Tag Archives: Book

Featured Book: The Falcon in the Glass

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring booksIf you have a book you would like to showcase, send your review to our offices.

Review by Maria Burnham, SRRHS Library Media Specialist

Book: The Falcon in the Glass by Susan Fletcher

Maria Burnham, SRRH Library Media Specialist
Maria Burnham, SRRH Library Media Specialist

The novel The Falcon in the Glass by Susan Fletcher is technically classified as a middle school-level fantasy novel, although the book reads more like historical fiction than fantasy.  I was hesitant to read the book at first because fantasy is usually one of the last genres I reach for off the shelf.  However, I enjoyed this book immensely and find it appropriate for both high school and middle school students.

The novel follows the life of Renzo, a teenage boy who is working toward becoming a glassblower (his father’s dying wish for his son) in Venice, Italy as a means of supporting his mother and sister. With no one to teach him the trade, Renzo works tirelessly day and night to perfect his skills.  One night, however, he notices a small falcon in the shop; the bird belongs to a girl who has been hiding in the glassworks for warmth and protection.  And it turns out she’s not alone.  She’s one of ten orphaned children with bright green eyes who are condemned as witches thanks to their ability to communicate with birds.  Renzo struggles between helping these needy children and fulfilling the obligations of his future career to support his own family.

This novel contains both strong male and female characters alike. It explores the theme of moral obligations in the human race and would be a book that many students would enjoy, appreciate, and could easily discuss.

Like Book Reviews?

Image by Simon-Cocks. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons' licensing.
Image by Simon-Cocks. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.

Are you currently reading a book that you want others to know about?  Or, do you already write book reviews for various reasons? Might you consider sharing your reviews with others in Central Minnesota?

CMLE Board Member, Maria Burnham, Sauk Rapids-Rice Library Media Specialist, suggested including book reviews in our current communication streams. We thought this was a wonderful idea!

Our Goal: Over the next six months, we would like to like to have 20 book reviews starting this November going through April of next year.

We’ll need your help!!!

  1. First, we want to come up with a catchy name for this series. It will appear in the title each time a book review is being posted. Place your suggestion(s) in the comment section below or send us an email by next Thursday, October 31st. The winning suggestion will receive public kudos and a reward.
  2. Maria will be kicking off our first post next week. You could be one of the additional 19 CMLE book reviewers. To share your notes with library colleagues, across Central Minnesota, simply email our office (cmle@stcloudstate.edu) place “Book Review” in the subject heading.

TIP:  If you are already reviewing books and blogging about them for your students, it would be easy to send us a copy for this series.

2013 World Book Night with GRRL!

**Content in this post was provided by GRRL**

On April 23rd approximately 25,000 volunteers signed up to give away half a million free books in more than 6,000 towns and cities across the country. The free book giveaway is part of World Book Night U.S. (WBN), an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially printed paperbacks to light or nonreaders across America on one day. 

Great River Regional Library (GRRL) provides library services at 32 public libraries in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. These facilities allow access to nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, along with a variety of programming and information services.

GRRL recruited more than 50 volunteers who shared books at various locations across Central Minnesota such as parks, coffee shops and fitness centers.  Providing people with materials and services to support lifelong learning and personal enrichment is a goal within the library’s strategic plan.

Delano Book Night and Relay for Life April 23 2013 001 (3)
Volunteer book giver Jeanie Pilarski, right, gave a book to Julie Strobl at the Delano Tiger Activity Center.

Volunteer Jeanie Pilarski said, “This was a fun and easy event. The Delano Tiger Activity Center is an active location with parents, exercisers, participants of clubs, and many activities happening in this location.   People were surprised to be asked to receive a book!  They were very receptive and wanted to know about World Book Night. I enjoyed the opportunity to hand out books.  I have read this book and that made for an easy introduction also.”

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Volunteers Donna Holovnia and Susan Furey set up to give their books at the Clearwater Coborn’s store.

Justin Beiber’s Cat In the Hat

Some rights reserved by Breit Bart
Some rights reserved by Breit Bart

Engage elementary students in your library with this resource-presenting a classic story in a contemporary format. The 19-year old Canadian pop musician, actor, and singer-songwriter, Justin Beiber posted a YouTube video reading the popular 1957 Dr. Suess book, The Cat in the Hat (8:28 Minutes).

Tip: Consider sharing this link with your teachers to recognize Children’s Day/Book Day! It would make an easy and flexible story time tool.

A Waterfall of Recycled Books in Spain!

Casa de America, Madrid
Casa de America, Madrid Photo by Cubeme

Linares Palace is in a privileged location in Madrid. Its façades are juxaposed to the Plaza de Cibeles Square, Recoletos Avenue and Alcalá Street. The building was constructed in 1873, by order of the Marquis of Linares. It is now home to the Casa de América, and its rooms serve as a venue for a range of cultural activities.

Last year, Spanish artist Alicia Martin created a unique sculpture incorporating recycled books. Marin’s eye-catching work features a cascade of more than 5,000 books falling from the second floor window and continue to spill onto the street below. This creative book sculpture looks like a waterfall frozen in time.

Just for fun, take a moment to peruse other work by this artists.