by Beverly Ewart
Flip Flop weather! Certainly, I am not the only one who has noticed the marvelous sequence of sunny days recently. My calendar tells me it is National Flip Flop Day, and rightfully so, TODAY! (It is May 31st and glorious outside as I write.) We’ve had a spate of warm, clear days and cool, clear nights and the plants and trees are blooming and flinging pollen around with abandon.
Grateful? Yes.
Plus, I work in a library, where I have so many books at my disposal (as do YOU, because it’s YOUR library) that I can always find something good to read no matter what the weather is doing!
Here are a few that you might choose to read with or without flipflops. I have chosen these titles based on theme – the only author I have read (and love!) in this list is Lee Smith – so let me know how you like the others if you get a chance:
- The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery. Finley McGowan is determined that the niece she’s raising will always feel loved and wanted. Unlike how she felt after her mom left to pursue a dream of stardom, and when the grandfather who was left to raise them abandoned her and her sister, Sloane, when they needed him most.
- Lessons at the School by the Sea by Jenny Colgan. School is out, following a bit of saucy scandal at Downey House… Beloved high school teacher Maggie Adair had been comfortably, if somewhat ambivalently, engaged to her dependable long-distance boyfriend Stan. But in the heat of summer, Maggie’s attraction to her colleague David McDonald has caught fire. Now both are facing an uncertain future as they try to figure out how to stay committed to their careers–and each other. Meanwhile, the girls of Downey House–mercurial Fliss, glamorous Alice, and shy, hard-working Simone–have had long summers at home, which weren’t quite the respite they had been hoping for. But the new school year is thankfully here, and it will bring new pupils and lots of fresh challenges for students and teachers alike at the school by the sea.”– Provided by publisher. (The third book in Cogan’s School by the Sea series.)
- The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton. “In 1934, the ultimate vacation becomes a fight for survival as the secrets of two women’s pasts collide aboard a luxury cruise liner on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the tragedy of the SS Morro Castle. New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead-and why. Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her-and her prey is on the ship. As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all.” — Provided by publisher
- Shell Beach by Davis Bunn. “Noah Hearst is leaving a life he’s spent twelve years building. Professionally, a losing battle for his job after a hostile takeover. Personally, signing away his marriage in a split that was a long time coming. Now, the difficult part: deciding who he is, what he wants, and where to go next. Maybe it’s time to realize a dream that’s carried him through hard times: owning a boat. Traveling the ocean, exploring new ports, embracing the endless horizon. Blissful. Impractical. Impossible? For now, the dream alone gives Noah the strength to move forward… Jenna Greaves is an end-of-life nurse, devoted till her charges’ final breath. She’s been called a confidante, a surrogate daughter, and a best friend. She is all those to Dino Vicenza, a secretive millionaire who refuses to even speak with his greedy and impatient family. Gradually Jenna becomes Dino’s only confidant, and something far more out of the ordinary; she shares the old man’s passion for sailing the open seas. With his passing comes an unexpected bequest: a luxury yacht that invites Jenna to break free of old chains, if only she might find someone to help steer her toward new horizons.”– Provided by publisher.
- Silver Alert by Lee Smith. Herb’s charmed life with his dear wife, Susan, in their Key West house is coming undone. Susan, in her seventies, now needs constant care, and Herb is in denial about his own ailing health. The one bright spot is the arrival of an endlessly optimistic manicurist calling herself Renee. She sings to Susan during manicures, gets her to paint, and brings her a much-needed sense of contentment. But then Herb and Susan’s adult children arrive to stage an intervention on their stubborn, independent father, and as a consequence, Renee’s gig with Susan–and her grand plans for her own life–start to unravel as well. Herb isn’t ready to let go of all that he has ever had, and it turns out that Renee is not the happy, uncomplicated girl she pretends to be. She is not even Renee; she is really Dee Dee, and she, too, has reasons of her own to hit the road. So, when Herb suggests one last joy ride in his Porsche with Dee Dee riding shotgun, they light out for parts north, setting off a Silver Alert. As the unlikely friendship between Herb and Dee Dee deepens, we see how one life opens up as another is closing down. The time Dee Dee has spent–with Susan, in Key West, in the Porsche with elderly Herb–reveals to her how much more truly lies ahead.
- Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash. “A sweeping, tenderhearted love story, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash tells the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the shy, irresistible young woman who will call them both her own. As German bombs fall over London in 1940, working-class parents Millie and Reginald Thompson make an impossible choice: they decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America. There, she’ll live with another family for the duration of the war, where they hope she’ll stay safe. Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world. She becomes part of this lively family, learning their ways and their stories, adjusting to their affluent lifestyle. Bea grows close to both boys, one older and one younger, and fills in the gap between them. Before long, before she even realizes it, life with the Gregorys feels more natural to her than the quiet, spare life with her own parents back in England. As Bea comes into herself and relaxes into her new life-summers on the coast in Maine, new friends clamoring to hear about life across the sea-the girl she had been begins to fade away, until, abruptly, she is called home to London when the war ends. Desperate as she is not to leave this life behind, Bea dutifully retraces her trip across the Atlantic back to her new, old world. As she returns to post-war London, the memory of her American family stays with her, never fully letting her go, and always pulling on her heart as she tries to move on and pursue love and a life of her own. As we follow Bea over time, navigating between her two worlds, Beyond That, the Sea emerges as a beautifully written, absorbing novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love”– Provided by publisher.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS:
Programming at the Canton Free Library (CFL) plays a significant role in providing literary opportunities for St. Lawrence County children and their families. All events are free, though some require registration.
Summer Library Program registration is now open! Check out the calendar at cantonfreelibrary.org/summer-reading-program or pick up a paper copy in the children’s room. Register kids 18 months-12 years by June 23rd by emailing vwhite@ncls.org, calling 315-386-3712 ext. 4, or in person in the Children’s Room at the Library.
Summer Library Program Kick-off! Free tickets now available for the Big Bubble Bonanza on Saturday, July 8! Mixing comedy, music, and interactive bubble magic, Jeff Boyer engages and delights audiences of all ages.
There’s a choice of two shows, but FREE tickets must be reserved ahead of time! If you realize later you can’t go, please be kind and cancel your tickets ASAP so someone else can attend. THANKS!
We’re offering shows at 12:30pm and 2:00pm on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Free tickets for both shows can be reserved at cantonfreelibrary.org/summer-reading-program.
The show will be held in the First Presbyterian Church in Canton at 17 Park Street.
For more info, contact Valerie White at 315-386-3712 ext. 4 or vwhite@ncls.org
Ongoing Programs: As we prepare for the Summer Library Program in June, we put our regularly scheduled children’s programs on hold. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in July at the Summer Library Program Kick-off!
The following programs will continue as scheduled:
Teens: Anime Club for grades 8-12. Gather together on Thursdays from 5-7pm to share your interest in anime with friends. No registration is necessary. Contact Zach Woodley-White for more information. zwoodleywhite@ncls.org
Outreach: In the spring, all local first and second grades are invited to take a class trip to hear stories and tour the library.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: Track the books listened to by children from birth to the beginning of kindergarten and move up for every hundred books read on the Celebration Board in the Children’s Room. You can get a folder from Ms. Val to track on paper forms, or do it on the app.
Special Youth Programs:
Battle of the Books: This program for grades 4-6 involves children forming teams, reading a list of 16 books over 8 months and then competing against other local teams in an exciting quiz game about the books. This year, Canton’s team the Flaming Phoenixes took home the 2023 regional trophy at the North Country Battle on May 20th! You’ll see the trophy on display at Little River School and CFL until it’s time for next year’s battle. 
Summer Library Program (SLP): This is a month-long celebration of reading fun during July for ages birth-12 years. Specific age-group programs happen weekly, and we offer family programs with performers such as magicians, clowns, storytellers or musicians, as well as Books at the Beach and the annual Pet Show! Registration is needed for most programs and the SLP is advertised beginning in April of each year.
Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Canton Free Library and the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau.
Questions? Need to register for a program?
Contact Youth Services Specialist
Valerie White (Ms. Val)
(315) 386-3712 ext. 4
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY NEWS:
Book Sale: The Friends will host their used book sale on Farmers Market Fridays, from 10:00AM-12:30PM. Donations of used books/DVDs can be brought to the circulation desk of the library Monday-Saturday during open hours.
About the Friends: The Friends of the Canton Free Library are a volunteer group committed to active support and enrichment of library services on behalf of everyone in the Canton community and beyond. A registered 501c3, the Friends of the Canton Free Library are always seeking new members. For more information email canlib@ncls.org.
Curbside Service: If you are short on time, consider curbside service! Give us a call at 315-386-3712 (choose option 1 “Front Desk”) or send an email to canlib@ncls.org, and we will pack up your books, check them out, and hand them to you from the front door of CFL. If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood to read, we can even choose some titles for you!
MORLEY BRANCH is open on Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Wednesday 4pm-6pm; Thursday 10am-12pm. There is a computer available for your use, but it’s a good idea to call first to check on availability. Call for more details: 315-379-0066.
RENSSELAER FALLS BRANCH is open on Tuesdays from 11am – 5pm. Children under age 10 must be with an adult. Call the library (315-344-4155) for more information.
A great way to find out what’s happening at our Morley and Rensselaer Falls Branches is to check out their Facebook pages:
Morley: https://www.facebook.com/MorleyBranchLibrary
Rensselaer Falls: https://www.facebook.com/RensselaerFallsLibrary
Canton Free Library’s Hours: 9am-6pm Monday – Friday; 10am-3pm Saturday. For more CFL news, stay tuned on Facebook, Instagram, or our website. Find new additions to our collection on our website: cantonfreelibrary.org. To renew your current checkouts, login to catalog.ncls.org; you may also renew via email at canlib@ncls.org, or by calling (315) 386-3712 (choose option 1, “Front Desk,” on the menu).
Find a book that complements flip flops @ your library!