New Year, New Reads

Some books to look out for that have had some very positive reviews lately!

Sophie Kinsella - Finding Audrey 
'An outstanding tragicomedy that gently explores mental illness, the lasting effects of bullying, and the power of friends and loving family to help in the healing'
-Kirkus Reviews

Patrick Ness - A Monster Calls
This is one profoundly sad story. But it's also wise, darkly funny and brave, told in spare sentences, punctuated with fantastic images ("Her scariest frown burnt into her face like a scar") and stirring silences. past his sorrow, fright and rage, Conor ultimately lands in a place - an imperfect one ofcourse - where healing can begin.
-The Telegraph

Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison - Never evers 
funny, adorable, magical and a constant smile on my face all the way through it. if you're looking for something light-hearted and feel good, I'd pick this one up.
 -The Honest Book Club

Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison - Lobsters

Lobsters is a fun, light read that highlights what each and every teenager goes through today: social awkwardness, peer pressure, understanding yourself and the need to find someone that wants to as well! from London to Greece to a crazy music festival, here is a love story that may not be perfect, but is most definitely real.

- The Guardian

Sarah Pinsborough - 13 Minutes
It's an absolute page turner and very entertaining. a murder mystery that isn't afraid to really take a look at relationships, look at people's fears and motivations and examine the mixed messages and double standards that so often lead to mischief, difficulty, or in this case, much worse.
-The Speculative Herald

Sarah Pinsborough - The Death House
It's Pinsborough's best so far, masterful in its characterisation, beautiful in its execution. But, most importantly, it is a book about humanity:what it is to face death, to face fear, to face love, and get to the other side. 
-Strange Horizons

World Book Day - 50 Books that will Change your Life!

World Book Day 2015

World Book Day Writes of Passage

Celebrate World Book Night with a life changing read from our Young Adult Section! Young  people and adults nominated books to the World Book Day organisation to create the ultimate list of 50 books that rocked their worlds. Visit World Book Day to download the list, or pick one up from the library. There are books that will ...

Scare You
Change the Way You Think
Teach You about Love
Make You Cry
Make You Laugh
Help You Understand You
Transport You
And Thrill You

Please let us know if you have read any life changing books - whether they've made the list or not!

Teen Read Week

Our Young Adult Section just keeps on growing. Pop in during Teen Read Week and take a browse. Here's a few highlights from our collection ...

This one has to be our Book of The Month! It's an imaginative read, and the text and stunning images combine to give an insight into the world of the early cinema. There's a also intrigue and secrets in the life of twelve year old Hugo, who lives in the walls of a Paris railway station, where he fends for himself. Following a hidden message from his dead father, Hugo has a dream to repair an old mechanical man, which places his undercover life in jeopardy. 

 Like the Harry Potter series, this book will appeal to readers of all ages.

Y A Book Group

Our Project Dalek ...

For the real thing, take a look at the awesome  Project Dalek web site, and for weird and wonderful daleks take a look at the World's Top Ten   Anyway, here's our quick and easy home made dalek, using lots of black sticky tape: 

Take one Dyson Hoover box or similar, add a cardboard bumper and stick on plastic dishes for dalek bumps. Then secure a black funnel  and a cake mixing whisk!

Add cardboard, bubble wrap, a plastic bowl and a battery operated light.

 

Paint a dalek colour - we've gone for black.

Our finished dalek (only just ready in time for the big day) in the library with Quinn Shipton's wonderful tardis and some fab Dr Who Books.

Here's a few more ideas from Deviant Art to get creative for Fifty Years of Dr Who: 

Dr Who Paper Dolls 

David Tennant paper dress up doll - choose between Sharp and The Tuxedo of Doom

Make a Mini Dalek

Don't forget "Day of the Doctor" on BBC 1 at 19.50 tonight ...

 

Dr Who is Fifty!

Tardis by Quinn Shipton

Many of you who are Doctor Who fans may already know that the incredibly popular TV show first aired 50 years ago. Don't miss 'The Day of The Doctor' special anniversary edition on 23 Nov at 19.50

At the library, we are very keen on joining in the celebrations, so drop in from Saturday 23rd November and take a look around. 

There will be a hand-crafted TARDIS in the porch, and work is underway on project Dalek! And of course, plenty of books to take away and read. 

The highly anticipated new series will be off to a special start at Christmas, with the new doctor; Peter Capaldi. Is anyone else looking forward to it as much as we are?

Screen Reads

One of the most highly anticipated young adult films coming out this year is the second film in the incredibly popular 'Hunger Games" trilogy, "Catching Fire". The first book (and film adaptation) follows the story of a young girl named Katniss, who lives in a dystopian future, where America is sectioned into 12 districts and a 'Capitol'. Every year, two children over the age of twelve are picked out to compete in a fight to the death on live television called 'The Hunger Games'. Katniss, from district twelve, volunteers to compete in these games in the place of her little sister. The second book, 'Catching Fire', is the follow on from this story, in which Katniss is visited by the malicious president Snow, who threatens to take action against her rebellion in the games. Her and her district twelve counterpart in the games, who also happens to be her fake love interest embark on their victory tour, only to be entered back into the games again after a strange turn of events.

The 'Hunger Games' film got mixed reviews when it was released late last year, as some people claimed that the film skipped over important scenes in the book and did not supply the viewer with enough information to understand the storyline fully. When I went to see the film, I had read the books, and so understood the story fully, but i noticed that for people who had not read the books, important snippets of information were left out, which I thought made the story that much more intricate and intereseting.

As for 'Catching Fire', I loved the book, and hope the film delivers! The release date is 22nd November this year,