Snippets from the Shelves

We had a wonderful summer full of many games, activities and prize give-a-ways. This year, a record number of patrons entered the summer drawing and more young adults participated in the Summer Reading Club than ever before. Our activities for young adults included a Tai Chi demonstration given by “Cootie” Harris. He shared some history of the art and had each of us trying basic moves for a very fun and interesting afternoon. Lynette Olson, RD, LDN, a dietician from Meadville Medical Center, shared tips on healthy eating and good nutrition. Our end-of-summer party followed the theme “Metamorphosis @ Your Library and found young adults enjoying an afternoon of snacks, Dining Etiquette Jeopardy, assembling collages and many other fun activities. We would like to thank those who participated and invite everyone to join us again next summer as we explore “Express Yourself @ Your Library.”

As we head into cooler weather, it’s time to start thinking about all the new books to enjoy throughout the winter. The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent, a debut novel based on the author’s own family history, provides a fresh viewpoint on the Salem witch trials in this highly recommended novel. Elizabeth Peters ends her Vicky Bliss mystery series with Laughter of Dead Kings. Walter Mosley brings back Socrates Fortlow in The Right Mistake, his third novel in this suspenseful series. Look for David Baldacci’s new book, Divine Justice, a continuation of his Camel Club series, coming in November, along with Cross Country by James Patterson, Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler and Just After Sunset: Stories by Stephen King.

Start getting into the holiday spirit with a few of these Christmas books soon to arrive: A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry; A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber; The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck; A Christmas Star, another Cape Light novel by Thomas Kinkade; and An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor.

We now have books on CD and cassette for young adults. Some just added to the collection are Flight by Sherman Alexie, The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter and The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer. Recorded books are a great way to enjoy a good book when busy schedules don’t allow time to sit and read. We also offer a Teen Writers’ Workshop every Wednesday afternoon, 4 to 5 p.m. Teens can join Jeanne, the Reference Librarian, to find out what other teen authors are doing and get feedback on their own writing. Stop by the Fiction desk for more information on this fun and informative workshop.

New books just arriving for young adults to enjoy are Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, the long awaited third book in the Inheritance series; Oracle of the Morrigan by Tiffany Trent, the sixth novel in her Hallowmere series; The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong; The Latent Powers of Dylan Fontaine by April Lurie; Santa Claus in Baghdad and Other Stories About Teens in the Arab World by Elsa Marston; All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall; Digital Art: Painting with Pixels by Ron Miller; and The Career Chronicles: An Insider’s Guide to What Jobs Are Really Like: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly From Over 750 Professionals by Michael Gregory.