Recommended Read

The Lunar Chronicles

By Violet Gunter, Children's Department Assistant at Bremen Public Library

Sci-Fi meets Brothers Grimm in Marissa Meyer’s spellbinding series, The Lunar Chronicles. While spin-offs have been done before, none like hers. With a cyborg Cinderella, a wary Red Riding Hood, a hacker Rapunzel, and an eccentric Snow White, you will meet these famous princesses like never before.

Marissa Meyer is a talented author, who does an amazing job of making old stories new. With her wonderful writing you will quickly become engrossed in her books. While some may not think sci-fi and fairytales go together Meyer can prove you wrong. So sit back and read, as the main character, Cinder, escapes a ruthless Queen, makes unlikely friends, discovers a life changing secret, and attempts to save the world.

Introducing Wiggle Worms

Bremen Public Library is introducing a new story time format for little ones (ages 0-5) and their parents, grandparents or caregivers. Join us for Wiggle Worms on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 10:45 a.m. This interactive story time includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. Expect plenty of hands-on activities in a relaxed environment.

This program replaces the previously planned story times on Wednesdays. If you were already registered for either Wednesday program, there is no need to re-register. Just join us at 10 a.m. next Wednesday! If you haven’t registered yet, you can still do so at the Children’s Desk.

Meanwhile on Thursdays, Preschool Story Hour will continue as planned from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. featuring stories, songs, puppets and more. Preschool Story Hour encourages development of early literacy skills in young children ages 3-5. Children attend independently.

Questions? Call Children's Librarian Brenda Anderson or Children's Assistant Cindy Hartman at 574-546-2849. 

Book Club Chat

By Shelli Kauffman, Leader of the Readers Book Club

When We Were Sisters by Emilie Richards received a 4.06 rating from the Bremen Readers book discussion group. This harsh view into the American foster care system gave us plenty to discuss.

The main characters, Cecelia and Robin, met as children in foster care and remain as close as any biological sisters could be. Now an adult, Cecelia is a rich and famous singer who seemingly has the life everyone wants. However, she’s still haunted by the secrets she kept while growing up, and to deal with these demons, she agrees to be the subject of a documentary recounting the childhood she shared with Robin. Robin, who is dealing with her own personal upheaval and spiraling marriage, agrees to be part of the documentary, and the two sisters start down a path that will either heal them or destroy them.

The discussion meandered from the fractured foster care system to the roles of fathers in the family. The group agreed that, while the book is quite lengthy at over 400 pages, it was an interesting and worthwhile read. It’s not long on action, but for readers who enjoy books that focus on character development, this will be a thought provoking treat.

To see if this book is currently available for check-out, click here.

Community Partners

The Friends of the Library Art & Book Sale kicks off this Thursday at 5 p.m. with more than 5,000 books and 200 art prints, along with miscellaneous furniture.

Books are 50 cents each. Books on CD are $1.00 each. Art prints start out at $25 on opening day, then decrease each day as follows: 

Thursday, Aug. 10 $25

Friday, Aug. 11 $20

Saturday, Aug. 12 $15

Monday, Aug. 14 $10

Tuesday, Aug. 15 $10

Hours:

Thursday, Aug. 10 5:00-8:00

Friday, Aug. 11 9:00-5:30

Saturday, Aug. 12 9:00-5:00

Monday, Aug. 14 9:00-8:00

Tuesday, Aug. 15 9:00-8:00

We are very grateful to the Bremen High School Boys' Soccer Team for helping set up the sale. They set up tables, carried boxes full of thousands of books, and relocated 200 art prints. Coach Mark Yoder and his team were a tremendous help and we are unsure how we would have accomplished this without their efforts! Thank you so much! 

HAPPEE BIRTHDAE HARRY

By Brenda Anderson, Children's Librarian

We can’t let July 31st go by and not celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday! All that day we will have Harry Potter themed games going on, a Harry Potter scavenger hunt, Harry Potter crafts and other opportunities to step out of the muggle world into the wizarding world of Hogwarts.

Refreshments will be served from 3 to 4 p.m. Harry Potter costumes are encouraged. Attendance of house elves would be appreciated.

Even though your acceptance letter to Hogwarts has not arrived don’t miss out on the Harry Potter festivities on Monday, July 31 at the Bremen Public Library.

Recommended Read

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

By Violet Gunter, Children's Department Assistant

Kit Tyler has just lost her grandfather and can no longer live on her plantation in Barbados. Traveling to Connecticut Colony, Kit moves in with her aunt and uncle and their two daughters. Life in this Puritan community is entirely different than the one Kit used to lead, but if she is to fit in, she must learn to follow their strict rules. Kit struggles to conform to the Puritan ways and often feels like an outsider, but soon she meets Hannah Tupper, the acclaimed witch, who lives a solitary life on Blackbird Pond. Through her friendship, Kit finds life is not quite as lonely as she originally thought. Just when it seems Kit has found a rhythm, things are turned upside-down, and she now faces the noose.

Elizabeth George Speare,a two-time Newberry medalist, writes a sensational story about living to one’s true self and standing up for what is right. The excellent story is undoubtedly, one to add to your to-read-list and is a wonderful choice for all ages.

Click here to see if this title is currently available to check out.

Book Club Chat

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

By Shelli Kauffman

The Bremen Readers gave the American classic, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald at 2.93 rating. The classic novel set in the roaring twenties revolves around several egotistical and self-centered characters in New York City. Jay Gatsby is obsessed with recapturing his past with the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. Unfortunately, Daisy is married and rather shallow. She loves Gatsby, but is very comfortable with the lifestyle her philandering husband provides her.

Most of the book discussion centered on how unlikable all of the characters were. How did Fitzgerald’s novel become a classic with a group of characters who seem to have no redeemable traits? Why do readers, decades after the first printing, still flock to this classic? Well, the novel certainly does evoke conversation. There’s greed, romance, suspense, and murder. Then there’s the rhythm Fitzgerald uses with the English language that makes the reader fall in love with Gatsby while at the same time disapproving of all he does. When describing Gatsby’s smile, the narrator expounds, “It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.” Ah, if only we could all ask Fitzgerald to describe our smile in that way. Overall, this is a novel definitely worth the read, but don’t expect to feel light hearted exuberance when you’re finished with it. 

To join the Bremen Readers' next discussion on Aug. 16, stop by the Adult Desk to request a copy of the next book, "When We Were Sisters" by Emilie Richards. 

To see if this item is currently available for check-out, click here.