IN THE COMMUNITY
Island Readers & Writers and Reif Larsen!
Reif Larsen presents his book The Selected Works of T.S.Spivet.
Maps, Science, Adventure!
Island Readers & Writers is pleased to host Reif Larsen, author of the New York Times bestselling book The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet Thursday August 12th at 4:30 p.m. in the Foyer of the Northeast Harbor Library on Joy Road. Larsen will give a behind-the-scenes peek into the creation of his highly original debut novel with his presentation “Here Be Dragons” or: Story Happens Beyond the Borders.
Stephen King lauds The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet as doing the impossible: “It combines Mark Twain, Thomas Pynchon, and Little Miss Sunshine. Good novels entertain: great ones come as a gift to the readers who are lucky enough to find them. This book is a treasure.”
T.S. Spivet, a precocious 12-year-old scientist and cartographer, wins a prestigious Smithsonian science award and hops an industrial train from his ranch in Montana to start a new life in Washington, D.C. Masterfully told with the use of images, in-margin drawings and maps, the story is both compelling and entertaining. A selection of Island Readers & Writers summer program Friends Over Books this is a great read for adults and young adults alike.
Larsen’s presentation, “Here Be Dragons” or: Story Happens Beyond the Borders, explores the narrative power of both cartography and the written word. In our increasingly GPS-dependent world, many of us have forgotten how to “read” maps. Using slides and video, Larsen explores the idea that maps are not just wayfaring tools, but like literature, they function as highly selective cultural documents that tell a series of fascinating, interwoven stories, often as much about the mapmaker as the territory mapped.
Reif Larsen is a filmmaker, teacher, and writer. He graduated from Brown University in 2002, majoring in Educational Studies and earned his MFA from Columbia University in fiction, where he also taught for a number of years. While at Brown, he spent time teaching at Maru-a -Pula School in Gaborone, Botswana, and is a member of its American Board of Trustees.
A stunning, “boundary-leaping,” and beautiful book, The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet was published in twenty-nine countries. Bookpage calls the novel “a cabinet of wonders, an odyssey of self-discovery, a family romance, a symphony of topography, geography, and American history,” while Library Journal calls it “a delightful and poignant adventure.”
Island Readers & Writers (IRW) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire a passion for reading by bringing authors, illustrators and reading enthusiasts together with children living on Maine’s islands. We communicate, connect and execute book-centered programs that sparkle and engage readers of all ages, especially children. IRW presently works with ten island schools and communities from Matinicus to MDI.
Reif Larsen will also speak at the Odd Fellows Hall on Swan’s Island on Friday, August 13 at 2:00 p.m. as part of the Friends Over Books program.
For more information about Island Readers & Writers visit islandreadersandwriters.org and visit www.tsspivet.com for a taste of the exciting opportunity of listening to and meeting Reif Larsen.
Copies of The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet will be on sale at the program, proceeds to benefit Island Readers & Writers.
Linda Greenlaw Book Event, July 25, 2010
Linda Greenlaw was at her best, funny, insightful, and engaging as she spoke to a croud of approximately 100 fans on Sunday afternoon in support of Island Readers & Writers.
Ms. Greenlaw spoke about her new book, Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea. All of the proceeds from the sale of her book tat the event went to support Island Readers & Writers. Ms. Greenlaw began by speaking about her past as a commercial fisherman, her own start as a writer, and her life since she left the swordfishing industry. She also described her reasons for returning to swordfishing after more than ten years, which is the subject of her new book. After her talk, Ms. Greenlaw signed copies of her book, taking the time to speak with every guest.
The Island Readers & Writers thanks everyone who contributed to making this event such a success. Thanks to everyone who attended the event, helped out at the event, and especially to Ms. Greenlaw and The Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor.
Our next event is schedule for August 12, 2010 with Reif Larsen, author of The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet. The event begins at 4:30 at the Northeast Harbor Library.
Also keep checking back here and on the Spotlight page of our website for information about future IRW events and news.
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2009 - 2010, School and Community Author Events
Building reading communities is also a goal of Island Readers & Writers. We do this through special programs such as the ‘Big Read’ (Jan – Feb 2010) funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest, The Circus Ship Island Author and History Tour (October 2009) and the 7th Grade Community Read (Fall 2008). IRW actively works with the island communities, inviting parents and neighbors to participate in book related activities and events as well as attend exhibits and special programs with their children and thereby widening a child’s sense of support and passion for books.
This May, 108 6th graders on Mount Desert Island and the outer islands will read Rules by Newbury Honor author Cynthia Lord. This collaboration between IRW and MDIRSS will also involve 13 community facilitators to meet with small groups of students to discuss the book and devise discussion questions for the author.
We look forward to another successful community program!
Island-wide Read features Rules
Tuesday, May 18th wasn’t just another school day for 6th graders in Mount Desert Island’s Regional School System. Island Readers & Writers, MDIRSS and the College of the Atlantic combined efforts to bring 108 students, 13 community facilitators and Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord together to discuss her book, Rules. It was an exceptional day!
Cynthia Lord gave a terrific presentation on the writing process and the creation of Rules, which has sold over 900,000 copies. Drawing on life experiences with her autistic son, Rules is a humorous yet poignant novel inviting the reader to challenge notions behind “rules.” During her presentation, student questions were addressed and many aspects of social norms were examined. Copies of the novel in Japanese, Italian, and Braille; along with the framed Newbery Honor itself, were respectfully circulated by the students.
My thanks to all who invested their “best selves” in making the Island-wide Read a success: the students for their active and respectful participation in activities throughout the day; the 13 community volunteers who generously spent the morning facilitating small group discussions and sharing their enthusiasm for reading; the teachers who introduced and guided the reading of the book in their respective classrooms and prepared students so well for the Island-wide discussion day.
Special thanks to David Hales, President of College of the Atlantic who offered a word of welcome and support for all the discoveries, enjoyment and learning that can come from books.
I’m grateful for the leadership and initiative of Kelli Rich, Annemarie Swanson, Michael Curless and Kathy Weathers in organizing this event. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge and extend warm thanks to the volunteer facilitators for their participation and support so essential in making the Island-wide Read a success. They are: Ginny Agar, Bethany Anderson, Mae Corrion, Ellen Gilmore, Kim Harty, Billy Helprin, Wythe Ingebritson, Ned Johnston, Eileen MacLean, Scott McFarland, Mel Rice, and Skip Strong.
With appreciation,
Jan Coates, Executive Director, Island Readers & Writers
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Seventh Grade Community Read, Fall 2008
7th Grade Community Read involved 118 students from five Mount Desert Island Communities and Swan's island all reading works of Newbery Medal winner author Cynthia Voigt. Solitary Blue and The Runner were chosen from her famed Tillerman Series. Not only did the students discuss the books in their respective classrooms but they were brought together at the Mount Desert Island High School where they were placed in new groups with students from other schools and a community volunteer facilitator to determine two burning questions for the author herself. A general question and answer session was held by Ms. Voigt in the High School Higgins-Demas auditorium. Books were autographed and given to each student.
The Circus Ship Island Author and History Tour, October 2009
The Circus Ship Island Author and History Tour draws hundreds. Imagine the excitement on a small island when they get to hear accounts of a fiery shipwreck in nearby Penobscot Bay, exotic animals stranded in the sea, and then watch a beloved Maine author present Chris Van Dusen's new book related to these event. IRW led this Island Author and History Tour - October 5-16, 2009 - to ten Maine Islands in two weeks. Our team (historian/story teller, author/illustrator, a videographer and IRW Director) met with school children and community members on each island, presented and gathered local lore related to the real 1836 shipwreck of the "Royal Tar" steamship, and let the author tell how he created, wrote and illustrated the wonderful children's book, The Circus Ship.
The result: new information about the shipwreck was discovered, new friends were made, established friendships were deepened, and all learned about how an actual event can inspire new stories and become part of the historical fabric of Maine’s maritime lore. We also learned about the creative process of book making and storytelling, and listened carefully as islanders shared their imagined and real tales about “Royal Tar”.