Community Corner
Patch Picks: National Reading Month
With March "National Reading Month," Patch visited the Gloucester Township Blackwood Rotary Public Library to find out the top 5 adult and children's books at the moment.
Here are the top five adult and children's books, as per librarian Allie Phelan.
Adult Books
1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest by Stieg Larsson—The third and final book in Larsson’s Millennium series is an extremely popular read at the . The 600-page novel is virtually always checked out, leaving patrons on the holding list for weeks waiting for a copy.
2. Cross Fire by James Patterson—Patterson released 10 books in 2010, but this one tops the list in terms of popularity at the library. The Camden County Library System added 15 copies to its database late last year. This is the 17th book in the long-running Alex Cross series written by the 63-year old novelist.
3. Room by Emma Donoghue—Phelan said Room is “an emotional and compelling read.” The novel is about a 5-year-old boy who is locked up in a single room with his mother. Phelan admitted it is not the “easiest book to read,” but it’s a page-turner. Room was nominated for best fiction novel at the 2010 Governor General's Literacy Award ceremony.
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen—Even though this novel was released in 2006, it's in high demand now thanks to the impending release of the motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson. The library is in the process of adding extra copies.
5. Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline—Scottoline is a constant fixture on The New York Times bestsellers list, so it's no surprise Think Twice is a hit at the Blackwood library. Large-print copies are also available for check out.
Children's Books
1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins—The Hunger Games trilogy has become a national phenomenon among teen readers. The series focuses on a 16-year-old heroine who is chosen to fight for survival in a death match on live television. There is a wait list for the series, but the library system provides 10 copies for each book.
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney—The series is widely popular among children ages 9-12 thanks to real-life themes that are expressed in this five-part series. The library receives many requests for this collection, as well as the motion picture.
3. I Spy—Phelan admits she's surprised the I Spy series is still a popular item among children. Scholastic has been producing I Spy picture books since 1992 and recently published I Spy a Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles and I Spy an Egg in a Nest over the last six months. The library provided many copies in its display children's section.
4. Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama—President Obama penned this small children's book with his two daughters in mind, highlighting 13 extraordinary Americans, including George Washington, Georgia O'Keeffe and Jackie Robinson. The book is popular because it teaches and emphasizes American history for children through the eyes of the president.
5. Dr. Seuss series - "Name recognition" is how Phelan describes why the Dr. Seuss books are still a hot item at the library among children. The bestsellers, including The Cat in the Hat, The Eye Book, Green Eggs and Ham and Horton Hears a Who, are available at the Blackwood library.
