Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Realistic Fiction Romance * * * Stars (Pretty good) As a senior, Anna wanted nothing better than to celebrate her last year at home in Atlanta. However, her dad decides to ship her to a snotty boarding school in Paris. She’s less than thrilled until she sees Etienne St. Clair, who’s got everything: the looks, popularity, and a sense of humor. I liked it because it took … Read more
Among Others by Jo Walton Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Morwenna, who used to be a twin, has been able to see fairies her whole life. But this knowledge of magic threatened her life & took her sister’s. She tries to live a normal life at school, but most of her only true friends are books. But then she uses a bit of magic herself & suddenly things start going … Read more
A Place to Call Home by Alexis Deacon illustrated by Viviane Schwarz Picture book * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) A group of (what appears to be) hamsters outgrows their hidey hole home in the junkyard and the seven of them decide that they must find new digs. They are afraid to venture out into the world without some kind of protection (very, very small portable holes that they can take with them on … Read more
Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) The Maasai are a group of semi-nomadic people who live in Kenya and Tanzania. In the past they traveled thousands of miles with their herds, following rain and growing seasons and seeking out new pastures for their animals. They do not believe in land ownership. Their way of life has had to … Read more
To celebrate the release of Rick Riordan’s new book, “Son of Neptune,” the Huntley Area Public Library invited fans of the series to participate in an Olympics event – Camp Half-Blood style! In addition to trivia contests, toga relays, and a scavenger hunt, the kids got to slay Medusa (a bunch of times). If Huntley is ever invaded by Gorgons, we can feel comfortable knowing our fate is in the hands of these young heroes!
Kids in grades 4-8 got together at the Huntley Area Public Library to create their own journals, diaries, and sketchbooks on November 3, 2011. Using a variety of materials, they made some really amazing creations (paint and duct tape were particularly popular). Once paint and glue dried, there was even time for some of them to get started writing and drawing!
The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett Illustrated by Poly Bernatene Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) This is one of those books where two infants are switched at birth (or close enough) and raised by unsuspecting families until they come of age and all is revealed! Because of all of the stories they’ve read (where that sort of thing happens all the time) it’s not surprising to the King and Queen … Read more
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Minli lives in a small, poor, rural village in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain (called so because it is barren of life). Her parents – Ma and Ba – work hard cultivating crops, but barely manage to get by. Ma is bitter and resentful about their misfortune and poor circumstances, and when Minli uses one of her copper coins … Read more