Louis Zamperini Dies at 97

Louis Zamperini's amazing story of survival was detailed in the biography Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Zamperini was a member of the 1936 U.S. Olympic track and field team and survived torture as a Japanese POW during World War II. Unbroken is on our summer reading list with a copy available in the school library. For a brief article about Louis Zamperini, click here.

The movie version of Unbroken will be release in December. To see the movie trailer click below.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey Guest Book Review

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

"On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below." Was it just a coincidence that these five had the misfortune to cross while the bridge snapped or did God have a reason for ending these particular lives? Brother Juniper, a witness to this tragic event, makes it his mission to learn about the life each of the five led.

Mr. Auger picked The Bridge of San Luis Rey as his summer reading book. There are two copies in the library. The following is Mr. Auger's book review:

This is the first book by Thornton Wilder that I've read, and it's beautiful. Wilder's prose is occasionally the most elegant poetry, without ever even verging on florid. His style is relatively simple and straightforward, interspersed with observations and turns of phrase like none I've ever read before.

As for the story itself, it leaves much to ponder and discuss. In only 180 pages, this is a short read, but so full of suggestion and literary sidelong glances from the author that two different readers could easily come to different conclusions and understandings of individual parts and perhaps even the story taken as a whole. For myself, I'm still not quite sure what I think it was that Wilder was after with this book, but I know I'll enjoy trying to figure it out.

Week 5 Free Audiobook Downloads

June 12th - June 18th the following titles are available as FREE audiobook downloads:

Use the QR codes to listen to a clip of each title. Click on the book cover to download the complete audiobook.

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for young adults. From May 15th to August 14th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week -- a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic title. Text syncya to 25827 for alerts on the SYNC titles releases or visit www.audiobooksync.com to sign up for email.

Week 4 Free Audiobook Downloads

June 5th - June 11th the following titles are available as FREE audiobook downloads:

Use the QR codes to listen to a clip of each title. Click on the book cover to download the complete audiobook.

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for young adults. From May 15th to August 14th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week -- a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic title. Text syncya to 25827 for alerts on the SYNC titles releases or visit www.audiobooksync.com to sign up for email.

Week 3 Free Audiobook Downloads

May 29 - June 4 the following titles are available as FREE audiobook downloads:

Use the QR codes to listen to a clip of each title. Click on the book cover to download the complete audiobook.

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for young adults. From May 15th to August 14th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week -- a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic title. Text syncya to 25827 for alerts on the SYNC titles releases or visit www.audiobooksync.com to sign up for email

Maya Angelou, an American author, poet and civil rights activist, has died at 86.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou

Week 2 Free Audiobook Downloads

May 22-May 28 the following titles are available as FREE audiobook downloads:

Use the QR codes to listen to a clip of each title. Click on the book cover to download the complete audiobook.

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for young adults. From May 15th to August 14th, SYNC gives away two complete audiobook downloads a week -- a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic title. Text syncya to 25827 for alerts on the SYNC titles releases or visit www.audiobooksync.com to sign up for email.