Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The world's most unlikely hero: Greg Heffley, a truly Wimpy Kid.

In this series, brand new to Hurst Library, you have the opportunity to read Greg's diary and see the world from his perspective. After all, it is terribly difficult to be a kid!

Not only do we have the first installment of this funny series...

But also the middle two...

And the last!

This way you don't have to wait until the new ones come out to get your Wimpy Kid fix.

Note to parents: This is the book I would hand to readers who were just advancing from Reading Level 4 or 5 (mid-elementary school), but were too intimidated by a lot of text. Wimpy kid integrates a fair amount of text with funny cartoons. This is a great bridge into larger, thicker books - it has the heft of a larger chapter book with the word count of a Learn-to-Read. After this, they can move right onto Percy Jackson!

Enjoy the adventure!

The New Encyclopedia of the Bible

This week's spotlight is on the latest edition of Zondervan's Encyclopedia of the Bible.

Generally speaking, I am not one to get excited about encyclopedias - I've got other things I'd rather be reading! However, one look at this resource and I am hooked.

There is great basic information on everything from Jerusalem to Catacombs, perfect for an experienced researcher just starting out on a new topic or a new student taking their first religious studies class.

Each entry explains the topic from both the Biblical and historical perspectives, as well as placing the topic completely within the greater world. Information, though not extensive, provides a basic understanding and a solid basis for further study.

Now that I have said my piece about the information in this book, let me step back into a more superficial position: BEAUTIFUL! Yes, this series is fully illustrated with full-color images.

Though the information is important, the way the information is presented is too. And this Encyclopedia covers both aspects wonderfully.

Young Adult Books - Heroines

This week's new books were more varied than usual. With equal parts Nursing and Education, Fiction and Religion; however, the overwhelming majority was from our growing Young Adult section.

Even within the subheading of Young Adult, an even narrower topic emerged: African American, female protagonists.

When I was a wee librarian-ette, the only books with girls as storytellers were about falling in love, overcoming abuse, or involved dresses from the Renaissance. Even fewer of these books had multicultural, female protagonists... in fact, I am having difficulty thinking of a great young adult book with such a main character.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a noted exception. As is The House on Mango Street, The Devil's Arithmetic and Island of the Blue Dolphins.

That is why this week's Spotlight on New Books makes me so happy! Three new books with three exciting, female, African American, teenage heroines for you to read and enjoy.


The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow

After a tragedy that claims the life of both of her parents, Rachel is forced to face issues of race and class. This book is not about the tragedy of her early life or, really, the injustice of racial identity, but about how one girl reacted to these experiences.






Flygirl by Sherri Smith

All Ida ever wanted to do was fly, just like her daddy. When WWII begins she sees her chance with the WASPs; however, she has to hide her African American heritage to do realize this dream. If you are forced to suppress your family and who you are, can you ever completely realize your dreams?





Mare's War by Tanita Davis

This story follows two present-day sisters on a road trip with their eccentric grandmother. Just as the road before them, their grandmother's story unfurls allowing them to learn about her past and theirs.

Pulitzer Prize Winners

The Pulitzer Prize is a yearly award honoring excellence in journalism and the arts - a prize that has been in existence since 1917.

Past honorees in the Fiction category include such greats as The Magnificent Ambersons, The Age of Innocence (my favorite book!!), The Good Earth, Gone with the Wind, and Our Town.



Of particular note in this category is 2007's winner, The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Haunting is the best word to describe this book and I am still lost for words on how McCarthy was able to craft such elegant prose from a story that was so minimal and wordless.




On the non-fiction side of the arts:

2010...
Lords of Finance: The Bankers who Broke the World

Liaquat Ahamed, using his skills as an economist and historian, traces the origins of the greatest economic disaster back to the hands of just a few bankers. Yet these few toppled the economies of the Western World and, Ahamed asserts, brought about WWII.

2008...
What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America

Daniel Walker Howe's revolutionary understanding of the creation of modern-day America. How did we turn from a pioneer's outpost to one of the most industrial countries? That question provides the backbone to Howe's history.

2007...
The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher

Though overshadowed by his more famous siblings (Harriet Beecher Stowe, for one), Henry Ward Beecher founded modern Christianity. By replacing God-fearing sermons with a focus on love and mercy, Beecher's influence continues to be felt in sermons every Sunday. Outside of the pulpit, his life held some demons which Debby Applegate chronicles in this fast-paced tale.

These are just a few examples we have in the library of Pulitzer Prize winners.

For more information about the prize itself, click HERE.

Or come in and check out our special display
located by the Circulation Desk.

READ Poster Winner!

I would like to congratulate our 2010 National Library Week READ Poster Contest winner...

Congrats Jonus!!!

Come check out his poster next week as it takes its place of honor!

Thanks to all of our wonderful entries and to all of you who participated in voting! We look forward to seeing your submissions next year!

Local History - Seattle Style

Perhaps I enjoy history more than the next person; however, my tastes mostly lead me to the exotic, foreign and distant history of lands and peoples far away. The more foreign the place, the more I am interested in it.

Local history, on the other hand, is the stuff of boredom, forever associated with dull battles over water rights.

But this is Seattle! SEATTLE! Where the Wild West continued on through the 1930s, where the Gold Rush put us on the map, and our fair city has seen more than its fair share of ill repute! Lately, I can't get enough!

Thankfully, Hurst Library has some recent acquisitions to satisfy my new-found interest in all things local.

Here are my new favorites...

The House of Hope and Fear - Though more recent history, this is the real life story of a city hospital, Harborview to be exact, and the day-to-day struggles to keep up with the continuous flow of patients. This is the real-life Grey's Anatomy, in a real-life Seattle hospital.

A great read for nursing students!







Family of Strangers is a collection of newspaper clippings, birth records, and, most interestingly, photos of Washington's Jewish pioneers. Following the first settlers all of the way through WWII, this book is a time capsule lovingly written.

Did I mention the pictures?!?!







I credit PBS, more specifically their special on the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, for igniting my local history fever!

In this book, you are taken on a pictorial journey through the greatest unknown fair Seattle ever had. "World's Fair, Shmorld's Fair" is what you will say by the end of this book!

The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition took place over a hundred years ago, saw hundreds of thousands of visitors, and left us a great legacy - all of the original UW buildings were created to house this fair.

My words fail to describe the beauty of this book!

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Hopefully it does not sound as though I have over hyped this local history stuff, but I just cannot get enough!

Scandal! Money! Double-Crossing! It is all here in our little town!

New Music Focuses at NU

There are exciting things happening in NU's Music department! Over the past year they have been building a state of the art music studio in the 6710 Building and working on crafting three (yes, 3!) new major areas of interest.

Here in the library, though we do not have the fancy new equipment, we have been working on developing our collection to best serve the new students!

Recording Arts

The Guide to MIDI Orchestration - This is the original and premiere book for composers! It has everything: history, orchestration, MIDI and sampling environment, studio setup, future of orchestration, etc.

The Desktop Studio: A Guide to Computer-Based Audio Production - Using your computer for audio production is where the industry is heading and this book gives you the basics to lay the groundwork for an excellent computer based audio production experience.

Music Production: A Manual for Producers, Composers, Arrangers, and Students - This handbook walks its readers through every possible step in the production process. If you are new to the field, this will prove to be invaluable!

Sound FX - Want to learn how to use your studio to produce better music? This is what you need. If you have the basics down and want to expand your understanding of distortion, reverb, equalization, and pitch shift, then take a look at this book for helpful advice and inspiration.

Worship Technology

The New Worship - Though not specifically about worship technology, Liesch does discuss the changing role of music itself in worship. Anyone pursuing a career in Worship Technology needs to know how/if this relationship works!

Music Technology in Worship - This is the handbook for this particular focus, describing the role of technology within the church and within the music. Learn how to make the best out of what you have and reach as many people as possible.

Music Business

Music Business Handbook & Career Guide - A great, general guide to all of the major ins and outs of the music industry. From songwriting to production, this newly revised handbook is up-to-date and a first stop for people interested in any music related career.

Get a Job in the Music Industry - Still wondering if the music business is where you are being called? This volume highlights many different career possibilities in the industry, explains how to build a resume, and, best of all, provides a directory of other important publications to continue your quest.

Artist Management for the Music Business - From the Focal Press, the most trusted name in music publication, this volume addresses the managers. It starts from the beginning, instructing potential managers on the best ways to enter into the profession (college advice, internships, networking, etc), and continues by offering more advanced career advice.