemberton.  The action takes place in the village of Mellstock, Dorset.  This is a pleasant, relaxing film, to be enjoyed with a scone and a cup of tea!

            Revving up a few gears, and a few decibels, but also in the DVD collection, is NASCAR: Driven to Win, a new film exploring NASCAR?s rising stars.  If you?ve been suffering withdrawal from the racing scene, you can indulge yourself with this film, until the season is back in full swing or gear!  The cast of characters interviewed and profiled includes: Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, and Brian Vickers.  You?ll learn how they first got their start and what some of their greatest challenges were. Their scariest moments will also be revealed.  This film was featured on the Biography Channel and is very comprehensive and action packed. 

            For a look at the life of a marine hero, we invite you to check out Indestructible, by Jack H. Lucas.  This Medal of Honor recipient tells his memoirs in an easily read style.  Lying about his age, he enlisted at 14, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Assigned to a combat unit bound for Iwo Jima, he turned 17 just five days before landing on the beaches there.  He managed to survive the battle, even after heroically falling on a grenade to protect some of his buddies.  Lucas? pride in his Marine heritage and love of country shines forth in this collection of memories.

            Casting with a Fragile Thread, a story of sisters and Africa, by Wendy Kann is another trip down memory lane.  Wendy tells of life in colonial Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, for herself and her two sisters.  Due to the country?s civil war and her father?s business dealings, the family becomes bankrupt and suffers a big decline in their fortunes.  Even though the book details a lot of unpleasant and sad events, (her mother?s alcoholism, her father and sister?s untimely deaths), the author survives and becomes more resilient and determined to provide the best for herself and her family. A move to the United States and marriage is instrumental in uniting the fractured parts of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood.  In many ways this book is a tribute to family and her beloved childhood home in Africa.  Black and white photos enhance several of the pages and serve as a poignant backdrop to the author?s memories.

            Author Phillip Yancey provides new and fresh insights into the mystifying topic of prayer in his latest book, Prayer, Does it Make Any Difference?.  Filled with beautiful descriptive prose, quotations and life stories, this new non-fiction selection will be of benefit to anyone struggling with spiritual issues.  Written and spoken prayers are examined and illustrated and Scripture is intertwined in each chapter.  Such topics as ?unanswered prayer,? ?arguing with God?, and  ?prayer and physical healing? make up a varied and comprehensive address of the subject.  With this latest introspective work, Phillip Yancey, while continuing to ask the hard questions, doesn?t disappoint by giving his readers ?pat? answers.  Come in to Peter White Library soon to be inspired by this and other great reads this month!

by Shelley Janofski, Circulation Desk

Good Things Come in Pairs

Since good things often come in pairs, here are three pairs of books and an outstanding junior novel that children and their parents won?t want to miss.

Look for this pair of new children?s picture books featuring famous people:

Ballet of the Elephants, written by Leda Schubert, tells the true story of collaboration between the greatest choreographer of the twentieth century, George Balanchine, and a world famous composer, Igor Stravinsky.  Their ballet for 50 elephants and 50 ballerinas, the Circus Polka, was performed over 400 times in cities across America.  The idea for the project came from John Ringling North, owner of The Greatest Show on Earth.  Watercolor illustrations by Robert Andrew Parker capture the magic and grace of this amazing ballet.

Louisa May & Mr. Thoreau?s Flute is a picture book written by Julie Dunlap and Marybeth Lorbiecki. Caldecott Medal winner, Mary Azarian, another famous New Englander illustrates it. This story takes place in Concord, Massachusetts where Henry Thoreau often took Louisa May Alcott and her classmates on treks exploring the woods near Walden Pond.  Azarian?s woodcut illustrations complement the story?s text nicely.

This pair of new picture books comes from neighboring countries:

Kristen Balouch?s picture book, Mystery Bottle, will send imaginations of very young readers soaring across the seas and over tall mountains into the loving arms of a small boy?s grandfather who lives in Iran.  Balouch?s simple illustrations overlaid on top of regional maps may inspire wanderlust in some parents too.

Lugalbanda, The Boy Who Got Caught Up In A War is an epic tale from ancient Iraq retold by Kathy Henderson and illustrated by Jane Ray.  Full pages of text interspersed with glowing illustrations bring to life the tale of a Sumerian boy who keeps his promise to the Anzu bird and relays advice to King Enmerkar during a siege of the City of Aratta.  Though originally written in cuneiform on clay tablets 5000 years ago, the subject of this ancient story is still timely today.

This pair books are both set within castles.

            I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith, is a coming-of-age novel that mothers often pass on for their daughters to read.  This fictional story is narrated by seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain who is living with her family in impoverished circumstances in a decaying English castle.  With a nod to Jane Austen, the plot thickens when wealthy brothers from America inherit the estate and the Mortmain sisters contemplate their future.

            Castles in the Air is a real life story of a young couple?s struggle to restore a ruined Tudor castle hidden deep within the Welsh countryside.  Superbly written by Judy Corbett, her story will enthrall readers from beginning to end and make them wish to see sixteenth-century Gwydir Castle for themselves.

This junior novel is one all patrons would enjoy:

            Guus Kuijer?s novel, The Book of Everything, is a book that offers wisdom far beyond its years. The book?s title refers to a journal kept by nine-year-old Thomas who lives in post-WWII Amsterdam.  Encouragement from an elderly neighbor, Mrs. van Amersfoort, a teenager named Eliza, and occasional visits with Jesus, help Thomas to fight the tyranny he finds within his own family.  Translated from Dutch into English in 2006, The Book of Everything is clever, poignant and memorable.

 ? Lisa Shirtz, Circulation Department

NEW GENRE FICTION ADDITIONS

One of the things I enjoy about the main floor of the Library is its diversity. Yes, that may be an odd word to use when describing a library, but PWPL?s main floor holds many genres of fictional reading material. Genre is a term used to organize fictional works sharing similarities of character, theme, and setting that have proven to appeal to particular readers together. It makes no difference which type of fictional genre you prefer; you can find it on this floor. New additions to the Library?s genre collections are shelved on the left two kiosks found at the center end of ?Main Street.?

• General fiction is written works that most often could be categorized in other more specific genre categories, but are placed in the ?general fiction section? because booksellers believe they will appeal to a wider audience than merely the readers of one genre. Included in this genre:

Dean Koontz writes books placed in this genre at PWPL. His book, Brother Odd, is the third  Odd Thomas novel and offers an irresistibly offbeat mix of supernatural horror and laugh-out-loud humor. A resident of St. Bartholomew's Abbey, a monastery in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Thomas has the ability to see the spirits of the dead, a gift he has used to resolve mysteries and prevent future tragedies. As this story opens, the seer is unsettled by visions of bodachs, sinister ghostlike entities whose appearance precedes some dire tragedy. Thomas frantically searches for some sign that will help him head off disaster. He must figure out both the identity of the person or being behind the terror plus the most effective way to restore peace to his haven. While newcomers may find the villain's underlying motive a bit over the top, the narrator's engaging voice should continue to give this series cross-genre appeal.

Nicholas Sparks returns to characters John Tyree and Savannah Lynn Curtis in his latest book, Dear John.  John and Savannah come from different sides of town, and varied social backgrounds that constantly throw hurdles into their lives. He forgoes college to join the military, while she heads off to college. Just when things might be working out for their reunion, 9/11 hits and John re-enlists.  Distance does not make the heart fonder when there is competition from another guy, Tim, for Savannah?s affections. Her letters become fewer and fewer, until John receives the inevitable ?Dear John? letter.

Lisey?s Story by Stephen King proves he's still the master of supernatural suspense in this minimally bloody but disturbing and sorrowful love story set in rural Maine. Lisey's husband, Pulitzer Prize winning author Scott Landon, has been dead for two years at the book's start. Lisey ?hears? him so often in her head that when her catatonic sister, Amanda, begins speaking to her with Scott's voice, she finds it not so much unbelievable as inevitable. Soon she's following a trail of clues that lead her to Scott's horrifying childhood and the eerie world called Boo'ya Moon, all while trying to help Amanda and avoid a murderous stalker.

Veteran Chicago journalist Jerry Crimmins explores the Windy City's roots in Fort Dearborn, a vividly imagined and well documented historical novel found in PWPL?s general fiction collection. Fort Dearborn is established in 1803 as an isolated outpost near the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, deep in Indian country. The fort, home to 81 soldiers and their families, shares its favorable site with a handful of other settlers including a wealthy Indian trader, John Kinzie. After 20 years of uneasy truce, Indian tribes in the Northwest Territory, loosely affiliated under the charismatic leadership of Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, and allied with the English, attack vulnerable American frontier garrisons as the War of 1812 breaks out. A coalition of tribes led by the neighboring Potawatomies set their sights on Dearborn. Crimmins populates his novel with historical figures drawn from his extensive research, but employs two fictional characters Jimmy Wheeler, the young son of one of the fort's soldiers, and Jimmy's friend, Strong Pike, a young Potawatomie boy, to present a balanced microcosm of the epic struggle. The novel reads like a suspense story, yet rewards its readers with in-depth knowledge of a period in U.S. history that played a crucial role in determining the fate of Native Americans throughout the Great Lakes region.

• Another genre found on the main floor at PWPL is Science Fiction, or SCI-FI. It is defined more by its setting than by other story elements. Most Sci-Fi novels have settings located in places other than Earth or in the future. Included in this genre:

Fantasy novels are included in the Sci-Fi genre, too, and C.J. Cherryh writes fantasy. In Fortress of Ice, Cherryh?s fifth Fortress fantasy, religious and ancient magical conflicts threaten the fragile peace of the divided kingdom of Ylesuin in an intense coming-of-age story. Aewyn, 15-year-old heir to the throne, has been raised apart from his illegitimate brother, Otter, who resides with Gran, a hedge-witch. The boys, potentially future enemies, adore their father, King Cefwyn, who encourages their friendship by asking Otter to live with them after he turns 16. Almost immediately problems occur with the Quinalt, a religious sect that abhors Otter's mixed heritage. Strange encounters in a haunted library and a nightmarish visit from Otter's mother point to worse trouble to come. Hint: Read the helpful introduction to guide you through the complex plot.

The Tourmaline by Paul Park is a story of Miranda Popescu. Raised hidden in our world, Miranda is transported, by magic, back to her own country "Roumania" in an alternate fantasy world where it is a leading European power. The Tourmaline tells the story of how Miranda, torn from her home via powerful alchemical forces and separated from her friends Peter and Andromeda, begins to grow into her new sense of self. It is also the tale of how these friends are shockingly changed as they make their way out of the forests of an alternate America, and across the ocean, to find Miranda again.

Kylara Vatta, the daughter of an interstellar shipping tycoon is the main character in Elizabeth Moon?s Engaging the Enemy.  Having been expelled from space academy, Ky is well on her way to making her fortune as a veteran of space warfare.  She lays the groundwork for an interstellar military force as a first step toward destroying a large army of pirates, reestablishing safe trading and cargo transport for the law-abiding citizens of her galaxy, and ultimately rebuilding her family?s empire. Fans of Anne McCaffrey's Rowan family Sci-Fi saga and David Weber's Honor Harrington military Sci-Fi series should enjoy this book. Moon has created a richly imagined universe of different cultures, complete with intriguing characters and the sense of unlimited possibility that characterizes the most appealing science fiction.

• The Mystery Genre technically involves stories in which characters try to discover vital information that is kept hidden till the climax. Other terms for a mystery include the whodunit and dectective fiction. Included in this genre:

Cherry Cheesecake Murder : a Hannah Swensen mystery with recipes by Joanne Fluke is of the mystery genre. Heroine Hannah is up to her usual tricks: keeping her hometown of Lake Eden, MN, happily fed with tasty cookies, chatting with her precocious niece and, of course, sleuthing. A movie crew in search of a quaint Minnesota location has landed in Hannah's 'hood, and filming goes smoothly until the director, a womanizing tyrant, accidentally shoots himself on the set. But was his death really an accident? Of course not! Someone nabbed the unloaded prop gun and left a real revolver in its place. Between baking batches of cookies, Hannah does solve this whodunit.

Bill Crider?s thirteenth title in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series, A Mammoth Murder, features a Texan Sheriff again solving murders while diverting his wife?s attempt to keep him on a low-fat diet. Blacklin County, Texas has two dead bodies, a large fossil believed to be Bigfoot?s tooth and a rumor mill that Rhodes uses to his benefit to solve these mysteries.  Readers will enjoy this latest hit with its brisk, funny dialogue and dry wit. 

Tony Hillerman's The Shape Shifter has retired Navajo tribal policeman Lt. Joe Leaphorn hunting for a soulless killer in another Leaphorn/Chee whodunit. Mel Bork, another cop retiree, wonders if the distinctive Navajo rug shown in a picture is the same one supposedly destroyed in a fire that the two officers investigated years before. That fire also supposedly took the life of a person identified among the FBI's most wanted. Bork's subsequent disappearance and murder herald the dangers awaiting Lt. Leaphorn. As he searches for evidence to confirm his suspicions, he enlists the aid of Sgt. Jim Chee and his new bride, Bernadette Manuelito. The conclusion is sure to startle longtime fans of this acclaimed mystery series writer.

• Western genre is defined by its American West setting, a time period usually in the second half of the 19th century, and by featuring heroes who are rugged, individualistic people. Included in this genre:

Anastasia Hobbet?s Pleasure of Believing is one of PWPL?s newest additions to its Western genre collection. In this book, Roberta Shea lives on a Wyoming ranch that was carved by her forefathers out of the wilderness. She does not share in her neighbors' assumption that pioneer sacrifices bestowed the right to exploit the land as they see fit by today?s ranchers. Roberta has converted her ranch into a rehabilitation center for birds of prey. Locally, she is referred as "the eagle lady". She is about to release two juvenile bald eagles that she has restored to health to join others of this endangered species. Her husband, Glenn, is a state senator. He loves his wife, but wishes she could be a bit more political when it comes to denouncing the neighbors. When a neighbor, struggling to protect his sheep from marauding coyotes, does what he feels he has to, he sets in motion a chain of events that challenges Roberta's loyalties. Inspired by a true 1971 event that led to the passage of the Endangered Species Act, this is a poetic evocation of Wyoming's high prairie country and of the bitter clash between the competing claims of the Old West and the New.

By Vicki J. Mann, Reference Department Staff

DVDs for a Movie Marathon

Now that the holiday rush is over, pop some popcorn and get ready for a movie marathon with a selection of DVDs from PWPL.

Fans of Sylvester Stallone can relive the greatest underdog story of our time by watching all five ROCKY films beginning with the 1976 Oscar winner for Best Picture. Although the first three are generally regarded as the best of the ?Rockies,? the last two are still campy fun.  MGM released the DVD set to coincide with the new Rocky Balboa film now in theaters. 

Sports and Shakespeare blend successfully in ?O,? a controversial modern-day version of Shakespeare's classic "Othello.? The title character, ?O? is the schools' best basketball player and NBA hopeful. Everyone, including his coach and a beautiful classmate, adores him. However, "O" has a troubled friend, who is the coaches' son and deeply resentful of his father?s preference to "O" on and off the court. The seeds of mistrust are sown and it sets into motion a disturbing chain of events. 

The many admirers of Gayle LaJoye?s SNOWFLAKE will be happy to see this DVD of his performance.  A unique and inspiring entertainer, Marquette resident LaJoye is a former Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus clown who has mastered the art of illusion, physical humor and non-verbal communication. In SNOWFLAKE he has created a funny and poignant play based on the life of a local man.

Ringo Starr narrates THE POINT, a charming 1971 animated feature about a boy with a round head who is banished from the land of pointy-headed people. An allegory about nonconformism presented in a delightful way, this is a treat for everybody.

Polish actor-director Jerzy Stuhr delivers a wise and cautionary parable about tolerance and community in THE BIG ANIMAL. The mysterious appearance of an abandoned camel delights a childless couple, but disrupts ordinary life in their village. By the end of the film, the charming tale becomes a biting satire about the difficulty of daring to be different in an intolerant world.

If you savor man-versus-nature drama, check out THE SNOW WALKER set in northern Canada. Charlie is a cocksure pilot who runs deliveries out of Yellowknife. An Inuit family convinces him to take their tubercular daughter to a hospital. On the way back, however, the plane crashes and Charlie finds himself trapped in the arctic wastes with an invalid who seems to speak no English.

A Swiss/Austrian/West German co-production, Markus Imhoof's striking drama, THE BOAT IS FULL offers a powerful story of rescue and redemption. The owner of a small inn in Switzerland offers shelter to a small band of Jewish refugees on the condition that they pose as his family. Their safety is threatened by the presence of one boy who speaks only French, alone among adults who speak only German. Can he maintain his silence? He holds the fate of the whole group in his small hands.

An epic adventure of mystery and obsession unfolds in THE RED VIOLIN when an appraiser of rare musical instruments discovers a one-of-a-kind, red violin at a prestigious Montreal auction house. As the story of the instrument is uncovered a shocking secret is discovered.

If nonfiction is more to your taste, try a few of the terrific documentaries in the PWPL DVD collection. THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL is an excellent choice for bird lovers and is a delightful film for the whole family. The stars of this film are a flock of rambunctious urban parrots in San Francisco. The documentary follows the ups and downs of these wild birds as a local homeless man feeds, befriends and protects the members of the flock.

Watch the latest in the ?UP? documentary series that critic Roger Ebert places on his list of the ten greatest films of all time. In 1964 a group of seven-year old children were interviewed for the documentary Seven Up. Every seven years a researcher for Seven Up has been back to talk to them, examining the progression of their lives. 49 UP is the latest entry and worth the seven-year wait.

Are you enjoying the mild winter we are having? Think again. Former Vice President Al Gore presents an eye-opening and compelling view of the future of our planet in AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. The intriguing documentary delivers the message that global warming is a real and present danger.

The recent Broadway musical based on the 1976 documentary GREY GARDENS has rekindled interest in an unexpected branch of Jackie Onasiss?s family. Big and little Edie Beal are high society cast-aways the filmmakers discovered living in a dilapidated East Hampton mansion. The fiercely independent mother and daughter live unapologetically eccentric lives and the fascinating documentary portrays them with empathy.

by Claire Rose, Deputy Director