BHarper Lee, author of one of the most influential novels of the 20th century, To Kill a Mockingbird, passed away this past Friday at the age of 89. This novel, which our students read as part of the English curriculum, has had a lasting and profound effect on so many readers. Her second novel, Go Set a Watchman, was just released last year. With her passing came many tributes online, including an article in the New Yorker, and some of her correspondence with cartoonist Berkeley Breathed published in The New York Times. Below are the "most powerful and inspiring quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird," published by The Independent:
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Publishing company Simon & Schuster has launched a young adult literature website called Riveted. With the tagline "YA Fiction is Our Addiction," the site will include everything from live book chats, quizzes and polls, DIY videos, and exclusive content from various authors. When you visit Riveted you also have the opportunity to download free books to your computer, phone, or tablet. Check it out by clicking the image above!
Our book club for this upcoming month is Passenger by Alexandra Bracken. Bracken is the author of the Darkest Minds series, and Passenger is her newest release! We'll be meeting on Wednesday, March 16th after school in the PTHS library for our book discussion. The library still has two copies available for checkout. Read the synopsis below:
"In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now. Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not. Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever." -Amazon.com Hope to see you at Book Club! Earth Science Photo of the Day: Heart-shaped opening of a Lake Michigan Ice Cave Here's a list of 5 websites to check out this weekend: If you're not into celebrating this February 14th, here's a list of 16 Books To Read If You Hate Valentine's Day. Some of them are so so good! Interested in learning about what was going on in the world the year you were born? This site tells you everything from popular movies and TV shows to the political climate of the time. Lakes and Oceans. A sketch of their depths and records of some of the deepest sea explorations. Witty Animal Illustrations, like this one: And finally, this article from Book Riot has all the tips you need for your own Library Scavenger Hunt. The author gives you 5 ways to read something new including checking out the oversized books and searching for a book that's practically falling apart (for a good reason!)
Today, February 4, 2016, marks the 2nd annual Harry Potter Book Night, sponsored by Bloomsbury Publishing. The night is dedicated to celebrating J.K. Rowling and the lasting impact the Harry Potter series has had on children and adults around the world. Bloomsbury polled readers and enthusiasts to determine the world's favorite Harry Potter spell from the series and the winner was: Expecto Partonum!
The full list is below: 1. Expecto patronum – to summon a Patronus 2. Accio – to call an object to you 3. Wingardium Leviosa – to levitate objects 4. Expelliarmus – to disarm your opponent 5. Lumos – to ignite one’s wand-tip to provide light 6. Alohomora – to open locked windows and doors 7. Avada Kedavra – to bring about instant death 8. Sectumsempra – the incantation for one of the Half-Blood Prince’s spells 9. Obliviate – to make the subject forget 10. Riddikulus – to make a Boggart take on a comical appearance and eventually explode Happy Harry Potter Book Night! Source: The Guardian This week's book review is for Soundless by Richelle Mead. Regan of the PeruseProject on YouTube reviewed this video back in December. You can check out her review below! She also mentions Richelle Mead's newest book, The Glittering Court, which will be released April 5, 2016! There are many proven benefits to the latest trend in adult coloring books. While children still delight in coloring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Disney princesses, teens and adults can reap some of the same psychological benefits through coloring too!
According to a 2015 article, psychologist Dr. Alice Domar states that coloring "engages both sides of your brain in that it’s both creative and tactical." She says, "Coloring brings you back to a simpler time, it’s pleasurable, it’s a chance to sit and be mindful…and at the end you get this beautiful result. You have a real sense of accomplishment." This can be especially helpful if you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed by school, tests, extracurricular activities, friends, family, etc. The PTHS library is now home to the two coloring books in the photo above: "Lost Ocean" and "Enchanted Forest." Stop by the library and make a copy of the drawings you like best. We have colored pencils and crayons for you as well! Source: Parade Here's a list of 5 websites to check out this weekend:
Distracted while doing your homework? Looking to boost your productivity? Noisli is a website dedicated to improving your focus or helping you relax by drowning out annoying noises. You can pick from a list of tasks like "writing" or "reading" and Noisli will help you pick the right sounds. Then you can adjust the sounds to your liking. They have sounds ranging from thunderstorms to coffee houses. Bonus: It's free to sign up! lifehacker's Vocabulary Wheel helps you determine the exact word for how you're feeling based on your current emotions. Perfect for when you're trying to describe just how irritated you are by them spelling "ecstatic" wrong on the wheel. Feeling tired or sluggish? You might be waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle. Use the sleepyti.me bedtime calculator to determine what time you should fall asleep in order to wake up refreshed! Looking for a new online game? Try Curvy. Connect all of the lines by color by using memory and problem solving skills. Games are a great way to exercise your mind! A few years ago, Amazon came out with a list of 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime. Check out the link and see if your favorites made the cut. Comment below if you think they left any of your top books off the list! Epic Reads is the website for HarperCollins teen imprint. They have great links to connect you with books, YA authors, videos, giveaways, and more!
They created a graphic organizer for all of the YA books being published by HarperCollins in 2016. What's great is that it's organized by genre, so you can pick your favorite genres and see what books you can look forward to in the coming year! Click the picture below for a bigger view. |
Ms. Gilroy
Welcome to The Book Drop, Ms. Gilroy's library blog! Check here for some of your PTHS librarian's favorite things including book reviews, what's happening in YA literature, and the latest and greatest news from around the world & web. Archives
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