2021 Adult Winter Reading Program

What better way to escape a long winter at home than with books?! Get cozy on your couch and Travel the World from Home with FDL’s Adult Winter Reading Program. Patrons age 18 and older are invited to read books or magazines from the library January 4 through February 27, and record your progress to enter the prize drawing! Register and track your progress with the Beanstack app or online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org/reader365. Participants can also pick up a reading log from the drive-up window or download and print the form below. Need help getting started? Talk to a librarian for more information, and be sure to submit your reading log before February 27!

Adult Winter Reading Program 2021

2020-12-30T16:04:31-06:00December 30th, 2020|

YA Winter Fantasy Audiobooks (on Hoopla!)

The weather is getting colder – so it’s the perfect time to snuggle up and explore YA Fantasy audiobooks in winter-themed settings!

These audiobook titles are available for instant download on Hoopla. Click on any title below to log onto your Hoopla account (using your library card number and PIN/password) and start listening today!

A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos

Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima, and, what’s more, she possesses the ability to travel through mirrors, a skill passed down to her from previous generations. Her idyllic life is disrupted, however, when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, a taciturn and influential member of a distant clan. She must leave all she knows behind and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold, icy ark known as the Pole, where danger lurks around every corner and nobody can be trusted. There, in the presence of her inscrutable future husband, she slowly realizes that she is a pawn in a political game that will have far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett 

At 9, Tiffany Aching defeated the cruel Queen of Fairyland. At 11, she banished an ancient body-stealing evil. At 13, Tiffany faces a new challenge: a boy. And boys can be a bit of a problem when you’re thirteen . . . . But the Wintersmith isn’t exactly a boy. He is Winter itself-snow, gales, icicles-all of it. When he has a crush on Tiffany, he may make her roses of ice, but his nature is blizzards and avalanches. And he wants Tiffany to stay in his gleaming, frozen world. Forever. Tiffany will need all her cunning to make it to Spring. She’ll also need her friends, from junior witches to the legend…

Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust

Frozen meets The Bloody Chamber in this feminist fantasy reimagining of the Snow White fairytale.

Sixteen-year-old Mina is motherless, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. But despite being the dead queen made flesh, Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother, Mina. She gets her wish when her father makes Lynet queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina. Now Mina is starting to look at Lynet with something like hatred, and Lynet must decide what to do-and who to be-to win back the only mother she’s ever known…or else defeat her once and for all.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Deep in his terrifying realm underground, the cold and forbidding Goblin King casts a dark shadow over nineteen-year-old Liesl. Her grandmother had always warned her to follow the old laws, for every year on the longest night of winter the Goblin King will emerge into the waking world in search of his eternal bride. Sensible and plain, Liesl knows it’s her duty to keep her beautiful sister safe from harm, but she wishes only to indulge in her wild, captivating music, composed and played in secret in the Goblin King’s honor. When her beautiful sister Käthe is stolen by the Goblin King, Liesl knows she must set aside her childish fantasies to journey to the Underground and save her. Drawn despite herself to the strange, beautiful world she finds–and the mysterious man who rules it–she finds herself facing an impossible choice. With time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones — and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets. So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas — or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman — but when Yeva’s father goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast. Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory-a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

-Katie Smith, Reference Specialist

2020-12-22T16:04:37-06:00December 26th, 2020|

FDL Book Talk – Ready Player Two

Ernest Cline finally released Ready Player Two in November! In our latest book talk, Jimi shares why he loves this sequel to the acclaimed Ready Player One, and why he thinks you will, too! Place a hold on Ready Player Two and let us know if you like it. It’s available from FDL in multiple formats, including audiobook, large print, eBook, and eAudiobook!

2020-12-24T00:33:33-06:00December 23rd, 2020|

Cozy Up with a Christmas Mystery

If your holidays are incomplete without a cozy little murder to solve, try one these!

A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines

Sarah Booth Delaney, the spunky private eye, tackles a series of strange “accidents” as she and her besties travel during the holidays. Holiday cheer turns quickly into holiday fear in the latest in holiday mysteries by Haines. Available in both print and on Libby.

Christmas Sweets by Joanne Fluke

Three of the most prolific and best-known cozy mystery writers, Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier, have combined forces in this enjoyable short story collection. Grab some treats and hot chocolate. Curl up and read. Available in large print, Axis 360, and Libby.

The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle by Susan Wittig Albert

Investigative reporter Charlie Dickens faces the most challenging puzzles of career and they involve his wife. His investigation parallels the activities of
the Dahlia Garden Club as they pursue their activities and the mysteries unfold. Also available in large print and on Libby.

Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Andy Carpenter helps with a young boy’s Christmas dream of obtaining a coat for his mother, a sweater for his dachshund, and finding his father. Also available from Axis 360 and on Libby.

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier

Who killed Sam Miller? Lucy Stone takes time from her busy holiday schedule to try to solve this mystery. Also available on Libby.

Murder in Her Stocking by G.A. McKevett

When Stella (Granny) Reid finds Prissy Carr murdered in McGill, Georgia, she stirs the gossip pot for clues to the murder. Also available from Libby

-Becky, Reference Assistant

2020-12-17T16:43:28-06:00December 18th, 2020|

#FDL: Easy Holiday Craft Books

Get crafty at home this year! We have a wide variety of craft books at our library. These are actually just a few from our holiday craft collection. Create easy, trendy crafts from items found in nature or around your house to cheer up your home this holiday season.

Place one or more of these books on hold and pick them up through our drive-up window or the atrium.

‘Tis the Season to be Felt-y 

Included are over 40 whimsical felt crafts to celebrate Christmas with handmade style. Create pretty ornaments like Beaded Star Baubles, Sparkly Icicles, a Shining Star Tree Topper (and a partridge in a pear tree) to a pink poinsettia wreath, Yule log, snow bunny tree skirt, and lots of stockings to hang by the chimney with care.

Christmas and Hanukkah Origami

Even novice folders will be able to create some of the simple projects in these volumes, although more-experienced enthusiasts will find little in the way of challenges. These are solid sources for some basic objects: heart, egg, small basket, star, pinwheel, etc. Introductory pages outline tips for success and offer inspiration in the form of pictures of advanced origami by master folders.

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, decorations, and recipes that use less and mean more

This holiday season, Anna Getty chef, mother, organic living expert, environmental advocate, and writer helps families save money and reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing style or tradition.  She shares favorite holiday recipes for organic appetizers and homemade craft ideas such as pinecone wreaths and recycled sweater pillows.

Christmas Joys: Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes

Make this Christmas the best and brightest yet, with hundreds of gorgeous decorating ideas and delicious recipes. From holiday house tours and ways to deck the halls to handmade gifts and festive feasts, this beautiful book will help you celebrate Christmas in Country Living style. Create stunning wreaths, turn saltshakers into sparkling snow globes, craft Advent calendars from tiny envelopes, bake gourmet-store-worthy cookies, and more to make a truly happy holiday.

The Big Book of Holiday Paper Crafts

Major holidays and all the seasons are the focus of more than 450 paper crafted cards, gift bags, boxes, wall hangings, mini albums, journals, frames, party d’cor and more. This jumbo book from the editors of Paper Crafts magazine has hundreds of ideas for not only Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, but also Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year celebrations. Seasonal themes (spring, summer, fall, and winter) are also covered, plus a special section with ideas to show patriotic pride.

Christmas at Home: Holiday Decorating, Crafts, and Recipes

This book has decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts, plus tips galore. Stunning photos show festive table settings; splendidly decorated trees; fun and easy Christmas projects, from wreaths to no-sew stockings; gifts from the kitchen; and gourmet-worthy recipes like Turkey Roulade with Sausage-Cornbread Filling, Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes, Slow-Cooker Apple Cider, and sweet treats like Red Velvet Snowballs and Chocolate & Cranberry Fudge.

*Annotations adapted from publishers

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2020-12-14T12:02:04-06:00December 11th, 2020|

FDL Reads: The Magic Fish

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

Reviewed by: Atlas Agunod, Circulation Assistant

Genre: LGBTQ, Graphic Novel

Suggested age: Teens and Adults

What is This Book About? This book is about 13-year-old Tien, the son of two Vietnamese immigrants. Tien’s mother speaks mainly Vietnamese and Tien speaks mainly English. This makes it hard for Tien and his mother to communicate, but it makes it even harder for Tien to come out as gay. The story follows Tien as he comes to terms with his identity and figures out how to tell his parents.

My Review: I loved this book so much. I identify as LGBTQ myself, so I related to the concept of coming out a lot, but I can’t imagine how hard it would be if there was also a language barrier between me and my parents. The author told this story so beautifully, and the art was just beautiful. I really appreciated this story and I think anybody who is struggling with their identity should give it a read.

Rating: 5/5

Three Words That Describe This Book: moving, beautiful, touching

Give this a try if you like: The Princess and the Dressmaker, The Witch Boy, Heartstopper

Find it at the Library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

FDL Reads

 

2020-12-10T17:05:58-06:00December 10th, 2020|

Friends of FDL Holiday Gift Basket Drawing!

The Friends of Fondulac District Library are hosting their annual Holiday Gift Basket Drawing! This year, participants may enter the drawing online by filling out the form below by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 16.

The Friends have made two large baskets this year, stuffed with holiday treats for any family to enjoy, including games, movies, books, socks, masks, Star Wars items, crafts, and more! There are even Kroger, Visa, Chipotle, and Game Stop gift cards!! Two winners will be randomly selected and notified on Thursday, December 17. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and must be able to pick up their basket from the library atrium by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Happy Holidays from the Friends of FDL!

2020-12-17T11:10:57-06:00December 9th, 2020|

Discover GraphicAudio Books on Hoopla!

If you’ve not been an audiobook fan in the past, or you’d like to try something different, try one of the hundreds of GraphicAudio recordings that have recently been added to hoopla’s digital catalog. GraphicAudio is a publisher of eAudiobooks that are not the run-of-the-mill audiobooks. Their motto is “A movie in your mind,” and they’re not exaggerating. If you’ve ever heard an old-fashioned radio play, then you have an idea of what to expect. These audio recordings include a full cast of actors, not just one. You’ll also hear narration, sound effects, and cinematic music.

You may see the GraphicAudio titles come up when you are searching hoopla for your typical selections, or you can browse them specifically by entering “graphicaudio” in hoopla’s search bar. Search results can be narrowed by listener ratings, popularity, or date of release. Many titles have been split into 2 or 3 recordings, each of which will count as one of your eight monthly hoopla checkouts. And don’t be surprised if there is a brief recorded preview advertising another title that plays before your selection.

What kinds of titles does GraphicAudio offer? There’s a bit of everything available from hoopla, spanning most genres.

Do you like westerns? Try A Lone Star Christmas by William W. Johnstone.

“Smoke Jensen, Matt Jensen, Falcon and Duff MacCallister together for the first time. They just wanted to get home for Christmas… but fate had other plans. It’s December 1890. A Texas rancher named Big Jim Conyers has a deal with Scottish-born, Wyoming cattleman named Duff MacCallister. Along with Smoke and Matt Jensen, the party bears down on Dodge, Kansas, to make a cattle drive back to Forth Worth. But before they can get out of Dodge, guns go off and a rich man’s son is killed. Soon the drive turns into a deadly pursuit, then a staggering series of clashes with bloodthirsty Indians and trigger-happy rustlers. And the worst is yet to come. The party rides into a devastating blizzard, a storm so fierce that their very survival is at stake. From America’s greatest Western author, here is an epic tale of the unforgiving American frontier and how, amidst fierce storms of man and nature, miracles can still happen.”

Want to try a graphic novel performed as a dramatization? There’s Cemetery Girl by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden.

“She calls herself Calexa Rose Dunhill, names taken from the grim surroundings where she awoke, bruised and bloody, with no memory of who she is, how she got there, or who left her for dead. She has made the cemetery her home, living in a crypt and avoiding human contact. But Calexa can’t hide from the dead and because she can see spirits, they can’t hide from her. Then one night, Calexa spies a group of teenagers vandalizing a grave and watches in horror as they commit murder. As the victim’s spirit rises from her body, it flows into Calexa, overwhelming her mind with visions and memories not her own. Now Calexa must make a decision: continue to hide to protect herselfor come forward to bring justice to the sad spirit who has reached out to her for help…”

Are you interested in science fiction instead? Check out S. M. Stirling’s post-apocalyptic Emberverse saga with the first title, Dies the Fire.

“The Change occurred when an electrical storm centered over the island of Nantucket produced a blinding white flash that rendered all electronic devices and fuels inoperable and plunged the world into a dark age humanity was unprepared to face… Michael Havel was flying over Idaho en route to the holiday home of his passengers when the plane’s engines inexplicably died, forcing a less than perfect landing in the wilderness. And as Michael leads his charges to safety, he begins to realize that the engine failure was not an isolated incident. Juniper Mackenzie was singing and playing guitar in a pub when her small Oregon town was thrust into darkness. Now, taking refuge in her family’s cabin with her daughter and a growing circle of friends, Juniper is determined to create a farming community to benefit the survivors of this crisis. But even as people band together to help one another, others are building armies for conquest…”

Personally, I’m a dedicated audiobook fan, but I’m currently listening to GraphicAudio’s version of a book whose CD book recording left something to be desired. I’m enjoying the GraphicAudio version much more. Whether you’re a diehard audiobook fan or giving audio a chance for the first time, you may be pleasantly surprised by GraphicAudio’s offerings, too.

– Melissa, Reference Assistant

*Annotations provided by each publisher

2020-12-08T13:38:18-06:00December 8th, 2020|

FDL Reads: American Dirt

 

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant

Genre: Social issues thriller

Suggested Age: Adult

What is This Book About?: American Dirt is the story of a mother and son and their journey to escape cartel violence in Acapulco, Mexico that has killed their entire family.  Lydia and her son Luca witness the violent murder of Sebastian, their husband and father, after he publishes a newspaper story about the Los Jardineros and their leader Javier. Sebastian along with eleven members of his extended family are killed by the cartel. Escape is the only avenue left to them – escape to the United States.  The remainder of the book details the journey northward and the other migrants that they encounter on that journey.

My Review: I highly recommend this book. Lydia and her son, Luca are very realistic, sympathetic and well- developed characters and their struggle to escape from a Mexican cartel that murdered their family is a frightening, thriller tale, but this book is so much more than just an exciting and riveting tale.  Cummins has written an almost poetic book filled with the love between a mother and son and those that they come to view as “family.” The journey that Lydia and Luca undertake from their home in Acapulco to Mexico City and on north toward Nogales and eventually into the United States is filled with danger and fear, but it is also filled with people–other migrants from throughout Central America.  Many of these men, women and children on the train known as “La Bestia” become a new family as they share the trials and atrocities encountered along the journey.  There is violence, rape, hunger, death and most of all fear throughout their travels, but the love between mother and son and their companions over shadows and triumphs over trials.  Human courage is displayed. American Dirt was called “the most anticipated book of 2020” and “The Grapes of Wrath of our times” in its early reviews.  I agree that it is a beautifully written, but violent tale of the struggles faced by some citizens of Mexico and other Central American countries forcing them to seek a better life in the United States. The book and author have also been criticized as unauthentic.  I strongly disagree with this characterization.  This is a work of fiction and Cummins never portrayed it as “truth.”  Neither is this a treatise on immigration.  It is a well-written work of fiction and one that I am glad to have read!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Heroic, Compassionate, Dramatic

Give This a Try if You Like: John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath or Griffin’s Hazardous Duty

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the Library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

FDL Reads

 

2020-12-02T13:27:52-06:00December 2nd, 2020|

Browsing from Home

We know that one of the best things about coming to the library is looking at all the books and taking a big stack home. While we can’t do things exactly like we used to, there are plenty of ways for you to figure out what to put on hold next and always have something for you or your kids to read. Try any of these options if you’re wondering how to select books from home.

Let Us Do It for You

Do you usually like to ask a librarian to help you find books for you or your kids? You can still do that! We are still here to help you find the books you want and/or need, and there are multiple ways for you to get in touch with us. One option is to submit an FDL Match request through our website. Simply tell us some of the books you or your child currently likes, and we will pick out five new books for them to read.

You can also call the Adult Services department (ext. 2251 or option 1) or the Youth Services department (ext.1291 or option 2) or contact us via live chat during service hours. Let us know what kind of books you are looking for, and we will place some on hold for you. We’ll notify you when your books are ready, and you can pick them up from the drive-up window or the in the Atrium.

Use the Online Catalog

Do you normally find books by coming in to the library and browsing the shelves? You can still look at everything we have through our online catalog!

Start by going to the catalog and logging in with your library card and pin number. Use the carousel feature on the home page of the catalog to browse recently added titles. Select from the drop down menu to see categories like fiction or nonfiction for adults and children, DVDs, music – even NYT Bestseller lists! Then place a hold and pick up!

You can also search books similar to those you’ve already enjoyed by using the brand new Unbound Content feature in the catalog. Search for a book you like, click on the book, then go to the Unbound Content tab in the middle of the page. From this tab, you can do all kinds of browsing. You can see what other books that author has written, a list of books in the same reading level, and other works in the same genre. You can also read excerpts, reviews, and more. Keep scrolling to the bottom of the page to the Browse Shelf section, select the See Full Shelf button, and you can literally see what’s on the shelf around that book and explore by selecting the book covers or using the arrow tabs.

There’s so much information available in the catalog; you may be surprised at how easy it can be to discover new books on there. Then all you have to do is click the Place Hold button for each book you want to get, and you’ll be notified when it’s ready for pickup. The RSAcat Mobile app is another great option for exploring our catalog when you’re on the go. It links directly to your account so you can search, place holds, and even scan any book’s barcode to see if it’s available at FDL.

Search Our Digital Collections

Your FDL library card gives you access to tons of children’s eBooks and eAudiobooks – even graphic novels, movies, TV shows, and music from hoopla. Download and log in to the Axis 360, Libby, and hoopla apps on your preferred device, filter for adults or children, and start browsing. The items on these apps are organized for browsing by new releases and genres in a similar way to Netflix and other streaming services, or you can search by format, title, author, and subject. These collections are also linked on our website under the Digital Collections tab so you can browse and search these collections using a tablet or computer. Some titles will be available immediately but some may require placing a hold. If you’re unfamiliar with the library’s apps, Susie has provided a great overview of the options here, or you can call the library for assistance getting started.

Find Recommendations Online

Another way to figure out what to check out next is by reading blogs and online reviews. We regularly provide book recommendations here on the FDL website in our weekly FDL Reads blog, Book Talk videos, and more. You can check our Kids’ Corner or Teen Space for recommendations and content specific to kids and teens. We also post New and Upcoming Titles by popular authors quarterly under the Books & More tab so you know when to expect the latest Patterson or Perry release. Some other places to find book lists, reviews, and recommendations online include:

New York Times Bestseller Lists

American Library Association Award Winners

Scholastic

Goodreads

Book Riot

Kitchen Sink RA

What Do We Do All Day

When you find a book online that you’re interested in, you can even use Google to find the book in our online catalog! Search for the title with Google, and on the right side of the search results where it shows general information like author and publication date, it now also shows if the book is available to borrow from your local library! Select the Borrow link to head directly to our catalog to place a hold.

– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

2020-11-30T14:31:49-06:00November 30th, 2020|
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