Russellville Reads: Favorite titles hit big screen, small screen
Summer has flown by in a blur – as is the case every summer at the Russellville Public Library. We try our best to offer quality educational and entertaining programs for all ages throughout the summer, and this year has been one for the books! We have had help from several amazing local businesses and volunteers, and things are starting to wind down just in time for school to start back.
We will finish out the week by celebrating the successful completion of the summer reading program. We definitely have plans to go out with a bang. This year is the first in my time here (going on a decade – wow!) that we have had an active and excited teen group. It has been such a great experience to get to know these kids, and we can’t wait to see our group grow and expand in the years to come.
With these awesome teens in mind, I thought I’d do a little readers’ advisory for those – both young and old – who love to read YA.
I’m sure by this point everyone on the planet has heard of a little book called “The Fault in Our Stars.” However, the author John Green has actually written several books for young adults and even won a Printz award for the book “Looking for Alaska.”
“Looking for Alaska” follows a young man (loosely based on Green himself) who comes to boarding school in Birmingham, where he meets a girl named Alaska. This book, like all of John Green’s books, will make you laugh and cry and leave you wanting more.
Luckily, HULU has bought the rights for “Looking for Alaska” and will be turning it into a series similar to 13 Reasons Why, which is based on the successful YA book by Jay Asher.
In other YA book-to-screen news, if you love books like Twilight, then you’ll love “Hush Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick. It’s a coming-of-age story with a blooming romance and a supernatural twist, and it’s guaranteed to be a page-turner – even for reluctant readers. It’s set to be released in theaters in 2020.
There are so many exciting and wonderful things going on at the library downtown, and I can’t wait to share them all with you.
In case you didn’t know, the library got a new circulation system at the beginning of the year. We are now able to offer eBooks and Audio MP3s for your convenience.
If you don’t have a new library card, stop by 110 E. Lawrence St. and see us!
Also check us out on our new website, www.russellvillepubliclibrary.com, and find us on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.
On a more solemn, final note: The library is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of our regular patrons this week. Thomas Riley was a light on even the darkest days. Every time he walked through our doors, he managed to brighten the mood and leave everyone laughing. We will miss him dearly and keep his family and friends in our thoughts.
Russellville Reads is a weekly column provided by Ashley Cummins, director of the Russellville Public Library.
