Weekend Reads

Fall is in the air! The days are short, it's starting to get chilly - which makes it the perfect time to read a great book! Today we feature a review by 7th grade student Kyra Carlson, as well as two new books in our collection.

Guest post from Kyra Carlson, Class of 2020

Unwanteds by Lisa McMann 

Twin brothers, Alex and Aaron Stow, live in the dullest of dull, Quill. When a child in Quill turns 13, they go through the Purge. When they are told whether they are lucky Wanteds, fortunate Necessaries, or shunned Unwanteds. Wanteds go to the University. They learn and they are educated. Necessaries simply stay alive, getting servant jobs in Quill. Unwanteds go to the Death Farm, where they are executed. Aaron has been declared a Wanted. Alex has been declared an Unwanted, so he will have to report to the Death Farm for execution...or so he thinks.
What I like about this book is that it is third person omniscient, which explains more and makes the book more dramatic! Happy reading! This is a series so if you like this first book the second is Island of Silence!

Find it in Fiction under F MCM

The Hogwarts Library by J.K. Rowling

These three little books are must-reads for any Harry Potter fan. Each is a stand-alone, textbook-style book that Hogwarts students read and relied on during their time in school . The first, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is a compendium of the magical creatures that populate the Wizarding world. Fans will remember it as the required reading for the students took in their first year. The second, Quidditch Through the Ages, highlights the development of the beloved Wizard sport (which is also gaining popularity in the Muggle world so look out for people running around with non-flying broomsticks!). The final book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, is roughly equivalent to the fairy tales that Muggle children grew up with. This edition includes notes on the stories provided by Albus Dumbledore, so each story has context and information about the bigger meaning behind it.

While these texts are short, they are wonderful companion pieces to the (much longer) novels. 

Find it in Fiction under F ROW

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Rowing was established as a collegiate sport in 1852 when Harvard and Yale first competed against each other (interesting note: this was also the first intercollegiate event ever held in the United States!) From that time until 1923, the sport was dominated by East Coast, Ivy League schools, filled with the wealthy children of businessmen and magnates. The Boys in the Boat is the story of the first West Coast team to defeat these elite teams. The University of Washington's eight-oar crew accomplishments led them to compete in the 1936 Olympics, known as the Nazi Olympics due their location (Berlin) and the ruler of the host country (Hitler). This adaptation for young readers includes historical pictures related to the story as well as a main protagonist (Joe Rantz) who overcomes great personal obstacles to accomplish greatness.

Find it in Nonfiction under 797.12 BRO