Book Review

The Fire Within by Chris D'Lacey

David moves in with the Pennykettle family, in need of a place to stay while he goes to college. Liz Pennykettle makes clay dragons and sells them at the local farmer’s market. After David arrives, Liz crafts a special dragon for him as a housewarming gift. When Lucy Pennykettle asks David to help her protect some squirrels, he becomes inspired to write her a story. As the book unfolds, the mystery of the squirrels gets deeper and deeper, as does David’s story. Does David’s tale somehow have a connection with his dragon? Read The Fire Within to find out!

I loved how there were so many questions and you just can’t put it down. It was so involving, and every time I picked it up I was transported to another world. There was a bit of false advertising, though. It looks like a dragon book, but most of it is about squirrels. However, they threw in bits of dragon mysteries. Warning: This book is an emotional roller coaster!

Rating:  4 out of 5

This review is brought to you courtesy of YA volunteer, Davenna.

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Hook, Line and Sinker

A simple sentence has the ability to wield immense power. It can be the defining hook in transporting an already great story to the echelon of lifelong remembrance. Undoubtedly, each one of us can rattle off and quote a particular snippet from our favorite novel. The excerpt that struck a chord in such an altering way, often bringing forth an affirming nod, sometimes even moving to tears.

While characters may be fictional, their words give us something to relate to. Motivation to quiet naysayers, inspiration to climb life’s mountains, appreciation of relationships (even when lost), laughter when needing to celebrate or soothe. They are lines that may be mere words on a page, but linger because of how they resonate with our own personal journey.

Let’s take a look at some of the defining passages in Young Adult literature.

“We may not get to choose how we die, but we can choose how we live.”
          --Shaun David Hutchinson, We Are the Ants

"All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside."
          --Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

“So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”
          --John Green, Looking for Alaska

"You can never visit the same place twice. Each time, it’s a different story. By the very act of coming back, you wipe out what came before.”
          --Maureen Johnson, The Last Little Blue Envelope

“Things to do today: 1) Breathe in. 2) Breathe out.”
          --Ned Vizzini, It’s Kind of a Funny Story

“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race — that rarely do I ever simply estimate it.”
          --Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

"Spoiler Alert: Love is worth everything, everything."
          --Nicola Yoon, Everything, Everything

“I think you can sort of slip out of your life and it can be hard to find a way back in.”
          --Jandy Nelson, I’ll Give You the Sun

“You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if only you dared.”
          --Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

“Someday in the far future, when the Milky Way has turned another cosmic click, will someone carry a chair to your grave site and keep you company forever? Can you imagine someone loving you that much?”
          --Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl

This musing brought to you by YA Librarian, Chris.

Photography Walk

Rooted in a love for our surroundings, natural and otherwise, Photography Walk was conceived in June 2016. The turnout so promising, additional gatherings were added to the Young Adult program schedule in August and October. With the harsh cold of winter passed, and a spring that’s yielded a return of buds and blossoms, the time becomes right to unpack the gear and head out.

There was a time I used to tote my digital Sony and Canon cameras on routine travels. Whether it be casually strolling the University of Notre Dame campus or grand escapades navigating throughout Las Vegas, the common variable was snapping pictures of everything in sight (I see you, squirrel). Not much has changed, exception being that nowadays an iPhone serves as a capable replacement for this everlasting hobby.

Ah, memories. Now where was I?

Oh yes! On Tuesday, June 13th, we shall embark on a journey into the Bremen community neighborhoods. As with previous Photography Walk programs, a theme will be involved (previous concepts have included Fall Foliage and Back to School). Aligning with the Summer Reading message of Build a Better World, we will be investigating various architecture surrounding BPL. From residential to business, houses to storefronts, unique designs abound.

By setting forth on this trek, a mission exists. Who amongst the group can capture the most intriguing snapshot? As with our other ventures, voting will take place, and prize awarded. A carrot of enticement, if you will, in addition to the outdoor splendor and joyous company of fellow photogs. Your selection may even end up on the library’s social media pages for all the world to see!

Departure from the library is set for 1 p.m. and will last one hour. Dress accordingly for comfort and weather conditions.

This program highlight brought to you by YA Librarian, Chris.

Getting to Know . . . Kimberly

Introducing another valuable member of our YA Volunteer Team, Kimberly Kauffman! A 17-year-old senior at Bremen High School, Kimberly joined the team in August 2016 and has completed 25 hours to date. 

She can play many instruments, including clarinet, piano, tenors/quads and percussion. She has two topics that she could talk about for an hour:  Hamilton and Gatsby. 

FAVORITE BOOK GENRES:  Comedy, Romance, Mystery, Tragedy
FAVORITE TV SHOWS:  Sherlock BBC
AN INVENTION SHE WOULD UNINVENT:  The Spork (The pointy part isn't long enough to actually pick up food like a fork, and you can't get the last bits of your pudding with the spoon part because the points on the edge won't scoop from the bottom of the pudding cup."
ROLE MODEL: Mrs. Hudkins
HAPPY PLACE: Outside
SPIRIT ANIMAL: Corgi
FUTURE CAREER PLANS:  Meteorology
FAVORITE QUOTE:  "He smiled understandingly - much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced -- or seemed to face -- the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor."  -- The Great Gatsby