Off the Shelf 0607-19

Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States

Edited by Lori Marie Carlson
© 2005

This collection of poetry is great not only for the interesting and relevant topics, but also for learning and appreciating the Spanish language and culture. Each poem is written first in English and then in Spanish. It is fascinating to see how the words look and sound both the same and different – it is easy to see society (English) as sociedad (Spanish), but somehow ‘superar los limites invisibles’ sounds so much more vibrant and forceful than ‘overcome the invisible boundaries.’

The content includes language and identity, neighborhoods, amor (love), family moments and memories, and victory. Quotes from our two favorites are:

Spanish is a matter
of rolling rrrrrrs

Julissa E. likes Spanish by Gary Soto - he demonstrates the uniqueness of the language.

Mira al sol
Como viene
Cada manana

M. Coleman likes Look to the Sun by Sandra Maria Esteves for the beauty, inspiration and courage.

Overall, this small book is full of sparkling jewels and well worth your time. For added value, you can improve your bilingual skills!

Our recommendation: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Submitted by Julissa E., LWTHS student and M. Coleman, Media Specialist

Cause for the Community

Watching our community grow every year elicits both frustration and anxiety, as well as optimism and excitement. The participation of Lorenzo Walker campus in this weekend's Relay for Life demonstrated the positive side of growth with a unified and collaborative approach to raising money for a worthy cause. All facets of our school assisted in contributing more than $7,000 to the American Cancer Society through (among other things):

• walking sponsors,
• selling services (manicures, blood pressure checks, face painting, massages, and hair braiding), products (culinary goodies and glow sticks) and fun (spin the wheel), and
• purchasing the right to wear denim on Fridays!

The event emoted fun, reflective thoughts and a springboard for future opportunities! You can get a 'taste' of it with the photos and a (future) podcast!

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Off the Shelf 0607-18

Looking for Alaska
By John Green
© 2005

If you have ever wondered what it might be like to go away to high school, then you should read Miles Halter’s story. Miles leaves his safe but boring life in Florida to attend his father’s Alma mater in Alabama. He is looking for the “Great Perhaps”, a phrase that he learned in his quest to know the last words of famous people.

What Miles finds when he arrives in his new life is not what he necessarily expected but much of what he had hoped for. He develops an almost immediate friendship with his roommate, “Colonel” Chip Martin who anoints him with the nickname “Pudge” on day one. The Colonel takes Pudge under his wing and introduces him to his group of friends and to all the nuances of the school and its surroundings. Most importantly, Pudge is introduced to Alaska Young, the girl down the hall, and in Pudge’s mind, quite possibly, the “Great Perhaps”.

Pudge tells his story in two parts - before and after. He winds his way through junior year in his new surroundings with his new friends and experiences, leaving the reader to wonder what the main event might be. Before and after what?

Once revealed, the reader learns, with Pudge, that the “Great Perhaps”, although exciting and exhilarating is not always satisfying and sometimes even disturbing. Pudge finds that looking for Alaska is more difficult than he ever thought it would be.

My recommendation: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Submitted by J. Lewis, Financial Aid Facilitator

Off the Shelf 0607-17

Sigmund Freud

By Kathleen Krull
© 2006

This brief biography of the well-known psychologist, Sigmund Freud, reveals some of the quirks of the man who developed the branch of medicine called psychoanalysis. His own background and upbringing fostered the now famous terms and concepts:

• Id, ego, and superego
• Dream interpretation
• Free association on the famous couch
• Oedipus complex

As an inquisitive scientist, Freud was never satisfied with status quo and constantly searched for answers to ‘why?’ Though his theory is not the sole method for assisting people with psychological issues, it did set the stage for modern psychology and new insights and treatments for mental illness.

Krull takes readers on a quick overview of Freud’s life, tying together his self-centered and unusual behaviors with his prominent influence in scientific circles, both during his life-time and henceforth.

My recommendation: 3 out of 5 stars
Submitted by M. Coleman, Media Specialist

Off the Shelf 0607-16

Prom
By Laurie Halse Anderson
© 2005

(Mature Content and Realistic Language)

If you like to laugh, read Prom! How can you resist a book that begins with the math teacher being arrested for stealing the prom money? Will the prom be cancelled? Ashley hopes so, as she describes the entire event as “stupid,” but she also understands its importance for most of her friends…and thus, begins her new-found priority: the prom committee!

Since she is an unlikely candidate for this task – not unrelated to the “normal” ditching classes, detentions, and her dropout boyfriend – the process of pulling off a prom, purchasing a prom dress, and even getting prom attendees is full of antics. In between the fun, Ashley learns more about herself, her family, her relationships and the true meaning of “life.”

Anderson keeps her chapters to nearly a page, creating a fast-paced, almost hyperkinetic, read. Interestingly, she captures hallway conversations, like a fly on the wall:

“It sounded like flipping through the cable late at night:

“… it’s due today?”

“… and then he goes…”

“… she wants a limo…”

“… he does it again, I’m outta there…”

It will keep you on your toes and keep your smile wide!

My recommendation: 4 out of 5 stars
Submitted by M. Coleman, Media Specialist