電車男 @ Club Bob
Tomorrow–Friday, November 6–come join us at 4:00 p.m. in the Teen Area of the Francis Branch. Club Bob will be watching Densha Otoko (Train Man).
While riding the train, a desperate geek meets the girl of his dreams, prompting the socially deprived but brave young nerd to start a chat room thread asking his faceless Internet compatriots, “How do you talk to girls?” The courtship advice he receives from his online pals—and what he does with their expert counsel—form the basis for this charming romantic comedy, a love story for the 21st century.
This possibly true story is certainly awkward, yet endearing. ｷﾀ━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━!!!
This posting is the second in a new occasional series about interesting questions that we in “the History Room” try to help patrons answer. Please bring your history-related puzzles to 
Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn. I remember watching older kids on my school bus carrying this book around when I was a young elementary school student. The cover alone gave me the creeps, and I recall thinking distinctly one day, “I will never read that book! It looks way too scary!” But as I grew older my curiosity got the better of me, and I snatched it up one day. The story centers around a modern-day blended family. Molly and Michael’s mother has just remarried and they move with their new stepfather and little stepsister Heather to an isolated old church in the country with an adjoining overgrown cemetery. Molly and Michael don’t like their bratty little sister and she doesn’t like them. Heather starts spending all of her time in the cemetery and she talks about a ghost named Helen who is going to make Molly and Michael sorry for being mean to her. Heather believes Helen is the only one who cares about her. But Helen is no friendly ghost and Molly and Michael must quickly unravel the mystery before Helen persuades Heather to cement their friendship forever. Recommended for grades 4-7.
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This is Snyder’s first story about the Stanley family in which they meet their bizarre older stepsister Amanda who is an aspiring witch. Amanda moves into their big family with a crow in a cage, a shiny triangle pasted on her forehead and a rotten attitude. David and his younger siblings are are fascinated by Amanda, who tries to recruit them to be her novice witches. When the children stumble upon a newspaper article about a poltergeist in their home (it supposedly chopped off the head of the carved cupid newel post), strange things start to happen around the house. Is it really a poltergeist? Or an elaborate hoax by Amanda? Newbery Honor Book. Recommended for grades 4-7.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Coraline was recently made into a feature-length film, but the book and corresponding illustrations by Dave McKean are far creepier. When Coraline and her preoccupied parents move into an apartment flat located in an old house, she discovers her “other” mother and “other” father living through the wall. At first they appear to be nearly identical to her own parents, except they shower her with attention and elaborate gifts. However something is amiss; their eyes are not eyes at all, but shiny black buttons. The “other” mother wants Coraline to live with them permanently and sew buttons onto her eyes. When Coraline’s true parents disappear, Coraline must venture back through the wall to rescue them from the clutches of the “other” mother in a deadly scavenger hunt. Recommended for grades 4-7.
Although the month of October is winding down, it is not too late to remind folks that October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. As many of you know, yours truly works with homeless dogs and was adopted by one myself (the locally famous Moses). So if you are considering looking for a new best friend, consider checking out one of our local shelters. And don’t forget that by agreeing to take an animal into your life, you should be ready to make the long-term commitment and both of your lives will be enhanced. One more thing: train your dog. It’s not as hard as you think. It will strengthen the bond between you and there will be fewer problems at home. We’ve got lots of books on the subject here at SJCPL. Here are a few titles you might consider–and don’t forget, shelters have kitties, too!