King Dork

Portman, Frank. King Dork. 2006. 344p. ISBN 0-385-73291-0. Available at FIC POR on the library shelves.

Sophomore Tom Henderson refers to himself as King Dork, the dorkiest person at his school. For the last several years, Tom has had a hard life. His father, who worked for the police department, died in a hit and run years ago. His mother never recovered, and even though she remarried (to a man named Tom), she’s not very present in her children’s life. His little sister Amanda hates Tom (the new husband, nor her brother, although that is still up for debate). Tom doesn’t have many friends, and he spends most of his time with Sam Hellerman, a fellow dork. The two of them have been talking about forming a band for years, but they don’t have instruments so that’s a problem.

They are picked on at school, both by the hateful girls and the depraved jocks as well as by Mr. Teone, the assistant principal responsible for freshmen and sophomores. Tom and Sam do not have girlfriends, and are unlikely to ever find any. In brief, their lives are the stereotypical maladjusted teenager suffering from angst and a propensity for prescription medication (in Sam’s case). So, the beginning of their sophomore year is guaranteed to be terrible, with books like Siddhartha. And it is, when for the second year in a row they are assigned The Catcher in the Rye to read. Tom really hates the Catcher in the Rye, not necessarily because of the story but because all of the adults consider it a rite of passage and apparently have drunk the Holden Caulfield kool-aid.

But when Tom discovers his father’s book collection, everything changes. There are several notes, underlined passages, and secret codes that seem to indicate that his father and a character named Tit, were involved in something big. Was his father actually murdered? Did he commit suicide? Who is Tit? Tom will take steps to investigate this mystery but by doing so will find himself hopelessly entangled with the Hillmont High School community. Who knows, he might even get a girlfriend out of this terrible year.

Fans of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl will thoroughly enjoy Tom’s outlook on life and the coarse language and vulgar thoughts that populate his mind. This book doesn’t mince words but is also hilariously funny. Want to experience rock and roll, teen angst and sex, and discover a mystery at the same time? King Dork is the book for you.

A Corner of the Universe

Martin, Ann M. A Corner of the Universe. 2002. 189p. 270 mins. ISBN 0-439-38880-5. Available both at FIC MAR on the library shelves and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Hattie Owen leads an uncomplicated life. When school gets out in the summer, she gets the run of her small town of Millerton. Her parents run a boarding house populated by three eccentric individuals who are as much part of the family as her mother and father. Hattie’s maternal grandmother and father also live in Millerton and relationships between her father and her grandparents are often stormy. Her best friend Betsy and her family always go away on vacation for the summer, and Hattie is always invited but she likes her little town in the summer. Plus, she turns 12 in July and she looks forward to the presents the residents of the house will get her.

All of that changes, however, when her parents reveal that Hattie has an uncle she did not know existed. Adam Mercer has been away at a special school, but due to its closing he must spend the summer home while his parents find him a new school. Adam is different. He loves watching I Love Lucy, and knows every episode by heart. Adam speaks very fast, is unpredictable, but he makes the most of every day. At twenty-one, Adam is barely taller than Hattie. The two quickly become fast friends, but Hattie is concerned that her parents hid Adam’s existence because they think she’s a little like him.

Adam is often in trouble with his parents, Hattie’s grandparents, and she sees the small injustices that are committed against someone who appreciates the small details of life. But Adam also has issues and he can quickly lose control of himself.

When Fred Carmel's Funtime Carnival comes to town, Hattie cannot wait to go, and she knows that Adam is also very excited about attending the carnival. She meets a girl named Leila there, and they become friends. Hattie spends more and more time at the Carnival, playing with Leila and talking to her about her uncle. Eventually, Leila convinces Hattie to bring him down so she can meet him.

Adam loves the Carnival, and Hattie decides to return with Adam in the evening while her grandparents are hosting a dinner party. Adam sneaks out of the house, and the trio of Hattie, Adam and Leila soon have fun at the Carnival, and they even do the ferris wheel. But when the wheel gets stuck, Adam has a meltdown and ends up being placed in a straight jacket and taken to the hospital.

As Adam’s mental health deteriorates, Hattie is forced to confront the fact that, as Adam called her, she can lift the corners of the universe to reveal what’s behind her limited world. And that’s what she does, growing as an individual while in the face of tragedy. A bittersweet ending reveals that being different has a high cost, but it is possible to look past differences between people to arrive at a common understanding. That’s the lesson Adam’s life delivers.

Hamlet

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Part of the Plays of William Shakespeare audio series 2005. 202 mins. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive as well as numerous print copies on the library shelves.

Much has been written about Hamlet and his revenge against those who killed his father, King Hamlet of Denmark. This audiobook version presents the story of the prince and the torment that he is going through attempting to right the wrongs that have been committed against his family. Using a full cast ensemble, the production is faithful to the script and faithfully recreates the tragic environment that ultimately decimates the entire Danish court. Pair this audiobook with the actual play to gain a better understanding of the madness and questioning that lurks in the shadows and that seek to answer the question, “to be or not to be.”

Trials of Death

Shan, Darren. Trials of Death. Book 5 of the Cirque du Freak series. 2004. 207p. ISBN 0-316-60395-3. Available at FIC SHA on the library shelves.

Having been presented to the Vampire Princes in Vampire Mountain, Darren must now survive the five Trials of Initiation to atone for Mr Crepsley's sin of transforming him at such a young age and in such a wanton fashion. Drawn from a pool of seventeen out of the possible sixty, these trials are designed to prove that he deserves to become a full-fledged vampire. Should he fail and not perish in the attempt, he will be put to death as being unworthy of the title of vampire.

Most vampires, however, are cheering for Darren and hope that he succeeds. The game master himself decides to train the young apprentice and prepares him for the games. But as Darren participates in one event after another, the vampires themselves feel uneasy. The vampire princes and their generals are holding counsel, discussing Mr. Tiny’s message that a Vampaneze Lord will arise and lead the Vampaneze in a fight against the vampires.

Darren succeeds at the first three trials, though he is badly hurt each time, but as he is about to be gored to death by a boar in the fourth trial, Harkat intervenes and saves his life, much to the displeasure of the vampires. Now faced with two choices, certain death or possible escape, Darren selects the cowardly way out and flees deep in the mountain with the help of friends. But when they encounter a large group of 30 to 40 Vampaneze, Darren and his friends realize that there is a traitor on Vampire Mountain...

The story continues in The Vampire Prince.

Careers in the US Coast Guard

Silverstein Gray, Judy and Taylor Baldwin Kiland. Careers in the US Coast Guard. Part of the Careers in the US Armed Forces series. 2016. 128p. ISBN 978-0-7660-6945-9. Available at 363.28 GRA on the library shelves.

The Coast Guard is tasked with protecting the shores of the United States, but its mission extends far beyond the water’s edges. Among its many missions, the Coast Guard performs search and rescue missions, conducts ship and cargo inspections, and leads cleanup efforts during environmental disasters.First started as a way to generate revenues for the new federal government, the Revenue Cutter Service is appointed to cut down on smuggling and recoup excise taxes. Tasks, such as building and manning lighthouses continued to be added throughout the decades as technology changed. The Coast Guard joined the war effort of several conflicts, from the Quasi War with France in the early 1800s to the First and Second World War and present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This book provides a detailed introduction to the history of the Coast Guard. It also discusses its various roles in protecting the homeland in an era of global terrorism and performing search and rescue missions after Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. The various challenges faced by the Coast Guard are reviewed, its equipment is introduced, and life as a member of the Coast Guard is explored. A number of career possibilities are described and include both the enlisted and officer path. Anyone interested in joining the Coast Guard will appreciate the range of material available in this book.

Titles in this series include:

• Careers in the US Air Force
• Careers in the US Army
• Careers in the US Navy
• Careers in the US Marine Corps

Palace of Spies

Zettel, Sarah. Palace of Spies. 2013. 368p. ISBN 9780544074118. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Margaret Fitzroy, also known as Peggy, has lived in her rich uncle’s house ever since her mother died years ago. Now sixteen, Peggy and her cousin Olivia live vicariously through newspaper articles and the gossip of high society. But when her uncle decides to marry her off to a vile man from the Bahamas, Peggy rebels and refuses to countenance this decision. As a result, she is unceremoniously kicked out of the home and dropped in the street without a penny to her name.

Recruited by a certain Mr. Tinderflint, Peggy is tasked to impersonate Lady Francesca, a lady-in-waiting in service of her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte, daughter-in-law of King George I. Francesca returned home during Christmas sick and died soon thereafter. With the Court split between King George and James Stuart, Pretender to the throne, many plots are afoot to change the course of history.

Returning as Lady Francesca, Peggy attempts to immerse herself in the Court’s life and pick up where Francesca left off, but she soon stumbles upon a plot that threatens the monarchy. With no friends to turn to, with every relationship based on power and influence extraction, and with death as a penalty for failure, Peggy must discover what is happening in Princess Charlotte’s circle or risk paying the ultimate price.

A fun read, Palace of Spies provides an interesting look inside a time period unknown to most, the Jacobite movement, and good descriptions of life at court in the early 1700s. Fans of Etiquette & Espionage will enjoy this historical sleuth novel.

Wink Poppy Midnight

Tucholke, April Genevieve. Wink Poppy Midnight. Dial Books. 2016. 256p. ISBN 978-0803740488. Available at FIC TUC on the library shelves.

Poppy was Midnight’s first love. But Poppy did not love Midnight. Not then, when they first met and not now, when their relationship has gotten to the breaking point. Poppy doesn’t love anyone. She is toxic, a beautiful girl but the biggest bully in their little town, ruling over a group of vicious boys and girls known as the Yellows. Still, Midnight loved her, despite all that. But not anymore. Now he only wants to get as far away from her as possible. But like a virulent disease, Poppy keeps coming back and messing with him.

So when Midnight and his father move to a house outside of town, he hopes that the distance will be enough to keep Poppy and her lackeys away. Across the gravel road from their new house is the Bell household, led by a single mother with so many kids it’s impossible to get an accurate count. Wink is the second eldest Bell, and she is everything Poppy is not: red head, quiet, in tune with her environment, a loner. And she seems very much interested in Midnight. Until Poppy shows up, ready to ruin this new relationship. Can Midnight stop Poppy before it’s too late?

Truthwitch

Dennard, Susan. Truthwitch. Book 1 of the Witchlands series. 2016. 415p. ISBN 978-0-7653-7928-3. Available at FIC DEN on the library shelves.

Many of the inhabitants of the Witchlands have strange powers. Known as witches, they control one or more aspect of life, from water to fire to the threads that bind people together. Twenty years ago the nations of the Witchlands agreed to a binding twenty years truce, but this only provided time for leader to re-arm and re-equip their troops and plan new attacks. Nineteen years later, the last months of the truce are ticking by and everyone is ready to head back to war.

Safiya and Iseult are thread sisters, and both of them are also witches. Current residents of Venaza City in the Dalmotti Empire,  Iseult is a Nomatsi, a group of nomads reviled by non-Nomatsi people. She is a threadwitch, and she sees the connections between people as well as the threads that define their thoughts and feelings. Safiya is a domna of Cartorra, a noblewoman of the Empire of Cartorra. She’s a truthwitch, one of the rarest of witches. She can discern truth from lie, a useful power to have when the world is heading back to war. She was sent to Venaza City by her uncle to get her away from the Emperor of Cartorra, but she has done nothing but get herself in trouble, much to her tutors’ dismay.

When Safiya and Iseult attempt to rob the wrong caravan, they become the target of a bloodwitch, a man with the power to smell the blood and the quality of the witchcraft within. Assisted by Prince Merik, a wind witch, Safiya and Iseult must now run for their very lives are threatened, and as war gets set to resume, the two thread sisters will either be the salvation of the continent as predicted by the old Carwen prophecy or its doom.

Projekt 1065

Gratz, Alan. Projekt 1065. 2016. 320p. ISBN 978-0-545-88016-9. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Michael O’Shaunessey’s parents are the representatives of the Republic of Ireland in Berlin. The family arrived in Berlin at the height of Nazi power, in 1937, and witnessed the beginning of the Second World War. Now in 1943, the Germans have been handed a setback at Stalingrad and are in full withdrawal from the Eastern Front. But in Berlin, people don’t hear the bad news. They live their lives in fear of the Gestapo and of the Hitler Youth, groups of fanatic Nazis who report everyone’s move to the authorities.

Now 13, Michael has grown up in this paranoid environment. He has learned perfect German, attends German school, and is even a member of the Hitler Youth. But that’s not his true identity. In fact, he is a spy for the Allies, along with his parents. They transmit crucial information on German factories, plans, and war efforts through the diplomatic pouch back to Dublin, before that information is passed on to the British.

When a British bomber is shot down, Michael’s Hitler Youth unit is tasked with finding the pilot so he can be arrested and interrogated. Michael, however, wants to find him and rescue him. The first one to locate the pilot, Michael manages to distract the group of youth and, at night, his father and him rescue Simon. The pilot, who broke an ankle and has severe wounds, must be hidden in the Irish embassy. Simon tells them that he was on a mission to take pictures of a secret airfield where the Germans are testing their new weapon, a plane not propulsed by propellers but by turbojets. Code-named Projekt 1065, this plan is revolutionary. It flies twice as fast as regular planes, and it could literally win the war for Germany. Michael discovers that the father of one of the youths in his group actually works on this plane, and he sees blueprints. It is now up to Michael to salvage Simon’s mission and get these plans in Allies hands. But one mistake could cost him everything.

The Great Wall of China

McNeese, Tim. The Great Wall of China. Part of the Building History Series. 1997. 96p. ISBN 97801056006-428-5. Available at 931 MCN on the library shelves.

The Great Wall of China is often mentioned in the same breath as the Pyramids of Egypt, structures so vast and technically challenging and so ancient that they have defied thousands of years of history to bear witness to an era when the power of rulers was limitless. Pieces of what would become the Great Wall were first built starting around 450 BCE by the various warring Chinese states, mainly to protect their northern borders from the barbarians that dwelled in the steppes but also against their neighbors.

This heritage of wall building first arose in the 4,000 BCE when villages constructed earthen works to protect themselves against attack by enemies. Builder skills and expertise grew until hundred of miles of walls protected vast segments of China. Having united the seven warring states of China, Emperor Qin Shih Huang Ti dismantled the walls that sat within the borders of the new country and endeavored to add to the various walls on the northern border to protect against barbarians. Over the course of seven years, 1,850 miles of walls were constructed or renovated to create a continuous line from the sea in the East to the Gobi desert in the west.

Over the following centuries, the Great Wall as it became known fell in disrepair and was rebuilt several times until the Ming Dynasty, which undertook a complete renovation and expansion of the Great Wall, giving us the structure we know today. Throughout that time soldiers manned the Wall and fought large battles against encroaching tribes from the North. Farmers, merchants, and government officials dwelled within its shadows. Two periods of foreign domination, the Khans and the Mings, did not end the perceived need for the Great Wall, however, but the emergence of the cannon soon ended its domination as border protection.

Fans of military history and of architecture will enjoy the story of how the Great Wall was built. To this day, it remains a marvel of engineering and an amazing feat of construction.

Black Butler, Vol 6

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol 6. 2011. 173p. ISBN 978-0-316-08430-7. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Children of all classes have gone missing, and Ciel Phantomhive has been tasked by the Queen to discover who is behind it all and, if at all possible, rescue those children who are still alive. Inquiries into the underworld indicate that none of the children have died. Suspicions fall on Noah’s Ark Traveling Circus, an act that moves from city to city, leaving in its wake a throng of missing children but no clues or corpses. Sebastian and Ciel elaborate a strategy to infiltrate the circus. They will both join the circus.

But the circus is not what it seems. Every member has lost a limb or more, and has received enhanced prostheses. Some of them also have strange powers, like the ability to talk to snakes. And the acts, such as the tightrope and the knife throw, can be deadly. When Ciel discovers a secret letter describing him, he knows someone is aware of his true identity, and that he is now in danger. Will Sebastian be able to save the young Phantomhive heir?

The story continues in Black Butler, Vol. 7.

Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army of Stone

Dean, Arlan. Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army of Stone. Part of the Digging Up the Past series. 2005. 48p. ISBN 0-516-25124-4. Available at 931 DEA on the library shelves.

More than 2,200 years ago, China was divided in seven states, all warring with each other for dominance over the region. One of these states was ruled by a strong man named Chao Cheng. Using novel military tactics, he succeeded in conquering all of the six remaining states one at a time until he was able to unify China. He crowned himself emperor and took the name Qin Shi Huangdi.

Among his many accomplishments were the standardization of the Chinese language and of weights and measures. He also reformed the government and the military. Most importantly, though, Qin Shi Huangdi is known for commissioning a large terra-cotta army that would follow him in the afterlife. His tomb was erected at great costs, both in terms of money and in terms of human capital. Covering over 20 square miles, it included palaces, training fields, and all of the comforts he had enjoyed in life. To protect it all he commissioned an army that could guard him in the afterlife.

Each soldier in this 8,000 strong army is modeled after a specific individual, and comes equipped with weapons and armor of the era. Brightly painted, the army also featured horses and wagons. Discovered in 1974 by farmers, the site has been extensively excavated by archaeologists and has been placed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.

War Horse

Morpurgo, Michael. War Horse. 2007. 165p. 243 mins. ISBN 9780439796637. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Told from the point of view of Joey, a horse, this story explores the impact that the First World War had on animals. Joey is a young bay-red horse. He has white socks markings on each leg, and a large white cross on his nose. At six months, Joey is bought at auction and separated from his mother. At first Joey has trouble adjusting to life as a farm animal, especially since the farmer is mean and gets drunk on Tuesday. But the farmer’s young son, Albert, is tender and dedicated and soon both of them become fast friends.

But as 1914 rolls around, the specter of war is threatening to engulf all of Europe. When the conflict erupts, the farmer sells Joey to the army so he can keep the farm. Albert, too young to join, is separated from Joey. He vows to find his horse again. Bought by a young captain, Joey is trained as a war horse for the cavalry, and ships with his regiment to France’s Western Front. There, Joey endures the horrors of war, and as the conflict grounds to a war of trenches, there is no use for cavalry horses. Joey must now do everything he can to survive if he hopes to be reunited with Albert.

Who Owns the Learning? Preparing Students for Success in the Digital Age

November, Alan. Who Owns the Learning? Preparing Students for Success in the Digital Age. 2012. 96p. ISBN 978-1-935542-57-5. Available at PROF 371.39 NOV on the library shelves.

In this thought-provoking book, November argues that school has short-changed students under the current model. The learning belongs to students, and not to teachers, and November presents the Digital Learning Farm, a model that shifts educational control towards students, empowering them to make decisions and to guide their own learning. The Digital Learning Farm model allows students to develop and own their learning through the use of four different roles: the tutorial designer, the scribe, the researcher, and the global communicator.

In essence, the tutorial designer creates movies that explain a problem to others, be that a math question, or a how to video. These are then posted to the web so that everyone can benefit from what is being taught. The scribe records the notes and events that happen in the classroom. Every day, a different student takes notes. These notes are reviewed by the teacher and the class and are posted on a blog or wiki so they can be accessed by everyone in the class. The researcher investigates questions that arise during class by finding answers and resources online. Finally, the global communicator reaches out to other people online who can help with the topics or subjects at hand.

These four roles really tie together the transformational 6 that Alan November mentions in a recent article entitled Walk Through for Innovation: Six Questions for Transformed Learning. In this article, he states that if your lesson or assessment answers no to all of these questions, then technology has not been successfully integrated in your classroom and you are doing a disservice to your students. This book, while preceding these questions, does a great job of demonstrating how all of them can be addressed by adopting the Digital Learning Farm model. Ultimately, students must own their learning to be really successful, and educators and even students should demand access to an education model similar to what November proposes to enhance both their interest in school and their desire to better perform as students.

Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALs

Payment, Simone. Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALs. Part of the Inside Special Forces series. 2013. 64p. ISBN 978-1-4488-8380-6. Available at 359.98 PAY on the library shelves.

Arguably the most elite combat soldiers in the U.S. armed forces, the Navy SEALs go through a grueling selection and training process to join the best of the best. Experts in demolition, infiltration, reconnaissance and operations in all types of environments, the SEALs take on the worst missions. Prepared for anything and using the best weapons and gear, the SEALs can be deployed at a moment’s notice to conduct clandestine operations around the world.

This book discusses the selection process as well as the training that each member of the SEALs must go through. It also presents specific weapons, gear, and equipment used by the SEALS, and it takes an in-depth look at three specific missions where SEALs participation proved necessary for success. Fans of the military or those interested in special operations will enjoy this material on SEALs.

Books in this series include:

• Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Air Force Combat Control Team
• Special Ops: Air Commandos
• Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALs
• Special Ops: Military Intelligence
• Special Ops: Tactical Training
• Special Ops: Weapons and Gear