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Encylopedia Brittanica defines "circus" as "an entertainment or spectacle usually consisting of trained animal acts and exhibitions of human skill and daring." Unfortunately, we have discovered that circus conditions for both animals and humans are not always ethical or humane, and, in some places, the use of animals in circuses is completely banned. While we do not condone the mistreatment of anyone involved in the circus world, we feel that books with circus settings can provide an atmosphere of wonder and magic. And as the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and the holidays approach, we will all need some wonder and magic in our lives. In this blog post, we've highlighted five circus-centered books written particularly for teens (although adults can enjoy them as well!). Titles were chosen by Ellie Epperson, Youth Services Supervisor. The Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell (2020) A retelling of the story "Snow White and Rose Red." In The Circus Rose, twin sisters Rosie and Ivory travel the world with their ringmaster mother and circus family. When they return to their home base of Port End they find that things have changed drastically. Religious fundamentalists have papered the town and preachers warn of impending darkness. Undeterred, the circus troupe puts on an enormous, dazzling show. However, things go awry during one of Rosie's acts, and it's up to Ivory and her magician lover to save their circus family. Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Caraval Series #1) (2017) Scarlett has been dreaming of the day when she can attend Caraval, the once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show. But she lives on a tiny island far from Caraval's magic, with a cruel father who has arranged a marriage for her, and she feels as though her dream will always remain just that - a wonderful, distant dream. Just when Scarlett believes all hope is lost, however, she gets her chance to see the show. Scarlett and her sister Tella, with the help of a sailor, journey away from their home to witness the wonders of Caraval. But the dream performance soon turns into a nightmare when Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's leader, Legend, who has decided that Tella will be the star of this year's show. Tella is hidden away, and Legend promises that whoever finds her will be the winner of his elaborate game. Scarlett believed that the events of Caraval weren't real, but she may change her mind in her desperate attempt to find her sister before time runs out. Caraval is the first in a trilogy. You can find all three books in our catalog. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles (Kingdom of Cards Series #1) (2020) Picture a land covered in ice, full of magic and struggle, and you'll see the setting of Where Dreams Descend. As the novel opens, a group of magicians is vying for a spot in the Conquering Circus. But the competition is fierce and each magician must compete against the others in daring and dangerous magical feats. As the competition continues, the magicians find there is more on the line than a simple circus act - their very lives may be at risk. As magicians go missing, three characters, Kallia, Jack, and Demarco, must deal with their inner darkness in order to stop the darkness without. Where Dreams Descend is the first in a duology. You can find the recently-released second book, When Night Breaks, in our catalog. Harley in the Sky by Akemi Bowman (2020) Harley is a circus kid - her parents run a famous circus in Las Vegas - and she loves watching the acts, especially the trapeze artists. In fact, Harley plans on walking the trapeze herself one day, but her parents insist she pursues schooling instead. Despite her pleading to pursue a life in the circus, Harley's parents don't budge from their decision. After a huge blowout between the family, Harley runs away to join a rival circus, Maison du Mystère. And although her dreams are coming to fruition, Harley must face the hard truths about her past and make peace with the sacrifices she made in pursuit of those dreams. We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler (2019) In 1965, Victoria leaves her dysfunctional home and joins the VanDrexel Family Circus in pursuit of a better life. Over the years she becomes a high wire sensation and her family continues to be involved in the circus. Fifty years after Victoria joins the circus, her granddaughter, sixteen-year-old Callie, is thriving as a tightrope walker in the same circus. But when Callie's mom accepts a job in an animal sanctuary, Callie must leave the life she's always known, along with her dreams of following in her grandmother's footsteps. As Callie tries to adjust to her new life, she immerses herself in pictures and memorabilia from her family's many years on the road. She finds notes her grandmother had written to herself with tips for adjusting to her new life in the circus. Callie uses these tips to adjust to public high school and a life outside the circus. Told in alternating voices between Victoria and Callie, this novel details what it's like to start over and embrace a new life. We hope you enjoyed this list. Do you have a favorite circus book or series? Let us know in the comments!

It’s November and you know what that means! No, I am not talking about Thanksgiving, pumpkin spice, or fall. It’s time for the National Book Foundation to announce the winners for their 2021 National Book Awards. The first National Book Awards was held in 1950 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It originally started with just fiction, nonfiction, and poetry before adding on science, philosophy and religion, history and biography, arts and letters, translation, contemporary thought, autobiography, first novel, original paperback, and children’s books 10 years later. It was then limited to just fiction and nonfiction before adding on and settling with fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young people’s literature. In 1989 the National Book Foundation started overseeing the National Book Awards. The winners are announced every November and this year they are being announced on November 17th. Winners are chosen by a panel of five judges in each category. They read each submission in their category and narrow it down to 10 before deciding on the five finalists. Submissions must have been published between December 1st of the previous year and November 30th of the current year and are submitted by the publisher. No one is aware of who won each category until the announcement at the official ceremony. Finalists receive $1,000 and the winners receive $10,000. The winners for this year haven’t been chosen yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t highlight the finalists! This blog post will focus on the fiction category, but finalists for the other categories can be found on their website. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr Set in three different time periods, the protagonists find common ground in the story of Aethon. Anna lives in the fifteenth century in Constantinople during the great siege. Her paths cross with Omeir, a village boy who was conscripted into the army. In modern-day Idaho, Zeno is a former prisoner of war teaching children a play of Aethon while a troubled teenager named Seymour is planting a homemade bomb. In the future, Konstance lives abord The Argos and has never been to Earth. She also is familiar with Aethon as she tried to copy the story down from what her father told her. Each of their stories is interwoven as they face a current struggle and find comfort in a book that spans across time. Matrix by Lauren Groff Maria de France is sent to live at a run-down abbey after she is deemed unfit for marriage. There she becomes close to her sisters and helps to repair the abbey and defeat diseases and hunger that plague the people. She also goes on a journey of faith, questioning hers at first before embracing it fully. Readers commended the writing for being beautifully written and the way it trapped the reader in a different time. Zorrie by Laird Hunt This story follows the life of Zorrie after she loses her parents and her aunt, whom she went to live with after the passing of her parents. She travels across the US before finally finding a home in Hillsburg, Indiana. While she tries to begin her new life, she discovers that there is still much for her to overcome. This book is a rather quick read at just 200 pages, but it reflects the entirety of Zorrie’s simple life, and many reviewers have found it to be a satisfying read. The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. Samuel and Isaiah are two slaves who have fallen in love with each other, finding comfort in one another despite their circumstances. This relationship is put in danger when another slave starts preaching the gospel on the plantation and suddenly their love is cast down upon. This book is mainly about the love between Samuel and Isaiah, but other characters are given voices as well. Many readers have commended the powerful storytelling in this book and its depiction of slavery. It gives a new light to not only the treatment slaves received but also the struggle of being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community on top of that. Hell of a Book by Jason Mott This book features an un-named wildly successful African American author on a book tour to promote his book, Hell of a Book. He has a condition that causes him to see The Kid throughout his book tour, only visible to him. Parallel to that is Soot, a young African American boy living in an urban town who was taught to be “invisible” by his parents to keep him safe. Soot experiences bullying at school due to the color of his skin. The book depicts the journey of these two characters with the main theme being what it’s like to be black in America, including dealing with police brutality. Many readers commended the book for its depiction of the black experience and the masterful tale that Jason Mott has weaved. Be sure to check out the finalists for the other categories and find out who the winners are on November 17th!

Halloween is less than a week away, and this year, there's an entire weekend to celebrate this ghostly holiday. If you're looking for some at-home entertainment, check out our Films to Fright and Delight post from last week, or browse our online catalog. Suppose you want to get out of the house and experience the holiday fun first-hand. In that case, there's a plethora of activities to do - trick or treating, trunk or treating, haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and most importantly, Ghost Stories in the Graveyard! Ghost Stories in the Graveyard is a family-friendly storytelling experience at Canyon Hill Cemetery, hosted by the Caldwell Public Library. This program started three years ago with ghostly readings by a library staff member. Unfortunately, between inclement weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, this program took a two-year hiatus. But this year, we're back and ready for an eerie night of stories, snacks, and laughs! Thanks to a partnership with Caldwell Fine Arts, this year's Ghost Stories in the Graveyard will feature storyteller Jim Cogan. Participants will hear stories of local folklore, creepy tales of the Canyon Hill Cemetery, and even more ghostly stories to delight and fright! Jim's experience as a storyteller for children makes him the perfect choice for a family-friendly night of spooky storytelling. In addition to Mr. Cogan, the Friends of the Caldwell Public Library will provide hot chocolate and cookies at intermission. Guests may be encouraged to share their own chilling stories to end the evening. Sound like a fun time? We'd love to have you join us this Friday, October 29, from 7-9 pm at the Oregon Trail marker in the Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell. Here are a few tips for the evening: It will be chilly - make sure the whole family is dressed warmly! Bring a chair or blanket to sit on. The cemetery gates will be closed, but there is ample street parking, and we'll have lights to guide your walk to the gathering spot. Be respectful of the dead and avoid walking over gravesites, messing with gravestones, or leaving trash or belongings around the cemetery. Need directions to the cemetery? If you have a map app on your phone, type Canyon Hill Cemetery into the search tab of the app. If you don't, here are directions from the library: Get on 10th Ave heading toward the freeway. Follow the road under the overpass and up Canyon Hill. The cemetery will be on your right at the end of the road.

Walking meditation, it almost sounds like a contradiction Most people associate meditation with being still and quiet, often with the help of a guide, especially for those who are at a beginner level. So then, what is walking meditation and how can we apply it to enhance our lives? Simply put, walking meditation is an active practice of your awareness. The focus of your awareness can be either internal or external. For example, if you decide to go on a nice morning walk, an external focus would be paying attention to elements around you. How does the air feel? What are the trees like at this time of year? What animals do you see? Are you near water? What is the mood of the water for the day? If you are working more internally, focusing on breath work is an excellent way to stay in tune with your body. Other things you can focus on internally is how the air feels as you breathe in - is it crisp or warm due to the current climate? Do you smell anything? How does it feel to connect each step to the ground, how connected to the earth do you feel? Breath work and grounding are central focus tools in meditation. How does walking meditation benefit us? Walking, as most of us know, is great for your health. There are so many benefits to the act of walking. Being outdoors is also very beneficial - and for us Idahoans, it's a true gift to appreciate the space we have here and the cleanliness, as well as all the beautiful creeks, paths, rivers, lakes, and trees in our area. Not to say that I haven't tried walking meditation somewhere more dense. I used to walk around Silicon Valley all the time as well. While there is a pulse to the Bay that belongs solely to the energy and vibe of that densely populated area, I always had such wonderful experiences exploring the parks, beaches, and hiking paths I found. Besides physical benefits, allowing your brain to spend some time connecting to your environment and detaching from other mental stressors creates a space inside yourself to refresh and refocus. Often we get stuck in our own thoughts. We stew on a problem for days, overthink our decisions, plan for days, weeks, years ahead...all the time missing out on the very moment in which we are living in. For me, if I spend at least 20 minutes a day in meditative state, even if not walking but just somewhere surrounded by nature, I often find clarity to situations that trouble me a lot quicker. Allowing myself to take time to focus on the here and now throughout the day allows me to better function overall. I am a heavy thinker, so this type of rest period for my brain helps alleviate the stresses I often put on myself. Add in walking, and the benefits of appreciating the natural world around me and the one point of space I occupy at any given moment, step-by-step, adds a healthy layer of perspective and gratitude each day. Interested in learning more about walking meditation or meditation as a whole? Check out some of the materials we have available through our library catalog! Do you practice walking meditation already? What are some of the benefits you've experienced? What types of walking meditation have you tried? Share in the comments! If you need any help finding more materials on this subject, our library staff is available to assist!

How would you like to read books by an author who is not afraid to write on topics that either make you stop and think or make you slightly uncomfortable? Then look no further than Neal Shusterman. I first read his books when I was in high school and my brother introduced me to his Unwind series, a dystopian novel where parents can have their children, ages 13-18, “unwound” to have their body parts donated. They aren’t considered “dead” in this series, because at no point in the process do they actually die, at least by the standards of this universe. This decision came about after The Second Civil War over reproductive rights where it was decided that all life was important until the age of 13. Many of the children that were “unwound” were troublemakers or raised to be “unwound”. The entire premise of this series was disturbing enough to stick with me still to this day, but it also makes the reader stop and think about what can truly constitute “life.” Now I promise that not all his books are quite that disturbing, but a few of them do touch on interesting topics. He writes mostly teen books with a fair bit of them being set in a dystopian world. His Scythe trilogy is the most recent one I read where humanity lives in an almost utopia. There is no death, war, disease, hunger, or really any challenge facing humanity. If someone does happen to die, 99% of the time they can be revived and they are able to age themselves back to however young they want to be. This is all achieved by a very advanced AI who essentially watches over humanity and takes care of them, without being evil. “The Thunderhead,” as it’s called, makes sure to provide all the basic needs, including basic income to everyone, so no one, technically, has to work. To maintain control over the population, people called “scythes” are in charge of picking random people to kill, or “glean” as they call it, and each scythe has a different method for choosing who to glean. Due to this nature of death, humanity has stopped fearing it. Life isn’t 100% perfect, but it’s pretty close. The result of this is now no one has any reason to strive for anything. Everything is handed to them. This leads to a lot of people living meaningless lives until they eventually get tired of it. It puts things into perspective on just how much humanity uses that push to make something of themselves, while they can, to create and achieve. Other books he has written include Dry, a book based in California exploring what life would be like if they ran out of drinkable water. It follows Alyssa who sets out to find both drinkable water and her parents after they disappear while on their own quest to find water. This was another one of his recommended to me that I enjoyed immensely. The Accelerati Trilogy breaks away from his more serious books. It follows Nick Slate who moves into an old Victorian house with his family. He discovers that the attic is filled with objects that are more than they appear. Interested in checking out other books Neal Shusterman has written? Feel free to check out our catalog or ask us! The foyer area at the east parking lot entrance is currently open to patrons for staff to grab items or answer questions, or you can always give us a call.

It's officially autumn, and that means it's also spoOoOoky season. With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it would be an excellent time to explore some books with some age-old creepy creatures. That's right - this month, we're talking about vampire books that are perfect for teens! So sit back and get ready because these books are sure to give you a thrill. Titles were chosen by Ellie Epperson, Youth Services Supervisor. Vampires Never Get Old by Multiple Authors For readers who like their vampires in smaller bites, we present Vampires Never Get Old, a collection of 11 short stories all about vampires. Written by some of teen fiction's leading authors, these stories cover a range of vampire personalities and legends. If you're ready to sink your teeth into a good tale, this collection is a great place to start. Chosen by Kiersten White* (Slayer Series #2) For Buffy the Vampire Slayer lovers, Slayer and its sequel, Chosen, are sure to thrill. The Slayer series takes place within the Buffy world, and in Chosen, the novel follows Nina, the last Vampire slayer, as she continues to learn how to use her Slayer powers to combat the forces of evil. In the first novel, Nina's powers were stolen and later retrieved, but as the second novel unfolds, Nina realizes something different and slightly sinister about her powers now. As she grapples with her inner demons, Nina is faced with outer darkness as well - something ominous connected to a demon drug ring, which may include someone close to home for Nina. *Be sure to read Slayer before diving into this latest installment in the series. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (Simon Snow Series #1) Do you enjoy stories with schools of magic and lots of romance? Then you'll love the Simon Snow series! The series opens in Carry On with the "Chosen One" Simon Snow. Simon's having a terrible time controlling his wand, and his personal life isn't fairing too well either. His roommate and archnemesis, Baz, who also happens to be an evil vampire, has decided to go M.I.A for their final year at the wizarding school. Could anything else possibly go wrong? You'll have to read the book to find out! Book 3, Any Way the Wind Blows, is currently on our new books shelf! The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh (The Beautiful Series #1) The year is 1872 and New Orleans is ruled by the dead. But for Paris-born Celine, New Orleans is a haven. After fleeing Paris, Celine finds herself taken in by the Ursuline convent in New Orleans and quickly falls in love with the city's vibrant nature, even its darker parts. The city's underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, is dangerous, but that doesn't stop Celine from forming an attraction to the leader, Sebastien. But attraction only goes so far, and when several girls from the convent go missing, one at a time, and are found dead in the seedy underbelly of the city, Celine wants answers. Panic worms its way through the city as residents wonder who this serial killer is and who the next victim might be. Celine starts asking questions, but the answers may cost her her life. Book 3, The Righteous, is set for publishing in December 2021! Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston Here is another tale in New Orleans, but this time, the protagonist, Victoria, travels to the city to find a miracle... and a vampire. Victoria and her father have shared a love for the undead ever since the existence of vampires was made public. Public fear drove vampires back into hiding after the reveal, but Victoria and her father never gave up hope of finding and meeting a real-live vampire. When her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Victoria feels like her only option is to find a vampire, become one, and save her father. With the help of her friend, Henry, Victoria makes the trek to New Orleans. But before she can save her father, she must prove that she has what it takes to live forever and put all her trust in a stranger. Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans will appreciate the occasional references to the cult classic. We hope you enjoyed this list. Do you have a favorite vampire book or series? Let us know in the comments!

Ever wanted to help repair or mend a book? Whether it is a kids' favorite or an old family book there are so many ways to mend or repair a book. At the library, we have thousands of books, and after much use, we have to decide whether to keep, mend/repair, or discard a book. Every collection of books, whether it is a household collection or a library collection, goes through use, and at some point, books need to be mended or sent to repair. Evaluating is the first step in the process of whether a book is kept, mended, or discarded. Is the book readily available to purchase from a vendor? Is the book's condition easily repairable? Do you know how to repair it? Is the book an antique and/or has sentimental value? All of these questions must be asked and then the book can be either repaired/mended or discarded. There are varying degrees for repairing/mending a book - some include just a bit of transparent tape or book tape, others include edging of the book or a loose page. More involved repair/mending includes the book's spine falling apart or separating. Sometimes entire sections of a book come loose. If the book is of sentimental value, precious to your collection, and cannot be replaced I would recommend a professional book repair or rebind of the book - particularly if the cover is not salvageable. There are some limitations on re-binding, however. If the text does not have a margin and runs the entire page it cannot be rebound. Rebinders cut an edge of the margin off and create a new spine for it. If the repair needed is small then you can use some handy tips from the internet, or use these tips from us: -Always use magic tape for mending; never use transparent tape since it tends to discolor pages overtime -Try to use book glue for those items that you want to keep for a long time. We use liquid plastic adhesive glue. -If you can, use some sort of bone folder for detailed work and to get seams nice and smooth -Book tape is a strong tape that can be bought in different sizes. We use the 3-inch width tape for strengthening spines and the inside of book edges. -If you are using glue on the inside of a book, use wax paper to ensure you don’t get glue on any other pages. When using glue on the inside make sure to use wax paper on the page before and after, this will make sure the glue doesn’t stray and stick the 2 pages together. This is just the tip of the iceberg in mending, please feel free to use the links below to find out more about mending/repair and book restoration. Vendors of Library repair materials: https://www.demco.com/ (supply vendor) www.thelibrarystore.com (supply vendor) Rebinding: https://acmebinding.com Useful links: Book Repair Basics: http://downloads.alcts.ala.org/ce/091411book_repair_basics.pdf Repairing Books to Like New Condition: https://www.binding101.com/resource-center/how-to-repair-your-old-or-damaged-books-to-like-new-condition Basic Book Repair for Libraries: https://www.sckls.info/home/showdocument?id=592 Local professional book menders/binders: Sophia Bogle, Oregon Website: https://saveyourbooks.com/ Email Address: sophiaswbogle@gmail.com Kim Hoppie, Boise, Idaho (Cannot repair bibles) Phone Number: 208-867-4001 Email Address: kimhoppie@gmail.com

Everybody loves a good movie. Or do they? Have you ever seen a movie that’s so bad it’s good? A film so inept and clueless that it transcends its flaws and becomes enjoyable despite itself? Welcome to the wild world of B-Movies, where the acting is stiff and the plot filled with more holes than a mini-golf course! Join me as we examine a few essential films for any fan of sub-par entertainment, all of which are available right here from the Caldwell Public Library! B-Movies have been steadily gaining in popularity over the last few decades, becoming significantly more mainstream and increasingly appreciated for their subversion of expectations. Starting in the early 90’s, shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000, Joe Bob’s Drive in Theater, and Elvira’s Movie Macabre fostered an increased awareness of cult films and exposed large audiences to obscure and low budget movies. Demand and interest for these “terrible” films even inspired some intentional schlock like Sharknado and its various sequels. We’ll begin with three heavy hitters, one classic, one from the 90’s, and one more contemporary film from the mid 2000’s. Plan 9 From Outer Space B-Movies require a certain masochistic tendency, a twisted need to assault one’s senses with garish cinematography or starve the higher faculties with acting blander than a bowl full of wet cardboard for breakfast. Dear readers, this one’s gonna hurt. Often lauded as one of the worst films of all time, Plan 9 From Outer Space has all the essential bad movie elements. Dumb dialogue, poorly constructed sets, awful acting, and a train wreck of a plot are hallmarks of any Ed Wood film. And yet, there’s a lot of goofy and memorable scenes that will no doubt tickle your funny bone, if you can sit it out. Troll 2 “But I didn’t even see Troll one,” you might say! Fear not, Troll 2 is a sequel in name only. "But trolls are too scary," well you're in luck, because Troll 2 is about goblins. No trolls here, just a bunch of extras in cheap Halloween masks. A film so bad there is a documentary detailing its unholy creation, Troll 2 is a hilarious film that has to be seen to be believed. Funnier than most of the comedies I’ve seen, Troll 2 is infinitely quotable and down right charming. From the creepy grandfather ghost encouraging his grandson to burn down the house, to the infamous “Oh my God, they're eating her” scene, there’s plenty of entertainment to be had. Don’t miss this one! The Room Tommy Wiseau’s debut film, this beautiful disaster became an almost instant cult classic upon its 2003 release. The movie’s popularity produced a book chronicling the filming which then became a feature film starring James Franco in 2018. The Room is truly a life changing experience. The “acting” in this flick will make you cringe harder than any embarrassing moment from your formative years. There is a definite charm to The Room and you can tell this was a labor of love for Mr. Wiseau. However, it's hard to shake the feeling that this film may have been created by an alien life form with limited knowledge of human culture. It’s just that bizarre. Have you seen or were you inspired to watch any of these films? What did you think of them? Do you have a favorite B-movie? Let us know in the comments and check back in for more awful movie recommendations from yours truly. Also, watch for our Halloween movie recommendations this October!

It may not be spooky season quite yet but that doesn’t mean people don’t like a good scare, and what could be better at giving your spine a chill than a good horror/ghost storybook? Horror/ghost storybooks have been particularly popular among kids and tweens recently as we have seen an increase in them being requested. It can be a little challenging to determine which scary books are appropriate for each child, so I have offered a few suggestions below with the suggested age range for each, but discretion is advised when determining if the book is an appropriate level of scary for your child. The books listed below are intended for kids from 8 to 14 years old. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier Kicking off our list is a classic scary tale of a spooky old house with creepy people living there, a particularly creepy night gardener, and a curse thrown in for good measure. The book focuses on abandoned Irish siblings, Molly and Kip, as they head to said creepy old house to find work. There is plenty of supernatural elements thrown in to give Molly and Kip a run for their money, including a tree the house is built around that can grant any wish…for the small price of a piece of your soul. Molly and Kip have their work cut out for them as they try to work against everything the house has in store. This book is geared toward kids10-14 years old. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Nobody Owens, also known as Bod, is a boy living among ghosts…literally. He lives in a graveyard and is being raised by ghosts. Naturally, this means Bod is neck-deep in the supernatural world while also finding his place in the living world. The supernatural world isn’t the only one that holds dangers for Bod, however; the man that killed his family is still at large in the living world. This, along with other adventures in the book, makes for a thrilling tale. It is also available as a graphic novel. This book is aimed at kids 8-11 years old. Bloom by Kenneth Oppel Plants have come to attack in this next book on the list where a plant species has invaded Earth and infests, well, everything. They take up fields, houses, roads, anything they can get their leaves on. To top it all off, they also release toxic pollen and produce pods that swallow up animals and humans. There doesn’t seem to be a way to stop it, that is until it’s discovered three kids are immune to the plant's toxicity and must find a way to beat them before more plants infest the Earth. This book is the first one in a trilogy, followed by Hatch and Thrive. This book is aimed at kids 10 and up. Jason Strange’s Series The last entry on our list isn’t going to focus on a specific book, but rather a series an author has written. Jason Strange has written several scary books including Faceless Friend and Zombie Winter, along with about 10 other books. The books involve anything supernatural including ghosts, zombies, werewolves, Mothman, and several other supernatural forces. This provides a variety of options for kids to choose from. A few of the books are available in the catalog, but others can be requested through Interlibrary Loan on the Caldwell Public Library website. The books are aimed at kids 8-11 years old.

Fantasy and science fiction have long been my favorite genres. What I have learned over the years is that there is a multitude of subgenres that fall under these broader genre labels. Alternate reality happens to be one of these subgenres, generally falling under the science fiction category, which means the stories are within the realm of future scientific possibility. That's what we'll be exploring in this edition of recommended reading for teens - some of the latest and greatest alternate reality novels with teenage protagonists. Most of these books include modern and advanced technology, some of them involve mystery, but all of them transport the reader into new and exciting universes. Thanks to Ellie Epperson, Youth Services Supervisor, for choosing these titles. This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey (This Is Not the Jess Show Series #1) Most people are tired of drama by the time they reach their junior year of high school, and Jess is no exception. But somehow, drama always finds its way to her, even in 1998 before smartphones, social media, and ever-pervasive technological innovations... Jess has to deal with overbearing parents, a chronically ill younger sister, and a budding crush on her childhood best friend - easy peasy, right? Wrong. And that's not all Jess has to contend with - a mysterious illness has struck half the town, and the rest of the town's folk seem just a tad bit off as well... Jess finds herself with more questions than answers as she tries to figure out what is going on with her town and her own life. Some readers have called This is Not the Jess Show "the teen version of The Truman Show," - what do you think? Read it and let us know! #Murderfunding by Gretchen McNeil (MurderTrending Series #2) Who doesn't love a good reality TV show - reality not included, right? In #Murderfunding, the latest hit reality show is Who Wants to be a Painiac? where participants hunt for big-hit serial killers. It's all fun and games until a strange girl approaches 17-year-old Becca after the sudden death of Becca's mother. The girl tells Becca that her mother was actually the infamous serial killer, Molly Mauler. Becca has a tough time believing that. She finds herself on the hit reality TV show to find out more about her mom and soon realizes that there is more murder and violence in the show than the creators let on. Suddenly, Becca finds herself fighting, not only to find the truth but to stay alive - can she survive? Otherworld by Jason Segel (Last Reality Series #1) Most of us wish we could step outside of our lives and experience another world for a bit. It's the reason why so many of us immerse ourselves in books, video games, and movies. But what if you could immerse yourself in a world so real you could actually taste it? Welcome to the Otherworld, a game so real, so addictive you never want to leave. The novel's protagonist, Simon, realizes too late that if it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Reality no longer exists; this is not a game - we're all in the Otherworld now. The Chosen by Taran Matharu (Contender Series #1) Unlike the rest of the books on this list, The Chosen is not about a video game or a show, but it does involve something like a game - an insidious game where the players are chosen without their input. In the beginning, Cade, the novel's protagonist, finds himself transported from his familiar surroundings to a completely foreign world. Some things of this world are familiar but ancient - things he's seen in museums and learned about in classrooms but no longer exist in everyday life. And Cade is not the only one who finds himself trapped in this new world; his classmates have also joined him. As they try to adjust to their surroundings, they find themselves being forced into battle - into the very game they have been carefully chosen for. Without knowing where they are or who brought them there, these teens must learn to play by a new set of rules if they have any chance of making it back home. Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline (Ready Player One Series #2) Warning: Mature Language Fans of Ready Player One will not be disappointed by this long-awaited sequel. Protagonist Wade Watts and the High Five are back and ready for the next adventure - 1980s pop culture references included. As the newly-appointed owners of Gregarious Simulation Systems, the four remaining High Five members are settling into their new responsibilities and wealth. As usual, Wade has a harder time adjusting than the others. As the novel begins, Wade discovers an alternative way to access the Oasis - a technology Halliday created but never released to the public. This technology allows users to control their avatars and navigate the Oasis using a headset completely controlled with their minds. But there are ethical complexities with the technology that drives a wedge between Samantha and the other three when released. Over time, the new technology catches on, and suddenly a new challenge appears in the Oasis - finding the Seven Shards of the Siren's Soul. But there is far more at stake with this challenge than the previous one - and the High Five may not make it through alive. We hope you enjoyed this list. Do you have a favorite book set in an alternate reality? Let us know in the comments!

This month we are going to highlight a series that takes the classic Disney fairytales and makes them a little….twisted. I’m a pretty big fan of twisted fairytales in general, Cinderella ones are especially my favorite, so this series easily caught my eye while I was working. The series is called A Twisted Tale and it’s written by three separate authors: Liz Braswell, Elizabeth Lim, and Jen Calonita. Each one has written their own books that contribute to the overall series. So far they have written stories about “Cinderella,” “Hercules,” “Aladdin,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mulan,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White,” “Frozen,” ”Peter Pan,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and ‘Tangled” (Coming out September 2021). I’ve read about 3 books from this series and each seems to follow a certain theme. You definitely recognize various elements of the associated Disney movie while reading the books, but each one tells the story with its own twist. As Old As Time, by Liz Braswell, follows the movie “Beauty and the Beast” almost exactly for the first part of the book, before straying in the second half to add in its own twist. Conceal, Don’t Feel, by Jen Calonita, has elements of Frozen in the book, but largely tells the story in its own way, adding a fresh element to make the story a little different. The books are mostly geared toward teens but I also enjoyed them as an adult. Below is some more information on some of the books in the series. So This is Love by Elizabeth Lim So This is Love follows the story of Cinderella after her stepmother, Lady Tremaine, succeeds in preventing Cinderella from trying on the glass slipper. Cinderella then runs away and ends up at the castle as a seamstress in an attempt to start a new life away from her wicked step-family. She has no hope in proving that she is the girl the prince is looking for, since the prince can’t seem to remember her face, so she becomes content with making this new life for herself and regards her time with the prince as a lovely dream. She then uncovers a plot against the prince and the king that she must stop, thus bringing her closer to the prince she had let go of. This book definitely has its share of romance, as implied in the title, but it also provides a refreshing take on the story of Cinderella as she tries to stand up for herself and better her life herself. There is also a bit of action as Cinderella attempts to thwart the plot she uncovers. Reflection by Elizabeth Lim Reflection is a mostly action-packed novel that follows Mulan. In Reflection, Mulan must travel to the underworld to save Li Shang after he is injured by Shan Yu. Mulan travels to the underworld, called Diyu, with the Li’s family guardian, ShiShi. There she strikes a deal with the king of Diyu, King Yama, where she must find Shang’s spirit and escape before the sun rises, otherwise, she will be stuck in Diyu forever. Still disguising herself as Ping, Mulan faces many obstacles in Diyu, including the struggle highlighted in the movie where she tries to accept herself as she is. Unfortunately, this novel does not feature the fan-favorite character, MuShu, in most of the novel but ShiShi seems to add that touch of seriousness that is appropriate in a place such as the Underworld. A Whole New World by Liz Braswell A Whole New World follows Aladdin. This is the first book in the series and it introduces a darker twist to the story. In this novel, Jaffar is the one to find the lamp and takes control of Agrabah, and Aladdin and Jasmine must team together in order to stop him before he makes his third wish. The first part of the book follows the movie pretty closely before branching off to do its own thing. There’s a bit of a revolutionary spin on this as the people fight to take back their kingdom and the princess fights for her family’s throne. Let us know if you have any twisted tales that you enjoy!

As a child, I would dream about a job where I could spend my days getting paid to read. In my young mind, the public library seemed to be the ideal place for such a dream. Unfortunately, I soon found out that very little reading gets done on the job - but my to-be-read (TBR) list expands exponentially every year. A few years after my library start, during my college days, I had even less time for pleasure reading. I was commuting from my college campus in one town to work in another town and back home daily, so I decided it was time to bite the bullet and try audiobooks. I've been hooked ever since. This was in 2012, but audiobooks appeared many years - 80 to be exact - before that. Some of you may have heard of the Talking Book Service - a free state service that provides audiobooks and magazines to the blind, visually impaired, and disabled. The Talking Book Service is the modern-day equivalent of the program, The American Foundation for the Blind, which originally released audiobooks in 1932. Those first audiobooks were recorded on vinyl and included 15 minutes of listening material on each side - a far cry from the CDs and digital audiobooks we have today. You can read more about the history of audiobooks on PBS NewsHour. Looking at the last 25 years - Audible got its start in 1995, if you can believe that - it seems that the biggest change in audiobooks is how many people are utilizing them. Services such as OverDrive and Hoopla have emerged to bring digital audiobooks into libraries, where library users can access them for free. Our library saw a huge uptick in ebook and e-audio use during the closures and uncertainty of 2020 - and those numbers have stayed consistent. And while Audible is still holding strong, many people find free access the best way to satisfy their audiobook cravings. And who can blame them? The average audiobook cost is between $20 and $30, but bestsellers are generally much higher, and if you listen to a lot, that can add up quickly... So, in honor of Audiobook Month, I've compiled a list of places you can access audiobooks, both free and paid. Happy listening! Free: OverDrive/Libby - access our OverDrive collection with your library card! We are part of the ID8 ebook consortium of 8 local libraries, but you can also access the OverDrive libraries of several other libraries and consortia by clicking "partner libraries" at the top of the home screen or adding partner libraries in the Libby app. And if you don't see what you're looking for, you can recommend titles on the Overdrive webpage. Local library - you can check out CDs and MP3 discs of audiobooks from your local library. Caldwell Library is part of the LYNX! Consortium, a network of several local libraries that share resources, so you're not limited to what you can find on our shelves. Project Gutenberg - find a plethora of titles in the public domain on this classic electronic audiobook site. StoryNory - This site is specifically for kids' titles. You'll find tons of fun, family-friendly stories to listen to right in your browser. DigitalBook - an easy-to-use platform with 1,000s of books for all ages to browse and listen to. Paid: Audible - You can start a free trial on Audible to see if you like the site before committing to a monthly subscription. A monthly subscription gives you 1-2 titles a month, and you can purchase additional titles at full price once you've used your monthly credits. The best part? You get to keep all downloaded titles, even if you cancel your subscription. DownPour - rent audiobooks and save! DownPour allows you to rent audiobooks for 30-60 days at a fraction of the cost of a purchased audiobook. You can download the app onto an iOS or Android device. Chirp - Get killer deals on audiobooks using Chirp. You do have to make a free account to purchase books and listen. Local bookstore - Don't forget to check out your local bookstore to see what audiobooks on CD they have for sale! We have two fantastic bookstores right here in Caldwell - Rediscovered Books and Rubaiyat. You will find many more fantastic bookstores in the surrounding cities as well. My post would not be complete without sharing what I am currently listening to! I listen to audiobooks exclusively through the Libby app or on discs from the Library. I'm currently listening to Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly for the monthly Thursday Afternoon Read group. I also have Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline and The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Letham in my Libby holds queue... When I run out of audiobooks available at the library (haha), I might move on to another platform. We will see if I ever get there. What are you listening to? Let us know in the comments below!