Center for the Book at the New Hampshire Book Notes State Library Fall 2005 Vol. 1 , Issue 2

National Book Festival 2005 A New Hampshire Perspective

By Charles Shipman Center for the Book were in atten- state maps and Center for the Reference Librarian, dance and we were free to roam Book magnets were gone as well. New Hampshire State Library the grounds as we mingled. It was Fortunately our stamps never ran a wonderful way to meet other out of ink, and we had plenty of For the fourth consecutive year, Book Center staff and librarians bookmarks to hand out. representatives of the NH Center from around the country. for the Book and the NH State Li- We had a very special treat at our brary attended the National Book But Saturday morning was time for table in the afternoon. Children’s Festival in Washington, D.C., and work. The book festival is held on author Jennifer Ericsson stopped once again the festival was a rous- the National Mall, with tents spread by our table to meet the kids and ing success. This is the fifth year of out throughout the grounds. We stamp their maps. Jennifer the National Book Festival but it set up shop in the Pavilion of the Ericsson seems to have a gift for was my first chance to attend. My States, an enormous tent housing capturing aspects of life that read- advice to fellow book lovers, what- tables for each of the fifty states, ers can immediately relate to. To ever your taste in books may be: if the District of Columbia, and sev- cite just one example, my wife you ever have the chance to make eral territories, including Guam, sometimes has to travel for work, it to this event, by all means do it. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. and Ericsson’s book, Home to Me, Each state distributed goodies to Home to You, about a girl whose This year’s New Hampshire con- children (and adults) advertising mother is on a business trip, so tingent consisted of Mary Russell, their state’s libraries and centers for perfectly captures my own family’s Director of the NH Center for the the book. But the main attraction rhythms and routines it’s uncanny. Book, Michael York, State Librar- for the kids was a colorful map of Jennifer was a delight, enthusiasti- ian, myself and Mary’s husband, the U.S., upon which each state cally engaging each child in conver- Todd. We arrived Friday after- placed a distinctive stamp or sation and welcoming each family noon (Sept. 23) and hadn’t walked sticker. The crowds started rolling to our table. Beth Blair, an illustra- 100 feet before our first celebrity in by 9:00am and never really tor who has worked with Ericsson sighting: John Kerry, getting a stopped until 5:00pm. Luckily we shoeshine. At the baggage claim had volunteers from the Junior Continues on page 10 we spotted Donald Hall, who was League of Washington to help us a featured author at the festival. throughout the day. I’m pleased to INSIDE THIS ISSUE Quite an auspicious start to the report that most kids can in fact NH Books Column 2 weekend! find New Hampshire on the map, NH Humanities Council 3 though some of the little ones Sarah Josepha Hale 4 That evening we were treated to a needed a bit of coaxing (“It’s in the MEMBERSHIP FORM 5 reception sponsored by the Center northeast. Top right corner. Keep Letters About Literature 6 for the Book in the Library of Con- going. Tiny little triangle. It’s red. Reader Recommendations 8 gress and hosted by the Center’s You FOUND it! Great job!”) Our IMPAC Dublin Award 9 director, John Cole. The reception only mistake was that we didn’t Children’s Historical Collection 10 was held on the grounds of the bring more loot. By late morning Award Notes 11 Botanic Garden of the United our 300 NH Primary pins were NH Authors Database 12 States. Guests from each state’s gone, and by early afternoon our

Fall 2005 - 1 Center for the Book New Hampshire Books at the By Donna Gilbreth New Hampshire State Library In the last few years some of New Hampshire’s surviving grand hotels have been beautifully restored and are once again catering to pampered guests. The Mountain View Grand in Whitefield and the Wentworth by Mary A. Russell, Director the Sea in New Castle are magnificent hotels recently restored and re- 603-271-2866 opened to the public. In addition, the venerable Mount Washington Ho- [email protected] tel is now open year round and competing with The Balsams in Dixville Notch for winter tourists. New Hampshire’s history as a tourist mecca 2005 Advisory Board began simply with rooms in small guesthouses. But by the mid-1850’s, especially with the expansion of railroad lines, large hotels with 200 or Chair more rooms began to spring up. At its peak around 1900, there were Carrie Thomas over 30 large hotels operating in the state. However, changes in tourism, Colby-Sawyer College plus the changes wrought by two world wars and the Great Depression, destroyed the leisurely luxury hotel visit. Sadly, many hotels burned and Vice-Chair Jackie Gardner, CHILIS others were eventually torn down. Now, we just have the four hotels mentioned above plus some smaller hotels like the Eagle Mountain Van McLeod House and Wentworth Hall in Jackson. NH Dept.of Cultural Resources These plush hotels are a pleasure to visit and dine at, but a bit expensive Cathy Higgins for those of us living on state salaries (especially when facing the pros- NH Dept. of Education pect of paying for my son’s college tuition the next four years!) So, I will have to fulfill my fantasies of living in luxury by strolling around the Michael York grounds of these swank hotels and reading some of the beautifully illus- New Hampshire State Library trated books about these historic hotels. Katie Goodman New Hampshire Writers Project I have listed below some of the books, old and new, that survey the splendors and the history of New Hampshire’s grand old hotels. Deborah Watrous NH Humanities Council McAvoy, George E. And Then There Was One: a History of the Hotels of the Summit and the West Side of Mt. Washington. Cynthia Huntington Littleton, NH: Crawford Press, 1988 Poet Laureate of New Hampshire A history of the Crawford House (burned in 1977) and other defunct hotels in the Bretton Woods area, culminating with a brief history of the Becky Albert Mount Washington Hotel. Author McAvoy is a former owner of the NH Educational Media Association Crawford House.

Andrea Thorpe Emerson, David. White Mountain Hotels, Inns, and Taverns (Im- NH Library Association ages of America series). Dover, NH: Arcadia Publishing, 1996 Sally Jones A brief history of lodgings in the White Mountains, from the early inns NH Library Trustees Association and boarding houses to the extravagant hotels of the railroad age.

Pat Frisella New Hampshire Agricultural Department. Gems of the Granite Poetry Society of New Hampshire State. Edward N. Pearson, 1893 The state, in an effort to promote tourism, created this directory of sum- Eleanor Strang mer resorts in the state. It includes several photographs of popular natu- Urban Public Library Consortium ral resources and detailed information for people wishing to visit the many lodgings. In 1893 one could stay at the Mountain View in Micheal Herrmann Whitefield for $2.50 per day! Gibson’s Bookstore, Concord Continues on page 9

Katie McDonough Kimball Public Library, Atkinson New Hampshire’s Literary Community New Hampshire Humanities Council

By Deborah Watrous Executive Director, NHHC Since 1983, the NHHC has Since its beginnings in 1974, The worked to improve the teaching of New Hampshire Humanities Coun- the humanities in NH’s public cil (NHHC) has nurtured commu- schools by funding summer insti- nity by connecting people with tutes and developing teacher work- ideas. Its programs have sprung shops on subjects as diverse as NH from a deeply-rooted need to pass history, the Silk Road, the separa- on our rich heritage, expand our tion of Church and State, and the understanding of the world, and teaching of Shakespeare. In 2006, rediscover the joy of learning. the Council will pilot “Scholars in Through the years, the NHHC has programs and scholars. Last year, the Schools,” an initiative designed offered challenging, provocative the NHHC awarded over $55,000 to provide scholarship and re- public programs that explore our in Humanities To Go! grants to 120 sources to public school teachers in common humanity. different community organizations their schools, even in their class- for such programs as lectures on rooms. In 1974, the National Endowment the founding of NH towns, a dis- for the Humanities established the cussion of the Israel-Palestine con- The NHHC is supported by a grant NHHC to grant funds to local flict, an appearance by Abraham from the National Endowment for groups for programs that explored Lincoln, and an evening of New the Humanities as well as by contri- public policy issues through the lens Hampshire humor. butions and grants from individuals, of the humanities. Community corporations, and foundations in projects funded by the NHHC The NHHC has made a significant New Hampshire. Each month, the include “Energy - The Individual commitment over the years to fos- Council publishes a free calendar of and the Community,” a series of tering a love of reading and talking events which lists 30-50 free public conferences and lectures at which about books, funding hundreds of humanities programs taking place over 800 participants deepened scholar-facilitators and purchasing around the state that month plus ar- their understanding of environmen- thousands of books for library- ticles on special programs and tal policy decisions; and “Humani- based discussion series. In 1994, Council news. To get on the mail- ties in the Legislature,” in which the NHHC developed “What is ing list or to contribute to the philosopher Ronald Jager served New Hampshire Reading,” orga- NHHC, call 603-224-4071 or visit as humanist-in-residence to the NH nizing discussions on over a hun- www.nhhc.org. state legislature, bringing a humani- dred different titles over the past 11 ties prospective to discussions of years on topics as diverse as “New such topics as energy policy, envi- Hampshire Voices,” “With Earth in One of the goals of the New ronmental laws, and education. Mind,” “Out of Asia,” and this Hampshire Center for the Book year’s “Journeys to the Edge.” is to promote the many organi- In the 1980s, the NHHC began to The Council also has experimented zations throughout the state develop its own programs, inaugu- with holding book discussions in whose work supports our mis- rating a new era of civic engage- non-traditional venues such as a sion of celebrating and promot- ment through statewide book dis- sporting goods shop, work sites, ing reading, books, literacy, and cussions, theme-based series, and and The Portsmouth Brewery. As the literary heritage of New collegial partnerships. The creation part of “What is New Hampshire Hampshire. The NHHC is one of the Humanities Resource Center Reading,” the NHHC has brought of these organizations, and this (now called Humanities To Go!) a fascinating mix of authors to the profile is part of a continuing gave the state’s community organi- state, from Anita Shreve to Da series of articles on members of zations – from professionally Chen to this fall’s visit by National New Hampshire’s literary staffed non-profits to local all-vol- Book Award winner Nathaniel community. unteer community groups – access Philbrick on November 15th in to high-quality public humanities Concord.

Fall 2005 - 3 New Hampshire’s Literary Treasures Sarah Josepha Hale A NH Woman Who Shaped American Culture

By Andrea Thorpe continued her education, studying In Ladies Magazine Sarah gave Library Director, space to “mark the progress of fe- Richards Free Library with her husband for two hours ev- ery evening. Sarah and David had male improvements, and cherish the five children, three sons and two effusions of female intellect.” She Sarah Josepha Hale was a 19th daughters. Two weeks before Sa- set new standards for the magazine century woman of influence. While rah gave birth to her youngest in America. Unlike many of her fel- she abhorred the thought of women child, David died. low editors, she did not rely on lift- voting or even speaking in public, ing entire articles from other peri- as editor of one of the most popu- Forced to open a millinery shop odicals –in particular those from lar magazines of the time, she with her sister-in-law to support England. Instead, she promoted shaped public opinion. She was her children, Sarah turned to her and published American writers fiercely patriotic and a champion pen for solace and extra income. such as Melville, Poe, and Haw- for the education of women. She She was determined to educate thorn. While editing the Ladies believed that the future of the coun- her children: “I cared not that they Magazine, Sarah continued to try rested in the hands of the should inherit wealth…but to be publish outside of the pages of her nation’s women as mothers and deprived the advantages of educa- magazine. In 1830 she published helpmeets of the nation’s leaders. tion was to make them ‘poor in- Poems for Our Children, which deed.’” Her first book of poetry included her most famous verse, Sarah Josepha Buell was born on a Genius of Oblivion, was pub- “Mary’s Lamb”. hilltop farm in Newport, NH. She lished in 1823. She continued to was lucky enough to have a literate write contributing essays and po- Understanding the plight of wid- mother - a rarity in the late 18th ems to magazines. Her first novel, ows, she helped to found the century - and a Dartmouth edu- Northwood, was published in Seamen’s Aid Society in Boston to cated brother, both of whom 1827. It was the first American educate women and provide them shared their education, books and novel to deal with the growing dif- with employable skills. She used love of learning with Sarah. In ferences between the North and her editorial position to raise money 1806 she opened a private “dame” the South. Later that year she was from her readers by asking each of school in Newport. She taught un- offered the job of editoress her readers to contribute twenty- til 1813 when she married David (Sarah’s preferred title) for a new five cents to fund the completion of Hale, a lawyer from nearby periodical for women, Ladies the unfinished and stalled Bunker Alstead. They resided in Newport Magazine. Sarah’s career as an Hill Monument. When still more near the town common and Sarah editor had begun. money was needed she asked her readers to hold fairs to sell their Selected Works of Sarah J. Hale handwork to raise the money. Later she would use this fundraising Poems for Our Children: Designed for Families, Sab- model to help raise funds for the preservation of George bath Schools, and Infant Schools, Written to Inculcate Washington’s Mount Vernon. Moral Truths and Virtuous Sentiments (1830) After thirteen years in Boston, Northwood: A Tale of New England (1827) Louis Godey persuaded Sarah to become the editor of Godey’s Woman’s Record; or, Sketches of Aall Distinguished Lady’s Book. In 1837 she began her long association with Godey to Women, from “The Beginning” till A.D. 1850: Ar- publish the most widely read ranged in Four Eras: With Selections from Female woman’s magazine of the 19th cen- Writers of Every Age. (1853) tury. The Boston-based Ladies Magazine merged with Godey’s

4 - Fall 2005 and Sarah moved to Philadelphia day of November a national day Become a as soon as her son graduated from of thanksgiving. Not only did she Harvard. She brought with her the write editorials, she also penned Founding Member high standards she had set for La- letters to every president from and Support the dies Magazine and continued to Buchanan to Lincoln, to the gov- Center for the Book include articles of substance. Sarah ernors of every state and territory was less interested in the fashions and to many other influential at the NHSL of the day. It was Godey, not Sa- people. By 1852 twenty-nine rah who was in charge of the fash- states, including New Hampshire, Name: ion plates. Sarah promoted exer- and all the territories declared the cise, proper diet and sensible dress fourth Thursday in November a Organization: for women. As someone forced to day of thanksgiving. It wasn’t support her family with her writing until 1863 that Sarah’s dream was Mailing Address: skills, she advocated for married fulfilled when Abraham Lincoln women’s property rights and the signed the Thanksgiving Procla- need to educate women as the mation. foundation of a good family. She City: was a strong supporter of women As busy as she was with her edi- doctors. Elizabeth Blackwell’s torial duties and her causes, Sarah State: Zip: graduation from medical school continued to write and publish. E-mail: drew praise from Godey’s editor. She was the author of seven vol- Annual Membership “I cared not that they should inherit Levels wealth…but to be deprived the advantages of education was to make them ‘poor indeed’.” Members receive Book Notes, our semiannual newsletter.

Sarah believed that women doc- umes of poetry, six novels, and Supporter $5 - $24 tors, teachers and missionaries several books on cooking and Friend $25 - $99 were needed to minister to other household management. Her Contributor $100 - $499 women. Sarah had a hand in ad- greatest achievement was her Patron $500 - $999 vising Mathew Vassar as he made 900-page Woman’s Record; or, Benefactor $1000 & up plans to establish his college for Sketches of All Distinguished women. When the Vassar College Women from ‘The Beginning’ till trustees were debating the issue of A.D. 1850. This biographical en- women professors Sarah had her cyclopedia contained 2,500 entries Enclosed is my check son, Horatio, send a letter admon- and was an attempt to put women for $ ______payable to ishing them that students needed back into the history books. Park Street Foundation to have educated women as † instructors. In December of 1877, at the age of Personal Member 90, Sarah retired from Godey’s † Organization Member Driven by her patriotism, it was her Lady’s Book. She died several dream to institute a national day of months later in April of 1878 and is The Park Street Foundation serves thanksgiving. In the years leading buried in Philadelphia. as the fiscal agent of the Center for up to the Civil War, she saw it as the Book at the NH State Library and an opportunity to join all parts of Each year, since 1956, Sarah’s is a tax-exempt 501c(3) organization. the country in celebration of a na- hometown honors her and her Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. tional Thanksgiving. As early as work by bestowing the Sarah 1827, in her novel Northwood, Josepha Hale Award Medal on a Sarah portrayed a Thanksgiving writer of distinction with a connec- Center for the Book Day in which families gathered to- tion to New England. Winners at the New Hampshire gether to give thanks. For seven- have included Robert Frost, State Library teen years, beginning in 1846, she Donald Hall, Wes McNair, Maxine 20 Park Street, crusaded to make the fourth Thurs- Kumin and Arthur Miller. Concord, NH 03301

Fall 2005 - 5 Congratulations to the 2005 New Hampshire Letters About Literature Winners Letters About Literature (LAL) is a reading and writing promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in partnership with Target Stores. To enter, young readers wrote a personal let- ter to an author explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Readers may se- lect authors from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. There are three competition levels in the program: upper elementary, middle school, and secondary. The contest theme encourages young readers to explore their personal response to a book and then express that response in a creative, original way. Letters About Literature was one of the first programs of The Center for the Book at the New Hamp- shire State Library and this will be our third year participating in this national competition. Three hundred el- ementary and middle school students from New Hampshire sent letters for the 2005 LAL competition. From these, thirty semi-finalists were selected and prizes were awarded at levels I and II. The winning letters for New Hampshire were selected by a local panel of judges: Ann Hoey, Youth Services Coordinator for the NH State Library; The Honorable Thomas E. Bamberger, judge; the poet L. R. Berger; author Jennifer Ericsson; Diana S. Lytle, Reading Specialist at the Broad Street School, Nashua; and Scott Hutchison, an English teacher at Gilford High School.

November 1, 2004 Ms. Patricia Polacco c/o Letters About Literature

Dear Ms. Patricia,

I need to tell you thank you so very much for your story about Mr. Falker. I was having such a head time learning to read. I did not what to read. I felt not smart because I was having a hard time learning to read. Because I could not read vary well, I never got my schoolwork done on time and I had to stay in the work room at recess. I asked my mom and dad to please let me be home schooled. So they let me be home schooled, but I was still having a hard time reading.

One day, my mom read me Thank You Mr. Falker. I was so surprized to know you had a hard time reading too! My Mom and Dad are kind of like Mr. Falker, they tell me how smart I am. When Mom read me your book I thought ... maybe I am smart! So I decided I would learn how to read no matter what! My Mom asked me if I would like to go to a speciael teacher for reading better. I said, “I sure would!” So my Mom hooked me up with Ms. Lisa. I began to read batter and better.

Do you know what Ms. Patricia? Not only am I reading better, but I’m writing all the time too! I write in my diary and journal. Your stories make me think and laugh. I am so glad you have such a wonderful and great adventures because your sto- ries make me laugh and think. Thank you so much for writing them.

Blessings and Hugs, Love Shauna

This letter from Shauna Casey, a homeschooled fourth grader from Salem, was selected as the Level I winner in New Hampshire.

6 - Fall 2005 Dear Thornton Wilder, Your play Our To realize that life isn’t somethingwn changed to take myfor viewgranted of the or rushworld through, and my becauseview of lifeonce completely. you lose life, It helped you’ll neverme get it back. Our Town opened my eyes to how blind most people are to the beauty of everyday things and how much those everyday things mean to them. However, out of all the things I learned from important thing was how much family means, and how, like life, people take family for granted. Most people don’t realize that families are like everything else, they don’t last forever. Our Town the most Life is nothing to take for granted. The plain idea of it is remarkable. To be able to inhale air, an invisible substance, and all of a sudden have thoughts and feelings is something all people do, but none of those people realize it’s a truly amazing thing. “Mother Gibbs? Yes, Emily? They don’t understand do they? No, dear. They don’t understand.” (p. 111) This is the quotation that pieced your whole play together for me; it told me that I didn’t understand. This quotation helped teach me to take a breath, and a look around at the world every step I take. Now I keep my eyes open for ever lose what I have before I know I have it. Everyone has alwaysy day told beauty me “You because, don’t unlike know Emily, what Iyou don’t have want until to you lose it.” That has always been a saying that I’ve feared. Thanks to your play one of the millions of people who learn that the hard way. Now that never let it leave my mind or heart. I always hear people complaining about howOur old T otheywn, are,I don’t but have maybe to beif Our they had enjoyed being young, then they wouldn’t be upset about being old.Town By has complaining taught me they’re this idea, just I’ll wasting even more of their life, and that’s something they don’t want to waste. Life isn’t a movie; you can’t rewind it; there are no ‘do overs.’ Once you start life, you’re forever stuck in an endless cycle, but unlike a normal cycle, life doesn’t go around and around in a circle. It constantly moves forward, never meeting its starting point again. Once when my English teacher, Mr. Moore, was looking out the window at the little kids, he said, “I’d give any thing to have that again.” This showed me that some people don’t take life for granted, but just love it so much they never want it to end. The only problem with that is that it does end, and they can’t do anything about it. People are blind to more than life in general, they’re blind to more specific things like the sun rising over the mountaintops, or the long grass swaying in the morning breeze. “I never realized. So all that goes on and we never noticed.” (p. 108) Realizing you have lost everything you had must be a scary feeling. But realizing you lost everything you had before you knew you had it must be a million times worst. To realize that you’d never be able to smell your mothers cookies, or your fathers stew again, having it snatched away before your very eyes, that must bring an overwhelming feeling of sorrow to all that experience it. “That’s all human beings are! Just blind people.” (p. 109) People who can see perfectly are as blind as those who can’t see, only they’re blind to something else – they’re blind to life. All that it takes to avoid being blind to life is to take one extra look around you every step your take, and someone to remind you to look. For me, you, Thornton Wilder, reminded me to look. People may think that they love and give thanks for their families, but they most likely don’t do this enough. “I can’t bear it. They’re all so young and beautiful. Why did they ever have to get old?” (p. 105) Families are like every other living thing, they grow old, and then they disappear. I realized that family is a privilege, some people don’t have families at all, or they’re missing members of theirs. who live in small, rural, New England towns like me come out of these isolated bubbles and step into reality. All people like me saw when we were in our bubbles was a perfect world, but really thereOur Tareown lots helps of people disappointments out there. Once I popped my bubble I realized all these things like family are advantages many people don’t have, and they are things that I should be grateful for. In conclusion, I want to thank you for opening my eyes to everything I’ve been missing for so many years. I missed noticing each movement in my childhood, but instead of regretting that and missing even more of life, I’m going to start enjoying life for what it it – amazing!

Thank you, Evelyn Bulkeley This letter, from a seventh grader at the Runnemede School in Plainfield, was selected as the Level II winner in New Hampshire.

The deadline for 2006 Letters About Literature entries is December 1, 2005. For details, and the required entry coupon, visit our web site at http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/programs/letters.html.

Fall 2005 - 7 Granite State Readers Recommend

We recently invited readers from around the state to tell us about a book that they would recommend to others. Here is a selection of the recommendations that we received. Please check out the complete list of Granite State readers’ recommendations and tell us about a book that you would recommend by visit- ing our web site at www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/programs

Concord Grantham Peterborough Alice Nye Joey Holmes Brian Hackert Coordinator, Family Resource Assistant Librarian Reference Librarian, Connection, NH State Library Going to the Chapel by Rebecca Kelly, Peterborough Town Library Peace Like a River by Leif Enger was A Town called Ruby Prairie by Annette Calamity and Other Stories by Daphne one of Time Magazine’s top five novels Smith and Home to Harmony by Philip Kalotay (New York: Doubleday, 2005.) for 2001 and I can see why. The language Gulley. I liked them because they are just The House of Breathing: Stories by Gail is beautiful, the voice distinctive, the plot good reading. Jones (New York: George Braziller, 2000.) riveting and the characters are fully Short stories are my favorite kind of read- fleshed, funny (at times) and moving (al- Madison ing, and for all the same reasons that most always). The novel takes place in Elaine Robinson Edgar Allan Poe felt that way, too. These the early 1960s in rural Minnesota, and Geek Love by Katharine Dunn two collections are unique and surpris- is narrated by 11 year old Reuben who, This novel has the quirkiest cast of char- ing yet reflect basic moods that any together with his father and younger sis- acters and situations of any cult story reader can identify with in some manner ter, head across the western plains in mid written in the last twenty years. Circus or other. There aren’t many copies of ei- winter to find his brother on the run from sideshow freaks of nature dominate this ther title in the NH library system, so I the law. odd tale of a perfectly dysfunctional fam- hope this recommendation increases the ily. You can see the scenes played out in numbers. Franklin your mind as you read along. A delight Rachel Stolworthy for the reader who likes things off the Sanbornville Children’s Librarian, best-seller lists. Beryl Donovan Franklin Public Library Director, Gafney Library I read The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Madison 1- In the Shadow of the Cathedral, writ- Jeannette Walls this summer. Walls is a Leonora Southwick ten by Titia Bozuwa (NH writer), is a vivid writer and reporter for MSNBC.com, and Assistant Librarian recollection of the Nazi occupation of she has written the story of her life and We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Holland during World War II through the the lives of her parents and siblings. I Shriver is more than your basic high eyes of a ten-year old girl (Titia, herself). LOVED this book! Jeannette’s family school massacre novel. Told in letters by This is no ordinary memoir. Titia com- lived an eccentric, nomadic existence the mother to her husband you are not bines a solid remembrance of the feel- during her childhood years, mainly in the prepared for the shocking final chapters. ings, scents, stories, sounds and adult American southwest. Her parents were Heartbreaking and unforgettable makes happenings that affected her life during unconventional, with a very relaxed view this my favorite book of 2004. turbulent times. A great read for adults of parenting (to put it mildly -- today we and for young students studying about would call this neglect) but she loves Manchester World War II. them for who they are. Todd Russell 2- Leaving Mother Lake by Yang Erche Attorney Namu ... a biography of a young girl in Gilsum Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. the Moso country of remote China who Denise A fascinating, otherworldly account of leaves her home causing a scandal for 1- My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. the London Underground by one of the her family. Learning about day to day She is so good at putting skin on ethical up and coming fantasy writers. happenings and the effects of the cul- situations and telling all points of view tural revolution on her matrilineal soci- equally. North Hampton ety was fascinating. 2- My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. Lorreen Keating The images in this story are powerful & Youth Services Librarian, Somersworth lasting. North Hampton Public Library Cynthia G. Riley 3- Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe I very much enjoyed Evening Ferry by Librarian, Somersworth High School Moore Campbell. She has fictionalized Katherine Towler. Like her first novel Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by the story of Emmett Till & followed the Snow Island the characters are vivid and John Perkins surviving characters for about 40 years the writing is poetic. I found Evening N.H. native John Perkins tells his own after. Ferry to be very thought-provoking story in this account of corporate power, 4- Prince Edward by Dennis McFarland. about issues of personal identity, life greed and corruption. It ties a lot of cur- Powerful story of Prince Edward County choices, and family histories. Bravo rent events together, explaining better Virginia’s response to desegregation. Katherine! than many available sources the tragedy Wonderful book. of the haves and the have-nots, and the “why do they hate us?” question.

8 - Fall 2005 Dublin Committee Asks: Characteristics “What Constitutes a Novel of of a Novel High Literary Merit”? of High Literary Merit By Alice Nye to grapple with this question and ♦ Innovative story or themes The NH State Library nominating came up with ten characteristics to ♦ Fresh perspective committee for the International help guide us in our choices (see ♦ Well developed characters IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is sidebar for our listing). If you feel ♦ Well developed plot on a hunt for novels written in we have missed some critical ♦ Well written—quality of English and published in 2005 that qualities, please let us know, and writing shines are of high literary merit and thus we will consider adding them to ♦ Suitably concluded our list. Also, please alert us to worthy of nomination for this pres- (a poor ending can kill an tigious literary award. 2005 published novels that you believe may be worthy of consid- otherwise excellent book) ♦ The next deadline for our choices eration. There’s a long, cold winter Emotionally engaging ♦ (we can make up to three) is May on the horizon, and we are looking Intellectually engaging 2006. That will make the sixth year for some current novels of distinc- ♦ Contains life lessons that New Hampshire has partici- tion to warm our hearts and minds ♦ Leaves a lasting impact pated in this international competi- in the months ahead. tion. While none of our recommen- dations has won the big prize—at NH Books 100,000 pounds, the largest literary continued from p. 2 prize given out in the world—some of our favorites have made the Tolles, Bryant F., Jr. The Grand Resort Hotels of the White Moun- Short List of nominated titles that tains: a Vanishing Architectural Legacy. Boston, MA: David R. vie for the award in the final phase Godine, 1998 of the competition. Tolles, an esteemed professor at the University of Delaware, has written a comprehensive survey of the architecture and history of New Our most recent nominations were Hampshire’s grand hotels of the White Mountains. Beginning with the ear- made last spring when the NH liest guesthouses and New Hampshire’s first “grand” hotel, the first Glen State Library was one of 185 li- House, and culminating with the construction of the Mount Washington braries representing 51 countries to Hotel and The Balsams, Tolles covers in depth the history of each of the nominate novels for the 2005 state’s resort hotels in the White Mountains. Sadly, at the time of publica- Award. Our slate of three was: tion only four of the original 30 hotels were still operating. Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; There is Room for You Landphair, Ted. The Mount Washington: a Century of Grandeur. by Charlotte Bacon; and My Nine Bretton Woods: The Mount Washington Hotel & Resort, 2002 Lives by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. A beautifully illustrated history of the hotel, from the first tourists to visit Abel Crawford’s simple cabin in 1828 through the 1902 construction of Coming up with a list of novels we the Spanish Renaissance Revival hotel still operating near Crawford particularly admire has been no Notch. The Mount Washington Hotel was built and owned by Concord problem for our group, all of whom native Joseph Stickney, who unfortunately died in 1903, soon after the are critical readers not at all shy grand opening. The hotel survived trying times, was selected as the site of about expressing their special fa- the Bretton Woods Monetary Conference, and continues today as a vorites. However, an engaging thriving year-round resort. read, original characters, even a fast-paced plot does not necessar- Robinson, J. Dennis. Wentworth by the Sea: the Life and Times of ily make a novel of “high literary a Grand Hotel. Portsmouth: Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2004 merit,” which is the standard for New Hampshire’s most recently restored (2003) grand hotel stood empty nomination. and forlorn for twenty years. Built in 1874 on the state’s coast, the hotel was the site of the negotiation of the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the What qualities do you think make a Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Portsmouth journalist Robinson chronicles novel of high literary merit? Two the long history of the Wentworth hotel in the tiny town of New Castle, its years ago our committee convened close brush with destruction and current renaissance.

Fall 2005 - 9 Children’s National Book Festival Historical Collection Continued from p. 1 Mary. Todd also saw Knight as well as Tom Wolfe, Neil Gaiman, By Ann Hoey on three “Everything Kids” puzzle and John Feinstein, although he Youth Services Consultant, books, also came by to snap pic- struck out in trying to get a signa- New Hampshire State Library tures of the event. Thank you, Jen- ture on his copy of Tom Wolfe’s The Children’s Historical Collection nifer and Beth, for joining us! Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test at the New Hampshire State Despite the steady crowd at our despite waiting in line for nearly Library began as a special collec- table, we each found time to hear two hours. Michael York mean- tion containing books and other at least a couple of authors speak. while chose to hear David Brooks materials that children had read The list of authors in attendance and David McCullough in the His- through the years, offering ex- made choosing whom to see very tory & Biography pavillion. amples of social history and show- tough indeed. Are you a fan of fic- I also made time to walk over ing trends in writing for children tion or fantasy? How about Tom and catch a glimpse of the protest and in developments in children’s Wolfe? E.L. Doctorow? Gish Jen? going on just a couple of blocks literary history. It was not meant to John Irving? Is history and biogra- away. Actually, other than the oc- showcase the best in children’s phy more your thing? You might casional sign or banner held by literature but rather to collect what was popular for children at different times in history. The collection was Visit the festival website at primarily intended as a reference www.loc.gov/bookfest/ collection for use by students, to see pictures from the festival and to listen educators, writers, artists, and to webcasts of various featured authors. sociologists.

Until recently, approximately 7500 titles made up the Children’s His- have seen Joseph Ellis, Kay Bailey protesters who stopped by our torical Collection, which included Hutchison, David McCullough, or table, we never would have titles published between 1850 and Andrea Mitchell. That’s just a guessed that such a large protest the present. In 2002, the State Li- small sample of the authors in at- was going on so nearby. It was brary decided to narrow the focus tendance (really, you have to won- quite a day in Washington, as IMF of the collection so that it better der if they can keep this a one-day and World Bank held meetings, supported our mission of serving as event. With about 90,000 people and an anti-war rally that drew a resource center on New Hamp- in attendance, and overflow 100,000 protesters shared the shire. Only materials with a New crowds at most tents, expanding to headlines with the book festival. Hampshire connection were re- two days seems inevitable). Heck, there was even a tained in the collection, which now Personally, I opted for novelist SegwayFest in town. includes works by New Hampshire Jonathan Safran Foer and biogra- When 5:00 arrived, we were all children’s authors and illustrators as pher Joseph Ellis, both of whom ready to pack up. Our stamps well as materials about New were outstanding. Mary made it a were dry, our handouts were de- Hampshire. Additionally, winners point to hear a reading by Donald pleted, and our backs and feet of the various New Hampshire Hall, featured in the Poetry tent, were sore. But come next fall, book awards such as the Great and Hilary Knight, illustrator of when the festival rolls around again, Stone Face Award and the Isin- Eloise, a character near and dear to count me in. If you love books, this glass Award will be added to this is the place to be. special collection. With the exception of those materi- Book Notes (ISSN 1554-3609) is published twice per year by als whose age or condition makes the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library, them unsuitable for circulation, 20 Park Street, Concord, NH 03301-6314. most of the titles in the Children’s (c) 2005. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in Historical Collection can be part without permission is prohibited. checked out to patrons directly or through interlibrary loan. http://www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter

10 - Fall 2005 Award Notes New Hampshire is home to several book awards and details about each of them are included on the Center’s web site at www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/literacyc/awards.html

The Flume Award NH Literary Awards Great Stone Face Award New Hampshire’s first teen book The New Hampshire Writers’ The City of Ember by Jeanne award is off and running! The list Project will present the 2005 New DuPrau won last year’s GSF Book of nominees for The Flume: NH Hampshire Literary Awards Octo- Award with 699 votes out of a total Teen Readers’ Choice 2006—to ber 21 at the New Hampshire of 6124 votes cast by children in be voted on in school and public Institute of Art in Manchester. grades 4 to 6 throughout NH. The libraries next April—can be found Reception, 5:30 p.m: awards City of Ember is about a city on the CHILIS website at presentation, including a special whose lights are beginning to go www.chilisnh.org/flume06.html. In reading by 2003 Lifetime Achieve- out, plunging the city into a suffo- addition, librarians will be accepting ment winner Tomie dePaola, 7 p.m. cating darkness. When Lina finds a nominations from high school stu- Admission is $15. Details at portion of a secret message, she dents this fall for the 2007 list. www.nhwritersproject.org and her friend, Doon, discover the Eligible titles may be nonfiction or or 603-314-7980. secret way out of their city. The fiction and were published no ear- booklist for 2005-2006 is available lier than 2003. The Flume Award is Sarah Josepha Hale at www.derry.lib.nh.us/childrens/ sponsored by the New Hampshire Award greatstoneface.html Library Association. Grace Paley, an acclaimed writer of The Great Stone Face Committee short stories, a poet, and an activ- meets at the Bedford Public ist, is the Sarah Josepha Hale Library the 2nd Friday of every Award winner for 2005. Ms. Paley month, except December and is the author of the short story col- May-August. They are always lections The Little Disturbances looking for new members who love of Man, Enormous Changes at to read children’s books. For de- the Last Minute and Later the tails contact Adele Boesky at Same Day. Her poetry collections [email protected]. include 16 Broadsides, Golden- Isinglass Award rod, and Leaning Forward. She has taught at Columbia University, The Isinglass Teen Read Award for Ladybug Picture Syracuse University and Sarah 2005 went to Christopher Paolini Book Award Lawrence College. She is a found- for his book Eragon. This award A cow in search of her moo; a ing member of the Greenwich Vil- was voted on by 7th & 8th graders walk that balances bravery and lage Peace Center and a former in the state. Our new 2005-2006 fear; a gumbo-making gator; a va- columnist for Seven Days. Her list can be found under Teen Zone cation-planning pig; a slew of slith- awards include a Guggenheim fel- at www.barringtonlibrary.com . ery serpents; a winter-wonderland- lowship in fiction, a National Insti- Recommendations are currently wary boy; a hug-happy sister; an tute of Arts and Letters Award, and being accepted from 7th and 8th iguana negotiation; a traumatic trip the first Edith Wharton Award. A grade students for the 2006-2007 to the laundromat; and the adven- native of New York, she now di- list. Suggestions can be sent to turous El Skippito are vying for the vides her time between the city and [email protected] by attention of New Hampshire chil- Thetford, Vermont. February 1, 2006. dren who will select the 2005 La- The presentation will take place on This newsletter has been made dybug Picture Book Award winner th November 5 at 8:00 p.m. at the possible in part through funds this November. The list of nomi- Newport Opera House. The event administered by the New nated books, ballots, tally sheets, is free. Tickets for a dinner with Hampshire State Library and and order forms for voting stickers the author at the Court House Res- provided by the Institute of Museum are all available on the web at taurant will go on sale in October. and Library Services, a federal www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/ For more information please con- agency that fosters innovation, programs/ladybug.html. Ballots are leadership and a lifetime of tact Andrea Thorpe at 603-863- learning. due November 30, 2005! 3430 or [email protected].

Fall 2005 - 11 Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library 20 Park Street Concord, NH 03301

The mission of the Center for the Please enjoy this complimentary issue of Book Book at the NH Notes. This newsletter is sent to members of the Center for State Library the Book at the New Hampshire State Library twice each is to celebrate and year. To find out how you can become a member of New promote reading, Hampshire’s Center for the Book see page 5. books, literacy, and the literary heritage of New Hampshire and to highlight the role that reading and libraries play in enriching the lives of the people of the Granite State.

Introducing the NH Authors Database By Mary A. Russell, Director isting ones. Writers who were born Thanks to the research and data- NH Center for the Book in the Granite State, who are cur- base expertise of Charles Shipman, rent residents, or who have spent a New Hampshire State Library Over the last few hundred years, significant portion of their writing Reference Librarian, the New many hundreds of writers have careers in New Hampshire and Hampshire Authors Database lived in the Granite State and have who have at least one published currently contains over 1200 en- produced a vast array of literature book cataloged in a New Hamp- tries. If you know of a New Hamp- on every topic imaginable. shire library have been included. shire writer who has been over- looked, or if you would like to add To help readers to find out about all You can search for authors by to or correct information on an in- of these authors, the New Hamp- name and then display their full cluded writer, please let us know. shire Center for the Book has records to see what awards they The more detail you can provide launched – in partnership with the have won, dates and places rel- about a writer the more quickly an Reference Section of the New evant to their lives, information on entry can be added to the data- Hampshire State Library – the their published works, and in some base. There is a link on the web New Hampshire Authors Data- cases web sites and a published site for sending suggestions and base. The database began with all biography about them. additions to the database. the entries from the published work New Hampshire Authors, Sixth Edition, Revised & Enlarged, which was compiled by Donna The NH Author’s Database is available on the Gilbreth in 1998. To the 1000+ au- NH Center for the Book web site at thors found in that volume we have www.state.nh.us/nhsl/bookcenter/ added new authors and additional literary/nh_authors.html. information about some of the ex-

12 - Fall 2005