Summer Reading Books Have Arrived

If you placed an order with us for your AP/PreAP required 'Summer Reading,' it is ready for pickup. If you didn't place your order, here are the summer reading requirements. You can pick up these books from our local Barnes & Noble or Borders. Happy Reading! And remember that even though you have to read these books, there are lots of others out there you can read because you choose. Reading makes you smart.

Artistic Interpretation

Mr. Samp's classes made new book cover art for some of their favorite works. Here's a sampling:

Clear Brook Library has an App!

We are pleased to announce that you can access our Gale databases and ebooks via an app from Itunes. It's called Access My Library. Choose the green one for schools. You'll have to get the password from your librarians or it's available on Blackboard. The schools are listed by city so look for Friendswood. Happy Searching!

Thanks to our Board of Education!

So many school boards in our area are dealing with the state's method of funding in different ways. We are all victims. Our school board has been forward thinking enough to understand that librarians are needed as guides for information literacy in the 21st century. Our students are better for it.

Bronte Sisters Power Dolls - So Awesome!

After years of searching, we found him!

After years of searching, we've finally found him!

Ode to the Overdue Books

Thanks to the CCHS librarians for their power of rhyme. We so appreciate you letting us use your clever poem.

Now that the year comes to a close

Your high school librarians feel the woes.

Where art thou?

Twilight?

Where art thou?

Hunter Games, Impulse and Hold Tight?

Now all those books you must return

Or another overdue notice

you will earn.

So look in your locker.

Look in your room.

And return those books
soon, soon, soon.

Everything is due May 20. You must be clear to qualify for exam exemptions. See your librarian for questions.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Katarina is trying to get out of the family thievery business. When her father is suspected of stealing a priceless art collection from an Italian mobster, she has to steal them back to save his life—and she has no idea where they are. (FIC CAR)

Some Fans Couldn't Wait

The Houston Chronicle reports today about the end of the Millennium trilogy. "Though grown-up books rarely compete with teen wizards or vampires when it comes to prepublication hysteria, the Swedish crime thrillers have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide since they first appeared in Europe in 2005." The American version of the book The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest doesn't become available until May 25. Many fans couldn't wait and ordered a copy from Europe sometimes paying as much as $40 plus shipping for the British import. "The books' popularity is fairly easy to understand, fans say. One main reason is the heroine, a hacker-genius with a troubled past who is tiny in stature and mighty in her ability to protect herself and her very few friends." Here's an interesting fact about he author: "Larsson spent most of his career as a journalist. He wrote the Millennium trilogy and turned it in to his publisher shortly before his death from a heart attack in 2004 at age 50. The books were published after his death." Steven Murray, who translated the books into English will be at Murder By The Book on June 3.

Making lemonade out of lemons @ your library!

Due to some "shenanigans" in a neighborhood near our school yesterday we were instructed to go into "lockdown" mode. We had a very well-behaved, polite AP Government class doing some party platform research. We locked ourselves in the library and did what we were supposed to do. Once the call came that we had moved into "shelter in place," we relaxed a bit. The lights came back on and researching continued. But after a few hours our kids found a way to release some of their energy in very constructive ways...hacky sack and ninja. It's always good to be in the library. Thanks to everyone for remaining calm and being good natured while being locked in the library for an hour after school.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Valerie and her boyfriend Nick are constantly picked on by other kids at Garvin High. They write a Hate List, and Nick participates in a Columbine type killing. Valerie survives and has to live with the consequences.

This is another 2010 Teen Top Ten Nomination.

Another 2010 Teens’ Top Ten Nomination Spotlight

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - Lia sees her eating disorder as a way to avoid so much: her stepmother’s pressure to be a role model for her new stepsister, her parents’ divorce, her mother constantly hounding over her daughter’s eating habits whenever she finds the time in the rest of her life. But most importantly, she sees it as a means to escape the death of her best friend, the one she ignored the day she died from the same disease Lia is fighting herself.

Privacy Week 2010

In the spirit of civic values that allow people to freely seek information in all formats without fear of retribution or exploitation, it’s time to reclaim our right to privacy. 'Choose Privacy Week' is a new initiative that invites people into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives individuals the resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy.