LIBRARY CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

All of the Glendale Public Library branches will be closed at 5 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving and from November 28 - 30.  

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

When is it time to put away the toys and stop playing make believe? What happens when the game you thought you were playing turns out not to be a game after all, but is terrifyingly real? Middle schoolers, Zach, Alice, and Poppy, are confronted by these very questions in Doll Bones by Holly Black. The three have been friends for a long time and one of their favorite games is to create elaborate scenarios and quests for their dolls and action figures to act out. They know that they’re getting a little too old to play with dolls, but their stories and games are central to their friendship with each other, especially now, since it seems the changes that come with middle school are starting to drive a wedge between their group.

One night, Poppy has a dream about the antique bone china doll that acts as the Queen in their adventures. The doll is haunted by a ghost of a little girl who suffered a horrific fate and needs Poppy’s help putting her spirit to rest. Suspecting that it might be more than a dream, Poppy finds evidence that the ghost’s story is true and convinces Zach and Alice to help her. Together they embark on a real life quest to uncover the mystery behind the Queen and see if their friendship can stand the test of time even after the games are over.

A fantastic, slightly spooky read by the creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles!

For grades 5 and up.

SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY IN HERE

Detective Zengo and Detective O'Malley are on a missing frog case, but it seems that other fishy things are turning everywhere.  Professor Hopkins (the frog) has been missing for a few days - and the illegal fish trade at East Kal High (where he taught) is on the rise.  Are the two cases connected?  Will two platypi be able to locate the missing frog, or is this more than a missing persons case and actually a murder?  Who is behind the disappearance and the illegal fish?  Is it the Football Star, the local Panda mayor, or the fox bus boy?  There's only one way to found out the answers to all these questions, and that is to follow Detectives Zengo and O'Malley of the Platypus Police Squad in their first case, The Frog Who Croaked by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.  This fun mystery from the author of the graphic novel Lunch Lady series is great for kids in grades 4-6.

THANK YOU KATHLEEN!

A big thank you to Author Kathleen O'dell for taking the time the talk to young readers of Glendale and LA about her latest book, The Aviary, our 2013 One Book One Glendale for Younger Readers.  The evening was a great success and we even got her to drive the bus! While you're on your Thanksgiving break check out her other books.  See you all next fall.   

  

DON'T FORGET ONE BOOK WITH KATHLEEN TOMORROW

Kathleen O'Dell is coming tomorrow, Thursday at 7p.m., November 21 to talk about her book The Aviary and signing your copies.  Once Upon a Time bookstore will also be selling her books at the event.  Hope to see you all at the Central Library.  Parking is free with validation for 3 hours in the structure.  

WEDNESDAY STORYTIME CANCELLED

Due to illness, our Wednesday storytime is cancelled for tomorrow, November 20, 2013. Storytimes will resume January 14, 2014.  

WOULD YOU LIE FOR SOMETHING YOU LOVE?

Ditty loves dancing. She loves her parents. She does not love lying. But she does not want to study Jewish tradition and get married to another Orthodox Jewish boy. Her parents act like their beliefs must rule everything about their lives. But Ditty isn't quite so sure if she believes these things any more. I mean, her parents have a secret television! So Ditty decides to take ballet, and has to come up with some elaborate stories to do what she loves the most - dancing! 

DANCING IN THE DARK by Robyn Bavati is about a girl who is transitioning from obedient child to daring teen, one who questions everything her parents ever taught her. How can dancing feel so right when her family thinks it is so wrong?! For grades 6 and up.

AUGUST 2013

NOT READY FOR ROMANCE

At 13, life is full of changes and challenges. 

What started out as a one time deal to help out a guy as well as making a bit of money at the same time became a part time job unlike any other. Through word of mouth, Quentin became known as the the Heartbreak Messenger, whose job it was break tell some poor unfortunate high schooler that their relationship was over.  Call the breakee scaredy cat, cowardly or whatever you want, but he figures he's serving a purpose and helping out his mom at the same time.  Meanwhile his own relationship with his best friends, especially Abby is changing and he's having a hard time figuring out why.  

Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance is a fun fast-pace anti - romance from a guy's point of view.  

For readers in 6th-8th grade.  

CLUELESS MACGEE

The mac and cheese at the school cafeteria has gone missing and PJ McGee hopes to use his ninja moves and private eye skills to find out who stole it. PJ hopes to one day follow in his father’s footstep, who he assumes is on a secret mission. As PJ tries to solve the mystery, he comes across some problems, as he is clueless about his surroundings and tends to cause more problems than needed. With his sidekick beside him and a bully under suspicion, PJ attempts to solve this case.


Clueless McGee by Jeff Mack is a funny book.  Readers will find PJ’s clueless character hilarious and he tells the story through letters to his dad, which allows readers to understand his character better.  This book is great for children grades 3 and up. 

STRANDED ISLAND

Roxie Warbler was a fourth grade girl, who was bullied by a “Helvetia’s Hooligans.”  One day when she tried escaping her bullies, they all were stuck in a garbage bin, and dumped into the ocean and landed on a stranded island.  Soon they realized they were not the only ones on the island, there were two dangerous criminals who were also there.  Will Roxie and her bullies get home safely or will their faith lie with the criminals.

Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds is a great story about a girl who overcomes the challenges of bulling at school.  It also teaches students how important it is for teamwork.  This quick-read is great for grades 3 and up. 

TOTAL FAILURE, INC.

Just because your last name is Failure doesn’t mean that you can’t be destined for great things. Just ask Timmy Failure, founder, president, and CEO of perhaps the nation’s greatest detective agency, Total Failure, Inc. Even though Timmy has his hands full cracking cases all over town (well, on his street, at least) he still has to deal with life’s little annoyances, like the fact that his corporate headquarters is located in his mom’s closet and his Segway (the Failuremobile) has been stolen by none other than his arch-nemesis. There’s also the fact that his business partner is useless (what else would you expect from a 1500 lb polar bear who is easily distracted by garbage cans and Rice Crispy treats?).

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis is the first book is what promises to be a hilarious series. Equal parts Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Calvin and Hobbes, Timmy Failure is more than just another entry in the “illustrated diary” genre that has become so popular lately. Readers will cheer Timmy’s successes just as much as they roll their eyes at his failures because, after all, nobody is perfect.

Grades 4 and up

PICKED UP YOUR BOOK FOR ONE BOOK YET?

The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell is our 2013 One Book One Glendale for Younger Readers.  She will be our guest speaker this coming Thursday evening, November 21 at 7p.m. 

Perfect fantasy novel for readers in 5th-7th grades.  

Central Library 
222 E. Harvard St. 
Glendale, CA 
Free parking at the structure across the street for 3 hrs. 

LIBRARY HOLIDAY CLOSURES

All branches of the Glendale Public Library will be closed this weekend, Saturday through Monday, November 9-1.  

We will be open Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 10a.m.

CAN A PERSON CHANGE THEIR LUCK?

Good luck can be a very elusive thing and something  not often thought about about much unless perhaps you win the lottery or get struck by lightening. For Summer's family the luck is all bad and just when she thinks that things can't get worse, a usually fatal thought, they do. Her parents have to leave for Japan just as the harvest season is starting which provides the family jobs and money pay the mortgage. That bill must be paid so it means that Summer, her younger brother and their grandparents will have to take over and go in the parent's place. 

In Newbery Award-winning author Cynthia Kadohata's book THE THING ABOUT LUCK, the reader shares not only what it is like to be part of a custom harvesting crew but Summer's story of growing up in a very traditional Japanese family and the big risk she takes to change her family's luck. 

For grades 5-8, this book has been nominated for a National Book Award.

FROM HOUSECAT TO WARRIOR



A lone house cat named Rusty wonders what lies deep within the forest.  When he finally decides to break free from his familiar abode, he is forced to defend himself from another cat.  The cat is not an ordinary cat.  He is an apprentice cat who is learning to become a Warrior, the fiercest and strongest cats of all.  Rusty soon discovers that other cats have not always been pampered like him, and there are many cats- clans of cats- who struggle to survive.  The leader of one clan sees Rusty's potential to become a Warrior cat like others but is Rusty ready?

A thrilling cat adventure!!  Into The Wild by Erin Hunter is the first book in the original series. 

Visit the Glendale Library, Arts, & Culture Department's online database Novelist (K-8) for a list of books in any series.  Here are the books from the WARRIORS series.  Enjoy!



MAGIC GLASSES

Just like in the fairy tale Cinderella, Calliope Meadow Anderson (“Callie”) does not seem to fit in. Callie is about to start middle school and is nervous about once again being teased about her appearance and worse yet, she’s told that she needs to get glasses. However, she does not receive just any ordinary glasses; her strange looking glasses actually possess the power of reading other’s thoughts. Callie begins to wear these glasses to get an inside look on what people are actually thinking. What she soon finds out however, is that this power is not as great as it may seem.   

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist is a story about a girl coming of age.  Readers can relate to the experiences Callie goes through with her friends and family.  This book is good for student grades 4 and up.  
 

STEAMPUNK FUN

Sophronia is 14 years old, tomboy and middle child of a family of girls who is suddenly told that she will be going to a finishing school, but this isn't any ordinary finishing school.  Unbeknownst to her, Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has vampires, werewolves, and flying airships.  There she learns to fend off all types of foes and becomes embroiled in adventures unlike any she has known before.

Etiquette and Espionage:  Finishing School Book the First by Gail Carriger is a fun steampunk action adventure story.   

For readers in 6th -9th grade