Welcome to second year of Howard County Library’s Pass the Book initiative. Beginning October 18, students can pick up specially marked copies of Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple, our 2011 Pass the Book selection. When they encounter one of these books, students should:
- Register the book’s number at hclibrary.org/passthebook/
- Read the book
- Pass the book to another friend who will register the book again.
Pay the Piper tells the story of Callie McCallan, contributor to the school newspaper in Northampton, Massachusetts. When the band Brass Rat schedules a local Halloween concert, Callie is over the moon. She’s even more excited to attend the concert with a backstage pass so she can interview the band. The musicians are beautiful, cool, and hypnotically engaging. Something isn’t right, though. They use words that seem too old, and they tell stories that come from an earlier time. What will Callie do when the time comes for her community to Pay the Piper?
Students can return to the web site throughout the year to track where these books have traveled, and to participate in online book discussions, quizzes, and other activities. This year we have passed copies of The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld to China, England, Ireland, Kamchatka, and Norway, among other places, and we’re excited to see where Pay the Piper will travel in 2011.
Pass the Book launches in Teen Read Week in October 2010 with a series of events:
- Pass the Book Lock-In. East Columbia Branch, Friday October 15, 7 pm
- Punk Rocks. Elkridge Branch, Monday October 18, 4 pm
- This Concert is No Picnic. Savage Branch, Tuesday October 19, 7 pm
- Karaoke Lounge. Miller Branch, Wednesday October 20, 7 pm
- Battle of the Bands. Gary J. Arthur Community Center (next to Glenwood Branch),
Friday October 22, 7 pm
Specially-marked copies of Pay the Piper will be available at all of these events, and we look forward to seeing middle and high school students throughout Teen Read Week to launch Pass the Book 2011!
John Jewitt - Savage Branch