Julie's Journal : E-books and Reviews

In continuing to work on collection development, last week I purchased new e-books for our collection.  Our e-books are available through the Overdrive app and website.  To check out e-books, you need a library card and a password.  Call or come by the library to have your password set up. 

There are many benefits to e-books:

• You can carry an entire library around in your pocket, which means you will never run out of something to read!
• Font size and contrast can be adjusted for ease of reading.
• E-book readers come with built-in dictionaries for instant definitions of unfamiliar words.
• Our e-book library gives you access to thousands of books that we do not have on our shelves. 

That last one is my favorite.  Many times when I am researching books I find something I want to read that doesn't meet the criteria for adding to our physical collection.  Often the book is already available through Overdrive.  Because we are part of a consortium, over 60 different libraries are constantly adding new material to the library.  I love that our e-book library gives me access to so many books.  It is another great resource for finding (free!) materials, especially for a voracious reader like me. 

Two books that I have read recently on Overdrive are worth a mention.  They are The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Vanya by Myrna Grant. 

The War That Saved My Life is set in England during WWII at the time of the exodus of children from London because of fear of German bombs.  The war is a backdrop to the story, but isn't a main player.  Ten year old Ada is crippled and her mother is deeply ashamed of her affliction.  As a result, Ada is confined to their one room apartment while her mother works and her brother attends school.  When Ada's brother, Jamie, is sent out of London with the other children, Ada makes her escape and goes with him to the countryside.  They end up in the home of Susan Smith, a woman who is grieving and is reluctant to take them in.  She provides what seems to her as the bare necessities but to Ada and Jamie, her home is luxurious.  All three begin to heal as they develop new bonds.  The story is heartbreaking, but hopeful.  It is shelved as a teen book, but the story is well written and developed and will appeal to all ages.  This book is available both as a physical book and an e-book.

Vanya is a biography of Ivan "Vanya" Vasilievich Moiseyev.  Vanya was a young soldier in the Russian army.  Drafted in 1970 at the age of 18, he left his home in a small village in Moldavia to become part of the Red Army in Odessa.  The official position of the army and the Russian government was one of atheism.  Vanya however was a Christian.  Through "re-education", imprisonment, torture, and eventually death, Vanya refused to recant his faith.  He was only 20 years old when he was killed in 1972.  Vanya left behind a good record of what was done to him and the miracles he experienced.  He sent letters home and, on a visit home, a recording was made of his story up to that point.  His story is extraordinary, and is not a story from antiquity, but a modern one.  For anyone who professes Christianity, Vanya's story is worth reading and pondering.  Vanya's story also highlights the importance of the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prevents any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.  Vanya is a short book, with a powerful story.

Be sure to check out Overdrive for the thousands of books available!  There are also audiobooks and a few movies and magazines.