AT THE LIBRARY
New items are available at the Hancock County Public Library.
The following items are available at Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. For more information on the library’s collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.
{span style=”text-decoration: underline;”}Adult Fiction{/span}
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“The Friend” by Sigrid Nunez
When a woman unexpectedly loses her lifelong best friend and mentor, she finds herself burdened with the unwanted dog he has left behind. Her own battle against grief is intensified by the mute suffering of the dog — a huge Great Dane traumatized by the inexplicable disappearance of its master — and by the threat of eviction since dogs are prohibited from her apartment building. While friends worry that grief has made her a victim of magical thinking, the woman refuses to be separated from the dog except for brief periods of time. Isolated from the rest of the world, increasingly obsessed with the dog’s care, determined to read its mind and fathom its heart, she comes dangerously close to unraveling. But while troubles abound, surprising rewards lie in store for both of them.
{span style=”text-decoration: underline;”}Adult Nonfiction{/span}
“Sit Down and Shut Up: How Discipline Can Set Students Free,” by Cinque Henderson
On his very first day of school as a substitute teacher, Cinque Henderson was cursed at and openly threatened by one of his students. Not wanting trouble, Henderson called the hall monitor, who escorted the student to the office. Five minutes later the student returned with a note that read, “OK to return to class.” That was it: no suspension, no detention, no phone call home, nothing. “Sit Down and Shut Up” is an analysis of Henderson’s year as substitute teacher in some of America’s toughest schools. Students disrespected, yelled at and threatened teachers, abetted by a culture that turned a blind eye to the economic and social decline responsible for the problem. In response to the chaos he found in the classroom, Henderson proposes a recommitment to the notion that discipline ― wisely and properly understood, patiently and justly administered ― is the only route to opportunity for generations of poor youth. With applications far beyond the classroom, Henderson’s experience offers insights into racial, social and economic issues that have shaped America’s cultural landscape.
