For Teens - Fondulac District Library

FDL Reads: When the Moon is Low

When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi

Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey

Genre: Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults, Teens

What is the book about?: Fereiba, a teacher, and her engineer husband, Mahmoud, are middle class parents in Afghanistan, raising their family of two amidst a quickly changing and dangerous political scene. After Mahmoud is murdered, things change drastically and for the worse for Fereiba. She plans a daring escape with her three children, the youngest of whom would never meet his father.

My Review: Opening this book, I was instantly drawn into Fereiba’s story. The characters and their experiences are true to life and could have been drawn from the news. Their story is compelling, containing both joy and tragedy and dangers I could never have imagined. I marveled at their courage, cried at their misfortunes, and was thankful for the help they received during their dangerous adventures. The tale alternated voices between Fereiba and her son, Saleem. This dual perspective made the audio book especially enjoyable. I highly recommend this book, in text or audio format!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Courageous, enlightening, hopeful

Give This a Try if You Like… We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls around the World by Malala Yousafzai or A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende or While the Earth Sleeps We Travel by Ahmed M. Badr

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2024-07-03T09:35:29-05:00July 3rd, 2024|

#FDL: LGBTQ+ Books

Finish out Pride Month with one of these LGBTQ+ book recommendations from our library!

Delilah Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Fairest by Meredith Talusan

Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Blackmail, My Love by Katie Gilmartin

Bodies of Water by T. Greenwood

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Less: A Novel by Andrew Greer

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Let’s Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan

Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Nightcrawlers by Bill Pronzini

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

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

Susie Rivera2024-06-28T10:14:11-05:00June 28th, 2024|

#FDL: Juneteenth Reading List

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. All too aware of the stories of cowboys, ranchers, and oilmen that have long dominated the lore of the Lone Star State, Gordon-Reed—herself a Texas native and the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas as early as the 1820s—forges a new and profoundly truthful narrative of her home state, with implications for us all.

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates

“We were eight years in power” was the lament of Reconstruction-era black politicians as the American experiment in multiracial democracy ended with the return of white supremacist rule in the South. Ta-Nehisi Coates explores the tragic echoes of that history in our own time: the unprecedented election of a black president followed by a vicious backlash that fueled the election of the man Coates argues is America’s “first white president.” But the story of these present-day eight years is not just about presidential politics. This book also examines the new voices, ideas, and movements for justice that emerged over this period–and the effects of the persistent, haunting shadow of our nation’s old and unreconciled history.

Stony the road : Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Details the struggle by African-Americans for equality after the Civil War and the violent counter-revolution that re-subjugated them, as seen through the prism of the war of images and ideas that have left an enduring racist stain on the American mind. The abolition of slavery in the aftermath of the Civil War is a familiar story, as is the civil rights revolution that transformed the nation after World War II. But the century in between remains a mystery: if emancipation sparked a new birth of freedom in Lincoln’s America, why was it necessary to march in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s America? In this new book, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., seeks to answer that question in a history that moves from the Reconstruction Era to the nadir of the African-American experience under Jim Crow, through to World War I and the Harlem Renaissance.

Four Hundred Souls : A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi

A “choral history” of African Americans covering 400 years of history in the voices of 80 writers, edited by the bestselling, National Book Award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. Last year marked the four hundredth anniversary of the first African presence in the Americas–and also launched the Four Hundred Souls project, spearheaded by Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Antiracism Institute of American University, and Keisha Blain, editor of The North Star. They’ve gathered together eighty black writers from all disciplines — historians and artists, journalists and novelists–each of whom has contributed an entry about one five-year period to create a single-volume history of black people in America.”

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America.

-Annotations from the publishers

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

Susie Rivera2024-06-19T14:51:36-05:00June 19th, 2024|

National Adopt-a-Cat Month!

June is National Adopt-a-Cat Month! According to shelteranimalscount.org, 2.6 million cats were adopted from shelters and rescue centers in 2023. While adoption rates are up, shelters and rescues sadly become more and more overpopulated.

Common misconceptions about shelter animals include bad behavior, poor health, or that they are “old” and undesirable. The truth is cats adopted from shelters or rescue centers can be more healthy, loving and unique.

Read more about adopting a furry feline friend!

Mutual Rescue : How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too by Carol Novello

I Found a Kitty! by Troy Cummings

Pretty Kitty by Karen Beaumont

Lola Gets a Cat by Anna McQuinn

For the Love of Cats by Sandy Robbins

For the Love of Rescue Cats by Tom Colvin

Tiny But Mighty: The Kitten Lady’s Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines by Hannah René Shaw

To Catch a Cat: How Three Stray Kittens Rescued Me by Heather Green

Won-ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw

Cats: Choosing, Caring and Training (DVD)

The Great Cat Caper by Lauraine Snelling

Bo and Ms. Beanz: Best Friends Forever by Jane Kirkland

Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantez

Julie Nutt2024-06-03T15:47:07-05:00June 10th, 2024|

New Book Highlight: 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 by Anne Ursu

Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu

Reviewed by: Alyssa Young, Youth Services Assistant

Genre: Horror; Realistic Fiction

Suggested Age: 5th-8th grade (or adults & teens!)

What is the book about?

This middle grade novel focuses on Violet, who is going through significant life changes (a new school, friend group problems, a new house, a mysterious illness) and includes a slightly spooky ghost story.

Ursu’s book discusses chronic or invisible illness, the effects it can have on your relationships, and the emotions that come from not being believed by doctors or friends.

Throughout the story, Violet learns about finding inner strength and advocating for yourself – whether that involves your health, your relationships with friends and family, or any other situation!

My Review:

This book is great for children in grades 5th-8th who love Horror and Realistic Fiction. Adults may also enjoy it, as it was inspired by the novella The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Find it in the Youth Services Department or on the Boundless app!

Julie Nutt2024-06-04T09:29:23-05:00June 5th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Dogtown

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

Reviewed by: Reviewed By: Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist

Genre: Fiction

Suggested Age: 8-11 years old

What is the book about? Dogtown follows a three-legged dog, named Chance, and her life at a local dog shelter that has recently added robot dogs to their adoption list. Many of the “real” dogs disapprove of the new dogs, but one robot dog soon proves to be able to learn and maybe even feel like the “real” dogs in the shelter. Soon the robot dog, named Metal Head, shares its plan to escape and return to its owner—but it will need the help of Chance and another unlikely friend, Mouse, to help it escape back to its old life. Throughout the book, Chance contemplates what it means to love, be a dog, and have hope in a world that seemingly is stacked against dogs like her.

My Review: This book really surprised me. I enjoy many of the books that Applegate writes; however, I did not expect to enjoy this story so much. I read this book with my daughter, and she and I spent many hours laughing at the quirkiness of the book together, along with just feeling the pain that comes along with being abandoned that many shelter dogs must feel. It even had some good tips at the end for the reader on how to best help local shelters and take care of their own pets. I thought the story was really well down, and is a must read for all those who have a soft spot for dogs in their own life.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Noble, heartfelt, contemplative

Give This a Try if You Like…The Good Dog by Cam Higgins, The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-05-30T15:48:12-05:00May 30th, 2024|

Read, Renew, Repeat: Summer Reading 2024

Reading for fun helps us restore and refresh our minds! This summer, we encourage readers of all ages to explore the concept of conservation, or protecting wildlife and their habitats. Visit a park, build a wildlife garden, or help clean up your community with FDL for the library’s 2024 Summer Reading Program: Read, Renew, Repeat! Join us June 1 through July 31 for a fantastic summer reading program offering fun and prizes for readers of all ages! Readers can register and track their progress online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org or on-the-go with the Beanstack app, or pick up a reading log from the library.

Engaging programs are planned throughout the summer focusing on a variety of environmentally-friendly activities, such as gardening, recycled art projects, an outdoor music series, and more! We’ll also have family favorites like story times, movie nights, and crafts, as well as a lineup of exciting presenters to share magic, music, wildlife, science, and more! Find programs and register to attend through our online calendar.

Start Reading!
• Borrow books, audiobooks, and magazines from Fondulac District Library or download or stream eBooks and audiobooks from our digital collections.
• Whether it’s reading a graphic novel, listening to an audiobook, or reading an article, it counts! All reading must occur within the program dates.

Earn Badges
• Record your minutes in Beanstack.
• Earn 1 badge for every 50 minutes (PreK-2nd graders), 100 minutes (3rd-8th graders), or 150 minutes (high schoolers and adults).
• Earn bonus badges for completing an activity or attending any three Fondulac District Library programs.
• Earn 10 reading badges to complete the program. Kids can pick up badges at the Youth Services desk, and teens can pick up badges from the 2nd floor Information desk).

Win Prizes
• Participants receive prizes for reaching the halfway point AND for completing the program.
• Participants who complete the program will also be entered into a prize drawing!
• Midpoint prizes can be picked up starting June 10, and completion prizes can be picked up starting June 24. Prizes are available while supplies last.
• The last day to pick up prizes is August 14.

Our 2024 Summer Reading programs and prizes are made possible thanks to our amazing community sponsors!

Julie Nutt2024-05-24T09:47:35-05:00May 25th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Junior High

Junior High by Tegan and Sara Quin

Reviewed By: Chelsea Bunton, library volunteer

Genre: Coming of age (graphic novel)

Suggested Age: Middle School (11-14)

What is This Book About? If junior high wasn’t hard enough- twins Tegan and Sara are entering with the caveat of a whole new school. Having just moved to a new neighborhood, they only have each other as they navigate the super confusing dynamics and politics that is being a junior high girl. As they make friends (and frenemies), they begin to discover more about themselves. Fitting in is a battle in itself- but they must also confront crushes, body changes, grades, and…chicken pox?! Tegan and Sara have written this graphic novel about their own encounters growing up, though set in a different era as they were actually tweens in the 90s. Times have changed…but the experiences of junior high can always relate- no matter the generation. Indie-pop artists turned graphic novel authors, the Quin sisters have bared themselves to show readers they are not alone in their circumstances and there ARE better days ahead!

My Review: When I learned that one of my favorite Indie groups had written a graphic novel- I had several thoughts. First…what??!? Second… I MUST read this! I assumed this would be a bit of a biopic about the Quin sisters’ experiences as tweens. I did not realize it would be more of a reimagining of their ordeals set in modern times. I think it would be so fun to reflect on my own past in a more current setting! Even though it’s been quite a few years since Tegan and Sara have been in Junior High (and, admittedly, me as well-), these types of experiences are timeless and so relatable to us all. Though much of the story is fiction, the authors sprinkle in easter eggs for readers who are aware of who they would grow up to become. I’m always drawn in to “coming of age” stories as they hit so close to home- there’s a reason this is such a big genre in media, it’s a pivotal time in our lives and makes such an impact that it deserves its own special story-telling. This was such a fun graphic novel and I can’t wait for the follow-up (Crush)!

Three Words that Describe this Book: Musical, Relatable, LGBTQ+

Give This A Try if You Like… Berrybrook Middle School series by Svetlana Chmakova, Drama by Raina Telgemeier, The Babysitters Club (Books, show, graphic novel)

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-05-19T15:31:18-05:00May 22nd, 2024|

FDL Reads: Titanium Noir

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services

Genre: Science Fiction/ Detective

Suggested Age: Adults

What is This Book About? Cal Sounder is a PI who does specialty investigations for the police department. His forte is Titan crimes. Titans are the new social elites of society. They’re obscenely wealthy, medically enhanced, and larger than the average person. Most importantly, Titans are immortal. That’s thanks to a new genetic treatment known as Titanium 7. It cures all ailments, makes the user young again, and you have to be really rich to afford it. So, when one of these Titans is murdered, Cal Sounder is given the biggest case of his life. And everyone is trying to stop him.

My Review: It’s been a while since I’ve read a gritty detective book, but Titanium Noir was a great novel for the genre. It’s definitely hardboiled and not too “techie” when it comes to the science fiction. It is set in the future as immortality is possible through Titanium 7, however, it reads more like a Raymond Chandler book with a lot of witty banter and ferocious brawling. What I also liked about this book is that I felt the obsession that the protagonist felt as he dug deeper and deeper into the investigation, the criminal underground, and the duplicity of the Titan lifestyle. More and more I wanted to figure out whodunit as Cal Sounder used any and all means necessary to discover the killer. In the end, this new book defines the genre of detective noir and sci-fi cyberpunk.

Three Words that Describe this Book: sci-fi, cyberpunk, noir

Give This A Try if You Like… Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner), Neuromancer, Altered Carbon, The Children of Men, A Philosophical Investigation

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-05-13T09:45:23-05:00May 15th, 2024|

FDL Reads: From Cradle to Stage

From Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars by Virginia Hanlon Grohl

Reviewed by Julie Nutt, Communications Specialist

Genre: Biography; Memoir

Suggested age: Adult, Young Adult

What is this book about? Virginia Hanlon Grohl has a had a front seat on the long, strange trip of alternative rock music, thanks to her amazingly-talented and famous son (Dave Grohl, drummer for Nirvana and front man of the Foo Fighters). Virginia describes the early days of following Dave through his musical journey, and wondering where all of the other parents were, backstage at the live shows. It was then that she decided to find some of the other mothers of musical icons to hear their stories of raising musically-gifted kids, then watching with love and support as their babies turned into full-fledged rock stars. Between vignettes about Virginia’s adventure with Dave, the book includes stories from the mothers of Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Dr. Dre, Mike D (the Beastie Boys), Kelly Clarkson, and many more.

My review: I was crying tears of emotion before I even got through the foreword! Virginia went above and beyond emails and phone interviews, instead traveling the country to meet rock star moms one-on-one. Just two mothers sipping coffee and chatting about their kids, making the conversations more intimate and telling. While hearing about the early live of the mothers themselves, they reveal the ups and downs of their children’s experiences in the music industry; the emotional and physical toll of fame and touring; and the struggles of family life and childhood as their little ones were on the road to becoming huge stars. These struggles aren’t so far removed from the experiences of any parent who must watch a child take a bumpy, uncertain flight from the nest that may not have been what the parent expected. (Who knew that Adam Levine was self-conscious because of acne? Who knew that Dr. Dre didn’t want any part of the “thug-life”?)

Each musician’s story had a common theme: a difficult, different, gifted kid who may not have always fit in; strong-willed, stand-out, march-to-the-beat of their own drummers (i.e. Dave Grohl, pun intended). They were not bad kids – just bored with what traditional school had to offer. Virginia ends the book with three pieces of advice that parents everywhere will appreciate.

I think what Dave’s quote in the foreword says it all: “But beyond any biological information, there is love, something that defies all science and reason. And that, I am most fortunate to have been given. It’s maybe the most defining factor in anyone’s life. Surely an artist’s greatest muse. And there is no love like a mother’s love. It is life’s greatest song. We are all indebted to the women who have given us life. For without them, there would be no music.”

Three words that describe this book: heartfelt, honest, touching

Give this a try if you like: Dave Grohl’s memoir, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music; Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross; alternative and pop music

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2024-05-13T09:34:15-05:00May 13th, 2024|