In the Stacks

Book Club Selection for February

2011-01-20T11:28:00.006-05:00

Book club members voted to read If I Stay, by Gayle Forman for our January book. The author creates a cast of captivating characters and pulls readers into a compelling story that will cause them to laugh, cry, and question the boundaries of family and love. While out on a drive with her family, 17-year-old Mia is suddenly separated from her body and forced to watch the aftermath of the accident that kills her parents and gravely injures her and her younger brother. We will discuss this book on Monday, Feruary 7th. Meetings are afterschool at 3:10 on the first Monday of each month in the library classroom.
Reviews were mixed on last months pick You , by Charles Benoit, with a total of 3 stars out of 5.

Book Club Selection for December

2010-11-03T13:46:00.009-04:00

Book club members voted to read You, by Charles Benoit for our December book. It is the story of fifteen-year-old Kyle who discovers the shattering ramifications of the decisions he makes, and does not make, about school, the girl he likes, and his future. We will discuss this book on Monday, December 6th. If you didn't make it to the November meeting, you're still welcome to join Book Club. Meetings are afterschool at 3:10 on the first Monday of each month in the library classroom.
Reviews were mixed on last months pick Witch & Wizard by James Patterson, with a total of 3.5 stars out of 5.

Book Club Selection for November

2010-10-08T13:41:00.006-04:00

Book club members voted to read Witch & Wizard, by James Patterson for our October book. Hopefully it will appeal to all and we'll have a great discussion on Monday, November 1st. If you didn't make it to the first meeting, you're still welcome to join Book Club. Meetings are afterschool on the first Monday of each month. Book Club meets in the library.

IHS Book Club To Start Again

2010-09-22T11:17:00.007-04:00

The school year is well underway -- and Book Club will begin its eight year at the high school! Our first meeting will be on Monday, October 4th in the library. At our first meeting club members will vote on which books they most want to read this year. Meetings are after school on the first Monday of each month. Join us for some great discussions and snacks. Mark your calendars for the best club around town, and bring a friend.
Meeting location: Library
Time: 3:10 PM - 4:00 PM
Dates: 10/4, 11/1, 12/6, 1/3, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2
Advisor: Mrs. Raab

School's Out for Summer

2010-06-15T14:28:00.002-04:00

While you're enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer, don't forget about the IHS recommended summer reading!

Enjoy, and see you in September!

Class of 2010

2010-05-25T09:47:00.080-04:00

As the 2009-2010 school year winds down, members of the Irondequoit High School Class of 2010 are being recognized for all of their accomplishments -- in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, and within the community. Here in the library we like to celebrate a lesser known, but no less important accomplishment.

Following are the seniors who have checked out the most books over the course of four years, (!!!!) along with their favorite book recommendations.

Kristen
1. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
2. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3. Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles
4. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer
5. Private (novel series), by Kate Brian

Kaela
1. Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. The Sky is Everywhere, by Jandy Nelson
3. North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley
4. Love You, Hate You, Miss You, by Elizabeth Scott
5. Living Dead Girl, by Elizabeth Scott

Maria
1. Pretty Little Liars (novel series), by Sara Shepard
2. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
3. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller
4. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
5. Twilight (novel series), by Stephenie Meyer

Chelsea
1. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2. Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead
3. Evermore, by Alyson Noël
4. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
5. Wings, by Aprilynne Pike

Laura
1. Hawksong, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
2. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
3. Shadow Kiss, by Richelle Mead
4. The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown
5. Stargazer, by Claudia Gray

Rose
1. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2. Vampire Academy, by Richelle Mead
3. The Musician's Daughter, by Susanne Emily Dunlap
4. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, Beth Fantaskey
5. The Morning Gift, by Eva Ibbotson

Taryn

1. Pretty Little Liars (novel series), by Sara Shepard
2. The Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks
3. Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks
4. Breathing Underwater, by Alex Flinn
5. Beastly, by Alex Flinn
6. Evermore, by Alyson Noël
7. The Divide (novel series), by Elizabeth Kay
8. The Inheritance (novel series), by Christopher Paolini
9. Cirque du Freak (novel series), by Darren Shan
10. South Beach, by Aimee Friedman
11. French Kiss, by Aimee Friedman
12. Hollywood Hills, by Aimee Friedman
13. The Last Dog on Earth, by Daniel Ehrenhaft
14. Indian Captive, by Lois Lenski
15. Red Dog, by Bill Wallace

Justin
1. Good Omens: the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch, by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
2. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon
3. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
4. Foundation and Empire, by Isaac Asimov
5. Dune, by Frank Herbert

Robertha
1. Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
2. The Clique, by Lisi Harrison
3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
4. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, by E. Lockhart
5. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Jake
1. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
2. Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
3. Physics of the Impossible: a scientific exploration into the world of phasers, force fields, teleportation and time travel, by Michio Kaku
4. The Drawing of the Three, by Stephen King
5. Stone Cold, by David Baldacci

Kimberly
1. Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel
2. Starclimber, by Kenneth Oppel
3. Night World, by L. J. Smith
4. Dragonsong, by Anne McCaffrey
5. Before Midnight: a retelling of Cinderella, by Cameron Dokey

Brionna

1. Bluford High (novel series), by various authors

2. Push, by Sapphire

3. Twilight (novel series), by Stephenie Meyer

4. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold

Congratulations to those who achieved this most outstanding recognition! As you move forward in life, continue to find the joy in books... and, as always, happy reading!

The Book We've All Been Waiting For...

2010-05-17T10:16:00.006-04:00

As we near the end of school -- less than 20 days of classes left -- Book Club is happy to be capping off another great year with a most anticipated book: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins. Ever since reading The Hunger Games, members have been anxiously awaiting this end of the year "treat," otherwise known as the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. And with good measure. The beginning of the trilogy is full of adventure, suspense, and intrigue, and the second book leaves nothing to be desired, except of course, the completion of the story, (which, by the way, is due out on August 24). So enjoy the final days of spring with a tall glass of lemonade, underneath a shady tree, with a great book in hand.

UN-Reality Check

2010-04-07T10:56:00.003-04:00

So. Reality Check, by Peter Abrahams, not so much. Receiving 1.5 stars out of 5, book club members did not take to this story at all. I think it's safe to say it has been the least popular title thus far this year. Although nobody was quite able to articulate why they disliked the book so much, it seemed like a lot had to do with the predictability of the plot and the inability to connect with the characters. Oh well -- you win some, you lose some. That's why this month's choice will be such a welcome relief. Everybody is free to choose which book they'd like to read, as long as it was written by one of the 27 authors coming to Rochester for the Teen Book Festival. With lots of books to choose from, hopefully everyone will find one they like and feel encouraged to attend the festival on Saturday, May 15th.

Linger Awhile Longer...

2010-03-02T10:15:00.004-05:00

It should come as no surprise, that when given a sappy, far-fetched romance novel, members of Book Club are going to eat it up. And that's exactly what they did with Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater. This human-to-werewolf love story garnered praise, and almost 4 stars. Aside from its similarity to a book that shall remain unnamed, (but starts with a "T") members loved the intense passion between Sam and Grace. Who says humans and werewolves can't fall in love?

Next up? Reality Check, by Peter Abrahams. A fast-paced thriller, with mystery, twists, turns, and a little bit of a love affair thrown in. We've got Cody, a footballer from the wrong side of the tracks, and Clea, a princess in the white castle, trying to navigate a relationship through many obstacles. One of those obstacles, Clea's dad, ultimately ships her off to boarding school to keep the two apart. The mystery begins when Clea goes missing, and Cody takes on the role of detective, trying to piece together clues leading to her whereabouts. Discussion to be held on Monday, April 5, 2010.

Book #5

2010-02-02T13:57:00.002-05:00

Finally... Book Club read a book that seemed to make everybody happy! North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley, received 4.3 stars / 5 stars. Highest results, (and this month they weren't skewed by off-the-charts ratings!). Readers seemed to be in agreement that Terra, our main character, was super cool. Her boyfriend Jacob wasn't too bad, either. We hated Dad, and hoped for a divorce. We would like to try geo-caching. We would like to go to China. We loved the map analogies. And we are hopeful that things just keep getting better for Terra, even after the book ends.

As per usual, we're reading a love story for the month of February. Last year we read this book and it was super popular. This year, in keeping with what seems to be the latest trend in YA literature, we're reading a love story between humans and werewolves. Yes, supernatural love that's doomed to fail before it begins. What could be more romantic? So curl up with your honey, grab some chocolate to nibble on, put on soft music... and fall in love with Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater.

Book #4

2010-01-15T11:26:00.007-05:00

It's crunch time here at Irondequoit High School: mid-term exams and the completion of first semester barreling down quickly. The library has seen a flurry of activity, and students are working hard to complete their assignments. In the midst of the madness, Book Club met to discuss The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. Reviews were favorable, with a grand 4.2 stars out of 5, (highest yet this year -- although I suspect the results were skewed by one member's 7 star designation!).

We're changing gears, once again, for the month of January. Time for a little realistic fiction, in the form of North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley. While you're taking a break from studying, read Chen's romantic novel about self-discovery, self-confidence, and beauty. A perfect mid-winter getaway kind of book.

Book #3

2009-12-08T14:43:00.003-05:00

Time is flying by, and we're already close to Holiday Recess! Book Club met for the third time this week, not only to finalize plans for a Holiday Party, but also to discuss Wake, by Lisa McMann. Members gave it 3.2 out of 5 stars, and a few even went on to read the sequel. Lots of the discussion revolved around dreams -- only natural, given the story -- and everyone seemed to have a lot of their own unique dream experiences. We talked about keeping dream journals, trying to control your dreams, recurring dreams, and dream sequels. All very interesting! On an aside, author Lisa McMann will be making an appearance here later on during the school year. Not to be missed!

Our book for December 2009 has been chosen, and it's the ever popular The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. Discussion will be held when we return to school in 2010. Enjoy this macabre, fantastical tale on a snowy evening, curled up with hot cocoa, a blanket, and your wildest imagination.

Book #2

2009-11-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

IHS Book Club continues on their quest to read one book per month and November's book was introduced at our most recent meeting. Book #1 in a trilogy, this was the second most voted for book. However, don't be fooled by first impressions, (or by covers!).

Impossible, by Nancy Werlin received only an average 2.1 stars out of 5 by book club members. Despite a promising description and intriguing cover art, most members felt this book fell short of expectations. Those that didn't like the book felt the characters were superficial and under developed, with a hard-to-imagine plot. The members who liked the book appreciated the fantasy realm within which the book took place. Most members agreed it would make a better movie than book. You be the judge: this book is available at the IHS library media center.

We will discuss Wake on Monday, December 7 in room #1068.

IHS Book Club Starts Again

2009-10-14T09:48:00.002-04:00

The school year is well underway -- could it really have been Columbus Day already?? -- and Book Club has begun its seventh year at the high school! Things were a little different at our first meeting: the club members voted on which books they most want to read. The titles were all over the place, with a noticeable focus on mystery, fantasy, and realistic fiction. The book chosen for October received the most votes, so hopefully it will appeal to all and we'll have a great discussion on Monday, November 2nd.

If you didn't make it to the first meeting, you're still welcome to join Book Club. Meetings are afterschool on the first Monday of each month. Book Club meets in the library classroom #1068.

School's Out for Summer

2009-06-18T09:33:00.002-04:00

Yearbook is signed? Check. Locker is cleaned out? Check. Final exams are done? Check. Vacation plans are made? Check. Summer reading is chosen? Check it out. Enjoy!

Caught Reading in the Library!

2009-04-07T10:02:00.003-04:00

Saron, 9th grade

Ready or Not: an all-American girl novel, by Meg Cabot

Amy, 12th grade

Winesburg, Ohio, by Sherwood Anderson

Books Most Likely to be Checked Out

2009-03-18T11:17:00.002-04:00

Here's the list of the Top 10 most frequently checked out books @ IHS: 10. The Notebook / N. Sparks 9. This Lullaby / S. Dessen 8. Tithe: a modern faerie tale / H. Black 7. The Lovely Bones / A. Sebold 6. When Dad Killed Mom / J. Lester 5. Big Mouth and Ugly Girl / J. Oates 4. Angels and Demons / D. Brown 3. Sloppy Firsts / M. McCafferty 2. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things / C. Mackler ...and the #1 most frequently checked out book goes to: 1. The First Part Last / A. Johnson

Display of Affection

2009-02-26T09:10:00.004-05:00

Students at Irondequoit High School have no trouble expressing themselves, particularly when it comes to the things they love.

Check out the lovely display on the library circulation desk!

Caught Reading!

2008-12-05T08:37:00.002-05:00

Casey, 9th grade

Four Past Midnight, by Stephen King

Caught Reading in the Library!

2008-11-24T13:56:00.003-05:00

Dylan, 11th grade The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald Liz, 12th grade The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci

Books Into Movies

2008-11-05T10:09:00.009-05:00

With the end of the election, now is the perfect time to tear yourself away from the t.v. and enjoy reading a book. To make things a little more interesting, try reading a book that is, or will, be made into a movie. It seems there is a plethora. Personally, I'm looking forward to the release of Twilight on November 21st and The Time Traveler's Wife on December 25th. Here are some more:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: November 7th

Twilight: November 21st

The Time Traveler's Wife: December 25th

Inkheart: January 23rd Coraline: February ?

The Lovely Bones: March 19th

Also rumored to be coming out eventually are The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Uglies.

Grab your popcorn and start reading!

Homecoming 2008

2008-10-03T14:30:00.010-04:00

Today was a sea of blue & gold in the library. It's Homecoming 2008 at Irondequoit High School, and school spirit is at its peak!Everyone was showing off their colors. Have fun this weekend!

Looks good on your college applications...

2008-10-02T10:58:00.003-04:00

IHS Book Club will be starting up on Monday, October 6th. We eat and we enjoy discussions about everything under the sun. Oh, and we read the newest YA books, too! We're kicking off the year with Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. Mark your calendars for the best club around town, and bring a friend. Meeting location: Library Classroom #1068 Time: 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM Dates: 10/6, 11/3, 12/8, 1/5, 2/2, 3/2, 4/6, 5/4, 6/1 Advisor: Ms. Harris

Vampire Love

2008-09-22T09:52:00.002-04:00

Okay, I'll admit that I was a skeptic at first. Vampires? Werewolves? There was nothing about Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga that had me interested, other than that the whole rest of the world seemed interested. My curiosity eventually prompted me to read Books 1-4 during the summer -- I needed to see for myself what all the hype was about. I'm not a total convert, but I have to admit that the story is compelling. After moving to the small town of Forks, WA, Bella does her best to blend into the crowd at her new high school. Hard to do when the best-looking, most mysterious male classmate starts to give her his attention. She feels instant attraction, despite his erratic behavior. Bella doesn't know it yet, but she's attracted to a vampire. And her best friend turns out to be a werewolf. And she starts to wonder, what's so great about being human?

Book 1: Twilight

Book 2: New Moon

Book 3: Eclipse

Book 4: Breaking Dawn

These books are available at the IHS Library, and will kick off the year for IHS Book Club . . . more details to follow!

Shotgun!

2008-04-01T10:44:00.004-04:00

Nothing signals the start of Rochester's warm season like a festival! Take a road trip to Martha Brown School in Fairport for the Teen Book Festival on Saturday, April 5th. Authors will be on hand for meet-and-greets, autographs, and presentations. Live music provided by local bands. Pizza, books, and prizes galore. The festival runs from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Grab your friends and go!

Glamour & Intrigue

2008-02-27T13:42:00.002-05:00

If you enjoyed watching the glamorous Academy Awards -- the winners, the losers, the dresses, the hair, the jewelry -- then you certainly would enjoy reading The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen. Taking place at the turn of the century, The Luxe chronicles Manhattan's high society, following its characters through one grand party after another. No details are spared as outfits are described, secret trysts are discovered, and dramatic events unfold. As one reader said, "From page one, her [Godbersen's] lavish descriptions of old time New York City, and high society hooked me; while her gossip-loving, well-dressed characters reeled me in. The scandal and mystery wrapped inside this charmed world, of course, didn't hurt the story at all." This book has the makings of a winner!

The play's the thing!

2008-01-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

If you've ever read Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, you may have been left wondering about Ophelia -- what was her story? Now you can find out by reading Ophelia, by Lisa Klein. Klein takes the liberty of telling the story of Hamlet from Ophelia's point of view -- all the nitty gritty about their love affair, the scandal, the intrigue... Follow the original Shakespeare characters through Denmark, as the king is murdered, the queen falls from grace, and chaos reigns the land. Ophelia is one book in a list of many being nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults 2008. View the complete list of nominated books, and the winners on Monday, January 14th, 2008.

Life is Golden

2007-12-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

After much anticipation and publicity, The Golden Compass was released in theatres this weekend, grossing $26.1 million. If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, the IHS Library owns multiple copies of The Golden Compass, Book 1 in the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. Follow Lyra Belacqua as she navigates her way from Oxford, England to the far north, encountering all varieties of animals and people. Planning to see other movies this month? Read the book before the movie:

Beowulf

829.3 SUT

The Kite Runner

FIC HOS

The Golden Compass

FIC PUL

Don't forget the popcorn!

Tough Life?

2007-11-20T09:11:00.000-05:00

Tests, college applications, review sessions, extra credit... Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the school work you have to do just to stay afloat in your classes? Have you ever been tempted to just give it all up, even for one day? In It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini, 15-year-old Craig Gilner goes from successful and motivated, to overwhelmed and lethargic in a matter of months. He falls into a deep depression, so bad that he begins to have suicidal thoughts and calls the Suicide Hotline for help. He is directed to the emergency room at his local hospital, from which he is admitted to the mental ward. There, Craig spends 5 days with a quirky bunch of patients, all trying to cope in the best way they know how. To join a discussion of this book, come to IHS Book Club on Monday, December 3rd at 3:15 in the library. Safe travels & Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-30T09:58:00.000-04:00

Will you be staying in tomorrow evening? Why not check out a frightening book to get you in the Halloween mood? Perfect example: What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles. Cass is a beautiful, ambitious, "IT" girl who goes to sleep one night, only to wake up the next day buried underground. Her abductor torments her by communicating via walkie-talkie, which has been buried alongside her. Cass must figure out how to talk her way out of the ground, before the ground she's in becomes her grave.

Twilight

2007-10-29T09:29:00.000-04:00

I read Twilight after hearing about it in an article Life After 'Harry Potter'? It is the story of Bella Swan as she moves to Forks, Washington. Bella feels she is not wanted at home. She doesn't really expect too much from her new hometown. It isn't a big city and it is cloudy most of the time. But when she begins school, she is drawn to a handsome boy. Things might be looking up after all. But Edward seems to be repulsed by Bella. What did she do to offend him? She hasn't even talked to him yet. As she gets to know Edward and his family, she comes to understand why Edward reacted to her as he did. And she also comes to understand more than she ever imagined. If you want to read a very different kind of love story, check out the Twilight series by Stephenie Myers.

teen READ week

2007-10-16T10:11:00.000-04:00

This week you can celebrate Teen Read Week (Oct. 14 -21) by voting for your favorite books of 2007. Included in the list is Life As We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer, which happens to be the IHS Book Club October selection. It's a frightening tale about what happens when the moon is struck by a meteor, thereby knocking the moon closer to the Earth. This seemingly uneventful incident changes life in ways that no one could have imagined: homes lose electricity, food becomes scarce, panic is widespread, and that's just the beginning... If you'd like to join a discussion about this book, come to the library on Monday, November 5th at 3:15 PM.

Zusak

2007-10-04T12:52:00.000-04:00

I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak is a hit among the 12th grade Humanities classes. At least 7 Seniors are reading this book right now. It's a funny book about a guy named Ed who receives playing cards in the mail with clues written on them. In the process of solving the clues, he finds himself in many strange situations. Zusak is also the author of The Book Thief, an excellent Holocaust story narrated by Death, and Getting the Girl. I'm reading this one right now, and so far so good. Cameron, the main character, is falling in love with his brother's ex-girlfriend. I'm planning to finish this book over the long weekend. Do you have something to read over the weekend?

Top 10

2007-09-24T16:05:00.000-04:00

Top 10 books, new to the IHS Library, we've read since January 2007: 10. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold 9. Marley & Me, by John Grogan 8. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls 7. I Am the Messenger, by Marcus Zusak 6. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult 5. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer 4. Uglies Trilogy, by Scott Westerfeld 3. The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak 2. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini 1. A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini