Blog
Teens Get Your Fiction Game On
The Big Game of Everything by Chris Lynch
Swim the fly by Don Calame
Whale talk by Chris Crutcher
Winger by Andrew Smith
Rush for the gold: mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein
Vanishing act by John Feinstein
Summer ball by Mike Lupica
The batboy by Mike Lupica
International Bridge Walk
Take part in a truly unique experience by joining the International Bridge Walk in Sault Ste. Marie on June 29. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge, walkers from both the Michigan and Ontario side will get a fantastic view of the Soo Locks along the way. Earn your My Mitten badge and see some beautiful scenery at the same time.
The border at Sault Ste. Marie by Graeme S. Mount, John Abbott, Michael J. Mulloy
Detroit River Days
Celebrate River Days at the Detroit River Front! This year's event takes place June 21 to June 23 with live music, tall ships, sand sculptures and delicious food. Scheduled performers include Guess Who, the O'Jays, and George Clinton. A great way to earn your My Mitten badge!
Time Travel Fiction
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court by written by Mark Twain ; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
From time to time: a novel by Jack Finney
The house on the strand by Du Maurier, Daphne, Dame, 1907-1989
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Life, the universe, and everything by Douglas Adams
Lightning by Dean R. Koontz
Making history: a novel by Stephen Fry
You've Got Mail!
A fascinating look at personal correspondence throughout history:
Dear America: letters home from Vietnam by edited by Bernard Edelman for The New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission; [with a new introduction by Senator John McCain; foreword by William Broyles, Jr.]
The 50 greatest love letters of all time by [selected] by David H. Lowenherz
Letters of the century: America, 1900-1999 by edited by Lisa Grunwald & Stephen J. Adler
Mary Todd Lincoln: her life and letters by [by] Justin G. Turner [and] Linda Lovitt Turner. With an introd. by Fawn M. Brodie
Letters from Black America by edited by Pamela Newkirk
What Day Was That?
Travel back in time and learn about some of the most memorable days in world history:
America's jubilee by Andrew Burstein — July 4, 1826
D-Day, June 6, 1944: the climactic battle of World War II by Stephen E. Ambrose — June 6, 1944
The day Kennedy was shot by Jim Bishop — November 22, 1963
The day Lincoln was shot by Jim Bishop — April 14, 1865
Day of infamy by Walter Lord — December 7, 1941
The day the American Revolution began: 19 April 1775 by William H. Hallahan — April 19, 1775
You are There!
Jump into the Wayback Machine and be there when history was being made!
Days of destiny: crossroads in American history: America's greatest historians examine thirty-one uncelebrated days that changed the course of history by general editors, James M. McPherson, Alan Brinkley; editor, David Rubel
Eyewitness to America: 500 years of America in the words of those who saw it happen by edited by David Colbert
Eyewitness to history by edited by John Carey
I wish I'd been there: twenty historians bring to life dramatic events that changed America by edited by Byron Hollinshead
I wish I'd been there, book two: European history by edited by Byron Hollinshead and Theodore K. Rabb
Historical "What Ifs"
What if the Allied invasion of Europe on D-Day had failed? The Mayflower had not sailed? The Mongols had succeeded in conquering Europe? JFK hadn't been assassinated? Napoleon had invaded North America? The South had won the Civil War? Go back in time and reimagine history as it might have been with the following fascinating titles:
Almost America: from the colonists to Clinton: a 'what if' history of the U.S. by Steve Tally
Almost history: close calls, plan B's, and twists of fate in American history by Roger Bruns
The Confederate States of America: what might have been by Roger L. Ransom
Days of destiny: crossroads in American history: America's greatest historians examine thirty-one uncelebrated days that changed the course of history by general editors, James M. McPherson, Alan Brinkley; editor, David Rubel
Meta-Geek: Fiction Soaked in Geek Culture
Do you geek out about technology, fantasy and science fiction? Each of these books features a healthy dose of nerd-culture reference and hidden humor for readers in-the-know.
Ready player one by Ernest Cline
Geektastic: stories from the nerd herd by edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
The magicians: a novel by Lev Grossman (If you like this, be sure to catch the sequel - The Magician King)
Soon I will be invincible by Austin Grossman
The brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
JPod: a novel by Douglas Coupland
Explore Michigan's 'Natural Gems'
Special Events Calendar - Pure Michigan Style
Wondering what special events are going on in Michigan this summer? If so, check out Pure Michigan's Special Events Calendar. This interactive calendar lets you search by date and event type (Fairs & Festivals, Exhibits & Shows, etc.) to find an event in Michigan that's just right for you! Find an event and earn your My Mitten badge by attending.
Michigan Reads! Books for Kids
2013:
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski ; illustrated by Lee Harper
2012:
Moose on the loose by Kathy-jo Wargin ; illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello
2011:
Memoirs of a goldfish by Devin Scillian ; and illustrated by Tim Bowers
2010:
The runaway garden: a delicious story that's good for you, too! by Jeffery L. Schatzer ; illustrations by Jeffrey Ebbeler
2009:
The pout-pout fish by Deborah Diesen ; pictures by Dan Hanna
2008:
Visit the World's Fair - in Dearborn!
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
25 Time Travel Movies
Back to the future [videodisc]: the complete trilogy by Universal and Amblin Entertainment — Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd. Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 where he must bring his parents together so that he will exist when he gets back to his own time.
Bill & Ted's excellent adventure [videodisc] by an Orion Pictures release; Nelson Entertainment presents an Interscope Communications production; in association with Soisson/Murphey Productions — Starring Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter. Two high school students facing a difficult history exam round up some historical heavyweights with the help of a time-traveling messenger.
Looper [videodisc] by a Sony Pictures Entertainment release of a TriStar Pictures, FilmDistrict, Endgame Entertainment presentation in association with DMG Entertainment of a Ram Bergman production ; produced by Ram Bergman, James D. Stern ; written and directed by Rian Johnson — Starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. An assassin known as a "Looper" must kill his future self, who has been sent back 30 years in time by mobsters.
Time Travel Science Fiction
Science fiction is the home of time travel in literature. Check out these classic tales of time travel adventure.
In the garden of Iden : a novel of the company by Kage Baker
Pastwatch : the redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card
Time and again by Finney, Jack
The centurion's empire by Sean McMullen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
The time machine by H.G. Wells
To say nothing of the dog, or, How we found the bishop's bird stump at last by Connie Willis
Time Travel Series for Kids
The knight at dawn by Mary Pope Osborne ; illustrated by Sal Murdocca [series: Magic Tree House]
Knights of the kitchen table by Jon Scieszka ; illustrated by Lane Smith [series: Time Warp Trio]
A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle [series: Time Quintet]
Books by Bloggers
Earn your Geek Out badge with one of these books from some of the Internet's most popular bloggers:
Let's pretend this never happened: (a mostly true memoir) by Jenny Lawson
Sleep is for the weak: the best of the mommybloggers including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shoulda, Mom-101, and more!: a blogHer book by edited by Rita Arens ; forward by Stacy Morrison
Sparkly green earrings: catching the light at every turn by Melanie Shankle
Heaven is here: an incredible story of hope, triumph, and everyday joy by Stephanie Nielson ; with Amy Ferguson Hackworth
Carry on, warrior: thoughts on life unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton
Fiction about Technology
Obsessed with your smartphone? In love with your tablet? These novels explore the dark side of placing too much trust in technology.
Extinction by Mark Alpert
Ready player one by Ernest Cline
Super sad true love story: a novel by Gary Shteyngart
C by Tom McCarthy
For the win by Cory Doctorow
The chemistry of tears by Peter Carey
Utopia: a novel by Lincoln Child
Not Your Grandma's Geeks...
Gone are the visions of pencil protectors and computer nerds. These days, the term "Geek" is used to describe those who are passionate about a particular hobby or interest. Perhaps one of these titles will inspire you to Geek Out!
Geek girls unite: how fangirls, bookworms, indie chicks, and other misfits are taking over the world by Leslie Simon; illustrations by Nan Lawson
Record collecting for girls: unleashing your inner music nerd, one album at a time by Courtney E. Smith
Are you a geek?: 10[superscript 3] ways to find out by Tim Collins
American nerd: the story of my people by Benjamin Nugent
The elfish gene: dungeons, dragons and growing up strange by Mark Barrowcliffe
