The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

By John Boyne

Young Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Gail-Morden Branch Administrator

    I chose to read this book when I saw that the movie was on Netflix.  The book is almost always better than the movie so I try to read before I watch.  I have not watched the movie yet, but the book did not disappoint.

    "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" tells the story of Bruno, a young boy living during the Holocaust. His life so far has been largely unaffected by the events that lead up to his father being promoted to Commandant.  This changes when the family moves from Berlin to a place he calls "Out-With". Here, Bruno finds life lonely because theirs is the only house around.  Young Bruno likes to think that he will someday be a great explorer, so he decides to make the best of his situation and explore his new surroundings.  When he goes beyond the boundary given to him by his parents, he is happily surprised to find a large group of people milling around behind a fence.  Bruno continues to explore the area until he meets another young boy.

    The rest of the story is about how the friendship grows between the two boys, even though there is a fence between them.  It presents the Holocaust in an innocent way, but with enough reality to keep an adult's interest and give them the ability to recognize the events for what they really are.  The author captures what it's like to think simply like a child but also presents the reality of what it could have been like to be a child on either side of that fence in Auschwitz.  While this is not a true story, it so easily could have been. 

    The story does not have a happy ending but it does have a surprise ending that sends a very clear message to the reader. 

    I have recommended this book to anyone who will listen to me, it's an important story that deserves to be read again and again.

To place Morden's copy on hold, click here.

To place Winkler or Altona's copy on hold, click here.

Canadian Children's Book Week 2022

 Canadian Children's Book Week, May 1-7, is a week where Canadian authors, storytellers and illustrators (virtually) visit places like schools, libraries and community centres across Canada.  This year's theme is Sail Into Stories.

"Canadian Children’s Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children’s books and the importance of reading. Each May, over hundreds of readings are given to thousands of children, teens and adults in over 100 communities across the country as we make every possible effort to reach children in more remote regions and communities. Hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major literary festival." (bookweek.ca)

    This year, South Central Regional Library is hosting two authors, Charis Cotter and Isabelle Groc.  We thought we'd tell you a bit about them and share some of their books with you.  Watch our social media for more details regarding access to their presentations or contact your local branch for more information. For additional information on Canadian Children's Book Week, check out their website at bookweek.ca. And, like always, click on the book title to place the book on hold in our online catalogue.

Charis Cotter

"CHARIS COTTER grew up beside a cemetery and has been living with ghosts ever since. She studied English in university and went to drama school in London, England. She is the award-winning author of The Swallow: A Ghost Story, The Painting and The Ghost Road. Charis loves all the places that ghosts like to linger—old houses, cemeteries, forgotten paths and the wild Newfoundland coastline. She has worked extensively in schools and libraries from coast to coast, using drama and storytelling to bring her books to life. Her performances of Newfoundland ghost stories has thrilled audiences of all ages, from Florida to Vancouver Island. She lives at the end of a road beside the ocean, in one of the most haunted parts of Newfoundland." (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/175291/charis-cotter)

Charis Cotter will be presenting on Tuesday May 3 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Wonder Kids

Profiles of nine child prodigies describe how their abilities were discovered and developed - includes a slave poet from colonial Boston, performers Buster Keaton and Stevie Wonder, and recent prodigies from China (visual art) and Australia (mathematics).

Kids Who Rule

By offering a dramatic episode from their childhoods, a profile of five juvenile royals reveals the often startling realities of the life and times of these child rulers, including Mary Queen of Scots, the Dalai Lama, and King Tutankhamun.

Born to Write

Presents the lives and careers of six famous children's authors, including C.S. Lewis and E.B. White, and reflects on how their childhoods influenced their writings as adults.

The Painting

Annie and her mother don't see eye to eye. When Annie finds a painting of a lonely lighthouse in their home, she is immediately drawn to it--and her mother wishes it would stay banished in the attic. To her, art has no interest, but Annie loves drawing and painting.

When Annie's mother slips into a coma following a car accident, strange things begin to happen to Annie. She finds herself falling into the painting and meeting Claire, a girl her own age living at the lighthouse. Claire's mother Maisie is the artist behind the painting, and like Annie, Claire's relationship with her mother is fraught. Annie thinks she can help them find their way back to each other, and in so doing, help mend her relationship with her own mother.

But who IS Claire? Why can Annie travel through the painting? And can Annie help her mother wake up from her coma?

The Painting is a touching, evocative story with a hint of mystery and suspense to keep readers hooked.

The Swallow

Seeking solace in the attics of their adjoining houses in 1960s Toronto, Polly, an imaginative girl from a large family, and Rose, a sharp-tongued waif whose parents leave her alone frequently, develop an unlikely friendship based on Rose's ability to see and talk to ghosts. 

The Ghost Road

For the first time, Ruth is heading to Newfoundland to stay with family she's never met instead of spending the summer traveling with her dad. When she arrives, she finds life in the small community of Buckle very different from Toronto--everyone knows everyone else, and some of them believe in ghosts and The Sight and family curses. Ruth's cousin Ruby is also staying for the summer, and the two discover they have a lot in common: they both lost their moms when they were two years old, they're the same age and they even like the same food. But while Ruby believes in spirits and fairies, Ruth believes in science and cold, hard facts.

When they find ominous information on some tombstones in the local cemetery, Ruth and Ruby start investigating their family's past and discover that twin girls are born in every generation, and every set of twins dies young, leaving their children without mothers. What's more, one of the twins always has The Sight and can see the Ghost Road that leads to the mysterious lost settlement of Slippers Cove. What happened there? What does it have to do with their family? And who is the ghostly presence that keeps visiting Ruth late at night?

The answers lie somewhere along the Ghost Road . . . if they can only find it.

The Dollhouse

A creepy, mysterious dollhouse takes center stage in this atmospheric middle-grade mystery for fans of Doll Bones and Small Spaces. Alice's world is falling apart. Her parents are getting a divorce, and they've cancelled their yearly cottage trip -- the one thing that gets Alice through the school year. Instead, Alice and her mom are heading to some small town where Alice's mom will be a live-in nurse to a rich elderly lady. The house is huge, imposing and spooky, and everything inside is meticulously kept and perfect -- not a fun place to spend the summer. Things start to get weird when Alice finds a dollhouse in the attic that's an exact replica of the house she's living in. Then she wakes up to find a girl asleep next to her in her bed -- a girl who looks a lot like one of the dolls from the dollhouse . . . When the dollhouse starts to change when Alice isn't looking, she knows she has to solve the mystery. Who are the girls in the dollhouse? What happened to them? And what is their connection to the mean and mysterious woman who owns the house?

Isabelle Groc

Isabelle Groc is a writer, conservation photographer, documentary filmmaker, book author, and speaker based in Vancouver, Canada. She focuses on environmental science, wildlife natural history and conservation, endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems, climate change, and the changing relationships between people and the natural world. She aims to create stories that increase our understanding and awareness of conservation issues and inspire change.

Originally from the South of France, Isabelle has a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

With her dual background in photojournalism and urban planning, Isabelle brings a unique perspective in documenting the impacts of human activities on threatened species and habitats.  She has travelled to remote places to raise the profile of many little-known, elusive, under-appreciated threatened species, aiming to inspire concern and action for their conservation. (https://www.isabellegroc.com/about/)

Isabelle Groc will be presenting on May 5 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Gone is Gone

This nonfiction book for middle readers looks at why and what species have become endangered, how scientists are learning about endangered wildlife, what people are doing to conserve species and what young people can do to help.

Conservation Canines

This nonfiction book for middle readers examines the lives of dogs who work with humans to find new ways to solve environmental problems. Included are stories of dog encounters in the field and examples of canines working to conserve wildlife.

Sea Otters

Part of the nonfiction Orca Wild series for middle readers, this book looks at the important role sea otters play in the ecosystem. Readers will learn about the history of sea otters, their recovery from near extinction and how to conserve the species for the future. Illustrated with photos by the photojournalist author.

Just One Kiss

 By Courtney Walsh

Inspirational Fiction

Reviewed by Shirl-Winkler Branch

    Just One Kiss follows Carly Collins, a pregnant high school student, and her boyfriend Josh Dixon, a young man growing up in an abusive home.  When their baby gets sick, Josh disappears, only to return sixteen years later when their son is diagnosed with a life threatening illness.  As the story continues, Josh and Carly have to deal with their son's illness and what, if anything, is left of their relationship.  Do they still love each other, and can they overcome the hurt and disappointment that have been inflicted over the last sixteen years?  Will Carly give Josh a second chance?  Will Josh be able to overcome the effects of his childhood abuse?

    I enjoyed the reality of this story and found it believable.  You could feel the struggle that Carly and Josh were having with their relationship, or lack thereof.  You can also understand the influences that the people around them had on the decisions they were making.  This is book three of the Harbor Pointe series, however, the books do not need to be read in order.

Click here to place the book on hold

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes

 By Kimberly and James Dean

Junior Easy

Reviewed by Kaitlynn, age 5

What is this book about?

    This book is about cupcakes that are stolen and there are clues for finding the missing cupcakes.

What did you like about this book?

    I liked that they found out who did it and Grumpy Toad brought more cupcakes.

What didn't you like about the book?

    I didn't like when Grumpy Toad stole and ate the cupcakes.

Should people read this book?

    Yes! Cuz it's gonna be great!

To place this book on hold, click here.

Did You Know? Book Club Kits

 Welcome to a new series on the blog titled Did You Know? Each month we will be highlighting items other than books that the library offers for checking out.  This month, we are highlighting our book club kits.  Did you know that the library offers kits for book clubs to use?  Whether you are part of an existing club or looking to start a new book club, we have something for everyone. Each kit includes 5 copies of the book as well as a discussion guide to use at your meeting.  Some kits include a DVD of a movie adaptation of the book as well.  Below are some of the options but for a complete list, or if you have any questions, contact your local branch.  And, like usual, click on the book title to place the kit on hold.

The Ensemble

Adult Fiction

Forging a familial bond over their shared artistic talents and secrets, four young people navigate a cutthroat world and their complex relationships with each other, as ambition, passion, and love reinforce and divide them throughout the course of their lives.

The Hate U Give

Young Adult Fiction

Kit also includes movie adaptation of the book.

After witnessing her friend's death at the hands of a police officer, Starr Carter's life is complicated when the police and a local drug lord try to intimidate her in an effort to learn what happened the night Kahlil died.

At Home In The World

Adult Non Fiction

As Tsh Oxenreider, author of Notes From a Blue Bike, chronicles her family's adventure around the world--seeing, smelling, and tasting the widely varying cultures along the way--she discovers what it truly means to be at home. In her late thirties and as a mom to three kids under age ten, Tsh Oxenreider and her husband decided to spend a rather ordinary nine months in an extraordinary way: traveling the corners of the earth to see, together, the places they've always wanted to explore. This book chronicles their global journey from China to Thailand to Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, France, Croatia, and beyond, as they fill their days with train schedules, world-schooling the kids, and working from anywhere. Told with wit and candor, Oxenreider invites us on a worldwide adventure without the cost of a ticket; to discover people, places, and stories worth knowing about; to find peace in the places we call home; and to learn that, as the Thai say, in the end, we are all 'same same but different'.

Walk Two Moons

Junior Fiction

On a long car trip, thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle tells her grandparents the story of a friend who copes with a lunatic and the disappearance of her mother, a tale that reflects Sal's own experience with abandonment.

Alias Grace

Adult Fiction

Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders. Dr. Simon Jordan, an up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness, is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Is Grace a female fiend? A bloodthirsty femme fatale? Or is she the victim of circumstances?

Matched

Young Adult Fiction

All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, whom to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?

Kensuke's Kingdom

Junior Fiction

Washed up on a desert island, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food, no water and only his dog for company, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone...

We're All In This Together

Adult Fiction

Like all families, the Parkers of Thunder Bay have had their share of complications. But when matriarch Kate Parker miraculously survives plummeting over a waterfall in a barrel -- a feat captured on a video that goes viral -- it's Kate's family who tumbles into chaos under the spotlight. Her prodigal daughter returns to town. Her 16-year-old granddaughter gets caught up in an online relationship with a man she has never met. Her husband sifts through their marriage to search for what sent his wife over the falls. Her adopted son fears losing the only family he's ever known. Then there is Kate, who once made a life-changing choice and now fears her advancing dementia will rob her of memories from when she was most herself. Set over the course of four calamitous days, Amy Jones's big-hearted first novel follows the Parkers' misadventures as catastrophe forces them to do something they never thought possible -- act like a family.

The Things We Cannot Say

Adult Fiction

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It's a decision that will alter her destiny - and it's a lie that will remain buried until the next century. Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women's stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honour.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Adult Fiction

No one's ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine. Eleanor Oliphant is, well, a bit of an oddball--albeit a loveable one. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking . . . and that, combined with her unusual appearance (scarred cheek, a tendency to wear the same clothes year after year), means that Eleanor has become a bit of a loner. But for Eleanor, nothing really important is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding perplexing social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, Glen's Vodka, and phone chats with "Mummy." But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and sweet IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kind of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond's big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repairing her own damaged one. Smart, warm, and uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the story of a quirky yet lonely woman whose social misunderstandings and deeply ingrained routines could be changed forever--if she can bear to confront the secrets she has avoided all her life. But if she does, she'll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship--and even love--after all, if only she can learn to open her heart.

A Place to Hang the Moon

 By Kate Albus

Junior Fiction

Reviewed by Julie-Altona branch

Place the E-audiobook on hold here

    My grandchildren and I enjoyed A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus as a read aloud.  There was never a good time to stop reading this junior fiction book and we didn't want the story to end.

    We fell in love with the three orphaned siblings, William, Edmond and Anna, who must evacuate London during World War II and live with billet families in the countryside.  Their love and loyalty for one another and their preposterous plan, finding a home that will want to keep them forever, gives them hope for a better future.  They experience discrimination and taunting from their foster siblings, but their love of books leads them to a local library where they find strength to endure.  

    This book reads like a classic.  I had to check the publishing date and saw that it was a new book published in 2021.  The author is brilliant with her expressive vocabulary and you will marvel at the way she draws the reader in to the lives of the three Pearce siblings.  

    One quote from the book, where the children are wondering why there are so many stories written about orphans: "I hadn't really thought about it," Mrs. Muller confessed.  "Perhaps they think children fancy the notion of living on their own, without adults to tell them what to do.  It's quite daft, if you think about it, isn't it?"

    We highly recommend this book for readers of all ages.

Easter Book Eggstravaganza!

Easter will be here before you know it so we thought we'd share some of our Easter books to help you and your family celebrate the holiday.  As always, you can click on the book title to place the book on hold, search the online catalogue using the keyword Easter, or contact your local branch for even more suggestions.

The Easter Egg

Hoppi the bunny wants to win the egg-decorating contest so the Easter Bunny will choose him to help distribute Easter eggs, but instead, while everyone else is working on their decorations, he finds himself guarding an egg that has fallen from a robin's nest.

Easter Things to Make and Do

Shows how to make a variety of Easter crafts including decorated eggs, paper flowers, and more.

Easter

Examines the background, significance, symbols, and traditions of Easter.

Celebrate Easter

The joyous celebration of Easter is seen through a global perspective in this National Geographic volume featuring over 25 vibrant photographs. Witness the holiest day on the Christian calendar as it is celebrated throughout the world: from the famous Easter Egg Roll at the White House to the traditional bonfires throughout Europe, to colorful customs, to the universally popular dying of eggshells worldwide. The first-person narrative leads young readers through the origins and traditions of this springtime festival of rebirth and hope. Reverend George Handzo gives parents and teachers a historical and cultural background in his informative note.

Happy Easter, Tiny!

At the Easter egg hunt for dogs in the park, Tiny cannot find a single egg, but after the hunt is over he manages to locate a cute, furry surprise.

The Grumpy Easter Bunny

Hopper does not share the other rabbits' enthusiasm for their Easter rounds and instead of hiding his share of goodies, he eats much of them himself, before learning the real joy of Easter.

The Easter Bunny's Assistant

The Easter Bunny and his special assistant demonstrate how to make Easter eggs. Includes egg-dyeing instructions.

No Rest for the Easter Beagle

It's almost Easter and Snoopy is exhausted! He still has lots of eggs to color and hide. When Lucy recommends that the Easter Beagle take a break, it's up to the Peanuts Gang to color and hide all the eggs. Everyone wants to help, but are they up to the task?

175 Easy-to-Do Easter Crafts

From bunnies, chicks, eggs, and baskets to flowers, jewelry, gifts, and puppets--everything a child needs to create a super celebration of spring can be found in this fun-filled craft book. Children will have hours of fun making Victorian Eggs, Bunny Puppets, Egg-Carton Tulips, a Fuzzy-Wuzzy Rabbit pin, and many other inventive crafts. Easy-to-follow directions and full-color photographs ensure success for young craft makers.

The Itsy Bitsy Bunny

The itsy bitsy bunny is ready for an Easter adventure as he tries to deliver the best Easter ever. Little ones will love this bouncy twist on the classic nursery rhyme "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"!

Bare Tree and Little Wind

Children's picture book telling the biblical story of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday from the perspective of fictional characters Bare Tree and Little Wind.

The Legend of the Easter Egg

While preparing for Easter in his small prairie town, Thomas hears the story of the resurrection of Jesus and discovers the meaning of new life through the symbolism of the Easter egg. Includes an information page about the traditions and symbols of Lent and Easter.

Rechenka's Eggs

An injured goose rescued by Babushka, having broken the painted eggs intended for the Easter Festival in Moscva, lays thirteen marvelously colored eggs to replace them, then leaves behind one final miracle in egg form before returning to her own kind.

Follow the Bunny

Follow the bunny through the rabbit hole in this colorful springtime adventure! Children will love to trace each finger maze as they help bunny and her friends find their way to the Easter party.

The Story of Easter

An informative text, splendid new full-color illustrations, and hands-on activities relate the biblical story of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection and describe how people all over the world celebrate Easter and its traditions.

Easter

Introduces Easter, and discusses its origins, seasonal foods, symbols, songs, parades, games, and the holiday around the world.

Easter 123

Alphaprints make learning to count fun in this Easter themed tabbed lift-the-flap book. Sweet rhymes accompany Easter animals and items ingeniously created from fingerprints and photographs of everyday things. A tabbed board book treat to celebrate Easter and the arrival of Spring.

Easter Bunnies

Introduces the holiday of Easter and some of the ways in which it is celebrated, explaining the origin and meaning of such symbols as Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.

Baby's First Easter

A baby enjoys his first Easter with a basket left by the Easter Bunny, dressing up in Easter clothes, and going on an Easter egg hunt.

I Love Easter

Wanting to join Teddy for a fun-filled Easter egg hunt but unable to locate Teddy anywhere, Noodles decides to share his eggs with other friends and saves the last egg for Teddy, in a whimsical holiday tale designed for beginning readers.