Tackle Twelve

Are you participating in the Tackle Twelve Reading Challenge that’s taking place right here at Bremen Public Library? If you haven’t yet joined in the competition, don’t fret! The promotion has only recently begun and spans all of 2018. So what exactly is Tackle Twelve? Let’s dive in to the specifics.

The mission, should you care to accept, is to complete at least 12 of the following 16 challenges by December 31^:

-        Read a Book of True Crime

-        Read a Celebrity Memoir

-        Read a Book With an Ugly Cover

-        Read a Self-Improvement Book

-        Read a Tome (500 Pages or More)

-        Read an Oprah Book Club Selection

-        Read an Inspirational Fiction Book

-        Read a Paperback

-        Read a Western

-        Read a One-Sitting Book (100 Pages or Less)

-        Read a Caldecott or Newbery Medal Winner

-        Read a Graphic Novel

-        Read a Mystery

-        Read a Young Adult Novel

-        Read a Science Fiction Book

-        Read a Banned Book

For individuals completing 12 of the 16 challenges, a BPL mug will be awarded. For those eager souls who are extra ambitious and complete all 16, we are including a one-year membership to Friends of Bremen Public Library. Benefits of membership:

Free Deluxe Tote Bag
Extended 3-Week Loan Period for Books, Audiobooks, CDs and Magazines
Right to Vote at the Annual Meeting
VIP Invitations to Book Sales and Other Friends Events

Ready to get started? Stop by the library and pick up a Tackle Twelve scorecard. Then, each time a challenge is completed, bring in your card for marking purposes. Be sure to post or tweet about your progress on social media using the hashtag #TackleTwelve for even more chances to win random prizes throughout the year.

Finally, make it a point to regularly stop by our Tackle Twelve display at BPL for featured books on all 16 categories.

Happy Reading!

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

Amazing Audiobooks

Did you know that your library card gives you access to more than 2,500 digital audiobooks through a partnership with OverDrive and Hoopla? This is an incredible 24/7 resource, especially considering The Hub has recently released their 2018 Amazing Audiobooks Nominees. Not familiar with The Hub? The Hub is a teen collections blog for YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association.

The mission of The Hub is to “provide timely information about emerging and new practices for evaluating, selecting and curating materials; raise awareness about appropriate YALSA tools to facilitate innovation in teen collections; and provide resources for members and the library community to support their efforts to continuously improve their teen collection and content curation.”

Here are some of the nominees:

Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess

Kwame Alexander’s and Mary Rand Hess’s YA novel in verse comes alive in this audio edition of Solo, narrated by Kwame Alexander, which also contains five original songs performed by musician Randy Preston. Seventeen-year-old Blade endeavors to resolve painful issues from his past and navigate the challenges of his former rockstar father’s addictions, scathing tabloid rumors, and a protected secret that threatens his own identity.

Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn

This is it. Graduation. Vic is going to throw the most epic party this town has ever seen. She’s going to give her friends and everyone’s favorite restaurant, Happies, a proper send-off. All she needs to do is keep it all a secret so that Miss Thrope, the town’s nightmare councilwoman and high school economics teacher, doesn’t ruin it.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. However, as Monty embarks upon his Grand Tour of Europe, his quests for vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Living on a violent planet where everyone develops a unique power meant to shape the future, Akos and Cyra, youths from enemy nations, resent gifts that render them vulnerable to others’ control before they become unlikely survival partners.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Everything is about to change. Until this moment, Sal has always been certain of his place with his adoptive father and their loving Mexican-American family. But now his own history unexpectedly haunts him, and life-altering events force him and his best friend, Samantha, to confront issues of faith, loss, and grief.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around – and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself and he has to seize the chance or lose his dream forever.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

After witnessing her friend’s death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter’s life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Natasha, whose family is hours away from being deported, and Daniel, a first generation Korean American who strives to live up to his parents’ expectations, unexpectedly fall in love and must determine which path they will choose in order to be together.

Frankenstein

Bremen Public Library has been awarded a Community Read grant of $1,000 from Indiana Humanities to participate in a statewide read of the classic novel “Frankenstein.” More than 60 other communities will be reading the book as part of One State / One Story: Frankenstein.

BPL will host at least three community programs tied to the book during 2018, including a book discussion. It will also receive up to 50 books and assorted collateral (bookmarks, posters, etc.) to promote the programs. The $1,000 project funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including to book speakers through a special “Frankenstein” speakers bureau.

Written by teenage Mary Shelley in 1818, “Frankenstein” tells the story of a young scientist who created a grotesque living creature through a scientific experiment and was horrified by what he had made.

“'Frankenstein’ is a powerful book that raises big questions about right and wrong, how we treat other people and the relationship between science and society,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “That’s what makes it such an important book to read as a community and as a state. We want to catalyze those serious conversations, but we want Hoosiers to have a little fun with the book, too.”

One State / One Story: Frankenstein is an initiative designed by Indiana Humanities, in partnership with the Indiana State Library and Indiana Center for the Book, to encourage Hoosiers to read the classic novel as it turns 200 in 2018. More than a dozen programs – including a digital gaming workshop, a sci-fi and horror writing festival for teens, community reads and read-a-thons, and college and university partnerships – will bring Frankenstein to life all over the state. One State / One Story: Frankenstein has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

I'm thrilled to take part in One State / One Story as it provides an additional venue by which to connect with patrons and potential patrons alike. In a time when some debate the need for our institutions, we must continue to evolve and show relevancy.

The libraries of my youth were the whisper-quiet, shush and not be heard, variety. Today, libraries are vibrant community centers. Yes, we are still books. However, we are books and so much more! From movies to music, computer classes, hangout spaces, and programs. My goodness, the programs are essential.

Through programming personally conducted, I've come across people who had not stepped through our doors once. Not a single time. By offering something of interest, though, they adjusted their calendar and stepped beyond our four walls. In doing so, it enabled us to share the wealth of resources that exist at Bremen Public Library. To show them what they've been missing out on.

That part to me is special. Especially when they return time and again. A program did that! The goal for One State / One Story is for thousands of Hoosiers across the state to have the opportunity to participate in engaging, meaningful discussions. Our mission statement may seem rather simple, yet it's critical:  "We link our community to the world: past, present and future."

It is imperative that libraries continue to be a part of, to serve as a cornerstone of, each and every neighborhood.

Learn more at: www.IndianaHumanities.org/Frankenstein

This event highlight brought to you by Chris Scandling, YA Librarian.

Getting to Know ... Johanna

Introducing another valuable member of our YA Volunteer Team, Johanna Grace Feitz! A 16-year-old sophomore, Johanna has accumulated 30.75 volunteer hours since April. 

FAVORITE BOOK GENRES:  Futuristic or dystopian
FAVORITE TV SHOWS:  Steven Universe and How It's Made
A TOPIC SHE COULD DISCUSS FOR AN HOUR:  The Atmosphere
ROLE MODEL: Her friend Sasha
HAPPY PLACE: In a blanket fort under her desk
SPIRIT ANIMAL: Fox
INTERESTING FACT:  She loves animals
DESERTED ISLAND FRIEND:  Her old friend Tim
FUTURE CAREER: Engineer or technician
FAVORITE QUOTE: "'Reckless' is my middle name. And my only name." Captain Carswell Thorne, From Scarlet by Marissa Meyer