Thursday, December 29, 2011

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Cover imageThe first in the Chemical Garden Trilogy, Wither is the story of Rhine Ellery, a 16-year-old girl caught in a nightmare. The world is no longer as we know it due to a series of genetic mutations that took place many years ago. Now, girls only live until they are twenty and boys until they are twenty-five. Kidnappers called Gatherers force young girls into marrying rich men in order to reproduce. Ellery unwillingly marries Linden, the son of a wealthy doctor. Linden himself is caught up in his own turmoil, but his father is determined to come up with a cure for the world's problems and will stop at nothing to do so. The only bright spot in Ellery's life is Gabriel, a house servant that she befriends. Both Rhine & Gabriel suspect that bad things are happening in the mansion and that they are in great danger. But is it possible for them to escape?

Karen

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Great Books for Middle Schoolers




Nigel seems to be a typical fifteen year old boy, worrying about fitting in, getting a girlfriend, and dealing with acne.  However, life is more complicated for him than it seems.  Nigel is a vampire, and not a good-looking popular vampire like Edward or Emmett Cullen.  Read his collection of notes.   

Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogle Frederick
Four girls, and their mothers, continue their mother-daughter book club via videoconference between Massachusetts and England, reading Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," and try to put friendship before romance. From the Mother-Daughter Book Club series.

This full-color graphic biography of Anne Frank goes beyond her diary. Starting with her father Otto’s birth, it also recounts Anne’s birth and the Frank family’s life hiding, their betrayal and arrest. This graphic biography will give the reader a new appreciation for Anne’s short life. 

Hero by Mike Lupica
Join fourteen year old Zach Harriman in this high-adventure thriller.  When his father’s plane mysteriously crashes, Zach finds out that his father was living a very different life—that of a superhero.  Now Zach is finding out he has the same superhero powers, and the people who wanted his father killed are now after Zach!
After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick.
After Ever After is the sequel to Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, but you don't have to read that one first to understand this one. The book is about an eighth grade boy named Jeffery Alper whose cancer is in remission. But, life doesn’t just go on perfectly, he still has to deal with the after effect. There is real humor and perspective in this book. 

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Did you enjoy the movie and/or book Soul Surfer? The Running Dream captures every great aspect of that story, but also takes you on an outstanding journey of a girl named Jessica that you would not expect! Jessica is a record-breaking track runner who finds herself in the hospital after losing her leg in an accident. Jessica finds the courage to defeat her obstacles while encouraging others along the way. Her story will make you cry, laugh, and cheer her on! 

Kimberly

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Alice in Time by Penelope Bush

Cover imageLife is not working out well for fourteen-year-old Alice. Her mum is ruining her life, her dad just got remarried, her little brother is driving her crazy, and Sasha, the most popular girl in school, hates her guts. Alice despises the house they all rent, and she has no cell phone or even a computer. Talk about a loser…
Her best friend Imogene is even starting to get on her nerves. Actually, Imogene is her only friend, but even that can stop the feelings of anger that Alice has. Especially when it comes to Seth, the first boy that has paid attention to Alice in a long time. When Alice decides to see Seth no matter what, the repercussions are severe, and Alice feels she has nowhere to turn.
Then a bizarre accident happens, and Alice finds herself re-living her life as a seven-year-old through teenage eyes –and discovering some awkward truths.
Part fantasy/part realistic fiction, Alice in Time is one of those novels that really makes you think!

Karen

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

World Series!

The World Series starts tonight (Let's go Cardinals!!). When you're not watching the game, enjoy some of these great baseball books:

Baseball Great by Tim Green
Josh's dad signs him up with Coach Rocky Valentine's youth baseball championship team, the Titans. He says Josh has what it takes to be a baseball great and the Titans will help him get there. Now Josh is gulping down Rocky's "Super Stax" milkshakes to build muscle and trying to fit in with his new teammates - older, tougher kids who can suddenly become violent. All Josh really wants to do is play ball, but as he gets in deeper with the Titans, there are questions he's just got to ask. As Josh and his new friend Jaden investigate their suspicions, they find themselves in a dangerous struggle with a desperate man who doesn't want them to expose the nasty secrets they uncover.

Far From Xanadu by Julie Anne Peters 
Mary Elizabeth (or Mike) Szabo is the star of her school's softball team but because of problems stemming from her father's suicide, her depressed mother and her slacker brother, she has convinced herself that she can't go far. But when an exotic new girl, Xanadu, arrives in the small Kansas town, Mike's world is turned upside down. Xanadu is everything Mike is not: cool, complicated, sexy, and . . . straight. This heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful novel will speak to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone just out of reach.

Center Field by Robert Lipsyte
Mike has his junior year well under control. Coach Cody has all but given him the starting spot as the Ridgedale Rangers' varsity center fielder. But then Oscar Ramirez shows up. Oscar is an amazing ballplayer, as talented at the plate as he is in center field, and it's not long before Mike loses control. He's on the bench, he's getting into fights, and he finds himself in weekend detention with Katherine Herold, the most mysterious, abrasive, alluring girl in school. Mike is lost, confused, and looking to Coach Cody to help him get back on track. But the coach has his own set of rules for Mike to play by, and the decisions Mike makes are going to impact more than just the starting lineup.


Heat by Mike Lupica
Michael Arroyo grows up in the shadows of hallowed Yankee Stadium, a boy forever on the outside looking in. His only chance to see his field of dreams? Pitch his Bronx all-star team to the district finals and a shot at the Little League World Series. But there is a problem. Michael is good - "too"good. Rival coaches and players can't believe a boy could be this good and be only twelve years old. And Michael has no way to prove it - no mother, no father, and a birth certificate that is stuck back home in his native Cuba. If the people from social services find out his secret, he will have an even worse problem: being separated from the only family he knows, his older brother Carlos.

The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith
The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn't thinking about what she should be doing because she's finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And, on the fifth anniversary of his death, it feels like there's nowhere else in the world she should be. Good luck is often hard to come by at a place like Wrigley Field, but it's on this day that she meets Nick who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can ever really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: "Wait till next year."



Kimberly








Monday, October 17, 2011

Teens' Top Ten 2011

Over 9,000 teens voted for this year's top ten YA books. Here are the winners:
  1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
  2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
  3. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
  4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
  5. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
  6. Matched by Ally Condie
  7. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
  8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
  9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
  10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


And it's Teen Read Week! Celebrate by participating in our photo scavenger hunt. You can pick up the clues and rules at the Information Desk.

Kimberly

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Great Graphic Novels

Here are some of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2011

Arisa Vol. 1 by Natsumi Ando
Tsubasa poses as her troubled twin sister and discovers dark secrets that may be more than she bargained for.

The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey & Peter Gross
What if your father wrote a best-selling fantasy series named after you… and all of it was true?

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin & Jill Thompson
A group of dogs and one open-minded cat join forces to protect the community of Burden Hill against a variety of supernatural forces.

Salem Brownstone by John Harris Dunning & Nikhil Singh
Salem receives an inheritance that goes beyond a gothic mansion: he must fight his father’s battle against dark forces.

Saturn Apartments V. 1 by Hisae Iwaoka
Mitsu takes on his late father's dangerous job as a window washer on the space ship Saturn Apartments.

Mercury by Hope Larson
Two girls: separated by 150 years but connected by one locket.

Kill Shakespeare V. 1: A Sea of Troubles by Conor McCreery
Shakespeare's greatest heroes clash with his most menacing villains.

The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects by Mike Mignola
The absurd adventures of a robotic Victorian super-hero and other assorted weirdness.

Not Simple by Natsume Ono
Ian is on a journey across the USA to find his sister.

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka and JH Williams
Don’t ask, don’t tell Batwoman what to do.


Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis
Strange visitor, mild-mannered reporter.  You know the story . . . but not quite like this.

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Garth Hale has gone to the other side, but he’s not dead yet.

Black Butler by Yana Toboso
Earl Phantomhive's butler is devilishly good.

Twin Spica by Kou Yaginmua
Asumi must pass the entrance exam for space school.

Kimberly

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Banned Books Week


 September 24 - October 1, 2011 is Banned Books Week! BBW is held every year to remind the public about the problems of censorship by highlighting books that have been challenged or banned in libraries and schools around the country.

 Celebrate your right to read this week by reading a banned book!

The Top 10 Challenged Books of last year:
1) And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
2) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3) Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
4) Crank by Ellen Hopkins
5) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6) Lush by Natasha Friend
7) What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
8) Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
9) Revolutionary Voices edited by Amy Sonnie
10) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer


Kimberly

Monday, September 19, 2011

Avast! Here be books on pirates!

Arrrr! Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. First, check out the official TLAPD website to learn exactly how to talk like a pirate and then check out one of these great books!

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Steampunk Pirates! Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt's always wanted; convinced he's lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter that he realizes that the man's ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious. In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, this is an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Desperate to escape a life of poverty on the streets of London, twelve-year-old Jacky Faber joins the HMS Dolphin as a ship's boy. Looking forward to daring adventures and riches galore, Jacky soon discovers that surviving life at sea requires more than quick feet and hard work. Being shot at from all directions, taking on a fully-grown toothless pirate, or being washed up on a desert island demands courage and a lot of luck. But Jacky loves it. There is just one problem - Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every ounce of cunning she has if she is to keep the crew from discovering her secret.This is the first book in the Bloody Jack series.


Pirates! The True and Remarkable Adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, Female Pirates by Celia Rees
Nancy Kington, daughter of a rich merchant, suddenly orphaned when her father dies, is sent to live on her family's plantation in Jamaica. Disgusted by the treatment of the slaves and her brother's willingness to marry her off, she and one of the slaves, Minerva, run away and join a band of pirates. For both girls the pirate life is their only chance for freedom in a society where both are treated like property, rather than individuals. Together they go in search of adventure, love, and a new life that breaks all restrictions of gender, race, and position.

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper
Twins, Connor and Grace, never dreamed that there was any truth to the Vampirate shanty their father sang to them before he died, but that was before the two were shipwrecked and separated from each other. For Connor, who is taken aboard a pirate ship, there's the chance to learn to sword fight, but for Grace, aboard a mysterious ship of vampire pirates, the danger is great. What will it take for them to find each other? First in the Vampirates series.

Piratica by Tanith Lee
Artemesia is the daughter of a pirate queen, and she's sick of practicing deportment at the Angels Academy for Young Maidens. Escaping from the school, she hunts up her mother's crew and breezily commands them out to sea in a leaky boat. Unfortunately, Art's memories of her early life may not be accurate-her seasick crew are actors, and Art's infamous mother was the darling of the stage in a pirate drama. But fiery, pistol-proof Art soon shapes her men into the cleverest pirate crew afloat. And when they meet the dread ship Enemy and her beautiful, treacherous captain, Goldie Girl, Art is certain that her memories are real. The Seven Seas aren't large enough for two pirate queens: Art will have the battle of her life to win her mother's title--and the race for the most fabulous treasure in pirate lore.

Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer
The Pirates of the Caribbean have a name for kids who walk on water: polliwogs. Fourteen-year-old Jolly believes that she's the last polliwog still alive and this special talent makes her invaluable to the pirate captain who raised her. When someone sets a trap for Jolly's ship, she alone escapes. Washed up on a tiny island, she meets Munk, a polliwog who has been raised in hiding. Evil forces are stirring in the Caribbean, and a demon from the sea attacks and murders Munk's parents. Was the demon really after Munk? And Jolly, too? Why are the polliwogs so valuable, and who's willing to kill to possess them? Jolly and Munk must sail with a strange crew of outcasts, led by the mysterious Ghost Trader, to avenge their loved ones and try to stop an ancient, malevolent force known as the Maelstrom. First in the Wave Walkers series.

Kimberly

Monday, September 12, 2011

Divergent by Veronica Roth




Imagine that you have one choice to make. When you’re 16, you must decide which group you will live among for the rest of your life. Choose correctly, or you may be shunned. This is the choice that Tris Prior must make. Does she belong with Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, or Erudite? Aptitude tests help determine which group Tris belongs in, but what if they’re inconclusive? She’s given a different label, but one she must never tell anyone.


I enjoyed this book. It was a good mix of action and adventure with just a little bit of romance mixed in. The setting is future Chicago, and I enjoyed reading about Chicago in a different light. If you like dystopian fiction, give Divergent a try. This is the first book in a trilogy, and if the other books in this trilogy are as good as Divergent, we’ll be entertained for a long time.

Carrie

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

Written way back in the late nineties in a time before Facebook, Ellen Wittlinger’s novel Hard Love tells the story of two teens who meet through their love of zines. (Zines are homemade magazines generally written by one author and focusing on his or her life and interests, a somewhat primitive version of Facebook and blogs.) John uses the pen name Gio when he writes a zine called Bananfish. He becomes fascinated, perhaps infatuated, with another zine writer named Marisol whose zine is called Escape Velocity. He’s so interested in seeing what Marisol is like in person that he stakes out a record store in order to meet her when she drops off her new issue. Marisol ends up being more beautiful, charming, and having more in common with John than he ever imagined. But despite them immediately hitting it off, the relationship never becomes what John would like it to be. John also clashes with Marisol regarding honesty. Marisol claims to always say exactly what she feels while John lies to Marisol right from the start by telling her his pen name Gio is his real name.


There is a lot about zines in Hard Love, including the main characters attending a zine convention toward the end of the book. There are also familiar young adult novel elements such as the prom and John/Gio’s divorced parents. However, Wittlinger’s inspired character development makes even the most familiar plot points seem as new as the latest Facebook app. This is definitely a novel worth checking out by one of the most consistently enjoyable young adult authors writing today.

John

Friday, August 26, 2011

Chime by Franny Billingsley

How great is the cover of this book? This is the story of 17-year-old Briony, the daughter of the town clergyman. She has a twin sister, Rose, and right away you know something is just not quite right with Rose. (Why is it when you read a book about twins, there is usually some creepy stuff going on?) You also find out that their stepmother has recently died, and there is something not quite right about that either. This novel, Chime, is part fantasy, part horror, part romance, and part historical fiction. Something for everyone!

Karen

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Vote for Your Top Ten!

Remember to vote for your favorite Teens' Top Ten Nominees by September 15.  The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week, October 16-22!

Here are the last of this year's nominees:

Drought by Pam Bachorz
Ruby and the Congregants have been enslaved to collect water for Darwin West and his Overseers. Ruby uses her magical blood to bless the water; without her blood, the Congregants will die. She and the Congregants pray to Otto, her father, to return and save them all. One day, Ford, the new overseer, arrives, and he and Ruby fall for each other. Ruby longs to run away with him to the modern world where she can lead a normal teenage life. She is torn between two worlds. Will she choose to be free with her forbidden love, or will she choose to be enslaved with her family?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The final book in the Hunger Games series finds Katniss Everdeen rescued from the horrific 75th Hunger Games—but not her fellow tribute, Peeta Mallark. Now she must lead a rebellion against the evil capital with the help of District 13, which is not destroyed, but has been quietly sowing the seeds of war for years. As Katniss becomes more entangled in war and revolution, the question of who she can trust becomes ever harder, and she must fight for her life once again.

Love, Inc. by Yvonne Collins
Zahara, Kali, and Syd meet in a support group when their respective parents get divorced, but it gets so much worse when they realize they’ve all been dating the same guy: Rick, aka Rico, aka Eric! The girls are devastated...until they decide to show the cheater the error of his ways. When more and more people find out about their plots and plans, Zahara, Kali, and Syd realize that they are much more than three girls who were cheated on.


Matched by Ally Condie
In Cassia’s society, most of her choices are made for her, including the person with whom she will spend the rest of her life: her Match. At age 17, Cassia is happily surprised when her Match turns out to be her best friend Xander, but when a glitch occurs and another boy’s face appears on her screen, Cassia can’t help but wonder what would happen if she were able to choose her own Match. Now she must decide between conforming to society and pursuing a life where she can make her own choices.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
After Lennie's sister suddenly dies, she finds herself torn between two boys. One is the new boy in town, and the other is her sister’s ex-boyfriend. While she is genuinely attracted to one, the other really understands her feelings, yet she knows it is wrong. Who will she choose?

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Popular, rich, and attractive Sam Kingston never worried about how her behavior affected other people. After dying in a car crash, Sam is forced to relive the last day of her life for seven days. She progressively becomes a better person as she realizes the ripple effect of her actions and uses the second chance to fix her most dire mistakes

Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
In book seven of the Maximum Ride series, the titular character is devastated after a fellow “bird kid” leaves to start his own flock of mutant heroes. Scientists tell her that another “bird kid”, Dylan, is her perfect mate, and that she’s been created to save the world. When the Doomsday Group starts hypnotizing children, Max heads to Paris with her flock to investigate. Unfortunately, Fang and his new flock are investigating as well.

Kimberly

Thursday, August 18, 2011

More Teens' Top Ten Nominees

This year's nominations are dominated by books featuring supernatural or paranormal elements.  If you enjoy fantasy and the supernatural, vote for one of these titles here!

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
Are you Team Unicorn or Team Zombie? In this anthology of twelve fast-paced stories, popular teen authors make strong arguments for both sides in the long and gruesome debate concerning the awesomeness of zombies versus unicorns.

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
Danny thought he was a “drekka,” one without magic, until he discovers he has magical powers as a gate mage. The only problem: all the magic families made a pact to kill any person who could make gates to transport themselves. Danny is forced to run from everything and everyone he knows in an attempt to unravel the secrets behind his powers.



Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
When Calla, who is a Guardian, saves a boy on her mountain from a bear attack, the consequences are farther reaching than could be imagined, especially when that boy shows up at her school and appears to be a favored companion of her masters, the Keepers.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
In this sequel to Hush, Hush, a few months have passed since Nora’s lab partner Patch, actually a fallen angel, saved her from his murderous vassal Nephil and became her guardian angel. She and Patch are now dating, but she is starting to doubt his love for her. Is he keeping something from her? And is she really safe now?


Lies by Michael Grant
Lies continues the story that began in Gone and Hunger. Is death the only answer? Life is getting hard for the under 15s who survived. Food is running out, the beach is burning, and things are getting tense. The situation is getting worse for the survivors and everyone has their own battles to face.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Sixteen-year-old Sophie is a witch sent to live at Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (witches, faeries, shape-shifters, etc.), after she bungles a spell at prom and attracts too much attention from normal humans. At her new school, Sophie must face the usual teen troubles of mean girls and crushes with the added dimension of magic and learning about her own powers.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
An unbelievable betrayal, an ancient spell, and a love triangle all make Rachel Hawkins’ sequel to Hex Hall impossible to put down. When Sophie goes to her father’s mansion for the summer, she thinks she knows exactly what she wants: to undergo the Removal and get rid of the demon inside of her. But when it turns out that someone else is making demons, she has to question everything and everyone—especially Archer Cross, the boy she can’t get out of her head.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
On the eve of her 16th birthday, Meghan starts seeing dark creatures in the most unusual places and senses that everything is about to change. But she could never have imagined the truth—that she is a princess, the daughter of a mythical faery king. When she finds out her little brother has been kidnapped and replaced by a changeling, Meghan ventures in to the fey world to rescue him.

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore
In a world dominated by vampires, half-vamp, half-wulf Danny is used to hiding his true nature. When he experiences strange changes, it appears that his wulf side has become active. In a world where wulves are not treated equally, Danny faces a difficult choice: a dreary future as an inmate once a month or life as an illegal, unregistered wulf.

Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Quincie, everyone’s favorite teen restaurateur and vampire, is back in this follow-up to Tantalize and Eternal. This time, she has even more on her plate. She just died, became a vampire, said goodbye to her true love/ werewolf boyfriend Kieren, and she has to stop the most powerful and evil vampire in centuries and find a way to save her own soul and the souls of the soon-to-be evil vampires.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Normal? Yeah, right! Evie's biggest dream ever was to be normal, but with a faerie ex-boyfriend and a mermaid for a best friend, she might as well just throw the word “normal” right in the trash can. Evie has the unique ability to see through paranormals’ glamours, which has made her a valued asset of the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA). When someone breaks into the Agency headquarters, Evie meets an unusual Paranormal: a boy who can shape-shift into any human. Can Evie save the lives of unarmed Paranormals from something that is after her too?

Kimberly

Monday, August 15, 2011

2011 Teen's Top Ten

Vote for this year's YALSA's Teens' Top Ten!  You can place your vote at the YALSA website.  You have until September 15 to vote!

We'll highlight all 25 nominees this week.

I am J by Chris Beam
J (Jeni) is a boy and has always identified himself as such, but he was genetically born female. As a teen, J acts like a boy and dresses in baggy clothes to hide his feminine body. He wants to begin testosterone treatments to transfer physically to a man, but his parents and best friend do not accept him as male. J decides to run away and enroll in a school for gay and transgender students, where he is able to begin to find acceptance. More than just a story of a transgender teen, this is the story of how teenagers live and love and cope.


You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin
Teenage Dalton Rev is a private eye. He is sent to a high school to find out about the death of Wesley Payne. Was it really a suicide? The school's tight cliques have gone insane and lost control. It’s up to Dalton to sort through a huge mess of betrayal in order to restore the hierarchy.


The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
In this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series, Tessa Gray travels to England to search for her brother, her only remaining relative. She is captured by the mysterious Dark Sisters and discovers that there is a fantastical world thriving alongside her own. She finds that she must ally with the unknown shadowhunters to save her brother.


I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Number Four is one of nine aliens that escaped from the planet Lorien just ahead of the evil Mogadorians, a rival alien race bent of their destruction. He’s settling into another new town on Earth, trying to get a handle on his developing powers, when he gets the news: Number Three is dead. If Number Three is dead, that means Number Four is next.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal
At sixteen, Princess Nalia learns that the king and queen have used her as a false princess to protect their real daughter from an omen of death. Princess Nalia, now Sinda, is sent away from the palace to live with the one relative she has left in a world she does not know. Sinda struggles with her new life and uncovers a secret that may change her country forever. Magic runs through her veins, and theories of corruption in the royal bloodline keep her entangled in the royal family's affairs.


Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Sisters Rosie and Scarlett March are left as orphans at eleven after their grandmother is killed by a Fenris, a soulless creature that takes the form of a man and can turn into a wolf. Scarlett loses an eye in the attack and decides to devote her life to hunting the Fenris. Eight years later, the sisters have vowed to protect their town from the Fenris. Silas, a young woodsman, returns to town. Rosie knows the Fenris deserve to die, but she's not ready to commit her entire life to hunting them. Can the sisters learn to live with their differences as Rosie and Silas’s friendship blossoms into something more?

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
This sequel to Leviathan picks up where the last book left off with Alek, the lost Austro-Hungarian prince, and Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy, on the airship Leviathan heading to the Ottoman Empire. Upon arriving, Alek escapes and starts a revolution to overthrow the Sultan and try to stop a war.





Kimberly

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber Appleton, Bobby Big Boy--her dog, and her mom  are living in Hello Yellow, her mom's school bus. After her mom dies, Amber gets adopted but struggles to get back on her feet.  On top of all of this, her dog needs surgery.  Will Amber ever find the hope she needs?  Find out in this great book!

Sorta Like a Rock Star
Teen book review by Megan Regan

Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part 1 by Akira Himekawa

In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part 1, Link is in Hyrule Castle with Zelda.  Then Link pulls out the Fourth Sword and Dark Link appears.  Link turns into four different Links: Blue Link, Red Link, Green Link, and Purple Link.  They can not defeat Dark Link who captures Zelda.  They must get the four gems but they become separated out at sea.  Eventually, Red finds Blue and then they find Purple Link too.  Blue and Red Link think that Green Link is dead.  I think Green Link is headed to Death Mountain to capture the last gem.  Find out what happens next in Part 2!

Teen Review by Amanda D.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Even though Charlie, Vera’s longtime friend, is dead, he keeps appearing to her. Sometimes she sees dozens of Charlies at one time filling up the back seat of her car and forcing her to put on a local heavy metal station she hates. The last thing nearly everyone remembers about Charlie is a horrible crime he supposedly committed the night he died, but Vera can’t see how the accusation could be true. Vera’s dad wants her to forget about Charlie and focus on school and her job working as a pizza delivery driver, though she refers to herself as a pizza delivery technician. Vera’s thoughts about Charlie are further complicated by the fact that some time before he died he ditched Vera to hang out with the stoners at their school.


Please Ignore Vera Dietz was an honor book for the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. It’s one of those rare books that upon finishing I wanted to reread immediately. Despite the serious sounding subject matter, the book is really a dark comedy. Vera’s voice is distinct, funny, and believable. The novel mainly tells Vera’s side of the story, but the point of view switches at times to Charlie, who is referred to as the dead kid, or Vera’s dad, who contributes several flow charts to help illustrate his views on life. This hybrid of mystery, comedy, and the coming-of-age novel is well worth the time.

John

Monday, July 11, 2011

Die for Me by Amy Plum

After her parents are killed in a car accident, Kate Mercier moves to Paris with her older sister, Georgia, to live with their grandparents.  While Geogia enjoys Parisian nightlife, Kate spends her time alone in cafés and museums until she meets the handsome and mysterious Vincent.  Kate and Vincent begin dating but things become difficult when Kate discovers that Vincent isn’t entirely human.  When Georgia gets involved with Vincent’s sworn enemy, Kate and Vincent’s relationship takes a dangerous turn.

The most intriguing thing about this paranormal romance is the new creature the author has created: the revenants.  Vincent and his friends were once human but they all risked their lives and died while saving the lives of other humans and have now become immortal beings called revenants.  Revenants use their immortality to save human life wherever they can and they fight against the evil Numa--immortals who try to destroy humans.        

The Parisian setting and the dashing and handsome Frenchmen add to the romance.  Die for Me is the perfect book for Twilight fans.   

Kimberly                    

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

In Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens, an airplane carrying a group of teenage beauty pageant contestants crashes on a deserted island.  Only about a dozen of the beauty queens survive and are subsequently forced to use their unique talents to survive on their own.  They must also battle with an evil corporation that is planning an illegal arms deal with an Elvis-impersonating dictator and they must try not to get their hearts broken by a gang of hot, reality tv show pirates.

Beauty Queens is just as absurd as Bray’s Printz award-winning Going Bovine (about a boy with mad cow disease who is on a quest to save his life) but it’s also just as humorous and heartfelt.  Bray satirizes everything from pageants and the cosmetics industry to consumerism, reality television, politics and religion while exploring issues of gender, race, and sexuality--and it’s all  hilarious.

Kimberly

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Real Japan for Anime Fans

Author James Kennedy will host a special Anime & Manga Club meeting. James will be discussing life in Japan, Japanese pop culture and how it relates to your favorite anime and manga. Learn some basic Japanese phrases and how to write your name in Japanese characters too! Our next meeting is on July 6 at 7pm in the meeting room.

And be sure to check out some of our new manga series:

Arisa
Tsubasa thinks that her pretty and popular sister, Arisa, has the perfect life. Everyone at school loves Arisa, unlike the hot-tempered Tsubasa, whose nick-name is "the Demon Princess." But when Arisa attempts suicide, Tsubasa learns that her seemingly perfect sister has been keeping some dark secrets. Now Tsubasa is going undercover at school--disguised as Arisa--in search of the truth.

Genkaku Picasso
Having cheated death, Hikaru Hamura must save himself by using his artistic abilities to help others. Hikari Hamura, nicknamed Picasso because of his natural artistic abilities, survived a horrible accident, but his friend Chiaki wasn't so lucky. Suddenly, Chiaki appears in front of him and tells him in order to keep living he must help the people around him. Can Hikari save people with his sketchbook and a 2B pencil?




Kamisama Kiss
Nanami Momozono is alone and homeless after her dad skips town to evade his gambling debts and the debt collectors kick her out of her apartment. So when a man she's just saved from a dog offers her his home, she jumps at the opportunity. But it turns out that his place is a shrine, and Nanami has unwittingly taken over his job as a local deity! Nanami doesn't want to miss out on the fun
 when a hot teen idol joins the student body. Tomoe reluctantly agrees to let her go, as long as she conceals her divine mark. After all, what could possibly go wrong at high school...

Ouran High School Host Club
One day, Haruhi, a scholarship student at exclusive Ouran High School, breaks an $80,000 vase that belongs to the 'Host Club', a mysterious campus group consisting of six super-rich (and gorgeous) guys. To pay back the damages, she is forced to work for the club, and it's there that she discovers just how wealthy the boys are and how different they are from everybody else.

Saturn Apartments
Far in the future, humankind has evacuated the earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the earth. The society of the ring is highly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated junior high. When his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu must take on his father's occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu's job treats him to an outsider's view into the living-room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments.

And good news! Sailor Moon is being re-released starting in September!

Kimberly