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This week is teacher work week.

As I write this, I am now at home after an all-day, off site professional development training with all the certified staff at my school.  The details of the training itself aren’t particularly important.  What is important is how I felt by the end of the day: really, really tired.

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The Comic Book Story of Video Games by Jonathan Hennessey and Jack Mcgowan, published by Ten Speed Press, publication date October 3, 2017.

This is my first non-fiction review, so be gentle on me :o)

I'll begin by saying how surprisingly interesting I found the subject to be; I intended to read this to see if my high school Manga-loving students would like this. I've decided that, even if they wouldn't, the robotics-, engineering-, and coding-type gamers would! There were so many interesting factoids in the telling of this history. (I'm tempted to leak a few to you here, but I wouldn't want a spoiler alert tagged to this review.) Suffice it to say, that in 181 pages of story, I annotated 24 or so places with 'interesting factoid.'

The vocabulary might be a bit elevated for some high schoolers, but those with an interest in this topic will probably glean or look up the meanings of the unknown terms; it doesn't happen often enough to turn off a reader. There were a few places where I felt a chronological disconnect to the unfolding of the history, almost as if the author thought the relevance of a fact was more important in deciding its placement than pure chronology; if only that were always the case... at least twice I needed to reread sections because I thought I had 'missed' something, but rereading didn't clarify the information placements. Still, it was historical, so I tried just to absorb the significance of the information without the need to strictly enforce the chronology.

The storytelling depends heavily on Moore's Law without ever explaining it. (see http://www.wired.co.uk/article/wired-explains-moores-law if you, too, don't know Moore's law.) There were also a few places where I would have liked to have been told the source of the information being touted as fact since I practice a healthy skepticism of weighted adjectives that appear alongside data.

The distractions described were fairly minor to my overall enjoyment of the history of video games (hint: my first personal awareness of video gaming coincides with page 87 or so). I thoroughly enjoyed the many pop culture, political, and historical gaming evolutionary connections the author made throughout the story. Psychology, marketing, politics, war, engineering, computers, electricity, culture... the author included something with which a multitude of readers could engage. (Simply put: something for everyone.)

My enjoyment was OBVIOUSLY enhanced by the clever, detailed, and engaging drawings in this graphic novel. At least twice I full-stopped reading just to appreciate the humor and allusions the drawing provided to heighten the experience. The pictures were not merely embellishments; they sometimes were the story! Some of the best pictures were enough to jog my memory, explain something new, or complete a written explanation. [Note: The cover doesn't do the inside any justice.]

I'm looking forward to recommending this title to my non-fiction readers as well as my computer, gaming, coding, and Manga-ing students (and teachers!)

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18068100-boy-nobody" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Boy Nobody (The Unknown Assassin, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371269975m/18068100.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18068100-boy-nobody">Boy Nobody</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/683191.Allen_Zadoff">Allen Zadoff</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1370328103">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I had this on my TBR shelf but with April as mystery month with my twitter book club #yearofya, I pushed it forward and boy am I glad I did! Talk about a thriller; you have a teen assassin who completes his missions (get in quickly, don't be noticed, befriend the target, kill, & leave unnoticed) for The Program which has a very very dark side. "Boy Nobody" gets his information in coded texts & calls from Mom and Dad and the latest is to kill the mayor of NY. But this mission is unusual, he has only 5 days to complete it and with this come questions about his life both before and during his time with The Program. Zadoff created a very believable teen assassin, the chapters, the boy's thoughts and words are all short & clipped creating a very tense atmosphere with each page. I am looking forward to more in this series!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>

…Hope you will be willing to share with your teacher and student populations, particularly in light of President Obama’s recent visit to Cuba.

The groundbreaking documentary movie Havana Motor Club will be released by Samuel Goldwyn Films 8 April.

QR Code files for listed resources are also attachedHavana%20Motor%20Club%20Racing%20History%20Lesson%20Plan_20160405.docxHavana%20Motor%20Club%20Racing%20QR%20Codes_20160406.docx for classroom-based mobile device use.

Feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

Take care.

Tom

Tom Adamich, MLS

President

Visiting Librarian Service

224 Chauncey Ave. N.W.

P.O. Box 932

New Philadelphia, OH 44663

330-364-4410

vls@tusco.net

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22450859-the-boston-girl" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Boston Girl" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418103945m/22450859.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22450859-the-boston-girl">The Boston Girl</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/626222.Anita_Diamant">Anita Diamant</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1583167289">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I read/listened to this audiobook as part of the Hub Challenge (Amelia Bllomer YA, Top 10 List) and oh was it good. I could not stop listening to actress, Linda Lavin's beautiful retelling of her life as Addie Baum to her granddaughter. I learned so much about the 1900's in Boston as Addie was born and raised by immigrant parents from Russia who argue incessantly, the turbulence of the times with illness, death & war and the strong personality of Addie and her sister while her oldest sister has a very sensitive constitution. Addie's view of the world is humorous, honest, and forward thinking. I so enjoyed this vibrant novel; highly recommended!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836654-challenger-deep" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Challenger Deep" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428505217m/22836654.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22836654-challenger-deep">Challenger Deep</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19564.Neal_Shusterman">Neal Shusterman</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1583347774">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to this spectacular audiobook as part of The Hub Challenge and for a virtual book chat with the #2jennsbookclub. Having read the book first on my kindle, it was a real treat to listen to Michael Curran-Dorsano's narration! He had the timing, the voices, and Caden's thoughts down in his flawless delivery! Caden's descent into schizophrenia came alive with the spot on narration and the dive of Caden to Challenger Deep, his day by day recovery and self-realization about his illness will have teens and adults wanting to read & learn more.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had this book on my TBR shelf forever, because I read other Pushing the Limits books before I read this one, which is #1 in the series. I also made this series (and author) a FAVORITE because I can't put them down- reluctant readers, guys and girls will LOVE these books- they move fast and furious, lots of drama and yearning, fights, secrets and lies- what more could you want! In this book, Echo is a "broken" girl just looking to go back to normal- before her family was shattered by so many events. She was once popular, dating the jock, loving life - now she can't remember a life altering event, has mandated therapy sessions, has to tutor bad boy, foster child Noah Hutchins. Noah has lots of problems too and it is these issues that have them conspiring to get some much needed secret information in the counselor's files at school. I loved the build-up in their friendship, the snarky comments, the increasing love interest, and the drama of everyday high school and home life. I read the book after this FIRST but it did not stop me from turning those pages at all hours of the night or wee early morning. I am now going to make sure I read every book by Katie McGarry because they are just so real, teens will see themselves in Noah, Echo, their friends or they will learn a little bit more about themselves from this world of riveting world of angst, love, and loss. If you like Simone Eckeles, Perfect Chemistry series, you will LOVE Pushing the Limits, highly recommended.


View all my reviews

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437156-six-of-crows" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423913869m/23437156.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23437156-six-of-crows">Six of Crows</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575289.Leigh_Bardugo">Leigh Bardugo</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1514001035">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I read this as part of The Hub Reading Challenge (Top 10 Best Fiction) and oh this this series one I am going to enjoy- I didn't even realize I was at the end of the book. Talk about a cliff hanger ending, I could not believe it yet I am now hanging by a thread imaging Leigh Bardugo's next book---hurry up. I loved everything about this book; the characters with bigger than life personalities- Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Wylan, Nina, and Matthias were oh so perfect and oh so fallible (I fell in love with them all); the settings of Ketterdam and Ferjda (The Ice Court) were mesmerizing and the thrilling plot with Kaz's crew going after a bad guy who makes a drug that is addicting and dangerous ---while so many, many things could go wrong had my heart racing and turning pages furiously. This is definitely a favorite series for me and since I have never read Bardugo's Grisha books---I am definitely going to now! Addicting is all I can say about this fantastic book I am going to be thinking about for quite a while. I can't stop gushing; a must read!
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<a

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20814989-half-wild" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy, #2)" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1413889802m/20814989.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20814989-half-wild">Half Wild</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7314532.Sally_Green">Sally  Green</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1536328072">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I listened to this book as part of the 2016 Hub Challenge Top 10 Amazing Audiobooks. OMG, Carl Prekopp's narration of this amazing audiobook was killer. I could not stop listening to Nathan, half white witch & half black witch, as he grows older, receives his wishes from his father, feared black witch, Marcus, searches for his love, Annaliese, and revels in his tentative relationship with Gabriel (who is in love with Nathan). This is part 2 of the Half Bad series by Sally Green and it is just as riveting as the first book!!! With a cliffhanger for an ending, I can't wait for the 3rd book in this series.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/62411-bjneary">View all my reviews</a>