Date registered: March 16, 2010
How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
Book Review by Addie Eliades
How the García Girls Lost Their Accents illustrates the impact that immigration to the United States from the Dominican Republic around 1960 had on four sisters. These girls’ stories are told from varying points of view and in reverse-chronological order for a unique connect-the-dots account of their Dominican immigrant family. The girls face the challenges of adjusting to the customary lifestyles of different civilizations, along with such trials as puberty, mental breakdown, questioning authority and hierarchy, and dealing with the universal double standard of men and women. The themes in Alvarez’s work are comparable to those in the works of Ricardo Rodriguez Gary Soto: In the midst of adapting to new environments, the García girls (like Rodriguez and Soto in their autobiographical works) also look within to discover their own identities.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/11/arls-teen-book-review-how-the-garcia-girls-lost-their-accents/
ARLS has a great new opportunity for teens interested in volunteering for the library. Read a book on your reading level, write a book review, and earn 2 hours of volunteer time! Start the process by completing a volunteer application that can be printed from our Volunteer page. Our first review was submitted by Savannah Helmer of the Hopewell Library. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
A Review by Savannah Helmer
The ‘Thief Lord’ is a spectacular book, full of twists and turns. It holds adventure, comedy, sadness, and mysterious characters. You never know what to expect next as the plot unfolds. This book, I believe, is perfect for people who enjoy fantasy and non-stop adventure. This story takes place in modern day Venice, Italy. Cornelia Funke uses vivid descriptions to paint beautiful pictures in your mind of the landscape where the story happens. It is almost like you’re standing there and seeing it in person. The cast of characters is a group of pre-teen orphans who are living together in an old abandoned movie theater, trying to avoid being discovered by the authorities. Scipio is the self appointed leader of this gang and calls himself the Thief Lord. Their adventures take them to long lost islands, and through the dark alleys and creepy hide-outs of the town of Venice. I really enjoyed this wonderful fantasy and can’t wait for more of Cornelia Funke’s work.
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/11/were-thankful-for-our-teen-book-review-volunteers/
We're thankful for all the great books, movies, and more at the library! What are you thankful for?
Create this colorful place card holder to make sure no one snags your spot next to the turkey this Thanksgiving! Cards will be provided for you to write your name or tell us what you are thankful for this year. Stop by and join in the fun Thursday at 4:30pm!
Remember: all branches of the Appomattox Regional Library System will be closed Thursday 11/24 and Friday 11/25 and we wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/11/be-thankful-and-crafty-at-the-hopewell-library/
Children, Teens and Families are welcome to stop by the Hopewell Library from 3:00-5:00pm Saturday, October 1st to join us for an afternoon of fun at Game Day!
Whether it's the new XBox Kinect or Mario Cart on the BIG screen, Game Day is a blast!
Try out the X-Box Kinect, race a game or two on the Nintendo Wii, or try out one of many board games! Try your hand at classics like Chess, Checkers, and Scrabble or other favorites like Sorry, Clue, and Pictureka!
We even have games for the youngest kids in your family like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and Memory. Don’t forget the popcorn and lemonade!
Join us for the fun!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/09/get-your-game-on-at-game-day/
Join Miss Dee Dee and new Youth Services Librarian Miss Mandy for fun-filled Story Times that promote Early Literacy Skills!
The Appomattox Regional Library System would like to thank everyone who participated in our Summer Reading
Program! This year, we had over 860 children and teens take part in our program. Altogether we read over 5,850 hours this summer!
Our Fall Story Time Series will start September 12th and will continue until December 16th. We hope to see you at our newly opened Prince George Library as well as any of the following:
FALL STORY TIME SCHEDULE:
Monday: Hopewell @ 10:30 am
Wednesday: Prince George 10:00am **NEW!!**
Wednesday: Dinwiddie @11:30 am
Thursday: Hopewell @ 10:30 am
Friday: Carson @ 10:30 am
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/09/fall-into-a-great-book-at-story-time/
ARLS would like to congratulate the following winners of the 2011 grand prizes baskets!
Hayley W. receives her Virginia Travel Prize from Miss Jewel at our Carson Branch. The prize included tickets to Lucky Lake Mine in McKenney, the Playroom in Chester, the Science Museum in Richmond, and King's Dominion.
Hayley W. of the Carson Library; Chrisitan W. of the Dinwiddie Library; Laquisha J. of the McKenney Library; Aidan G. and Shelby M. from the Prince George Library; Jospeh Z. and Kelly H. of the Rohoic Library.
Also, Congratulations to our Short Story Contest Winners!
Kelsey M. of the McKenney Library, Amy C. of the Rohoic Library, and DeLaney C. of the Carson Library. Each winner will receive a $20 Books-a-million Gift Card. Click on more to read their stories!
Congraulations to all the winners! ARLS wishes you a great start to the school year! Don’t forget to stop back for lots of great programs like Pirate Week, Game Day, and more!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/09/congratulations-youth-srp-prize-winners/
Thank You participants and sponsors of the 2011 Summer Reading Program! Check out our Gaming Finales at the Hopewell Library from 2-5pm Monday, August 8th or the McKenney Library 2-5pm Friday, August 12th for video games, board games, popcorn and lemonade!
Join us for our Gaming Extravaganza Thursday, August 11th at the newly opened Prince George Library from 2-6pm for gaming, refreshments and special guests!
Love animals? The Clever Canines Therapy Dogs are excited to meet and greet people starting at 4:30pm!
Looking for some excitement? Don’t miss magician, juggler, and comedian Jonathan Austin at 5:00pm!
Grand Prize drawings will be held August 18th! All winners will be notified that day.
Thanks again for joining us this summer, have a great time back in school this fall! Don’t forget to join us for storytime, crafts, movies, gaming, and more throughout the school year! Check out some of the great events coming in September!
9/10-Game Day 3-5pm @ Hopewell Library
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/08/wrap-up-the-summer-at-arls-with-gaming-magic-and-more/
Rudy (a Clever Canine therapy dog) shows Kiersten one of his tricks at the Hopewell Library.
The library has gone to the dogs… AGAIN! Join us at the Hopewell Library Thursday, August 4th @ 6:30 pm as the Clever Canines present: “The Dog Days of Summer”. Representatives from Clever Canines (including therapy dogs) will demonstrate dog training tips, talk about therapy dogs and share safety tips. Stick around after the program to meet the dogs!
Don’t miss the next stop in our Novel Destinations summer reading program for adults! Antarctica will be featured August 1st-6th.
Keep reading all summer to win prizes for reading and be entered to win one of our amazing grand prizes including gift certificates to Swaders, Play N Trade, the Playroom, and the Southpark Mall as well as tickets to area attractions like the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Science Museum of Virginia, King’s Dominion and much, much more! See below for more information about this week’s programs!
Children: Amazing Tales8/3 @ 10:30 a.m.—Storytime at Dinwiddie
8/3 @ 2:30 p.m.—Amazing Summer Hat Craft at Dinwiddie
8/4 @ 10:30 a.m.—Storytime at Hopewell
8/4 @ 6:30 p.m.—Dogs Days of Summer at Hopewell
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/08/dog-days-of-summer-at-the-hopewell-library/
Rainbow Company makes you a part of the show!
Have some fun and test your acting skills as the Appomattox Regional Library System welcomes back the Rainbow Company, an interactive children’s theatre group. The Virginia-based group returns Tuesday, August 2nd with performances in Hopewell at 11:30 am, Prince George at 1:30 pm and Rohoic at 4:00 pm.
The Rainbow Company has been providing exceptional and unique experiences in children’s theatre since 1991. This experience will help lead to healthy modes of self-expression and increase self-esteem. Interactive theatre takes a well-known story and allows performers of all skill levels to act it out spontaneously. Children voluntarily participate in award-winning tales using costumes, props and scenery.
Children performing in Rainbow Company productions don’t need to audition or memorize lines, all they need to do is bring their imagination! The Rainbow Company’s professional Storyteller and Actor help the children produce a one-of-a kind presentation that is original, spontaneous, and exciting from beginning to end. This year, the group will be performing the amazing fairy tale classic, “Snow White.”
Don’t miss the next stop in our Novel Destinations summer reading program for adults! Antarctica will be featured August 1st-6th.
Keep reading all summer to win prizes for reading and be entered to win one of our amazing grand prizes including gift certificates to Swaders, Play N Trade, the Playroom, and the Southpark Mall as well as tickets to area attractions like the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Science Museum of Virginia, King’s Dominion and much, much more! See below for more information about this week’s programs!
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/08/drop-in-for-snow-white-drama-at-hopewell-prince-george-and-rohoic-libraries/
Kids at the Carson Library meet reptiles up close and personal in Summer 2009.
Slither into the Carson Libary @ 11:30am and Hopewell Library @ 2:30pm for Larsen’s Amazing World of Reptiles on Tuesday, July 26th. Catch reptile experts Scott and Kim Larsen and family to hear all about the lives of different snakes, lizards, turtles, and more! Don’t miss the end of the show to have your own hands on experience with the reptiles.
Don’t miss the next stop in our Novel Destinations summer reading program for adults! Space will be featured July 25th-29th.
Keep reading all summer to win prizes for reading and be entered to win one of our amazing grand prizes including gift certificates to Swaders, Play N Trade, the Playroom, and the Southpark Mall as well as tickets to area attractions like the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Science Museum of Virginia, King’s Dominion and much, much more! See below for more information about this week’s programs!
Children: Amazing Tales
7/25 @ 10:30 a.m.—Storytime at Hopewell
Permanent link to this article: http://www.arls.org/2011/07/larsens-amazing-world-of-reptile/