Tag: traditions

What’s Ashley Reading?: You Belong Here

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda

First line: I knew how easily a story could shift.

Summary: Beckett grew up practically on the campus of Wyatt College. Her parents were professors at the college and it made sense to attend for her own education. Everything went smoothly until her senior year when two locals were killed on campus and her roommate went on the run for the murder. After these events Beckett left and rarely returned because the town never forgot and didn’t forgive the fact that she may have been involved.

Twenty years later, Beckett’s daughter secretly applies and receives a full scholarship to Wyatt College. Fighting against her fears for her daughter and the secrets of her past she allows her to attend. But then one weekend she receives a mysterious call and then the disappearance of her daughter draw her back to the town and the people who still blame her for what happened so long ago.

My Thoughts: Megan Miranda has been a very solid author. I usually rate her books a 3 or 4 star. They have good storylines and twists that can be shocking but at other times they fall a little flat. This one was a 3 star read for me. It took a while to get into the plot. I loved the short chapters and peeks into the past timeline. It helped explain things that were happening in the present and why Beckett felt the way she did about the town and college.

Having attended a small town college in rural Kansas there were things I could easily relate to. I pictured Tabor College in Hillsboro as I read, which was a fun addition to my reading journey. I also grew up going there for summer camps and visiting the town where family lived or for sporting events gave it this hometown feel. Having this book come out near the start of the school year is a perfect time as kids head to college. I think many will enjoy the plot and the atmosphere of the story.

The Blog Wants to Know: Dec. 2024

We’ve got a new monthly blog series coming your way featuring recommendations, insights, and fun facts about Derby Public Library’s remarkable staff!

For our first installment, the blog has two questions for our staff:

“What are some of your favorite holiday movies?”

Sheila, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloging: “I have two favorite holiday movies, White Christmas and The Family Stone.“

Maycie, Public Support Services: “Christmas doesn’t start in my house until we watch Christmas with the Kranks!”

Hannah, Youth Services Coordinator: “Love Actually, Home Alone, Scrooged, Spirited, Die Hard (I will die on this hill…)”

Tabbitha, Youth Services: “My all-time favorite Christmas movie has to be Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”

Eric, Library Director: White Christmas

Tami, Office Manager: A Christmas Story

Alyssa, Adult and Teen Services: “I’ve been watching The Preacher’s Wife with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington every year since I was little, and Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is epic!”

Megan, Outreach Coordinator: “My top 2 favorite Christmas movies are Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.”

Ashley, Interlibrary Loan and Cataloguing: “Scrooge starring Albert Finney and Sir Alec Guinness”

Miranda, Youth Services “My favorite Christmas movies are A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Shane, Public Support Services: “My favorite is the Grinch (Jim Carrey version) and I also love Krampus (2015)”

Grace, Youth Services: “Small One (a 1978 Don Bluth classic that still makes me cry every year, even though it’s only 26 minutes long. It’s on Disney+ now, and I get to watch it whenever I want! We owned the Small One book adaptation that came with the story on tape, so you could read along) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (I play the album on vinyl every year when decorating my tree)

“Does your family have a special holiday recipe or food that they make in a unique way?” 

Shane: “My mom makes lasagna every year for Christmas. It is a tradition that started with her as something easy to make for dinner, now it doesn’t feel like Christmas without it.”

Miranda: “Our passed down family recipe is the stuffing. Why is stuffing only a holiday food? Its too good!”

Ashley: “Our family has a traditional Mennonite meal of Verenika (or Vereniki), German sausage and zweiback. I have taken over the preparation of this meal from my Oma (German for grandma). Verenika is a cottage cheese dumpling that is either boiled or fried then topped with gravy. Zweiback is a traditional Russian Mennonite dinner roll.”

Megan: “We have a long standing Christmas tradition with my side of the family to have breakfast for dinner then open presents.”

Tami: “As far as food, I have a favorite special food every year, but it’s not one I make.  I have wonderful neighbors who also volunteer at the library, John and Sheila Maksimowicz.  Every year they make baklava and I have been blessed to receive it for more than 5 years.  I think they are making it this week!”

Alyssa: “For the New Year, my mom makes her homemade Cajun black eyed peas, rice, and cornbread as a symbol of good luck. The recipe comes from my grandparents who grew up in Louisiana.”

Eric: “As far as food goes, my family has been having a Swedish (immigrant influenced) dinner for years.  This includes fruit soup, potato sausage, pickled herring, lutefisk, and ostkaka.”

Tabbitha: “While my family doesn’t have unique family recipes, we do have a tradition of baking holiday treats and cookies around Christmas. We package them in cute containers and give them to loved ones.”

Hannah: “My aunt makes these candies with peanut butter and fritos. It sounds a bit weird, but they are SO good.”

Maycie: “No festive gathering in my moms house is complete without the family’s secret potato casserole…. Legally I can’t tell you what’s in it.”

Now it’s your turn, readers! What are some of your favorite holiday movies and does your family have any special holiday recipes or traditional foods?

Happy Holidays!!