“Reading is often a solitary pursuit. But imagine if everyone in Maryland read the same great book at the same time. What kind of conversations could you have…?” This is the question raised by Maryland Center for the Book, in announcing the 2010 choice for the One Maryland One Book: Outcasts United by Warren St. John.

Outcasts United explores the story of one woman’s work to change her community through soccer, and how ultimately, the community changed her. Luma Mufleh, a female immigrant from Jordan, was shopping when she came upon a large, sweaty group of boys engaged in a passionate and joyful game of barefoot soccer. Unlike sports games in her home country, the players were of different ethnicities and skin hues. She didn’t know that the federal Department of Immigration was settling refugees from the world’s most troubled countries — Somalia, Bosnia, Republic of Congo, for example — in Clarkston, Georgia, Luma’s adopted hometown.

This initial contact led to the formation of a community soccer team for boys — and to her unexpectedly growing commitment to a group of needy refugees, their families, and the greater community, as the teams encountered discrimination from the community, other soccer clubs, and inner dissent from boys of different cultural backgrounds. "I thought I would coach twice a week and on weekends — like coaching other kids,” Luma said. “It’s forty to sixty hours a week — coaching, finding jobs, taking people to the hospital. You start off on your own, and you suddenly have a family of a hundred and twenty.”

The Maryland Humanities Council says, “Outcasts United is ultimately the story about a changing community, and how that community grapples to create connections and a sense of unity despite incredible differences between its citizens. I think the story has relevance in any place that is undergoing change, particularly changes that create greater diversity, whether ethnic, religious, economic, etc.”

At 300 pages and with an engaging writing style, the story of the Fugees would be good reading for adults or teens. Soccer teams may enjoy reading it together, as author Warren St. John is an experienced sports writer for the New York Times.

Howard County Library’s book club leaders offer four discussion opportunities for book lovers. You are welcome to join the discussion of your choice; no registration is required. All discussions begin at 7:00 pm.

• Reader’s Tea at 10 at Glenwood Branch; September 1   (410.313.5577)
• Eclectic Evenings at Central Library; September 14      (410.313.7850)
• Non-Fiction at Savage Branch; October 20                   (410.880.5980)
• Tea and Tomes at Miller Branch; November 18             (410.313.1950)

Also, as part of Howard County Library’s Meet the Author series, Warren St. John will speak at East Columbia Branch from 4-6pm on September 26. All are welcome, but please register to ensure your seat. 

Jeanie Pfefferkorn – Central Library

Words.

I’m surrounded by thousands of words. Maybe millions. … But only in my head.
I have never spoken one single word. I am almost eleven years old.

Melody was born with cerebral palsy. Her doctors diagnosed her as profoundly retarded. Refusing to accept this diagnosis, Melody’s parents work with her and find a caregiver who believes in the person trapped inside. In fact, Melody is highly intelligent with a photographic memory — but no way to communicate.

The reader is privileged to hear Melody’s strong, sassy, fiercely independent "voice" as she makes her way from the restricted special needs classrooms, slowly mainstreaming, is assigned an aide to communicate for her, and finally…

Melody is assigned a biography project, chooses Stephen Hawking, and realizes she can give herself an outer voice to match her inner one. Sadly, she finds many of the people around her prefer their conviction that her physical disability is matched by mental disability. Claire, a classmate, says "I’m not trying to be mean — honest — but it just never occurred to me that Melody had thoughts in her head."  Soon Melody is a member of the fifth grade Whiz Kids team, but then disaster strikes.

Did I say this book is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny? Multiple Coretta Scott King award winning author Sharon Draper gives us a character that we can laugh with, cry with, cheer for, and carry with us long after we have closed Out of My Mind.

Shirley ONeill – Administration Offices

A Note to Readers from Author Sharon Draper from Amazon.com:

People often ask me, "What was your inspiration for Out of my Mind?" I reply, "All great stories emerge from deep truths that rest within us." But the real truth of a story often can be found in places that not even the author has dared to explore. I suppose the character of Melody came from my experiences in raising a child with developmental difficulties. But Melody is not my daughter. Melody is pure fiction — a unique little girl who has come into being from a mixture of love and understanding. Out of my Mind is the story of a ten-year-old-girl who cannot walk or talk. She has spirit, determination, intelligence and wit, and no one knows it. But from buildings that are not wheelchair-accessible to classmates who make fun of her she finds a strength within herself she never knew existed.

I was fiercely adamant that nobody feel sorry for Melody. I wanted her to be accepted as a character and as a person, not as a representative for people with disabilities. Melody is a tribute to all the parents of disabled kids who struggle, to all those children who are misunderstood, to all those caregivers who help every step of the way. It’s also written for people who look away, who pretend they don’t see, or who don’t know what to say when they encounter someone who faces life with obvious differences. Just smile and say hello! 

Sharon M. Draper

Marked is P. C. and Kristin Cast’s first book in the series called House of Night. House of Night is also the name of the school where Zoey will train to become an adult vampire. Everyone who is Marked is sent to the school for this special training. However, not everyone who is Marked makes the Change. It is lucky for Zoey that the vampire Goddess Nyx has Marked her as special, but she is not the only one at the House of Night with remarkable powers.

The House of Night is a new beginning for Zoey. When she first arrives at school, it’s a bit hard for her to settle in, but Zoey quickly becomes friends with Damien, Stevie Rae, Erin, and Shanuee. Together they have to work to overcome all the evil in the world — and it’s up to them to save it.

Marked does a great job in introducing us to the characters and the world of the House of Night. If you liked the Harry Potter or Twilight series, chances are you will like this series as well.

Tom Neary – Central Library

Adult/child bedtime reading can be a comforting, entertaining, and memory-making experience. While the child still appreciates a good “nighty-night” picture book, the options are many and varied. When the child is beyond the easy reader stage, selecting mutually-acceptable books can be challenging. If you and your reading companion (remember, sometimes the child prefers to be the reader) have read all of the Little House books (if you haven’t yet read them, be sure to start with Little House in the Big Woods and not Little House on the Prairie, and it’s fine to skip Farmer Boy or save it for later), and if Harry Potter is not yet, or ever, for you, I recommend Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole series.

Beginning with The Capture, Ga’Hoole features a variety of vividly described owls (get it – Ga’Hoole?!) engaging in thrilling adventures. There are some scary bits and deaths; I recommend for children age 8 and older. Some of the owls are evil and wish to dominate and abuse their fellow creatures, while others are good guys whooo (sorry, couldn’t help myself) promote freedom, independence, and kindness. Perhaps these exciting tales will inspire you to take a trip to the Maryland Zoo at Baltimore to see living examples of these fictional characters. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, a movie based on this series, is scheduled for release in September 2010. Recently, I’ve had teen customers request Ga’Hoole books because they enjoyed the books as children and “can’t wait” for the movie.

Beth Haynes – Central Library

Howard County teens are still busy reading and writing reviews this summer. Here are some more top picks:

Schooled by Gordon Korman
Schooled is the tale of a hippie kid who is sent to a REAL school and has to learn how to survive middle school on his own. Not long after, he is stuck with the position of class president and the title of total dork. The story follows his journey from hippie outcast to almost fitting in. Schooled is a very inspiring and amazing novel! Although it may be an easy read, this book has so much to offer, from life lessons to tips and advice, teaching you how people feel in middle school, and just having another great, happy, comforting, and inspiring story. I could have read 300 more pages of Cap’s adventures and discoveries. The ending feels as if a sequel is coming, so if there is, I will be SURE to read it! As Cap would say, "All you need is love" and that is all I have for this book.

- Eiryn G.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a great book by Jules Verne. There is a creature underwater terrorizing sea travelers and Professor Aronnax, a famous Professor, thinks that it might be a narwhal. He goes on an expedition to find this “creature” when he is captured by the people on the submarine, which he finds out is the mystery creature. Captain Nemo, the sub’s captain, is holding them against their will on his sub. Then they try to escape. As they are getting away, a Maelstrom, which is a huge storm, hits their ship as they are leaving the sub on the dingy. Do they escape or not? You have to read the book to find out what happens.

- Kenny S.

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm is a great novel about three kids who are kidnapped. Kuda, Rita, and Tendai are all children of General Matsika living in the 22nd century. These three children live in a house with security, robots, and a Mellower. A Mellower is someone who gives praise to people and families. Rita, Kuda, and Tendai all take karate, and Rita and Tendai are in boy/girl scouts, with Kuda joining the following year. For Tendai to become an Eagle Scout he must go on an adventure. Unfortunately, their parents are strict and will not even let them leave the house. But because the Mellower is very kind to them, they arranged a plan to trick their parents into letting them go. Since the Mellower’s praises calm them so much, they don’t remember exactly what he says to them and so that’s how the Mellower got them to give permission for the kids all to go. As they leave the house, their parents remember what happened and the kids are kidnapped. I liked the book because of its action and excitement.

- Trevor A.

I’m always on the look out for next year’s Newbery or Black Eyed Susan and right now, Rita Garcia-Williams has my vote.

Set in the summer of 1968, Delphine and her little sisters Vonetta and Fern travel from Brooklyn, where they live with their father and grandmother, to Oakland, California, the home of their estranged mother. They find their mother, Cecile, has renamed herself "Nzila," that she’s a poet printing on her own kitchen press, and that she has no interest in her kids. "No one told y’all to come out here, Cecile says. No one wants you out here making a mess, stopping my work."

It’s the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news. 

Nzila bars the children from her kitchen, sending them to a summer camp and soup kitchen run by the Black Panthers so that they do not interfere with her work. Plain-faced, plain-spoken, responsible, strong-willed Delphine narrates the events of this fateful summer, as each sister emerges as a distinct, memorable character, whose hard-won connections with their mother build to a glorious and hard-won conclusion. This novel sings as a story of family, as a story of place and period, and of a vibrant, turbulent time in our country’s history. Appropriate for readers from fourth grade up, readers of all ages will enjoy sharing One Crazy Summer.

For a good basic understanding of America in this period, I recommend Joy Hakim’s All the People or Michael Kronenwetter’s America in the 1960s.

Shirley ONeill – Administration Office

Teen summer readers highly recommend these titles:

American Born Chinese by Gene Yang
This book is a graphic novel, in which there are many different stories going on in one book. There are humans, monkey, monsters and much more. Read the book to find out. I really liked this book, because it was a comic, which made it easy and fun to read. This book is great!

- Irma M.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
In the country of Westfalin, the twelve princesses are supposedly cursed. All the princes who attempt to find out why the princesses’ slippers are all worn out after every third night are killed in unfortunate accidents or duels. The princes cannot find the solution even though the king has offered the hand of one of his daughters if the mystery is solved. Unfortunately, the girls are not talking. Galen is a young soldier returning from the war, his parents dead. He seeks work with his aunt and uncle, the king’s gardeners. He begins work as an under-gardener. He asks the king for permission to try and solve the mystery. Quietly, he follows the princesses through a secret passageway to King Under Stone’s realm, where they attend the “Midnight Ball” every night. Galen watches them dance until dawn, working out a plan to free the princesses (especially Rose). On the third day, King Under Stone finds out that some stranger is in his realm, finding some nightshade on the floor. The princesses are taken and do not return to the palace above, and the palace turns frantic. Still underground, Galen kills King Under Stone by stabbing him with a branch of one of the silver trees in the forest behind the gates. King Under Stone is killed, and his oldest son, Illikin, becomes the new King Under Stone. Illikin is killed in the same manner as the first King Under Stone, and the next brother is the King. Galen uses a black wool chain and a silver crucifix to lock the realm of King Under Stone from the regular world. They all return to the palace happily. This book was exciting, action-packed, and great! The events have you on the edge of your seat, and you can’t put the book down.

- Suzie B.

You can read more reviews by our teens here!

Imagine you’re a senior in high school and life is pretty perfect. Your hip parents are loving and supportive. Your boyfriend — who adores you — is in a talented rock band just breaking onto the national scene. You’re almost certain to be accepted into Julliard to pursue the cello, an instrument which has become an extension of your own body. Can it possibly get any better?

One winter morning a minor snowstorm cancels school. On a whim, you, your parents and younger brother decide to turn the unexpected vacation into a day of exploring the area and visiting friends. Somehow the family car loses control and collides with a four-ton pickup.

It’s your choice. Will you choose to die or fight to survive?

Fritzi Newton – Retired Staff

To earn book bucks for the Readers Raffle, teen summer readers have been submitting reviews in branches and online. Here’s a selection of books that have received high praise:

The Sherlock Files: The 100-year-old Secret by Tracy Barrett

This book was about these two kids who are related to Sherlock Holmes. There was a letter that was given to them. That letter was written in vanishing ink. Xena and Xander read the letter as fast as they could and tried to figure out what it meant. They found out what it meant and did what it said. They got to this place and found the Brown family, who had Sherlock’s notebook. It had clues in his cases that he did. Then the two kids found out about the picture that was missing for 100 years. Those two kids start to look for the painting. They find it and put it in Nigel Batheson’s exhibit. I like this book because the two kids have to take some risks that might make them go to jail. Also, I liked this book because the two kids are related to Sherlock Holmes.      

- Anshul B.

The Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein

This was a very exciting book about two teenagers who win a youth writing contest and get to go to the Final Four basketball tournament. While there, they hear that the star player from one of the teams is being blackmailed into losing the championship game. I really enjoyed this book because it was very adventurous, interesting. This book also makes readers think ahead and then takes unexpected turns.

- Aaron J.

Seth Baumgarner’s Love Manifesto by Eric Luper

Seth Baumgertner has "the worst day of his life." His girlfriend dumps him, he gets fired from his fourth summer job, and he sees his dad on a date with another woman. In order to find the answers to all these questions Seth starts a podcast anonymously called the "Love Manifesto." Seth gets a job working at a golf club with his best friend Dimitri and Dimitri’s sister Audrey. He discovers you can’t dissect love and that sometimes love may mean eating the worst chicken salad sandwich ever. I found this book funny, charming, and so true. By the end of the book Seth and his manifesto will have your heart. Over all — a great read!

- Sarah F.

Do you ever catch yourself looking back in time and wondering how we got here? Stacy Peralta’s Dogtown and Z-Boys provides part of the answer, at least in regard to skating. This documentary traces the impact of the Jeff Ho Zephyr team on the resurgence of skateboarding in the mid-1970s, and describes the ongoing impact of the team members in the world of extreme sports and in popular culture.

Thanks in part to the Dogtown articles (with photographs by Craig Stecyk) published in Skateboarding Magazine, the Z-Boys are credited with transforming the world of skating by incorporating an aggressive style and a surfing aesthetic. The Z-Boys’ contribution to skating is most noticeable in footage from the 1975 Del Mar Nationals. At Del Mar, their low fluid style was a marked contrast to the upright maneuvers of more traditional skaters, and they exploded prevailing ideas about what was possible in the sport. The innovative style of the Z-Boys is evident throughout the movie, in footage of them surfing Dogtown’s beaches, skating in the area’s steeply banked schoolyards, and of course most famously taking advantage of L.A.’s empty swimming pools to perfect vertical (and eventually aerial) skating.

Using archival footage showing members of the team in action, Stacy Peralta’s movie traces the beginnings of the Jeff Ho Zephyr Team, notes their impact, and discusses the fragmentation of the team as the individual members moved on to new opportunities both within and outside the sport. Within the disintegration of the Zephyr Team are the seeds of the modern extreme sports movement. Check out the birth of modern skating (and some really incredible pool skating) in Dogtown and Z-Boys.

John Jewitt – Savage Branch