Summer Book #10 "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin

What do you think? Post about this book by clicking on the link below.

Summer Book #11 "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

What do you think? Post about this book by clicking on the link below.

Summer Book #12 "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer

What do you think? Post about this book by clicking on the link below.

Optional Summer Book "Life is Funny" by E.R. Frank

What do you think? Post about this book by clicking on the link below.

Optional Summer Book "America" by E.R. Frank

What do you think? Post about this book by clicking on the link below.

Stephenie Meyer's Newest Book is HERE!

Fans of the Twilight series now can enjoy a brand new series by Stephenie Meyer! The Host has already received great reviews and is billed as "science fiction for those people who don't like science fiction". An excerpt from the Stephenie Meyer website tell us,

"Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love." Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down! Another great story from Stephenie Meyer! Put this book on hold now by clicking on the request link, logging in with your ID# and then filling in your email or cellphone #. This book is a must read! Mrs. Anderson

You AMAZED us at the Poetry Cafe!!

Thank you to all who participated in our Poetry Cafe! Over 700 students watched our 50 particpants recite a poem or perform a song. Caribou Coffee gave us great pricing and even better coffee to set the stage for this wonderful event. Everyone who attended has complemented our students on their creativity and their respectful attendance! This was so well received, we are now planning to have this event twice a year!

Check out and Win!

To celebrate National Library Week, the staff at the BHS library designated certain books as "winners". When students checked out winning books they won a Kush Ball! Just shows you that it pays to read!!

Playaways are Here!

What's a Playaway? Playaways are small MP3 Players that have a complete, unabridged book on each player. Students and faculty can checkout classic titles as well as the latest new fiction! Click here to see available titles:

Poetry Cafe

The BHS Library is happy to promote our

Wed, April 30th

During Lunch Periods

Come to watch or share a poem or song!

Sign up in the Library!

Lovi's Classes Give you Their Recommendations!

For some tips on GREAT books to read, checkout the books that Ms. Lovi's classes are recommending! Click on the cover to find the book at BHS!

Read anything GREAT lately?

We want to hear what YOU think of the books. Submit your post telling us about the book you're recommending and why you liked it! Here are some of the book covers of the books recommended by BHS students. To see more about these books, check our BHS Catalog

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.

Must Read Books : Recommended by BHS Students and Staff

Looking for a "good" read. Winter vacation is coming; let's create a "non-required" reading list for students and staff. Submit one or two of your favorite past or current reads and why you think others might enjoy it.

Thank you for helping to take readers "between the lines."

(for more book ideas check out our RSS feed to NPR Books and this link to NYT Sunday Book Review)

Themes of Young Adult Fiction

Teen fiction, also referred to as “Young Adult fiction”, is books written for the reading population from the ages of 12 through 18. Contemporary themes, in this genre; often deal with coming-of-age, romance, and sexuality. What I am wondering is if the adult writers of these books for teens are getting it right? Are they writing books that teens can identify with? What is your favorite "teen fiction?”

As always thank you for responding, sharing your thoughts, and taking us "between the lines."

Click here for more about "teen fiction"

Books That Speak to You

Recently I worked with one of BHS's English teacher's on, what I thought to be, a very creative assignment entitled "Reading and Writing History". In her words, "In order to move forward as readers and writers, it is important to know where we are as literate people."

Students were to choose 3 books they have enjoyed reading, from various "eras" of their life, as well as influential writing experiences they have had. It is the idea of looking at reading experiences that have shaped us or have had a lasting effect on us that I address this post.

Let's expand this classroom assignment and go "Between the Lines" of our own reading history.

We welcome your comments and thank you in advance for sharing.

Here is a link to the story of one person's reading history :
Re-reading Ourselves Through Little Women: Four Young Readers’ Story of Feminine and Feminist Mentoring Through the Voice of Jo March

Graphic Novels

Q. What do the 9/11 Report, The War Within, a story about a U.S. soldier who lost a leg in Iraq, and Naruto, the tests of the Ninja, have in common?

A. They are all book titles held by the Barrington High School Library and they are all graphic novels, i.e. stories that use a comic-book-like layout.

Are “comics” finally becoming acceptable as a literary genre . . . .are they gaining new respect. . . can they be “good enough” choices for classroom reading assignments? It would appear so, given that the 9/11 Commission recently published their report in a format (graphic version) that would make “. . .our nation’s history accessible to all [and] . . encourage our fellow citizens to study, reflect, and – act.” And that General R. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that Gary Trudeau’s recent comic book-style portrayal of a U.S. soldier with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "will help wounded and recovering service-members heal and move on with the rest of their lives." In addition Anime/Manga clubs are "popping up" at many high school and public libraries including BHS, whose members are very dedicated and active readers of this genre.

What are your thoughts? We invite you to go “between the lines” with graphic novels.