SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
SPCC LIBRARY Newsletter
Editor's words By Kenaz Lai (5E)
IN THIS ISSUE
FINAL REPORT ON THE MYSTERIOUS
Hello everyone! Summer vacation has just begun, finally we are free from endless homework and tedious studying, and It’s a good idea to relax and enjoy a good
DISAPPEARANCE OF DUSTY
read! In this issue, you will find the book recommendations from our librarians. You will also find the explanation of the clues that were linked to this year’s detective theme and the ultimate answer to Dusty’s mysterious disappearance. Last but not least, I would like to thank you for your support to us through the year. It has been a pleasure for me to be the editor of the Library Newsletter, and now we have come to the last issue of this school year. We will continue to do our best, and we wish you a very happy and a prosperous summer.
SUMMER READING
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
REPORT BY DETECTIVE EDWARD CHENG, ON THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF D U S T Y, D A T E D 1 9 - 6 - 2 0 1 9
The case of the kidnapped head librarian has been quite an intriguing one, a mystery unsolved for almost a PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH
year. The case was almost impossible to solve, with a disturbing lack of witnesses or evidence over the incident. With the case being led to a dead end, the librarian team sought help from within the student community. Through the wit and genius of the student detectives, the clues were deciphered quickly, and the mystery solved.
The suspect called himself the “Big Brother”, having written the ransom letter for Dusty and leaving a trail of clues behind intentionally. By following and solving the clues, we found the ultimate deception: Dusty, in fact, was “Big Brother” himself, and had planned his kidnapping -- at his own hands.
There were a total of five clues found throughout this school year. The first was a map of the library posted on the board outside the library, which led investigators to look into the keyring workshop the library co-hosted with the DT club. There, detectives deduced the location and date in which the third clue would appear by rearranging the alphabet of each quote provided.
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6 Investigators would next discover Dusty’s diary at the exact location and time the second clue hinted at. Thinking out of the box, investigators shone a UV light on the diary to find a decoded message, “kidnapping plan”. The content within the diary also inspired detectives to examine the Library Newsletter, where the fourth clue laid. By deciphering the code, investigators were finally able to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Dusty explained his motivations in a hidden section of his diary: “What can I do to get more attention? Guess that I will have to do something big …… right, I will design my own kidnapping and leave clues behind so that you all will start to treasure me after my disappearance.” It appeared that he was simply distraught that no one valued his work in the library.
"Some declared to pursue legal action for Dusty’s irresponsible actions."
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
Summer Reading WITHÂ BOTH OUR PRINTED AND E-BOOK COLLECTIONS
WHAT WE HAVE...
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
The librarians' choices WRITTEN BY MARIANA POTTER
Catch-22
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
by Joseph Heller
by Hank Green
Based on writer Joseph Heller’s actual in-
April May, a recent art-school graduate who
war experiences, the book follows the life of
happened to be the first to discover a 10-foot-
Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air
tall robotic sculpture, publicised the sculpture
Forces B-25 bombardier. Most of the events
through YouTube and gained internet fame.
in the book occur while the fictional 256th
With it came an intriguing mystery behind the
Squadron is based on the island of Pianosa,
unowned craft and April’s struggle with her
in the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy. The
addiction to fame, and it’s destruction to her
novel looks into the experiences of
relationships. The story is entertaining yet
Yossarian and the other airmen in the camp,
highly relevant to our current world of the
who attempt to maintain their sanity while
internet.
fulfilling their service requirements so that they may return home.
- Anders Pang (3G)
- Ivy Wu (5E)
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
The librarians' choices WRITTEN BY MARIANA POTTER
Grit
The Young Elites
by Angela Duckworth
by Marie Lu
Angela Duckworth discusses the importance
I recommend this book because the novel
of grit in success. Grit consists of two major
shows us the perspective we very rarely see,
components: passion and perseverance.
which is about the villain. We see how events
People who achieve success not only find
shape and mold the main character, Adelina
value and direction in what they do, but they
Amouteru. Through many encounters, she
don’t give up when they face obstacles.
learns new things, and her character changes.
Angela Duckworth combines a decade of
Being exploited and used taught her not to
experience studying grit and shows, with
trust, being at the mercy of others made her
plenty of real-life examples, that grit is far
realize the importance of power, and being
better at predicting success than any other
scared out of her wits taught her to rule with
factor, including family income and even
fear.
talent.
- Kieran Wong (5A)
Unconscious thoughts can sometimes bring to the fore ideas one might easily dismiss as unrealistic.
- Samuel Fung (3C)
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
The librarians' choices WRITTEN BY MARIANA POTTER
Packing for Mars
The Happiness Project
by Mary Roach
by Gretchen Rubin
The author searches answers to questions
In the book the author was able to figure out
about the uncomfortable physical and
the many ways of achieving happiness and
psychological aspects of space travel. Can
become as happy as she believed she deserved
you imagine the opening to a Space Shuttle
to in 365 days. “Happiness doesn’t necessarily
toilet is 4 inches across, that you have to be
make a person happy”, she stated. Real
“potty-trained” to do so? Can you picture
happiness should be found through one’s own
yourself drinking desalinated urine just to
way rather than following trends in a society,
save resources? As the technology develops,
because only by “look[ing] for happiness under
space travel will become a trend very soon,
[one’s] own roof”, can we really find true
and we should start preparing ourselves by
happiness within ourselves. The Happiness
understanding more about the space, and
Project is a motivational read, and is
reading this book is a good way to do so.
recommended to anyone searching for their own life satisfaction.
- June Wong (4F)
- Vicki Wong (4D)
SUMMER 2019
ISSUE 6
The librarians' choices WRITTEN BY MARIANA POTTER
A Child Called It by David Pelzer A Child Called It is a book written by David
This book also reminds me not to hesitate to
Pelzer about his own experience. When
help others who are in need. Unlike David’s
David was a teenager, his mother starved,
father, we should be able to put ourselves in
beat and tortured him. David’s mother no
other's shoes to understand their feelings and
longer regarded him as a person, but an
help with all we can to ease others' suffering.
object- an ‘it’. Yet what broke David’s heart was not the things his mother did to him, but the ignorance of the others such as his father. After reading this book, I am shocked by how children are abused, and alarmed by the physical and psychological toll that may take on their lives.
- Nicole Wong (4F)