Pagosa Reads! events set for May
The second year of a highly popular library program called Pagosa Reads! is being planned now by coordinator Gail Shepherd, with support from the Alpine Lakes Book Club. Theme for this year’s events will be fire, which Shepherd called “another topic of great concern to our community, ranking right up there with last year’s theme of water.”
The two books for this season’s Pagosa Reads! events will be “Seasons of Fire: Reflections on Fire in the West,” a non-fiction book by wildland firefighter David Strohmaier, who shares his views on the formative role that fire plays in human life; and the fictional “Firestorm” by Nevada Barr, an Anna Pigeon mystery set in Lassen Volcanic National Park after a firestorm. Shepherd is now soliciting speakers for presentations and discussions at the library relating to the fire theme and these two books, so mark your calendars for 6 p.m. on May 10 and May 17, both Thursdays.
In the meantime, here is a new series of book reviews that originally appeared in The Pagosa Springs SUN.
PAGOSA READS!
Sixth graders review favorite books to inspire other readers
From The Pagosa Springs Sun, February 1, 2007
Kendra Lynnea Schlom and Kitman Gill are sixth graders who are avid readers. They also are student advisers to Meagan’s Place at the Ruby Sisson Library, a special section of the library devoted entirely to books and games of interest to early teens in the sixth through ninth grades. The first three book reports below were written by Kendra, and the fourth was written by Kitman. We hope these reports inspire other teens to read and discuss their favorite books with friends and family. All these books are available in the Meagan’s Place section of the library.
1. "Pirates!” by Celia Reese is about a girl named Nancy Kington who now owns her father’s plantation. One of the slaves becomes her friend and they both disapprove of slavery. This finally gets to them and they leave to live the life of pirates. (If gore is not your thing, do not read!)
2. " When the Wolf Calls” by Avril Johannes is about a young couple named Ben and Angela. They are from the University of Alaska and have come to the Arctic to study the habits of animals. Neomyrak, an old woman, is raising a white wolf pup. She and Angela become deeply attached to him. When the wild takes him home, will they allow this to happen? This book is about all of the couple’s and Neomyrak’s ups and downs.
3."Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer is about a girl named Bella who goes to live with her father in Forks, Washington. She starts to notice a very strange group of school kids, and.one of them eyes her constantly. Edward is that one sibling who is eyeing her. She becomes deeply in debt to him for saving her life on constant occasions and is in unconditional love with him before he tells her he is a vampire! This really is a love story with a bite!
4. Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten – those are the harsh rules of the wild and the setting of “White Fang,” another awesome book by Jack London. White Fang is the only one of five cubs to survive the harsh wild. He and his mother are a lone duo traveling by themselves … but will they always be? If White Fang gets separated from his mother, will he ever again feel loved? Read the book “White Fang” to find out!
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Seventh grader praises Mark Twain book: A hit for all ages
From The Pagosa Springs Sun, February 15, 2007
Seventh grader Kyle Anderson is not only an avid reader but also a role model for the library. That’s because he enjoys sharing his love of books with others – especially younger children.
To do so, he volunteers as a reader at Seeds of Learning where he performs – yes, he acts the parts, he doesn’t just read the words – for kids aged 3 to 5 years old. Kyle also is on the student adviser team for Meagan’s Place at the Ruby Sisson Library, Meagan’s Place being a special section of the library devoted entirely to books and games of interest to early teens in the sixth through ninth grades.
Kyle’s book report below is the second in our series of those written by Meagan’s Place student advisers. The teen reviewers hope these reports inspire their fellow students to read and discuss their favorite books with friends and family. All these books are available in the Meagan’s Place section of the library.
“A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” was a good read. It was written by Mark Twain.
I highly recommend this book to young and old. It had me laughing out loud at some points and kept me up reading at night. A funny story plot and suspenseful action kept me interested until the end.
The story begins when the superintendent of a 19 th Century arms factory received a knock on the head and was transported to King Arthur’s Court. Using the modern technology of the day, he convinced King Arthur that he is a wizard and he tried to civilize the medieval world. Whether he’s using a lasso or dynamite, he’s in for some grand adventures.
Mark Twain is a master of American writing and story-telling. I can’t wait to read some more of this wonderful author’s books.
This story reminded me of my childhood when I would read stories about knights and castles. This tale enticed me and rekindled my interest in the subject.
I will give it a nine of out of 10 stars and declare it a grand tale for any reader looking for a bit of humor.
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Sixth grader praises Alex Rider adventure series for teens
From The Pagosa Springs Sun, March 1, 2007
Kitman Gill is an energetic and enthusiastic sixth grader who loves math and reading. She also enjoys sharing her love of books with others. That’s why she is on the student adviser committee for Meagan’s Place at the Ruby Sisson Library, Meagan’s Place being a special section of the library devoted entirely to books and games of interest to early teens in the sixth through ninth grades. Kitman was especially instrumental in recommending books for Meagan’s Place that teens would enjoy.
Kitman’s commentary below is the third in our series of book reports written by Meagan’s Place student advisers. The teen reviewers hope these reports inspire their fellow students to read and discuss their favorite books with friends and family. All these books are available in the Meagan’s Place section of the library.
Kitman reports on three books in the Alex Rider adventure series by Anthony Horowitz.
- “Stormbreaker” – When 14-year-old Alex Rider finds out that his uncle is dead, he doesn’t believe that he died in a car crash. Further investigation proves him right. But after finding that piece of information, Alex doesn’t believe his uncle was really a banker either. Could what he does -- and doesn’t – know put him at risk? Will he meet the same fate as his uncle? Or will he just meet the same people, find the same information, and save the world? Find out only in “Stormbreaker.”
- “Point Blank” – Alex Rider is back … as a juvenile delinquent?!?! That’s right, this 14-year-old super spy is going undercover, and to the Swiss Alps. At Point Blanc the rich, arrogant and spoiled boys who have drawn too much attention to themselves must become studious, hardworking and well-behaved. But that sort of thing takes time, doesn’t it? It would be kind of scary if it happened overnight, and if everyone who was there suddenly had a twin. Something weird is going on at Point Blanc and Alex is on the case.
- “Skeleton” – Alex Rider is on yet another mission. Only this time MI6 has loaned him to the CIA. Pretending to be a family, Alex goes to Skeleton Key with Brenda Troy and Glen Carver, two CIA agents. When Alex finds a Geiger counter concealed in a Game Boy given to him by Troy, his suspicions are aroused. He knew Troy, Carver, the CIA and even MI6 had been lying to him since the first, but now Alex knew the truth. Troy and Carver were not on the island for a simple surveillance operation, they were there for something bigger. Much, much bigger. To find out what, read “Skeleton.”
Sixth graders review more of their favorite books
From The Pagosa Springs Sun, March 15, 2007
This is the fourth in a series of Pagosa Reads book reports written by members of the student advisory committee for Meagan’s Place at the Sisson Library, Meagan’s Place being a special section of the library devoted entirely to books and games of interest to early teens in the sixth through ninth grades. The teen reviewers hope these reports inspire their fellow students to read and discuss their favorite books with friends and family. The first three reviews below were written by Kendra Lynnea Schlom and the fourth was written by Kitman Gill. Both girls are sixth graders who are excellent students and avid readers.
- “Code Talker” by Joseph Bruchac is about a Navajo boy who leaves his family to go to an American school to learn English and American studies. His sacred language of Navajo and his heritage are supposed to be gone in his new school, but secretly he holds onto them and for a good cause. When Ned Begay, as his school names him, enters high school World War II starts and Navajos are very important to America’s success, but only of they can speak fluent English and Navajo. Read and find out why.
- “The Wanderer” by Sharon Creech is about a girl named Sophie who talks her mom into letting her go on a trip with her uncles and cousins to see her grandpa, Bompie, half way around the world. This book tells of their adventures overseas.
- “The Capture” by Kathry Lasky is about a young barn owl named Soren that falls out of his nest only a few days after hatching. He is carried to St. Aegolius Canyons for Orphaned Owls, but it turns out to be only slightly different from a torture chamber. This book explains Soren’s stay there with his best friend Gylfie.
- “Eagle Strike” is another in the Alex Rider adventure series by Anthony Horowitz. Alex Rider is back. Again. Only this time he doesn’t have the backing of MI6. When Sabina’s father, a journalist, is badly wounded from an explosion, Alex’s instincts kick in. His suspicions are aroused when he sees Yassan get off a ship in the harbor. Alex gets his hands on Yassan’s cell phone and memorizes a phone number. He calls it, and is amazed by the voice on the other end. It belongs to Damian Cray. This pop star sensation is the hottest singer around. Why does Yassan have Damian Cray’s number in his phone? If he tells MI6 will they believe him? Will he die trying to figure it all out? Find out only in “Eagle Strike.”
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