Looking for a great book? Here’s a list of some of the best books read by the Library staff this year. Not all the books are brand new, but they were our favorites this year!

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook
By Leslie Conner

Jane Hoffman, Children’s Librarian, recommends this young teen book about an 11-year-old boy who has been living in a co-ed prison with his mom. He learns about the true meaning of home when he is sent to live in a foster home instead.​

The Beauty of Darkness
By Mary E. Pearson

Adriana LoDolce, Children’s Librarian, recommends this final installment of the action packed teen series, The Remnant Chronicles. It’s filled with all the right ingredients – an inspiring heroine, romance, and adventure!

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
By Daniel James Brown

Nancy Viggiano, Adult Reference Librarian, recommends this book because it gave her a great appreciation of man’s invincible determination to achieve in spite of difficult circumstances.

A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans
By W. Bruce Cameron

Mark Irish, Teen and Adult Reference Librarian (as well as a dog owner and lover) recommends this book because it’s a heartwarming story about a dog who is reincarnated four times and finds purpose in each life through the bond of unconditional love with his master. The book is told from the dog’s perspective as he shares his adventures and mishaps. You’ll love it even if you’re not a “dog person”!

By Permission of Heaven: The True Story of the Great Fire of London
By Adrian Tinniswood

Carol Curtis, Adult Reference Librarian, recommends this book because it’s the astonishing true story about the strength and beauty of people living in the 17^th century who persevered in the face of utter destruction, and went on to create modern London from its ashes.

Girl Unbroken: A Sister’s Harrowing Story of Survival from the Streets of Long Island to the Farms of Idaho
By Regina Calcaterra and Rosie Maloney

Laurie Aitken, Adult Reference and Programming Librarian, recommends this book because it left her amazed that despite enduring unthinkable circumstances, the author and her sister survived unbroken. This is the sequel to Regina Calcaterra’s first book, Etched in Sand. Mrs. Aitken had the pleasure of hearing the author’s inspirational talk at a recent book signing.

Killfile
By Christopher Farnsworth

Gregory Klein, Adult Reference Librarian, recommends this book which blends a variety of genre elements into an action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War
By Nathaniel Philbrick

Mary Schubart, Library Director, recommends this gripping true account of the Pilgrims. It’s not one you’ve ever heard before. The author recounts the story of the Mayflower voyage, the Pilgrims’ disastrous first year and their fragile relationship with the Indians, as well what happened during King Philip’s War in 1675-6. Philbrick makes the people come to life and portrays the challenges of two clashing cultures in a way that seems eerily relevant today. Mrs. Schubart loved the book so much she purchased her own autographed copy.

My Name is Lucy Barton
By Elizabeth Strout

Lauraine Farr, Assistant Library Director…I recommend this book written by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Elizabeth Strout. This quietly powerful novel just took my breath away. Strout writes in poetic prose with deep insight into the human condition. If you like novels with excellent character development and you’re not attached to a lot of plot, I’d suggest you pick this one up. My Name is Lucy Barton explores the complicated and loving relationship between a woman and her mother.

PAX
By Sara Pennypacker

Michele Ferrari, Children’s Librarian, recommends this book about a boy and his fox, separated by war, and the journey they both undertake to find each other and themselves. It’s somewhat “dark” for a children’s book, but in a straightforward way, it tackles difficult issues and raises questions about family, personal identity, and the power of love. Ms. Ferrari wonders if it might be a contender for the Newbery Medal.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
By Katarina Bivald

Terry Madonia, Adult Services Clerk, recommends this book about two pen pals who were finally set to meet, yet didn’t. Even with a tragedy central to the storyline, it is a sweet and quirky novel. Mrs. Madonia loved it so much she bought her own copy.

The Swamp Fox
By John Oller

Matt Wuthenow, Adult Reference Librarian and Head of Technical Services, recommends this riveting biography of Francis Marion, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War.

Looking for more great titles?

At one time there was a small cemetery in Islip Hamlet known as the Islip Village Cemetery. The earliest date that we can verify for the cemetery is 1873, on our historic map. The cemetery is also marked on our 1902 and 1915 historic maps. According to the library’s historical maps, the cemetery was located on the west side of what we now call Pardee Avenue. Using map measurements, the cemetery started approximately 500-600 feet north of Main Street and stretched about 250 feet north. The measurement north of Main Street conflicts with an undated note by former Islip Town historian Carl Starace. He notes, the Islip cemetery was approximately 100 yards north of Main Street. A few long time Islip residents believe the cemetery would begin just south of Dwight Court, along Pardee Avenue for about 250 feet. This would locate the cemetery closer to Mr. Starace’s measurement from Main Street. However, the cemetery no longer exists and we are left to wonder what happened? When and why was the cemetery moved?

Before being named Pardee Avenue, this road was unlabeled on our 1873, 1902, and 1915 historic maps. According to an article on Thursday July 13, 1967 from Your Islip Bulletin, this road was formerly known as Whitman Lane. The Whitman family owned large parcels of land on the east and west side of Whitman Lane, which is marked on the 1873 through 1915 maps. According to real estate transfers listed in the Suffolk County News, it appears Whitman Lane becomes known as Pardee Lane (now Avenue) around June 1931.

Islip Town Historian, George Munkenbeck, found some previous efforts to determine when this cemetery was moved. A letter addressed to former Town Historian, Robert Finnegan, from Oakwood Cemetery stated “we know that some of the gravestones were moved from Islip to this location, but we do not believe that any remains were moved, and we do not know when this took place.” In a note dated April 26, 1994 from then Islip Town Historian Carl Starace, replying to a person inquiring about what happened to the remains of a family member who was buried at the old cemetery located on the west side of Pardee Avenue. Mr. Starace replied, he was not sure that bodies were removed to Oakwood Cemetery. A letter to the New York State Division of Cemeteries on May 18, 1993 from Richard D. Silverthorn (former president of the Historical Society of Islip Hamlet) noted, “Our Town Hall has no records concerning this move due to a fire which destroyed some records.” In a reminiscence memoir by Edward Milton Van Sicklen covering Islip the approximate years between 1907 – 1930, he states, “it would seem no one died for such a long time in these parts that after a while, this burial ground was abandoned. The location was on Pardee Lane. A few years back, the bodies were taken up and reburied in another cemetery.” Unfortunately, his note was not dated, so his referral to a few years back, is not clear as to a date of the cemetery removal.

Documentation provided by Mr. Munkenbeck lists some names of the people who were buried at the Islip Village Cemetery:

Located within the Smith plot at Oakwood cemetery, these names/initials are located on some of the stones. The markers may have been mostly illegible to complete names:

We have a couple of possible answers to our questions. Mr. Van Sicklen’s notes covered Islip from 1907 – 1930 and the cemetery was marked on a 1915 map. It’s possible the cemetery was removed sometime during 1915 – 1930 but, we can’t say for sure since we do not know when Mr. Van Sicklen wrote his memoir. According to Mr. Van Sicklen, the cemetery was abandoned, leading us to a possible reasoning on the removal of the cemetery but, that reason isn’t clearly stated. We still can’t pinpoint when or why the cemetery was removed but, we do have some possibilities.

The unsolved mystery of the Islip Village Cemetery continues. If you have any information that may be useful in solving the mystery, please leave a comment and/or contact reference librarian Greg Klein at (631) 581-5933.

Let’s discover local history together!