eBook & Audiobook Loan Periods

The Next Generation version of downloadLibrary really does make downloading ebooks and audiobooks easier. There are fewer steps and the interface is much easier to read. To make the download process easier, downloadLibrary now automatically checks books out for the default lending period which is defined in your account settings.  

1. To adjust your default loan period, log into your account on www.downloadlibrary.ca.  
2. Click on Account in the green bar across the top
3. On the right you will see four options:
• Bookshelf (where you can see what you have checked out)
• Holds (to see a listing of titles you are waiting for)
• Lists (to access your Wish List, Rated List, and lists of titles Recommended For You and By You)
• Settings (where you adjust your default lending times)
4. Click on Settings. 
5. Click on the loan period you would automatically like for each format - eBook, Audiobook and Video.  
6. When you have finished with your choices, click the Done button. 

Now when you borrow an ebook or audiobook, you will get them for the length of time you really wan them for!

As a reminder, you can always return your items early!  Ebooks and MP3 Audiobooks

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Shelf Life [adult]

Suspect by Robert Crais

@SPL: FIC Crais

In Robert Crais’ new book there are two heroes, one human and one canine. Scott is a member of the LAPD suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after he was shot and his partner Stephanie was killed on the job. He startles at loud noises, is on painkillers for his wounds, and has the same nightmare over and over – Stephanie calling out, Scotty, don’t leave me! Six months later the nightmares persist and the investigation into her murder has gone nowhere.

Maggie is a Marine, and a German shepherd. She is trained to sniff out bombs in Afghanistan. Her world is her crate and a green ball, and her pack is her handler Paul. But while they are on patrol, Paul is fatally wounded and Maggie is shot as she tries to protect him. Now she suffers from PTSD too, and has no crate, no ball and no one.

Still hurting from his wounds, Scott applies to the LAPD K-9 unit and despite not being a dog person, he is drawn to a German shepherd who watches but never engages. Despite misgivings about both the officer and the dog, the K-9 unit leader, Leland, pairs them up and very slowly Scott and Maggie get to know each other. Just as slowly, the investigation starts to pick up, but it is when Scott and Maggie hit a brick wall that the thriller really kicks in.

Crais switches perspectives from Scott to Maggie to tell his tale  –  although he very consciously keeps Maggie’s voice canine (there is no anthropomorphism here, and the story is the better for it). The chapters are short, succinct, and as the story develops, more perspectives are added and the pace picks up to racing speed, giving the story more depth.  Although I picked it up for the mystery, the police procedural eventually took a back seat to watching how two wounded souls begin to trust, love and heal each other. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a new series from Robert Crais.  

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 28, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Trapped by Michael Northrop, 232 pages.

@ SPL:  YA PB North

     

Seven students are the last waiting to be picked up from their rural New England high school on the day that a devastating blizzard, bringing massive amounts of snow, begins. By the time they realize that no one will be coming for them, spending the night at the school seems to be the best option. However, the fierce winds and the snow continue into the next day and night, the day and night after that, and for many more days. The power and heat go out; the water pipes freeze and parts of the roof shudder with the weight of the snow, eventually giving way. Food runs out. The situation becomes not one of merely keeping warm, but of staying alive, trapped in the school.

    

Does this sound like a believable plot?

    

It didn’t sound entirely plausible to me. Why couldn’t the students simply leave the school and walk to safety?  Could Michael Northrop’s story convince me that such a situation could really happen? 

    

It did.  I was convinced - and moreover, I was very impressed by this book. The author has been careful to provide logical explanations why the students did not – and later, could not - leave the school. The interactions between the students, their attitudes and the dialogue are skillfully and realistically described, contributing to a sense that the reader is actually trapped in the school with the stranded students. Michael Northrop has created seven realistic teen characters who will speak to teen readers, especially boys.

    

Powerful and unsettling, Trapped is not a “… and they lived happily ever after” tale.

    

Michael Northrop’s book is a gripping survival story, a page-turner which I would highly recommend for both reluctant and enthusiastic readers.

** Recommended for ages 12 to 15 years.

The Survivors by Will Weaver, 308 pages.

@ SPL:  YA PB Wea

    

The world had changed immensely.

    

Two years after the volcanic eruptions, the ash is still falling like thick grey snow, playing havoc with the world’s climate, agriculture, economy and the entire social order, which is fast degenerating into lawlessness. Sixteen-year-old Miles, his younger sister Sarah and his parents flee their luxurious suburban home in Minneapolis and head for an abandoned cabin in the north woods. Their new home is a sanctuary of sorts for the family, but there are new challenges and dangers to be faced here during the long harsh winter. The lack of electricity and plumbing are the least of those challenges.

    

At first the family relies on Miles’ wilderness skills and his determined, commonsense approach. When he has a serious accident, the rest of the family must learn new skills and work together to cope. There is no one else to ask for help, for the family members are viewed as unwelcome “travelers” or “illegals” by those in the nearest town.

      

In this harsh and dangerous world, the Newells manage to accept their changed reality, adapt and learn how to really work together as a family in order to survive.

    

The narration of The Survivors switches smoothly between Miles and Sarah to provide two points of view.     

    

This well-written sequel to an earlier book by Will Weaver, The Memory Boy, can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own.

** Recommended for ages 12 to 15 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 28, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Easter Closures

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Shelf Life [adult]

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

@SPL: FIC Moyes

 

This novel by British writer Jojo Moyes has just been released in North America, and has been a smash hit in its native UK already.  The story explores the relationship between odd couple Louisa Clark and Will Traynor. When the very sociable Louisa loses her beloved job at a café, she gets another through the local job finding centre -- she will now be the caregiver for quadriplegic Will, a young man whose life was forever changed in a motorcycle accident.

 

Lou is small town through and through; the most excitement she has in her life shows up in her crazy outfits. Will, on the other hand, was a high powered businessman in London and an extreme sports fanatic, until his accident. They begin to develop a friendship, each becoming the best listener for the other. They connect despite their differences in lifestyle and experience. And there are moments when Lou (and the reader) forgets Will's disability as their relationship deepens.

But it's not only light and lovely. Moyes draws a strongly realistic picture of what quadriplegia means. Sudden pneumonia, a catheter, dependency, depression, frustration -- she makes Will into a deeply appealing character who is also suffering deeply. Lou begins to understand his struggle, even while trying to make him see that life is still worth living.

Woven inextricably into the tale is the spectre of assisted suicide. As Lou goes online to discover many chatrooms and websites for friends and carers of quadriplegics, she finds that people react differently to their injuries, and that many choose to end their lives by their own decision. Moyes is able to take this love story and turn it into a discussion of all these issues at the same time that she is developing strong, engaging characters and relationships.

This is a compulsive read -- funny in parts, light, sweet, yet not overly sentimental or mawkish. It deals with troubling issues and events and yet doesn't feel hopeless. But I must warn any interested readers -- you will want to be sure not to finish reading this in public.  Those last pages...well, let's just say that stock prices for Kleenex probably rose thanks to this book.

 

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 21, 2013. Written by Melanie Kindrachuk, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid’s Menu of Feelings, by Marc Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata, 46 pages.

@ SPL:  J 155.4124 Nem

    

Adults don’t always have an easy time dealing with emotions such as frustration, anger, stress and sadness. Consider then, how difficult it must be for young children to express and cope with – or even to identify and understand - their feelings and emotions.

     

Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid’s Menu of Feelings, by clinical psychologists Marc Nemiroff and Jane Annunziata, was written to help children and their parents with the complex topic of emotions.

    

The book explains how children can label and discuss feelings as foods on a menu (“excited eggs”, “angry apples”, “worried watermelon”, “shy spaghetti”, “confused cupcakes”, “happy hot dogs”, “sad spinach”, etc.).  

    

Next, the authors address each emotion individually, giving explanations and practical coping suggestions in reassuring, easy-to-understand language.

    

For example, “Sad is when you don’t feel happy inside. Sad is when you can’t think of things to make you smile. When you’re sad, it’s hard to have fun and you don’t have a lot of energy. That’s because you can feel sad in your whole body.”   To cope, we need to “move the sad feelings from inside us to outside of us” by telling someone (even a pet) how we feel, drawing our sad feelings, using toys to play out sad feelings, doing some exercise that moves the entire body, or thinking instead about things that make us happy.

    

The emotional response of a parent to a situation will of course influence their child’s emotions, and advice for parents is included at the end of this excellent book.

    

Children’s emotional development is closely aligned to their social development, academic achievement and even health. The U.S. Department of Health (Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Centre) states, “Children who have a strong foundation in emotional literacy tolerate frustration better, get into fewer fights, and engage in less self-destructive behavior than children who do not have a strong foundation. These children are also healthier, less lonely, less impulsive, more focused, and they have greater academic achievement.”

** Recommended for children aged 3 to 8 years, and for parents, grandparents, educators and others who work with children.

Crabby Pants, by Julie Gassman, 32 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Gassm

    

Who hasn’t been called “Crabby Pants” at some time or other?

    

Author Julie Gassman, a mother of three, addresses crabbiness in a clever new tale for children.

    

Roger, a preschooler, gets crabby often – when he can’t go to the zoo, when he misses his television program, or when the family runs out of his favourite foods.  When he feels crabby, Roger is unpleasant to everyone in the house and sometimes he misbehaves.

    

Roger isn’t sure why he becomes so very crabby.

      

While sitting in the “naughty chair” one day, he has an “aha” moment. Perhaps his pants are responsible for his “crabby pants” feelings!

     

When Roger comes up with an original solution to this revelation, his mother definitely isn’t pleased.

    

Roger’s second solution annoys the entire family, and the story concludes with everyone feeling and looking very crabby.

    

Children will sympathize with Roger, and the rather open-ended conclusion to this story can serve as a “springboard” for a discussion of what he could have done differently.

    

This highly entertaining story is matched with equally entertaining illustrations that portray the amusing facial expressions of Roger and his family.

** Recommended for ages 3 to 6 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 21, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Evergreen™ Award Nominees

The Ontario Library Association has announced its shortlist of 10 titles nominated for the Evergreen™ Award, the adult reading section of Forest of Reading®. This year's nominated books can be found on our website:  2013 Evergreen™ Award Nominees

10 Great Reads, duking it out for top spot, chosen by YOU!

What is the Evergreen™ Award?

This is a list of great fiction and non-fiction reads, carefully chosen by a committee of Ontario librarians, to be read and shared and voted on by library users province-wide. The winner by popular vote is then announced in mid-November. Stratford Public Library is participating in Forest of Reading® again this year, and we need you to read and vote!

How does this work?

You must read at least one of the books on the list in order to vote. Voting takes place during Ontario Public Library Week, October 20-26, and the winner is announced in mid-November.

Where can you find these titles?

The library has copies of the Evergreen™ Award nominees in book, audiobook, ebook, and large print formats! You can read them all or choose one to focus on. Maybe your book club even wants to read along.

Stay tuned to find out about reading activities and special events featuring the Evergreen™ Award titles in the upcoming months.

To see which titles are currently available in all formats, check out the Stratford Public Library’s Bibliocommons list: Evergreen Award Nominees 2013

The Evergreen program at SPL has been sponsored by the Friends of the Stratford Public Library. 

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What's Popular?

Every week we update our Top 10 Requested Books page on our website. Right now some of the most popular items include new titles by authors Jodi Picoult, Dan Brown, Iris Johansen and Mary Higgins Clark.

The Library also houses huge DVD, CD and digital collections. What's popular in those areas?

Here is a list of new and notables...

DVDs

• Argo
• Skyfall
• Flight
• Ted
• The Sessions
• Life of Pi
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• Arbitrage
• Pitch Perfect
• Trouble With the Curve

CDs

• 2013 Grammy Nominees
• Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars
• Babel by Mumford and Sons
• The Lumineers by Lumineers
• Trent Severn by Trent Severn
• Believe Acoustic by Justin Bieber
• Passione by Andrea Bocelli
• Les Miserables, soundtrack to the film
• Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
• Take Me Home by One Direction

Digital 

• Wheat Belly by William Davis (Audio)
• The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin (Audio)
• The Future by Al Gore (Audio)
• Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman (Book)
• The Epicurious Cookbook by Tanya Steel (Book)
• Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen (Book)
• Money Rules by Gail Vaz-Oxlade (Book)
• Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (Book)
• The Western Light by Susan Swan (Book)
• The Magic of Saida by M.G. Vassanji (Book)

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Shelf Life [adult]

The Horse in My Garage and Other Stories By Patrick McManus

@SPL: 818.5402 McMa

In the spirit of our “Blind Date with a Book” program in February, I picked up a book by an author I had never read and frankly, thought I would not enjoy. Yes, Patrick McManus has been a humour columnist for years, but my taste generally runs more to Stuart McLean’s gentle tales of nostalgia in the Vinyl Café, so I was not expecting to enjoy the more robust tales of McManus. But McManus’s story-telling is very similar to McLean’s, albeit a bit more, shall we say, manly. There are fewer warm-fuzzies and more camping, canoeing, fishing and hunting stories (and maybe a few whoppers) which are very, very funny; to a point where I kept laughing out loud and startling various coworkers who now want to read the book themselves.

The essays and tales that make up his latest collection are fairly short and do not have to be read in order, so you can skip around and read about the pros, cons and critter encounters of being a volunteer forest ranger, or if in the mood for something sweeter, read about his “pursuit and acquisition” of his wife, known as “Bun”. He provides an account of how he became a successful writer (The Horse in My Garage is one of a few dozen novels, collections and children’s books he’s written), but if you don’t want career advice you can go straight to the adventures of various characters known as Norm, Kenny, Vern, Eddie, Retch, and Rancid. There is even something for the more literary minded – seeing as how McManus was also a professor of writing he has a tale or two that involves Shakespeare (not necessarily a very educational tale, mind you), and the dangers of working with amateur actors in historical productions. McManus has a very easy way with prose, and is eminently readable. He’s a guy’s guy, “shaped like a yam”, “a chainsaw kind of guy”, a guy who can be cool in front of the ladies while hanging upside down from a horse’s neck. I don’t know if that last part is true or not, but it makes for one heck of a laugh. And the best part is, now having discovered McManus, I have a new author favourite and can look forward to reading all his other books.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 14, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas, by Tony Wilson, 30 pages.

@ SPL: JP Wilso

     

It’s doubtful that Prince William subjected Kate Middleton to a “princess test” of a pea hidden under a stack of mattresses, but, as most of us know, in the Land of Fairy Tales, at least one young woman was tested in this way.

     

Prince Henrik, who wanted to get married, knew all about this test because his older brother, Prince Hans, had used it to determine the suitability and sensitivity of his new princess. And there was no doubt about it - Princess Eva was certainly very sensitive, for at any time of the day, she could be heard fussing and complaining about something or other in the palace!

    

Henrik decided that he didn’t want a sensitive princess. He wanted someone who enjoyed hockey and camping instead of fussing … someone who was fun and friendly, with a warm smile.

He decided to try something different. Whenever a girl came to stay at the palace, Prince Henrik made up the bed with a single mattress on a package of frozen peas.

    

The results were interesting, to say the least. Complaining bitterly, each girl left no doubt that she had noticed - and had not appreciated - the frozen peas.

    

One day, Prince Henrik’s old friend Pippa came to stay. They had great fun playing road hockey, riding horses and even spying on Princess Eva. For the first time, Henrik noticed Pippa’s warm smile.

    

That night, Pippa slept on a thin mattress with a package of frozen peas underneath. In the morning she awoke, refreshed, without a single complaint (the frozen package having soothed her shin, slightly bruised while playing hockey).

    

Readers can likely guess what happens next in Tony Wilson’s refreshing adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, enhanced with the equally refreshing illustrations of Sue deGennaro.

** Recommended for ages 5 to 8 years.

The Three Billy Goats’ Stuff! by Bob Hartman, 32 pages.

@ SPL: JP Hartm

    

On Goat’s first day at his new school, one of the first students he met was Troll, the school bully.

    

Leaping out from under the climbing frame on the playground as Goat trotted by, Troll roared, “I’m big and I’m tough / I don’t want to get rough / So reach in your pocket / And give me your stuff!”

    

Goat was terrified – and no wonder, for Troll was much bigger. He shivered and he shook, but he refused to give Troll the contents of his little briefcase.

    

Troll was amazed! No student had ever been brave enough to refuse him before.

    

As Goat escaped to the other side of the playground, his older brother, also new to the school, skipped by the climbing frame. Troll roared, “I’m big and I’m tough / I don’t want to get rough / So reach in your pocket / And give me your stuff!”

    

Second Goat, clutching his bigger briefcase, was as terrified as his younger brother - but he also refused to give up his “stuff”. Telling Troll that his older brother would soon arrive with the biggest briefcase of all, he ran away.

    

Troll waited. Sure enough, Third Goat soon approached the playground, carrying a large briefcase. Troll noticed that he was taller than his brothers ... much taller, in fact, and much older. Undeterred, he roared out his threat again.

    

Troll receives his well-deserved come-uppance in this amusing retelling of the traditional Three Billy Goats Gruff tale. (A CD which reads the story accompanies the book.)  This is a story which can open a discussion about the issue of bullying, as many children will know someone like Troll in their own school.

    

Bob Hartman is also the author of The Wolf Who Cried Boy.

** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 14, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Send Us Your Flower Photos!

I don't know about you but I'm ready to see some flowers shoot up from beneath the snow and slush. March 20th is the first day of Spring and to celebrate we want to hear from you. Send us a picture of your first spring bloom and we'll post it on Facebook. Email lpaprocki@pcin.on.ca or send us a Facebook message or Tweet.

For gardening tips and landscaping ideas visit the Library.
Here is just a glimpse of what we have to offer:

We have books such as....
Sunset Western Garden Book: The 20 Minute Gardener
Canadian Gardener's Guide
Edible Landscaping by Senga Lindsay

DVDs including....
Year 'round Gardening with Jerry Baker
Green Gardening and Lawn Care
Great Gardening Tips

Magazines galore....
Canadian Gardening
Organic Gardening
Birds & Blooms

And don't forget the electronic collection...
Thrifty Gardening by Marjorie Harris
The Kitchen Gardener's Handbook by Jennifer R. Bartley
Designing with Grasses by Neil Lucas

Don't forget that you can always visit the reference desk with your questions. Got a pesky insect killing your plants? Let's research together and put an end to your misery.

Happy sunshine everyone!

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March Break Events

Today marks a very big TGIF for many students - starting this weekend they'll be on March Break. If you're looking for something fun to do in the community check the events wall at the main entrance to the Library. Events at the Library this week include:

Magician Captain Corbin

Saturday March 9, 2:30pm
Magician Captain Corbin
Special March Break event. Fun for the whole family.
Library auditorium, tickets $2

Monday March 11, 6:30 - 7:15pm
Whale of a Tale (ongoing weekly program)
For pre-schoolers and their families. The theme this week is Blast Off to Space.
Library auditorium, free.

Tuesday March 12, 1:30-4pm
Computer Training Class: Computer Comfort (ongoing classes on various topics available)
A perfect class for the beginner. It will cover how to use a mouse and keyboard, open and close a program, create files and navigate menus, using Windows 7. Come 10 minutes early to practice using a mouse.
Library auditorium, $10

Wednesday March 13, 2:00 - 3:00pm
March Break, Space Break!
Suitable for children ages 5-10. Space activities, crafts, and challenges. Also visit our SPL Space Station on the lower level and see what Chris Hadfield is up to.
Library auditorium, free.

Thursday March 14, 12 - 1pm
Thursdays @ Noon (ongoing weekly program)
The topic this week: A Century of Stratford Parks: Lutzen Riedstra explains the crucial 1913 vote that preserved the parks and more. All are welcome including children.
Library auditorium, $1 at the door. Bring a lunch, coffee and water are available.

Thursday March 14, 1:00pm
Thursday Theatre (ongoing weekly program)
This week will feature Wreck it Ralph (2012), PG
Lower Optimist Hall, Water Street. $2 admission includes a snack.

Thursday March 14, 7:00pm
Free Family Movie Night at the Library
Come watch Brave (2012), the most recent Oscar winner for Best Animated Film. Bring your own snacks or some change for popcorn. Jammies, stuffed toys and blankets also welcome.
Library auditorium.

Friday March 15, 1:30 - 4pm
Computer Training Classes: Internet Basics for Beginners (ongoing classes on various topics available)
Struggling to wade through the sea of information online? Learn how to easily find what you're looking for and make sure it's from a trusted source. Basic ability to type and use a mouse required.

The Library has regular operating hours for March Break so come visit us to find books, movies and music to make your holidays even better.

Questions? Call us at 519-271-0220.

Have a safe and fun March Break!

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Shelf Life [adult]

The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King

@SPL: 970.00497 Kin

Readers interested in knowing the roots of the Idle No More movement need look no further than Thomas King’s The Inconvenient Indian. Guelph’s Thomas King may be familiar to you from his fiction (Green Grass, Running Water) or his old radio show on CBC Radio One, The Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour. Fans will be happy to know his trademark deadpan humour is captured abundantly here.

By King’s own confession, he’s not much one for nonfiction writing. Of Cherokee and Greek heritage, he teaches in the English department at University of Guelph. To get to the truth of things, he’s more comfortable using stories than facts, an admission he freely offers in the introduction. As a result, he’s positioned this work more as an account of Aboriginal/colonial relations in North America than a formal history. Formal histories require footnotes and extensive documentation. As the book makes clear, extensive documentation hasn’t done a lot of good for indigenous peoples. Stories, though? They carry a lot of truth a long way.

The account is heartbreaking, but King renders the sorrow into something intriguing and even darkly funny with his style, which echoes Native orature in its cadence. He fearlessly tackles the many facets of Aboriginal history in North America that are typically left alone for lack of an adequately politically correct vocabulary. Wide in scope and full of history we weren’t taught in school, The Inconvenient Indian is required reading for any politically savvy Canadian.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 7, 2013. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgwick, 275 pages.

@ SPL:  YA PB Sed

British author Marcus Sedgwick is a skilled and mesmerizing storyteller. His tales are riveting; his prose is vivid, and the atmosphere is often dark and brooding – and never more so than in his newly published book, Midwinterblood.

    

The small, remote Scandinavian island of Blessed Isle seems strangely familiar to a young journalist, Eric, as he arrives to investigate rumours which hint at the immortality of its inhabitants. In fact, he feels that he knows and has even loved Merle, the young woman he happens to meet at the dock.

      

Is it possible that Eric once lived on Blessed Isle in another life and time?

    

With Sedgwick’s intense, descriptive writing, this possibility becomes quite believable.

    

Seven interwoven stories take Eric, Merle and the reader back in time from the future (year 2073) to seven different intervals in history, to the time of the Vikings and even to “time unknown”. The lovers meet again and again on the island in very different circumstances. As they move back in time, they also move forward through the seasons, designated by the names of the full moons (the Flower Moon of Midsummer, the Blood Moon of Midwinter, etc.).

    

An epilogue returns the couple to year 2073 and ends this brilliantly-constructed, complex novel which is very successful at creating a sense of sustained mystery, dread and foreboding.  

    

A powerful, enchanting novel about love, sacrifice and fate, Midwinterblood would likely appeal most to older teens and adults. Marcus Sedgwick is also the author of My Swordhand is Singing, White Crow and The Kiss of Death.

** Recommended for ages 15 years and up.

Magisterium, by Jeff Hirsch, 310 pages.

@ SPL:  YA FIC Hirsc

    

In sixteen-year-old Glenn’s twenty-second-century world, The Rift is the divide between two very separate societies. Glenn (Glennora) Morgan and her father live in the technologically advanced realm, which is entirely different from the other side.

    

When Glenn was six, her mother disappeared. Since then, her father, a scientist, has been engrossed in building a device that will harness the power to allow him entry into the Rift, where he believes his wife may be imprisoned.

    

No sooner does he finish his project than the “Colloquium Authority” (which has been lying to him all along) tries to obtain the device. It becomes apparent that Authority wants it so badly that it will stop at almost nothing.  

    

When her father is suddenly arrested, Glenn and her friend, Kevin, and her cat manage to escape into the Magisterium.  

    

Here, the magical Affinity rules and in fact, magic seems to run wild. There is little place for technology – or, as it seems at first, for Kevin and Glenn.

    

Jeff Hirsch has written a fantasy-science fiction novel for teens which features a strong, brave, intelligent protagonist. Combined with a fast-paced and action-filled plot, mystery, and wonderfully descriptive writing, this novel will intrigue readers.

    

Readers who enjoy Magisterium will be interested to know that Jeff Hirsch also wrote The Eleventh Plague, another story set in a dystopian society - in which a horrible influenza strain has killed about two-thirds of the American population.

** Recommended for ages 12 years and up.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on March 7, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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