Brainfuse - HelpNow Online Tutoring Service

As we near a full year of living in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to grapple with its effect on our way of life, one thing is crystal clear: we’re doing more and more of our living, working, and learning virtually. With that in mind, WPL has tapped into an invaluable resource to offer to its patrons during this time: Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning. With your WPL library card in hand, people of all ages can head on over to www.mywpl.org/?q=article/helpnow-tutoring to get online help from expert tutors 7 days a week: 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. including:

• Academic assistance in core subjects (math, reading, writing, science, social studies)

• Live homework help

• 24/7 Writing Lab & essay feedback/assistance

• Academic content and practice tests for skills-building (including SAT preparation)

• French & Spanish language tutoring

• Adult Learning Center

• Chess tutoring

• Private virtual study rooms for you and your friends

• Digital flashcards

• And more!

Allow me to take you on a tour of the different features available to you! Here are the services that fall under the umbrella of Expert Help:

LIVE TUTORING:
Simply select your grade (kindergarten through college; FAFSA assistance is offered as well!) and subject, submit your request, and you will enter a live chat with a tutor! Patrons can request a session in Spanish/español if desired. As a majority of schooling is currently being conducted online, this can help fill the void created by the lack of face-to-face learning so many of us have been accustomed to.

This is presented in what you could call a “virtual classroom” setup, complete with a shared whiteboard that allows for you to show your work and collaborate with the tutor.

Say you’re working through a difficult algebra equation. Using the whiteboard, your tutor can see the steps you’re taking to solve the problem, and they can offer tips and advice as they guide you through the process as you reach the answer together. Speaking from experience, this could have spared me a few headaches when I was in school! Very cool indeed.

WRITING LAB:
This allows for patrons to submit a piece of writing to be reviewed by a resident writing expert. For those who may struggle with grammar, structure, word choices, etc., this is a great way to have a professional set of eyes take a look at your work and offer analysis and/or advice. With more and more people being isolated due to public health restrictions, it can be difficult to get feedback on something you’re working on -- the Writing Lab allows you to get an impartial critique from a pro, and it’s easy and free!

SKILL SURFER/LEARNING LIBRARY:
No matter where you are in your life, Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning has you covered. Using the Learning Library, patrons in 3^rd grade and up have access to all manner of lessons, reviews, videos, tests, and various exercises.

Are you a 3^rd grader in need of reading practice tests? They’re here! A 9^th grader looking for a calculus review? They’ve got it. A junior who want to master the SATs? There are test preps here for that. A self-conscious 60-something luddite looking to be demystified by Microsoft Office apps and computer programming? There’s a whole host of detailed, step-by-step (with screenshots!) walkthroughs designed to get you navigating these programs like a seasoned pro.

For adults who need a refresher on math skills, online research skills, prep guides for earning your GED or becoming a U.S. citizen, or in need of handy resources for parents, that’s all here as well. This could be a lifesaver for you!

SEND QUESTION:
Brainfuse's Send Question feature allows you to ask a question any time of day and get a written response from one of their tutors within approximately one business day. Feel free to attach supporting documentation (pictures, scans, drawings, etc.) to better describe your question. Your response will appear in your account’s Message Center.

LANGUAGE LAB:
Here, patrons can schedule an appointment with a language tutor for help with your foreign language class (only French or Spanish are available as I write this).

The Vocabulary Builder offers games, quizzes, flashcards, and spoken pronunciations to help you learn a new language. Languages to choose from include: Spanish, French, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch, and Catalan. To me, this seems like a great way of exploring a new language or honing your existing skills). Dive in!

LIVE CHESS TUTORING:
If you’re like me and still have no idea how to play chess even after watching the Queen’s Gambit in its entirety, fear not: Brainfuse HelpNow even offers live chess tutoring! You can schedule a tutoring session with an expert chess coach so you can learn strategies and improve your cognitive thinking. By clicking on Online Resources, you’ll get access to information on the basics of chess, tactics, and maneuvers. Very cool!

LIVE FAFSA HELP:
Whether you are a senior in high school or a “non-traditional” student, applying for financial aid is no one’s idea of a good time (*ahem*… Right, everyone?). You can schedule a virtual session to meet with an expert who can assist with any application questions (e.g. which line to use from their tax returns). Experts will never request sensitive personally identifiable information. It’s normal to find this process daunting and overwhelming, but services like this can make the going less tough.

Here are the services that fall under the umbrella of Study:

LEAP LEARNING PLATFORM:

Whether your goal is to earn your GED or get ready to enter college, LEAP helps you build academic skills through targeted lessons, quizzes, and live, online tutoring. LEAP creates your learning plan based on a skills assessment that you take at the beginning of the course. There’s enough offered here that you’d be hard-pressed to walk away from this platform without a few new concepts under your belt. Courses include basic math and reading and writing strategies for those entering college, and an assortment of math, reading/writing comprehension, science, and social studies courses for those looking to earn their GED.

FLASHBULB FLASH CARDS:

Flashbulb allows patrons to search an extensive library of digital flashcards in hundreds of subjects, or to create their own for efficient self-study. Study anytime, anywhere by taking your flashcards on the go with the Brainfuse mobile app. You can even play games! The flash card set subjects include: math, science, history, languages, geography, business, medical, agriculture, standardized tests, and more!

ePARACHUTE:

Are you an adult at a dead-end in your career? Looking to re-invent yourself through pursuing an education or certificate program? This corner of HelpNow helps you create a profile by guiding through a series of prompts (i.e. do you love math, but also like to perform and be imaginative?) that zero in on your natural strengths and weaknesses. At the end, you’ll have produced a list of potential careers or studies that should incorporate as much of your skills and interests as possible. If you feel so inclined, you can go through the whole process again to further refine your list. You can even explore job details, salaries, local listings, and more. And remember: it’s often just as important to recognize what you don’t like, as much as what you do like!

Here are the services that fall under the umbrella of Collaborate:

BRAINWAVE:
Brainwave is a cool tool that allows you to record a short movie of an activity or lesson on the Brainfuse virtual whiteboard. They can be used as notes, or you could send them to illustrate an idea or concept in lieu of sending an email. Brainwave is ideal for recording solutions to homework problems, class projects, or any other concepts that involve motion or sequencing. Whether you’re an educator communicating to students or a student trying to work through an assignment alone or with a classmate, Brainwave offers a cool method of sharing your ideas. The Brainwave library allows users to search for Brainwaves of interest that others have uploaded.

MEET:
Brainfuse Meeting allows you to book a private virtual study room by sending email invitations to participants via a form. You can set start and end times and date ranges if you’d like. If you’re “Zoom-ed out” like so many students and working people are, this might be a nice alternative to that.

ADULT LEARNING CENTER:
Attention all lifelong learners: the Adult Learning Center has just what you need if you’re considering going back to school, switching your job or career, tweaking your résumé, or just want a refresher on overall academic skills.

GED PREPARATION:
If you’re working on earning your GED, there are study materials and practice tests to help get you in shape for your big exam. You can even arrange to meet with a live tutor who can help you with challenging material.

U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST:
Becoming a citizen of the United States is a process with many hurdles and challenges, so why not make it easier on yourself? Much like the GED preparation page, there are study materials, practice tests, and live tutors to help you through it. 

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS:
Whether you’re casting a wide net nationally or are just looking for jobs in the Worcester area, there is a wealth of online resources here to help you get on track to securing a new job or career.

WRITE A WINNING RÉSUMÉ:
There is something of an art to writing the kind of impactful, eye-catching résumé that can help get you noticed in a sea of applicants. Brainfuse’s résumé templates and access to expert help can give you an edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

IN CONCLUSION:
No matter where you are in your academic or professional life or career, the Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning platform offers an array of services that can give almost anyone a helping hand. And it comes at no cost to you! Anyone with a Worcester Public Library card in good standing can reap the benefits of what’s available here. For videos that dive even further into this platform, visit Brainfuse’s YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/user/brainfuselearning

HAPPY LEARNING!

This post was authored by Ryan D., Youth Services Branch Librarian

Celebrate Black History this Month and Every Month

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY THIS MONTH AND EVERY MONTH, FOR BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY

WPL Resources

Black History Month Reading list - A selection of fiction and nonfiction titles highlighting Black authors and books on Black history.

How to Be an Antiracist Booklist - Titles to help you understand and respond to racism in print, e-book, and audiobook format.

Cookbooks & Cooking Memoirs for Black History Month - A selection of cookbooks written by Black authors to celebrate their culinary heritage.

Sci Fi & Fantasy by Black Authors - Want to read more Black authors but don't know where to start? Check out these recent sci fi & fantasy reads.

Black Women Poets - A collection of classic and contemporary poetry by Black women poets.

Langston Hughes: Poet of the Harlem Renaissance - Read about one of the most talented and prolific writers to emerge during the Harlem Renaissance.

Celebrating Black Romance Authors - Check out these books and resources by Black romance authors to learn more about how the romance publishing industry is changing for the better. 

Mysteries and Crime Fiction by Black Authors - A selection of Black-authored mystery novels featuring Black detectives, private investigators, and amateur sleuths.

Click Here for Worcester Public Library Events

Worcester Community Events

City of Worcester Events

PLAYED: How Music Orchestrates Thick Violence Against Black Girls on the Internet

Clark University, Higgins Lounge, Dana Commons – 2nd Floor. February 7, 2024,  7- 8:30 pm

Streamed Live: https://clarku.zoom.us/j/93352298941

Dr. Kyra Gaunt (University at Albany, SUNY) reveals the obscured musical contributions of Black girls who twerk while also exposing how music perpetuates patriarchal violence.

Brooding over Bloody Revenge With Nikki M. Taylor

VIRTUAL: American Antiquarian Society. Thursday February 8, 2024, at 7 pm

In this virtual book talk, Nikki M. Taylor reveals how enslaved women in the United States used lethal force in response to deeply personal wrongs committed by their owners.

Worcester Black History Project at the Worcester Center for Crafts

On view in the Krikorian Gallery, February 1 – 29, 2024

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 3, 4-6PM

The Worcester Black History Project invited black artists to respond to the theme of Catch the Fire. Viewers will observe how each artist interpreted this theme. Additionally, it will offer viewers the opportunity to reflect on the theme of Black History Month 2024, African American in the Arts and the mediums used by black people to resist oppression while simultaneously producing beautiful art.

Learn More

National Museum of African American History & Culture: African Americans and the Arts

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) commemorates Black History Month with wide-reaching programs that elevate the theme of “African Americans and the Arts,” using art as a platform for social justice. Black History Month also features the museum’s “NMAAHC Kids Learning Together” program, providing an opportunity for kids to virtually meet Black beekeepers, a Black scuba diver and a Black rock climber. All “NMAAHC Kids” programs are free with advance registration. The museum’s Black History Month online resources are available to explore, including a dedicated Black History Month webpage. 

Black History Month

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

Langston Hughes: Poet of the Harlem Renaissance

Langston Hughes was born on February 1st, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. In the 1920s he was one of the most talented and prolific writers to emerge during the Harlem Renaissance, which was a revival of African American art and literature in Harlem, Manhattan. 

It was during the Harlem Renaissance that Hughes wrote one of his most popular poems, “The Weary Blues.” Like many of his works, this poem fused the rhythms of jazz, blues, and African American speech. His work often focused on the lives of poor African Americans, and in the 1940s he debuted one of his more popular characters, Jesse B. Semple, who was also known by the name Simple. Simple is described as a philosopher and an African American Everyman who would share his troubles in exchange for a drink. Though the character of Simple did not directly challenge racism, he illustrated the difficulties an African American man faces in a racist society and the quiet determination needed to overcome those difficulties. This theme can be seen in another of Hughes's popular poems, "I Too."

For decades, Hughes was the most popular African American writer in the United States. He was both a poet and an author, and he wrote short stories, novels, children’s books, magazine and newspaper articles, plays, and much more. In recognition of his work he toured Africa in the 1950s on behalf of the State Department, and in 1961 he was admitted into the exclusive National Institute of Arts and Letters. More recently, Hughes was featured on the postage stamp and on a Google Doodle. These more modern recognitions show that, though Langston Hughes passed away in 1967, his words still resonate with us today. To learn more about him, check out this book list that includes several works written by and about him.

WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page

 

Today's adult patron book reviews focus on science fiction and fantasy. If you're new to the genres, read these reviews to figure out what kind of story you want to start with. If you like to discuss science fiction, try our Science Fiction Book Club. WPL's Science Fiction Book Club has been meeting since 2018. They love to talk about spaceships, aliens, first contact, artificial intelligence, and alternate history. Remember to log the books you've read for the WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page. It's a great way to keep track of what you've read, and you can also write reviews that will help other readers decide on what to read next. 

Containment by Christian Cantrell

Science fiction readers often classify SF books as "hard SF" or "social SF" or "science fantasy". "Containment" is *very* hard science fiction, and I think it would appeal to engineers, computer folks, and fans of stories about planetary colonization. ~ Melody F. 

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

3/5 stars. Black Sun had interesting characters, and great fantasy world building. The chapters alternate in different point of views of the main cast, with everything weaving together in the end to tell the tale of a young man’s journey to his final destiny. My criticism with the book though was that there was no major source of conflict. This story is an excellent example of how reading about the journey is better than the ending and I would recommend it to dark fantasy fans. ~ Yucheng Z. 

Vox by Christina Dalcher

I enjoyed this book! Reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale. ~Carolyn D.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

A short fantasy book about living practically and pragmatically as a princess and subverting traditional roles for girls. ~ Eun Sol L.

New Releases: February Edition

Did one of the book covers on our homepage catch your eye? They are all new titles being released in February 2021, and all are well-reviewed and anticipated. You can either watch the video below or read the description of each, then click the linked title to request a copy or get your name on the wait list. And don't forget to watch for more featured releases next month!

Featured Fiction Titles for February

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

When a witch falls in love with the trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this debut novel that reimagines Norse myth. Angrboda's story begins with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to give him knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless. She flees to a remote forest, where she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki. Her distrust of him grows into love and their union produces three children with secret destinies. But as Angrboda recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life--and possibly all of existence--is in danger. 

The Unwilling by John Hart

Gibby's brothers have been to war. One died there. The other came back a decorated killer with a recent stint in prison. Jason won't speak of the war or his prison time, but he wants a relationship with his younger brother. He coaxes Gibby into a day at the lake: hours of sunshine, whisky, and women. But the day changes when they encounter a prison bus on a stretch of road. Drunk, one of the women taunts the prisoners, leading to a riot on the bus. The woman is murdered soon after. Given his history, suspicion turns to Jason; but when the second woman is kidnapped, the police suspect Gibby, too. 

The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

It’s 2008, and the inauguration of Barack Obama brings new hope. In Chicago, Ruth is married to a man who wants to start a family, but she's never gotten over the baby she gave up as a teen. She knows that to move forward she must face the past. Returning home, Ruth discovers the town of her childhood is plagued by unemployment and racism. As she digs into the past, she befriends Midnight, a white boy looking for connection. But just as she is about to uncover a secret her family wants to keep hidden, an incident strains the town’s racial tensions and sends Ruth and Midnight onto a collision course.

Featured Nonfiction Titles for February

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates

Gates shares what he's learned in more than a decade of studying climate change and investing in innovations, and shares a vision for how the world can build the tools it needs to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions. He explains why he cares about climate change and what makes him optimistic that we can avoid the most dire effects of the climate crisis. Gates says, "We can work on a local, national, and global level to build the technologies, businesses, and industries to avoid the worst impacts of climate change." 

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibrim X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

Four Hundred Souls is a “community” history of African Americans. The editors have assembled 90 brilliant writers, each of whom takes on a five-year period. The writers explore their time periods through a variety of ways: essays, stories, vignettes, and polemics. Though themes of resistance, hope, and reinvention course through the book, these pieces from 90 different minds reflect 90 different perspectives, deconstructing the idea that Africans in America are a monolith. Instead it shows the range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness.

Smalltime: A Story of My Family and the Mob by Russell Shorto

This is the story of the author's search for his grandfather and namesake, delving into the world of the small-town mob, an intricate web that spanned midcentury America and stitched together cities from Yonkers to Fresno. Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is where "Little Joe" Regino and Russ Shorto built a local gambling empire on the earnings of factory workers for whom placing a bet-on a horse or pool game-was their best shot at the American dream. Also a riveting immigrant story, this book is deeply personal, as the author's father helps him piece together their patriarch's troubled past. 

WooRead Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page

 

This week's adult patron book reviews feature fiction and nonfiction. Take a look at what our patrons think about these compelling stories and decide if one should be your next read. When you're done, don't forget to log your books for the WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page. We still have time to reach our community goal of 3,000 books read by the end of May! If you like to chat about books, try our book clubs. There's something for every reader, including mystery, romance, and science fiction. It's a perfect break from your day, so pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and join us for a great book talk! 

The End of Policing by Alex S. Vitale 

This book discusses the history and evolvement of modern policing. Essentially, policing is used to control the population into "civil obedience," and have done more harm than good for poor/low-income/minority/under resourced communities. Highly recommend. ~ Mary T.

Life Like3 by Jay Kristoff

Part Pinocchio, Blade Runner, Mad Max & Tank girl. I devoured this book in little over a day. Compulsively readable and heartbreaking. ~ Myla S.

 The Devil's Elixir by Raymond Khoury

Book is full of adventure and mystery with a series of twists and turns. Really good book!

~ Miriam V

Inferno: A memoir of motherhood and madness by Catherine Cho

A first-person account of what it is like to descend into postpartum psychosis and eventually crawl out of it. The author brought her journal with her while in treatment which gives the book an authentic feeling of what it's like to not know what happened to you or why. Includes the reactions and devastating effects to relationships of those around the mother who is struggling with this diagnosis. A must-read for anyone treating postpartum women, and a good reason to advocate for programs that include treatment for the mother-infant bond. ~ Linda J.

Staff Picks with Devon & Joy: Resolutions Edition

Join Librarians Devon and Joy for this month's Staff Picks review. This episode focuses on New Year's Resolutions, and both librarians share a resolution with some matching titles for each. Books discussed  include one by a choreographer sharing career habits, a chronicle of our environment's past and present, a guide that Roseanne Cash called "brilliant," a pocket primer on climate change, a collection of different ways to see things, and essays from women in the climate movement.  

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Comment below and we'll suggest some books to help you along! 

Staff Picks for January: Resolutions Edition
Desert Notebooks: A Road Map for the End of Time by Ben Ehrenreich
The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here by Hope Jahren
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Wilkinson
The Art of Creative Thinking: 89 Ways to See Things Differently by Rod Judkins
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp

NEW! Introducing Magazine Bundles to go!

Miss browsing our large magazine collection? Looking to explore new ideas or cozy up with old favorites? The Main Library is offering Magazine Bundles, handpicked by library staff, allowing you to read, flip, or skim to your heart’s content! Find ideas for your DIY projects or catch up on current events! 

To borrow a bundle, all you need to do is fill out this form, and staff will select up to five magazines from the genre of your choice. Magazines are selected from the most recent copies available on the shelf at the time of your request. You will be notified when items are ready for pickup at the Main Library.

To borrow issues from a specific date, please place holds through our catalog.

Genres

For English language magazines, we offer a wide variety of selection from the following categories –

• Business, Politics & Current Events

• Computers, Science & Technology

• Crafts, Hobbies & Home Improvement

• Food, Health & Nutrition 

• Lifestyle, Fashion & Entertainment

• Popular Magazines

• Sports & Fitness

The Main Library carries a small collection of magazines in languages other than English, including Chinese, French, German, Russian and Spanish, and we are happy to bundle five of the most recent copies on the shelf from any of these languages.

Happy Reading!

Kanopy: Exploring World Cinema

 

Explore global cinema with Kanopy, a streaming service available free with your WPL card. Kanopy has an extensive collection of award winning films from around the world, including timeless classics and short films. You can watch 3 movies per month, and have 72 hours to watch the movie as many times as you like. If you do not have a Kanopy account, create one here. If you enjoy discussing films, try our Film Discussion Club. 

Shanghai Triad

Language: Mandarin 

An absorbing tale of the Chinese underworld in the 1930's, focusing on a pampered night club singer, who takes on a young boy to be her servant. 

Museo

Language: Spanish 

Well into their 30s, Juan and Benjamin still can't seem to finish veterinary school or leave their parents' homes. Instead, they wallow in comfortable limbo in the district of Satelite, a Mexico City suburb. On a fateful Christmas Eve, however, they decide it's finally time to distinguish themselves by executing the most infamous cultural artifacts heist in all of Mexican history, looting the country's iconic National Anthropology Museum.

Beanpole

Language: Russian

After the siege of Leningrad in World War II, two young women search for meaning and hope during their struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog 

Language: Japanese

A Labrador retriever named Quill begins specialized training as a guide dog from an early age. He is then paired with a blind man who is initially reluctant to rely on his new partner.

Timbuktu

Languages: Arabic, Bambara, French 

Not too far from Timbuktu, now ruled by religious fundamentalists, Kidane lives peacefully in the dunes with his wife Satima, his daughter Tonya, and Issan, their shepherd. In town, the people suffer, powerless, from the regime of terror imposed by the Jihadists. Kidane and his family had been spared the chaos that prevails in Timbuktu, but when their destiny changes abruptly, Kidane must face the new laws of the foreign occupants.

As it is in Heaven 

Languages: Italian, French, Swedish

After having a breakdown, a famous conductor returns to his remote village and inspires a church choir to enter into a singing competition. 

WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page

 

Travel is never restricted when you're reading a book! Our patrons have traveled back in time and to other dimensions. Read the book reviews below about the fascinating places they visited. Want to do some time traveling of your own? Check out our historical fiction booklist. We're getting close to our community goal of 3,000 books read for the WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page. We have until the end of May to reach our goal, so don't forget to log your books!

The Wheel of Ice by Stephen Baxter 

I love the show doctor who on BBC. To be reading a book based on a tv show is a must-have for an active reader like me. I've begun to like the sci fi genre over the pandemic. The writing and story was great and made me feel like I was in a doctor who episode. 

~ Leah D. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalo 

Loved the book. Felt her pain and despair when she finally discovers the identity of Jack The Ripper. Very well written and a fun read. Currently reading Hunting Prince Dracula. So far it has been very entertaining. ~ Miriam V. 

Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie 

I'll have to admit that I was prompted to read this after seeing the recent Hulu dramedy on Catherine. I learned a great deal about the real Catherine and Russian history and am grateful to the author for his reputable historical details and authentications.

~ Linda J.

Jack by Connie Willis 

Jack Harker is a member of the air raid rescue squad in London during the Blitz. He and his fellow squad members put out fires from the bombs and search out the survivors afterwards. A new team member arrives, also named Jack, who has an uncanny ability to find people buried under mountains of rubble. Jack Harker suspects there is more to the story and begins asking questions with no answers. A moody, dark novella with lots of atmosphere and suspicions, Connie Willis is a master of evoking the blood and chaos of London's worst days, making one feel what it must have been like in the middle of the Blitz. ~ Mary R.

New Urban Fiction Ready for Requests

We've recently added lots of titles to our Urban Fiction collection. The photo above shows a small sampling of what's new. These additions include a new book in Shaun Sinclair's Crescent Crew series, three titles by inmate-to-bestselling-author Shannon Holmes, the second book in a series by Latoya Nicole, and a stand-alone title by JaQuavis Coleman, who's considered one of the best writers in the genre (along with his wife Ashley Antoinette). Click the linked titles below for more information and to request the title! 

Cubana JaQuavis Coleman
B Careful by Shannon Holmes
B More Careful by Shannon Holmes
Bad Girlz 4 Life by Shannon Holmes
Love and War 2 by Latoya Nicole
Dirty Music by Shaun Sinclair

WooReads Adult Challenge: Turn a New Page

 

Hello WooReaders! We're back for another week of adult patron book reviews. There's a great selection of titles this week, which includes fiction and nonfiction. If you'd like to read any of these books, click the title to be brought to our catalog to place a hold. Join our WooReads Adults Challenge: Turn a New Page to log your books and help us reach our community goal of 3,000 books read by the end of May. We're almost there!

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby 

Great work by Samantha Irby. Her essays are laugh out loud funny, great distraction from the current events. ~ Rebecca G.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

A nice story centered around five people who spend the Winter Solstice together. Their paths converge after a series of personally unfortunate events, and during the time spent together, they learn to live, laugh, and love again. ~ Mary T.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith 

Would highly recommend this book. Really fun! ~ Jovietthe R.

There are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz

Compelling view of life in a South Side Chicago public housing complex in the 1980's. The book follows one family for several years while the main characters, 2 brothers, are elementary and middle school age. The challenges (which is putting it mildly) that these children face on a daily basis are immense. I was so concerned about them by the end of the book that I had to google to see whether they were even still alive (they are). MANY social justice issues are portrayed in the book by an author who actually spent time, money, and great effort to try and change the trajectory of the boys' lives with some, but not complete success. Well worth reading. ~ Linda J.

New Year, New Career

If you are looking to advance your career goals in the New Year, Quinsigamond Community College has announced a new initiative that offers FREE nurse assistant, home health aide and administrative medical programs. The free nurse assistant and home health aide training programs involve a 120-hour course commitment and will prepare students for positions in long-term care and acute care facilities or to work for a home health agency. QCC courses will be held remotely for Spring 2021. To learn more, please visit the college's website by clicking here.