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October 4-10 is World Space Week
This year's theme is "Living in Space."
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Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space
by Erika Nesvold
Non-fiction: We've pinpointed the destination, refined the technology, designed the habitat, outfitted our space residents. Are we forgetting something? A timely reminder that it's not just rocket science, this thought-provoking book explores the all-too-human issues raised by the prospect of settling in outer space. It's worth remembering, Erika Nesvold suggests, that in making new worlds, we don't necessarily leave our earthly problems behind. Accordingly, her work highlights the complex ethical challenges that accompany any other-worldly venture-questions about the environment, labor rights, and medical ethics, among others.
Any such venture, Nesvold contends, must be made on behalf of all humanity, with global input and collaboration. Off-Earth thus includes historical and contemporary examples from outside the dominant Western/US, abled, and privileged narrative of the space industry. Nesvold calls on experts in ethics, sociology, history, social justice, and law to launch a hopeful conversation about the potential ethical pitfalls of becoming a multi-planet species-and, ideally, to shed light on similar problems we presently face here on Earth.
Space settlement is rapidly becoming ever more likely. Will it look like the utopian vision of Star Trek? Or the dark future of Star Wars? Nesvold challenges us to decide.
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Exodus: The Archimedes Engine
by Peter F. Hamilton
Fiction: Forty thousand years ago, humanity fled a dying Earth. Traveling in massive arkships, these brave pioneers spread out across the galaxy to find a new home. After traveling thousands of light-years, one fleet of arkships arrived at Centauri, a dense cluster of stars with a vast array of potentially habitable planets. The survivors of Earth signaled to the remaining arkships that humanity had finally found its new home among the stars. Thousands of years later, the Centauri Cluster has flourished. The original settlers have evolved into advanced beings known as Celestials and divided themselves into powerful Dominions. One of the most influential is that of the Crown Celestials, an alliance of five great houses that controls vast areas of Centauri. As arkships continue to arrive, the remaining humans and their descendants must fight for survival against overwhelming odds or be forced into serving the Crown Dominion. Among those yearning for a better life is Finn, for whom Earth is not a memory but merely a footnote from humanity's ancient history. Born on one of the Crown Dominion worlds, Finn has known nothing but the repressive rule of the Celestials, though he dreams of the possibility of boundless space beyond his home. When another arkship from Earth, previously thought lost, unexpectedly arrives, Finn sees his chance to embrace a greater destiny and become a Traveler--one of a group of brave heroes dedicated to ensuring humanity's future by journeying into the vast unknown of distant space.
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Living in Space
by Philip Wolny
Young Adult Non-fiction: Describes living in space, including the construction and use of the International Space Station, steps taken to keep astronauts safe from dangerous conditions, how astronauts care for their mental and physical health in space, supply and life support logistics, and attempts to make living in space self-sustaining.
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Rebel Sisters
by Tochi Onyebuchi
Young Adult Fiction: Living a comfortable life in the Space Colonies, Ify, now nineteen and a medical administrator, must return to wartorn Nigeria, where she last saw her sister, to investigate why young refugees from that nation are carrying a deadly virus.
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The Astronaut Diaries: Journal of Andi Futura, Aged 11 1/2
by Samantha Cristoforetti
Juvenile Non-fiction: Andi Futura and her family are going to space and they share what life is like aboard a space station, such as doing slow cartwheels and watching 16 sunrises and sunsets daily, in a book written by a real-life astronaut.
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Lunar: Super Readable & Dyslexia Friendly
by Chris Bradford
Juvenile Fiction: Luna loves living on the moon. She enjoys helping her father--a Moon Miner--on his search for precious minerals and rocks. But when a devastating meteor strike destroys their base, Luna is left stranded alone on the moon. With no shelter and few supplies, she must find a way to survive. The problem is--any hope of rescue is at least three days and 250,000 miles away . . . and her oxygen is running out fast!
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Living in Space
by Beckett-Bowman, Lucy
Easy Non-fiction: This brilliant reference book reveals how astronauts live in space, featuring fascinating scenes and photos from the International Space Station. Discover how astronauts keep fit in zero gravity, why they wear a tether on space walks and what types of food are safe to eat in space.
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Space Adventure
by Lily Murray
Picture Book: A choose-your-own-story book for readers aged 5+. Look at each page and choose things to build a story from start to finish. Packed full of colorful characters and imaginative situations, this fun book will put kids in charge of their very own space-themed adventure.
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October 8 - World Dyslexia Day |
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Unboxed
by Non Pratt
Young Adult Fiction: After years of no contact, former friends Alix, Ben, Zara, and Dean meet up at their old school to keep a longstanding promise: to open a memory box they left there when they were thirteen. But there is a gaping hole--their friend Millie has died. Secrets tumble out and old feelings rise to the surface as they dredge up the past. Can they save the friendships that once meant everything to them, or is it time to let go and say goodbye?
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The Big Ask
by Simon James Green
Young Adult Fiction: Harvey is popular, cool, plays soccer and has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Summer for as long as anyone can remember. Alfie is not popular, not cool, has a sick note so he doesn't have to play any sport, and has been in a relationship with his Xbox since forever. So when Summer dramatically dumps Harvey just a few days before the school prom, no one is expecting Alfie to ask Harvey to be his date. Least of all Alfie. But sometimes amazing things can happen when you take a chance.
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Everest: Reaching the Roof of the World
by David Long
Juvenile Non-fiction: Everest is the world's highest mountain, towering like an icy giant over the Himalayas. For the millions of people living nearby, it has always been a magical place. To explorers and adventurers, it represents a thrilling challenge to be conquered. In this exhilarating account by award-winning author David Long, he tells of the first attempts by international mountaineers to reach the fabled summit, many of which ended in disaster. But in May 1953, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the roof of the world!
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The Ghost Tower
by Gillian Cross
Juvenile Fiction: The scary ghost tower on the hill has loomed over Dot and Ryan's hometown for as long as anyone can remember. Now boarded up and dangerous, it's due to be knocked down...that is until the two friends decide to investigate. Determined to find out what's really happening in the tower, they forgo the usual fun of Halloween night to take one last risky visit to the tower and discover more than they bargained for. They catch a glimpse of an endangered species of bat! The bat colony and tower need to be saved, but it's not going to be easy to get everyone on their side. Can they find a way to stop the demolition and save the bats before it's too late?
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The Dancing Letters
by Evelyne Fournier
Picture Book: Full of life and imagination, dyslexic Olivia is asked to write a story for her grandmother's birthday, but when the words, letters, subjects and verbs won't cooperate, she discovers that love and support from her family is all she needs to overcome this challenge.
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Bob Books: Set 5, Long vowels
by Bobby Lynn Maslen
Easy Reader Non-fiction: Shares eight humorous stories that illustrate how to use long vowels and the silent "e."
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October 13 is Indigenous Peoples' Day The indigenous people of New Jersey were primarily the Lenape. New Jersey recognizes the Nantickoe Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, the Ramapough Lenape Nation, and the Powhatan Renape Nation. |
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William Penn's Own Account of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians
by Albert Myers
Non-fiction: In 1683, ten months after his arrival in America, William Penn wrote this now-famous sketch of Lenni Lenape Society. An acute observer, he was interested in all facets of Indian culture, and his account ranges from descriptions of the Indians' daily lives through discussions of their religious and moral views. Penn interpreted their mode of living with understanding, sympathy and, on occasion, even wistful envy. This edition includes the texts of several early Indian treaties and related documents.
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Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories
by Eldon Yellowhorn
Young Adult Non-fiction: A wide-ranging anthology that shines a light on untold Indigenous stories as chronicled by Indigenous creators, compiled by the acclaimed team behind Turtle Island and Sky Wolf's Call. For too long, stories and artistic expressions from Indigenous people have been written and recorded by others, not by the individuals who have experienced the events. In Ours to Tell, sixteen Indigenous creators relate traditions, accounts of historical events, and their own lived experiences. Novelists, poets, graphic artists, historians, craftspeople, and mapmakers chronicle stories on the struggles and triumphs lived by Indigenous people, and the impact these stories have had on their culture and history. Some of the profiles included are: Indigenous poet E. Pauline Johnson, acclaimed novelist Tommy Orange, brave warrior Standing Bear, poet and activist Rita Joe. With each profile accompanied by rich visuals, from archival photos to contemporary art, Ours to Tell brilliantly spotlights Indigenous life, past and present, through an Indigenous lens. Because each profile gives an historical and cultural context, what emerges is a history of Indigenous people.
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Legendary Frybread Drive-in: Intertribal Stories
by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Young Adult Fiction: Featuring the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers and edited by bestselling Muscogee author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of interconnected stories serves up laughter, love, Native pride, and the world's best frybread.
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Delaware (Lenape)
by Joseph Stanley
Juvenile Non-fiction: Introduces the Delaware people, discussing their history, traditions, and daily life.
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The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales
by James Bruchac
Juvenile Non-fiction: Twenty-four Native American legends and tales from across the United States capture a wide range of belief systems and wisdom from the Cherokee, Cheyenne, Hopi, Lenape, Maidu, Seminole, Seneca, and other tribes. The beautifully retold tales, each with an informative introduction, range from creation stories and animal fables to stirring accounts of bravery and sacrifice.
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When the Shadbush Blooms
by Carla Messinger
Picture Book: Two native American girls, one from the past and one from the present, live through the seasons, side-by-side, in the warm embrace of their families. The past is nearly 400 years ago, when the Lenape people lived a traditional life barely touched by European traders. The present is contemporary America, as the Lenape continue to adapt to a changing world while remaining close to the land and to each other.
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Library Programs of InterestFor a full listing of our programs this month see our Events Page.
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Mercer County Library System
2751 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 609-882-9246
https://mcl.org
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