ISB Secondary Library

A hint for those of you wondering about the orangutans on this blog!

2009-01-18T18:48:00.000-08:00

The Librarian read the cross-references, turned back to the first entry, and stared at it through deep dark eyes for a long time. Then he put the book back carefully, crept under his desk, and pulled the blanket over his head — Terry Pratchett "Sourcery" from The Corgi. 1994.

2009-01-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

This term I thought I would share a new book bought for me by my wife. She knew the title of the book, but could not remember the author, so went into Kinokuniya, Singapore (the largest booshop in Asia), walked up to the help desk and said "Hello I am looking for a book titled How to Cook Children". Without looking up the girl started searching, pausing after a few minutes to say " so it's How to Cook For Children that you are looking for?"

"No" said my wife "How to Cook Children". Looking perplexed and ever so slightly worried the young assistant searched again, to her amazement found the book and went off to find it. Presumably in the cooking section.

I love it. With international star chefs such as Janie Grolliver cooking Kate and Sidney Pie (Pucka!) and all sorts of gastronomic treats from across the world probably best left untried, I would really recommend it for any age. The illustrations are very detailed and add to the general humour of the whole book.

As always it will be coming to a library near you soon!

2008-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

If...you could occupy the world described in a novel, which would you choose?

If...you could spend one year looking for one thing in the world, what would you search for?

If...you could have any music group alive today to play at your birthday party, which group would you hire?

If...you choose one non-fiction book from the library this term try: If... (Questions for the Game of Life)! It makes you think and it is funny!! (001)

2008-08-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well, we start the new school year with a delivery of books and it is interesting to see which ones attract the most attention. Without doubt 'The Bumper Book of Bunny Suicides' is going to be one of the most borrowed books this year! The front cover promises that 'sadists of all ages will love it' and this certainly seems to be true. I have seen everyone from Year 7 to Year 13 pick it up and become engrossed. We also have the Halo graphic novel which I am sure will be popular with the computer game fans.

And we started the year, as promised with a copy of Stephenie Meyers new book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. The first student to borrow it arrived at school before 6.45 just to be the first to read it! Maybe I can persuade her to give you a review...

Finally we have lots of new non-fiction, from Pop Surrealism to 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die!! So come and have a look!

2008-06-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

I see that Warner Brothers have just bought the rights to Skulduggery Pleasant. The debut novel of Irish playwright Derek Landy, Skulduggery Pleasant is the first of a planned nine book series. The novel crosses the horror, comedy, mystery and sci-fi genres. The story follows Skulduggery, an undead wizard and detective, his newly-acquired assistant Stephanie, and numerous magic-wielding allies as they try to prevent an evil sorcerer from unleashing a weapon of terrible power on the world. It won the Red House Children's Book Award. We have a copy in the library!

The second book 'Playing with Fire' released earlier this year is also in the library and very popular. The stories convey no messages (other than playing with fire is a bad idea!!), but are probably better without them!

Skulduggery Pleasant is the best book I have read this year! Mr G

"I try not to depend on magic these days; I try to get by on what's up here." [Skulduggery] tapped his head."There's empty space up there.""Well, yes," he said irritably, "but you know what I mean."

Stephanie: "And am I going to be accompanying you?"Skulduggery: "That depends. Do you need your parents' permission?"Her parents wanted her to find her own way in life. That's what they'd said countless times in the past. Of course, they'd been referring to school subjects and college applications and job prospects. Presumably, at no stage did they factor living skeletons and magic underworlds into their considerations. If they had, their advice would probably have been very different. Stephanie shrugged. "No, not really.""Well, that's good enough for me."

The Top Three

2008-06-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Jam-Packed Jamboree was borrowed 17 times this year...although I suspect that its popularity is not particularly due to the great literary content and more likely popular because it was one of the first graphic novels to make it into the secondary library!

New Moon is very popular with the girls mixing romance and vampires! 15 people borrowed the book and it deserves a place in the top three. The other books in the series are also in the library (see below).

Artemis Fowl is a great story. Suitable for boys or girls the story follows the evil scheme of the anti-hero Fowl. Hilariously funny at times it is a great book for young or old. It is interesting that the graphic version of the book comes in at number 5. There are lots more in this series.

2008-05-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

Books are useless! I only ever read one book, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and it gave me absolutely no insight on how to kill mockingbirds! Sure it taught me not to judge a man by the color of his skin…but what good does that do me? Homer Simpson

Twilight Series

2008-05-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

Take a look at Stephenie Meyer's website ( the link is at the side of this page) for more information about the next book in the Twilight Series: Breaking Dawn. It will be released on 2nd August 2008, so we should have a copy for the start of term.
If you haven't read the other books in the series...join the queue! They are among the top ten most popular books in the library this year.

Or you could wait for the movie, but the books are ALWAYS better!

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E - Malorie Blackman

2008-05-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.(1996)A novel by
Malorie Blackman

It's a normal Friday evening for Elliot until the police call and tell him his mum's in serious trouble. A security video clearly shows her breaking into a giant pharmaceutical company on behalf of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., the environmental action group. Even worse than that, she's also gone on the run.

This book has just arrived!

2008-05-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

"It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful." Vincent Van Gogh

The Eagle of the Ninth - Rosemary Sutcliff

2008-05-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Eagle of the Ninth has been heralded as one of the most outstanding children's books of the twentieth century and has sold over a million copies worldwide.

This tale takes place in ancient Roman history, the Ninth Legion marches into the wilderness of Britain and never returns. A young, former Roman commander takes it upon himself to rescue the Eagle standard of the Ninth Legion, for as long as the Eagle is recovered the spirit of the Legion lives on. And he'll need the most unexpected of people to help him on his quest. The plot moves along at a lively pace, particularly in the second half of the book.

I highly recommend this historical fiction novel, especially for anyone studying Roman history. reviewed by Belinda Z, age 13
http://tweedlebooks.blogspot.com/

This book has just arrived in the library!

Inheritance Trilogy

2008-04-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

If you love the Eragon series you need to go to the link below to watch a video by Christopher Paolini himself. Shocking news!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/new-releases/books/ (then click on the Brisingr link)

If you haven't read Eragon do not come and tell me that you have seen the film and it was terrible. I know! The film is always rubbish, there aren't many films which are better than the book.

Anyway here is a review of Eragon by a thirteen year old, taken from Cool-reads.co.uk

How easy was it to get stuck into this book? Very. Just thinking about the book made me go and pick it up to read the rest of it, and I couldn't put it down once I started it. This book gets you personally involved in the plot. Best book I've ever read. The first in the Inheritance series. The next book is called Eldest.
Who are the main characters? A young boy called Eragon, who finds the egg of a dragon: Saphira; and Eragon's guide Brom. There are numerous other characters that he meets on his quest.
What's the storyline? Eragon finds a strange blue stone while hunting, he was thinking of selling it, when it hatched into a dragon. He and Saphira (the dragon) set out on a quest to destroy his uncle's killers, but gets a bit caught up on the way.
How's it written? Written about Eragon's thoughts only, you see the story through his eyes.

The overall verdict is: A cool-read!

2008-04-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

"Book lovers will understand me, and they will know too, that part of the pleasure of a library lies in its very existence." ~ Jan Morris ~