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Every Day
by David Levithan (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2013

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Every so often, there’s a book that makes me stay up reading despite the fact that I’m very tired. Every Day, by David Levithan, was one of those books. It’s a young adult novel about A, who wakes up each morning in a different body living a differen...more

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Junonia
by Kevin Henkes

read in August, 2011

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Alice and her parents spend a week in February every year at a beach cottage on Sanibel Island, Florida, where they celebrate her birthday. This year Alice turns ten and is excited about seeing all the familiar people in the nearby cabins, what kind...more

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Clara and Mr. Tiffany
by Susan Vreeland (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2011

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Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the pe...more Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the person who conceived the idea for the iconic Tiffany stained glass lamps.

According to Susan Vreeland, Clara Driscoll’s story came to life through letters she wrote to her mother and sisters:

“By a remarkable coincidence, three individuals unknown to each other, a distant relative of Clara Driscoll, a Tiffany scholar, and an archivist at the Queens Historical Society, each aware of only one collection of Clara’s letters, brought the correspondence to the attention of two art historians steeped in the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, Martin Eidelberg and Nina Gray. Astonishingly, they were informed of two treasure troves of letters within just a few days of each other in 2005–one collection owned by Kelso House Museum in Kent, Ohio and housed at Kent State University Library, the other owned by the Queens Historical Society.”

From these letters comes a remarkable story about a woman who forged her way in New York City at the turn of the twentieth century. Clara struggles with being a professional woman at a time when women’s rights in the workplace were not recognized as well as her personal desire for her work to be recognized and attributed to her. Clara’s story unfolds with the backdrop of New York City life, the plight of new immigrants, the evolution of the decorative arts at Tiffany Studios on the heels of the Arts and Crafts Movement and her personal desire for love and companionship.

Susan Vreeland creates a wonderful, compelling story that makes me want to head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or other places where Tiffany’s work is displayed in order to see the beautiful creations that Clara poured her heart and soul into designing and creating. I listened to the book and Kimberly Farr’s narration was excellent. ~~Enjoy~~ --Kara

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A Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead

read in February, 2011

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The husband and wife team of Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead have created a delightful picture book that won the Caldecott Award for its illustrations. Philip wrote the sweet text and Erin won the prestigious award for her artwork done in woodblock...more

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The Passage (The Passage, #1)
by Justin Cronin

read in February, 2011

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When a scientific expedition in South America is attacked by vampire bats, you get a pretty good idea where this book is headed. When the army tries to militarize vampirism, you know it will end badly. Six year old Amy gets snatched from a convent to...more

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Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus

read in February, 2011

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Boys in grades 5-8 will especially like this adventure story, inspired by a true adventure on the high seas, about a 14 year-old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who wants to become a samurai. The setting begins in 1841 when he and four friends are rescued on...more

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97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
by Jane Ziegelman

read in December, 2011

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For me, the most memorable parts of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a coming-of-age novel set in the tenements of Brooklyn, involve food. When I think about that book, my mind jumps to the scenes when Francie Nolan buys half-priced stale brea...more

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ICPL Staff Picks is now friends with Carrie Niehaus
May 30, 2013 08:05am · like
ICPL Staff Picks added Every Day by David Levithan (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Every so often, there’s a book that makes me stay up reading despite the fact that I’m very tired. Every Day, by David Levithan, was one of those books. It’s a young adult novel about A, who wakes up each morning in a different body living a differen...more
Jan 30, 2013 08:11am · see review
ICPL Staff Picks is now following Felicia's reviews
Dec 02, 2011 12:32pm · like
ICPL Staff Picks is now a fan of Goodreads Author Felicia Day
Dec 02, 2011 12:32pm · like · see all of ICPL's favorite authors
ICPL Staff Picks added Junonia by Kevin Henkes read in August, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Alice and her parents spend a week in February every year at a beach cottage on Sanibel Island, Florida, where they celebrate her birthday. This year Alice turns ten and is excited about seeing all the familiar people in the nearby cabins, what kind...more
Aug 10, 2011 03:45pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland is the delightful fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll and the years she worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio. Clara Discoll was the head of the Tiffany Women’s Division and possibly the pe...more
Feb 26, 2011 11:14am · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The husband and wife team of Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead have created a delightful picture book that won the Caldecott Award for its illustrations. Philip wrote the sweet text and Erin won the prestigious award for her artwork done in woodblock...more
Feb 09, 2011 02:48pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added The Passage (The Passage, #1) by Justin Cronin read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When a scientific expedition in South America is attacked by vampire bats, you get a pretty good idea where this book is headed. When the army tries to militarize vampirism, you know it will end badly. Six year old Amy gets snatched from a convent to...more
Feb 09, 2011 02:45pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus read in February, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Boys in grades 5-8 will especially like this adventure story, inspired by a true adventure on the high seas, about a 14 year-old Japanese boy, Manjiro, who wants to become a samurai. The setting begins in 1841 when he and four friends are rescued on...more
Feb 05, 2011 01:01pm · see review
ICPL Staff Picks added 97 Orchard : An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman read in December, 2011	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
For me, the most memorable parts of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a coming-of-age novel set in the tenements of Brooklyn, involve food. When I think about that book, my mind jumps to the scenes when Francie Nolan buys half-priced stale brea...more
Jan 26, 2011 01:26pm · see review

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