Never Too Old:
Celebrating Youth Books
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025, 5pm
Never Too Old meets the 1st WEDNESDAY of the month to share the diversity, depth, and relevance of Young Adult & Juvenile books.
All ages are welcome. For more information, contact Beth@LopezLibrary.org or Ingrid@LopezLibrary.org

July 2 - Juvenile titles you may have missed
A selection of Juvenile books to read and review

Ingrid has noticed that some of the books we purchased during Covid years have not gone out and are showing up on weed lists. Since there are some great titles, we are selecting some for this group to read and review for keeping or weeding. Below are a few examples. More may be found in the "Book Club" area across from the front desk.

Hummingbird
by Natalie Lloyd

Twelve-year-old Olive, who is seen as“fragile” due to brittle bone disease, searches for a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that could possibly make her most desperate, secret wish come true.
Cece Rios and the desert of souls
by Kaela Rivera

Privately questioning her remote community's superstitions about dangerous powerful spirits in their Devil's Alley home, Cecelia Rios experiments with the forbidden art of brujería to rescue her kidnapped sister.
The Midnight Brigade
by Adam Borba

When he finds a flyer about a mysterious monster-seeking group called the Monster Brigade, Carl finds his curiosity leading him to an incredible discovery that causes him to be bolder than he ever imagined.
Efrâen divided
by Ernesto Cisneros

Worrying about his undocumented parents, who have worked hard to secure a safe life for their family, a young Mexican American struggles to find his inner courage when his beloved mother is arrested and deported. A first novel.
The second chance of Benjamin Waterfalls
by James Bird

After being caught stealing one too many times, Benjamin Waterfalls is sent to a“boot camp” at the Objibwe reservation where he searches for answers as he tries to turn his life around and embrace this second chance.

June Summary  
On June 4th, six readers shared thoughts on The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White. Unfortunately, we determined that this novel, E. B. White's last children's book, is very dated. Women are barely visible in the story and references to Native Americans are inappropriate. The worst part was that Sam and Louis agreed to give one of Louis and Serena's cygnets to the zoo whenever requested! This was so out of character for Louis, who worked hard for his own freedom and independence. What was White thinking when he wrote this? We tried to understand through references in the biography, Some Writer! White wrote the book for money (which was a large theme in the book) when his beloved wife, Katharine, was ill, so he must have been very stressed. This does not condone the issues, but perhaps gives some empathy. Two readers very much enjoyed Some Writer! and shared portions. In this beautifully illustrated biography, White appeared to be a loving husband* and father, affable, humorous, and all-round nice person, so that makes the issues in this novel even more surprising. Would we read this to a child today? Probably not. If you are thinking about sharing this story with a youngster, please read it yourself first.
 
Charlotte's Web seems less problematic, though none of us have re-read it in some years. Fern and Charlotte are strong female characters and the plot seems gentler overall.

The trumpet of the swan
by E. B. White

Knowing how to read and write is not enough for Louis, a voiceless Trumpeter Swan--his determination to learn to play a stolen trumpet takes him far from his wilderness home.

 
Some writer! : the story of E.B. White
by Melissa Sweet

Presents an account of E.B. White's life and career through personal letters, photographs, family ephemera, and original artwork, while offering glimpses into the origins of his iconic works.
*Natural History

(Written for Katharine in 1929, published in Letters of E. B. White and Some Writer!)
 
The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unwinds a thread of his devising:
A thin, premeditated rig
To use in rising.
 
And all the journey down through space,
In cool descent, and loyal-hearted,
He builds a ladder to the place
From which he started.
 
Thus I, gone forth, as spiders do,
In spider's web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken strand to you
For my returning.

Charlotte's web
by E. B. White

Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him.
Lopez Island Library
2225 Fisherman Bay Rd
Lopez Island, Washington 98261
360-468-2265
www.lopezlibrary.org