" A classic Cinderella, where Jane has to rise above the menace of her aunt to get to the man she loves. A romance, coming of age and a comment on society. Fabulous!"

A novel of high romance and serious literature, Jane Eyre has enjoyed popular success and critical acclaim ever since its publication in 1847. The story of Jane's development from neglected orphan to an equal partnership with the enigmatic Mr Rochester, via the cruel regime at Lowood school and a difficult independence as a governess, electrified a Victorian readership not just for its narrative power but for the bold critique it offered of English society. With characters that are as unforgettable as the story they enact, and with a passionate language that amazed the readers of the day, Jane Eyre ranks among the most pre-eminent English novels ever written.

While everything else in his life may not be going perfectly Marley has always kept his eye on the prize of someday being a world famous DJ, playing at the biggest clubs.  He loves creating new beats and getting lost in the music, spinning record after record. Between school and working to pay the rent and bills for the apartment he and his strung out mom share Marley doesn’t get to spend as much time as he’d like mixing music and practicing DJing.  DJing at at the hottest club in his neighborhood had always seemed like a far off dream, but one night filling in for a sick DJ lands Marley a job at a local club DJing once a week things begin to change.  He’s being asked to DJ rich kids’ from school’s parties, the girl he’s been swooning over starts to take notice and to top it all off he’s allowed to enter the biggest DJ contest in the city.  Everything seems to going almost perfectly, but when things take a tragic turn Marley has to decide whether to give up on his dreams or fight for them in DJ Rising.

(Renee, the Loft)

"Evyn is going through a really rough time when her dad marries a woman that isn't even bad in the end. Evyn move from Maine to live with Elenis' family. Read it!"

Thirteen-year-old Evyn's world is turned upside-down when her father, widowed since she was a toddler, suddenly decides to remarry a woman with six children, move with Ev and her brother from Maine to Boston, and enroll her in private school. 

Find Bounce in the Loft.

When people ask me what I'm doing for the summer, the answer always seems to come as a shock.

"Oh, you know, making crafts with children. The usual."

It's always a lot of fun to watch my friends reel with jealously, but I think the real reason I continue to describe Maker Corps in this way is because I still cannot believe how lucky I am to be doing something so innovative and exciting. As a teaching major at Northwestern, I am constantly learning about the value of experiential learning and the ways in which it helps students to retain information. As someone who is perhaps too in touch with my inner child, I am constantly looking for reasons to play with glue and lights and play dough. Maker Corps combines all of these things into a fun summer learning experience, both for me as a budding teacher and for Evanston teens.

I have long been a fan of arts and crafts. During the Maker Corps training camp, I had a lot of fun experimenting with paper and glue and other standard art supplies to make a (much-needed) basket for all of my text books. I think what I'm most looking forward to, though, is experimenting with all the great STEM programs we have planned. I struggled a lot with electricity and circuitry in high school, but programs like Scratch and Squishy Circuits are just so approachable, and I can't wait to jump in with the students and spend my summer learning right alongside them.

-Grace Casimer

Looking across the circular yellow table, LED’s, dried purple Play Dough, a large pile of every-color-of-the-rainbow felt, and a scattering of miscellaneous wires, motors, and mechanics fill the eye. What, you may ask, do these materials all have in common?  They are all materials that will be somehow incorporated into our Maker programs at the Evanston Public Library this summer. As a graduate of ETHS, and a long-time patron of EPL, I’m extremely excited to be involved with some hands-on making programs here at the library. Growing up, I was always an avid artist. I’m extremely excited to be involved with some creative programming for Evanston youth that pushes their boundaries, and my own.  There is a lot in store this summer, from crafting to circuits, and I’m sure we will all learn a lot, explore, and develop along the way. Hope to see you at some of our programs this summer!

~Ruth Starr

“Enter Here to be and Find a Friend.”

Neither Irving School seniors, Tim or Duncan, were the most popular students.  Tim and Duncan had never really spoken to each other either, but one tragic event brought  them together and left Duncan with haunting memories. 

The Tragedy Paper, begins with Duncan arriving at Irving for his Senior year.  He’s tried to put the event involving Tim from the end of his junior year out of his mind, but it’s still their lurking.  Each year the graduated seniors select who they want to leave their dorm room to and they leave the new occupant a gift.  Duncan, finds his name on the door of the room he absolutely didn’t want, Tim’s .  Tim does leave Duncan an intriguing gift, a set of CDs.  As Duncan pops the first CD in he hears Tim’s voice, “First, let me say thank for you deciding to listen. I’ve thought many times about our last encounter, and how I wish I’d made a different choice.”  Alternating between Duncan perspective and Tim’s CDs The Tragedy Paper brings you from Tim innocently meeting, Vanessa, another Irving student to the event that’s  seared in Duncan’s mind.

(Renee, the Loft)