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In the future, all you need to do is go to our website, click on the on-line programming on the left side of the screen and then go to the bottom of the screen and click on "Book Shorts".
In this nonfiction book, Dr. Dweck
discusses her research and tells lots of examples regarding the power of
mindset, and how having a growth-mindset can help people go far and reach
goals. There are many stories, from professional sports to kindergarten art
class, and the author tells how growth mindsets and fixed mindsets affect the
results.
According to the author, having a
growth mindset means being able to learn, fail, try again, work hard, and
persevere when things take effort. Being vulnerable and willing to work through
mistakes and failure are what build real talent and skill, more so than natural
ability.
I enjoyed this book, and
it made me want to try to do things that I had previously found too difficult
to continue. Someone without natural talent, but with hard work, will surpass
someone with natural talent and no work. I particularly enjoyed the bits about
art and music. I liked how the author kept coming back to attitude and being
able to learn from the journey.
In a poor, muddy village in China, Minli lives with her mother and father. Each day is spent laboring in the rice fields, and yet they never have more than just barely enough. Each evening, Minli loves to listen to the enchanting stories and legends that her father tells. She especially loves to hear about the Man on the Moon who is said to know all the answers to life's questions. One day, she sets out on a quest to find him so that she can learn how to change her family's fortune. On her journey, Minli encounters interesting, magical creatures including a dragon who joins her in her quest. By the end of her life-changing adventure, Minli has discovered a different kind of fortune and a lesson in what maters most.
This story has won many awards, including a Newbery Honor. All of them well-deserved in my mind. It is beautiful, magical and intertwined with so many fascinating Chinese legends and folktales, this wonderful book has almost a Wizard of Oz feel to it. It would be a fun read-a-loud for the family. I loved it!
In a world where magic is illegal, teenaged Zelie remembers how the king’s guards killed her mother 11 years prior and hates the ruler and his laws. But after Zelie and her older brother are caught up in accidentally helping out a member of the royal family escape, their lives all turn upside down. No one can return to the old way of life, and they are on the run, trying to piece together the story and lies they’ve all been told. The young group must learn to understand their differences and how to forgive old wounds, all while working toward bringing back a culture that has been in hiding and fear for over a decade...
Children
of Blood and Bone is an African-inspired fantasy, rich with culture and
imagery, and characters who are likeable and believable in their actions. Fans
of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games - even Avarar: The Last Airbender - will
enjoy this story due to the unfolding magical elements and the action and high
stakes the characters face. This book ends well, with a surprise in the
epilogue that will have to be addressed immediately in the sequel! This is the
first of yet-unfinished trilogy, with lots of lore and intrigue, action, some
violence and also romance, and movie rights sold to Fox/Disney, so you can bet
there’s something in this story for everyone.
With the Wind by Elizabeth Johns
Lady Anjou Winslow was married to her childhood sweetheart, Lieutenant Gardiner and shortly after their union, Gardiner went to war in America. Years pass and Anjou’s heart continues to hope; however, her dreams are crushed when her husband is declared dead. Her soul tells her it couldn’t be true and after five years of pain, Anjou sails to America with her brother, Charles, to find her husband. She begins to conquer her fears, follow her instincts, and feel the effects of being loved without bounds. Anjou begins to find herself in the least expected places and thrive even when discouraging circumstances are thrown at her.
This is the third book in the Series of Elements. It was so fun to watch this author progress in her writing throughout the series. This is by far my favorite book in the collection. I loved all the unexpected turns in this book and the thrills that come from Anjou’s journey. I felt like I was a part of her adventure, and I’m so glad I chose to experience it with her.
John Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden, is a story of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and how their lives and destinies become intertwined. Adam Trask leaves the East Coast and moves to the Salinas Valley in California, hoping to live close to the land and create a good life for his famly. Things don't go as planned though when his wife comes un-done and he's left to raise their twin sons alone. Often painfully brutal, this story of love/hate and good/evil is a modern day re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel.
Is it possible to be born bad? Or good for that matter? Definitely a question that is explored in East of Eden. The characters are so flawed, so well-crafted, so real that I felt that I knew them. That is not to say, however that I liked them. This book is a heavy read, so if you're looking for something lighthearted, you may want to pass. However, if you're looking for a supremely well-written tale, I recommend giving it a try.
The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace
A collection of poems divided into four parts that piece together the life of the author. The poems explore life and all of it's love, loss, and grief, as well as, healing and empowerment.
I thought this was a beautiful collection of poems that was relatable. This book looks at the hurt a life can bring and turns it into lessons learned and strength gained. A quick read but worth it.
