Looking for a good book?

Are you looking for a book to read, but can't find a GOOD story? Do you like to read about students who are in high school and who are perhaps going through some of those same daily trials and tribulations that you are, but can't find stories in the library catalog?

Here's a tip: in the library catalog, from the opening dropdown menu, change your search from 'Title Browse' to 'Subject Browse'. Then type in the search term box: High Schools - fiction. Be certain to use the plural 'schools' or you won't find anything!

Your results should show over 200 titles in that subject category. Click on the list to see all the titles, then click on any titles that look interesting to you to find a full description of the book. You might want to also check the other subject categories listed to find more titles.

Hope this helps you to find a good story to read, either for a class or for your own enjoyment. If you need any more help in finding books, just stop by the Library and speak to one of the Librarians. We can help!

Welcome back!

Welcome back BHS!
This summer has flown by - as all summers seem to do! Did you get all the reading done that you wanted? Did you find more books at the library or bookstore that you just couldn't resist? Isn't it great that there are always new creative books that just find their way to you? Did you try a new genre? I love historical novels, but I read a mystery and was just fascinated by not only the story, but also the structure of the book. It seems to me that mystery writers' minds work very differently, to be able to create the story line, build characters, leave clues, know the ending and yet not give it away. If you haven't read a good mystery, perhaps give one a try. Below is an address for a good starting point for finding a mystery:
www.mysterynet.com/edgars/previous/youngadult.shtml

We have a new librarian at Barrington High School! Her name is Janet Anderson and she has worked previously at Oswego High School Library as well as Naperville's Districts 203 and 204 as an elementary librarian. Please stop by the Library to say hello and introduce yourself.

I am looking forward to another exciting school year! I hope your year is a good one!

Keep reading!

Hot picks for summer reading. . .what's on your list??

Now is the time of year when summer reading lists begin to appear. Publishers Weekly posted their hot picks for summer reads in April. Now it is time for the BHS reading community to post their own hot picks. . .we know what Harry Potter fans will be reading on July 13th of this summer, but what about you? Feel free to share and/or visit the following sites for reading ideas:


Best Books for Young Adults
Book Browse
Books Well Read: your free online book journal
Chicago Tribune Books
NPR Topics: Books
Teen Ink
Teen Reads

Which Comes First - the Movie or the Book?

Recently, I finished reading the book The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham. I consciously chose to read the book before seeing the movie so that while reading, I would be able to create my own mind’s images, uninfluenced by Hollywood.

Usually I find that I prefer a book to its movie adaptation. At times after reading a book, I have prepared to watch, with great anticipation, its movie version, only to be disappointed because the focus had been changed, details left out, or literary characters had been “beautified” by Hollywood for the screen, as was Nobu Toshikazu in Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. That said, I have enjoyed well done movie adaptations of books and additionally I have been inspired to read books because I have seen a movie, as was the case with Schindler’s List.

What are your thoughts? What books were you inspired to read, or conversely, decided not to read, after seeing its movie counterpart? Are there any books you would like to see made into a movie?

Be sure to come into the library and visit our display of books (all of which can be checked out) that have been made into movies.