Family Book Club
"Song For a Whale" by Lynne Kelly is our Family Book Club pick for October! Aurora Public Library and Jefferson County Public Library will be hosting a LIVE Book Talk with the author! Register here and get your hands on a copy (available in hardback and as an audiobook).
Call the Tallyn's Reach Library at 303.627.3050 to put a copy on hold today!
(Jefferson County Public Library patrons, find copies of "Song for a Whale" in print, as a book on CD, and as an e-audiobook and eBook via Axis360.)
Song For a Whale Suggested Reading Schedule
Monday, Sept. 28 - Sunday, Oct. 4: Chapters 1-12
Monday, Oct. 5 - Sunday, Oct. 11: Chapters 13-25
Monday, Oct. 12 - Sunday, Oct. 18: Chapters 26-38
Monday, Oct. 19 - Sunday, Oct. 25: Chapters 39-48
Monday, Oct. 26 - Book Talk With Award-Winning Author Lynne Kelly!
Chapters 1-12 (Leave your thoughts in the comments below)
- Have you ever had a teacher that was prejudiced toward you or someone in your class for being different?
- Why do you think Iris reacted so strongly when she learned about Blue 55?
- Has anything ever meant so much to you that you thought about it all the time?
- Do you like to build or fix things? What do you like to build or fix?
- Iris is passionate about fixing radios. She worked hard to become good at it. What is something you are passionate about?
(October 5) On Monday, October 5, 2020, at about 6:15 A.M., Aurora Police responded to a vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 225 near South Parker Road.
Initial investigation reveals that a Dodge Charger entered Interstate 225 from East Iliff Avenue and was going southbound in the northbound lanes when it struck the passenger side of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. After striking the pickup truck, the Dodge continued southbound where it eventually struck, head-on, with a Mazda SUV. The driver of the Dodge was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Mazda was transported to a nearby hospital where they remain in serious condition with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Silverado was thankfully uninjured.
Traffic Unit Investigators will continue to investigate and attempt to reconstruct the scene to determine speeds and other contributing factors. At this time, we do believe that alcohol was a factor in this crash.
The identity of the deceased will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office after positive identification and next-of-kin notifications.
We are
asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash, has dash cam footage,
or if you have any information about this incident, please contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095
(October 3, 2020) The Aurora Police Department has made an arrest in this case. At around 3:40p.m. the suspect, Jesus Aguirre-Flores (DOB: 08/17/1994) was spotted in a vehicle in the area of East Colfax Avenue and Havana Street by an Aurora Police Officer. The driver of the vehicle, Khadijah Evans (07/28/98) failed to stop when officers tried to initiate a traffic stop. A pursuit was authorized which traveled through parts of Northwest Aurora and briefly into Denver. At around 3:50p.m. in the area of East 14th Avenue and Del Mar Parkway an officer used his vehicle to forcibly end the pursuit. Both Aguirre-Flores and Evan were taken into custody. Two Police Officers sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Aguirre-Flores was arrested for 1st Degree Murder and Evans was arrested for Eluding.
Jesus Aguirre-Flores DOB: 08-17-94
Khadijah Evans, DOB: 07/28/1998
Lieutenant Chris Amsler
Commanding Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information previously released on August 17, 2020:
(August 17) On Monday, August 17, 2020, at approximately 2:23 p.m., Aurora Police Officers responded to 10950 East Colfax Avenue, Radiant Inn, on a reported shooting.
Officer's arrived and located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The male was transported to the hospital where he tragically has succumbed to his injuries.
The identity of the male will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office after he has been positively identified, and next of kin have been notified.
Investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are actively investigating this as a homicide.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call our Homicide Unit at 303.739.6077 or they can remain anonymous by contacting Denver Metro Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867) and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.00.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720-432-5095
Read It! Review of "The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom
by Nicole
Hello! Thanks to my awesome friends in Wisconsin I have been reading more and more books this year and books I normally wouldn’t read outside my scope of fantasy, and suspenseful thriller. This is why I love book clubs, I get to experience other genres outside my comfort zones, and get to know my friends more by the books they choose and through our discussions of what they enjoyed and didn’t. Our next book club pick was “The Kitchen House” by Kathleen Grissom.
“The Kitchen House” by Kathleen Grissom is not only a New York Times Bestseller, but it has also been deemed a “Book Club Favorite”, and was nominated as both the Goodreads Choice Awards Best Historical Fiction and Goodreads Choice Awards Best Debut Goodreads Author. This book was first published in 2010 and is categorized as a Historical Fiction novel.
The story starts with Lavinia, a young white girl orphaned during her passage from Ireland, who finds herself as an indentured servant on a thriving plantation in Virginia. She is cared for by Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter, where Lavinia learns to cook, clean and serve food in the kitchen house. Growing up, Lavinia sees Belle and the rest of her family as her one true family where she belongs. But as she starts to get accepted into the big house with the master’s opium addicted wife and their dangerous yet protective son, she begins to learn that because of her skin color she is not like Belle and the other slaves. The narrative follows both Lavinia and Belle as we see the differences that unfold in class, race and family secrets.
This book was highly regarded among the group in our discussion. In similar fashion to the book “The Help”, we saw how differently people viewed color and status in the eyes of both Lavinia and Belle. Lavinia grew up thinking she was just like any of the other slaves, but because of her white skin she was given advantages as she grew up. Belle, on the other hand, was forced to keep the dark secret of her true identity and thus was treated just as unfair as the other slaves by the master’s family. There were some characters that treated the slaves like people, and then there were other’s whose hatred blinded their actions and made it sometimes hard to keep reading. We all agreed that it was eye-opening and an incredibly powerful story. We also noticed how different characters influenced others which affected them later in life when it came to how they treated slaves.
If you read this book and enjoyed it so much, Kathleen Grissom wrote a sequel to this story called “Glory Over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House” in 2016.
Other books to read if you enjoyed “The Kitchen House” would be “The Healing” by Jonathan Odell, “The House Girl” by Tara Conklin and “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd.
Check back for my book review of our next book club pick which was “The Little Shop of Found Things” by Paula Brackston.
Made in a Mug: Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
by Nicole
Need a sweet treat? A savory mouthful? Join us for "APL Made in a Mug" for your next bite-sized recipe!
October's recipe is Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Recipe from The Bitter Side of Sweet. Thank you to Nancy for letting us share this recipe!
Check out the full recipe here!
(October 1, 2020) Now that former Officer Levi Huffine's Civil Service Commission Disciplinary Appeal Hearing has concluded, the Aurora Police Department is releasing the body worn camera footage that was shown during the public hearing on Tuesday. The video has been posted on the Aurora Police YouTube Channel and is included in this news release.
Since this case has not been adjudicated by the commission, Chief Wilson nor the department will be commenting or providing interviews about this case or this weeks proceedings.
Internal Affairs Investigation Summary of Evidence and Orders
Any media inquires regarding the hearing should to be sent to the City of Aurora Communications Department at [email protected].
Lieutenant Chris Amsler
Commanding Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information Previously released on February 24, 2020:
(02-24-2020) Upon numerous requests, the officer who was terminated is Officer Levi Huffine. Officer Huffine began working at the Aurora Police Department in November of 2012.
It should be noted that this incident is not related to the critical incident involved Mr. Elijah McClain nor the case of Nate Meier.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Aurora Police Department
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
Information previously released ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(02-24-2020) From the moment I took over as Aurora’s Interim Police Chief, I promised transparency to our residents to help build back the trust within our community. Continuing with that promise, I wanted to let you know of my decision today to terminate one of our police officers, over what I believe to be severe misconduct. This officer’s conduct was completely out of character with the mission, ideals, and expectations of the Aurora Police Department.
It should be noted that there were no serious injuries as a result of this incident but that neither excuses nor defends the officer’s actions.
Due to a pending appeals process that is given to civil service employees, I am unable to provide additional details or information about this incident until that process has been completed. At such time, I will make the body worn camera footage available and address questions from our community members.
Thank you,
Interim Chief Vanessa Wilson
Aurora Police Department
Debauchery and thrills are pleasing, but they are fleeting. Tragedy is permanent. Despair knows no limits. Old walls never forget old sins. Never has this held more true than in "The Empty House".
Leave the comfort of your book covers this Halloween as we share haunted tales right here on your computer screen. Every Thursday at 8 p.m., tune in for new spine-tingling tales!
Do you have a spooky story of your own? We're taking scary, terrifying or spine-tingling submissions! Staff will choose their top five favorite stories to read on Facebook the day before Halloween, and allow Facebook to vote via reaction! The winner will receive a prize from Aurora Public Library. Submissions must be 1,000 words or less, rated PG-13 and under, and must be emailed to [email protected] by Sunday, Oct. 25.
Make & Learn: Reading Colors
by Karen
Welcome to Make & Learn! In this program, our librarians will be sharing easy-to-make games and activities that support cognitive development and practicing early literacy skills. In this video, Miss Karen discusses disequilibrium and shares a game to practice reading colors words.
Banned Books Week: All Your Faves Are Banned
by Elizabeth
In libraries, there’s a saying: there should always be at least one book in your library you dislike, or else you’re not doing it right. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees. Welcome to Banned Books Week! Here, we’ll celebrate all of the wonderful books that have been banned from libraries throughout the decades.
“Well, of course,” you may be thinking. “Some books are just SCANDALOUS.” But what about “Green Eggs and Ham”? This picture book about a picky eater was challenged in California for being too seductive. That’s right: Dr. Seuss, too sexy. “Where’s Waldo?” and “Alice in Wonderland” were banned for the same reason. “Where the Wild Things Are”, the story of a little boy going on imaginary wild romps with monsters after being sent to his room, has been challenged for witchcraft. Shel Silverstein’s poem “Help! I’m Being Eaten by a Boa Constrictor” was apparently a little too tempting: his books were banned for promoting cannibalism. And some books offend every side: George Orwell’s “1984” was banned for being BOTH pro-communist and anti-communist. Even the dictionary’s been banned!
The American Library Association updates their list of the most challenged and banned books every year. Want to really live life on the edge? Check out a banned book or two to see what all the fuss is about! Here’s five of my favorite books from the banned books list to get you started, plus one more delightful read you’d never think was banned.
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
Did you know that this book has been on the NY Times Bestseller List for 186 weeks and counting? That’s 3 and a half YEARS. This book is still sadly topical: a high school girl sees a police officer kill her friend and then watches as his death turns into a national news story. Teenage Starr has to learn to balance between worlds and find her own voice while friends, family, and the media all start to take sides. Banned for profanity, drug use, and being “anti-cop.”
“Drama” by Raina Telgemeier
“Drama” has been on the most challenged book list for 4 years in a row. This heartwarming graphic novel tells the story of Callie, a theater-loving middle school student who wants to create the perfect set for her school’s play. Meanwhile, she has to deal with ticket sales, difficult crew members, and an inconvenient crush. Raina Telgemeier is also the author of the graphic novel reboot of “The Babysitter’s Club”. Banned for LGBT content and going against family values.
“Saga” by Brian K. Vaughan
This one’s more explicit, but adult readers might love it. In a distant future, two groups of aliens have been fighting for decades. When two soldiers from opposite sides fall in love, their baby becomes part of an interplanetary cover-up: no one can know that peace is possible. Definitely only read this if you’re over 18, but it’s a fantastic series, and its main focus is on one family determined to survive whatever the odds. Banned for nudity, swearing, sexual content, and being “anti-family.”
“Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson
Find your tissue box. Do you have it? Okay, then you’re ready to read the kids’ classic “Bridge to Terabithia”, a heartwarming book about imagination, friendship, and overwhelming grief. Jess and Leslie may have to endure the trials of middle school, but they have an escape: Terabithia, their imaginary magical land where they rule as king and queen. This is one of those “why did they ban this” books: “Terabithia” was challenged for Satanism, an odd sentiment for a book that talks about God and angels as much as fairies and magic.
“Prince & Knight” by Daniel Haack
“Prince & Knight” tells the story of a prince who falls for a handsome knight instead of a beautiful princess. Its sequel, “Maiden & Princess”, shows a Cinderella-like girl falling for an unexpected person at the royal ball. These are adorable stories with gorgeous illustrations. Banned for LGBT content.
And one more, a book you’d never think was banned:
“Winnie-the-Pooh" by A. A. Milne
Christopher Robin’s stuffed animals and their adventures have been banned multiple times over the years for some surprising reasons: being religiously offensive (three times, two different religions), dubious political affiliations, dubious sexuality, and – perhaps the only fair accusation for our bumbling bear – not wearing pants.
And remember, as always: if you don’t like any of my recommendations, you don’t have to read them!
Here’s a link to the ALA list so you can find a banned book that’s a little more your style.
Happy reading!
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