No Shelf Control (Grades 4-6 Book Club)

Reader's Choice this month!

In honor of Asian & Pacific Heritage Month, we'll discuss both "You Are Here: Connecting Flights" and "Grounded." You may chose to read either or both books for this evening's discussion!

No Shelf Control welcomes ALL readers in grades 4, 5, and 6 for a monthly meeting and discussion of books chosen by a librarian just for this age group and read ahead of time. This month is our first "Reader's Choice" program format; participants may select either or both books to prepare, and tonight's discussion and activities are designed to involve everyone in learning from each other and comparing and contrasting some of the elements between the two books. Anyone ages 9-12 is welcome!

In honor of Asian & Pacific Heritage Month in May, we have two novels with unusual narrative structures, each by multiple authors of Asian American heritage, featuring students from diverse backgrounds, both taking place (coincidentally) largely in airports and both exploring questions of belonging and identity. You are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh, is a single novel built from 12 interconnected stories about 12 American kids of families of Asian heritage written by 12 different Asian-American children's fiction writers, including Linda Sue Park (author of A Long Walk to Water, as well as the Wing & Claw series), Grace Lin (author of the highly-acclaimed "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" trilogy), the science-fiction writer Mike Chen, and others. Grounded revolves around 4 Muslim American students of very different personalities trying to return home from a conference getting to know each other after their flights home are cancelled because of bad weather. This novel is co-written by four Muslim American women authors, most notably Aisha Saeed, author of Omar Rising and Amal Unbound for middle grade readers.

You can borrow a copy of the books (with a specially prepared reading guide just for our group) from the Connie Morella Library; just ask at the Check Out or Information Desks for the May books for No Shelf Control.

You can also access them through either of our two free apps:

• You Are Here: Connecting Flights is available as an e-book or an e-audiobook through the Libby app or Overdrive website (https://mcplmd.overdrive.com/); or as an e-book or an e-audiobook through Hoopla.
• Grounded is available as an e-book or an e-audiobook through Hoopla, though not available at this time through Libby/Overdrive.

If you get an e-version, please contact Librarian Jeff for the reading guide (jeffrey.coster@montgomerycountymd.gov). Even if you are not able to finish the reading, please come anyway and see if No Shelf Control might just be the place for you! The book for the June 4 meeting will be handed out at tonight, and then be available to pick up from the Connie Morella Library by anyone who missed it.

Library Program Attendance (both virtual and in the branch) is limited to participants within the suggested age range of the program. Children attending an MCPL program under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Adults attending a program intended for children must have an accompanying child.

Have questions about this program? Contact the Connie Morella Library at 240-777-0970.

Don't have a card right now? Find out how to Get a Library Card.

Accommodation Requests

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing should request English-language captioning or sign-language interpretation at least five days before the library-sponsored program they plan to attend. Contact the Assistant Facilities and Accessibility Program Manager at 240-777-0002 with all other accommodation requests.

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