Stuff for Teens

             No Ordinary Day

Once again the author, Deborah Ellis, makes us aware of the vast difference between those who have everything they need and the poor. She is best known for her Bread-winner Trilogy -- a series that has been published in seventeen countries, with more than one million dollars in royalties donated to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan and Street Kids International.   This Juvenile Fiction book, No Ordinary Day, is a must read and will make you grateful for all the blessings that you do have.   You will also be enchanted by the teen character, Valli.

Life is not easy for Valli living in the coal town of Jharia, India; but there is not much that really upsets her.  The one thing that does fill her with terror is the sight of the "monsters" that live on the other side of the tracks.  Little does she know that these are not really monsters, but people suffering from the disease Leprosy.  When she realizes that the only family she has ever known are not really related to her, she decides to jump on the back of a coal truck and escape this gruelling life.  But her new life is also one of desperation living on the streets of Kolkata where she has to beg, borrow, and steal in order to barely survive.

After a series of unfortunate events, Valli discovers that she really doesn't need much to live on the streets.  The secret to survival is all about borrowing things and then passing them on to people who need them more than she does.  She also believes she is self sufficient and it helps that she feels no pain with her "magic feet". 

A chance encounter with a kindly woman doctor, Dr. Indra, changes Valli's life, and she ends up being treated for Leprosy.  It is a difficult lesson for her to learn that when you are in great need it is alright to accept help.

I highly recommend reading this short and powerful Juvenile Fiction novel.  We are reminded that some diseases that many of us thought have been eradicated still exist and cause endless pain and suffering.  Royalties from the sales of this book will be donated to the Leprosy Mission.  This book can be found at the Bartlesville Public Library in the new book display of JF books.  Check it out!!

            Flyaway


The other day I was scanning the Teen New Book display at the BPL and this book caught my eye because of it's appealing cover.  I know, you are not supposed to judge a book by it's cover; but I can't help but do that to a certain extent!  The lovely painting on the cover of this book is of a lake with a beautiful swan flapping it's wings and a girl studying the swan.  The next thing I know I'm magically drawn into the content of this book just by reading the jacket cover!

The main character of this book is Isla, a thirteen-year-old girl who has a great love and appreciation of the outdoors and a special interest and concern for birds, especially swans.  The drama begins as Isla and her father are making an early morning trip to the lake to watch for the whoopers, wild swans, who make a regular appearance every winter shortly before Christmas.  Tragedy occurs as some of the swans fly into some new power lines that were linking two towers.  But not all of them are killed; some are diverted and fly off in another direction.  A few days later, Ilsa and her Dad are searching the countryside in attempt to find the missing swans when some are spotted and before she can even catch her breath, her father falls to the ground with pains in his chest and they are rushed off in an ambulance to the hospital.

At the hospital, completely frightened and alone, Isla meets Harry, with his wild red hair and firefly eyes who has Leukemia.  As they become acquainted Isla realizes that he is the first boy to understand her love of the outdoors.  As Harry's health fails, Isla is determined to help him in the only way she knows how.  Together they watch a lone swan struggling to fly on the lake outside Harry's window.  She believes that if she can help the damaged swan, she can help not only Harry; but her seriously ill father.  And in doing so she embarks upon a breathtakingly magical journey of her own.

I highly recommend this book by acclaimed author Lucy Christopher, a beautiful, uplifting story about "the thing with feathers" -- hope.  This book can be found in the Youth Services section of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Teen New Book display.  Check it out!!

You don't have to get on a plane to get away from it all!  Feel transported for next to nothing!  Visit us at the Bartlesville Public Library and ask the Youth Services Librarian if you can see the newest issue of Seventeen magazine.  On page 092 - 093 of the March issue of Seventeen you will read of some fabulous Spring Break ideas that hardly cost you a dime by Kaitlin Menza.

1. HIT THE ROAD!
2. SEEK SOME SHADE!
3. HAVE A FRO-YO DATE!
4. DIY A SPA DAY!
5. THROW A LUAU!
6. GO MARCH MAD!
7. BE A FLORAL GODDESS!
8. WATCH A BEACHY MOVIE!

For hot vacation deals and fun staycation ideas, check out:  seventeen.com/springbreak.