S. A. Bodeen Author Event THIS SATURDAY!!

Don't miss it!

S. A. Bodeen will be visiting us!

Acclaimed young adult author S. A. Bodeen will visit the Durham Public Library on Saturday, June 6th from 2-4 pm.  There is no fee to attend this event, but preregistration is suggested by calling the Library at (860) 349-9544 ext. 1.

Ms. Bodeen has received numerous writing awards, including an American Library Association (ALA) Quick Pick for Young Adults for her books The Compound and The Gardener, Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year for The Raft, and a Publisher’s Weekly “Flying Start” profile article in 2008.

She is well-known in Connecticut for her two Nutmeg Award-nominated books, The Compound (2012) and The Raft (2015).  She is also the author of The Fallout and Shipwreck Island. The sequel to Shipwreck Island is due out this summer.

So, mark your calendars!  Saturday, June 6th 2-4pm!

Teen Book Club Recap - June - Skinned

Heya YAs,  the TBC met this Tuesday to discuss our latest read, Skinned by Robin Wasserman.  Here are the questions we discussed:

1. General impressions, did you enjoy the book?
2. What did you think of Lia?  What differences do you think there are between her after her accident and before?
3. Besides Lia, who were your favorite and least favorite characters?
4. Did you have  favorite scene or part in the book?
5. Discuss how Lia is treated after her accident by her family, friends, and the general public.  Why do you think people react the way they do?
6. How does Lia feel about Auden?  How does Auden feel about Lia?
7. Discuss Jude and the other mech heads/skinners/downloads.
8. What did you think of the writing in the book?  Would you go on to read more by Robin Wasserman?
9. If the download process was available now, would you take the opportunity if you were injured?  Would you want a loved one to take it?  Why or why not?
10. Ratings and final thoughts.

Here are our ratings!

Clare - 5/10 - Overall this was a pretty average, pretty boring book.  I wasn't very interested in the characters and wouldn't continue the series.
Catherine - 5/10 - Liked the concept of the book.  If you're looking for a casual scifi/existential read then this is ok.
Melanie - 5/10 - There were only a few characters that I liked, otherwise the book didn't have enough emotion.  (Melanie also said something else interesting, she thought this book would have more appeal to younger teens rather than older ones)

At our meeting we also voted on the genres of the books we will read this Fall.  We decided on comedy for September, zombies for October, war for November, and a book that has already been made into a movie for December.  We will vote on books for these months at our next meeting.

Our book for July is...

A budding teen journalist and her enigmatic science teacher separately work to locate and infiltrate a secret society that threatens their elite prep school with a shady tragedy from the past, an event that challenges the student's allegiances.

You can pick up a copy of The Year of the Gadfly at the front desk.  Our discussion will be on Wednesday, July 24th at 6:30pm.  This will be a very special Teen Book Club meeting because we will be skyping live with the author to ask her questions!  Don't miss out!