October Trivia Contest Winner!

October's trivia winner is Jennifer Cole!

She has won a gift certificate to the 1910 Coffee House and Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund. The prize can be picked up at the circulation desk :-)

This month's answers were:
1. Who is R.L. Stine's favorite actor? Jim Carrey
2. What percentage of the world's flowering plants live only in the Rainforest? 80%
3. What percentage of rainforest plants have been tested for medicinal use? 1%
4. Who was the first Alliance Public Library Librarian? Marie Basse
5. What was her monthly salary? $25
6. According to superstition, what does it mean when you see a spider on Halloween? It means that the spirit of a loved one is looking over you.

Thank you everyone for participating! I'll have the first November question posted in a few days.

October Trivia Contest #6

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Trivia Question # 6:
According to superstition, what does it mean when you see a spider on Halloween?

This is the last question of the month. To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize. You can still answer Questions 1-5 simply by emailing your answers to me by midnight on October 31st. I will announce the winner on Monday.

Thanks again to everyone who has been participating! Spread the word!

Halloween Based on the Book

Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller The Birds was actually based on Daphne Du Maurier's story "The Birds" which we have available in her collection Echoes from the Macabre (FIC DUM). We also have a number of Alfred Hitchcock collections at call number SC FIC ALF.

Here is the 1963 release of The Birds

Halloween Based on the Book

Ray Bradbury has writen a number of good Halloween books, including A Graveyeard for Lunatics (FIC BRA), From the Dust Returned (FIC BRA & AB FIC BRA) and The Halloween Tree (JPB BRA), all of which are available for checkout. I've read From The Dust Returned and it was pretty good - kind of reminded me of The Addams Family.

The Halloween Tree was turned into an animated Halloween Special narrated with excerpts from the book by Ray Bradbury himself. Here's the entire movie:

Halloween Based on the Book

I am out on vacation all week, so I have put together a week of Halloween themed based on the book. I am a sucker for any Halloween & Christmas movies and love to read books that get me in the right mood for holidays.

Today's pick is from one of my favorite juvenile authors, Roald Dahl. We have the book in our collection and it is ready to be checked out. His stories are great for kids and adults that want to reconnect with their inner child.

Here's the full movie, which was a Jim Henson production so you know it will be good!

Bookworm

Isn't this little bookworm costume amazing!

Fiction

Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson: Detective Alex Cross recounts the story of his great-uncle Abraham, who, with the help of his beautiful daughter, introduces Washington, D.C., attorney Ben Corbett to the dark side of their small Southern town in the early 1900s, where Ben has been sent to investigate a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd: British World War I nurse Bess Crawford, recovering from an injury, takes the opportunity to honor a promise she made to dying patient Arthur Graham to deliver a message to his brother, and becomes involved in trying to help yet another brother.

Diamondhead by Patrick Robinson: Mack Bedford is kicked out of the Navy SEALs after gunning down a group of Iraqi insurgents who killed Mack's fellow officers with a dangerous weapon sold to them by French politician Henri Foche, so when Mack is asked to assassinate Foche, he sees it as both a chance for revenge and a means of paying for the expensive medical treatment his son needs.

Order in Chaos by Jack Whyte: King Phillip IV has sent his armies to arrest every Templar in France in a single morning. He also seizes all the Temple assets. Sir William St. Clair manages to flee with the legendary treasure to Scotland. Eventually he releases his men from their sacred vow and allows them to fight as Temple Knights one last time.

Heaven's Keep by William Kent Krueger: When a charter plane carrying Cork O'Connor's wife, Jo, goes missing in a snowstorm over the Wyoming Rockies, Cork must accept the terrible truth that his wife is gone forever. But is she?

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks: Ronnie Miller is resentful when her mother insists she and her brother spend the summer with their estranged father, and while things get off to a rocky start, Ronnie eventually makes friends and begins to better understand her dad and why he wanted her to visit.

A Quiet Belief in Angels by R. J. Ellory: Joseph Vaughan learns of the assault and murder of a classmate that he was close to. Joseph gathers a group of friends to form "The Guardians" to watch over the girls of Augusta Falls, but the murderer evades them. Fifty years later, Joseph must confront the nightmare that has overshadowed his entire life.

Non Fiction
How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy: Discusses how to present yourself no matter what the fashion or fad and gain respect for yourself and family, friends, and colleagues.

Whickers, Wit and Wisdom by Niki Anderson: Cats demonstrate traits that most people only hope for, which include special elements of Purr-rayer, The Tail End, Kitty Wit, and Bio-note.

Men in Black by Mark R. Levin: Examines several issues in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court maintaining that justices have subverted democracy in order to support their own liberal agenda, and sites such decisions as Roe v. Wade, segregation, separation of church and state, and more.

Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements and Antiques by C.H. Wendel: Presents over twenty-five hundred illustrations of American fame implements and antiques along with names, equipment makers, and locations on items including combines and cultivators, milking machines and corn planters, reapers and threshers, and much more.

The Last Prarie: A Sandhills Journal by Stephen R. Jones: Contains twenty essays in which naturalist and author Stephen Jones meditates upon life in the Nebraska Sandhills, the largest remaining relic of the American prairies.

The Year Everything Change 1959 by Fred Kaplan: Chronicles the vital events that took place around the world in 1959 and explains how those events changed cultures, governments, human knowledge and development, and virtually every aspect of life.

Nurture Shock: New Thinking about Children by Bo Bronson: Reveals what decades of studies teach us about the complexities of raising, happy, healthy, self-motivated kids.

Halloween Based on the Book

Edgar Allan Poe has long been considered a classic horror writer, and many of his works are available for checkout. Some of his more famous works have crept over into cinema, including The Tell Tale Heart and The Black Cat. My personal favorite is The Simpson's rendition of The Raven, which I was unable to find :-( I did however find The Tell Tale Heart with Vincent Price.

So if your too old to go Trick-or-Treating this year, why not curl up with a bit of Poe?

Halloween Storytime

Join us at Storytime for Halloween stories and ghoulish fun!

Tuesday, October 27th at 6:30pm

and Thursday, October 29th at 10:00am

for a Halloween Party!

October Trivia #4 & Anniversary Pics

Here are just a few of the pictures we took at the Alliance Public Library 100 year Anniversary Celebration:

^The Friends of the Library weekly volunteers ^

^ Alison Gould (APL Board Teen Reoresentative), Rosa Lee Hoff (APL Board President), Georgina Red Fern (Dena's mom) and Melba Dickenson (APL Board Member)

APL Staff L-R: Jan (Technical Librarian), Stephanie (Children and Youth Librarian) and Ronda (Adult Services Librarian)

I'll try to set up a flickr account over the next few weeks with all of our other pictures in it :-)

Question #4 & #5

Who was the first Alliance Public Library Librarian?

What was her monthly salary?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Teen Read Week 2009!

This week is Teen Read Week, so if you're a teen, or you know a teen, or you like young adult fiction, come on by and check out a book! We have a wonderful teen section, something that wasn't really around when I was a teen, and there are so many new authors who are writing specifically for the young adult age group. I've read a number of young adult books and like them because they are the happy medium between juvenile fiction and adult fiction.

A few of my recent reads that I enjoyed include: Wildwood Dancing, The Hunger Games & Catching Fire, Life as We Knew It and, of course, the ever famous Twilight series.

Do you have a fovarite Young Adult book? If so, leave a comment and let us know the title.

And here are some additional links concerning Teen Read Week:
Young Adult Library Services Associate (YALSA) Blog
Young Adult Book Lists and Awards
2009 Best Books for Young Adults
2009 Top Ten Books for Young Adults (We have a number of these available for checkout.)
2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
http://www.teenreads.com/

Bookworm

FICTION
Star wars: Fate of the Jedi by Troy Denning: Luke Skywalker continues his desperate mission to uncover the truth behind Jacen's fall to the dark downfall and his only path to the truth maybe into the labyrinth of black holes where the Mind Walkers dwell.

A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks: Ben Holiday is monarch of enchanted Landover. His daughter, Mistaya, is in a girls' prep school and gets suspended. Ben is determined that his daughter must learn responsibility and declares her grounded until she refurbishes the royal library. When she runs away she begins an odyssey.

Outlaw's Bride by Lori Copeland: Johnny McAllister was being a model prisoner on a rehabilitation program so he could be released early and continue his plan to find and kill the man who had wiped out his family 16 years earlier. But, he hadn't counted on the beautiful Ragan and the generous folks of Barren Flats.

A Dream to Call My Own by Tracie Peterson: Lacy Gallatin, the youngest, is determined to find her father's murderer, but her quest is compromised when she develops a romantic attachment to Dave Shepard, the deputy sheriff for Gallatin Crossing, Montana, who is helping her solve the mystery.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga: Balram Halwai is educated in the art of corruption when he is hired as the driver for the wealthiest man in his village in India, by witnessing his employers bribe and barter through his rear view mirror.

Dragons of the Dwarven Depths by Margaret Weis: After slaying the Dragon Highlord Verminaard and saving the refugees from Pax, Tanis and Flint are sent to search for the long-lost dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin seeking winter shelter for the refugees. There, Flint faces a test in which he must make a choice that may decide the future of Krynn.

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory: While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown.

Non Fiction
Liars Too by Roger Welsch: Another two and a half years of laughter from the Nebraska Farmer's Liar's Corner.

Your Guide to Nebraskaspeak by Paul Fell: Cartoon drawing depicting pronunciations of towns in Nebraska.

How the States Got Their Shape by Mark Stein: Explores the history behind each of the fifty United States and why their border lines are where they are.

Ddiary of a Husker by David Kolowski: Is an account of the five years (1998-2002) Kolowski spent as a walk-on offensive lineman for the University of Nebraska football team. His book, based on the daily journal he kept during his Husker football career, is a behind the scenes look into the world of Cornhusker football.

Out of Attica by William Kloefkorn: New poems by the Nebraska State Poet, widely acclaimed for his poetry dealing with the land and people of the Great Plains.

Train Time in Nebraska: The Post Card Era by Michael M. Bartels: A look back at the golden era of the railroad station and train travel in Nebraska depicted on post cards between 1900 and 1915 with more than 100 historic post card images and captions.

Excuses Begone! by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer: Discusses how to alter self-defeating thought patterns that prevent the achievement of high levels of success, health, and happiness by examining one's beliefs from a new perspective in order to see the truth behind excuses and proceed toward a plan for a positive paradigm shift.

Based on the Book

Since Halloween is almost upon us, I thought I would feature Bram Stoker's Dracula for today's post. The story of Dracula has been made into many movies over the years and the novel is available for checkout at FIC STO. Stop on in and check it out to get yourself in the mood for Halloween.

And as a little bonus, here is the entire 1932 release of Dracula.


P.S. I went to Where the Wild Things Are on Friday night and it was so good I am probably going to go again sometime this week :-) Maurice Sendak actually helped produce it, which I didn't realize, so it kept the same feel as the book. The costumes and sets were absoultey amazing!

100th Anniversary Celebration

Last night we had our 100th Anniversary Celebration, as well as celebrated 10 years in our current building. The commissioned painting was revealed and it is amazing! We are looking forward to having it permanently hung in the building!

Click here to be redirected to KCOW's website for pictures of the commissioned 100 Year Anniverary painting by local artist Robert Peltz and audio of the entire program.

I will post some pictures either later today or Monday, so be sure to check back.

100th Anniversary Celebration Tonight!

The Alliance Public Library is Celebrating 100 years of service to the community

tonight at 5:00 pm

Join us for refreshments, a program and the unveiling of the 100th Anniversary commemorative painting.

October Trivia Contest #2

October 12-18 is World Rainforest Week

We have a number of items available for checkout concerning the rainforest. The Planet Earth DVDs are available for checkout, and it has a wonderful section on jungles, available at DVD 591.7. We also have a few books available for checkout concerning rainforests and their ecosystems. Click here for ideas on how to celebrate World Rainforest Week and click here to watch the film Green, which tells a story through the eyes of a female Orangutan whose habitat is threatened by corporate deforestation.

Question #2 & #3
What percentage of the world's flowering plants live only in the rainforest?
What percentage of rainforest plants have been tested for medicinal use?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Bookworm

Fiction
The Doomsday Key by James Rollins: Commander Gray Pierce and his Sigma Force operatives investigate the murders of three individuals in different countries whose bodies were marked with a Druidic pagan cross and connect the crimes to an ancient artifact which can threaten the existence of mankind if it falls into the wrong hands.

Hitler's War by Harry Turtledove: What if Neville Chamberlain had not ceded part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler? This alternative history explores the possibility of a totally different World War II.

The Still of the Night by Kristen Heitzmann: Morgan Spencer has a gift for identifying problems and finding solutions in both business and his friends' personal lives, but he can't seem to set his own life straight, until a young woman enters his life with news that will either set him free or ruin his life.

The Return by Ben Bova: Astronaut Keith Stoner, having spent more than a century exploring space, returns to Earth and joins forces with an engineer in an attempt to save humanity from destroying itself through the use of nuclear weapons, but their efforts are hindered by an ultraconservative religious group which is focused on saving America from godlessness.

A Cousin's Promis by Wanda Brunstetter: Crippled in a horrific accident, Wayne Lambright feels unable to care for himself, much less Loraine Miller, his future bride, so he does everything he can to rekindle feelings between her and ex-boyfriend Jake Beechy, but Loraine's heart is torn.

Rules of Vengence by Christopher Reich: “Doctors Without Borders” physician Jonathan Ransom is working under an assumed name in a remote corner of Africa while his wife, Emma, desperate to escape the wrath of Division, the secret American intelligence agency she betrayed, has vanished into the netherworld of international espionage.

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl: Seventeen-year-old Katie, a Senate page, disappears while walking her dog and reporter Cassidy Shaw, federal prosecutor Allison Pierce, and FBI agent Nicole Hedges take on the case; but clues from Katie's Web diary reveals a secret relationship with an older man who might turn out to be a U.S. Senator.

Sand Sharks by Margaret Maron: Judge Deborah Knott is ready for a vacation and conference at the beach where she can unwind and visit with friends and colleagues. When one of the less admired colleagues is found strangled, she is unwilling to stand by while the murderer draws near. Everyone becomes a suspect.

The Traffickers by W.E.B. Griffin: Homicide sergeant Matthew Payne is used to murder, but there's been an awful lot of it in Philadelphia. The murders appear to not be related, but he can't shake the hunch that there's something more to it and the hunch leads him to the Texas-Mexico border and a Texas Ranger who is tracking a nasty murderer with Mexican cartel connections.

Intervention by Robin Cook: I it has been more than thirty years since medical examiner Jack Stapleton’s college graduation and almost as long since he’d been in touch with former classmates Shawn Doherty and Kevin Murray. Kevin turns to his old friend Jack to help protect an explosive secret—one with the power to change lives forever.

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown: Defense lawyer Derek Mitchell is hired to defend Creighton Wheeler, the nephew of recently murdered CEO Paul Wheeler, before an accusation has been made, but Julie Rutledge, Paul's mistress who was present at his death, is determined to prove Creighton's guilt and possibly ruin Derek's career in the process.

The Dame by R.A. Salvatore: Progress is made and the kingdoms of Honce could be brought together maybe to unite. But the laird began a fight for supremacy and Bransen learns that some things truly matter on his quest to put right over wrong, a quest for the truth of Honce and of himself.

The Winds of Dune by Brian Herbert: After Paul-Muad'Dib walks off into the desert and is presumed dead, his mother, Jessica, returns to Dune to assist sixteen-year-old regent Alia, who is trying to counteract the propaganda spread by Bronso of Ix but does not know that Paul had charged him with the task when they were boyhood friends.

Rhino Ranch by Larry McMurtry: After a heart attack, Duane Moore returns to Texas, where he encounters and is charmed by K. K. Slater, an heiress who has opened a ranch for endangered black rhinoceros, but the return of Honor Carmichael hinders Duane's romantic endeavors.

October Trivia Contest

Happy Birthday to R.L. Stine!
His creepy books have sparked the reading interest of many many children, and for that we are thankful.

Question #1:

Who is R.L. Stine's favorite actor?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Bookworm

Fiction
Purses and Poison by Dorothy Howell: Fashion sleuth Haley Randolph decides to help out when she arrives at Holt department store for the employee luncheon and fashion show--being catered by her mother, to find one of the servers is sick, but everything goes sour when model Claudia Gray, is found dead in the ladies room, and Haley becomes a prime suspect.

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen: Medical examiner Maura Isles and Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli investigate when a murderer begins placing his victims in the Crispin Museum and a young archaeologist goes missing.

Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy: Grant is a cowboy with a ranch full of orphans he's rescued and wants to take in two more. Hannah takes the job of schoolmarm and is determined that Grant should not exploit these children with hard labor. Then oil is discovered on Grant's land and the con artists are trying to steal his ranch.

The Deep Blue Sea For Beginners by Luanne Rice: Years ago Lyra Davis left behind her privileged world and the people she loved. Now that her father is dead, Pell and her sister long for the mother who ran away. Pell travels across the ocean to make sure Lyra is secure and discovers the deep truths Lyra could never tell.

The Siege by Stephen White: On the Yale campus it appears that a number of students may have gone missing. Suspended Boulder police detective Sam Purdy soon finds himself and FBI agent Christopher Poe and CIA analyst Deirdre Drake trying to solve the riddle of what is going on inside the windowless stone tomb on the edge of campus.

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant: In the year 1570, a convent is disrupted by the arrival of Serafina, the daughter of a noble family who has been forced to attend the convent and begins a complex relationship of trust and betrayal with one of the nuns.

Dragons of the Hourglass Mage by Margaret Weis: Raistlin Majere, now a Black Robe wizard, travels to the lord city of the Dark Queen, Neraka, where he feigns a desire to work for her to gain more power, but when he uncovers Takhisis' plot against the gods of magic, Raistlin will be forced into battle against his own sister and her ally, Lord Soth.

Nonfiction
Jumbo: This Being the True Story of the Greatest Elephant in the World by Paul Chambers: The true uncensored story of Jumbo the elephant from his birth to his tragic end including how Jumbo was exploited, how he was self-destructive, and how he lived an extraordinary life.

How the Mighty Fall and Why Some Companies Never Give In by Jim Collins: Examines why large, successful companies fail in times of hardship, explains how a company's failure can be detected while there is still time to stop it, and discusses how companies can reverse their course and prevent failure.

My life in France by Julia Child: Julia Child's chronicles the years she spent in France, where she discovered a passion for French cuisine and found her life's calling as a chef.

Sickened by Julie Gregory: The author describes her life as the daughter of a woman afflicted with Munchausen by proxy, a form of child abuse in which a parent, most often a mother, invents or induces illness in a child in order to gain attention from medical professionals, tells how she was able to save herself, and discusses her efforts to have another young girl removed from her mother's care.

Dear First Lady: Letters to the White House: This unique collection of letters offers a glimpse of the wit and wisdom the First ladies dispensed, the joys and tragedies they endured, and the exuberant diversity of the women themselves.

Candle Creations by Simon Lycett: Provides illustrated, step-by-step instructions for making and displaying candles.

Tiling Complete by Michael Schweit: Filled with trade secrets only a pro would know, as well as detailed instructions and many photos and drawing that show every step.

Celebrating 100 Years!

The Alliance Public Library is Celebrating 100 years of service to the community!

A program will be held

Thursday, October 15th at 5:oo pm

in the Library.

Click here to read an article and hear a radio interview concerning the centennial anniversary with Library Director Dena Crews and Library Board President Rosa Lee Hoff.

Based on the Book

The movie A Beautiful Mind is based on the biography of John Forbes Nash Jr., winner of the Nobel-Prize for his economic theories who suffers from schizophrenia. The movie won 4 academy awards and we have the book available for checkout at call number B NAS

"How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?" the visitor from Harvard asked the West Virginian with the movie-star looks and Olympian manner.
"Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did," came the answer. "So I took them seriously."
Thus begins the true story of John Nash, the mathematical genius who was a legend by age thirty when he slipped into madness, and who -- thanks to the selflessness of a beautiful woman and the loyalty of the mathematics community -- emerged after decades of ghostlike existence to win a Nobel Prize and world acclaim.

Here is a full length documentary on the life of John Nash titled A Brilliant Madness:

Brown Bag Program Tomorrow!

John Miller reviews

Dreams of My Father and

The Audacity of Hope

by Barack Obama

Friday, October 2nd

12:00 noon

in the Alliance Learning Center

Community Rooms

(The Library will close for this event.)

This free program is provided courtesy of The Friends of the Library. Light refreshments will be served.

September Trivia Winner!

Tracy Davis is this month's trivia winner!

The prize is a free 6" sandwich from Subway and a copy of Cormac McCarthy's book The Road. We'll have your prize at the circulation desk.

Here were the questions and answers for September:

1. In what publication did Richard Wright's first story appear? The Jackson Southern Register
2. Tolstoy was the direct descendent of what famous Mongolian? Ghengis Khan

3. Who is considered the father of the constitution? James Madison

4. What was the name of the Fraggle Rock episode that the Fraggle pictured above in the upper left hand corner first appeared (bonus for his name)? The Minstrels & his name is Cantus

5. In the book The Christmas Memory, Buddy, the narrator, has a nameless cousin. The character is based on one of Truman Capote's real life cousins - what was her name? Sook Faulk

I'll be starting the October contest next week :-) Thanks to all who participated!

Bookworm

New Young Adult books
Static by Walter Sorrells: A charter plane crash on a deserted island forces a disparate group of teenagers to bury their petty jealousies and cooperate in an attempt to survive.

Nation by Terry Pratchett: A tsunami destroys everything leaving Mau, an island boy, Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, and a small group of refugees responsible for rebuilding their village and their lives.

Daniel X Watch the Skies by James Patterson: A dangerous outlaw arrives in the small town of Holliswood, where everything seems perfect, with the intention of documenting the chaos and destruction he hopes to cause, and Daniel X attempts to stop the powerful villain with a hand-picked team.

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher: In 1941 Chicago, fifteen-year-old Ruby, a Polish-American girl from the slums, leaves her meat-packing plant job to be a "taxi" dancer, paid a dime apiece to dance with men in a dance hall, and becomes entangled with the mob.

George's Cosmic Trasure Hunt by Lucy Hawking: George is heartbroken when his neighbor Annie and her space-scientist father move to Florida, but when Annie sends him a secret message telling him she has been contacted by aliens with a terrible warning, he joins her in a galaxy-wide search for answers.

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd: In 1981, the height of Ireland's "Troubles," eighteen-year-old Fergus is distracted from his upcoming A-level exams by his imprisoned brother's hunger strike, the stress of being a courier for Sinn Fein, and dreams of a murdered girl whose body he discovered in a bog.

The Brother's Torres by Coert Voorhees: Sophomore Frankie finally finds the courage to ask his long-term friend, Julianne, to the Homecoming dance, which ultimately leads to a face-off between a tough senior whose family owns most of their small, New Mexico town, and Frankie's soccer-star older brother and his gang-member friends.

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages: While her father works on the Manhattan Project, eleven-year-old gadget lover and outcast Dewey Kerrigan lives in Los Alamos Camp, and becomes friends with Suze, another young girl who is shunned by her peers. One Book - One Nebraska For Children Selection 2009

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez: Seventeen-year-old Daisy Giordano, daughter and sister of psychics, attempts to help her mother discover who is behind a series of bizarre attacks on teenage girls in their little town of Nightshade, California.

The Calder Game by Blue Balliett: When Calder Pillay disappears from a remote English village--along with an Alexander Calder sculpture to which he has felt strangely drawn--his friends Petra and Tommy fly from Chicago to help his father find him.

The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding: Orphan Catherine "Cat" Royal, living at the Drury Lane Theater in 1790s London, tries to find the "diamond" supposedly hidden in the theater, which unmasks a treasonous political cartoonist, and involves her in the street gangs of Covent Garden and the world of nobility.

When the Black Girls Sings by Bil Wright: Adopted by white parents and sent to an exclusive girls' school where she is the only African-American student, fourteen-year-old Lahni Schuler feels like an outcast, particularly when her parents separate, but after attending a local church where she hears gospel music for the first time, she finds her voice.

House of Dance by Beth Kephart: During one of her daily visits across town to visit her dying grandfather, fifteen-year-old Rosie discovers a dance studio that helps her find a way to bring her family members together.

Good Enough by Paula Yoo: A Korean American teenager tries to please her parents by getting into an Ivy League college, but a new guy in school and her love of the violin tempt her in new directions.

September Trivia Question #5

Truman Capote

September 30, 1924 ~ August 25, 1984

Truman Capote has contributed a number of classics to the world of literature, including the books In Cold Blood and Breakfast at Tiffany's. We have a few of his novels available for checkout.

Question #5:

In the book The Christmas Memory, Buddy, the narrator, has a nameless cousin. The character is based on one of Truman's real life cousins - what was her name?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

This is the last question of the month. I will accept answers for question 1-5 via email through the end of the day on Thursday, October 1st, and will announce the winner on Friday.

Based on the Book

Howl's Moving Castle is an animated movie by Hayao Miyazaki, founder of Studio Ghibli which is like the Japanese Disney. The movie is beautiful, as is the book it was based on written by Diana Wynne Jones. We have the book available for checkout at call number YA FIC JON.

In Wynne Jones' fantasy universe there is always odd magic cropping up. When the reluctant milliner Sophie talks to her hats, unfortunately they listen. It is unfortunate, because in unwittingly giving futures to her hats' purchasers, she brings down the wrath of the Witch of the Waste. A quick visit by the witch, a short spell, and seventeen-year-old Sophie is aged sixty years. Undaunted, Sophie hobbles off to seek her fortune as a cleaning woman in the moving castle of the young wizard Howl—and the fun begins. Shortly Sophie has the entire establishment well in hand, even the vain clothes-horse Howl. But finding an end to her spell is another matter. Wynne Jones' castle is a marvelous conceit—four doors open onto four different locations, and the whole is moved by Howl's talking fire demon, Calcifer.

And here's a trailer:

October Brown Bag

John Miller reviews

Dreams of My Father and

The Audacity of Hope

by Barack Obama

Friday, October 2nd

12:00 noon

in the Alliance Learning Center

Community Rooms

(The Library will close for this event.)

This free program is provided courtesy of The Friends of the Library. Light refreshments will be served.

September Trivia Question #4

Happy Birthday Jim Henson!

September 24, 1936 ~ May 16, 1990

We have many books and videos depicting Jim Henson's colorful and lovable characters. I have been a fan of Jim Henson ever since I was a child, with my favorite works being The Dark Crystal and Fraggle Rock.

Question #4:

What was the name of the Fraggle Rock episode that the Fraggle pictured above in the upper left hand corner first appeared.

*I'll give you a bonus if you can tell me his name.

To participate in this month's contest, simply email the answer with your name to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net and for each correct answer, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Banned Book Week

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read During Banned Books Week!

September 26th ~ October 3rd

Stop by and take a look at our Banned Books display, located near the circulation desk, to find out why these classics have been banned: Animal Farm, Black Beauty, Call of the Wild, Catcher in the Rye, Doctor Zhivago, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Of Mice and Men, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, The Lorax, Ulysses and more. Many classic and contemporary banned & challenged books are on display and available for checkout.

Bookworm

Fiction
The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis: A fictionalized account of the life of Catherine de Medici, wife to King Henry II and mother-in-law to Mary, Queen of Scots that examines the darker aspects of Catherine's life, including her desperate acts to win her husband's love and bear his children.

Missing Mark by Julie Kramer: When Riley tries to find out the story behind a "Wedding Dress for Sale, Never Worn" sign and the missing groom, her TV station boss doesn't think it will help the ratings. Riley has other neighborhood problems and discovers a startling motive for the groom disappearing.

Rain Gods by James Lee Burke: Hackberry Holland takes the sheriff job in a tiny Texas town near the Mexican border hoping he can leave his past behind and lead a quiet life, but the discovery of nine illegal aliens who were brutally murdered ruins any chance of peace.

Open Season by C. J. Box: Joe Pickett, a rookie game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, decides to investigate when he finds a local hunting outfitter dead in his woodpile, and believes the murder is linked to the discovery of an endangered species which would derail plans by InterWest to build a natural gas pipeline across the state.

Black Order by James Rollins: The elite scientists of Sigma Force race to crack the ultimate mystery of mankind in a quest that will save or destroy the human race.

Confessor by Terry Goodkind: As the world is overtaken by evil, never to be the same again, wizard Richard Rahl struggles with guilt over the sin he cannot confess to his wife, Mother Confessor Kahlan, who has lost all her memories.

Defector by Daniel Silva: Gabriel Allon resumes his honeymoon only to learn from British Intelligence that the man who saved his life, Grigori Bulganov--a defector and former Russian intelligence officer--has vanished, and Gabriel is determined to keep the promise that he made, despite the risk of losing that which he values most.

Nonfiction
Lighten Up! By Loretta LaRoche: A humorous and informative book disclosing the wisdom Loretta has accumulated through her expertise as an international stress consultant, former aerobics instructor and owner of a wellness center. Her secrets for reducing weight and stress might surprise you.

Luther North Frontier Scout by Jeff O’Donnell: The true story of how the Old West scouts made frontier railroads and settlement possible.

Glenn Beck's Common Sense: Glenn Beck draws on Thomas Paine's original "Common Sense" to encourage Americans to protect the civil liberties and freedoms Thomas urged people to fight for more than two hundred years ago.

Prairie Tale by Melissa Gilbert: Actress Melissa Gilbert chronicles her life, discussing what it was like to be raised in a prominent Hollywood family, her years on "Little House on the Prairie," relationship with Michael Landon, battles with addiction, marriages, poor self-esteem, and eventual acceptance of herself and her past.

The Library by Stuart A. P. Murray: The Library tells the story of libraries and of the changing form and function of the book from era to era, whether clay tablets, parchment sheets, papyrus scrolls, glossy paper, recording tape or silicone chips. At the heart of the story of libraries and books is the story of the reader, who also has changed from era to era.

Eat This Not That: Super Market Survival Guide by David Zinckenko: Provides nutritional facts for thousands of foods found in the supermarket; and suggests healthier alternatives.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey: Presents advice that lets women inside the male mindset to reveal answers about spotting the right kind of man for a relationship, with questions to ask and tips about how to determine whether a man is independent, trustworthy, and mature.

September Trivia Contest Question #3

Since I have not posted any new questions (I was sick and then had some days off) I am going to be posting two this week. National Constitution Week is September 17 through 23rd, so I thought I would post a question concerning the constitution. We have a number of different material available on the constitution, including some DVDs which can be found at call number DVD 347. Click here to read the United States Constitution.

Question #3
Who is considered the father of the constitution?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Based on the Book

The Road is being released in theatres on October 16th, and I sure do hope that we get the movie here in Alliance! If it's anywhere near as good as the book, it will be a winner for sure.
The searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece. A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food-—and each other.

The story and subject matter is pretty dark, but very moving. This novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007. It is available for checkout and can be found at call number FIC COR.



Here's a trailer:

Bookworm

Fiction

Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen: Rachel Kirby is a computer genius whose sister is dying of a rare chronic illness. John Tavak, an archaeologist, has made a priceless discovery in an Egyptian tomb that may save Rachel's sister's life. Together, they must outwit a powerful organization, and bring to light an ancient civilization's legacy.

Dying For Mercy by Mary Jane Clark: When death shatters the serenity of the exclusive moneyed enclave of New York, Eliza Blake, co-host of the morning television show, is on the scene. While attending a gala at her friends' estate, Eliza's host is found dead.

Swan For the Money by Donna Andrews: Meg Longslow encounters new levels of eccentricity when she volunteers to help with the annual rose show sponsored by the Caerphilly Garden Club, of which her parents have recently become members, but Meg begins a hasty investigation when she learns of a murderous plot.

Last Light Over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe: Carolina Morrison reflects on the moments that shaped her marriage to her husband Bud during one fateful day when Bud is lost at sea during a dangerous storm.

Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockman: Alyssa Locke is a team leader of a personal security company, holds her own with the best of them–and against the worst of them. Guarding lives is her game, and no one plays it better. But her toughest challenge will be protecting herself from a serial killer who is determined to make her his ultimate trophy.

Colorado by Rosey Dow: Four short stories about frontier life and women in Colorado.

Two of the Deadliest: A collection of twenty-three stories from today's top female crime writers and some talented newcomers.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella: Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but normal girls don't get visited by ghosts, do they? But Sadie is a ghost and a great aunt looking for a missing necklace. Everything else is going wrong in her life too.

Non Fiction

Audition by Barbara Walters: Television journalist Barbara Walters reflects on her life, discussing her childhood, family, affair with a married senator, daughter, career, colleagues, and much more.

Lost Boy by Brent W. Jeffs: The author, nephew of Warren Jeffs, the imprisoned leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, provides an inside account of what it was like to grow up in the prophet's compound, and shares his personal story of the challenges he faced after being expelled from the sect and forced out into a world he knew nothing about.

Gardening in Nebraska by Melinda Myers: Written just for Nebraska gardeners by well-known horticulturists and gardening educator. When-to and how-to advice for both beginning and experienced gardeners.

How I Gave Up My Low-Fat Diet and Lost 40 Pounds and How You Can Too! By Dana Carpender: Shows research proving why carbs, not fat, are the biggest culprit in causing diseases like diabetes, cancer and coronary artery disease. Explains several different approaches to cutting the carbs, and gives information to mix and match these plans.

My Lobotomy by Howard Dully: Howard Dully recounts how the lobotomy he had at age twelve impacted every aspect of his life, leaving him struggling to get through each day, until, decades after the surgery, he was able to pull himself together and uncover the truth about why his parents made him have the operation.

Based on the Book

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her — her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, THE LOVELY BONES succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy.

The Lovely Bones featurette: behind the scenes

Portraits of 9/11/01

We have a wonderful book that honors the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks available for checkout. It can be found at call number 974.7 POR

Few aspects of The New York Times's coverage of September 11 and of all that has followed have attracted as much comment as “Portraits of Grief.” The series profiled the lives lost in the attacks on the World Trade Center and was a story in itself, becoming required reading for many the world over.

Beginning on September 14, 2001, a half-dozen Times reporters began working from a stack of one hundred missing persons fliers collected from points around the World Trade Center. They wrote profiles containing short but signature details of the lives they strove to present. These portraits transcend race, class, age, and gender while capturing the poignancy of the victims' similarities: life cut short in an American tragedy. This new edition includes the complete “Portraits of Grief” series with approximately four hundred additional portraits published since February 3, 2002. The profiles have become a source of connection and consolation, a focus for the sorrow of readers both reeling from disbelief and searching for support.

September Trivia Contest Question #2

Leo Tolstoy

September 9, 1828 ~ November 20, 1910

Tolstoy, a Russian author, mystic and self proclaimed anarchist, wrote a number of classic books, such as the lengthy novel War and Peace and Anna Karenina. His works include short stories, essays, novels, nonfiction and plays. A number of his writings are available to read online (click here); however, if you are not keen on reading a book from your computer screen (I know I'm not!), we have plenty of old fashion paper copies here at the library.

Question #2

Tolstoy was the direct descendent of what famous Mongolian?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Bookworm

Fiction
Get Real by Donald E. Westlake: John Dortmunder, a seasoned crook, gets a chance at fame and fortune when a television producer decides to make Dortmunder and his gang into a reality show, and while the guys make plans for their next caper under the eye of the camera, Dortmunder and his partner arrange a private scheme on the side.

In the Heart of the Canyon by Elisabeth Hyde: A novel about a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that changes the lives of everyone on board.

Calling Home by Janna McMahan: When Virginia Lemmon's husband leaves her she is stuck in Kentucky, trying to hold her life together and raise 2 teenagers, Will and Shannon. Shannon wants to break free and Virginia wants to save her from making the same mistakes she made.

Hawkes Harbor by S. E. Hinton: Mental patient Jamie Sommers suffers from depression, partial amnesia, and a fear of the dark, but as Dr. McDevitt continues to try and probe the mind of the boy, Jamie is drawn closer and closer to the ultimate evil that could destroy him.

CDs Fiction
Rough Justice by Jack Higgins: Blake Johnson joins forces with British agent Harry Miller to investigate acts of terrorism in Kosovo, where the duo stop a Russian officer from burning a mosque and set in motion a series of events that impacts world leaders, ordinary citizens, and Blake and Harry.

The Blue Notebook by James A. Blevine: The story of Batuk, an Indian girl who is taken to Mumbai and sold into prostitution by her father. The blue notebook is her diary in which she recalls her childhood, records her life on the Common Street and makes up fantastic tales. The proceeds from this book go to help exploited children.

Surrender by Amanda Quick: Victoria thought herself adept at fending off fortune hunters until she came under siege from Lucas Colebrook, the Earl of Stonevale. After he courted her and wed her, she ended up ensconced in a crumbling mansion deep in the English country side.

Brimstone Robert B. Parker: Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole continue there journey as hired guns and lawmen after they find Allie and rescue her only to lose her to a local church and charismatic leader, Brother Percival. Percival wants money and Allie and stirs up trouble in Brimstone's saloons.

Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel: Hope is a photographer, has been married and a mother and knows heartbreak. She is not looking for a man or excitement, but these things find her when she goes to London to photograph a famous author.

Black Hills by Nora Roberts: Cooper and Lil met when they were eleven and when Cooper visited his grandparent’s ranch. Each summer their friendship grew stronger and more passionate. Lil began a wildlife refuge and Cooper became a lawyer. Now they are drawn back together to help the people, animals and places that need them.

Hot House Flower by Margot Berwin: Lila is recently divorced and her life is empty until she meets a plant seller named David. Lila stumbles across a Laundromat and is charged with making a cutting of fire fern grow roots to find the secret of the owner's locked room.

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See: Pearl Chin and her sister, May, are having the time of their lives in the wealthy world in Shanghai, until their father gambles away his fortune and must marry them off for money to wealthy American men. As Japanese bombs fall on their city they set out on the journey of a lifetime, adjusting to strangers as husbands and a strange new land.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich: Lulu, having witnessed the murder of a culinary television star, decides to enter a cooking competition in order to try and uncover who the killer is, while Stephanie helps Ranger investigate a series of break-ins and things start to heat up between them, despite her relationship with Officer Joe Morelli's objections.

CDs Nonfiction
Magnificent Destination by Buzz Aldrin: Forty years ago, Buzz Aldrin became the second human to set foot on the moon. This is the rest of this true American Hero's story -- giving the harrowing account of the lunar landing and the ultimate insider's view of life as one of the space program superstars.

September Trivia Contest

Richard Wright

September 4th, 1908 ~ November 28, 1960

Today is the Birthday of Richard Wright, author of autobiographical works such as Uncle Tom's Children and Black Boy. He was one of the first successful African American Authors.

Question #1

In what publication did Richard Wright's first story appear?

To participate in this month's contest, simply email your answer to tkeenan@cityofalliance.net. For each correct answer, your name will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a prize.

Books Donated In Memory

We recently added a few titles that were donated In Memory of and I thought I would share them here with you.

3rd Edition Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements and Antiques: Plant the seeds of tradition with this fully illustrated, comprehensive history of farm equipment through the early 1950s. Discover the detailed story on machinery, tools and implements used daily on the farm. Each chapter provides pricing guidelines featuring more than 2,000 photos to assist you in your collecting. Donated in memory of Kenneth Dobby Lee by the Friends of the Library.




Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain: In this riveting debut thriller, Chelsea Cain introduces an unforgettable female serial killer and a homicide detective more human than heroic. Donated in memory of Catherine Cover by the Friends of the Library.








The Last Prairie: A Sandhills Journey by Stephen R. Jones: It is a region that has long captivated and inspired travelers, writers, and artists. Celebrated as one of the most visually stunning of American landscapes, it is the largest remaining relic of the majestic prairies that once extended from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains. Now this vast but fragile expanse known as the Nebraska Sandhills comes to life in an unforgettable collection of essays by naturalist and author Stephen R. Jones. Donated in memory of Pat Abbott by the Friends of the Library.

Winter Hours

We officially started our "Winter" hours on September 1st. The new hours are:

Monday - Thursday

8am to 8pm

Friday & Saturday

10am to 5pm

Sunday

1pm to 4pm

Bookworm

Fiction
There's Something About St. Tropez by Elizabeth Adler: A villa, a pair of lonely children, a group of international vacationer misfits, an art theft, a haunting and a murder keep Mac Reilly, P.I., and his girlfriend, Sunny, busy on their "vacation".

The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles: Penn Cage becomes mayor and tries to restore the town with a lot of support when a childhood friend of Penn's brings him evidence and then is found brutally murdered, Penn has to rely on old allies to help him defeat a sophisticated killer who knows their every move.

The Shimmer by David Morrell: Police officer Dan Page follows the trail of his missing wife to Texas, where spectators are drawn to the small town each night to witness the Rostov Lights, unexplainable phenomena, but he brings danger upon himself when he uncovers a government secret about the lights from the 1910s.

Dropped Dead Stitch by Maggie Sefton: Kelly Flynn, Jennifer, and the other ladies of the knitting club head to a retreat so Jennifer has a chance to recover from a harrowing experience; however, the owner of the retreat turns out to be Jennifer's attacker and when he turns up dead, Kelly and the crew have to work fast.

Salamandastron by Brian Jacques: Urthstripe the Strong, a wise old badger, leads the animals of the great fortress of Salamandastron and Redwall Abbey against the weasel Ferahgo the Assassin and his corps of vermin.

The Hunger Games* by Suzanne Collins: Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death.

The Magician's Death by P.C. Doherty: Roger Bacon concealed many marvels of nature and science in a book written in an unbreakable code. Scholars meet to discuss the code, but murder and mayhem occur and horrible things happen in the nearby forest.

The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock: Sofie and her family immigrated from Germany to a town in Illinois, but the start of World War II causes the locals to discriminate against Sofie's family, and they are blamed for a train derailment, but a high school teacher is on Sophie's side and a romance blossoms.

Jericho's Fall by Stephen L. Carter: Jericho was the former head of the CIA, a Wall Street titan, and is dying. He summons to his bedside Beck DeForde, the woman for whom he threw away his career. Beck believes she is visiting to say farewell, but is drawn into a battle over a secret that many want before Jericho dies.

So Happy Together by Maryann McFadden: Three generations of women find their lives suddenly transformed. Claire is planning to marry in the fall after a summer studying under a noted photographer. Then her estranged daughter shows up, her father reveals an old secret, and she meets an intriguing new man.

Guardian of Lies by Steve Martini: California defense attorney Paul Madriani becomes acquainted with a beautiful Costa Rican and finds himself in the middle of a decades-old conspiracy involving gold coins, espionage, murder, and Cold War weapons.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner: Addie and Valerie were best friends forever when they were both nine. Fifteen years later, Valerie has found fame and fortune and Addie lives alone caring for a troubled brother. When she answers the door Valerie is standing there with blood on her sleeve and saying Addie is the only one who can help.

Undone by Karin Slaughter: Working in a trauma center, Sara Linton treats the city's poor, wounded, and unlucky; when she is thrust into a police investigation by a detective and his partner, each with their own secrets.

Ravens by George Dawes Green: The Boatwright’s just won $318 million in the Georgia State Lottery and it's going to be the worst day of their lives when Shaw and Romeo decide to squeeze the family for half their prize. As they try to maintain constant fear, the pressure causes everyone to start to unravel.

Burn by Linda Howard: Jenner wins a lottery jackpot that costs her plenty -- her father rips her off and disappears, her boyfriend becomes ex-, and her friends give her the cold shoulder when she doesn't share.

*I read this book and it is a really good, quick read!

Winner of the August Trivia Contest

Before I announce the winner of the trivia contest, I would like to thank those who participated. I hope you will continue to participate in the months to come!

The answers to the five trivia questions are as follows:

1. The word Anne Frank wanted to know the defination of in her last journal entry was contradiction.

2. The winner of the 1959 Fair Queen Contest was Johnna Kettlyhut.

3. The name of the Alfred Hitchcock Presents theme song is "Funeral March of the Marionettes"

4. Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the 19th Ammendment, giving women the right to vote.

5. The true colors of Judy Garland's dress in the Wizard of Oz were pink and blue. They needed to use a very pale pink, because white would not photograph correctly. (I was finally able to stump some of you!)

And finally . . . the winner of the August trivia contest is . . . Pam!

You can pick your certificate up at the library. We'll have it available for you the morning of September 2nd.

Keep checking in with the blog. I'll be posting the first September question soon!