Shelf Life [adult]

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell

@SPL: FIC Russe

I am going to admit something you mustn’t tell a soul. I was a Twilightaddict. And an Anne Rice addict. To be honest, the problem extends to any other night-bumping creature of mystery ever to grace print. As a lit major-turned-librarian, this was always a source of embarrassment to me. Why couldn’t I love something more literary? Why didn’t War and Peace keep me up all night like Edward and Bella? Woe and shame, fellow readers. Woe and shame.

As a result, I tend to feel personally vindicated whenever a truly literary book comes out that features the fanged, the undead, the bizarre, or the monstrous. Enter Karen Russell’s Vampires in the Lemon Grove.

This collection of short stories opens with the hauntingly eerie tale which gives the collection its name, a love story of two vampires who learn to survive on juice from the exquisite lemons produced in a particular artisanal Italian grove. Far from being a romantic adventure tale of sparkly vampires who learn to overcome their monstrous natures and live among people, these vampires struggle greatly with their terrible urges. Most unsettlingly, their most terrifying urges seem to come from the human parts of themselves.

The confusion between the human and the monstrous continues. As the book progresses, the tales grow darker; by the end of the book the supernatural elements only serve to highlight the weirdness and unspeakable horrors lurking in the human condition. It reminds one that monster’s etymological root comes from a Latin word meaning “to show.” While monsters are often called to service in fiction to illuminate elements of human nature considered unspeakable in polite company, seldom has it been done so elegantly, and so chillingly. Russell’s language is sonorously wrought and full of wry humour – worth reading aloud to someone at bedtime, if you happen to have a connoisseur of the demented willing to listen. Vampires in the Lemon Grove is recommended reading to fans of the darker elements of David Sedaris’ work, or to anyone else craving a more literary monster.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 30, 2013. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Yesterday’s Dead by Pat Bourke, 254 pages.

@ SPL: JFIC Bourk

World War I is just ending and to help support her mother and younger sister, 13-year-old Meredith has had to move to Toronto in order to work as a servant in a well-to-do doctor’s home.

Her life as a servant is difficult. There is so much work to do, and a strict butler criticizes Meredith’s work continually.  It seems that she can do nothing properly in his eyes. The doctor’s spoiled daughter, Maggie, insults and puts Meredith down at every opportunity.

Then catastrophe strikes with the arrival of the Spanish Flu Epidemic.  People in Toronto fall ill by the hundreds. Some recover but many do not, for there is no cure.  Victims quickly develop pneumonia, and some die in less than 24 hours.

To stop the spread of the flu, residents of the city are told to stay home.

In the doctor’s house, all of the staff and then the family members, except Maggie, sicken with the flu. The doctor is needed at the busy city hospital both day and night, so Meredith, with Maggie’s reluctant help, is forced to take charge of the household herself, nursing the others as best as she can through the long days and nights. It is exhausting, mind-numbing work. Every day, a growing list of “Yesterday’s Dead” appears in the local newspaper and every day, Meredith fears for her own family at home.

Meredith’s poignant story ends happily, with her family safe, but many real-life children in Toronto and elsewhere became orphans when the Spanish flu raged through the city and around the world in 1918-1919. The illness often struck healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 years. In Toronto alone, 1700 people died of the flu - a sizeable portion of the city’s population at the time.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

Day of the Cyclone by Penny Draper, 176 pages.

@ SPL: JFIC Drape

In Regina, Saskatchewan, Ella Barclay, daughter of a wealthy banker, has received a very special present – a Kodak “Brownie” camera - for her 13th birthday. She is thrilled, for few people own a camera in the year 1912.

Most people are happy to have their photo taken, so Ella is very surprised when Billy, a new boy at school, is angry when she takes his picture. (Much later in the story, she discovers the reason for his anger.)

Ella has no idea that in the next few days, she and her “Brownie” will record the massive destruction left by the “Regina Cyclone”, the deadliest tornado in Canadian history. Her camera will also record some important evidence which will help to prove Billy’s innocence when he is falsely accused of a crime.

Penny Draper’s newest book skillfully blends a fast-paced story with a true historical event and actual social issues at that time, such as the treatment of “home children” and ethnic minorities, discrimination, women’s rights and poverty.  Useful background information about the Regina Cyclone is provided at the end of the book.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 30, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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OverDrive Update for downloadLibrary Patrons

If you're currently using OverDrive to read and/or listen to materials from our downloadLibrary collection on an Apple or Android device we have news for you:

On May 28, OverDrive released a new and improved version of the OverDrive Media Console app. Many devices with the app already installed will simply prompt you to download and install the new version. However, if you need to access your app store, here's how:

App for Apple devices
App for Android devices

Important Note

If you are on an Apple device will have to re-authorize it with your Adobe ID. You will have originally created this ID when you first set-up OverDrive and can use the same login information. Your username is your email address and your password is whatever you created for this specific account. If you've forgotten your password you can have it reset at the Adobe website.

If you have problems when trying to complete an audiobook download that you had already borrowed, try following these instructions from OverDrive. The error message will say, "downloadManagerErrorDomain:403".

Still having issues with the update? Give us a call at 519-271-0220.

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Introducing Xpress Loans: Fast Selections for your Busy Life!

Heading off for the weekend? Just here over lunch? No time to browse the shelves for a good book? Want to read a new bestseller without waiting for your turn in the holds queue? Our Xpress Loans may be your answer!

This new collection offers extra copies of popular fiction and nonfiction titles already in our collection, made available for quick selection. If you need a fast read, try one of these titles. If you see it on the shelf, grab it, as it may not be there long! 

These items are different from our regular collections. They:

• can be checked out for one week
• may not be placed on hold or put aside for pickup
• may not be renewed
• carry a late fee of $2 per day
• have a maximum of 2 books per card

Find this collection on the new special shelves on the main floor. Look for the Hour Glass spine label!

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Shelf Life [adult]

The Wolves of St. Peter’s by Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk

@SPL: FIC Buona

When one thinks of Rome, that eternal city set among seven hills along the Tiber river, one thinks of lovely piazzas, ancient columnar architecture and some of the most beautiful works of art in the world. The Rome of Buonaguro and Kirk’s novel, however, is very different. Set during the painting of the Sistine Chapel, Rome is suffering a deluge of rain on par with Noah’s flood, and once the flood waters recede pestilence will follow. Folks are leaving the city in droves, while the wolves of the nearby hills – starving because their natural prey is overhunted by Pope Julius and the like – are descending into the city in search of whatever food they can scavenge, animal or human. However some wolves walk on two feet, and it is this kind that Francesco Angeli hunts, after he recognizes the body of a courtesan floating in the Tiber, her famously beautiful face marred, and both the ring she recently flaunted and the finger that bore it missing. Soon after her body disappears from the city’s mortuary, and her former lover also turns up dead. A disgraced lawyer from Florence now working as Michelangelo’s houseboy, Francesco puts his underutilized mind to work at the whys and wherefores behind these murders, with some help from his sometime lover Susanna who proves adept at winkling out truth from the gossip she overhears in the market and servants’ quarters. Little does Francesco know how closely his recent past is tied to the answers he seeks. The authors, Buonaguro and Kirk, from Toronto and Kingston respectively, have written two previous novels (Ciao Bella and The Sidewalk Artist), but this is their best so far; the characters are both familiar and exotic, the historical details first-rate (particularly fun is the rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael, even though they are minor characters), although the painting which is central to the mystery is entirely fictional. There are some surprising twinkles of humour too – mostly provided by a three-legged chicken. This is a fine read for historical mystery lovers and art-lovers alike, and the ending seems to indicate we will see more of Francesco Angeli in the future. I hope so.  Find The Wolves of St. Peter’s and other titles reviewed in this column at http://spl.bibliocommons.comunder the tag “Shelf Life Reviewed”.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 23, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Big Mean Mike by Michelle Knudsen, 40 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Knuds

    

No one “messes with” Big Mean Mike - he’s the biggest, toughest dog in the whole neighbourhood!

    

Whether he’s heading to the gym to lift weights, buying combat boots or driving around in his big mean hot rod wearing a spiked collar and leather jacket, Big Mean Mike is always conscious of his tough, bad-boy reputation. He’s very proud of that image … and that’s why he’s so embarrassed when a cute little bunny suddenly pops up in his hot rod one day.

    

He puts the bunny down on the sidewalk and drives away.

   

When the bunny shows up again, this time with a friend, Mike tells them to get lost.

 Later, he finds another bunny in his car … and then another, and then another.

   

What is he going to do?  If he’s seen with a bunch of bunnies – or even one bunny - his tough image will disappear faster than the speed of light. On the other hand, those bunnies certainly are cute!

    

Over the next few days, as Mean Mike tries to get rid of the bunnies which keep appearing, he comes to care more for his new-found little friends and less about his image.  Can he think of a way to “hang out” with his fuzzy friends and not lose face?

    

Perhaps Mike isn’t mean and tough on the inside as his appearance would suggest?

    

This picture book gem has a just-right ending, as well as vivid illustrations, sophisticated humour and a couple of simple messages. Firstly, just being oneself instead of being concerned about what others think is the best choice. Secondly, opposites can be friends - we don’t have to be exactly like someone else to let them into our life.  

** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years. 

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el, 32 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Barel

    

Poor Crispin Blaze!  Born into an eminent family of fire-breathing dragons, he discovered that he could not breathe fire.

    

Instead, Crispin breathed out many other things, such as whipped cream, marshmallows, soap bubbles, teddy bears, red party steamers and beach balls. Each, in turn, was greatly enjoyed by someone around him … but after all, dragons are expected to breathe fire, aren’t they?

    

Bitterly disappointed in himself, Crispin decided to run away. He hid in a cave.

    

He soon had a visitor, a young knight, Sir George, looking for a fire-breathing dragon.  (After all, a knight is expected to fight fire-breathing dragons, isn’t he?)

     

Sir George tried unsuccessfully to help Crispin breathe fire. 

     

Later, Crispin began to feel homesick and returned to his family. His father was so happy to see him again and breathed out so much fire that the family home started to burn.

    

Dragons came running from all directions to help … but how?  Everyone knew how to start fires, but not how to stop them.

    

Suddenly Crispin felt a tingling in his tummy. He opened his mouth … and water gushed out!  It was enough water to save his home.

    

For the first time, Crispin was glad that he couldn’t breathe fire. (The other dragons were happy too.)

    

This amusing, not-so-typical dragon-and-knight story demonstrates to young listeners that everyone isn’t the same, and that we all have abilities which are useful in some way.   

** Recommended for ages 4 to 7 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 123, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [adult]

A Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden By Stephen Reid

819.354 Reid

Looking for a book that surprises you? This may be your ticket. Stephen Reid wrote A Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden from prison where he is currently serving an 18-year sentence for bank robbery. He is a Canadian author though I tackle with my sense of CanLit pride on this one. Reid’s writing is deeply thoughtful; one can feel his head clearing after lengthy heroin and cocaine addictions, his heart longing for his daughters, and his regret for his life choices unbearable. I personally cannot fully accept Reid as a friend or even someone I can relate to - he has done too much harm and hurt too many people including himself.  I can, however, appreciate his voice. While reading I was at times moved to tears and in other moments I laughed along with Reid’s dark sense of humour. There is an immense feeling of sadness pervading this compilation of narrative threads and, in my opinion, not a lot of hope and light. Of his teenage daughter he says, “I have not been in the natural presence of my daughter since she was ten years old”.  A Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden is not necessarily a beach read but one that requires personal soul-searching and reflection, like sucking on a hard candy the pleasure is slow and gradual. This is a man who has made many mistakes in life but also experienced many triumphs, a soul tortured by addiction and thrill-seeking, but ultimately, one that still struggles to find his place and a sense of peace despite his wrongdoings. I strongly recommend this short piece of non-fiction to readers with the suggestion to read slowly and with care, there is a lot of power between the slim 133 pages.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 16, 2013. Written by Laura Paprocki, Librarian.

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SPL Receives Community Champion Award

Stratford Public Library CEO, Sam Coghlan with the Award

We hate to toot our own horns but look - we received the Community Champion Award from Volunteers In Perth.

This is what VIP had to say...

"Volunteers in Perth presents this certificate to acknowledge and recognize the Stratford Public Library as a Community Champion for this association.  The library's continued belief in and support of the work of VIP is an important contributing factor to its successes in 2012".

For information about Volunteers In Perth 'Like' them on Facebook or visit their website.

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Shelf Life [kids]

When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, 32 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Jor

   

When Olemaun was eight, she decided that she wanted to learn how to read. To do so, she had to attend a mission school far from her Arctic home on Banks Island. She begged her father to send her to the “outsiders’ school”.  He was reluctant, but he finally agreed to let her go.

    

She soon discovered why her father had misgivings.

    

The nuns at the school cut off her lovely long hair. They took away her warm parka and other clothes, replacing them with a thin school tunic and scratchy underwear. They ignored her Inuit name, calling her “Margaret” instead, and they gave her endless chores as if she were a servant.

     

They were not interested in teaching Olemaun how to read, or even how to speak and understand English.

    

One nun in particular humiliated Olemaun regularly, and one dreadful night, she locked Olemaun in a cold, dark cellar alone for many hours.

    

The nuns’ callous and sometimes cruel treatment made her even more determined to read – and she did. Little by little, with persistence and determination, Olemaun learned how, and she was able to experience the power that we hold when we can read.

    

When I was Eight is the picture book version of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton’s true account of her experiences at residential school in her memoir, Fatty Legs.  (A sequel, A Stranger at Home, tells of Margaret’s experiences when she returned to her home.)  

     

Olemaun’s story is powerful and disturbing, and readers will admire her for her incredible spirit and courage.

    

Co-author Christy Jordan-Fenton is the daughter-in-law of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.

** Recommended for ages 6 to 9 years.

Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, 32 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Tutu

    

The power of words is demonstrated again in a true story from the South African childhood of Desmond Tutu, Desmond and the Very Mean Word.

    

Words such as insults and racial slurs can hurt. They can also heal - as in the act of forgiving.

    

Desmond is happy and proud as he pedals his new bicycle through his neighbourhood.  Suddenly a group of boys shout a terrible word at him. Hurt, shocked and angry, he later speaks with kindly Father Trevor who advises him to forgive the boys.

    

However, the next day, Desmond finds that he can’t leave the mean word behind no matter how fast he pedals to school. It seems to follow him around “like a shadow in the hot sun.”

    

Later, riding past the boys, Desmond shouts an insult at them - and discovers that getting back with more mean words doesn’t make him feel any better.

    

A few days after that, Desmond sees one of the boys being bullied by his brothers. His anger changes to compassion and he forgives him. The two boys make peace. 

    

Although the mean word is never specified in this story, few children have not dealt with their own “mean word” and the hurt that it can bring. Father Trevor’s wise advice rings true – that the act of forgiveness can release that hurt.

     

Indeed, words have the power to incite hate – or to overcome hate.

    

This thoughtful story, with its expressive illustrations, teaches us that forgiving is a choice that everyone has the power to make. Forgiveness doesn’t need to depend on an apology.      

    

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize this year for his “life-long work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness which has helped to liberate people around the world.”

** Recommended for ages 6 to 10 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 16, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [adult]

Oleander Girl By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

@SPL: FIC Divak

From the author of The Mistress of Spices and Palace of Illusions comes a new novel set in Kolkata, India, revolving around two extraordinary families. Karobi Roy is a traditional girl with a mysterious and tragic background. Brought up in a highly respected Bengali family, Karobi’s parents died in a car crash when she was little. Or so she was told. As a young woman in college, her grades are good, but her traditional style of dress and manners are considered old-fashioned. However it is precisely this quality that draws the attention of Rajat Bose, one of the most eligible bachelors in Kolkata. His parents are nouveau riche, art dealers, and used to a lavish society life – and both they and Karobi’s strictly traditional grandfather are slightly puzzled when the two fall deeply in love. As Karobi prepares for her engagement and looks forward to her first “glam” kurti (a type of tunic), Grandfather becomes enraged that she is forsaking more customary garb. Their intense argument does not stop Karobi and Rajat from enjoying the engagement party, until word arrives that Grandfather has collapsed. Guilt subsumes Karobi and the entire Roy household, and although Rajat does his best to revive them, it is not until Grandmother – Sarojini – reveals a terrible secret she has been suppressing for decades, does Karobi come around, and her quest to find answers will change all their lives. It takes Karobi to America where she experiences both freedom and fear, the source of more than one secret, and the lingering effects of  9/11 in New York. Her granddaughter’s search brings Sarojini to new realizations about herself, and it forces Rajat and his parents to reevaluate some of their past life decisions. Even the family’s servants are embroiled in the drama, as Asif the chauffeur finds himself the target of sudden distrust and prejudice as one mystery deepens. Told from the perspectives of many different characters, the author has created a rich tapestry of a novel about identity, culture and the tight bonds that tradition and family create – sometimes to the point of choking those within such ties.  A very satisfying book, to be savoured on an early summer’s evening.  Find Oleander Girl and other books reviewed I this column at spl.bibliocommons.com under the tag Shelf Life Reviewed.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 9, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris by Marissa Moss, 210 pages.

@ SPL: J FIC Moss

The first book in a new series by Marissa Moss, Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris, could be described as “mystery meets history in an unusual time-travel story with a smattering of romance”.

Intrigued?  Read on....

When Mira receives a puzzling postcard sent from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris from her missing mother, she, her father and her brother travel to the French city in hopes of finding her. While at Notre Dame, Mira sees the same gargoyle that was featured on her mother’s
postcard. She touches the gargoyle and is whisked back to the late 19^th century.

Mira knows now that she has inherited her mother’s ability of time-travel. Guided by a series of notes with clues from her mother, she visits various moments in time between 1881 and 1899, a period when the “Dreyfus Trial” was stirring up intense reaction in Paris. She soon realizes that her mother has been secretly investigating the truth behind the trial in order to obtain justice for Alfred Dreyfus - a Jewish military officer who was wrongly accused of a crime and branded as a traitor. She also realizes that her mother needs her help.

As she searches for her mother, Mira meets various artists and writers of late 19^th century Paris – people such as Monet, Degas, Renoir, Mary Cassatt and Emile Zola, and she becomes involved in their lives. She visits Giverny, Montmartre, the Impressionists Exhibition, and a number of Parisian salons, giving readers a taste of the vibrant City of Paris at that time.

With questions left unanswered at the end of this intriguing story, readers will anticipate the next book in the “Mira’s Diary” series.

Written in the form of a journal / diary, this unusual, well-written mystery is beautifully infused with French history and culture, enhanced by the small pencil sketches which appear throughout.

** Recommended for ages 10 to 13 years of age.

Facing the Mountain by Wendy Orr, 144 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC Orr

Eleven-year-old Raven isn’t happy about moving to a different city near the Rocky Mountains with her mom and older sister to join her new stepfather. She’ll be leaving her school and all of her friends behind.

Raven also wants to stay in Cottonwood Bluffs in case her biological father should ever decide to return home.

Soon after their move, the girls and their stepfather, Scott, embark on a mountain climbing trip while their mother is at work.  Unenthusiastic at first, the girls soon experience the majestic peace and beauty of the Rockies and the local wildlife. They stand under a waterfall, reach the mountain summit, come close to a bear and watch mountain goats scampering among the rocks. They also come to accept and respect Scott, who is acting as guide.

Then a sudden avalanche pulls Raven down the mountain in a shower of rocks.  She emerges bruised, injured and terrified.  Hours later, she discovers that the avalanche has trapped Lily and Scott in a cave behind a huge boulder. It’s up to Raven to go for help. The survival of all three depends on her.

Without food, without her glasses, and in danger from the treacherous terrain and the bears, Raven somehow conjures up the determination and the incredible courage to journey through the unknown wilderness alone to bring help to Lily and Scott.

A gripping survival story, told from Raven’s point of view, Facing the Mountain features realistic characters and dialogue.  The author’s love and knowledge of the Rockies are evident.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 9, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Calling All Friends

Will you be our Friend?

The Friends of Stratford Public Library are actively involved in the Library book sale, finding sponsors for magazines and other events which support the Library.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming involved and taking a leadership role in this group please contact Anne Marie at 519-271-0220 ext.18.

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Shelf Life [adult]

Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss

@SPL: 388.47664 Mos

Michael Moss’ Salt Sugar Fat is a complex, impressive exposé of the ways the processed food industry manipulates the public and government. It is sharp, comprehensive, entertaining, and incredibly thorough.

To make his case about the bewitching power of processed food, Moss breaks the book down into the three titular categories. Each of the three sections contains some shocking new information about the ingredient in question, how we experience it, and how it is used in processed food to produce the coveted “mouthfeel” (industry term) and flavour that will keep “heavy users” (industry term) coming back for more.

Moss is meticulous in backing up his claims with studies and knowledgeable named sources. It’s surprising how many of the industry insiders are willing to be named, and express reservations on the record about their participation in a system that’s led to poor public health and an obesity epidemic.

What makes this book truly remarkable is that Moss has no special bone to pick with processed food, in and of itself. He makes it plain on several occasions that he loves many of the convenient food options on offer, and he sympathises with food industry scientists when they mourn the metallic, chemical taste of their salt-reduced food offerings. Moss’s goal isn’t to take down the industry or ban all these items.

Rather, this book issues a plea for processed food giants to be more transparent about what their foods actually contain and don’t contain. No more inflated health claims for cereals fortified with more sugar than vitamins. No more bullying the USDA into changing their food guides. No more exploiting the addictive properties of their products without regard for the health of their heavy users. Salt Sugar Fat is a call to attention for all foodies, and essential reading for fans of Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 2, 2013. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian. 

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Shelf Life [kids]

Cyber Bullying by Nick Hunter, 56 pages.

@ SPL:  J 302.3 Hun

At one time, bullying would usually end in the safety of the home, away from school and the neighbourhood.  Unfortunately, with cyber bullying, the torment can continue at home, day and night. It may seem as it there’s no escape from it. And because cyber bullying is much easier to do than “regular” bullying, and because a cyber bully can be anonymous, it is happening more and more.

What exactly is “cyber bullying”?  It’s using the Internet or a mobile device to harass, embarrass, intimidate or harm someone, violating their privacy and sometimes even making threats.  It can be as devastating as physical abuse – and in some cases, more so.

Kids and teens who don’t know where to turn for help can feel completely helpless and desperate, while parents may not even know that it’s a problem.

Doing nothing is not the solution. While Cyber Bullying, doesn’t presume to have all the answers, it provides useful advice on how victims can cope, how they can end the cyber bullying and how it might be prevented in the first place.  The book includes interviews with real-life former victims of cyber bullying and addresses how kids might help a friend who is being cyber bullied. Further resources of information are listed at the end. 

Kids who are being cyber bullied must speak out. Although it may not be easy and it may be embarrassing, it’s vitally important for them to let someone know.  It’s also important for kids who know of others being victimized in this way to speak out.

** Recommended for ages 10 to 15 years of age.

Cyberstalking & Cyber Bullying by Samuel McQuade, Sarah Gentry and Nathan Fisk, 144 pages.

@ SPL: J 302.3 McQu

What motivates cyber bullies, how cyber bullying and cyberstalking are carried out, the painful impacts of cyber bullying and cyberstalking - and most importantly, how teens and others can take precautions and fight online bullying and stalking - are all addressed in Cyberstalking & Cyber Bullying. 

Online abuse is a serious and growing social problem which can cause untold anguish for victims. Unfortunately, it is also quite easy to do because unprecedented opportunities for this type of bullying exist through social media and the Internet.  Solutions aren’t easy to find, but one course of action is to be as knowledgeable as possible about online abuse, knowing the precautions to take in the first place. 

The authors of this book share their expertise in the areas of information technology, Internet safety, and criminal justice and security.  They, along with Nick Hunter (author of the first reviewed book, Cyber Bullying) stress that it’s vitally important for victims of online abuse to tell their parents or teachers.  Adults can help by creating a “culture of communication”, in which kids and teens feel that they will be listened to with respect and consideration.

How wide-spread is online abuse?  Sadly, surveys have shown that up to 42% of young people have been cyber bullied at least once.

** Recommended for ages 10 to 16 years of age.

NOTE:  Parents may be interested in visiting http://www.londonabc.ca/LABC%20Guide.pdf  for an online publication, “A Parent Guide for Addressing Bullying in Publicly Funded Schools in Ontario”.  It has just been launched by the York Region Anti-Bullying Coalition and is available on the London Anti-Bullying Coalition’s website.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on May 2, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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