BookSparks

Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library

Welcome to Our Newsletter

My name is Jolene Ceravalo. I am the founder and director of Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library. We opened our doors in July, 2010, in Waynesboro, PA. Since that day, we have relocated to Farmington, Minnesota, and added hundreds of books to our collection. Currently, we have over 2,235 titles available for checkout. We have a large variety of titles, including Christian fiction, non-fiction, books for teens, and an ever-growing collection of juvenile books. It is our joy to share these books with others in our community. You are welcome to visit us by signing up for an appointment time through our website. We are a hidden treasure! For more information about who we are and what we offer, please visit us at our website or on Facebook. Feel free to contact us with questions through our Facebook page or at shannontobiaslibrary@gmail.com.

Treasured Pages Book Club

Tuesday, Feb. 21st, 6:30-8pm

917 Westwood Court

Farmington, MN

Treasured Pages Book Club is for ladies 18 or older. We will meet Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Our first meeting will be at Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library at 917 Westwood Court, Farmington. Please read Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff and come prepared to discuss it. Snacks will be provided. We will discuss future meeting locations at the first meeting. Please feel free to contact us with questions via text to 651-214-9395 or email to shannontobiaslibrary@gmail.com. Space is limited to 8 ladies, so please RSVP. No childcare available.

RSVPs are enabled for this event.

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Teen Corner

Sasha recommends...

Title: Vanished!

Author: James Ponti

Genre: mystery

Location: juvenile fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars


This book is about...

a 13-year-old boy that works for the FBI. He and his friend go on a mission to stop someone named Loki from continuing to damage things at a famous school that the president's daughter goes to.


My favorite part of this book is...

when Florian visits the White House and meets the president.

because...

It was cool. The president was really nice to Florian, and he even got to enjoy a free meal with the president and his family!


Find it here...

https://www.librarycat.org/lib/ShannonTobiasLibrary/item/208448735

Tween Corner

Hope recommends...

Title: The Moffats

Author: Eleanor Estes

Genre: classic

Location: juvenile fiction

Rating: 4 stars


This book is about...

four kids and their adventures.


My favorite part of the book is...

when they turned Madame into a ghost

because...

it was really funny when Peter Frost got SCARED.


Find it here...

https://www.librarycat.org/lib/ShannonTobiasLibrary/item/208105804

Women's Corner

From Jolene...

2023 Book Log #9

Title: Sisterhood of Sleuths

Author: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Genre: part mystery

Location: juvenile fiction

Finished: January 28, 2023

Rating: 4 stars


Review...

I found this book mostly enjoyable and fun. Maybe a little hung-up on girl power, but a good story otherwise. I like Maizy and her family. They are fun. I thought Nell and Cam were delightful as well. The story has heart, mystery, and a lot more. Also, it has some great conversation points for discussion.


Book quote...

"'...but my mom could use a friend these days. And a friendship like theirs isn't easy to come by. But I knew she wouldn't want to reach out.'" -Page 272


*Coming soon to the Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library collection.*

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2023 Book Log #7

Title: Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy

Author: Jennifer Pepito

Genre: non-fiction

Location: adult non-fiction

Finished: January 19, 2023

Rating: 4 stars


Review...

Some parts of this book (most of it) really engaged my interest. Some parts even felt like they were specifically written for me in this time and place in my life. I appreciate the author tying her life circumstances/situations to books she read that spoke to her. I would recommend this book to many women, especially those that love to read, are mothers, and, most especially, are homeschool moms. I found this book encouraging and life-helping.


Book quote...

"'Forgiveness isn't about the person who's betraying you or lying to you or denying you; forgiveness, for me, is about me taking my power back and not allowing them to affect me emotionally.'" -Page 200


*Coming soon to the Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library collection.*

Men's Corner

From Tony...

Book Log #29

Title: Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time

Author: Rory Groves

Genre: non-fiction

Finished: January 11, 2023

Rating: 3 stars


Review...

Rory does a good job of showing how we as a society have gone the way of automation, commoditizing, and a post-human future when it comes to jobs. Our modern culture is so intricately intertwined that one problem can bring the whole system to a stop. He reviews 61 jobs that are "durable" and can be family-centered, set to be around for a long time to come.


*Coming soon to the Shannon Tobias Memorial Christian Lending Library collection.*

Upcoming Book-Related Dates...

February 1 - World Read Aloud Day

February 4 - Take Your Child to the Library Day

February 14 - International Book Giving Day

February 26 - Tell a Fairy Tale Day

That's it for now. Please let me know if you have ideas for things you would like to see in future newsletters.