Cooler Than Cool : Young Adult Books 2012

Great for Adults, Too
YA books sales skyrocketed this year and the Hunger Games Trilogy offered proof positive that young adult books aren't just for young adults anymore. We offer a quick list of YA and tween-age reads, all of which appeared on one or more of 2012's notable book lists.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
The companion book to Graceling and Fire.

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
A National Book Award Finalist from the author of Cut, a summer reading list favorite. Based on true story.

Son by Lois Lowry
The final book in a quintet, companion to : The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
An excellent, complex, and unforgettable read and no, no, no -- not anything like summer reading list favorite, Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Pair Green's book with Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. Both are great choices for adults, too.

A Tale Dark and Grimm and In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
Enjoy classic fairly tales -- homage to the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen -- but with a decidedly creative twist and just enough 'yuk' to please the crowd.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Not the first adult book author to throw a hat into the YA ring; this one's the first in the Chronicles of Kazam series.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Follow-up to the author's Newbery-winning title, How You Reach Me. Both are quirky and fun to read.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's book is as cool as they come. A great pick for families who share an interest in mystery, historical, adventure, and friendship reads.

Angelfall by Susan Ee
First in a planned series and another in a stream of YA novels with a post-apocalyptic theme.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Lemony Snicket for older kids. Great vintage photographs; a sequel is planned and the film rights have been purchased...

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Last in a series of four.

Crossed by Ally Condie
A sequel to Matched. Sequel to sequel, Reached, is already available.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Historical fiction, based on the author's family experiences and a 2012 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) award winner.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
From the author of the Scorpio Races and Wolves of Mercy Falls series, all unconventional YA reads that respect the reader.

Every Day by David Levithan
What would happen if you were able to take over the body of a different person each day at midnight? Explore some very, very interesting questions with this one.

The Best of the Best : Reading Roundup 2012

Image courtesy of the East Lansing
Public Library (Michigan)

Making a List or Two or Three...
What's a 'best book'? Tough call and a highly personal one for sure. However, as we count down to 2013 we'll be using the week ahead to highlight 'best books' included on a variety of lists from a variety of sources.

From the NYT
The top ten features five fiction and five non-fiction reads. The list includes a Booker Prize and a National Book Award winner.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
This and its predecessor, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize and is set in the days of Henry VIII.
Building Stories by Chris Ware*
A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
NW by Zadie Smith
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in the Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo*
2012's National Book Award Winner in the non-Fiction category explores life in Annawadi, a Mumbai slum.
Far From the Tree : Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon
The Passage of Power : The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro*
The Patriarch : The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw*
Why Does the World Exist? : An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holt

Parent's Magazine

"Reads they'll relish"...

Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky
Trains Go by Steve Light
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater and Adam Stower
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Newsday

Including four other titles, which also made the NYT's top 10 list*, these eight round out Newsday's top 12:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Beautiful Ruins : a Novel by Jess Walter
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Monkey Mind : A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith
May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Carry the One by Carol Anshaw
Fire in the Belly : The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz by Cynthia Carr

Oh, No, No! Not That Song Again...

But pretty cool nonetheless...

For Holiday Vacation Week Day-trippers

Museum Pass Fun
If you plan to stay close to home during the holiday vacation period, you can use our library's museum pass program to add a little money-saving spice to your day-tripping schedule.

Museum passes may be reserved up to 24 hours in advance of the day you plan to check out the pass or use it. Passes circulate for 2 days and are funded by the Friends of the East Hampton Library.

Passing Along the Fun : Places to Go and Things to Do
Here's a quick list of holiday places to go and things to do using a library pass. Special event charges may apply.

Mystic Aquarium (Mystic CT)
Winter Waterland : Saturday's and Sundays in December; Thursday, December 27 and Tuesday, January 1.

Peabody Museum (New Haven, CT)
Seasons of Change : Visit the interactive traveling exhibit about climate change. Don't forget the Discovery Room, which comes equipped with "Please Touch" exhibits for ages 5-12.

Connecticut River Museum (Essex, CT)
Make tracks to the 19th Annual Holiday Train Show, always extraordinary.

New England Air Museum (Windsor Locks, CT)
Take flight! Enjoy family vacation fun December 26-30. Special event program fees may apply.

Roger Williams Park & Zoo (Providence, RI)
Winter Wonder Days : "Into the wild" you'll go; exhibit opens New Years Day, January 1, 2013.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center (Hartford, CT)
Typically open on weekends only, enjoy Child's Tour during vacation week and a kids-eye view of life in the Stowe household. Tour's start time is 1:30PM, December 26-28.

Old State House at Hartford (Hartford, CT)
If you plan to attend Hartford's First Night Celebration, kid-friendly activities begin at 2PM and end at 8PM.

Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme, CT)
Check out The Magic of Christmas, including free and for-fee events.

Gift Giving Ideas

Holiday Countdown
If you are busy noodling gift ideas for your family and friends, there is still time to find some inspiration...

If You're Handy...
Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio
Martha Stewart's Handmade Holiday Crafts by Martha Stewart
Upcycling Celebrations by Danny Seo
Happy Cute : 25 Amigurumi Gifts to Celebrate Special Occasions by Annie Obaachan
I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty
Zakka Style : 24 Projects Stitched With Ease to Give, Use and Enjoy by Rashida Coleman-Hale
Weekend Handmade : More Than 40 Projects + Ideas for Inspired Crafting by Kelly Wilkinson
Ikebana Style : 20 Portable Flower Arrangements for Perfect Gift-giving by Keiko Kubo
Everyday's a Holiday : Year-round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney
A Homemade Christmas by Tina Barseghian

From Your Kitchen

Edible DIY : Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share by Lucy Baker
Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich
Making Artisan Chocolates by Andrew Garrison Shotts
Canning and Preserving with Ashley English by Ashley English
Vegan Pie in the Sky by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Gluten-free & Vegan Bread by Jennifer Katzinger
Cool Pet Treats : Easy Recipes for Kids to Bake by Pam Price
Irresistible Macaroons by Jose Marechal
Christmas Cookies by Lisa B. Zwirn
Tart and Sweet : 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen by Kelly Geary and Jessie Knadler

Gift Wrapping
There's more than one way to wrap your perfect gift. Be creative!

Ruby Star Wrapping : Creating Packaging to Regive, Reuse and Relove by Melody Miller and Allison Tannery
Creative and Thoughtful Gift Giving : Easy Ideas for Making Gifts Special by Leah Ingram
The Wrapping Scarf Revolution : the Earth-Friendly Idea that Will Change the Way Your Think About Your World by Patricia Lee
Wrapagami : the Art of Fabric Gift Wraps by Jennifer Playford

Conversation With Your Kids

Resources for Parents
We offer a list of resources from Healthnet which may be helpful to you as you talk to your children about the tragedy in Newtown.

HEALTHNET:
CONNECTICUT CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK
The attached material is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or opinion. This information is the result of an extensive search of online resources and represents what we judge to be appropriate information. You should be aware that medical experts may disagree on the various aspects of situations such as this one.

American Psychological Association
Helping your children manage distress in the aftermath of the shooting.

National Institute of Mental Health
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do/How Parents Can Help

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Children and the News

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
Coping With Unexpected Events: Depression and Trauma
SEE SECTION: Helping and Talking with Children

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Tips for Talking to Children about the Aurora Shooting

Resource List Compiled by Healthnet
Healthnet: Connecticut Consumer Health Information Network
Lyman Maynard Stowe Library
University of Connecticut Health Center

It's FriBrary Time! 2013 Edition

After-School Programs for 4th and 5th Graders
Parents of our community's 4th and 5th graders are invited to register their kiddos for one or more programs in our 2013 after school FriBrary Time series.  The series invites kids to meet with local experts on a particular topic, invent, craft, move and groove, act and improvise, play, and have plenty of fun, too.


Registration Is Now Open : January through March 2013 Series

The first leg in our FriBrary Time series runs from January 2013 through March 2013. We'll offer two programs each month; choose to attend one or more -- or all six!  Programs begin at 3:30 p.m. in the library Community Room and end at 4:30 p.m.

FriBrary Fun Awaits: Click for Details
Use the clicks below to read program descriptions and to register your child to participate.

January: Choose a Smash Bros. Brawl video game competition or Upcycling Crafts.
February: Enjoy a Chinese New Year celebration or take part in a local edition of FriBrary Family Feud!
March: Play a fun game called Telepictionary or take some time to learn the basics and benefits of Martial Arts.

See you after school in 2013!