Anya's Ghost

Brosgol, Vera. Anya's Ghost.  New York: First Second, 2011. Sprinkled throughout with dark humor, Anya's Ghost depicts the life of a Russian girl trying to fit in into an American private school.  Part coming of age, part Gothic, this graphic novel succeeds with a realistic portrayal of a teenage girl complete with body image and boy problems.  After falling and getting stuck in a well, Anya befriends a seemingly friendly ghost named Emily who attempts to help Anya with her troubles. I enjoyed this book and it made me think of Yang's American Born Chinese, another graphic novel that depicts a child of immigrants trying to assimilate. Although I must say Anya's Ghost held my interest better than American Born Chinese did.  Brosgol's timing and drawings heightened the suspense as well as had spot-on facial expressions.  A good choice for reluctant teen readers and fans of intelligent graphic novels.  Ages 12 and up.

~"This is a YA magical realist tale with adult appeal, featuring imperfect characters who can still use their smarts and decide to take the right course. And while it's all about empowerment, the story is also wonderfully creepy and entertaining." Library Journal

Local Bragging rights! Love my library!

Multnomah County Library earns another five-star rating

Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 12:28 PM     Updated: Friday, November 04, 2011, 12:29 PM

By Nikole Hannah-Jones, The Oregonian The Oregonian
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Oregonian FileThe North Portland Library is one of 19 branches of the Multnomah County Library, which recently earned a five-star rating.

Multnomah County Library has again received the highest possible rating in the Library Journal's 2011 Index of Public Library Service. The five-star rating is given to the top U.S. libraries each year.

Multnomah County has earned five stars in three out of the four years Library Journal has published its ratings.

"Multnomah County Library is consistently rated as one of the best and busiest libraries in the nation," said Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke in a news release. "We offer resources that are relevant and responsive to our patrons’ needs, and the high demand for library services locally reflects that. We are honored to receive this recognition from Library Journal and are grateful to this community for making it possible."

Multnomah County Library received the state's only five-star rating. The Port Orford, Eugene and Garden Home public libraries received three-star ratings. The Seattle Public Library also received a five-star rating.

Multnomah County Library is second in circulation only to New York Public Library, according to the most recent statistical report of the Public Library Data Service.

The library received other national recognition for its services recently. Earlier this year, the library accepted an award for its work with immigrant communities and was one of only 10 U.S. libraries selected for a science and literacy initiative to engage families in under-served communities. In 2010, Multnomah County Library was honored with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

Oregon's largest public library serves nearly one-fifth of the state's population and 35,000 people visit the library online or in person each day.

Young Adults: Can they read about real life? Or should we protect them?

I came across this article by one of my all-time favorite authors and creators, Sherman Alexie.  He wrote the Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (A National Book Award winner) which I highly recommend and may review later :) Alexie discussed whether teens should be exposed to real life, gritty happenings in literature and his answer was yes.  He said,

"And now I write books for teenagers because I vividly remember what it felt like to be a teen facing everyday and epic dangers. I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed."

To see the full article follow this link to the Wall Street Journal: http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why-the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/