CFLoquence: News and Reviews from Your Library

Groundbreaking Reads

            Happy Fourth of July! In 1776, revolutionaries broke new ground when they penned our right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” into the Declaration of Independence. What better way to pursue happiness than to pick up a summer read at your local library? Go beyond dry textbook history and reimagine the experiences of colonial men and women with our historical fiction and nonfiction.

            Dig deeper into the past with The Winter People by Joseph Bruchac, set roughly a decade and a half before the American Revolution. In this novel, Saxso, a fourteen-year-old Abenaki native, must rescue his mother and sisters after they are kidnapped by British soldiers. Saxso’s narrative brings to life native culture during the colonial period.  

In The Rebellion of Jane Clarke by Sally Gunning, experience the Boston Massacre through the eyes of a young colonial woman. Jane finds herself in a tense political climate, struggling with her own beliefs and traditions. Historical figures Samuel Adams, Henry Knox and James Otis make appearances in this novelization of a turning point in American history.

            Pick up the Pulitzer Prize winner 1776 by David McCullough. Historian McCullough tells the story of the men who rode with George Washington. Dramatic and heavily researched, 1776 portrays the difficult choices Washington and his men made during the war. 1776 is available in print and audio formats. 

            For a completely different perspective, check out the novel Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. In Chains, thirteen-year- old Isabel is a slave during the revolutionary period. When she is encouraged to spy on her loyalist owners, she must decide what freedom means to her. Chains promises to be both captivating and educational.

            Ever wonder what the world would be like if the American Revolution had never happened? Richard Dreyfess and Harry Turtledove imagine such a world in their novel The Two Georges. King George III and George Washington sign a peace treaty resulting in a modern North America filled with dirigibles, steamer cars and a very different set of laws for its citizens. Use our interlibrary loan service to borrow this alternative history.

            While you are reading, earn tickets for our summer gift basket drawing. The gift basket is filled with local treats: a bottle of North Country red wine, maple candy, a McCarthy’s cookbook, a gift certificate to the Glow and much more! Just grab a reading log at the front circulation desk and use a shovel sticker to mark each book you complete. Reading logs must be turned in to the Patron Services desk by Friday, August 23^rd. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 26^th.

Summer Events

            Learn about herbs and their uses with Patreesha Endres during our Groundbreaking Herbs event on July   8th at 6pm.  Join the St. Lawrence Association of Paranormal Science for Groundbreaking Spirits on July 15^th at 6:30pm. Ages 17 & up. For more information, email kbriggs@ncls.org or call 386-3712 ext 3.

Teen Events

            Prepare for an epic adventure! Explore middle earth with movies on Mondays at 1pm throughout July. (Films are rated PG-13 for “battle sequences and frightening images”). Ages 13+

            On Wednesdays at 3pm, go “Beneath the Surface” with the Anime Club to investigate the Tokyo underworld. This summer's anime takes an exciting look at gang wars, supernatural swords, dullahans, shady medical experiments, and how they all tie together—all through the eyes of a group of high school friends. Ages 13-19.

Children’s Events

            Starting next week, Miss Val and her little paleontologists “Dig into Reading.” Age group sessions are filled with activities, stories and crafts. On July 11^th at 2pm, meet animals from the NYS Thompson Park Zoo during our “Diggers and Underground Dwellers” program, an event for the whole family.

            “Books at the Beach” is on July 18^th, starting at 2pm. Listen to summertime stories, cool off in a water fight, hula hoop and play games with your library friends at the Taylor Park Beach.

            Don’t forget to register for the Annual Pet Show by July 18^th.  The show will be held on July 25th at 2pm in the Village Park. Each pet receives a ribbon and each child gets a prize! For more information, email vwhite@ncls.org or call 386-3712 ext. 4.

Miss Val’s Pick: “I recently read the book Being Frank by Donna W. Earnhardt to some of the first and second grade classes who came to visit the library this spring. In this book, Frank is honest...to a fault. He speaks his mind, often upsetting those around him. His Grandpa Earnest, who also has a history of frankness, teaches him to temper his comments with ‘a little sugar, and less pepper!’ The elementary classes and I all agreed this book shared a pretty wise message!”

Please note that we are closed July 4^th and 5^th.  For a list of our new additions to the collection, please visit cantonfreelibrary.org and “like” us on Facebook.