Gary Sinise
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English
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As a kid in suburban Chicago, Gary Sinise was more interested in sports and rock 'n' roll than reading or schoolwork. But when he impulsively auditioned for a school production of West Side Story, he found his purpose -- or so it seemed. Within a few years, Gary and a handful of friends created what became one of the most exciting and important new theater companies in America. From its humble beginnings in a suburban Chicago church basement and eventual...
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2023 Summer Reading - Read Outside Your Comfort Zone: Frequently Challenged Books
ALA Most Challenged Books
Banned Books
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ALA Most Challenged Books
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Description
"They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation. Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they...
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Thirty-five years ago, when "searching for America" was not yet the cliche it has since become, Steinbeck hit the highways with his French poodle, Charley. In a custom-built camper he named Rosinante after Don Quixote's steed, the two traveled the country--10,000 miles and 34 states. Their varied experiences comprise several slices of small-town, back-roads Americana. Steinbeck laments the rise of plastic-covered everything, the vacuousness of "sad...
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"During his three combat-filled tours of duty in Afghanistan, former college sports star and skilled paratrooper U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills never once backed down from the hardest challenges that came his way. The big, likable guy literally woke up every morning proudly singing the 82nd Airborne song to encourage and motivate the men he led. But late one afternoon in April 2012 while Travis and his men were on a routine mission near a remote...
8) Joe Bell
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English
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A rough-edged Oregon working class father pays tribute to his gay teenage son Jadin by embarking on a walk across America to speak his heart to heartland adults and students about the potential terrifying high costs of bullying.
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An entertaining and heartfelt look at the ties of hope, faith, and optimism that bind Cubs fans together. Also offers unique insight into what it means to be a true Cubs fans by exploring how deeply the histories of the city of Chicago and its Cubs are intertwined. Featuring interviews with an all-star cast of Cubs fans, Cubs legends, and experts, and remarkable historical images, including dozens of rare and never-before-seen photos from the earliest...
10) Forrest Gump
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English
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Forrest Gump is a low-intelligence man who has good intentions. He struggles through childhood with his best and only friend Jenny. His mama teaches him the ways of life and leaves him to choose his destiny. Forrest joins the army and heads off to Vietnam where he becomes friends with Dan and Bubba. He wins medals, starts a table tennis craze, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog, create the smiley, writes bumper stickers...
11) WWII in HD
Language
English
Description
Uses the journals and accounts of those who served in the war's biggest battles to create a personal, introspective, and detailed look at life on and off the front lines. Follow 12 unforgettable Americans, and experience the war as seen through their eyes, in their own words, and it really looked and sounded. Transforms their stirring journey into a tangible piece of history.
12) Apollo 13
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English
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It had been less than a year since man first walked on the Moon, but to the American public, Apollo 13 was just another 'routine' space flight. That is until these words pierced the immense void of space: "Houston, we have a problem." Stranded 205,000 miles from Earth in a crippled spacecraft, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive. Meanwhile, at Mission Control, astronaut Ken Mattingly, flight director...
13) Mission to Mars
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English
Description
NASA launches a Mars Recovery Mission to investigate and bring back survivors from the first manned mission to Mars which has mysteriously disappeared.
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English
Description
Outraged at the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered his military leaders to find a way to hit back at an enemy whose homeland was beyond the reach of U.S. warplanes. The result was a daring plan to load B-25 bombers on an aircraft carrier, sail within range of Japan, bomb its cities, and then fly on to the safety of China. Only one man was considered up to the task of leading the mission: Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle....
15) Open season
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English
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A performing grizzly bear named Boog, who has been domesticated by a park ranger, Beth, helps deer friend Elliot escape from the mullet-sporting hunter, Shaw. When the two animals escape to the forest they become lost - just as hunting season begins. To make the situation worse, Boog doesn't know how to survive outside of his beloved ranch. Elliott and Boog develop a strong bond not only between themselves but also with the other wild animals as they...
16) The stand
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English
Description
"In Stephen King's epic vision of an apocalyptic future, the few survivors of a plague-ravaged world must choose sides in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil that will decide te fate of humanity. As the followers of demonic Randall Flagg plot to rebuild the world in his dark image, a courageous foursome embarks on a heroic mission against Flagg and his minions. Fighting overwhelming odds, they will risk more than their lives as they take one desperate...
17) WW II in HD
Language
English
Description
The only people to see the war like this were the ones who lived it. Until now. Seventy years in the making. Three thousand hours of color footage few knew existed. The first documentary to show original color footage of World War II in immersive HD, the world premiere HISTORY series WWII IN HD uses the journals and accounts of those who served in the war's biggest battles to create a personal, introspective and detailed look at life on and off the...
18) Apollo 13
Language
English
Description
It had been less than a year since the first man walked on the Moon, but to the American public, Apollo 13 was just another "routine" space flight. That is until the words pierced the immense void of space: "Houston, we have a problem." Stranded in a crippled spacecraft 205,000 miles from Earth, astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert fight a desperate battle to survive. Meanwhile, at Mission Control, astronaut Ken Mattingly, flight director...
19) Of mice and men
Language
English
Formats
Description
In Depression-era California, two migrant workers dream of better days on a spread of their own until an act of unintentional violence leads to tragic consequences.
20) The forgotten
Language
English
Description
"Nine-year-old Sam Paretta is dead, killed in a plane crash. Even though it's been fourteen months since the accident, his mother, Telly, still grieves over the loss. But suddenly, her husband swears they never had a child and her psychiatrist insists she's delusional. Worst of all, there is absolutely no evidence to prove Sam ever existed. Haunted by the memories of her son, Telly's search for the truth propels her into a dark mind-shattering conspiracy...