Because living is so dear....

The HHS Library Guild did a short (very unscientific) survey of several classes before they left for the Christmas break, inspired by The Book of Awesome, by Neil Pasricha.

Here are the top things HHS students and staff are thankful for this December:

1. Spending time with family and friends
2. Winter break (2 weeks vacation!!!)
3. Food (turkey, apples, cranberry sauce and pop were top mentions)
5. Sleeping in
6. Seeing people "from away" come home
7. Snow
8. Books (yipee!)
9. Hockey season
10. Giving/receiving presents

Other honourable mentions:
-Good health
-Snowboarding
-Dirtbiking
-That teachers trust the students to go off school grounds
-Church
-Having a thumb (oh Mr. Stoddart-what a sentient being!)
-Cars
-Animals
-Television
-Carolling
-Christmas movies
-Christmas lights
-Christmas tree and its smell
-ATVs
-Being Canadian
-Video Games
-Teachers at school being pretty fair
-No more Chipmunks music!!

For those of you who haven't read Pasricha's book, here are some things he thinks are AWESOME:

1. When cashiers open up new checkout lanes at the grocery store
2. Wearing underwear just out of the dryer
3. When you're awkwardly standing by yourself with a full cafeteria tray of food and then suddenly spot your friend waving at you.
4. When the vending machine gives you two things instead of one
5. Getting the eyelash out of your eye
6. Putting potato chips on a sandwich
7. A long hug when you really need it
8. Laughing so hard you make no sound at all
9. Neighbours with pools
10. The smell of books (my kinda guy!)

Have a very happy holidays eveyone!
~Ms. Carson and the HHS Library Guild

Just Kids

by Patti Smith
Review by Ms. Carson, HHS Librarian

I'll be honest; I've never known Smith through her music, only her poetry and essays, which have always evoked for me the image of a vulture, an awkward hideous bird, with a magnificent wingspan and essential occupation.  You can feel it hovering overhead, its’ keen eye discerning what's edible below.  This might sound harsh, but Smith is harsh, and I hope she would appreciate the reference.  Let me explain.

It is late 1960s New York; a young, starving Smith meets Robert Mapplethorpe, a beautiful, haunted boy who reminds her of a “hippie shepherd.”  They become soul mates, lovers, comrades, and cheerleaders for each other until the end of Mapplethorpe’s life in 1989.  The fact that Robert is vain, bisexual, drug-addled, and possessive doesn’t deter her.  In fact, she is drawn to many more tragic figures throughout her life, which she gives us small glimpses of through the book. 

Smith never makes herself out to be a victim, but rather emphatically chooses a life of poverty, emotional turmoil, and chaos.  Anything else, she asserts, is “too easy.”  She devours novels, records, obscurities, anything unusual or arcane.  Her awareness of humanity’s dual nature is astute.  She is drawn like a moth to a flame by those with literary or artistic fame but not-so-secretly loathes Robert’s preoccupation with New York’s high life, his obsession with Andy Warhol in particular.  But she seems to go along for the ride.  Smith is fantastically well-read, and her pages are littered with mythical and historical references, though she doesn’t come across as pretentious or posturing.  It is all Patti Smith, all the time, whether we like it or not.

In the opening pages of Just Kids, Smith describes a scene from childhood when she is awestruck by a white swan ascending from a pond, the white of its wings on the blue of the sky a transcendental touchstone for Smith’s life, like Joan of Arc’s spiritual visions.  She is continuously drawn to stunning complicated things, like Robert or a beat-up velvet-black Gibson, but herself is more of a belle laide, and works hard to be who she wants to become.  The book is our peek into this process and her essential pairing with Robert as her caregiver, charge and muse.  It is a complicated, enthralling journey, richly told, and leaves us wanting to know the next chapter of Smith’s life.

Zombie Moon

by Lori Devoti
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This book is about zombies and werewolves.  The zombies hunt the werewolves.  Caleb Locke is found by a woman named Samantha.  She needs his help to rescue her friend Allison from the zombie doctor.  All Sam knows about Caleb is that he hunts Zombies and all Caleb knows about about Sam is that she needs his help.  Both of them are keeping pretty big secrets.
(Spoiler!) The Zombie doctor is blackmailing Sam to get Caleb because Caleb is a werewolf.  By the end of the book Caleb and Sam are in love and take over running the pack from Anita, a pretty, vain werewolf.
I would recommend this book if you like paranormal romance.

Considering Kate (second story)

by Nora Roberts
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This book is connected to Waiting for Nick, because of the characters [see earlier post].  Freddy's sister Kate is back home and is going to open a dance school.  Brody is a contractor hired to refurbish Kate's building.  Kate and Brody first meet in Kate's mom's toy store.  Later, when Brody comes over to discuss the contract with Kate the discussion is heated.  Brody is falling in love with Kate and viceversa. 
(Spoiler warning!) In the end of the book, Brody's son Jack, who is six years old, asks Kate to marry them (Jack and his father).  Kate says yes and they live happily ever after.
It is a good book with just a little bit of romance and real life.

Buy Local Books!

Visit http://www.indiebound.org/ to find local independent bookstores.

from the site:

Why shop Indie?

When you shop at an independently owned business, your entire community benefits:
The Economy

• Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
• Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
• More of your taxes are reinvested in your community--where they belong.

The Environment

• Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.
• Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

The Community

• Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
• Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
• More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.

City of Ashes

by Cassandra Clare
Review by Zoe Jardine

City of Ashes is the sequel to City of Bones [which I previously reviewed].  It is also one of my favourite books.  It is full of adventure and drama.  Jace and Clary are trying to free their mother and they still like each other.  That's not the best set-up.  Simon also likes Clary and Clary, kind of, likes him back.  It is an adventure-packed love triangle.
Simon and Clary start going out because Clary won't admit her true feelings for Jace.  When Simon breaks into a vampire's lair, it all goes downhill.  (Spoiler alert!)  Jace gets arrested and Simon turns into a vampire.  The Inquisitor, a very powerful Shadowhunter, tries to trade Jace to Valentine.  When Jace breaks out to help Clary, Valentine strikes.

Lady Thief

by Kay Hooper
Review by Amber Morehouse

This book is set in Regency England.  The Duke of Spencer gets robbed by the famous Lady Thief, the Cat.  The Cat's real name is Jennifer Roses and she is trying to find her father's killer.  Jenny's stepfather is a gambler and wants to marry her off to men twice her age for the marriage settlement.  Jenny refuses to marry Lord Stoven (he's really ugly) and her mother convinces Sir George Ross to send them to London for the season. 
There Jenny met up with the Duke of Spencer again and they begin to fall in love with each other.  Despite many hardships and the exposure of Jenny's father's murderer, Nick (the Duke) and Jenny get married.
I would recommend this book if you like adventure and romance.

Betrayed

by P.C. and Kristine Cast
Review by Zoe Jardine

Betrayed is a wonderful story about the new fledgling Zoey Redbird.  She faces the worst betrayal possible, from one of the only people she trusts.  Her best friend dies and she starts seeing ghosts.  Human teenagers start going missing and when her ex-boyfriend goes missing Zoe takes action.
She finds that some weird things are going on in some tunnels.  Yep, that's right, tunnels.  Her new boyfriend is starting to think she's going crazy, and so do her friends, because she is seeing ghosts.  And Zoey also thinks she's going crazy.

It is a really good book. 

Guild meeting Tuesday Dec 14th

Come learn the exciting art of heraldry.  Members will be designing custom bookmarks with their own Medieval-era coat of arms.  This is a practice that has been going on for 900 years and continues to this day.  No drawing skills required, this is just for fun!

Waiting for Nick

by Nora Roberts
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

Frederica Kimball has been in love with Nicolas LeBeck since she was a teenager.  Freddie is now 24 and plans to convince Nick into marrying her.  Nick is a former delinquent turned music composer.  He needs someone to put words to his music and Freddie thinks she's the one to do it.  Through many arguments and a stab wound, Nick starts to fall in love with Freddie.  By the end of the book Nick climbs up the fire escape to convince Freddie to marry him after their big spat.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little bit of romance.

Marked

By P.C. and Kristin Cast
Review by Zoe Jardine, grade 9

Marked is a very good book.  I loved it.  It is about a teenager that gets marked as a fledgling.  Her mom says that she can stay at home awhile longer but everyone knows that when you get marked you have to go to the House of Night.  Zoey gets mad at her mom and goes to her grandmother's.  She takes Zoey to the House of Night.  At the House of Night fledglings get mentors and Zoey gets the high priestess, Neferett.  Zoey makes new friends and is also instantly hated by the leader of the Dark Daughters, Aphrodite.  And it is a very bad idea to get on her bad side.

The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd

by Mary Rose O'Reilley
Review by Ms. Carson, HHS Librarian

Mary Rose has lived many spiritual and philosophical lives: sheep chaser, Buddhist meditator, Catholic novice, Quaker, English professor, writer, Sacred Harp singer, wanderer, mother, yogi, wife.

In this startlingly addictive memoir she leads us through her latest journey apprenticing at a university sheep barn and living the not-so-simple life on a Buddhist retreat with world-renowned leader Thich Nhat Hahn.  We follow Mary as she (sometimes painfully, sometimes joyfully) surrenders to the ways of her heart and dharma, and faces the realities we all know: life can be cruel and beautiful.  We get angry.  We hurt others.  We are impatient.  Life is short and precious and exhausting.

A thoughtful, unflinchingly honest portrayal of the well-examined life, Mary is neither preachy nor boring in her thorough analysis of her soul.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in religion, meditation, animal rights, environmentalism, philosophy, or memoirs.

Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke
Review by Jeffrey Cramm, grade 10

Inkheart is a novel about a bookbinder called Moe and his daughter Meggie.  One night Moe was reading to her aloud from Inkheart and somehow brought a villian named Capricorn out along with his lackey, Basta, and fire-eater, Dustfinger.  Moe's wife got put in the book in exchange.
Trying to find another copy of Inkheart they travel all over, while avoiding Capricorn.  Dustfinger wants to go back to his world so he finds Moe and begs him to return him to his world.  Moe doesn't know how though.  Capricorn is relentlessly hunting Moe so Moe tries to lose him by going to his sister's house.  Out of desperation, Dustfinger tells Capricorn.  He raids them and kidnaps Moe and breaks his promise with Dustfinger and burns the copy [of Inkheart] after he read out Gold and a boy by accident.  Dustfinger helps him escape; now they go to find the author of Inkheart and search out another copy to stop Capricorn.  And they find the rough copy.  In the end of that, Capricorn kidnaps Meggie.  They find out she has her father's gift and use her to read the Shadow out of a hidden copy of Inkheart.  Now Moe, Dustfinger and the rest of them go and try to save Meggie.  They get there in time to stop Capricorn and use the Shadow to kill him.  As Moe promises, he would read Dustfinger back, but Dustfinger can't wait and steals it and goes with the Boy, read out of the book, in search of someone who will do it then and now.
I would recommend it only if you like fantasy and adventure novels.

The Outsiders

by S.E. Hinton
Review by Zoe Jardine, grade 9

The Outsiders is a pretty good book.  It is about a boy named Ponyboy.  The book is set in the 1950s.  Ponyboy's parents died so now his bothers, Darry and Sodapop, take care of him.  He also has his gang, "The Greasers."  He has a pretty rough life.  The "Socs" are out to get the "Greasers", like Ponyboy.  When he and his friend Johnny get into some serious trouble, they have to run or face getting the electric chair.  The only one that knows where they are is the baddest of the bad: Dally.  Soon they find themselves in way over their heads.

Renegade Angel

by Kendra Leigh Castle
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This book is about a half-demon, Ember, who is the key to opening up the way from Hell to the Normal world.  Raum is a fallen angel who is hired by Heaven to protect Ember from the demons of Lucifer's army.  In the beginning Ember doesn't know she is a demon, she just thinks she is some kind of mutant.  Ember and Raum get attacked by Nefaris, protected by vampires, and get abducted to Hell.  Throughout it all Ember and Raum unwillingly fall in love with each other. 
(Spoiler Alert!)  In the end Raum is turned back into an Angel of Light and Ember kicks her evil dad Mammon's butt.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal romance or romantic suspense books.

City of Bones

By Cassandra Clare
Review by Zoe Jardine, grade 9

City of Bones is one of my favourite books.  It is full of action.  It's about a girl named Clary who comes home one day to find her mother missing.  Her apartment building is destroyed and a lot of stuff is gone.  Determined to find her mother, she talks to a boy named Jace.  He leads Clary through a world that normal humans can't see.  She used to think that she was just a normal human girl, now she is finding out about who her real father is and about her mother's past.  Jace, who was orphaned at an early age, finds that he has a father and mother and even a sister.  Sometimes things just aren't as they seem.

Dead and Gone

by Charlaine Harris
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This book is the 9th in the Sookie Stackhouse Series.  It is about shapeshifters, vampires and witches.  Sookie, the main character, is a psychic barmaid at her friend's bar.  Sookie can read other people's minds, and when the vampires come out of hiding they want to know about her.  Then the shapeshifters come out and it doesn't go well.  Sookie's sister-in-law is killed and a vampire tricks Sookie into marrying him.  (Spoiler alert!)  In the end, Sookie is kidnapped by enemies of her great grandfather.  So if you want to know who killed Crystal, how Eric tricked Sookie, or if Sookie lives until the next book, I'd suggest you find out by reading this thrilling book!
I'd recommend it to anyone who likes adventure, suspense or the paranormal.