It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

This week was a VERY busy week!  I didn't get a lot of reading done.  I only finished one book, but it had a huge impact on me.  I was not expecting The Center of Everything by Linda Urban to have that big of an impact.  This was first book of Linda Urban's that I've read.  I'll be checking the others out soon!

Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I didn't go into this book with any expectations.  I had heard, on Twitter, that people were really enjoying the book.  But I didn't feel the need to run out and pick it up, like I have with many other books.  Last weekend I was in the library and saw it set up in a display and I took it as a sign.  So I checked it out.  Wow, I didn't expect all the emotions that came up.  Ruby, the main character, is living with a lot of regrets.  She is looking for a way fix those regrets.  Her biggest regret is not listening to her grandmother, when she asked her to.  

As I'm reading about Ruby's regrets, here come mine bubbling to the surface. What if I had gotten on the phone when my grandparents (mom's parents) called that day before my senior year in college?  I would have been able to talk to my Pop-Pop one last time.  What if I had gone back to visit my grandparents (dad's parents) during the summer of 2001?  I would have been able to visit and spend time with my GrandPap.  Even as I write this, those regrets still can bring me to tears.

But like Ruby, I'm not going to let regrets rule my life.  As the years have passed the guilt from those regrets has gotten less.  But can still come to the surface, as it did with this book.

In my opinion, the sign of a great book is one that can still affect you days after you finish reading it.  And that's what this one did.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Random Sunday Thoughts

I can't believe it is Sunday again!  The weekend goes by so fast.  Even though I say that I'm going to try and get school things done early, I once again find myself working on Sunday evening.  I have to try and get better, so that I can enjoy my Sunday night.

My school had our Back to School Night Open House on Thursday.  I had the public library come and set up a table. This allowed the public library to promote the many resources that they provide.  Since September is National Library Card Sign-Up month, they also had applications for library cards.  I was thrilled at the end of the night, when we counted the applications.  There were 18 students and/or parents who walked away with brand new library cards!  It was thrilling to know that 18 more people in my school community have library cards!

This has been a great break from my school work!  Look for my post tomorrow about what I have been reading!

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92) 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.

It has been another two of not a lot of reading getting done.  The start of the year has been a stressful one.  Our student logins were changed on the first day of school!  So I along with my fellow Media Specialists have been teaching the students how to log in to the computers!  It has been crazy!!

I did get to read Jeff Brown's Star Wars: Jedi Academy.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  I just loved this one.  Brown wrote a story that all kids can relate to.  This is a story of Roan, who has a dream of going to the Pilot Academy, like his father and brother.  Well, his dream doesn't go as he planned.  He get a mysterious invitation to join the Jedi Academy.  As Roan learns the ins and outs of the Jedi Academy he is not sure that is is suppose to be there.  I loved how Roan writes in a journal throughout this book.  This is going to be a book that I can't keep on the shelf for very long.

I also got a chance to read one picture book, Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter.  Click here for a summary on Goodreads.  This book is the story of how the Panda came to the United States.  I never gave it a thought on how the Panda ever got here.  In the 1930's Mrs. Harkness' husband set off on an expedition to get a Panda for his wife.  Unfortunately on that expedition, he died before he accomplished his goal.  Unlike most women during the 1930's Mrs. Harkness decided that she had expedition to finish.  So she set off for China to finish what her husband had started.  I just loved this book.  I loved how Mrs. Harkness didn't let those who doubted her, keep her from going on the expedition.  This was a great book with a wonderful female role model.

Hope I can get a bit more reading done this week.  I just started The Center of Everything by Linda Urban.  I've heard so many good things about this book, I can't wait to get further into this book.

Happy Reading!!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)

Alzheimer's Walk

This year I am so happy to be able to participate in the Alzheimer's Walk in my state.  I couldn't do it last year because I was attending the wedding of a close family friend.

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  My Grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years before she passed away.  At first we noticed she had trouble remembering a few things, but nothing that we couldn't write off as getting older.  Our first big clue that it was more than just getting older was when she and my mom were in the kitchen making lunch.  My Grandmother looked at my mom and asked "How do you make a sandwich?"  She couldn't remember what to do.  Once my mom got her started, she was able to make the sandwich.  After that we began to notice more and more things that she couldn't remember.  It was extremely hard once she lost our names.  Grandma would look at us and know that we belonged to her, but couldn't come up with our names.  She also lost the names of other relatives.  After we spent three hours visiting her sister and nephew, my Grandmother looked at my mom, while they were walking to the bathroom, and asked "Who is that nice lady I've been talking with?"  

My Grandma and Pap

Like I said before she was only in the beginning stages of this horrible disease.  I can't imagine what other families have gone though as this disease continues to progress.  It was hard enough with Grandma only be in the beginning stages.

I'm walking to help raise money for research and treatment to hopefully one day have families not have to go through what my family and many others have gone through.  If you are interested in donating please click here. Thanks in advance if you donate.

Thanks for reading!

Stacey (@libraryjo92)