Ages 11-18
Blog Post
Nature Close at Hand
by Lucy S
“If we come to love nature not only when it is rare and beautiful, but also when it is commonplace and even annoying, I believe it will heal the great wound of our species; our self-imposed isolation from the rest of life, our loneliness for nature.”
You might be aware that squirrels eat acorns, but did you know that they usually only eat the top half, or why? Have you ever noticed how many pigeons have injured or malformed feet? Do you find yourself crossing the street to avoid the pungent odor release by some ginkgo trees? These are just a few of the questions Grist senior writer Nathanael Johnson was trying to answer as he roamed the streets of San Francisco with his young daughter. Johnson grew tired of answering her “that?” questions with basic answers so he decided to look more closely at the natural world that exists in every city. He shares what he found with humor and wisdom in Unseen city: the majesty of pigeons, the discreet charm of snails & other wonders of the urban wilderness.
Johnson divides the book into the subjects of his discovery; pigeon, weeds, squirrel, bird language, ginkgo, turkey vulture, ant, crow, and snail. In each of these areas, he shares his observations, the impetus for his particular investigations, and what he learned through reading and in conversation with experts.
Johnson brings a sense of wonder to his encounters and shares with us what it feels like to slow down and to really investigate the natural world outside the door. Through this close lens, he is able to satisfy his curiosity about pigeons’ misshapen feet, to forage for edible plants, to learn why only the top halves of acorns are eaten, to better understand the language of birds, to know why it is that ginkgo trees smell so rotten, to revile less the turkey vulture, to be amazed at the organization of an ant, to wonder at the intelligence and wit of a crow, and to decelerate to a snail’s pace. Johnson reminds us that because these creatures have adapted so well to living in human environments, we might not notice them. We “tend to think of nature and civilization as being irreconcilably opposed: Civilization’s gain is nature’s loss. But in fact, cities have become a prime habitat for speciation, hybridization, and, in short, rebirth.”
“We honor least the nature that is closest to us,” Johnson rightly observes. Reading this book is a good first step towards changing that.
Read alikes include The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, The Soul of An Octopus: a surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness by Sy Montgomery, and Superdove : how the pigeon took Manhattan-- and the world by Courtney Humphries.
Blog Post
An ode to Raina!
by manz
Okay, you love Raina Telgemeir’s books as much as we do. You met her at A2CAF, and she was great, and now you want to read more of her books. You can’t get enough and need more ASAP, but you’ve already read Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts. And you just can't read any more Baby-Sitters Club. What to do?
Here are some graphic novels NOT by Raina that are readalikes you might also enjoy, nicely compiled on a list for your browsing and placing-holds pleasure!
Here are a few to get you started:
In Roller Girl we have friends who may or may not be growing apart when they find different interests. (The book won a Newbery Honor award in 2016.)
In Awkward we learn how one girl copes with surviving middle school.
Give ‘em a shot! And check out the full list to keep your SUMMER READING going on all summer long. (Some books are better suited for 6th graders vs. 2nd graders and vice versa. You decide!)
Blog Post
Kids’ Summer Reading Lists!
by manz
Summertime is here! The last day of school is upon us. The SUMMER GAME starts tomorrow! It’s time to grab some books to fill all your summer adventures.
Here are some 2017 summer reading lists that were compiled by Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) that cover a variety of ages and genres. Below are AADL public lists of them to make for easy browsing within our collection. Be sure to check out some of these great titles, everything from board books, picture books, fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels!!
Birth–Preschool Summer Reading List
Grades K–2 Summer Reading List
Grades 3–5 Summer Reading List
Grades 6–8 Summer Reading List
What's on the top of your reading list this summer?
Blog Post
Seeing Red...Or Saw it Once...
by LibraryLiz
This one time at the library...there was that book you saw on a shelf, with a red cover, that piqued your interest - but, for whatever reason, you had to pass it by. Well now! If you find yourself hankering for that long lost spark of interest, I may have the book for you! I've recently been compelled to create a list of books that have, or have had, red covers - whether or not their most recent editions have red covers now, they did at some point! Plus, this list is welcome to all kinds of red covers...
Whether it be a fire-engine red of the debut novel Push, a pinkish-red hue of the biography Georgia, or perhaps an orange-red of the best-seller turned film The Circle, all reds are welcome on this compilation list. But this list isn't just for the adults on the internets! There's also a wide age range available for the younger reader seeing red...
Be it from the Teen section like Ruby Red, The Burning Bridge, or maybe Eldest this list has many red hot reads that you might have left on the shelf for a later date. Even the youth may have left an enchanting book resting on it's display, such as The Battle of the Labyrinth. This list also provides you with options from every genre in the library...
Maybe you were browsing through Science Fiction and found Red Rising or Ready Player One? Could have been possibly perusing Mystery and seen False Picture on the shelf? What about the non-fiction readers, who may have browsed through the stacks seeing covers that advertised career development or scientific marvels!
This list has ALL THE THINGS (or would like to have) and is growing each day!!! Please feel free to take a look, and make comments of other red-covered books you think others may be searching for, so the list can continue to grow! Just think: someone out there could be looking for a red-covered jacket that you've read before - maybe you have the answer they've been looking for as the search the numerous volumes we have here at AADL. Or perhaps you yourself have been searching, and the book is in this list already!!! Only one way to find out!
Blog Post
Wonder Woman!!!
by PizzaPuppy
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The new Wonder Woman movie hits theaters today! This demigoddess, superhero and warrior princess has been delighting audiences since 1941 and has had a huge cultural impact across the globe. We have TONS of Wonder Woman materials for all age groups here at AADL to help you celebrate Princess Diana of Themyscira's first feature length movie.
The Secret History of Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman Unbound both give us an in-depth look at the history of Wonder Woman and her impact on popular culture throughout the years.
Although this is her first foray into the world of feature films, Wonder Woman has previously graced the screen in many different TV shows and movies. There are several animated movies, including the 2017 Wonder Woman film and the 2008 Wonder Woman film. The Wonder Woman TV series ran for three years (Seasons 2 and 3 are available here at AADL as well). Wonder Woman has also been featured in many Justice League and Super Friends films and television shows, as well as her cameo in the recent Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie (played by Gal Gadot in the cameo as well as in the newly released movie).
We have tons of Wonder Woman materials for kids! There is a lengthy Wonder Woman chapter book series, with titles like The Fruit of All Evil, Creature of Chaos, and Trial of the Amazons, and a graphic novel called DC Super Hero Girls: Hits and Myths. We have stand-alone chapter books like Amazon Warrior and Wonder Woman vs. Circe. Younger readers may enjoy the Readers Wonder Woman to the Rescue and Warrior for Justice, while babies may enjoy the DC Super Friends Lift-the-Flap book. The DC Super Hero Girls movie: Hero of the Year features Wonder Woman as well.
Teens will want to take a look at the Superman/Wonder Woman series (with Vol 2, Vol 3 and Vol 4). Our most recent additions include The Legend of Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League America Vol. 1, Wonder Woman by Mike Deodato, and Wonder Woman Vol. 1 by Greg Rucka. Other teen titles include The Hiketeia, The True Amazon, Down to Earth, The Circle, and Bitter Rivals.
Adults have plenty to choose from as well, with many of the titles released recently, such as Wonder Woman: Vol 1 The Lies and Wonder Woman, Earth One Vol 1. We have the full series by Brian Azzarello, comprised of Vol 1: Blood, Vol 2: Guts, Vol 3: Iron, Vol 4: War, Vol 5: Flesh, and Vol 6: Bones. Older series on hand at AADL include Wonder Woman: Odyssey Vol 1 and Love and Murder.
For more awesome Wonder Woman materials, take a look at this public list.
Blog Post
Life in the Extreme North
by Lucy S
Warner Herzog’s 2013 Happy people: a year in the Taiga is “a stunning documentary about the life of indigenous people living in the heart of the Siberian Taiga. Deep in the wilderness, far away from civilization, 300 people inhabit the small village of Bakhtia at the river Yenisei. There are only two ways to reach this outpost: by helicopter or boat. There's no telephone, running water or medical aid. The locals, whose daily routines have barely changed over the last centuries, live according to their own values and cultural traditions.” (from Music Box Films)
For the people inhabiting the village of Bakhtia in the boreal forest, The Taiga, life has been much the same for centuries. The customs, rituals, and rules followed today have scarcely changed. Industry is the driving force here in this vast expanse of Siberia, where most of the men are trappers. This documentary follows one of these trappers, Gennady, through an entire year to show us how each moment of his hours and days is filled with tasks that build upon each other to create a very simple, but very busy life. Herzog narrates this journey, but the footage used is from a series created for Russian television by Dmitry Vasyukov. It is Herzog, through his narration, who ascribes to the trappers the title of “happy people,” as he reflects on their time spent in almost complete solitude during the trapping season in the Siberian winter. But in hearing Gennady, who says, “You enjoy the beauty of nature, and you do your job at the same time. That’s why they all end up being hunters because hunting brings you closer to the taiga than anything else,” we realize that for these men, a life hewing this close to the natural order of the world does indeed bring happiness.
We hear frequently from Gennady throughout this film as he imparts much wisdom on the life of a trapper in the Taiga, detailing the solitude, the importance of a good hunting dog, interspersed with grim stories of survival. We are taught how integral to the seasons this way of life is, and how methods for trapping have not changed because they don’t have to. The best traps are the same primitive, yet sophisticated traps that have been used for generations, and will likely be used for generations to come. Herzog and Vasyukov have created something modest yet beautiful with this collaboration, a reflection of people of the Taiga, and well worth watching.
Blog Post
YA Authors to Visit Teen Writing Festival 6/4!
by krayla
We have a fantastic group of published authors ready to give their best advice on writing at the upcoming Teen Writing Festival on Sunday, June 4! All attendees are welcome to bring questions to the Writers' Workshop in the Secret Lab, hosted by former "It's All Write!" Winner Mary Gallagher, and the Q&A Author Panel in the Multi-Purpose Room. Read on to find out about our fantastic guest authors!
Leah Vernon hails from Detroit, MI and specializes in multicultural dystopian and science fiction writing. Check out her book Impure or her body-positive style blog.
David James wrote the Legend of the Dreamer series, is a former high school teacher, and lives in Michigan. He is a fan of gummy candy and likes traveling to the Upper Peninsula.
Patrick Flores-Scott, writer of the award-winning book Jumped In, taught high school in Seattle before moving to Ann Arbor. He's currently working on a second book, "American Road Trip."
Courtney Allison Moulton originally lived in Texas before moving to a farm in Michigan. Her first experience participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) actually led to her first published book, Angelfire.
K.A. Barson hails from Jackson, MI and has written 45 Pounds (More or Less) and Charlotte Cuts it Out. She often sports purple hair.
The Teen Writing Festival will also feature contestants of the "It's All Write!" Teen Writing Contest reading their work and the "It's All Write!" awards ceremony. See you there!
Blog Post
Dawn Farm's Educational Series
by Beth Manuel
You’re invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. The Education Series schedule can be found here. You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All programs are free, and all are welcome to attend! Registration is not required. Programs will be held at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center Auditorium (ground floor,) 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti.
Does Addiction Treatment Work? will be presented on Tuesday May 16, 2017, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, by Dr. Carl Christensen, MD, PhD, FACOG, FASAM, ABAM. Recent publications claim to define research-supported definitive truths about the root causes of addiction and efficacy of treatment modalities; however, conclusions are conflicting and have been subject to differing interpretations. Dr. Christensen will review the recent criticisms of treatment for addiction including Twelve Step, residential, and medication assisted therapy, the scientific studies that do and do not support their use and other controversial issues.
Blog Post
The Unlikelies
by potterbee
Soon to hit the shelves this June is a story to start the summer about five diverse teens who form an unlikely alliance.
With her best friend headed of to camp and college, high school senior Sadie is bracing herself for a long, lonely, and boring summer. Things take an unexpected turn when she rescues a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral. Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie's summer changes for the better when she's introduced to other "hometown heroes." These very different teens work together to right local wrongs and do good in their community.
This second and anticipated book from Carrie Firestone delves into issues that impact teens daily lives from bullying, body shaming, cyber group behaviors, and addressing the horrors and destruction of heroin addiction. The story maintains positive themes while dealing with such serious issues and is regarded as similar to stories like The Breakfast Club and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. Firestone weaves a rich story using humor and romance in a style consistent with her first novel adored by readers, The Loose Ends List.
A captivating read for fans of Young Adult fiction, readers will find plenty to relate and aspire to as the kids attempt to better the world and confront their own struggles with love, loyalty, and friendship.
Blog Post
New Addition to the Alien Franchise
by PizzaPuppy
With Alien:Covenant being released this Friday in theaters, now is the perfect time to revisit the previous installments in the classic science fiction horror series.
Here at AADL, we have the original Alien on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as the sequels Aliens and Alien 3. These first three movies (as well as Alien: Resurrection) have also been collected into one set called the Alien Quadrilogy. We also have AVP: Alien vs. Predator, a cross-over between this series and the Predator series, as well as the most recent addition to the franchise: a prequel called Prometheus. While originally Prometheus was merely set in the same universe as Alien and was not considered to have a direct connection to the previous movies, Alien:Covenant is a direct sequel to Prometheus and therefore ties it directly back into the franchise.
The Alien franchise has also produced several books, including Alien: Sea of Sorrows and the brand new Aliens: Bug Hunt: All New Tales from the Expanded Alien Universe. There's a great graphic novel series that has been collected into an Alien Omnibus (other volumes can be found here and here), as well as the graphic novella Aliens: Fast Track to Heaven.
In addition to all of this, we also have an awesome Art Print: Alien, 2015, created by local artist Jeremy Wheeler. This Art Print and other cool Tools are available for checkout with your LCard.