Neil Gaiman has already won an impressive number of awards for his unique book, The Graveyard Book, which has just been announced the winner of America’s Teenage Booktrust Award. Other awards include America’s major children’s fiction prize, the Newbery medal, the Locus young adult award and the Hugo best novel prize. The Graveyard Book is also longlisted for the prestigious Carnegie medal, and shortlisted for the World Fantasy award.

Interestingly, Gaiman says ‘there were 25 years between the idea for the book and now. I had the idea and wrote a page and looked at it and decided that it was a much better book than I was a writer and that I would get good first as it deserved that. I got better and wrote a lot of stuff and then in 2004 – about 19, 20 years after I had the idea – I decided that I wasn’t going to get any better and I should probably start to write it.’ (guardian.co.uk Wednesday 18 November 2009).

 You can watch the trailer for the book here - it’s narrated by Gaiman himself. Even better, you can find the book on the library shelves.

Mrs Sweeney

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A big congratulations to Ryan L, Paul C and John P, the clear winners in today’s Scotch Factor Grand Final for 2009. Their superior knowledge of that quirky classic ‘The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ ensured their victory over Elliot Y, Aaron C and Max E, who displayed an impressive grasp of ‘Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident’, and Chris B, Nick M and Kapil B who grappled with the facts pertaining to ‘Gulliver’s Travels’.

As always, the competition amongst audience members for delectable treats was ferocious, and despite the heat a great time was had by all.

Get reading over the holidays so you too can be an erudite member of a Scotch Factor team in 2010!

Mrs Sweeney

If you are interested in the Steven Saylor Roma Sub Rosa novels, this one finds Gordianus during the siege of 49 BCE. “The Finder” and his son-in-law, Davus, have come to find Gordianus adopted son, Meto, who was Last Seen in Masillia (present day Marseille). The pair of seekers encounter the army of Caesar besieging the city, which has aligned itself with Pompey. A fortification undermining tunnel allows them entry to a city on the brink. What follows is another compellingly authentic description and narration that takes the reader back into ancient times.

Ken Wheat

This American site is worth a look. It has extensive lists of books for guys (with an American bias) plus lots of other stuff. Why not get on board and suggest some Australian books for those American guys to get their teeth into? Click on ‘Suggest a book for guys’.

Mrs Sweeney

This novel is an interesting adventure about a boy living with aspergers syndrome (a form of autism) christopher finds his nextdoor neighbours dog dead and decides to make a recount of the act.

it is one of my favourite books as it is a different style to the 1st person.

9 out of 10

by reilly

A series of unfortunate events by lemony snicket is a classic non magical adventure storey full of twists and secrets. Three orphans named klause,violet and sunny are on a mission to protect thier family from the evil an infamous count olaf.in conclusion it is a great book and personally it is a 7 out of ten

regards reilly  �

 This is the fourth book in the artemis fowl series. In this book the person who was leading the goblin clan in book two is back! She has sworn to kill whoever caught her. This means Artemis is in trouble. Artemis now has a good reputation with the fairy’s. He get’s caught by her and is hoping to get saved by his fairy freinds.

I rate this book 7.5/10

-BlueBlobProductions

 This is the third in the Artemis Fowl series, I have made reviews on the first and second book so read those if you want, just search my name. In this book Artemis makes a special “cube”
 from stolen fairy technology. Artemis shows this cube to main competeter in the computer room but he steals it. Artemis has to ask the fairy’s to help him get it back.

I rate this book 8/10 and i reccomend this book from 12-16 year olds

-BlueBlobProductions

a great sequel to the first book.

-BlueBlobProuctions�

Exciting news! Keen to run with the times, the library has purchased 3 Kindles (e-book readers)! How do you think we should use them? Would you like to be able to book them to use in the library (in the same way you use a computer)? Who should decide which books we download? Does anyone (or anyone’s family) own their own e-book reader? What do you think of the whole concept of reading a book on a screen like this? Does this enhance the reading experience or detract from it? We’re keen to hear  your ideas.

Mrs Sweeney