THE MIDDLE FILES
the e-newsletter for middle schoolers

Diary of a Middle School Kid
Sana, an 8th grader at Glen Crest Middle School, dreams of visiting New Orleans or Hawaii.

Her ability to entertain everyone playing the piano might be soothing if  everyone under 18 could vote, because she thinks that change  would either be chaos or a good change for the world.

On Everything is Free Day, one of Sana's new national holidays, she'll probably be eating lots of free strawberries, so she will appreciate her casual and comfortable clothes. 

During breaks, if she is not watching the Harry Potter series or "The Greatest Showman," her fave movies, you'll find Sana sl eeping in!

Caturday, another of Sana's new national holidays will be a great day for the grand opening of her cat café. With the goal of making cats' lives better, she'll provide a place where people can read to their feline friends. Sana is currently studying Spanish, so her cats may meow en español!

Middle School Events
Looking for something to do? The library has some great programs designed just for you.  Check our calendar. Here are some highlights.


Graphic Novel Crew
Tuesday,  April 30 | 4:30-5:30 pm
Discuss graphic novels, play trivia, and eat snacks. Ask at the Youth Desk for the title of the graphic novel to be discussed in April and May. For grades 6-8. Reserve your spot.

Harry Pottery: Make your own Mug(gle)
Tuesday, April 23 | 4:30-5:30 pm
Design a mug to resemble your favorite Harry Potter character. We'll supply the mugs, markers, and paint - you bring the magic! For grades 6-8. Reserve your spot.



On Pins and Needles
Thursday, April 25 | 6:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, May 2 | 6:30-7:30 pm
Learn how to use a sewing machine and make a sleeve for your laptop or tablet. For grades 6-8. Reserve your spot.

Middle Squad
Wednesday, April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1 | 4-5:30 pm
Work with library staff to prepare for programs, pull books, and help as needed. Visit gepl.org/middle-school/volunteer to fill out an application. For grades 6-8. This is the last round before we start summer volunteering!  

New Book Spotlight
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

Twelve-year-old Iris has never let her deafness slow her down. A whiz at fixing electronics, she's always felt at home in the world of wires and vacuum tubes. 

School, on the other hand, isn't quite as simple. Between her frustrating teacher Ms. Conn and her overly helpful classmate Nina, Iris can't seem to catch a break. 

But during science class, Iris learns about Blue 55-the loneliest whale in the world. Saddened by the animal's inability to speak to other whales, Iris uses her tech skills to come up with a plan communicate with Blue 55. 

One small problem: the whale is swimming off the coast of Alaska, nearly 3,000 miles from her Texas home. But, nothing stops Iris, and with her Deaf grandmother by her side, she sets out on a road trip to meet the whale and make sure he's finally heard.

Tom's Picks

I recently updated  Tom's Picks , available from the  Middle School page  of our website. If you're looking for reading recommendations, I have more than 50 titles that span multiple genres! My taste is all over the place, and I'm very open to suggestions on what you think I should read!
Peer Review
My name is Elizabeth, and I'm an 8th grader at Hadley Junior High School. I'll be reviewing The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost.
 
This is my favorite book because it's very adventurous, and definitely not boring. The main character, Will West, can run really fast, but never really knows it until one day his parents go missing and he is forced to run as far as he can away from home. He doesn't know why any of this is happening, and to add to that, there are men and black hats chasing him. 

He is sent to a boarding school with other students who also have small powers that no one would really notice, unless you told them. He becomes friends with these kids, and later, they are brought together as a team fighting for their lives. Who's good and who's bad is beyond them. 

Someone who likes Harry Potter will enjoy this book and I give it five stars. 

VERSES NOT VERSUS 
April is National Poetry Month! The holiday has been around for 23 years, but how old is the oldest poem? The Epic of Gilgamesh seems to be agreed upon as the earliest form of poetry found more than 3,000 years ago! 

We're introduced to poems at an early age with rhymes and picture books.  Where the Sidewalk Ends,  with its humor and illustrations, makes it  an enjoyable poem for all ages .

Glen Ellyn Public Library | 400 Duane Street | Middle School Web Page
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