Nook Tablet vs. Kindle Fire

Amazon and Barnes & Noble are in the middle of an all out e-reading war. Their latest additions have expanded the ability of the e-reader to music, movies, gaming apps and much more. The Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire have given users more functionality at prices that are not as frightening as the iPad (which hasn't budged from its $500 mark yet). These tools are a viable option for someone who wants a tablet that has many solid functions but isn't ready to shell out more than $300. Here are some ads for each.

The critics are really split on which one is the better device.  The most consistent thing I have found is that the best device for you depends on you alone.  The Nook Tablet seems to run better overall - better battery life, smoother transitions, and so on.  The Kindle Fire has Amazon behind it - so there is more content available (though Amazon is pretty much your only source for that content).  Check out PCWorld for a detailed compare and contrast.

Click the "Read more" button to see some commercials for each, and you can find more specs from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Christmas Favorites

We are officially two weeks shy of the winter break, the media center is decked out in garland and twinkling lights (thanks to Mr. B and some media center elves), and Christmas is just around the corner.  At the primary and elementary schools, kids come in asking for Christmas books just after Halloween.  They are excited to get into the spirit of giving (ok - maybe the spirit of receiving), and they are just thrilled when they have that first holiday themed book in their little hands. 

In the high school, we have a tendency to forget that excitement.  We're busy with extracurricular activities and midterm exams - nothing says Christmas like a giant test.  All that said - to spark your holiday enthusiasm, I've compiled my top 5 Christmas books of all time in this week's post.  You are welcomed to comment and add your own favorites or scrutinize my rankings.

5.) - Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - This is probably going to be the only book on this list that some of you don't know.  It was published in 2001, so it is by far one of the newest books on my list.  John Grisham steps about a million miles outside his normal style in this hilarious but touching story about two parents who decide they are just not going to go through the trouble of Christmas one year.  Between the crazy neighbors and the all important Frosty decoration, this book is certainly worth the read. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star in the movie adaptation, Christmas with the Kranks.

Sarah Dessen - Author of the Month

Photo from SarahDessen.com

Sarah Dessen is the award-winning author of several young adult books.  She is especially popular with female readers, as many of her stories deal with the lives of teenage girls and their struggles and triumphs in high school.  We have almost all of Dessen's books, which will be displayed in the "Author of the Month" area in the fiction section of the media center throughout December.

According to her website, Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with a degree in English.  She has worked as a waitress in a Mexican food restaurant and as a teacher, but now she writes full time.  She has a full bio on the site written in her own words, which is pretty funny and gives some interesting insight into why she writes what she does.


If you are a fan of Sarah Dessen's,