Karl Malantes, Marine Lieutenant and Rhodes Scholar, started writing Matterhorn in 1975. Some 30 years later, it is done - and critics say it's been well worth the wait. Here's Sebastian Junger writing in the New york Times Book Review: "Chapter after chapter, battle after battle, Marlantes pushes you through what may be one of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam—or any war. It's not a book so much as a deployment, and you will not return unaltered…Matterhorn is a raw, brilliant account of war that may well serve as a final exorcism for one of the most painful passages in American history." Check it out!

The ultimate secret. The ultimate agent. The President's vampire. Zach Barrows is an ambitious young White House staffer whose career takes an unexpected turn when he's partnered with Nathaniel Cade, a secret agent sworn to protect the president. But Cade is no ordinary civil servant. Bound by a special blood oath, Cade has spent more than 140 years in service to the president, battling nightmares before they can break into the daylight world of the American dream. Immediately Zach and Cade receive their first joint assignment: one that uncovers a shadowy government conspiracy and a plot to attack the Unites States with a gruesome new biological weapon. Zach soon learns that the world is far stranger, and far more dangerous, than he ever imagined . . . and that his partner is the least of his problems.

Scott Turow's first novel, Presumed Innocent, was a smash bestseller that re-vitalized the courtroom drama. Now, over 20 years later, he has written a follow up that promises to be just as good. Here's what some of the critics have to say about Innocent: "Mesmerizing prose and intricate plotting lift Turow's superlative legal thriller, his best novel since Presumed Innocent" (Publishers Weekly); "It took Turow more than 20 years to bring us the sequel to his best-selling first novel, Presumed Innocent, and it was worth the wait" (Library Journal); "a lovely novel, gripping and darkly self-reflective" (The New York Times Book Review); "an intelligent, thoughtful novel: a grownup book for grownup readers" (Washington Post). Check it out!

Operation Halyard is one of the least known - but most successful - air rescue operations of World War II. More than five hundred Allied airmen--most shot down while conducting bombing raids on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania -hid in the hills of Yugoslavia. Chetnik forces, led by General Draza Mihailovich, and Serbian peasants hid the downed pilots, at considerable risk, while the men waited for a way out. It finally came in 1944.

The plan was was so dangerous that it was little short of a miracle that they didn't lose a single plane or airman. "Four OSS agents, going to ground for months in the Yugoslav countryside, would organize the dispersed, secreted airmen. Hardly robust after months of hiding, the men would then have to build an airstrip large enough for C-47s without any real tools, and without detection in the heart of Nazi-occupied territory. Last but not least, the C-47s would have to fly in and out over one of the war's most heavily fortified German-held regions--beginning with daring nighttime landings, but later in broad daylight, flanked by waves of fighters." It's an incredible story - check it out!

Adventures at Sea Story Time

Please join us next Wednesday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. at our next story time for preschoolers through upcoming second graders and their parents/caregivers. Do you know what a pirate's favorite letter of the alphabet is? Find out on Wednesday! Daycares with children in this age group are invited to come on Thursday, July 1.

These family story times will continue through July, alternating with crafts and science activities. The turnout has been wonderful, so come and join the fun!

Children participating in the Make a Splash - Read Summer Library Program have already read enough days to raise $159 for the Red Wing Area Food Shelf (Friends of the Library is supporting this) and the library has handed out 159 daily coupons to swim at Colvill Aquatic Center. This is only two weeks into the eight week program. Way to go!

If you would like to participate in this program, please call (385-3645)or come by the Reference Desk and we'll get you started. It's for preschoolers on up to those entering 6th grade in the fall. Upcoming 7th through 12th graders may fill out a book review form found at the library and enter in a weekly drawing for pool coupons.

The third book of the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins will be out August 24. If you haven't read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire, start now in time for the third one. If you're anxiously awaiting the publication of Mockingjay, you can request it online or by calling the library reference desk at 385-3645.

What horrible games or tricks will the Capitol come up with to destroy Katniss? Or will Katniss and other allies be able to defeat President Snow? Will Katniss choose to be with her teammate Peeta or longtime friend Gale? This third book of a postapocalyptic world has many loose ends to tie up.

This is a "young adult" series, but middle school age and older (adults included) will find these page-turners difficult to put down.

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Nine people are trapped in an office together after an earthquake, all there to gain visas to travel to India. As the chance of help arriving and survival seem less likely, this diverse group of people begin to share one amazing story about each of their lives. These revealing stories change their views of each other, and we witness the situation itself as life changing.

New Maud Hart Lovelace nominees 2010 - 2011 are in!

Children going into grades 3 - 5 (Division I) and grades 6 - 8 (Division II) are invited to read at least 3 of these books, which will enable them to take part in voting for their favorite in a state-wide election next spring. These books can be
found in a display on top of the juvenile fiction shelves.

Perfection: a memoir of betrayal and renewal by Julie Metz

Although this book is in the fiction collection, the author says she's only changed others' names and the order of some of the events.
Imagine the shock and grief at having your husband suddenly die; but add to that the discovery that he had numerous affairs during your marriage. This book recounts how the author deals with this, while continuing to raise their young daughter. It reads as an honest portrayal of a woman attempting to hold it all together though ready to break apart.

Summer Reading Program
The investigators group (children entering grades 3 - 6)will have a Diary of a Wimpy Kid Read-alike Book Club this coming Tuesday, June 15 at 10:30 downstairs in the Foot Room of the library. We'll be talking about books on our book list and display, as well as learning how to create a comic strip and actually making one. Even if you haven't read a book yet but are interested, please join us!

Check out the library's new CD "Up from Below" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Cut #6 "Home" stands out as the most upbeat, lively love song I have ever heard.This 10 - 12 member band was listed as artist to watch in 2009 by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Great MN mystery you may have missed

From Library Journal: "Sarah Pribek, a sheriff's detective in charge of missing persons cases, knows the increasing difficulty of locating individuals as time lapses: after 36 hours, there is little chance of even recovering the body. But when her husband, Shiloh (also a cop), goes missing without a trace, Sarah isn't willing to give up after that time period. Her search takes her across country and into the heart of dark family secrets. Meanwhile, Sarah's partner, Genevieve Brown, is on leave following the brutal beating death of her daughter but comes out of her funk to help Sarah. The plot twists grow more and more incredible with each page in this impressive debut, the first in a series about Sarah." Check it out!

Summer Reading is here!

You can pick up your reading forms starting today, and the kickoff events (including a treasure hunt!) are this week. Check out our web page for more information, or just give us a call!

Newly arrived CDs include:


Save Me, San Francisco by Train






11:11 by Rodrigo y Gabriela






Blood of Man by Mason Jennings






I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers

Readalikes book club

Just a reminder, for those of you who like to get started early, that our next Read-A-Likes Book Club meeting is scheduled for July 12 between 12pm and 1pm. We'll be discussing Lee Child and authors people who like Lee Child's works might enjoy. See our Read-A-Likes Book Club page for details. A brochure with suggested read-a-likes for Lee Child is available in the library at the reference desk. No registration required.

Summer is here and lots of us are looking for ways to get fitter and healthier. Look no farther! Come check out 1,001 Ways to Get in Shape and you're sure to find some useful tips!