The Hoover Public Library has started a new book club for grades 4-6. This Just In! focuses on new releases. Our reporters can read any book published in the last 6 months. They bring it to share with the group then make commercials to share it with the world. Our first meeting was Monday, September 24, 2012 at 6:30 p.m., and we had 12 avid readers show up! Since it was our first meeting, we had to clarify a bit about how the book club would work. Here's a list of the books we talked about.

Miss Katie Jane - Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead (new from Newbery Award-winning author); The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford (first novel); Sway by Amber McRee Turner (first novel)
Connor - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (new to Connor, just bought at Scholastic Sale)
Anna - Muncle Trogg by Janet Foxley (chosen based on librarian recommendation)
Vincent - Middle School: Get Me Out of Here! by James Patterson & Chris Tebbets (#2 in a series)
Emily - Ungifted by Gordon Korman (great robot cover)
Hannah - Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle (translated from French)
David - Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Vol. 16 by Mike Gallagher (graphic novel)
Erica - Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur (newest book by this author is called Eight Keys)
Ali - Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz (new from Newbery Award-winning author; Ali read it as an ebook on her Nook)
Maddie - Twice Upon a Time by James Riley (#2 in a series; fractured fairy tale)
Siddharth - Lunch Money by Andrew Clements (newest book by this author is called About Average)
Abby - The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Hailey - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (#4 in a series; This author has a new book for adults coming September 27, 2012 - Casual Vacancy)

We're going to use all sorts of formats and mediums to make our commercials. This month we used Wordle. It's a website that allows you to create word clouds. We had to share four computers, and the printer gave us a bit of trouble. Ah, technology -- both a blessing and a curse. Still, our creations are pretty impressive.

Our next meeting will be Monday, October 22, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Call 444-7833 to let us know if you want to be a part of the group. Not sure where to find new books in the Kid Zone? It's easy -- just look for books with a pink sticker on their spine. Even easier -- look for the books that have an official This Just In! bookmark sticking out of the top. Overwhelmed with all of your new-book choices? Ask a librarian to help you find the right one for you.