Josh Shipp is dedicated to one thing: entertaining, inspiring, and empowering teens. He’s written books, shared the stage with Bill Cosby, appeared on MTV, Comedy Central, NBC, FOX, TLC, and in the LA TIMES . And he’s already established an international reputation as an inspiring youth speaker with a simple and entertaining, yet challenging message.

Abandoned and abused as a child, Josh was able to triumph over the tragedy, and he continues to encourage everyone to overcome struggles and live life to the fullest. And he does so through the power of laughter. Josh is animated and hilarious, and his speaking style is challenging and thought-provoking. Josh has spoken to more than one million people about how his opportunities in life have made him who he is today. For over eight years, he has inspired, empowered, and entertained audiences all over the world. Josh’s ability to connect with the audience is a rare gift and is one you don’t want your audience to miss.

Josh is a spokesperson for National Foster Care Month, a marathon runner and a guitar hero. (http://joshshipp.com/)

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What book did you read this summer? The library staff read a lot of fun and interesting titles (see book review).  No change in that, because we read a lot every summer. The difference this past summer is that while we were reading our books we thought about how our theme of “change” was reflected in the books that we were reading.

As Mrs. Harland read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, she thought about the interesting twist that Graham-Smith put on the Jane Austen classic. How could adding ultra-violent zombie mayhem improve the beautiful love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy? Amazingly, the change in the story made it perfectly delightful and actually answered several questions that many readers had with the original Pride and Prejudice (see http://prhslibrary.com/2009/07/17/jane-austen-and-zombies/)

Did you find change in your summer reading books, too?

Handle With Care

I loved reading Nineteen Minutes and Plain Truth (both written by Jodi Picoult) and her newest book does not disappoint. If you like reading other Jodi Picoult novels, you will like this one just as well.  Handle With Care is filled with family drama (with a pinch of law, medicine, and cake!)

Once you start reading Handle With Care, you will not want to put it down. And the ending of the book… well, let’s just say read the book and then come talk to me about it. Whew!  The ending is a total shocker!

What are you reading this summer? You are welcome to stop by the library and check out some of the new books that came in over the summer (over 1,000 new books are in and ready to be signed out).

See you all soon! ~ Mrs. Harland

SCOTT PILGRIM VOL. 2-5
by Bryan Lee O’Malley

So I am all caught up on the Scott Pilgrim books (the last one is hopefully being released sometime in 2010, before the movie comes out) and let me tell you, they are the absolute bee’s knees.

If you are a fan of, oh I don’t know…Hilarious dialogue, epic ninja battles, Canadian things, relationship drama, and awesomeness, then do yourself a favour and CHECK THESE OUT!

For serious everyone, if you read these and don’t like them, I will somehow reimburse you for your time in the form of either high-fives, candy or toll booth tokens.

Also, check out PUNK ROCK AND TRAILER PARKS by Derf for something equally as awesome and hilarious but in a totally different way.

SCOTT PILGRIM’S PRECIOUS LITTLE LIFE, VOLUME 1
by Bryan Lee O’Malley

Okay, listen up. The Scott Pilgrim graphic novels are one of the best things that I have ever read. EVER, Mr. Brough? YES, EVER!

I don’t want to spoil anything, so here is a very brief synopsis:

Scott Pilgrim is 23 years old, playing bass in a band, dating a high school girl named Knives and living in an apartment with his boy-crazy friend Wallace. Everything is fine and dandy in Scott’s world until he meets the uber-mysterious rollerblading American, Ramona Flowers. Throw in a random, threatening e-mail, a rival band called Crash and the Boys, and a pretty funny fistfight and you have volume 1 of the Scott Pilgrim series.

The book is a very fast read, full of funny jokes (both written and visual) and the action never slows down. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who likes awesome things. So come on in and check them out!

Reviewer’s Note:
Best enjoyed while eating a Tropical Wonka Nerds Rope, courtesy of Mrs. McGlone.