Library Resources

If you are looking for help with good things to read, the public library is a great resource. Salt Lake County library address is: Salt Lake County. They have changed their site so that you can search without having to log in. If you want to do anything other than search, then you have to log in. There is also a library online available to every student in Utah. It is the Pioneer Library. You can follow this link to access it from home: Pioneer Library This library contains articles that can be read online as well as resources directing you to other locations. It is a great resource for your student to do research for school papers because it is vetted. The sources are verified; unlike Wikipedia, they are not subject to change. Last, but certainly not least, is the official American Library Association link. The following link will take you directly to the Young Adult section of the American Library Association. This is truly a rich resource for reading recommendations. Young Adult Book List CCB

Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan has a blog that you might find interesting. Check it out at the following link: Rick Riordan Parents, if you like a good mystery, Mr. Riordan has written a series directed to the adults that has won the top three awards for the mystery genre. Grab a book and join your students in the world of reading! You can find Mr. Riordan's adult books on his web site, along with a short synopsis of the story plot. There is also a blog written by a young woman that interviewed Mr. Riordan. He tells how his Percy Jackson series came into being. While it is a short interview, it gives a peek into the personality and life of Mr. Riordan. You can read that interview at Rick Riordan interview CCB

Book Fair

Hey ya'll! Help our library grow! Paradigm High School is having a book fair and you're invited to breakfast and browse the offerings for our school. The dates are February 24th and 25th. Breakfast will be served February 24th from 7:15 to 8:00AM. For every $1.00 that you spend at the fair, we will receive $.65 so that we can purchase additional books for our library. Please bring your parent/student and support this effort to grow our library. CCB

The Lightning Thief

One of the most popular books in the library right now is a series

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

written by Rick Riordan. Book one, The Lightning Thief begins the adventures of Percy Jackson. I was curious about what was attractive to high school students when this story is about a 12 year-old. I wondered what they could have in common. From the moment I opened the book, I was captivated by this unique story. It blends the legends of the ancient Greek gods with the adventures of 21st century teen-agers. I was completely fascinated by the plot, by the characters and even started to understand some of the Greeks gods that had escaped my understanding while in school. Because it is about relationships and over-coming challenges, I came to understand that those themes are appealing to most age groups and it was treated in an age appropriate way. It was a lot of fun to read. Additional reviews can be found at the following link. The Lightning Thief CCB

Library Lovers Month

February is the "love" month. There is a great poem at the following link that talks about what a library is and can be. Of all the places in school, the library is the most magical for it can take us to places beyond our imagination. Enjoy! My Library> CCB

The Hunger Games

I just recently finished "The Hunger Games". I must admit, I was somewhat hesitant to begin this story. Sometimes books for young adults can be kind of edgy and what I read on the jacket cover didn't ease the concerns that I had at all. I am glad to say that as I got into the book, I found a well-crafted story and a interesting story plot. It was certainly futuristic but like all well written science fiction, it built the rules and then abided by them. I found it completely believable. I liked the resolution of the story but it also left the distinct impression that there was more to come and that the story was not yet done. All in all, it was a good experience. It was certainly for entertainment value. Would I consider it a classic and read it again? Probably not. Sometimes it helps to have another opinion and so I found this review of the same book. I hope that it helps you in your reading choices. Find a quiet corner and enjoy! CCB The Hunger Games