We may not have closed for the eathquake, but we closed for the hurricane at 2 pm. All library programs are cancelled.

Have a safe hurricane, and you can track it here:

Repositionable hurricane map – from Palm Beach, FL, but really nice in its scalability.

Yes, that IS what that was! According to the USGS, it was a 5.8 quake with the epicenter in Mineral, VA. Find out more here:

Or more here…

We are still open until 8 pm tonight.

Recently I finished reading Magyk by Angie Sage, the first book of the Septimus Heap series. The book starts with Silas Heap, an Ordinary Wizard, trudging through the snow one night after visiting a witch to get medicine for his baby. On his way home, he comes upon a baby girl wrapped up in a bundle in the snow and takes her home with him. Once home, he finds out his baby boy, Septimus Heap, did not survive and the midwife carries the boy’s body away into the night. The Heap family takes in the baby girl and names her Jenna.

The Queen is murdered the night that Silas finds Jenna and the Supreme Custodian (like a dictator, I think) closes all Magyk schools. Wizards are now considered lower than scum and all Magyk books are burned. Silas rescues some books and teaches his children Magyk illegally. Ten years later, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard comes to the Heaps and informs them that Jenna is in danger. She is actually the princess, daughter of the deceased Queen, and the Supreme Custodian has found her. The Heaps, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and a young guard named “Boy 412,” who became involved by pure accident, must go on the run, pursued by The Hunter. There is a much greater villain after Jenna and he will do whatever it takes to rule the land.

I picked up Magyk because it was reviewed as being a fun read that is similar to the Harry Potter series. I loved the magic and adventure of the book, however it could be slow at times. The author tries to follow all of the characters, which spreads the story out a little too thin. The story does pick up it’s pace eventually and becomes a completely enthralling book. I suggest that if you liked the Harry Potter series, you give this book a try. It is more similar to the earlier works of J.K. Rowling, before the books got so dark and morbid. The Septimus Heap series are in the juvenile section of the library and are suggested for children between ages 9 and 12 by Amazon.com.

Septimus Heap series order: Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, and Darke.