Author Archives: sandra.hood

1 Book 1 Community is here!

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This year, the Loudoun County Public Library continues the tradition of

1 book 1 community with Front Desk by Kelly Yang. 

Free print copies are available at all public library branches (you many need to ask at the circulation desk). Ebook copies are available through the Overdrive and Libby app through Dec. 12.

About Front Desk:

“Mia Tang has a lot of secrets:

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, 10-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they’ve been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.

Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?

It will take all of Mia’s courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?”

Front Desk is the winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature and the Parents’ Choice Gold Medal Fiction Award, and has landed on best-of lists from NPR, Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Amazon, School Library Journal and many others.

For more information, go the the Loudoun County Public Library website!

Getting through Quarantine: Friends and Family

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Happy Friday! I am so grateful that I have my friends and family to keep my spirits up. They are available via text, video chat, or phone call almost anytime! When it’s nice out, my daughter comes over and we get to sit outside (6 feet apart). Hopefully, you have people in your life that you can contact when you need a bit of socialization. Thankfully, technology has allowed us to be physically distant, but still stay in contact. Don’t forget about your friends or family members that live far away. It’s easy to send a quick text or phone call. I hope everyone is staying physically distant, but keeping social. Reach out to your friends and family when you are feeling down or really, just anytime. The books today revolve around families. Hope you enjoy them!

Remember to click on the book covers to start the video.

Getting through Quarantine: BOOKS!

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Day 4 of what is getting me through quarantine is my number #2 thing, books! Thank goodness for books, I can escape anytime I want through the pages of adventure, fantasy, or mystery, even to outer space. Of course this can also go back to my first entry of technology. Thanks to ebooks, I can access a variety of books through MackinVia and the Loudoun County Public Library‘s Overdrive, Hoopla, and Libby for free! Hopefully, you are enjoying reading for pleasure and not just because it’s required. If you need a recommendation, don’t forget you can still email your librarians. We are always happy to help you find the just right book.

Take a look at the book trailers in the slide below. Click on the book covers for the book trailers.

Getting through Quarantine: Pets

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During this time at home, my pets have been a tremendous help and comfort. I have 2 cats: Bo and Zip. We adopted them from the Loudoun County Animal Shelter 13 years ago. When I was growing up we always had dogs. At one point we had 5 dogs!

Bo                                                         Zip

Pets bring much love and warmth to any home. They come in all shape and sizes. What if you had a pet that had horns, claws, and warts? In the book today, Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, Pet is not a normal pet, but a monster hunting creature!

To view my book talk, click on the book cover.

Getting Through Quarantine: Sun!

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I am so thankful for the sun and warmer temperatures. Even on days like today when it is chilly outside, the sun being out bright cheers me up! I find nothing more relaxing than reading in the warmth of the sun. So the book I’m recommending today is Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff. Hope you like it!

Click on the book cover to view the book talk.

Getting through Quarantine

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After last week’s virtual author visit with Mrs. Beatty, I realized how much we can accomplish right now thanks to technology. Distance learning, communication, socializing, and entertainment have been possible thanks to devices and the internet. Even obtaining books has been made easier with MackinVia, Overdrive, and online bookstores! I’ve been reading more adventure and mystery this month, particularly The Entirely True Story of the Incredible FIB by Adam Shaughnessy.  Click on the link below. Once you click on the link, then click on each book cover for that book’s review. Enjoy!

2020 May 11 Book Blog

 

 

Who knew we could have an author visit during quarantine?

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We are so excited to host Farmwell’s very own Mrs. Beatty! She is the author of Wolfhowl Mountain.  Mrs. Beatty’s presentation focuses on both her writing process and path to publication. Her pre-recorded
presentation is available here.

On Thursday, May 7th, Mrs. Beatty will be available for a live Q&A on Google Meet for interested students during the following times:
● 6th grade – 11:30-12:00
● 7th grade – 12:15-12:45
● 8th grade – 1:00- 1:45

Students who are interested in attending the live Q&A session after watching the pre-recorded presentation will be able to get the Google Meet codes from their Language Arts Teachers in their weekly hyperdocs. Here’s a sneak peek.

“The summer before her senior year of high school, 17 year old Rose Delaney’s mother moves the family from big city Texas to small-town Maine, claiming Rose and her 5 year old brother Liam need a fresh start. Formerly popular and admired in Texas, Rose finds that she’s not only unpopular at her new school in Port Braseham, but downright hated. As she tries to fit into her new surroundings and battles the bullying of Prom Queen nemesis Mary Donovan, Rose begins to realize that her unpopularity might have something to do with Wolfhowl Manor, the spooky run-down house Ms. Delaney got on the cheap – and the strange happenings and mysterious voices she notices at night. As Rose investigates, with handsome caretaker Beckan O’Dwyre, she realizes that she and her family just might be in real danger – because all of the previous owners have died in her house. Will she be able to solve the mysterious history of her house and save her family before it’s too late?” — from Amazon

For more information on the book and where to buy if interested, check out Amazon . Kindle price is $5.99, or if you have Kindle Unlimited, Wolfhowl Mountain is free to read ! Paperback is $10.99.

#Whatsyour17

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This week at Farmwell we are focusing on making positive changes we can do to improve the culture of our society. In the library we’ve selected books with themes that emphasize positive traits.

What are your 17 acts of kindness?

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop