Island of Misfit... Children?

As a child, Jacob was always fascinated by his grandfather's stories about the magical, mythical orphanage where he spent much of his youth. The children at Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children had all sorts of cool magical powers, it was always summertime, and, most importantly, the children were safe from the terrible monsters that stalked them as long as they remained under the care of Miss Peregrine. As Jacob grew, he dismissed the stories. The so-called "monsters" must have been the Nazis who killed his grandfather's family. As for the rest... pure fiction. That is, until the night Jacob witnesses his grandfather's brutal murder at the hands of a creature straight out of a nightmare. His curiosity (and his shrink) lead him to the remote island and the site of the orphanage. What he finds there is something beyond imagining. Could his grandfather have been telling the truth all along? Although this is cataloged as a Teen Book, it's something adults could enjoy too. Give it a try! --AJL

A Film With "Universal" Appeal

It's The Beatles as you've never experienced them! Set in the United States during the height of the Vietnam War and narrated through gorgeously unique re-arrangements of favorite Beatles hits, Across the Universe centers on the tumultuous relationship between Lucy, a sheltered New Jersey teen, and Jude, a dockworker from Liverpool who has traveled to American to locate his estranged father. When Lucy's older brother, Max, is drafted and shipped overseas, everything suddenly hits too close to home for her. Lucy becomes deeply involved with a radical organization opposing the war. At the same time, Jude deals with the stress of war in his own more passive way. This places a strain on their relationship. Also struggling with how to deal with the war (as well as their own inner turmoils) are Sadie, a middle-aged nightclub singer trying to make it big, Jo-Jo, a guitarist from Detroit trying to escape a tragic past, and Prudence, a confused runaway from rural Ohio who is going through a very big identity crisis. Across the Universe is the story of how these six strangers come together to form a bond of friendship that helps each of them deal with their individual struggles and, by the time the credits roll, prove to the audience that "all you need is love." The music, combined with gorgeous costumes, detailed choreography, and cool special effects provide a truly unique cinematic experience. Rated: PG-13 for mature content. Soundtrack also available at Oxford Public Library.