The WSPL Rock the Drop Contribution!!

Hey! You all saw the post yesterday about ROCK THE DROP, right??!!

Well, to help out with Support Teen Literature Day, we left out four YA books for people to find in the local downtown West Springfield area... maybe you'll come across one??

Want a couple of clues?

Deanna left a copy of Sophie Jordan's FIRELIGHT outside a local cemetary!

And Jessica left a copy of Dawn Metcalf's LUMINOUS outside the local firehouse...



There was also copies of Marie Lu's LEGEND and P.C. and Kristin Cast's MARKED left somewhere in the downtown area.  You may want to take a walk downtown to see if they're still hanging out!

Will You Rock The Drop?

Rock the Drop 2012

Once again, people nationwide going to ROCK THE DROP in honor of Support Teen Literature Day today!! We can't wait!

Here's how you can get involved:

* Get a copy of the above bookplate from Jessica or Terri and insert it into a book (or 10!) that you'll drop on April 12th. This should be a book that you’ve loved. One that you OWN (not a Library book)

* Drop the book in a public spot (park bench, bus seat, restaurant counter?) Lucky finders will see that the book is part of ROCK THE DROP!

 * You can also snap a photo of your drop and post it on your Facebook or Twitter account. Then tweet the drop at #rockthedrop with all the other lovers of YA books. If you do, also email the picture to flippinpagesatwspl@yahoo.com and we’ll post your picture here on our YA book blog!!!

Review: The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

by Josh Berk

Book Description:

Being a hefty, deaf newcomer almost makes Will Halpin the least popular guy at Coaler High. But when he befriends the only guy less popular than him, the dork-namic duo has the smarts and guts to figure out who knocked off the star quarterback. Will can’t hear what’s going on, but he’s a great observer. So, who did it? And why does that guy talk to his fingers? And will the beautiful girl ever notice him? (Okay, so Will’s interested in more than just murder . . .)

Review:

I was really surprised how funny this book was...even though it's a great mystery and there's some great suspense, I ended up laughing out loud through most of my reading. 

Will and his new friend, Devon, build a great rapport and they deal with Will's deafness is a really cool way. They talk like normal, slightly weird teens, and they text constantly. They felt really real.

This is one of those books that has kind-of a weird title and a bad cover, but the story is actually REALLY good. I dare you to try it!! I would *love* to read a follow up mystery starring these two self-proclaimed "Hardy Boys."

*This was my selection for the April Meeting of our book club, Flippin' Pages. We did mystery books this month! Next meeting is May 8th and we'll be talking about our favorite PARANORMAL books.*

Flippin' Pages April Meeting Reminder!!

Hey Guys!

Don't forget to join us here at the West Springfield Public Library for the April meeting of our teen book club, FLIPPIN' PAGES!!

 

If you're in grades 6-12, join us for a snack and tell us all about your favorite MYSTERY books!

TUESDAY, April 10th at 3:30 p.m.

 

Review: Promise the Night

Promise the Night
by Michaela MacColl

Book Description:
Beryl moved with her family to the highlands of Kenya as a toddler. Not long after, her mother and brother returned to England, abandoning her with her rough though loving father. MacColl's account begins when a leopard steals into Beryl's hut and attacks her dog—the child leaping from her bed to give chase. Though she loses the leopard in the night, the next morning, she and her new friend, a Nandi boy, Kibii, find the dog still alive and save it. Later she insists on being part of the hunt for the leopard. Young Beryl wants nothing more than to be a warrior, a murani, and to be able to leap higher than her own head. Her jumping skills progress apace, but young white girls, no matter how determined, cannot become part of the Nandi tribe. Her relationship with Kibii's father, the wise Arap Maina, along with a growing awareness of the consequences of her actions, help lead her into a more mature—though still wildly impulsive and daring—life.

Review:
Okay, please promise me that you will ignore the weird cover and title on this book!! I *really* liked this one. 

It is the story of Beryl Markham's wild childhood in Africa, with the chapters interspersed with actual journal entries and interviews that Beryl did as a grown woman when she became a famous pilot.  It is exciting and interesting and made me want to go to Africa. 

Beryl's interaction with the local Nandi tribe were also interesting and funny. They had a bunch of different customs and Beryl didn't really care how they did things...just how she wanted to do things.  She was kind of a brat sometimes, but you couldn't help but admire her bravery.

Well written and very engaging! Please give this one a shot!!