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Have you finished reading 'The Fault in Our Stars'?
And are you sad that you finished the story already? Want to hear more about Hazel, Augustus and a lot about writing the story from John Green?
Well, John has set up a tumblr where you get answers to all kinds of questions:
http://onlyifyoufinishedtfios.tumblr.com/
Friends of the Alviso Library Booksale!
The Friends of the Alviso Library are having their first booksale of the year on Saturday, May 26th from 10am - 4pm in the Community Room of the Alviso Branch Library.
This is an excellent opportunity to buy an assortment of books and media (dvds, cds & other) in a different languages, genres and for all ages!
Come show your support to your Alviso Branch Library by purchasing these gently used books and media.
At this book sale event, the price list will be:
- Adult hardback books $1.00
- Adult paperback books $.50
- Childrens hardback books $.50
- Childrens paperback books $.25
- VHS Videos & Music cassettes $.25
- DVDs & CDS $1.00
We encourage everyone to be green by bringing their own reusable bag for purchases made at this booksale event.
Proceeds from this booksale goes to support Alviso Branch Library programs and services.
Anyone interested in volunteering at this booksale event can call (408) 263-3626.
Dystopian Fiction: Legend
Fifteen-year-old Day is on the run, after a soldier is said to be killed by him. Fifteen-year-old June is the soldier/detective assigned to find and capture Day. In their future, the United States has been divided into two countries: The Republic, where Day and June live, and The Colonies, which are in conflict with The Republic. As you read the novel, you will see both sides of the story, and you will learn more about the two main characters and their backgrounds. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, or Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, you are likely to enjoy Legend by Marie Lu, also available in book cd format. This is an adventurous book for high school students, middle school students, and anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction. To learn more about the author, check out her website. To learn more about the novel, check out this website. There is also an interesting interview with the author here.
San Jose Teens Love the Library!
Did you know that every San José Public Library location offers teens ages 13-18 an opportunity to get involved with their local library and make a difference in their community? teensReach is SJPL's youth council, and it's a great way for teens to learn leadership skills, serve as advisors for the library, and help others by assisting at library programs and local community events, not to mention an excellent way for teens to earn community service hours! We offer teensReach chapters at all of our libraries, and groups typically meet once a month. Click here for meeting times, and fill out the form if you'd like us to contact you with more information about joining.
Our teensReach volunteers have contributed to many great projects and events throughout the city, including craft programs, puppet shows, haunted houses, homework help for students, leadership summits, book-buying parties, helping out at community events like the Children's Faire, judging teen events like the Teen Talent Show and Battle of the Bands, etc. One of my favorite recent projects is our annual LuvYrLibrary video contest. It's a fun and friendly competition between teensReach chapters to see who can put together the best web video about why they love the library. Last year West Valley teensReach won the coveted pizza party, but this year the Cambrian teens rose up to claim the title for our 2nd annual contest. Check out the video to see what happens when the teens wind up in a world without libraries, and enjoy the interviews at the end with real Cambrian customers sharing why they love the library.
Useful Information for Job Searchers
Are you searching for a job? Here are some helpful web pages. 
Resources for Job Seekers from the sjpl.org website
Teen College and Job Resources from the sjpl.org website
Work2Future a helpful local organization
Indeed a search tool
Interviewing from monster.com
Research and Homework from the sjpl.org website
Silicon Valley Reads 2012 "Muslim and American"
Welcome to Silicon Valley Reads 2012!
2012 is the 10th anniversary of Silicon Valley Reads and we are celebrating with an outstanding selection of books and events focused on the theme "Muslim and American: Two Perspectives". We invite everyone in Santa Clara County to read one or more of the featured books, to attend the free events we have scheduled, and to engage with others in discussion and share perspectives on this relevant theme.
2012 Featured Books
The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali
The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson
2012 Companion Books for Children
It's OK To Be Different (pre-K) by Todd Parr
One Green Apple (Gr K-2) by Eve Bunting
My Name Is Bilal (Gr 2-6) by Asma Mobin-Uddin
Skunk Girl (Gr 7 and up) by Sheba Karim
Events will be held at many of our San Jose Public Library locations.
See our calendar for other Silicon Valley Reads events at San Jose Public Libraries. Stop by any of our locations to pick up the Silicon Valley Reads brochure and check out other events happening throughout Silicon Valley.
Also, our new Online Book Club will be discussing the Silicon Valley Reads selections during February and March.
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
"Enough," said Glaedr.
Glaedr seemed possessed of an urge to do something other than sink ever deeper into the all-enveloping morass of his private torments.
"Enough," Glaedr repeated, sounding both weary and exasperated. "Do you wish to attract unwanted attention?"
"Eragon, you should not spend so much time sparring. It is distracting you from more important matters. The sword in Galbatorix's hand is not what you need fear the most, nor the sword in his mouth, but rather the sword in his mind."
"Anyone with the time and inclination can acquire technical proficiency. To achieve greatness, though, that requires artistry."
"By seeing all and discounting nothing, you may adapt without hesitation to any change. The warrior who can adapt the easiest to the unexpected is the warrior who will live the longest.
The theme of being able to adjust strategies based upon meditated evaluation is a major theme in this, the final volume of Christopher Paolini's Eragon cycle. The cycle comes to an end in Inheritance. In this final volume, Eragon finally meets his nemesis, Galbatorix. Eragon's growth as a character will determine if he will be able to follow Glaedr's advice.
This novel starts with a synopsis of all that has transpired in previous novels. Don't relax, though! The beginning chapter, "Into the Breach," starts off running in the midst of a battle. We see familiar faces, Saphira, Arya, Roran, Katrina, Angela, Nasuada, Orrin, Orik, Nar Garzhvog, Elva, Murtagh, etc. and familiar towns that must be breached by the Varden. Inheritance is a hefty volume and encompasses troubling births, bloody battles, encounters with the priests of Helgrind, kidnappings, werecats, the Rock of Kuthian, and name-finding. Always in the shadows, though, is the grim shadow of the mad king, Galbatorix.
The showdown with Galbatorix itself made me initially cringe because I saw images of the end of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. However, I am pleased that my initial assumption proved to be incorrect!
Paolini delivers a deliberate and exciting conclusion to his epic saga. He promises us, though, that he intends on visiting the lands of Alagaesia in the future. I look forward to further adventures in this sprawling landscape!
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, August 28, 1963
Even though decades have passed since his death, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s words and life continues to inspire and resonate with many of us today. His dream changed our nation and made it a place that embraces and celebrates diversity and equality more fully.
Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s extraordinary life by checking out our collection of related books and media and articles.
The Book of the Maidservant
In the early 1400's, teenage Johanna works as a maidservant to the eccentric Dame Margery. One day, Dame Margery announces that she will travel on a pilgrimage to Rome, and take Johanna with her. The two travel on boat from England to France. Once there, they join other travelers who are heading to Rome. They travel through France, through the Alps, and into Venice. While in Venice, Johanna finds herself separated from the rest of the group. Will Johanna be able to make it to Rome? Will she make it back home to England? Will she ever see her family again? What is Johanna going to do? Read The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse and find out. This is an adventurous book for middle school students , high school students, and anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
This book is available in the following formats:
To learn more about the author, please visit her website. If you are interested in reading other novels that take place in Europe, please check out this blog posting.
Recommended by Teens for Teens…
Did you know that every branch of the San Jose Public Library has a youth advisory group of teen volunteers called teensReach? In addition to earning community service hours for participating in library activities, members also attend monthly meetings at their local library branch and act as advisors and advocates for the library. If you would like to learn more about what teensReach does and how to become a member check out the teensReach link from our website: www.sjpl.org/teensReach.
At a recent teensReach meeting held at the Dr. King Library, teensReach members were asked for their favorite books and movies that they would recommend to other teens. This is what they came up with…
This popular teen series by James Patterson was listed twice by members of the teen group. The library has copies of the novels in print, e-book, audio book, and manga versions available for check out now.
The fourth and final book of the wildly popular vampire series the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. All of the books in the Twilight Saga series have now been made into movies and half of this last volume is in theaters now as Breaking Dawn Part One. The book and the movie soundtrack are available now in the library.
This classic animal fantasy tale was first published in 1987 and still holds its appeal today. It was also the first of the now 22 volume series by author Brian Jacques, with volume 22 – The Rogue Crew just published in 2011. If you are already a fan, you can place a hold in now and be one of the first to get a copy of the latest volume when the library’s shipment comes in.
A historical fiction title by K.M. Grant set in the Middle Ages during the Third Crusades. If you like tales about the age of knights and would like to learn a little about what it was really like during those times, you might enjoy this book… the first of three in the De Granville Trilogy.
Sucker Punch
It was not clear if this recommendation was for the fantasy film Sucker Punch released in 2011 about a girl in a 1950’s mental institution who creates an alternate reality and the quest she goes on to escape that world or if the recommendation was for the book Suckerpunch by David Hernandez about two teenage brothers who drive from Southern California to Monterey to confront the abusive father who walked out on them a year ago and now wants to return. Either way, library patrons are in luck as both are available for check out.
Another teen film available at the library. A summary from the library catalog: After a little white lie about losing her virginity gets out, a clean cut high school girl sees her life paralleling Hester Prynne's in 'The Scarlet Letter, ' which she is currently studying in school. Hoping to become popular, she decides to use the rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.
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