Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Simply MARVEL-ous


Our RestonFriends1 storefront has something for you comic book fans this week. This is only three of the many posted -- go to the site to see them all. Don't wait, as these won't last!

House of M: Incredible Hulk finds Bruce Banner living peacefully amongst the Aborigines in Australia. But you know Hulk, something's gonna tick him off...own the story in your own copy for $22 from RestonFriends1.



House of M by Brian Michael Bendis and Oliver Coipel. Does not appear to have been read. $12.50 at RestonFriends1.





Green Lantern: Baptism of Fire by Ron Marz. Tells the story of Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern. This copy appears to be new, unread. It is $24 on RestonFriends1.

If you're a big fan of X-Men and Batman, you should know that we have a couple of boxes of comics sitting in our annex waiting for you to buy them! If you are a current Friends member (or would like to become one), you can make an appointment to review them for purchase. Leave your name and number at the Reston Regional Library for "Pam" and mention "Comics". She'll get back to you as soon as she can. Call 703-689-2700.

/kw

Monday, July 6, 2009

From The FCPS Reading List

The blogger's rising middle schooler had to choose a book for a summer reading project for school. Looking at the list, the blogger thought he might enjoy London Calling by Edward Bloor and picked it up at Reston Regional Library. The young man loves history and the book plug said it was set in WWII. In the meantime, the young reader found a different book, also on the list, which he liked. The blogger didn't have anything new to read over the weekend, so picked up London Calling in order to do a Monday review. Now the blogger is glad her son found a different book on his own.

In London Calling, Martin is a middle-school aged boy living in the U.S.who inherits a WWII era radio from his grandmother. He hooks it up just to listen to the white noise of static and begins time traveling as a boy named Jimmy, living in London during the blitz, asks for his help.

Concurrently, Martin has a big problem at the private school he attends that involves privileged kids, injustice, and manufactured myths about the founder. Martin's own father is absent more than present because he's an alcoholic.
Martin ends up getting suspended from school and thus able to work on an 'independent study' project which, of course, involves the radio. This enables him to do extensive research into the subject of the radio which brings him into a position of being able to debunk the myth of the school founder. It also allows him to heal the relationship with his father as much as possible and even with his mother who finally understands why Martin should not attend that particular private school. And, of course, it enables him to help Jimmy.

The original premise of this story is very good. The additional emotional junk is a unnecessary. Why publishers think teens need more angst than they already manufacture in their lives is a mystery. It is so difficult to stay well-balanced during the middle school years. Perhaps they think reading about other people their age who are experiencing upheaval will make them feel better. Unfortunately, for some kids like the blogger's son, it makes them suspicious of reading any fiction published since 1975. It is very telling that one of the Amazon reviews that gives this book 5 stars starts, "London Calling is one of the most emotionally wrenching YA books I've had the pleasure to read in the past year." Exactly -- that's fine for an adult, but the target readers here are kids!

If the 12-13 year old male in your life likes angst and drama and enjoys reading about time travel and this period of time, this is a good book. For others, this is a reminder that many boys this age cut way back on their reading, which does not serve them in the long run.

/kw

Friday, July 3, 2009

Wordzzle Saturday!


Charly and Kit continue to delight us! And Dr. Hill is back. If you're wondering how to play, go here. If you don't have a blog of your own to post on, just send it to FRRL by e-mail and we'll post it for you here!

The words for this week's ten word challenge were: Florida, spit, child bride, operatic, busy, holding pattern, sunflowers, ginger jars, office, superintendent: For the mini challenge:music to my ears, plot, powerful, braggart, super model

A Mini From Kit:

Sitting quietly unperturbed, I listen,
as music from other spheres..
Flowing purity of melodious tones,
bring music to my ears..
And, the powerful feelings that arise,
when heavenly chords, I hear..
I know without a single doubt,
I have, no earthly forms to fear.
For fear itself is nothing more,
than a plot to attack us all..
A way of lessoning deeper thoughts,
so we fail to hear the call..
The call to help one another,
as we breathe and live each day..
It's a braggart's way to create,
a deception along life's way.
So, let's all become a super model,
persons, who can be admired..
Be individuals who are willing to guide,
those with dreams desired..
For all of us have been given much,
and now it's our time to share..
And by sharing love without fear,
it will prove just how much we care.

A Mini From Charly:

As I drift in thought, I'm taken back to days when we would sit on the leeve, gazing at the Atchafalaya River, pondering what life held in store for us, a group of three teenage girls. The sound of the barges as they quietly passed under the railroad trestle, was MUSIC TO MY EARS; what a peaceful time it was. On a beautiful, sunny day watching the flowing water swiftly pass us by, we would PLOT how we would become a SUPER MODEL, become famous, and makea lot of money; some saw us as a BRAGGART; dreamers were we all. But dreams have a way of becoming reality and the paths one takes can be POWERFUL..what a blessing to have such freedom to choose. My thoughts continue to wander, but I hear applause thus bringing me out of my reverie and I realize it's time for me to speak. As the applause continues, I walk to the stage and on reaching the podium, I hear, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the President of the United States. As I look among the crowd, I think, what a great country we live in....Good evening everyone, I'm so pleased to be with you tonight...

The challenge from the blogger:

Dr. Hill woke to an OPERATIC tenor voice wafting the call to prayer. Looking around he discovered he was in a pleasant room that was obviously used as an OFFICE. There was a computer and fax machine, and on the shelf next to the desk, two GINGER JARS held several bright SUNFLOWERS, giving a cheery note to the room. He pushed himself up from the sofa he was lying on and walked over to a window. Pushing the curtain aside he looked down into a courtyard. His little friend Laila was there, tending to a SPIT over a fire, upon which roasted some kind of meat. Hill’s stomach growled as he realized it had been hours since he had eaten. Just then, Laila looked up and saw him, grinned delightedly, and waved to him.

He waved back and then went back to sit on the sofa. He started thinking about what had transpired earlier in the day. Tanks in the marketplace…yes, that was right. “Well,” he thought, “if there’s a government crackdown going on I’m in a HOLDING PATTERN to try to get out of here and back to FLORIDA where I belong.” As he thought along these lines there was a soft tap at the door. In response to his assent, the door opened and a young couple stood there. “Dr. Hill, you are our honored guest,” the woman said in perfect English. “I am Yasmin, Laila’s mother.” The young woman looked to be no older than 15 herself and Hill found himself assuming she had been a CHILD BRIDE. “This is my husband Mohsin.” Mohsin didn’t look much older.

“How did I get here?” he asked. “I mean, I know I was following Laila, but then everything goes black and then I wake up here.” Mohsin answered, “yes, Laila was bringing you home for safekeeping but you got tangled up in some laundry in an alley. You fell and hit your head. She ran to us and my brother helped me bring you here to recover.”

“Why was Laila so insistent on me coming here for safekeeping?” Hill asked. Yasmin replied, “Mohsin asked her to get you. He is a SUPERINTENDENT in the Ministry of Antiquities. He knew there would be an action against your project this morning.”

“But won’t you lose your job?” Hill wondered looking at Mohsin. “Perhaps,” he replied. He smiled diffidently. “Ours is a difficult culture in which to live trouble-free. For me it is a debt of honor. My father worked at the U.S. Embassy during the revolution. An American archeologist risked his own career to get my father out of Iran to the U.S. He was suspect because he had been working for the Americans. Because of the kindness of this archeologist, my father was able to study in California and raise our family there. That man’s name was Dr. Lemuel Parker. I regret to say that he passed away last year.”

“My mentor!” Dr. Hill exclaimed. “Yes, you spoke of him often to Laila and she spoke of him to us. Once I made the connection, I knew I could not let your work end in embarrassment and expulsion.” Mohsin said. “Dr. Parker always respected our culture in his work. You have continued that observation.”

Hill couldn’t resist asking, “how did you two meet?”

Mohsin answered, “I grew up in the Bay area. Yasmin and I met at Stanford.”

Hill asked, “then why . . .?” and gestured to the area around him. “Why did we come back here?” Mohsin asked. “We wanted our child to know her heritage and other family members and the country was stable. Our English is good, so we had no trouble with employment.”

Hill marveled, “so what’s next?”

Yasmin laughed, “Dinner! Laila has been helping cook, so she insists that we eat before it all gets cold. She’s a bit strong-willed. Then we will figure out how to get you out of the country without the notice of the authorities.”

Hill brightened, “I have just the thing!” He dug in his bag and pulled out a can of clam chowder. The expression on Yasmin’s face was priceless. He chuckled, “it isn’t as bad as the label promises.” Carefully he unscrewed the top of the can and took out some padding. As he emptied the can he pulled out a small paper twist. Opening it, he showed Yasmin and Mohsin six perfect small diamonds. “Yes,” Yasmin breathed, “I think those will solve your problem and probably ours as well.”

“Your problem?” Hill inquired.

“Later. Let us eat,” answered Mohsin.

Next Week's Ten Word Challenge will be: sober, spoilage, knight, laugh and the world laughs with you, peak, blueberries, owl, drugstore, lampshade, keyboard



For the mini challenge: economy, Michael Jackson, ladder, clue, structure


/kw