Monday, April 27, 2015

New Music CD's



Peter White Library is fortunate to have the Carroll Paul Trust fund that allows the library to have such a great music cd collection. 
Cinderella Soundtrack is the music from the new movie Cinderella, which was released in February of 2015.  This American romantic fantasy film was created by movie director Kenneth Branagh and composer Patrick Doyle.  
Cracker – Berkeley to Bakersfield. The American alternative rock band, Cracker released their tenth album, Berkeley to Bakersfield, on 429 Records.  It's a double-album that finds this uniquely American band traversing two different sides of the California landscape – the northern Bay area and further down-state in Bakersfield.   
Glen Campbell – I’ll Be Me SoundtrackThis soundtrack is taken from the documentary film “Glen Campbell: I’ll be Me which covers Campbell’s life, farewell tour and his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 
Nickelback – No Fixed Address.  No Fixed Address crosses a sonic spectrum with pulsating vigor and innovation reflected throughout the diversity of the album's 11 tracks, each embodying the much-loved Nickelback sound propelled to tantalizing and unique new levels. While continuing to lure a broad spectrum of listeners into the trademark Nickelback party-brew of fast-lane indulgences and soaring power ballads, No Fixed Address ultimately proves an equally befitting title for its inspired and boundary-pushing musical map.  
Rick Springfield – Stripped Down.  During Rick Springfield s 40+ year career, the artist has amassed 17 Top 40 hits, including four Top 10 s as well as achieving an iconic cultural moment with the Number One hit "Jessie s Girl," for which he won a 1981 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. And after 25 million records sold, Springfield shows no signs of slowing down. 
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Cheek To Cheek.  Cheek To Cheek features classic jazz standards sung by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett in a combination of vocal duets and solo performances.  It took over a year to complete and features jazz musicians associated with both artists including members of Bennett’s quartet, Mike Renzi, Gray Sargent, Harold Jones and Marshall Wood as well pianist Tom Rainer.   
Willie Nelson & Sister Bobbie – December Day.  Country music legend Willie Nelson is opening his vault with the launch of a brand-new archival series, titled Willie's Stash. The first release of the series is titled, December Day Willie's Stash Vol. 1.  Central to December Day is the collaboration of Willie and Sister Bobbie and features new versions of gems from Willie's extensive songwriting catalog.  

Monday, April 20, 2015

Books for Teens

Some of the best teen books of the year can be found on the main level of the library.  Whether you’re drawn to fantasy, realistic fiction, or suspense, these young adult titles are worth a try.

Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers features best friends from the same Harlem neighborhood who stand out in their fields of interest, Darius as a writer and Twig as a runner.  Faced with individual challenges that include unsavory and unsupportive family members, bullies at school, and danger on the streets, they strive to find a way out of the neighborhood and into college.   Instead of letting themselves fall into despair over their lots in life, Darius and Twig encourage each other’s progress and keep working toward their individual goals.  Myers scores big with this tale of steadfast friendship.
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page brings to mind a well-known line from THE WIZARD OF OZ. “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re in Kansas anymore,” now applies to Amy and her pet rat, Star.  The story parallels Dorothy and Toto’s adventure when a tornado carries Amy’s double-wide trailer off to the land of Oz.  Sure enough, the yellow brick road is there, but nothing else is the same as the story Amy knows.  The Munchkins have fled their village, the tin woodsman - now equipped with knives as fingers – heartlessly heads up the Emerald City police, and Glinda – no longer a good witch – supervises strip mining operations for magic. When Amy meets the all-powerful Dorothy, she’s not at all like the original farm girl created by Frank L. Baum.  This imaginative tale explores the dark side of governance and power, juxtaposed against our childhood impressions of the magical land of Oz

The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno offers fascinating and suspenseful glimpse into the world of multiple personalities.  Molly has lived her life in pieces. “I wake up in my car. I remember what I put on this morning….I just don’t know how I got here.”  When she witnesses a tragic accident, the mystery of her blackouts begins to unwind.  Why did the boy who died know her name?  What does her family know about her memory lapses and why won’t they tell her?  As Molly searches through her memories for clues, she is able to piece together the two halves of her existence, pinpointing the incident that triggered her alter ego to surface and, ultimately, save her life.

Schizo by Nic Sheff contains three distinct storylines, leading to an ending that will make you question everything you just read.  First of all, Miles has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a disease that requires therapy and lots of daily medications that upset his stomach and give him headaches.  He truly has lost control of his body.  Then there are the crows that follow him around, making him question what’s real and what’s delusion.  Secondly, Miles’ family hovers over him and doesn’t acknowledge the fact that his brother went missing from the beach on the same day of his first schizophrenic blackout.  He makes it his goal to find his brother, even though everyone else has given up.  The third storyline involves an old friend, Eliza who returns to town after a two year absence, wanting to add some romance to their friendship. When all three storylines join together, Sheff creates an ending you won’t soon forget! 

Lynette Suckow, Reference Desk

Monday, April 13, 2015

Selections from BookPage magazine



The Friends of the Peter White Public Library sponsor a subscription to BookPage magazine.  This monthly tabloid is a selection guide for readers.  Free copies are available at the PWPL each month.  BookPage editors evaluate and select for review the best books published in a variety of categories and genres.  The Library Reads List is a compilation of books nominated by library staff across the country.  These are the latest books that librarians can’t wait to share with readers.  The PWPL has nine of the ten books listed for February 2015 on the book shelves.  These new works of fiction include new authors as well as popular and time-tested writers.
            Anne Tyler has established herself as a writer who captures history.  A Spool of Blue Thread follows three generations of the Whitshanks family back and forth with overlapping stories—just like a spool of thread.  Filled with quirky but genuine characters, this book realistically recounts the lives of this family and their well-worn Baltimore home. Tyler fans will not be disappointed, and this novel may encourage those unfamiliar with Tyler’s work to read some of her previous works.
            A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott combines a historical setting and a fictional screenwriter as Julie, an aspiring screenwriter from Indiana advances from studio go-fer, assistant to Carole Lombard and finally becomes a contract writer for MGM.  Using the making of Gone with the Wind as a backdrop, this captivating story will appeal to fans of vintage Hollywood.
            The unnamed friend of 15 year-old rape survivor examines the aftermath of the crime as it influences the life of victim Lindy Simpson in My Sunshine Away.  This debut novel by M.O. Walsh ties together numerous threads in what is being called “a budding classic likely to remain in readership for many years to come.”  The novel is filled with suspense, angst, loyalty and deceit.
            Joe Abercrombie follows his novel Half a King with a sequel Half the World.  This book can be read as the second book in the series or a standalone.  Thorn, a 15 year old has been told that a woman should look for a wealthy husband rather than a warrior.  Desperate to revenge her father’s death she lives to fight and destroy those who are bent on deceiving her.
            Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon uses flashbacks and present-day narratives to tell the story of stay-at-home dad Simon Connelly as he confronts the fact that he does not know his son Jake.  Suddenly one day, Connelly receives a text that there has been a shooting at his son and daughter’s high school.  As parents are reunited with their children, Connelly’s son Jake is declared missing.  Psychological suspense surrounding a parent’s worst nightmare make this a captivating and impossible book to put down.          

Fantasy fans will enjoy A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. Set in London, the link between parallel universes, the magician Kell is one of only two travelers who can move between them.  Something very sinister is disturbing the equilibrium, and Kell must unravel a plot that threatens to destroy both worlds.  Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, he will first need to stay alive.
Laurie R. King is one of the most popular mystery writers today, and her new book Dreaming Spies: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes will not disappoint.  Russell and Holmes board an ocean liner enroute to Japan.  During the journey they meet a known blackmailer and a young Japanese woman who is not all that she seems.  Dobbs and her husband Holmes must solve a mystery involving international espionage, extortion and shocking secrets or an empire will be toppled. This book contains rich atmosphere and wonderful historical research.         
The Siege Winter is a novel set during King Stephen and Empress Matilda’s tumultuous civil conflict to claim England.  The pair will do whatever it requires no matter the cost to themselves or their subjects.  The brutality of the period is realistically captured without sacrificing the complex nature of the time or the people involved in the story.
            These and many other new works of fiction are available at the Peter White Public Library.

By Pam Christensen, Library Director

Monday, April 6, 2015

New for Kids and Teens



Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall (Easy Picture Book)
This fun picture book is about a red (or is it?) crayon. The colorful illustrations and even more colorful personalities of the various crafting supplies that feature in the story will have kids giggling and chiming in with their own answers as to why the red crayon is having such trouble coloring things red. A great story for young artists! But it also contains a great, subtle message for parents and kids in regards to being true to yourself despite the label the world may put on you.

This book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne (Easy Picture Book)
Here is a book that is just plain all-around fun! Have you ever wondered about that little space at the spine of a book where 2 pages meet? What happens if something slips through that little space-instead of continuing on to the second page? And what if, just for example, your dog wanders into that little space? How do you get him back? Read this laugh-out-loud book to find out! Warning to parents-this one might be a repeat read demand from your kids!

At Home with…. by T. Cooke (Juvenile Non-fiction Series)
The books in this non-fiction series each feature a historical people (Aztecs, Ancient Romans, Ancient Greeks, Victorians, Vikings) in a very eye-grabbing and informational format reminiscent of the ever so popular Guinness World Records books. Each 2 page spread covers a different topic. For example, in At Home with the Aztecs these topics range from Master Chef to My Home and Make Over. Each volume contains a useful glossary and index, along with websites and books to check out for more information. This series is sure to be a hit for kids with an interest in how ancient peoples lived.

Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (Juvenile Fiction)
This is a touching, well-written story of normal kids with good grades, friends and family –but with one problem. They are homeless. 19 year old Gage couldn’t stand living with their guardian anymore, so when he leaves, 10 year-old Ari, wanting to honor their mother’s dying wish that they stay together, goes with him. But Gage doesn’t have an apartment or a job yet, and they find themselves couch surfing with his friends. Ari’s greatest comfort are her Paper Things-clippings from catalogs that she uses to create a perfect paper family and that gives her some semblance of control in a life quickly spinning out of control. This novel is a realistic look at what 6 weeks of homelessness looks like for kids-how the adults and friends in their lives are kept in the dark and the difficultly of find shelter, food, showers, and other basic things that most kids take for granted. A wonderful read that address a very real issue.


The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Bradley (Juvenile Fiction)
This book will satisfy just about any reader. Set during the London Blitz, this historical fiction features strong characters overcoming huge odds in an attempt to find, and keep, a life and family that is worth fighting for. 9 year-old Ada has been confined to her room and mistreated her entire life by her mother because she was born a club-foot. When her little brother Jamie was getting shipped out to the country with the rest of London’s children, Ada sneaks out to join him. They are reluctantly taken in by Susan Smith-and a long journey of discovery, growth, health and acceptance begins, for Susan and the children alike. This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black (Teen Fiction)
From a master of dark fantasy and paranormal books comes this incredible story of a town where fae and humans co-exist with each other on the edge of a razor-thin blade. Hazel and her brother Ben have long since accepted the fae as a part of their lives, and are all too well aware of how dangerous the fae can be-and at one time, they knew how to stop them from harming humans. But not anymore, and the fae are becoming bolder and more dangerous. On the tip of this delicate balance is the boy with horns on his head who has been sleeping in a glass coffin for generations. Until the day when suddenly the coffin is broken and the boy is no longer sleeping. With his awakening come a danger unlike anything the town has faced before and soon Hazel and Ben find themselves fighting for not just their survival, but for the whole town as they struggle with love, deciding where their loyalties lie, and startling betrayals. A must read for Holly Black fans and those like their fantasy with a dark edge to it.

By Sarah Rehborg, Youth Services Librarian