United We Read (Community Read) Book Announcement!

 

The book I have chosen for this year's United We Read program is...

A Dog's Purpose: a Novel by W. Bruce Cameron

 



Book Summary (from goodreads.com):  This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?
Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey’s search for his new life’s meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog.
But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey’s journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders—will he ever find his purpose?
Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.   

 

 

W. Bruce Cameron started his writing career as a humor columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News.  He is a Benchley award winner for humor and was the 2011 NSNC Newspaper Columnist of the Year.  He has written for TV (the show “8 Simple Rules” was based on his book) and co-wrote the feature film “40 Happens”,  which is to be released in 2014.  This novel, A Dog’s Purpose, spent 48 weeks on the NY Times Bestseller list.  DreamWorks is developing it as a film and he and his writing partner, Cathryn Michon, wrote the screenplay.  The sequel, A Dog’s Journey, was published May 6, 2012, and was instantly a NY Times Bestseller.  His new novel, The Dogs of Christmas, will be published in the Fall of 2013. 

 

Here is the corresponding website:

 

http://www.adogspurpose.com/

I feel that this is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages, and even to those who don't always enjoy reading.  Who doesn't love dogs?! After reading the book for myself, I recommended it to everyone.  The choice was announced to the staff at CHS right before Christmas break and several have given me positive feedback already.  My family members each received a copy for Christmas and are in the process of reading the book now.  I am ordering several more copies for the library, and we have 6 Nooks with the title available for reading.  Please see me if you are interested in reading this wonderful book!  Keep an eye out for updates relating to the Community Read/United We Read program at CHS Library.  We will be doing events/activities during the month of February relating to the story.

This is the website created for our event:

http://www.cape.k12.mo.us/chs/library/2013_united_we_read.htm

Merry Christmas!

I hope all my readers have a great holiday break!  I'll be back in January....unless I am just dying to post something before then.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Oh, and a Merry Christmas from my Annabelle also!

 

What's New Wednesday 12/19/12

New books at CHS:

Love and Other Perishable Items by Laura Buzo

BOMB: The Race to Build-and Steal- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
 

Out of Reach by Carrie Arcos
 

Bright Young Things series by Anna Godbersen
 

Eve & Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
 

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
 

Keep Jumping/No Hating (a Flip book) by Stephanie Perry Moore (we also got 3 others in this series)
 

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan
 

All You Never Wanted by Adele Griffin
 

Grace, Gold, & Glory: My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas with Michelle Burford
 



Top Ten Tuesday 12/11/12

Here are the top ten checkouts at the CHS Library this week:

1. Nook (not a book I know, but there are books on it!)
2. Warm Bodies: a novel by Isaac Marion
3. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
4. Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
5. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
6. Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan
7. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
8. City of Glass by Cassanrda Clare
9. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
10. Dead is Not an Option by Marlene Perez

Missing book solution?

 

 

This is something new I'm going to try in the library for books that grow legs and walk away (taken without being checked out to anyone).  I chose 4 books that were new titles when they disappeared.  I am going to see if drawing attention to the covers/titles helps us recover the book.  I offered a small (but valuable in our library!) reward for those that are turned in to us.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

 

Every Day by David Levithan

Summary (from www.goodreads.com): In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

Ms. Kiplinger's Opinion: I LOVED this book!  I wanted to read it from the minute it walked into our school library, but I was in the process of reading another book and had lots going on.  I left it so someone else could have the chance to read it, and someone checked it out right away.  When I went to the Young Adult Literature Symposium in St. Louis at the beginning of November, I was excited to see that this author was going to be at the Book Blitz signing copies of this title.  He was my first stop and I read the book right after I got home.  Yes, it's taken me awhile to get to this review!  Anyway, the book is easy-to-read and fast-paced (rightly so considering the character is in a different person's body each day).  The character is a very well-developed and dynamic character that you want to know more about.  You never really know if A is male or female, but it doesn't really matter as you're reading.  It is also a love story which will appeal to many of my readers.  This is not a concept that is usually written about, so I am recommending this to any and everyone who stops in because it just has that wide appeal.  There is the usual teenage drama and angst, but it's told in such a different way that it isn't annoying and you want to fully support the character.  My verdict: READ IT! :)

What's New Wednesday 12/5

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The Panther by Nelson DeMille
 

Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos
 

Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber
 

A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans
 

Don't Sit on the Baby: The Ultimate Guide to Sane, Skilled, and Safe Babysitting by Halley Bondy

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury
 

 

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin