Yeah, I don't get it either. Olympia, not that rich a city. And we can't pass a library bond to save our asses.

Probably something to do with the way that the Timberland Regional Library itself works and raises funds. I mean, it's a wonky, multi-county system.

Yeah, I don't get it either. Olympia, not that rich a city. And we can't pass a library bond to save our asses.

In the 1980's, our library was too broke to pursue fines. They charged fines if you came in an admitted them, but at otherwise, they didn't have the manpower to be able to have someone send out notices and chase after delinquent books. They didn't let people know that, but I found out from a friend who was friends with the head librarian.

What I thought was weird was when I came in and wanted to pay fines, they told me I did not owe any because even though I had turned the book in late, I'd returned it. As Plei says, probably something do with the Timberland System. Not an excess of money; I guarantee the Timberland system is not rich.

I wonder if the no fines for turning in books late is a way to encourage people to get the books back. I wonder how much they'd have to spend on replacement books as opposed to how much they would gather in fines.

ignoring all the disturbing library talk, as she has fled the country to escape the Library Police.

In the same vein, any suggestions for first-grade girls who like to read?

Depending on how good her reading is: The Wolves In The Walls; anything by Kevin Henkes, but especially the mouse books - Jesus, they're adorable; Miss Nelson Is Missing, by Harry Allard; Holly Black's Spiderwick Chronicles; The Sisters Grimm (which is very like Bill Willingham's Fables comic, only it's a kids' series of books); anything by Roald Dahl, pretty much...er, yeah. I could go on?

well, back to library talk a [link] to the librarian song

This might seem like it belongs more in the comics thread, but I'm posting it here anyway, because it straddles books and comics.

Although I have issues with the ghettoization of girls/women who read comics, last year DC started a line of graphic novels called Minx that's aimed more or less at tween/teen girls.

Despite my problems with creating "girl" comics (not that that's a new phenomenon), I read Minx's first graphic novel, The Plain Janes. I liked it a LOT.

A sequel -- Janes in Love came out recently, and it's just as good.

The idea is nothing new -- think Pump Up the Volume -- but it's well done, and so I'm pimping it.

Tep, would you say it's aimed more tween or teen? How adult-like are the storylines? Because I'm always looking for stuff for Abby.

Barb, I'm a bad judge (I'm 37 and I dug it -- I'm SUCH a sucker for high-school plots that are done well...or even not [cough::90210::cough]).

The most distressing parts are the references to the cafe bombing that injures Main Jane, which prompts her family's move to the small town -- and that occurs right before the timeline of the first one begins. It's referred to in flashbacks, but it's mostly Jane's feelings about it (scared, helpless, etc. -- normal feelings), and nothing graphic.

If Abby's familiar with the fact that shitty people commit acts of violence that hurt innocent people*, then I think they'd be fine for her.

*(I don't mean to imply that you keep her locked in a media-free safe room; I just don't know the extent to which you and DH discuss terrorism, etc., with your kids. But like I said above, if Abby knows that shit happens, then that's the extent of what the books cover. They really deal with Jane's life post-random act of violence, and how she chooses to live in response to it.)

t edit No sex or anything; there are crushes and one (I think) kiss. And a gay character who, in the second book, laments not having anyone to crush on. So no gay lovin'. Which made me sad, because he totally needs a boyfriend!

The Minx imprint will be toast in January; I think that Janes in Love is one of their last releases. So if you're interested in any of their books, you probably ought to pick them up while you can.