Skyview Middle School Library

Listen to the first chapter of The Screaming Staircase, by Jonathan Stroud here. If you’d like to read the rest of it, check it out at the Skyview library, or it’s available as an audiobook and eBook on both the KPBSD digital library and the Alaska digital library (through Sora). Listen to other first chapters in the virtual reading room.

Genre: Fantasy fiction, scary

About the book: When London is overrun by malevolent spirits, a talented group of young psychic detectives compete against other ghostbusting agencies in the debut of a new series that finds three intrepid colleagues investigating one of England’s most haunted houses.

Would you like a chance to win a $20 gift card? Pick up a Book Bingo sheet in the library, by the front office or print one here. All you have to do is complete 5 squares, turn the completed bingo card in to the librarian by April 30, and your name will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 5 gift cards from around town, including River City Books, Java Junction Too, Pizza Boys, Orange Poppy and Pita Pit. See the details here. HAPPY READING!!

Today’s featured book is Hot Dog Girl, by Jennifer Dugan. Listen to the first chapter here, and check it out at the Skyview library!

Genre: Romantic comedies, LGBTQIA diverse

About the Book: Determined to have an epic summer, Lou takes a job as a dancing hot dog at Magic Castle Playland and is disappointed when her best friend Seeley, the carousel operator, is less than enthusiastic about helping her steal her crush from another girl.

This week’s book is Song For A Whale, by Lynne Kelly. Listen to the first chapter here, check it out from the Skyview library, or listen/read it on Sora. You can also find other first chapters to listen to here.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

About the book: From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she’s the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she’s not very smart. If you’ve ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be. When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to “sing” to him! But he’s three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?

This week’s featured book is Warcross, by Marie Lu. This book is available on Sora, and at the Skyview Library. Listen to the first chapter here (Part 1) and (Part 2). Check out the other featured titles here.

Genre: Science Fiction

About the book: For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

There’s a new graphic novel in the library called Chickaloonies, and it’s about Alaska native kids on an adventure. The authors are hosting a Zoom meeting (through the school district) on Feb. 8^th from 6-7 pm. You’ll get a chance to meet the authors, listen to a story and learn how to draw comic books.

Don’t miss out!! Sign-up here: Chickaloonies Zoom sign-up

About the book: Chickaloonies follows the journey of two Alaska Native characters living in perpetual darkness. They leave their village for the first time on a quest to become the greatest storytellers ever. Guided by teachings from their grandma, the two characters explore foreign worlds and learn from new cultures.

“But it’s a real fun coming of age story, kind of in the vein of, like ‘Dragonball’ or ‘Avatar, The Last Airbender,’ where we really wanted to bring together the ideas of like storytelling, of legends, language, magic, you know, really bring these themes together into a story that, at the first and foremost, is entertaining,” Silver said. “But is also educational, makes people aware of not only their own culture, but of cultures that exist throughout the world and how similar we all are and yet different at the same time.”

If you haven’t heard, Sora now has digital magazines you can check out.

Go to Sora  and login with your student ID number and password. Don’t know how to use Sora? Watch this. Happy reading!

Looking for some resources to help with your homework? Don’t have time to go to the library? The library has new eBooks that are great for using for your homework, and you don’t have to check them out – you just use them online. Find them in this blog, under Library Collection, Gale eBooks. Take a look!!

Just for FUN!! Stop by the library and pick up a printed origami bookmark that you fold yourself. Watch the video to learn how to fold them.

This week’s featured book is The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Barnes. Listen to the first chapter here. You can check the book out at the Skyview Library, or find it on Sora.

Genre: Mystery

About the Book: Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why — or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man’s touch — and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.