Niles District Library: ‘All Good Children’ engrossing
Published 10:33 pm Monday, July 23, 2012
This week’s read
Catherine Austen’s “All Good Children” is an imaginative work of dystopian fiction. Maxwell Connors is an intelligent, witty, creative and observant teenager. What he has observed in his quiet town of New Middleton is disturbing. Children in the lower grades are slowly becoming strangely obedient, and the parents and teachers love it. It’s all a part of their “New Education Support Treatment,” which the teachers are saying will bring their community and the country to where it needs to be. Max and his best friend, Dallas, disagree. Max once thought New Middleton’s walls were all that kept him safe from the outside world, but now he has to look to the world outside of New Middleton for freedom. New Middleton is becoming a world where children are treated like Stepford wives. Austen’s novel is engrossing and deeply funny, and simultaneously important and frightening.
Youth activities
• 6 p.m. today: Children are invited to a Pajama Party with songs, stories, games and snacks. Everyone is welcome to wear their pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal. All ages are welcome.
• 3:30 p.m. Thursday: The children’s movie is “Up” in the story room.
• 5 p.m. Thursday: The teen movie is “Batman Begins” in the community room.
Adult activities
•1:30 p.m. July 30: The Video Book Club will see “The Fiddler on the Roof. “
• 7 p.m. Wednesday: The library will be hosting the next presentation in the Fort St. Joseph Archeological Project’s Public Lecture Series. Larry Horrigan will present “Firearms of New France” in the community room.
• Saturday: The Adult Summer Reading Awards Ceremony will take place. During this time, the Olympic Fellowship Trivia Contest and Food Drive will take place. The cost of admission is one nonperishable food item that will benefit the community of Niles through the St. Mary’s Food Bank. Participants are welcome to bring a team or join a table. Categories will be Olympics, Mythology, Sports, Literature, History and Film. There will be snacks and prizes.
‘Start Over’
During July, August and September patrons can have most or all of their fines and fees eliminated simply by asking to “Start Over.” The “Start Over” program aims to bring more people to the library by eliminating fines and fees which may be preventing people from using the library. Ask for details at the front desk.
