Be an Angel and Donate a Book!

Do you need a special holiday gift for the person who has everything? Donate a book in honor of or in memory of a loved one for $15.00 at one of these libraries: Aiken County Public Library, Nancy Carson Public Library, Barnwell Public Library, Bamberg Public Library and the Edgefield Public Library. A bookplate with your message will be placed in the book you donate.

Now more than ever we need money for books. State budget cuts have virtually wiped out our book budgets this year. Contact aikenlibspace@abbe-lib.org if you are interested in donating but can't stop by one of these libraries.
Thanks!

Harry Potter Withdrawals?

So, it's been over a year since the last Harry Potter book and this week SHOULD have been the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to theaters. Unfortunately it's been pushed back and the release of the short story collection, Beedle the Bard won't be released until December 4th. What to do?!?!? If you're like this library staff member, you'll be trying to find something to help fill that void in your reading life. Well, I have a suggestion for you. Start with this book

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

Here's a little synopsis of the book from Publisher's Weekly (Via Amazon.com): Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman take summer jobs in San Francisco across the street from one another: she at a coffee shop, he at a bookstore owned by Nick and Perry Fleming. In the vey first chapter, armed goons garbed in black with "dead-looking skin and... marble eyes" (actually Golems) storm the bookshop, take Perry hostage and swipe a rare Book (but not before Josh snatches its two most important pages). The stolen volume is the Codex, an ancient text of magical wisdom. Nick Fleming is really Nicholas Flamel, the 14th-century alchemist who could turn base metal into gold, and make a potion that ensures immortality. Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the Codex's prophecies: "The two that are one will come either to save or to destroy the world." Mayhem ensues, as Irish author Scott draws on a wide knowledge of world mythology to stage a battle between the Dark Elders and their hired gun—Dr. John Dee—against the forces of good, led by Flamel and the twins (Sophie's powers are "awakened" by the goddess Hekate, who'd been living in an elaborate treehouse north of San Francisco). Not only do they need the Codex back to stop Dee and company, but the immortality potion must be brewed afresh every month. Time is running out, literally, for the Flamels. Proceeding at a breakneck pace, and populated by the likes of werewolves and vampires, the novel ends on a precipice, presumably to be picked up in volume two.

I LOVE that Mr. Scott has used actual characters from Mythology and History to punctuate his magical stories. You'll be clamboring to learn which characters were real and which characters are from Mythology! I know I was intrigued by Dr. John Dee and looked up his history numerous times while reading this story! Nicholas Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, are characters that you will love and root for. I love the twins as well, though I do find myself growing aggravated with Josh at times, much as I did with Harry in Order of the Phoenix!

The sequel, The Magician, is already available on our shelves! Mr. Scott has planned for there to be six volumes in the series. The first book has already been optioned to be made into a movie! The third book, The Sorceress, will be released in May 2009. Keep an eye on this series. If Mr. Scott keeps writing such wonderful books, he's sure to be on everyone's To-Read list!

To find out more about this series, visit the ABBE Libraries! You can also find more information at Mr. Scott's website as well as the Official Random House Site: The Alchemyst.

I hope you enjoy Mr. Scott's work as much as I have!

Rainy Day Books

Head to your local library and get some books to stay inside with. It is supposed to rain well into the weekend and you don't want to get bored, do you? Check out our catalog to see if these books are at your library. If they are at another branch or checked out you can place a hold and the library courrier will bring the books to your library sometime in the future.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks: A Novel by E. Lockhart

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Suplee

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Tim, Defender of the Earth by Sam Enthoven

Wake by Lisa McMann

Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank

Nancy Carson Library Twilight Release Party

You won't want to miss this! On Friday, November 21st at 4:30 p.m. we are having a party to celebrate the release of the film version of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling book, Twilight! We will be discussing the casting of the film and whether YOU agree with who they cast. The Library Staff will be revealing the actors they would have cast if it had been up to them. Bloody refreshments will be served! You have a chance to win a Regal Cinemas gift card to see the film! Don't miss on this gory get-together!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Mini-Marathon

On Saturday, November 15 at 1:30 the Aiken County Public Library will show The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (rated PG). Come back the next weekend, Saturday, November 22 at 1:30 to catch Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Part 2 (PG-13).

Identical

I just finished Identical by Ellen Hopkins. For those of you who are not familiar with Ellen, her other books include Crank, Glass (Sequel to Crank), Impulse, and Burned. I have to say that although Identical is not my favorite, I was once more floored by her insight into an issue that many young adults from many different backgrounds struggle with everyday. As her free verse creates a visual representation of the story on the page, her characters come alive. They are not shallow like so many others. They think and feel deeply as if they are real. If you choose to read Identical and you love it as much as I did, consider the recommendations below.

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobosky

You Don't Know Me: A Novel by David Klass

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