ParaNorman
If you have a love of zombies and ghosts, this movie does not disappoint. But there’s a lot more to the story than I originally thought - I was surprised by how the creators were able to take a topic such as a boy who sees ghosts and turn it into a heartwarming story that advocates for acceptance of everyone’s differences, not bullying others, taking responsibility and staying true to yourself (even when your parents don’t listen!) It’s a movie for both children and adults and it’s been nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. ParaNorman is available through our online catalog, SWAN; it’s definitely worth seeing.
-Judy, Reference
Hope Unseen
Last week I read Hope Unseen by Captain Scotty Smiley. He is the Army's first active-duty, blind officer and its first blind company commander. In 2005, he lost use of both eyes in Iraq when a suicide car bomber blew himself up right near Smiley. With the love and support of family and friends and a determined spirit, he has been able to move beyond despair and depression. The book's website says, "Since that day [of the accident], Scotty Smiley has surfed in Hawaii, skied in Vail, skydived, climbed Mount Rainier, completed a triathlon, and graduated from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business with his MBA. The Army Times named Captain Smiley its Soldier of the Year in 2007, and in 2008 he won an ESPY as the world's Best Outdoor Athlete. Scotty, a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, recently taught the core course in leadership at West Point and now commands the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point's Keller Army Medical Center...He speaks to corporations, educators, and church groups, sharing his message of optimism and perseverance."
Although it was a bit sobering to read because I have a nephew currently serving in Afghanistan, I appreciated reading about how Smiley survived, how family and friends rallied around him, and how he was determined never to quit. It was interesting to read how he felt so strongly about staying in the army and how he was able to continue his education. The commitment and dedication he has to serve our country and for his wife to stand beside him in that dedication is commendable. Strong in so many ways, Smiley is also a humble and gracious man. I encourage you to read the book and also to check out his blog on www.hopeunseen.com. As the facilitator of Acorn's Lego club for children ages 6-12, I also enjoyed reading on his blog his experience building legos with his son. Try putting legos together when you can't see them! Here is what he writes on his blog:
"My oldest son, Grady, has two small LEGO sets that make up houses, helicopters and cars. Today, Grady wanted me to help him put together the helicopter. I remembered doing this when I was a kid and thought it would be a great opportunity for me to teach my son. Oh wait, I'm blind. How is this going to work? How am I to teach him to follow the instructions when I can't see them? I gave it a try and this is how it went…
I tell him to find the little book with a helicopter on the front and see if there are pictures inside, of the helicopter in pieces being built. Check. He finds the instructions and proceeds to tell me what he sees on the first page. He says, "it's a long yellow piece with two grey pieces on it." Recalling my childhood building skills I ask, "Tell me how many dots are on the yellow piece." He then counts out loud and ends with 8. I know for a fact that I've never felt an 8 dot long LEGO, so I instruct him to cover up half of the piece and count only half of the numbers. I tell him there are fat pieces (two rows) and skinny pieces (one row), so he can better explain to me which piece we are looking for. I have him close his eyes and then put his hands over them. "This is what I see," I tell him and he understands there is no more need to talk about colors. I can almost see his mind concentrating on how to describe the next piece. We get to work.
After 30 minutes, a lot of describing and feeling pieces, we have successfully put together only 5 of the couple hundred pieces. What an exercise in patience! Our attentions were both fading, and it didn't help that my youngest son strew the Trivial Pursuit cards and pie pieces across the floor. Needless to say, the lesson ended. But I have to remember these moments, the times I get to spend with my kids, watching their minds think and learn."
I urge you today to be thankful for our troops and our veterans and realize what sacrifices they and their families make for us!
-Janice, Youth Services
Touch and Go: A Memoir by Studs Terkel
I’ve really enjoyed Studs Terkel’s second memoir, Touch and Go, written when he was 95 years old, because it reads more like a who’s who and what’s what of the 20th century than a personal biography. Studs rambles from one story to the next as he takes us from his early days working in his family’s boarding house to his acting days, through his radio days, through his blacklisted days and through his 30 year career as an oral historian. We have 14 of his books at Acorn, including a graphic novel version of Working that I also recommend.
-Mike, Reference
Django Unchained
This movie has all of Tarantino’s signatures: splashy score, irrepressible characters, campy violence, baroque dialogue, and fifty shades of chutzpah--which tackles one of the most painful aspects of American history here. So, is this film woefully misguided? Or does this madcap methodology manage to get to the heart of the march of human progress? Either way, Tarantino's ambition makes this one to catch in theaters. The visceral soundtrack, which features Jim Croce, Rick Ross, and Luis Bacalov (Argentina's answer to Neil Diamond), is currently available from SWAN.
-Megan, Reference
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