The P.L.A.I.N. Janes

by Cicil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
Age range: Young Adult

This book literally begins with a bang — Jane’s recollection of the explosion she survived in the city where she used to live. But her parents are afraid to stay there afterwards, so Jane finds herself moving to Kent Waters, a small suburb of the city, six weeks into the school year. Not only does she have to cope with her memories of the explosion, but she also needs to fit in. Jane does both through art — and the eventual help of three other girls named, appropriately enough, Jayne, Jane and Polly Jane. The three girls sit together at lunch. But it’s the new Jane who unites them into P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods).

Each “Jane” represents a different aspect of school life. Polly Jane is the athlete — or wants to be; her requirement for joining P.L.A.I.N. is for the other girls to arrange to get her off the team bench and onto a playing field. Theater Jane loves the arts, especially acting (she comes to an audition for Grease ready to perform a monologue from Cyrano de Bergerac so she can show off her “range”). Jayne is in the science club, and the newest Jane nearly faints when she hears the requirements for being a member of that — a 4.0 average and all Advanced Placement science classes.  But each of them has something to contribute to a group that wants to communicate through art.

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The library has completed the installation of a reading and working area with free wireless Internet access.

Now patrons with properly equipped laptop computers can connect through the library’s internet connection and surf away. Interested patrons should check out the library’s Wireless Network Policy.

The project was completed thanks to a generous grant from the The Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc. and with the help of the Johnson City Community Action Team, Inc.

See the Photos!

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If you have an analog-only TV with a roof top antenna or “rabbit ears,” you will not be able to watch most TV stations after February 17, 2009 unless you get a “converter box.” Come hear Dave Whalen of TimeWarner Cable discuss the transition and the Government’s coupon program on Wednesday, April 23 at 7:00 PM.

The program is free and open to all.

For more information about the digital transition, check out this site from the FCC.

Library Patron Margaret Burke has generously donated this beautiful, handmade quilt she made to be raffled off to benefit the library. The quilt will be on display at the library if you’d like a closer look. Raffle tickets will be sold at $1 each or 6 for $5.

(click on the photo for a larger view)

The drawing will be held on Friday, May 30.

Very special thanks go to Margaret for her skill and generosity.

Check out some of the new items that have been recently added to the library’s collection. You can find out more about these titles in the catalog.

Non-Fiction

Gulp! The 7 Day Crash Course to Master Fear & Break Through Any Challenge, by Gabriella Goddard

Why Women Should Rule The World, by Dee Dee Myers

Critical: What We Can Do About The Health-Care Crisis, by Tom Daschle

Ungarnished Truth: A Pillsbury Bake-Off Memoir, Ellie Mathews

Warm Bucket Brigade: Drunks, Hacks, Crooks & oddballs- the story of the American Vice President, by Jeremy Lott

Fiction

The Darcy Connection, by Elizabeth Aston

Killer Heat, by Linda Fairstein

Always Grace, by Tim LaHaye

Another Thing To Fall, by Laura Lippman

Deluge, by Anne McCaffrey