An Undead Booklist

Are You With the Banned?

It's that time of year again! Banned Books Week starts Sept. 30th to celebrate your freedom to read.

Graphic language, sexual content, controversial topics and radical ideas in books have always come up against strong opposition. Some of the most revered books of our time are still kept out of classrooms, libraries and the hands of readers. And books for teens are some of the most banned books in the country! Books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie are both books written for teens that have been praised by authors and experts, teens and librarians. They are also two of the most commonly banned books of the last ten years. The American Library Association collects info on book bannings across the US. You can check out more of what some people don't want you to read here. You may even find some books you already love on the list, like Stephanie Meyer's Twilight, banned for its vampires and lust, or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, banned for its violence.

Come by the library to check out some banned books on display in the teen area.

Click on the image for a link to the book in our catalog.

Review: For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfuend

For Darkness Shows the Stars is a science fiction remake of Jane Austen’s Persuasion with tons of appeal whether you’re a fan of the classics or not.

After a terrible genetic accident leaves thousands of people ‘Reduced’ and the following Wars of the Lost nearly destroy humanity, the world is separated into a strict social structure. Luddite lords, who were saved by their contempt for technology and modern medicine, hold land and power while the simple-minded Reduced and their descendants serve them.  But things have been changing ever since the Reduced have begun having children who turn out just as normal as the Luddites. Elliot North struggles to keep her vengeful and useless father’s estate afloat. Struggling to produce enough food and income to feed the laborers under her care, she rents her grandfather’s adjoining estate and shipyard to Admiral Nicodemus and Felicia Innovation, descendants of the Reduced who lead the Cloud Fleet, and bring with them an unexpected visitor from Elliot’s past. Elliot must battle her emotions, beliefs, and fears while honoring the duty she owes to all around her.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this reboot, or if I was even interested, but I couldn’t help giving it a shot when I kept hearing how great it was. And I was not disappointed.  Diana Peterfuend (author of the awesome killer unicorn books Rampant and Ascendant) has created a post-apocalyptic world that stands out from all the high-tech, ultra-dark works that have been filling up the shelves. But there’s nothing stuffy or boring (NOT that I would describe Jane Austen’s work that way!) about this old-school world. With strict laws about inventions and experimentation, and generations of bad blood and a divided humanity – the stakes are much higher for Elliot than just a broken heart.

For Darkness Shows The Stars has just the right mix of everything from high-stakes science to good old-fashioned romantic tension. One of my favorite reads so far this year!

Summer Reading Is Here!

The Summer Reading Program is Here!

Sign-up online today!

Just for signing up you'll get a $5 Coupon to use on fines at our library.

After that, keep reading to earn great stuff like free Mocha Mott's and movie tickets!

How do you win prizes? Just read!

5 books = Vouchers for free stuff in Vineyard Haven

10 books = Entry into the drawing for one of two $25 gift cards

15 books = Another voucher of your choice

20 books = A second entry in the grand prize drawing!

We'll also be doing drawings for free books every other week. You can win these no matter how much you read, so be sure to sign up!