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• Leadership and the art of struggle : how great leaders grow through challenge and adversity by Snyder, Steven, 1954-

  

  May 20, 2013

  by Mary M

  How to master the Art of Struggle? According to Steven Snyder, author of the “Leadership and the Art of the Struggle: How Great leader Grow Through Challenges and Adversities,” leadership is the metamorphosis of the leader’s imperfection. “By examining a struggle narrative through the Struggle Lens, new pathways emerge for understanding and managing conflict.” Snyder highlights that failure is a normal stage in the life-cycle of a leader. He states that, in this phase, new ideas emanate to resolve proactively the upcoming challenges in the work environment. In addition, the author reinforces the idea that the leader’s decision must reflect a conscious thinking about the consequences of the “ripple effect” in the well being of the company’s culture. As Snyder affirms “...struggle is a natural part of a leadership and it is often the struggle itself that unlocks the potential for the greatest growth.” This book provides many strategies to embrace failure as a learning tool for personal transformation. Excellent book!

• Let's Meet a Librarian by Bellisario, Gina.

  

  May 20, 2013

  by Mary M

  Mr. Field is the pleasant school librarian that welcomes the children for a fun tour to the library. In this guided tour, the librarian explains to the school-age children that his mission --as an Informational Professional-- is to help the customers to discover the world throughout the various format of informational resources. The children learn from Mr. Field that the library carries not only materials inside a physical building but also it provides virtual resources that can be found in an online catalog. In this picture book, Gina Bellisario wants to introduce to the children the magic world of knowledge. She highlights, in the storytelling, that the library is an evolving entity that tries to adapt accordingly with the new technological challenges of this century. Finally, the illustrator Ed Myer complements the story with warm colors that suggest to the reader the welcoming environment inside the library. This is a great picture book!

• Meet you in hell : Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the bitter partnership that transformed America by Standiford, Les.

  

  May 17, 2013

  by G

  I really believe this account of Andrew Carnegie's life and times. There's so much information of Pennsylvania especially Pittsburgh. This book reinforces how a good work ethnic and the willingness to be confident when needed can make your desires an accomplishment. It proves how making the right connections with people you can trust is of the upmost priorty, or what left of your life could be spent trying to correct those choices. Loretta

• Secrets of effective leadership by Manske, Fred A., 1939-

  

  May 9, 2013

  by Mary M

  Leadership is a lifetime commitment of self-discipline! The book Secrets of Effective Leadership: A Practical Guide to Success provides useful techniques that can be applied to create successful teams for a lifetime. What is the secret? According with the author of this book, F. A. Manske, the key is to motivate each team member to envision active participation before, during and after the project. As the author states: “Outstanding leaders are future oriented. They love to dream about what could be and involve others in their dream.” Creating a common vision is the most essential leadership skill that a leader must develop in order to transform a dream into an attainable reality. Manske suggests that enjoying the landscape path of success is the most rewarding experience that nurtures the soul of a leader.

• Starting From Here by Bigelow, Lisa Jenn

  

  May 7, 2013

  by Teresa G

  Starting From Here is the story of a high school girl who is growing up on her own after her mother's death from cancer. Colby Bingham's father loves her, but he is a long-haul trucker and isn't able to be home very much. Colby is afraid to love again after the loss of her mother, but can't help herself when a stray dog crosses her path. Mo is critically injured and needs amputation surgery which a local vet provides free of charge in exchange for a promise from Colby that she will pay for the medicine, food, and other care Mo needs to survive. Right before Mo came into her life, Colby also suffered the loss of her first love, her girlfriend Rachel. As Colby begins to build a new life with Mo Colby meets and is attracted to a girl, Amelia, who interviews her about Mo's miraculous recovery for the school newpaper. Fresh, honest, and full of quirky, but very realistic characters, Starting From Here is a delight to read.

• The Sanctuary Seeker by Knight, Bernard

  

  May 7, 2013

  by Teresa G

  The Sanctuary Seeker is the first in a series of medieval mysteries featuring Sir John de Wolfe. Sir John has been appointed coroner for the county of Devon, a new position at the behest of King Richard the Lionheart, which is created to investigate deaths. Pitted against his brother-in-law, Richard de Revelle, the Sherriff, "Crowner John" must assert his authority in order to bring justice to bear when two returning Crusaders are found murdered. Full of excellent historical details, humor and wonderful characters, The Sanctuary Seeker is the first book in a long and wonderful series.

• Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Winterson, Jeanette

  

  May 7, 2013

  by Teresa G

  Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a thought provoking book. Telling the story of her life, Jeanette Winterson holds very little back as she describes growing up as an only child adopted by Pentacostal parents. Mrs. Winterson, her adopted mother, looms larger than life as she refuses to give warmth and love to the child she has been given. Despite the harsh conditions under which she starts life, the young Jeanette refuses to give up on life. After attending Oxford Ms. Winterson goes on to achieve success as a writer. She never completely puts the demons of her past behind her and at a time in her life when she feels loved and safe she explores her adoptive history and eventually meets her birth mother. Her thoughts on adoption are thought-provoking. If she'd been raised by her birth mother would she have become the woman she is today? Despite the harsh realities of her early life this upbringing has made her who she is. Fascinating, at times funny, and always as honest as one can be when telling one's own story, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal is a beautiful book whose words will linger long after the last page is turned.

• Manuscript found in Accra by Coelho, Paulo.

  

  May 1, 2013

  by Mary M

  The inspirational stories found in this book elevate the spirit and the heart of the reader. Life is a learning tool that must be explore in all its levels to achieve happiness and joy. The challenging experiences that are found in the person’s walking path help him to open undiscovered doors with potential alternatives and solutions. According to Paulo Coelho: “Difficulty is the name of an ancient tool that was created purely to help us define who we are.” The positive or the negative impact of the ripple effect can be diminished depending of the lector’s perception of solving the dilemma. The main message of Manuscript Found in Accra is to enjoy life in its simple way with its ups- and-downs. Feeling neglected will bring negative vibrations into the person’s life and future spiritual enrichment. The best approach to any difficult situation is to admire the outer and inner beauty of every creature that is part of the human cycle. Looking at the world’s creation can provide the person in need a sense of belonging to something magnificent. In Coelho’s own word: “Everything has a reason to exist.” Excellent book!

• The colossus rises by Lerangis, Peter.

  

  April 25, 2013

  by Mary M

  Jack McKinley, 13 years old, is captured by a group of scientists that live in another tri-dimensional space. The doctors of the Karai Institute wants to help Jack to survive to a rare genetic condition that only the personnel of this hospital knows how to treat it. After the surgery, Jack will have special powers and skills to combat the monster of a lost civilization. In the story, the author of the book, Peter Lerangis explores the imagination of the reader with a chain of clues and symbolisms that are given in the form of reverse words and artwork fragments. The lector must pay attention to these details in order to discover all the pieces of the puzzle and solve the mystery clue that encapsulates the tale. Adventure is the main component of the story! As the tale progresses, the young lector will get deeper into the protagonists’ personality and their way of resolving a problem: the main goal is to defeat the monster of the Atlantis. In the fifty-one chapters the reader will feel empathetic about the challenges that Jack and his team have to go through in order to accomplish their mission. They must return safe to planet earth to unfold the mysteries of the unknown.

• The Blackhouse by May, Peter

  

  April 18, 2013

  by Teresa G

  Set on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, The Blackhouse is a story of how the past is never really over. Fin MacLeod grew up on Lewis and now he's come home for the first time in eighteen years. Fin has not, however, come back willingly, but has been sent by his commander in the Edinburgh police force to investigate a murder that resembles a recent Edinburgh crime. The story of Fin's life slowly unfolds like the peeling of an onion as the past intertwines with the present. Peter May's description of these bleak Scottish islands brings to life their beauty, but also reveals the harshness that accompanies life in this remote location and how the location molds those living there. While there is a mystery at the heart of this novel, it is more than a "who-done-it." It is a reflection on Fin's childhood and teen years with his close friends, Artair and Marsaili, their turbulent teen years and how events long forgotten have shaped their lives.

• The Shape of Snakes by Walters, Minette.

  

  April 3, 2013

  by Tamoul Q

  Too often, when confronted with bullying, injustice, or prejudice people choose to do nothing. Fear for their reputation, physical safety, or agreement with the views of the hater lies at the heart of such a choice. In The Shape of Snakes, this lack of empathy is shared by a community toward “Mad Annie”. Her sins are many. First of all, she’s an old African American woman. Second, she fiercely protects her privacy. Due to constant harassment by her neighbors she has learned it’s better to keep to herself. And worst of all? She couldn’t give a tinker’s damn what anyone else thinks she should or should not be doing with her life. All efforts to drive her out of her home and off the streets of the mostly White town have failed, but when Mad Anne Butts is discovered dead, only one soul is moved to cry out for justice.

• The Accursed by Oates, Joyce Carol

  

  April 1, 2013

  by Teresa G

  Having visited Princeton for the first time recently I was particulary interested in this book which is set in Princeton. Written as a historical treatise in a florid Victorian style, I was prepared for the book to be a slow read. However, the intriguing and mysterious occurences hinted at early in the book kept me wanting to continue reading--for a while. As the pages slowly turned, I began to lose interest in what was promised to be the "action" in the book. I grew weary of the tantalizing tidbits and wanted a full bite of something that would capture my attention fully. After 110 pages I began to lose hope and reading felt more like a punishment than a pleasure. With a stack of more promising books begging for attention, I gave up on The Accursed. This is not to say that it isn't well-written or well-planned. It is both, but the pace was too slow and there were no characters I was invested in. I can read the slowest book in the world if the characters are interesting. This just wasn't the book for me.

• The Wicked and the Just by Coats, Jillian Anderson

  

  April 1, 2013

  by Teresa G

  Set in Wales in the late 13th century, The Wicked and the Just leaves the reader pondering the question of who, in this book, was the wicked and who was the just. Cecily, a young English girl, must make a home for herself when her father accepts a position as a burgess in Caernarvon, a remote outpost where the native Welsh must be kept under control. Cecily doesn't fit in with the other English girls, but her attitude towards the Welsh makes her no friends, there, either. Lording her power over the local girl, Gwenhwyfar, who works in the house, Cecily's cruelty pushes Gwenhwyfar to her limit. When crops fail and famine results, the Welsh subjects can starve no longer. The tables are turned on the English and Cecily finds herself at the mercy of Gwenhwyfar. This is a thought-provoking book without a single character who is likeable. This made it difficult to feel the characters were genuine. But the underlying story is a powerful one--when pushed beyond all limits, do the wicked become the just?

• Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe by Sáenz, Benjamin Alire.

  

  March 28, 2013

  by Joel N

  Two teenagers who couldn't seem more different (skin color, sexuality, class status, language spoken at home, etc.) end up making one of the strongest, most believable and indelible connections in YA fiction. Winner of this year's Stonewall YA Award as well as the Pura Belpre Award and many other honors, and you won't be able to put it down.

• One gorilla : a counting book by Browne, Anthony, 1946-

  

  March 28, 2013

  by Joel N

  With beautiful paintings of monkeys and apes, this simple picture book is a great way to practice counting and numbers at the same time children are learning to appreciate the beauty and intelligence of our ape cousins!

• The Nicholas Feast by McIntosh, Pat

  

  March 26, 2013

  by Teresa G

  The second Gil Cunningham Mystery centers around the mysterious death of a student at Glasgow University. Full of period details and engaging characters The Nicholas Feast continues the story of Gil Cunningham and his sweetheart, Alys. Gil's mother has learned of her son's plans to abandon his future in the church in order to wed Alys and she is not pleased. In addition to investigating the murder, Gil must deal with a visit from his mother.

• A Dying Fall by Griffiths, Elly

  

  March 26, 2013

  by Teresa G

  In A Dying Fall, another wonderful addition to the Ruth Galloway Mystery series, Ruth becomes involved in an archaeological find after shocking evidence is uncovered of the mystical King Arthur. When Ruth's university friend who made the discovery dies under mysterious circumstances Ruth travels north to Lancashire to investigate. As luck would have it, DCI Nelson is visiting his mother in nearby Blackpool. In an effort to help Ruth and protect Kate he, too is drawn in. Funny, quirky and full of surprises, A Dying Fall is sure to please fans of this series.

• The Winter Witch by Brackston, Paula

  

  March 4, 2013

  by Teresa G

  While the premise is interesting and the setting is spectacular, The Winter Witch, fails abysmally. Set in early ninteenth-century Wales, The Winter Witch is the story of a young mute woman, Morgana, who is seen as an outcast in her small village because of her unusual powers. After her gypsy father vanishes Morgana and her mother barely scrape by. Morgana's mother fears for Morgana's future. No one in their village wants to associate with Morgana, much less marry her, her mother arranges for her to marry a solitary cattle drover. After settling in at Cai's farm, Morgana realizes she loves the wild landscape and the freedom it affords. But all is not as it seems. There is an evil force at work that will stop at nothing to get rid of Morgana and take her place on Cai's farm. The fantastical elements become trite all too quickly and the melodrama is so overdone that it becomes sickening. What a disappointment.

• The leadership challenge : how to make extraordinary things happen in organizations by Kouzes, James M., 1945-

  

  February 26, 2013

  by Mary M

  How do you define leadership? This query must be answered during the introspection process of the self. A profound meditation will reveal the individual’s core of values that will energize his human roots in the universe. Understanding the reason why each person has a purpose in life, will eventually provide better ways to work for the common good of future generations. How this philosophical approach can be applied in the work environment? James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of “The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations,” provides a unique perspective on how to lead individuals for a common goal. They agree that truly “leaders get people moving,” only when everyone, in the work environment, is treated with respect. Also, the authors highlight that “credibility is the foundation of leadership.” In this book Kouzes and Posner provide the five practices of leadership: 1) Model the way; 2) Inspire a shared vision; 3) Challenge the process; 4) Enable others to act; and 5) Encourage the heart. Each chapter, of this publication, is supported by the testimony of leaders that had had successful productive paths at work. They modeled the mission and the vision of the company improving not only the work culture in a global context, but also cultivating the individual talents within the team. Ductus Exemplo is the way to lead!

• Fifty cents and a dream by Asim, Jabari, 1962-

  

  February 26, 2013

  by Mary M

  Booker T. Washington was born captive slave on April 5, 1856 and he died as free man on November 14, 1915. The end of the Civil War in 1865 gave all subjugated slaves the precious gift of freedom. At this point, Booker’s family moved to West Virginia to enjoy the independence of a youthful life. During this transition period, the teenager Booker learns how to read the words of the newspapers. He was fascinated with the knowledge that he could acquired just for reading the books. From this first moment, the freed slave showed his inclination to continue a higher education. He knew that this landscape of freedom will bring him more challenges than opportunities. “With fifty cents and a dream in his soul,” Booker walked 500 hundred miles from his home to the Hampton Institute of Virginia. He worked very hard, as janitor, to pay for his education at this important school. He enjoyed learning a lot, but also he admired his teachers for sharing their knowledge with the rest of the students. As a son of slave, Booker was able to overcome all the obstacles to obtain his goal in life. At the end, all the hard work paid off the sacrifices that he made to reach his dream: being part of the Hampton Institute, as an excellent student. His social condition was not a barrier to dream big. This is a great inspirational story of work commitment and action plan that should be learned and followed!

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