Books to Movies



This November, you have many choices at the movie theater, including three that are based on popular books.  Here's the rundown from www.imdb.com:

How I Live Now
Release Date:  11/8/13
SYNOPSIS: An American girl sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives finds herself fighting for her survival as the UK turns into a violent military state.
STARS: Saoirse Ronan, Tom Holland, George MacKay, Harley Bird
The Buzz: Kevin Macdonald hitches himself to the world of YA lit with this adaptation of Meg Rosoff's popular novel, which has some inescapable similarities to the saga of one Katniss Everdeen.                  

The Book Thief
Release Date:  11/15/13
SYNOPSIS: While subjected to the horrors of Word War II Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refuge is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
STARS: Sophie Nelisse, Geoffey Rush, Emily Watson, Ben Schnetzer
The Buzz: Sophie Nélisse, who made her debut in art-house hit Monsieur Lazhar, will expand her fanbase as the star of this how-exactly-do-you-approach-it adaptation of the young adult novel that features Death as its narrator. "Downton Abbey" Emmy-winner Brian Percival takes his second turn in the movie director chair.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Release Date:  11/22/13
SYNOPSIS: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
STARS: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Buzz: The Hunger Games was the most satisfying franchise-starter in some time; a true measure of its success were the positive reactions from people who had yet to read the novels before seeing the movie. We love that the sequel was filmed in Hawaii, an ideal setting for the beautiful harshness of the Quarter Quell. Cast and crew wise, we're less concerned about any choices made by director Francis Lawrence and more worried about Sam Claflin as the knot-tying/Katniss-wooing Finnick Odair, because he displayed an innate talent for making time stand still in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman.


Lisa U.
CC Library             


     

Teen Movie Night - 42: The Jackie Robinson Story

Join us for Teen Movie Night on Friday, October 25, 6:30-8:30 pm here at Chester County Library.  We will be showing 42: The Jackie Robinson Story.  SYNOPSIS: In 1946, Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking Major League Baseball's infamous color line and forever changing history.  Starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford.  Rated PG-13. 

 

Of course, there will be FREE popcorn!  This FREE event is for students in Grades 6-12.  You must register ONLINE for this event.  Go to www.ccls.org > Find an Event > Chester County Library > On the calendar, go to October 25 and click on Chester County Library Teen Movie Night > Fill in your information.

Hope you can make it!

Lisa U.
CC Library

 

Book Review: Discovering Wes Moore

Have you ever wondered how your life might have turned out if you made even one different choice?  Have you thought about all the people, circumstances, and outside influences that have shaped your life, for better or worse? In his book, Discovering Wes Moore, author Wes Moore does just that. 

 

The text on the book's inside cover grabbed my attention:

 

   Even as a young boy, Wes Moore knew that his parents expected him to be a good kid.  But after his father died suddenly, Wes's family moved to a new neighborhood and things changed.  Wes started to skip school and hang out on the street, and he ran into trouble with the police.  His mother intervened and sent him to a military academy, much to Wes's dismay.  It wasn't an easy adjustment, but thanks to his mother's love and his own hard work and discipline, Wes got his life on track.

   Years later, when Wes was a senior in college, he read a newspaper article about a man who shared his name.  This Wes Moore, who had also grown up fatherless in a nearby Baltimore neighborhood, was serving a life sentence for murder.  Compelled to write to the other Wes Moore, Wes was surprised weeks later to receive a reply.  Letters led to visits, and so began a friendship between two men who seemed to have little in common besides their name.

   "The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine," Wes says.  "The tragedy is that my story could have been his."  How did two boys, initially alike in so many ways, end up taking such divergent paths?  In this gripping account, Wes Moore reflects on how struggles can define us and explores the choices that made all the difference between two lives.

 

Discovering Wes Moore was adapted from his first book, The Other Wes Moore, because the author wanted to tell his story for young adults who may be going through the same struggles that he did as a teen.  As he says in the introduction, "I particularly wanted to help that young adult who is on the brink of an important decision.  One step can determine what a person's tomorrow will look like; I wanted to help make sure that step was the right one."   This book reminded me that my actions, even small ones, have consequences that can't always be anticipated. 

 

I highly recommend Discovering Wes Moore -- it's a fast read that will really make you think.

 

Lisa U.

CC Library

 



Hello to our readers around the world!

 

Hello to our blog followers around the world!  I've been looking at who is reading this blog lately, and while the majority live here in the United States, there are also a number of you who live beyond our borders.  

 

Here is where many of our our international followers live:

Australia

Canada

China

France

Germany

India

Latvia

Netherlands

Russia

Ukraine

United Kingdom
 

I'd like to ask you some questions:
-- Why are you reading this blog?
-- Have you ever visited Chester County Library here in Exton, Pennsylvania?
-- What do you like and dislike about this blog?

 I would love to hear from you!  Thanks so much for reading this blog!

 

Lisa U.

CC Library

 

Teen Ice Cream Adventure

Thanks to all of you who joined our Teen Ice Cream Adventure here at CCL on Friday night!  There were 43 teens at this Summer kick-off event, and they made a 30-foot-long ice cream sundae (a Chester County record).  There was enough ice cream, chocolate sauce, M&Ms, caramel, peanut butter sauce, and whipped cream for a feeding frenzy, and the fact that everyone helped to clean up afterward was an added bonus!  :)

 

Our next event is a Teen Scavenger Hunt on Friday, July 12, at 4:00 pm in CCL's Youth Services Department.  Online registration is required. You can register online by going to www.ccls.org > Find an Event > Chester County Library > On the calendar, go to July 12 and click on Teen Scavenger Hunt > Fill in your information.  Hope to see you soon!

 

Lisa U.

Teen Event Coordinator

CC Library