Remembrance Day

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” – George Santayaimg_2383

Remembrance day is the time for Canadians to come together to remember those members of our armed forces who died in battle and to consider the implications of war. At Alpha library we have a number of books related to the military, to help you remember the past and we have an especially good collection of books on World War I and World War II. 

Come check out the display of non-fiction books in our window for some ideas of what to read next.
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And if historical fiction is your thing, check out the fiction books in the window that take place during periods of war.

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Some of my personal favourite stories all take place during World War II:

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak –> Narrated by “death” this book tells the story of a young German girl who steals books banned by the Nazis to learn to read.
  • The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne –> The son of a Nazi officer befriends a boy in a concentration camp.
  • City of Thieves by David Benioff –> A young man in Russia goes on the impossible task of finding eggs for the Colonel’s daughter’s wedding cake, or else he dies.
  • All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer –> Told in alternating points of view between a blind girl in German occupied France, and a young genius boy who is recruited by the Nazi’s and whose paths inevitably cross.

 

Library Month 2016

Queen Elizabeth the Second has proclaimed that October 2016 is library month and October 24th 2016 is school library day. And if the Queen says it, you know it must be important!

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So stop by the library and say hello. Who knows, you just might find something interesting to read!

 

New Graphic Novels

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New Graphic Novels September 2016

For those graphic novel lovers out there, we recently added a bunch to our collection, so come check them out!

  • Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

For fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile, a heartwarming graphic novel about friendship and surviving junior high through the power of roller derby.

Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole…and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl.

  • Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it “a deadpan epic.”

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona’s powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

  • Honor Girl by Maggie Thrash

All-girl camp. First love. First heartbreak. At once romantic and devastating, brutally honest and full of humor, this graphic-novel memoir is a debut of the rarest sort.

Maggie Thrash has spent basically every summer of her fifteen-year-old life at the one-hundred-year-old Camp Bellflower for Girls, set deep in the heart of Appalachia. She’s from Atlanta, she’s never kissed a guy, she’s into Backstreet Boys in a really deep way, and her long summer days are full of a pleasant, peaceful nothing . . . until one confounding moment. A split-second of innocent physical contact pulls Maggie into a gut-twisting love for an older, wiser, and most surprising of all (at least to Maggie), female counselor named Erin. But Camp Bellflower is an impossible place for a girl to fall in love with another girl, and Maggie’s savant-like proficiency at the camp’s rifle range is the only thing keeping her heart from exploding. When it seems as if Erin maybe feels the same way about Maggie, it’s too much for both Maggie and Camp Bellflower to handle, let alone to understand.

  • Ms. Marvel Volume 1, 2 & 3 by Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona

Marvel Comics presents the new Ms. Marvel, the groundbreaking heroine that has become an international sensation!

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City — until she’s suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? Find out as she takes the Marvel Universe by storm! When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear? Kamala has no idea, either. But she’s comin’ for you, Jersey!

  • Lumberjanes: Out of Time by Noelle Stevenson

At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together… And they’re not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way!

In the fourth edition of the story, Jen just wants a normal lesson with her cabin, teaching Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley the basic survival skills needed without any supernatural intervention. But when a blizzard hits camp, Jen finds herself separated from the girls and in more trouble than ever… until a mysterious taxidermist swoops in to save the day. Who is she and what is her relationship to Rosie? Join Jen as she finds a way back to her girls, and a way to save the day.

 

*** All novel descriptions are from www.goodreads.com***

Summer Reads Contest

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Library Window Display September 2016

The best way to learn about a new book that you absolutely HAVE to read is through recommendations, so come into the library and answer this one simple question: WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ THIS SUMMER?

By letting us know, you will be helping spread the word to your fellow students about an awesome read, AND you will also be entered into a draw for a pair of movie tickets.

If you can’t decide what you should read next, stop by and check-out our window display for some books that Alpha teachers enjoyed this summer.

Welcome back!

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The new school year is well under way and we have been happy to see so many students coming in and taking out books. If you’re looking for something brand new, check out the books in the front window or on the big shelf just inside the door. We have something for everyone!

Just a reminder, the library is open Monday to Thursday from 8:15 to 4 and Friday from 8:15 to 3!

Come by and say hello.

What’s new in the library?

New people! Welcome to our 2013-14 team of library monitors: Ciaran Davis-McGregor, Shane Estrada, Anna Zheng, Liza Mykhaylenko, Jane Wanjiru, Emma Jang, Miki Yasuda, Angellyn Phua, Janice Lew, Crystal Leeritikiat, Joanna Teng, Jessica Chan, Alisha Rana, Mandy He, Jennifer Chan, Daisy Chung, Jeffrey Lam, Arianne Arlante, Jin Young Yoo, Amanda Ly, Salina Kung, Atrin Yazdani-Biuki, Rachel Ho

New books!  Non-stop action with codes, symbols, art, and history in Dan Brown’s newest book Inferno. infernoThe latest in the Gallagher girls series: Out of Sight, Out of Time. out of sightA survivor from an alien invasion struggles to rescue her brother in The Fifth Wave. fifth waveme and earlA very funny story of friendship and identity crisis: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (1st chapter “How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad?”)

And lots more! Check out the New Books display in the library.