Franklin-Fulton Reads From Here to There

Read with us this fall.  We are focusing on books about roads and trails, especially in our region.  We recommend Richard Paul Evans "The Walk" series among others.  See www.chambersburgreads.org for reading list, event calendar, and much more.  Multi-copy book discussion totes are available, as well as classroom packs for titles for preschool, elementary, and secondary students.  Don't miss this great opportunity to celebrate reading with more than 150,000 people.

Franklin-Fulton Reads From Here to There

Plan now to join other Franklin and Fulton County residents in a two-month celebration of reading about historic highways and byways.  This regional community reading program is an expansion of "Chambersburg Reads".  Activities are being scheduled from September 8 (International Literacy Day) through mid-Novemeber.  They include book discussions and other literature-based programs for ages 3 to 100, music and readers' theatre, and visual arts' exhibits and programs.  Read and talk about traveling the roads, trails, rails, and paths of Pennsylvania and the United States with us.  Program presenters already include, local author Harriett Diller (Granddaddy's Highway), songwriter/singer/musician John Brink, the Conococheague Players, Lincoln Highway Association.  Franklin County LEARN and Healthy Communities partners, schools, and libraries are developing activities for families with children of all ages.  Additional featured books include Richard Paul Evans' series "The Walk" (now 3 titles long), nonfiction books about Lincoln Highway, the Appalachian Trail, and Forbes Road, Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer for teens, Country Crossing by Jim Ayelsworth and many other great titles for children.

Please visit our website at http://www.chambersburgreads.org/ to learn more as the plans develop.

Fascinating Bestseller

If you have not read it, I recommend Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. It was on the New York Times Bestseller List earlier this year, and I finally got a chance to read it myself. It was worth the effort, and would provide interesting discussion material. Imagine a young man who can see monsters, that only his grandfather knows about. Are they real? Are they a delusion? Just where was the "home" his grandfather has talked about all these years? With his grandfather gone, will Jacob ever find the answers to free him from his relentless nightmares? Were there really children as peculiar as his grandfather talked about?

You will not easily put this down or forget it. It is a great first novel!

New Ideas

If you have not read Soul Surfer, do it now! What a great book for discussion, especially a "Read the Book, See the Movie" discussion. This young woman wrote her own story from a different perspective than the feature film. Comparing the two makes for great discussion!

Book of Miracles

Trevor's Song is the perfect book for Christian book dicussion groups. You might remember an 8-year-old boy named Trevor from Cumberland County who almost died in a farm accident a few years ago. This is his story chock full of miracles. When the specialists at Hershey were sure he would never walk, and might lose his leg, his family members raised their voices in prayer. Doubters, beware. Discussion of this book may make you a believer.

New Novel About Autism

If you are interested in autism or other developmental disorders and like Karen Kingsbury, try out Unlocked. It is interesting fuel for discussion and has a guide at the back.

Great Author for Discussion

I had to draw your attention to a new book that would provide great discussion material: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. It is set in the present and during the 18th century, taking a detailed look at the French Revolution from several perspectives. It also covers themes of grief and depression, and hope.

Jennifer Donnelly first came to my attention several years ago, when she released an award-winning book, A Northern Light, set in 1906 New York, focusing on women's rights. It is available in a book discussion tote from Franklin County Library System AA Kit 21.

Both these titles are excellent for group discussion. Jennifer also wrote The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose.