Teen Book Blog

2012 Michael L Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

2012-01-25T08:42:00.000-08:00

WINNER
Where Things Come Back

by John Corey Whaley

In the remarkable, bizarre, and heart-wrenching summer before Cullen Witter’s senior year of high school, everything he thinks he understands about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town vanishes. His cousin overdoses; his town becomes absurdly obsessed with the alleged reappearance of an extinct woodpecker; and most troubling of all, his sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother, Gabriel, suddenly and inexplicably disappears.

As Cullen navigates a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young, disillusioned missionary in Africa searches for meaning wherever he can find it. Through masterful plotting, these two stories are brought face-to-face in a surprising and harrowing climax that is tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, and above all, hope.

HONOR BOOKS
Why We Broke Up

by Daniel Handler

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

The Returning

by Christine Hinwood

Cam Attling, having lost an arm, is the only one from his town of Kayforl to return after twelve years of war. All his fellow soldiers were slain, and suspicion surrounds him. When his betrothal to Graceful Fenister is called off and his role in the community questioned, Cam leaves to find the lord who maimed him but spared his life, seeking answers and a new place in the world.But this is not just Cam's story, it's about all those whose fates entwine with his. Set in a medieval world that is entirely the author's creation, this is an ingenious, exquisite story about what happens after the battle. When sisters, sons, friends, parents, and lovers are left to deal with the subtle aftermaths and unimagined repercussions of war.

Jasper Jones

by Craig Silvey

The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

A bloody, intoxicating horse race on the Island of Thisby is the backdrop for this atmospheric novel. The heart-pounding story pits two teens against death – to win is to survive.

Wonder Struck

2011-10-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

by Brian Selznick

JFic Selz

Wonderstruck is the followup to the Caldecott winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret which is probably the wordiest book to ever the award. Both use a series of prose and pictures to tell a story. They both take place in the past and both deal with orphans. They are both amazing books from start to finish. It took me around two hours to finish them each and I would say it was better than going to the movies.

It is 1977 in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota, and Ben Wilson is a young boy who has lost his mother. He now lives with his well-meaning aunt and uncle who are struggling financially, sharing a room with a resentful and bullying cousin, Robby, and wishing for the one thing that he can never have. Robby, partially deaf, has grown up in the sheltered world created by his mom, a single mother and librarian who fed his fascination with outer space and covered their fridge with her favorite quotations, and she isn't coming back.

Interspersed with Ben's story is that of a young girl, told only in pictures. Her story begins enigmatically- a small girl sitting at a desk, surrounded by models of skyscrapers which appear to be made after the view from her window of the 1927 New York City skyline. Why does she write a note with the words "Help Me" on it? Is she a prisoner in this room where she must have spent so many painstaking hours creating the models around her? Why does she seem fixated on a famous actress, enough so to climb down the tree outside her window to sneak off to see one of her silent films at the movie theater?

The two stories are expertly interwoven and when they collide it definitely pulled at my heart strings. Brian Selznick I am sure will be put on the short list again this year for the Caldecott award along with a whole mess of other awards and honors.

The pages of pictures out number the pages of text by taking up 460 of the 608 pages. The pictures themselves have a cinematic tone by using angles and zooming in and out through the pictures. This gives an effect of focusing in on the character and creating a sense of movement and scope. All of the pictures are black and white and done in either pencil or charcoal with a cross-hatching style.

I would highly recommend either of his books. The Invention of Hugo Cabret will be coming out to theatres as Hugo in November.

Monster

2011-04-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

by Walter Dean Myers
YAFic Myer

Monster is one of the more popular young adult of the last decade after winning the Michael L Printz Award and was named a Coretta Scott King Award Honor book. It is as well known for its realistic subject matter as its unconventional format. The book is split up into sections of part screenplay and part diary all written by the main character Steve Harmon.

Steve Harmon is a young African American teenager who has grown up in Harlem and now finds himself on trial for the charge felony murder. To help himself understand how he got to be in this situation he decides to write a screenplay about all that goes on as it really happened. After the beginning introduction introduces this, the credits roll and the rest of the book is in the form of an actual screenplay with cuts and cues and everything. I didn't find this all that difficult to read as I mostly skimmed over it and just concentrated on who was speaking and what was being said. Diary like voice overs are interspersed in the screenplay of Steve speaking about what his inward feelings and thoughts.

Other than the format of the book, which I didn't find that strange, the other strange thing is that Steve Harmon didn't actually kill anyone. He may or may not have been involved in a robbery that resulted in the death of the owner of the store they were robbing. Steve's alleged part in this robbery was that of a lookout. He allegedly went into the store to see if any cops or other people were in it that would give the actual two robbers any trouble. Once I learned this it changed my perspective of the book from how a young man feels to be on trial for murder to how a young man can make the kind of decisions to end up in this situation. This becomes more unclear as the story goes on since Steve is the one writing the screenplay and as the trial develops Steve starts rationalizing his part in the robbery to the point of not having actually been there at all.

The book is a fast read and you are genuinely invested in the verdict by the end. With a strong message of how the simplest of decisions can snowball into drastic repercussions and how they having a lasting effect on you and those around you.

Locke & Key

2011-04-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

Written by Joe Hill

Illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez

YAFic Hill

Locke & Key is a horror comic released by IDW in monthly issues and bound together in trade hardbacks. There are currently three volumes out now with the fourth being planned for July. There is suppose to be a total of six volumes by the end. The story evolves around the Locke family who have moved back to the family estate, Keyhouse, after a horrible tragedy befalls them. Keyhouse, on Lovecraft Island, is not a normal house. There are many keys to be found within the estate and each key has a specific special power, but since this is a horror comic there is also a sinister "spirit" trying to get the keys especially one key in particular to unleash the big bad that the house has captured. That is the initial setup, but there is more that I just wouldn't want to spoil.

I had tried getting into this series a few times because I had heard several times how great it is, but my first attempts weren't successful. Neither the art not the story telling really grabbed me. I would highly recommend choosing to atleast start out reading this series with the first trade Welcome to Lovecraft. Reading several issues in one go helps you get a feel for the story's pacing.

I may not be totally in love with the artwork here but I do really dig the use of perspective. A comic book will move the eye as it should which Gabriel Rodriguez does but he also moves your eye to the reveals. Throughout the series the reader is more aware of everything that is going on than the characters which is done by the careful dialouge of Joe Hill's and the small tellings that are included in the panels without sacrificing the pacing of the story. I hope you can check out all the volumes out together or put them on hold because this one addictive story that will have you sweating to get a hold of the next one.

2011 Michael L. Printz Award

2011-01-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellance in Young Adult Literature was given to Paolo Bacigalupi for his novel Ship Breaker.

It is a fast-paced postapocalyptic adventure set on the American Gulf Coast. Nailer works light crew; his dirty, dangerous job is to crawl deep into the wrecks of the ancient oil tankers that line the beach, scavenging copper wire and turning it over to his crew boss. After a brutal hurricane passes over, Nailer and his friend Pima stumble upon the wreck of a luxurious clipper ship. It's filled with valuable goods—a "Lucky Strike" that could make them rich, if only they can find a safe way to cash it in. Amid the wreckage, a girl barely clings to life. If they help her, she tells them, she can show them a world of privilege that they have never known. But can they trust her? And if so, can they keep the girl safe from Nailer's drug-addicted father?

The 2011 Printz Honor Books were Stolen by Lucy Christopher, Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King, Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick, and Nothing by Janne Teller.

The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a Topeka, Kansas school librarian who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association. The award is sponsored by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association.

2011 Newbery Medal Winner

2011-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

The 2011 Newbery Medal was awarded to Clare Vanderpool for her debut novel Moon Over Manifest.

It is the story of 12-year-old Abilene, who has spent her life riding the rails, that was sent away by her father to stay with Pastor Shady Howard in Manifest, Missouri, a town he left years earlier; but over the summer she pieces together his story. In 1936, Manifest is a town worn down by sadness, drought, and the Depression, but it is more welcoming to newcomers than it was in 1918, when it was a conglomeration of coal-mining immigrants who were kept apart by habit, company practice, and prejudice. Abilene quickly finds friends and uncovers a local mystery. Their summerlong “spy hunt” reveals deep-seated secrets and helps restore residents’ faith in the bright future once promised on the town’s sign.

The 2011 Newbery Honor Books were Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, and One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia.

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

A Tale Dark & Grimm

2010-12-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

by Adam Gidwitz

Ages 9 - 12

The supposed true story of Hansel and Gretel that is mischevious and loads of fun. This is the authors debut novel and finds Hansel and Gretel walking out of their own fairy tale into eight other classic-inspired Grimm fairy tales.

The author takes the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel and weaves something new out of it. You start with their Grandfather and then their parents marriage and then their own trials and tribulations as they seek a safe place but are constantly met by evil forces that wish them harm.

Gidwitz uses the current popular technique of adding a narrator to the mix which adds a humorous effect to the book though it gets old after the first hundred pages. To his credit though, he knows his fairy tales and many familiar tropes can be found amongst these pages. Within the overall story there are smaller tales which play on a more classic tale. The original tale of Hansel and Gretel is included with a slight variation. What really drives the story is the level maturity he gives to them both. There is an underlining of morality with each tale and as the two face each evil tribulation they grow up a little more each time while never losing sight that there are just kids. The main and very clear theme the author is expressing is that the world is unsafe but kids may not be as helpless and innocent as the world want to believe Not all actions are logical though, but the story moves so fast that you won't care if you even notice.

Chains

2010-11-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

Grades 6+
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Isabel tells the story of her life as a slave in New York City at the beginning of the American Revolution. She was sold with her five-year-old sister to a cruel Loyalist family even though the girls were to be free upon the death of their former owner. She has hopes of finding a way to freedom and becomes a spy for the rebels, but soon realizes that it is difficult to trust anyone. She chooses to find someone to help her no matter which side he or she is on.

With short chapters, each beginning with a historical quote, this fast-paced novel reveals the heartache and struggles of a country and slave fighting for freedom. The characters are well developed, and the situations are realistic.

An author's note gives insight into issues surrounding the Revolutionary War and the fight for the nation's freedom even though 20 percent of its people were in chains. Well researched and affecting in its presentation, the story offers readers a fresh look at the conflict and struggle of a developing nation.

If you read Fever 1793 and liked it, this would be another great historical fiction novel to read. And if you liked this book, check out the sequel.

Revenge of the Witch: Last Apprentice Series Bk. 1

2010-10-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Delaney
Grades 5+
Thomas, seventh son of a seventh son, is apprenticed to the local Spook, whose job is to fight evil spirits and witches, he expects a life of danger. However, the boy doesn't realize just how soon he'll face a powerful enemy alone, as Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away. Thomas is forced to use his wits, and the help of his enigmatic new friend, Alice, to fight the evil witch. And defeating her is only the start of the boy's problems.

Delaney's characters are clearly presented and have realistic depth, and Thomas's mother and Alice stand out for their strong words and actions. The protagonist's voice is clear, and his conflicts over his actions ring true.

I was not expecting to like this book but once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. I stayed up to finish the book. This was a fantastic first person horror story that is scary and gory but not too scary and gory.

A fantastic read.

1. The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch
2. Curse of the Bane
3. Night of the Soul Stealer
4. Attack of the Fiend
5. Wrath of the Bloodeye
6. Clash of the Demons
7. The Spook's Nightmare (2010)
8. The Spook's Destiny (2011)

Teen Read Week

2010-10-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

We're celebrating Teen Read Week right now (Oct. 17 through Oct 23) at all the Warren County Public Library branches, and encouraging teens to "read like a rock star." Anytime this week that you check out a book at one of our branches you will get a rock-star fun band. We will also be giving away some freebies at all of our Wii Guitar Hero Jam sessions this week.

Guitar Hero Jam Sessions:

Main, Oct. 18, 6 p.m.

Graham, Oct. 21, 3:30 p.m.

Kirby, Oct. 22, 3:30 p.m.

39 Clues: Maze of Bones Bk 1

2010-10-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

By Rick Riordan
Ages 9+
The story starts when Grace Cahill dies and scatters cryptic clues to a mysterious fortune around the globe. Lead-off hitter Riordan (The Lightning Thief) mixes just the right proportions of suspense, peril and puzzles in a fast-paced read (Riordan mapped the narrative arc for the series, but other high-profile authors have written books in the series).

Likable orphans Amy and Dan Cahill have moxie (plus Dan can memorize numbers instantly) and frailties (Amy hates crowds). As the siblings compete with less honorable members of the Cahill clan, all distantly related to Benjamin Franklin, to win the fortune by collecting all 39 clues (only two are found in this first book), they learn about their dead parents, each other and world history.

While waiting for the next book you can go online and play to get more clues and to have more fun: www.the39clues.com.

Here are the books so far!

1. Maze Of Bones (2008) by Rick Riordan
2. One False Note (2008) by Gordon Korman
3. The Sword Thief (2009) by Peter Lerangis
4. Beyond the Grave (2009) by Jude Watson
5. The Black Circle (2009) by Patrick Carman
6. In Too Deep (2009) by Jude Watson
7. The Viper's Nest (2010) by Peter Lerangis
8. The Emperor's Code (2010) by Gordon Korman
9. Storm Warning (2010) by Linda Sue Park
10. Into The Gauntlet (2010) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

(HINT: The books are found on the shelf under JFic Thir for 39 Clues. )

Coraline Four Different Way

2010-10-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

by Neil Gaiman

Ages 9+

Coraline is one of those properties that has been excellent in any form that it has been made available to be consumed. Whether it is the original juvenile book, audio book, graphic novel, or movie, all forms of the material have all been well received. It may be because Neil Gaiman's original book is so strong and unique that no matter what medium it is adapted into the story still shines through.

Coraline Jones has just moved into a new flat and cannot wait to explore her new area, but on a rainy day when she is not allowed to play outside she makes a discovery in a little hidden door. With warnings from both neighbors and their pets to stay away from this door, Coraline cannot resist the temptation of a new place to explore. At first the Other World with her Other parents seem great but soon Coraline will realize that their is something dark behind all the perceived sweetness.

Neil Gaiman, using Alice in Wonderland as inspiration, creates a fun and eerie novella that can be enjoyed by child and adult a like. I first read Coraline just shortly after it was released because I had loved Neil Gaiman's comic series Sandman and his other adult novels. When I head a movie was being made by Henry Selik (Nightmare Before Christmas), I went ahead and checked out the graphic novel that was illustrated by P. Craig Russell to brush up on the story and I love graphic novels anyways so I was curious as to how well it was adapted. The graphic novel version is the most realistic visually you will experience the book. Coraline looks older here than in the movie or original illustation of the book cover. Because of the realistic look of the illustrations this version may be the best for teen readers as I also found it to be the most creepy when the Other world starts to lose its solidity.

Gaiman chose himself to read for the audio book, and his voice adds a dark, crisp tone to the retelling. There is some odd and not very good music that plays at times but it is not often enough to ruin the whole experience but I still wish it wasn't there. If you are taking a trip this October this would serve as a fun and seasonal listen.

Coraline was also adapted into a stop-motion film and released in 3D in 2009. The film adaption concentrates more on isolating Coraline and making her feel unwanted in the real world rather than portraying her as a more curious child as they do in the book. They also introduce a young eccentric boy who is a relative of the landlord. They did this so there wouldn't be scenes with Coraline talking to herself. The movie's strongest trait is the gorgeous visuals of Henry Selik and some scenes really pop especially the intricate mouse circus of Mr. Bobo.

The book won the 2003 Hugo Award and Nebulla Award for Best Novella along with the Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers. The movie was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.

Fever 1793

2010-09-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Ages 9+

It is one of the hottest summers anyone can remember in the nation's capital of Philadelphia in 1793, and Matilda "Mattie" Cook just wants to sleep in and not worry about her chores around her family's coffeehouse. Though as the heat is reaching all time highs, Mattie is no longer having to worry about chores or going to the market as rumors of a yellow fever outbreak spreads across the city. Soon thousands lay dead and families are fleeing Philadelphia in droves, and even though the Cook family coffeehouse is doing great business, sickness and death are approaching quickly to Mattie's door.

Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak, creates a protagonist who goes from a sheltered teen to a young woman in just a few months. Mattie has to learn to care and protect for others, sacrifice her own well being and health for the greater good, and make hard decisions that will affect her future while all around her the first great catastrophe of our young nation is playing out. Anderson peppers real historic individuals and portrays the time with authenticity. Mattie, her mom, and close friend Eliza are all portrayed as strong women and would be good female role models during any period.

Fever 1793 is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.

Paper Towns

2010-09-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

by John Green

Grades 9+
Having kind of enjoyed John Green's first book, the 2006 Michael L. Printz winner Looking For Alaska, and having a friend who swears by him as the teen writer of our times, I decided to give him another shot and read Paper Towns. By the end, which was accomplished in one night, I had laughed a lot and gotten a little teary eyed.

The girl of your dreams, who was also your childhood best friend, appears at your window one night to take you along on an all-night, score-settling spree through Orlando. Just when high school senior, Quentin Jacobsen (Q), thinks Margo is back in his life she disappears. Q with the sometimes help of his two best friends will trace Margo's last days in and around Orlando in hopes to find out where she has disappeared to and along the way maybe find out who Margo is as a person. The drama of this book isn't especially the chase and mystery of where Margo went or even if she is still alive, but Q finding out about Margo herself and coming to terms with finishing high school.

Paper Towns won the 2009 Edgar Award for best Young Adult novel.

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

2010-09-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Grades 6+

What do you want to be when you grow up? An Athlete? A Movie Star? A Musician? A Lawyer? Not many kids or adults really want to see the inside of a courtroom or wade through piles of litagation paperwork. But the main character in this book, Theo can't decide between being a famous trial lawyer or a respected judge.

Well, Theo Boone hasn't taken the bar, but he offers advice to his friends, hangs out at the courthouse, and watches Perry Mason reruns. Things turn serious, however, when a witness to a murder, a young illegal immigrant, comes to Theo with evidence. The trial is in full swing, and it looks like the defendant will walk unless Theo comes forward. But he's promised the young man he will keep his identity confidential. What should he do?

Grisham is known for his legal mysteries, and this kids book is no exception. It is a fun read for anyone, not just aspiring lawyers.

Little Blog on the Prarie

2010-09-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

by Cathleen Davitt Bell

Ages 10+

Imagine it is 1890. No iPods, no cell phones, no jeans or tank tops, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing. This is the life that Gen Welsh has to endure for the whole summer, since her mother has decided that the family's vacation will be at a frontier-living fantasy camp near Laramie, WY. When they arrive, all modern conveniences are taken away, but Gen is granted her one wish: Clearasil. Secretly she has hidden her new cell phone in the product's box, and uses it to text her friends back home.

Meanwhile, back at camp, a first romance and a good, clean girl rivalry are bubbling among the milking of cows and clearing of forest. As the families make their way through a difficult season, they all discover their strengths and weaknesses.

This fast read is humorous and insightful, with realistic characters that are refreshingly well rounded. Bell has captured a 13-year-old's voice, making Gen's unlikely situation feel very real.

Sabriel

2010-09-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

by Garth Nix

Please welcome our first teen blogger, Elizabeth! Thanks for the GREAT entry!

I was wandering my school's library and praying for a good fantasy book to do my report on. Finally I gave in and typed 'fantasy' into the search engine and Sabriel came up as a result. The cover looked interesting so I hunted it down and read the back. It sounded like just what I needed, so I checked it out. Then I proceeded to spend weeks reading the rest of the series because Sabriel was so amazing.

Sabriel is the adopted daughter of the Abhorsen, a necromancer sworn to help the spirits back into Death. When her father goes missing, she takes up the seven bells of the Abhorsen, and goes in search of him, hoping her meager knowledge of necromancy is enough. She finds companionship in the form of Mogget, an incredibly powerful Free Magic creature, and Touchstone, a prince imprisoned in the wood of a ship's figurehead for several centuries. She and her friends must track down Kerrigor, a spirit from beyond the ninth gate. Sabriel has to imprison Kerrigor to free her father. Will she do it?

Well I sure ain't tellin'! What I love about this book, is the fact that it is subtly eerie and scary, without being an all-out blood bath. Garth Nix keeps Sabriel focused with a believable familial loyalty, and puts her necromancer skills to the test in many unusual and unexpected ways. The cover makes you really wonder about what will happen, and gives you the chills.

The Book of the Maidservant

2010-09-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

by Rebecca Barnhouse
After taking a couple days off from reading (it's awful, I know. But sometimes the brain needs a break), I was in search of a book to read. Browsing the shelves, I came upon this pretty book and thought I would give it a try. Sometimes you CAN tell a good book by its cover!

Johanna is a servant girl to Dame Margery Kempe, a renowned medieval holy woman. Dame Margery feels the suffering the Virgin Mary felt for her son but cares little for the misery she sees every day. When she announces that Johanna will accompany her on a pilgrimage to Rome, the suffering truly begins. After walking all day, Johanna must fetch water, wash clothes, and cook for the entire party of pilgrims.

Way back when, I learned bit about the medieval era and in particular Margery Kempe. This is an interesting take on what life was like back then and also what it would have meant to be a servant to an upper class woman. Very thought provoking.

Wikipedia page on Marge Kempe

The Monstrumologist

2010-08-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

By Rick Yancey
Ages 15+
If you like the TV show Supernatural and you don't mind being really grossed out, you will love this book.

Set in the late-1800s in New England, Will Henry is the 12-year-old apprentice to Pellinore Warthrop, a brilliant and self-absorbed monstrumologist (a scientist who studies (and when necessary, kills) monsters). The newest threat is the Anthropophagi, a pack of headless, shark-toothed bipeds. The great mystery is how they got to this continent as they are indigenous to Africa.

As the action moves from the dissecting table to the cemetery to an asylum to underground catacombs, Yancey keeps the shocks frequent and shrouded in a splatter miasma of blood, bone, pus, maggots, and great vocabulary. The prose style is The industrial-era setting is populated with leering, Dickensian characters, most notably the loathsome monster hunter hired by Warthrop to enact the highly effective “Maori Protocol” method of slaughter.

The story is great. The writing is fantastic. The sentiment feels real. It is a wonderful and scary book.

The Compound

2010-08-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

By S.A. Bodeen
Ages 12+
In a burst of panic about a nuclear attack, Eli, his sisters, and his parents move into an underground bunker built by Eli's billionaire father. It's an enormous complex. Only his grandmother and twin brother, Eddie, don't make it in. The first six years of the planned 15 have been fairly routine, but now some food has spoiled, and certain things just don't seem right, or even possible. Eli, who is now 15, is starting to have doubts about his father's motives, explanations, and sanity.

The novel becomes full of tension and suspense and turns into a true edge-of-the-seat thriller. As far-fetched as the premise may be, Bodeen keeps Eli's actions true to life and uses clues planted fairly and in plain sight. The audience will feel the pressure closing in on them as they, like the characters, race through hairpin turns in the plot toward a breathless climax.

The reader will feel connected to Eli's character even though he is a spoiled, self-centered child. As the years pass, Eli is full of teen angst and anger that develops into a realization of what he must do in order to help his family survive. He may even find that he loves his family--something he never thought he would admit.

Hatchet

2010-08-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

By Gary Paulsen
Grade 8-12

Brian Robeson, 13, is the only passenger on a small plane flying him to visit his father in the Canadian wilderness when the pilot has a heart attack and dies. The plane drifts off course and finally crashes into a small lake. Miraculously Brian is able to swim free of the plane, arriving on a sandy tree-lined shore with only his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother had given him as a present.

This is a great novel to help us, in the modern world, realize how spoiled we are with our wi fi, AC, and DVR. Brian's mistakes, setbacks, could be deadly and without this small hatchet he would have survived the 54 days alone in the wilderness. Paulsen effectively shows readers how Brian learns patience to watch, listen, and think before he acts as he attempts to build a fire, to fish and hunt, and to make his home under a rock overhang safe and comfortable.

This story is over 20 years old but is not outdated. It is still a great adventure about survival, lonliness, and family. Paulsen emphasizes character growth through a careful balancing of specific details of survival with the protagonist's thoughts and emotions. This story has stood the test of time.

What are you reading right now...aside from this blog...

2010-08-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

I literally just heard a kid say (complete with Davy Crockett hat (I really am not kidding)), "I don't like no books with no pictures in 'em." This statement leads me to wonder what young people these day do like reading or do, even though they don't like it, read.

I know I fell victim to the "My Life is Too Busy" Syndrome and I couldn't find time to read. However, I found time to hang out with friends, go out to eat, go to church, watch TV, and do crafts. In short, just because I was busy didn't mean I didn't live my life, it meant that I lived my life more. So I think that because you are busy you should be reading more as well. And it can be done. While in law school, my sister read the whole wheel of time series (as was published at the time) at least twice. She read during her commute (this is not recommended unless you listen to audio books or you take public transit), she read before bedtime, and she kept books with her so if she had a down moment she could pick up her book. Even though you are busy you can still find time to read.

I'm not saying you need to go to your public library and pick up Ivanhoe and Moby Dick. If you hate the book you are reading you aren't going to read it and that completely misses the point. Just looking at that page with words on it engages your mind and improves your mental capacity. Let me explain what I mean.

I found the joy of reading first in 6th grade when I found the children's classics (I particularly remember Charlotte's Web) that most everyone read in elementary school. Because of a learning disability I had trouble reading and wasn't able to read at grade level for a long time. After a burst of reading activity, I got busy again. I didn't find reading again until I was a Junior in high school and my sister was telling me all the great books she was reading in college. I picked up several (she was taking a political science literature class and recommended Animal Farm and Fahrenheit 451) of those books and dove into a bright and beautiful world. Then college happened. I was reading plenty of stuff but not for pleasure. During the last year of my graduate school I found an author, Janet Evanovich, and suddenly devoured 12 books in 4 weeks. I have been reading about 3 books a week since then. In 2009 I read 127 books.

Reading has enriched my life in ways I never expected and looking back at my high school and college experience, I wish I had read more. You don't have to read as requently as I do. Obviously you don't have to read at all. But I reccommend that you find some silly or fun series and dive in. If you read 1 book a month then you will be reading 12 more books a year than you did last year. Your life will be better for it.

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, I am a librarian but reading is not my job. As a reference librarian, mostly I refer patrons to educational materials or reference materials. So while I work around books and organize books, I don't read for a living. Oh! What a job that would be!

Gingerbread (Cyd Charisse #1)

2010-08-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

by Rachel Cohn
Age 16+
To say goth girl Cyd Charisse feels like she is misunderstood is an understatement to the extreme. Self proclaimed "recovering hellion" was just getting tossed from her posh boarding school. Wild, willful, and coffee addicted Cyd Charisse returns to San Francisco to live with her parents. But there's no way Cyd can survive in her parents' pristine house. Lucky for Cyd she's got her new surfer boyfriend and Gingerbread, her childhood rag doll and confidante.

When Cyd's rebelliousness gets out of hand, her parents ship her off to New York City to spend the summer with "Frank real-dad," her biological father. Trading in her parents for New York City grunge and getting to know her bio-dad and step-sibs is what Cyd has been waiting for her whole life. But summer in the city is not what Cyd expects -- and she's far from the daughter or sister that anyone could have imagined.

Cyd's narative is believable, sarcastic, and pretty funny. Recommended for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in her own life.

Flipped

2010-07-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

By Wendelin Van Draanen
Ages 12+

Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski.

Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird. Who raises chickens in the backyard? And don't eggs need to be pasturized or something?

Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli's unusual interests are kinda interesting. But just when Bryce starts to see Juli's side of the story Juli starts to think that Bryce is vapid and annoying.

Bryce and Juli's rants and raves about each other ring so true that teen readers will quickly identify with at least one of these hilarious feuding egos, if not both. A perfect introduction to the adolescent war between the sexes.

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge

2010-07-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

By Josh Neufeld
Grades 10+

This is a stunning graphic novel that tells the tale of Hurricane Katrina in the true stories of six survivors. It is overwhelming to think of your home town destroyed and you having to bear witness to the horrors. This book describes that horror.

A.D. follows each of the six from the hours before Katrina struck to its horrific aftermath. Here is Denise, a sixth-generation New Orleanian who will experience the chaos of the Superdome; the Doctor, whose unscathed French Quarter home becomes a refuge for those not so lucky; Abbas and his friend Mansell, who face the storm from the roof of Abbas’s family-run market; Kwame, a pastor’s son whose young life will remain wildly unsettled well into the future; and Leo, a comic-book fan, and his girlfriend, Michelle, who will lose everything but each other. We watch as they make the wrenching decision between staying and evacuating. And we see them coping not only with the outcome of their own decisions but also with those made by politicians, police, and others like themselves--decisions that drastically affect their lives, but over which they have no control.

Overwhelming demand has propelled A.D. from its widely-read early Internet installments to this complete hardcover edition; it shines an uncanny light on the devastating truths and human triumphs of New Orleans after the deluge.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

2010-07-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

By Barry Lyga
Grade 9 Up

On good days, Fanboy is invisible to the students at his high school. On bad ones, he's a target for bullying and violence. When a classmate is cruel to him, Fanboy adds him to The List and moves on. His only real friend, Cal, is a jock who can't be seen with him in public. Their love of comics, though, keeps them close friends outside of school. Reading comics and writing his own graphic novel, Schemata, are the only things that keep him sane. He dreams of showing his work to a famous author at a comic-book convention and being discovered as the next great graphic novelist.

When Goth Girl Kyra IMs him with photos of him being beaten up, he's skeptical. Why does she care what happens to him? He learns, though, that she's as much an outsider as he is. The two form a tentative friendship based on hatred of their classmates, particularly jocks, and her interest in Schemata. Fanboy is a rule follower, but Kyra is a rebel with a foul mouth. She teaches him to stand up for himself, and gives him the confidence to do it. Lyga looks at how teens are pushed to their limits by society. Though he toys with such concepts as teen suicide and Columbine-like violence, the novel never turns tragic. His love of comics carries over into all three teen characters, breathing animation into a potentially sad but often funny story.

This is a great bridge book for teens who already like graphic novels.

Polled Teens

2010-07-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

I've been reading about libraries and came across an alarming statistic. Of polled teens, 33% said that they would use the library more if there were more interesting materials to borrow.

First, I would like to say that we have very interesting materials. Sometimes, in a library our interesting materials can be hard to find because we have so many stinking books and movies and cds and the like. If you aren't finding what you are looking for PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ask for help. Everyone who works at the library is trained to help you find what you need. If you don't find what you are looking for when directed, go back and ask again. We want you to find what you need and want!

Also, if we don't own the item that you want to read, you can request it for purchase.
http://www.warrenpl.org/purchaserequest.html

If, for whatever reason, we can't purchase it, we can borrow it from another library and loan it to you. As about our Inter Library Loan services.

PLEASE ASK!

Lightning Thief

2010-06-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

by Rick Riordan
Grades 5+

Percy Jackson is a 12 year old diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, who has been expelled from several schools. After a terrifying encounter with Mrs. Dodds, the math teacher who isn't human, Percy comes to realize that he is different. With his mother and best friend Grover, Percy is taken to a Camp Half Blood for other different kids--kids who are the children a Greek god and a mortal. Percy is a demi-god.

Days after discovering his parentage, Percy is challenged to go on a quest to discover who stole Zeus' lightning bolt. Percy and his friends must figure out the mystery before the summer equinox or risk the destruction of the world as we know it. Percy faces the wrath of the gods and of the mythical creatures we all thought didn't really exist.

This is the first book in a triology and has recently been made into a movie. Rick Riordan writes an action packed, mythological book with humor and friendship. If you liked this book then you should try Riordan's newest series The Red Pyramid or wait for the fall for the next generation of campers at Camp Half Blood.

At the Main Branch library on July 15th at 3:30pm there will be a Percy Jackson book discussion. Come and join others in their love for this adventure series! Call the Main to reserve your spot 782-4882 ext 215

Fairest

2010-06-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

by Gail Carson Levine
Grades 6+

Larger than most humans in Ayortha, 15-year-old Aza feels like "an ugly ox . . . a blemish." However, in Ayortha people are devoted to song and music. Aza's voice is more beautiful and powerful than most; she can mimic any voice and throw the sound, a skill she calls elusing. After luckily getting to attend the king's wedding, Aza is blackmailed by the new queen, a poor singer, to sing for the queen sings in public, Aza secretly provides the sound. As the queen's treachery deepens, Aza is astonished when the handsome prince initiates a friendship.

While reading the story and readers may initially feel like foreign travelers who lack cultural context. But once you get into the book, you'll sink into the fairy-tale romance, the remarkable characters, and magical adventures. The themes of self-image and moral choices are at the core of the novel but are not preachy or irritating.

This is such an interesting book. The concept is original and thought provoking. You can experience the vicarious, heart-pounding thrill when Aza discovers love and confidence.

Peter and the Starcatchers

2010-06-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Grades 5+

I've just finished listening to this book, read by the talented Jim Dale of Harry Potter reading fame.

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe. Riveting adventure takes listeners on a journey from a harsh orphanage in old England to a treacherous sea in a decrepit old ship. Aboard the Never Land is a trunk that holds a magical substance with the power to change the fate of the world - just a sprinkle and wounds heal and just a dusting and people can fly.

Sound familar? Bestselling authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have turned back the clock and revealed pre-quel to J. M. Barrie's beloved Peter Pan

The authors plait multiple story lines together in short, fast-moving chapters, with the growing friendship between Molly and Peter at the narrative's emotional center. Capitalizing on familiar material, this adventure is carefully crafted to set the stage for Peter's later exploits. This smoothly written page-turner just might send readers back to the original.

This is a great book for (not just 5th graders) anyone who hates evil pirates, loves adventures, and always wish s/he could fly! Highly, highly reccommended!

Vampire Forensics

2010-06-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend
by Mark Collins Jenkins

In Vampire Forensics, Mark Jenkins probes vampire legend to tease out the historical truths enshrined in the tales of terror: sherds of Persian pottery depicting blood-sucking demons; the amazing recent discovery by National Geographic archaeologist Matteo Borrini of a 16th-century Venetian grave of a plague victim and suspected vampire; and the Transylvanian castle of "Vlad the Impaler," whose bloodthirsty cruelty remains unsurpassed.

Mark Jenkins’s engrossing history draws on the latest science, anthropological and archaeological research to explore the origins of vampire stories, providing gripping historic and folkloric context for the concept of immortal beings who defy death by feeding on the lifeblood of others. From the earliest whispers of eternal evil in ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, vampire tales flourished through the centuries and around the globe, fueled by superstition, perversion, mystery, fear of disease and death, and the nagging anxiety that demons lurk everywhere.

Jenkins navigates centuries of lore and legend, weaving an irresistibly seductive blend of superstition, psychology, and science sure to engross everyone. Some parts were grotesque but I still couln't put it down. I was horrified and titilated.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2010-06-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Grades 9+

When Clay Jenson plays the cassette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit.

The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Rumors, an unwarranted "bad girl" reputation, teasing and jeers, all lead to Hannah's decision to end her life. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt but she reached out for help in small ways and in large ways. But in the end, she was ignored and not taken seriously--at one point she was accused of faking it.

This is a devastating book. I kept on hoping that Hannah wasn't really dead. It seemed like little stuff but it was big to her. One small action snowballed and enveloped her whole life making her feel worthless and useless. Hannah was smart and pretty. She should have been the most popular girl in school. But that isn't how it worked out. It's really sad and makes the reader think about what his or her careless actions could have caused.

The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.

Summer Stuff

2010-06-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Teens, what are your goals for summer?

My summer goals were always to have the best summer ever. Back in the old days, when I had summer vacation, I always had all kinds of plans and designs for how this summer would be the best summer. And most summers were pretty good. But the summers that were the best were the summers where I had definite plans about how the summer would be the best: I was going to hang out with my friends at least 3 times a week, I had saved money the whole year for fun activities, I did research on what the best books would be to read.

Now, I am a librarian so I am biased, about how great the library is, but fact of the matter is that we have done all the planning for you. There are summer activities at the library. We have provided the supplies and snacks for the activities.You can bring your friends and have fun. We have done the research and know what books you might like. There is no planning required on your part (aside from transportation to and from the library).

I don't want to burst the fun bubble, but studies have shown that students participating in a summer reading program have an easier time when school starts up in the fall. Likewise, studies have shown that people who make plans and goals are more successful people and are more likely to follow through.

Summer Reading starts June 7th. Sign up for our programs. Come in and have fun.

Visit our website or call for more information:
Main 781-4882 ext 215
Kirby 782-0252
Graham 781-1441

The Red Pyramid

2010-05-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

by Rick Riordan

Ages 9+

Up until now I have only blogged about books that I have read in their enireity. I will have to make an exception today. Last night I started this book and it is incredible. The adventure started with page 1, actually before page one. The book opens with a warning (I love when a book warns me about reading it!) that the book is a was a dictation and was taken down as carefully as possible but it is dangerous to read.

Here is the plot of the 1st 40 pages: Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, something goes terribly wrong and Julius disappears. Carter and Sadie are wisked away to New York (by some kind of magic) and discover that they are not the "normal" family that they thought they were.

See what I mean? Adventure from the first page. It's freaking awesome!

Where Percy Jackson took on Greek myth, in the Red Pyramid, Riordan writes about Egyptian myth. If you liked Percy Jackson you are going to LOOOOVE this.

Haunted Waters

2010-05-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

by Mary Osborne Pope

Grades 6+

Lord Huldbrand meets and becomes enamored of a young woman named Undine. Undine, however, does not know that she is a fey marine maiden. After traveling home with his new bride, Lord Huldbrand notices that Undine has difficulties in adjusting to a terrestrial life. Huldbrand's response is to not trust his wife's magical origins which ultimately causes his downfall.

Osborne's straightforward tale exhibits superb writing. The descriptions of Undines relationship with the sea are equally beautiful while short, declarative sentences and first-person narration reinforce its inescapable, tragic conclusion. It was a pleasure to read.

This is a sophisticated story and the tale's atmospheric chivalry adds depth. This is great for readers who like ghost stories, Arthurian lore, and other myths.

PLUS, the water theme ties in great with our Summer Reading Program that starts June 7th.
MAKE WAVES!

TeenReads.com

2010-05-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

TEEN READS!

I am always looking for the new cool thing to read. And sometimes I don't know where to look. I can read book reviews but those are often bias or not really informative. It is quite irritating sometimes. I JUST WANT A BOOK!

Then, I stumbled upon this website. I was almost overwhelmed by the volume of the content. There is a top navigation bar and sometimes a left AND right navigation bar. Each link brings you to a new cool page where all kinds of books are discussed. There are contests (see above), polls, newsletters, videos, pod casts, information on writing to authors, and books books books!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that any good writer can write a review--yes, that includes you teens. There is a application process and then you can start reviewing your little heart away.

I am still discovering things that this website has on it. I LOVE IT!

Marilyn Monroe by Barbara Leaming

2010-05-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting and detailed account of Marilyn's career in Hollywood (rather than her earlier life). The information is taken largely from primary texts and the information is incredibly detailed. The result is a retelling of events that occurred and an insight into the reasoning behind the events.

Even if you haven't seen a Marilyn Monroe movie, you know who she was and you are familiar with the iconic image from the movie The Seven Year Itch (white halter dress getup). The name is synonymous with beauty and charisma. But the real Marilyn-Norma Jean-struggled with depression, alcohol and substance abuse, self esteem, paranoia, and chronic fear that she would not be taken seriously. What came across in the book was that Monroe was needy and mentally unstable. Monroe surrounded herself with people who she thought would help her become a serious actress. It seemed that most people in her life wanted something from her, in particular her dramatic coaches.

I felt quite sorry for her by the end. Marilyn, while bringing on much of the illness herself, did have a few very painful things to overcome. First, she was always living in fear that she would go insane like her mother who was institutionalized for most of Marilyn's life. Second, she suffered from endometriosis, a condition in which the lining of the uterus attaches to other stuff in the abdomen, and grow, causing pain, irregular bleeding, and, in severe cases, infertility. Several times Marilyn had to take time off to undergo gynecological surgery Third, she had a series of emotionally and physically traumatic miscarriages during her marriage with Arthur Miller. Not to mention the amount of pressure put on Marilyn to perform and do well from production companies, directors, and foremost, herself. Marilyn was a beautiful and troubled woman.

I would like to have had more details on Marilyn's constant sickness and early childhood. However the book is already more than 400 pages. So, I guess the early childhood and constant illness is another book completely.

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

2010-05-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Kostova's first book, The Historian (a story about the infamous Dracula), met public acclaim quickly and hit right before the Twilight vampire craze began. This, Kostova's second work of fiction, is a story of obsession, mental illness, the power of art, and the human ability to hope and love.

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe is a psychiatrist who lives by himself, paints on the evenings and weekends, and likes his solitary, simple life. This order is destroyed when renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient. In response, Marlowe finds himself going beyond his own legal and ethical boundaries to understand the secret that torments this genius, a journey that will lead him into the lives of the women closest to Robert Oliver and toward a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism.

I am going to get my gripe out right off the bat. I've got to say it but I don't want to dwell; this book was really long. I listened to it and it was 17 audio discs. The book is 564 pages. Aside from the Bible, I think this might be the longest book I have ever read. I should have know that the book was going to be so long because The Historian was so long. At times, the book felt slow (when too much information was dispursed) and then at times it flew by (when Kostova didn't tell you everything and you HAD TO FIND OUT. I am of the mind that less is more!). It wasn't until the last disc (about the last 50 pages) when it is revealed the reason behind the title, which was kind of frustrating.

Ok. That aside, Kostova does an excellent job of creating believable characters and characters with whom the reader would want to be friends. As the reader, I was able to listen to the characters grow. Creating realistic characters is quite a feat and one that I apprecaite.

Another excellent aspect is the amount of research I know it took to write this book. The acknowledgements at the end of the book are mammouth. Kostova did research on psyciatry, 19th century authors, art school, being a professor, modern day psch wards, the medical profession, being an artist...There are so many things to discuss with this book and it would make a great book club book if the book club members can get past how long the book is.

There were great plot twists and the ending was a surprise to me. Good book. Very good listen.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

2010-05-08T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have seen these books fly off the shelves. People ask for them by name and want to know the order of the books. I wanted to know what all the hype was about. So I read the book.

It was exciting from the first page. Set in London, Alex Rider's uncle died in a car crash, or so Alex was told. Later, Alex finds out that his uncle wasn't a banker; he was a spy. MI6, the secret organization that employed Alex's uncle, coerces Alex to finish the job his uncle started.

Alex is quickly trained and sent out on his first mission. He runs into a the Russian mercenary who Alex suspects killed his uncle. Instead of informing MI6 who would then pull him out of the operation, he continues the mission. During his mission he swims through old mine shafts that are now underwater to find a secret laboratory, hijacks a plane, escapes from a giant jellyfish and so much more.

This isn't a long book. It is action packed. Apparently there is a movie based on the book. You can read it in a few sittings. I finally understand why they are so popular. I want more! Luckily there are more books in this great series.

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

2010-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Age: Grades 9-12

I heard about this book several years ago on NPR. I had wanted to read it right away, but here I am several years later...at least I remembered I wanted to read it. This is a true story about Debbie Rodriguez, an American who got out of an abusive relationship and went to Afghanistan to help with humanitarian aid. After several epiphanies, Debbie decided to open a beauty school in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Now when I think of a beauty school, I think of superficial things and negative aspects of being a woman. But really, a beauty school is empowering to women. It is a women centered organization, run, and staffed by women. In Afghanistan, men are not allowed in a beauty parlor because women have their heads uncovered (actually if men are caught in a beauty parlor it will hence forth be considered a whore house). In a beauty parlor, it is the one place where women can be themselves and be successful business women. What Debbie did was see that there was a need and work to fulfill it.

Anyhow, being that Debbie was a beautician and not a writer, I was concerned that the book wouldn't be well written. However, it is fabulous! I went on Amazon and saw that there was another writer listed, likely writer who could help Debbie organize her thoughts. Well, that other lady did a great job!

Debbie is a fighter. She barrels into Afghanistan and wants to help everyone. Later, she realizes that her American 'Can Do!' sensibility has often hurt other's feelings and she is able to reflect and accept why--which is hard for anyone to do. When she hears the horrible stories of the Taliban, she wants to jump to action. But that is not the way of things in Afghanistan.

One story, I LOVED and also HATED was when Debbie when to the market and a creepy man groped her. She did what an American woman would do. She punched him and yelled out that she was being assaulted. This behavior was so embarrassing to Debbie's Afghan friend who accompanied Debbie, that she vowed to never go to market with Debbie again. In Debbie's mind, she was protecting herself. In Debbie's friend's mind, Debbie was humiliating herself. This is a vast cultural difference that makes me furious, but at the same time, these women's perspectives are not any less valid than mine because they are different.

At one point Debbie visits a women's prison. The overall experience was utterly depressing. When she spoke with the women in prison, she found that many were in there for running away from abusive husbands or for being raped. Debbie herself had just escaped an abusive husband. According to Afghan law, she should be in prision for that offence. It was a very moving moment in the book.

I guess what I am trying to get at, is there are ways you can work within a system that is dysfunctional and make people's lives better. The women Debbie helps would be lost with American women's independence. Many women had never made a decision on their own before. It would be a trial to just pick out what to wear in the morning (having only had the decision between a blue burqa or a black burqa in the past). What Debbie did was go behind the lines and make a difference immediately. Sometimes you can't want for a culture or whatever, to change. How many of these women would have starved or been killed before the culture made a change allowing them to be independent? Who can wait for that?

It is an incredible book. It blows my mind. I was born in America. What if I had been born in Afghanistan? That could be my life.

I, Claudius by Robert Graves

2010-04-19T15:06:00.000-07:00

Grades: 9-12

I have undertaken the mammoth responsibility of reading I, Claudius by Robert Graves. Now, the book isn't even really that long. I guess it is like 400 pages. That is not the problem. And it's not that the book is dry or boring, it is just a commitment. I am entering another time, a time before watches, computers, cars, electricity, radio, Nike shoes...really, there is more that that world didn't have (that I need and use in everyday life) than what that world did have. The book is just epic.

It is the "auto-biography" of Claudius the grandson of Augustus Caesar (Octavian), or the great-grand-nephew of Julius Caesar. The book is based on the historical accounts of the time. However, it is important to not that the historical accounts wildly vary. History at that time is more relative. I mean, Homer's Odyssey is, for the most part, considered a historical piece--you know the whole thing with the sirens and the cyclops. So while this book is definitely historical fiction, it is still mostly fiction. There is just no way we can know for sure what happens.

Claudius is an unexpected hero. He stutters, has a permanent limp, drools, and is frequently ill. It is amazing that he lived at all. Think about the kind of medical care he would have received. Basically, none. Sure they had doctors but they didn't know anything. Plus, he is born into a family that is famous for the "accidental" deaths, back stabbing, immorality (despite Octavian's insistence of the old school moral code), and borderline incest.

I mean look at this family tree! This family tree is ridiculous. When you have to list the number of times a person is married and who that person had affairs with, the family tree gets very confused. Basically, you might be a redneck if your family tree needs a key. But, let's keep in mind that marriage is a different thing then.

Double click on image to see full display.

Now this could be very confusing because everyone basically has the same name. Rome is a culture of nick names because of this fact. But Robert Graves writing as Claudius is very clear when he mentions someone. But, it's still confusing.

But, it is not at all boring. Look at that family tree! HOW COULD IT BE BORING! You have Tiberius and Caligula as characters. If you don't know anything about those two, then you are in for a scandalous surprise. Tiberius hated being emperor. He built a pleasure palace in Capri. There he holed up and when not participating in demented and strange activities, he spent his time being paranoid. He was able to run away to the country because of the momentum of the economy that Augustus left behind. When it was discovered the kinds of things he was doing there, it is thought that he was murdered by his great-nephew, adopted son, and successor Caligula (although it is not clear exactly what happened. Tiberius was in his 70s. He could very well have died of old age.).

Now, Caligula was just about as bad but he was just stinking crazy. At one point, while fighting in England, he ordered his troops to charge the ocean. He was just crazy. Although, he is considered moderate a moderate ruler for the first few years of his reign. After these relatively peaceful years it is thought that Caligula suffered from the end stages of syphilis which caused his insanity. But you have to think about how Caligula would have been effected by Tiberius's peculiar tastes as they spent a good deal of time together. Make a long story short Caligula is assassinated and our good Claudius becomes the emperor!

So it is sooo not a boring book, but as you can see complicated.

EPIC!

The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel

2010-04-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

Grades: 6-12

Story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Adapted by Ian Edginton, Illustrated by I.N.J. Culbard

When I saw this on the new book I squealed with librarian glee! I've often thought that the Sherlock Holmes books would be great in the graphic novel format. I have to say that even I, literate librarian, get bogged down by the Victorian language used.

I was however afraid that the story would be watered down into "BAM" and "SWOOSH!" that are generally associated with graphic novels. The Hounds of the Baskervilles is a very complex story that has many story components. It would completely change the value of the story to remove these. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of text that was kept. I tend to be a purist as far as how I feel with regard to abridged texts--that is, I hate it when a text is abridged--and this was a great adaption.

Mr. Librarian is likewise a stickler for detail in renditions of literary masterpiece. You did NOT want to sit next to him during the Harry Potter movies or Troy. He fumed that why would anyone want to change the storyline of a book series that was as popular as Harry Potter or as infamous and classic as that of the city of Troy. Sometimes there is a reason to change the storyline. However, in these cases, it was ridiculous. I know. But, I think EVEN would enjoy this adaptation.

The illustrations really make the graphic novel. If the illustrations had been some kind of wispy stick figures or some really pretty flower stuff, it would have been an utter disaster. I like the way the characters were drawn. While the reader is unable to read the descriptions of people, it is very evident that the illustrator has read the descriptions of the people and taken that to heart when he draws. The mood, tone, and general feeling of Victorian London and countryside was taken into account in the colorful, yet gritty images.

If you haven't read this story, you must do so immediately.

Eli The Good by Silas House

2010-04-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

I know we've always been told not to judge a book by its cover, but when I saw the cover of Silas House's newest novel I knew I was going to love it. Just look at it. . .that gorgeous sunlight flowing through that leafy canopy. Stare at it for awhile. Can't you just smell the earthiness of it?

Okay, so I'm going to love this book. That's what I told myself, but, wait a minute--it's about the Vietnam War. For someone who majored in History that shouldn't be a problem, but I have a bad history when it comes to reading books having to do with the Vietnam. They're always too depressing (think In Country) or gory (think The Things They Carried), and they tend to give me nightmares. Silas House, how could you do this to me? And with your Young Adult debut?! After much anguish, I mustered up the courage to read Eli the Good, and I loved it!

It's the summer of 1976 and the whole of the US is finding itself in a paradox. The Bicentennial has everyone in patriotic celebration, but the anger and disillusionment from the Vietnam War still pain the country. Ten-year-old Eli Book realizes this all too well. His father, Stanton, was one of the men who survived the conflict physically, but was mentally scarred instead with post-traumatic stress syndrome. To make matters worse, Eli’s war-protesting aunt comes to stay with the family. While her free-spirited, music-adoring lifestyle is a welcome refreshment, she is hiding something that casts another shadow over the family. The bitter resentment Stanton feels toward his sister’s protests of war increases the tension in the household. Despite this palpable bitterness, Eli’s own sister begins to call the war into question—further fueling the conflict. Eli also has questions, but they are ones he does not think he can ask. He feels a distance between himself and his mother, and he knows his father will never talk about what happened to him in Vietnam. For solace, Eli turns to his best friend and neighbor, Edie, who is also struggling to cope with familial turmoil. In this delicately handled and endearing coming-of-age tale, Silas House has managed to take on the burdensome confusion and hurt carried by children of Vietnam War veterans while exerting the universal truths of love and hope. Eli the Good just might make me read another book about the Vietnam War. So, sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

2010-04-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Grades: 5+

The summer of 1899 is HOT in Calpurnia Virginia Tate's sleepy Texas town, and there aren't a lot of good ways to stay cool. Her mother has a new wind machine from town, but Callie might just have to resort to stealthily cutting off her hair, one sneaky inch at a time. She also spends a lot time at the river with her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist. It turns out that every drop of river water is teeming with life - all you have to do is look through a microscope!As Callie ecplores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

I thought this would be a boring science story. It is funny. Calpurnia has an interesting point of view and comes to interesting conclusions. It also brings in some history without even meaning to. You know how people are still angry about evolution? Well, think about how people must have felt about it when the idea was fresh. Yeah, Calpurnia's neighbors are livid about the very idea of evolution. When Calpurnia tries to go to the library to get Darwin's book, the librarian refuses to give it to her. The librarian said it was inappropriate subject material. Such a change!

There were times when I laughed outloud funny. Just a really great story.

Cirque Du Freak Series by Darren Shan

2010-03-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

Grades 6+

1. A Living Nightmare
2. The Vampire's Assistant
3. Tunnels of Blood
4. The Vampire Mountain
5. Trials of Death
6. The Vampire Prince
7. Hunters of the Dusk
8. Allies of the Night
9. Killers of the Dawn
10. The Lake of Souls
11. Lord of the Shadows
12. Sons of Destiny

I have only read the first 6, but what I have found has really surprised me. Looking at the cover of the book, I thought they would be wayyyyy to gross for me to even consider reading. But the sucker that I am, I went and saw the movie. While there are gross elements in the tales (a spider is kinda central...creepy!), it was an interesting storyline and the plight of the character Darren intrigued me. Thus, I was sucked into the underbelly of the vampire world.

The story follows Darren, a normal kid, who has an interest in horror. He and his friend Stephen sneek out one night to see a "freak show" and he is awed by what he sees, mainly, a strange red and blue spider who has top billing in the show. He manages to steal the spider and when the owner of said spider, a vampire, comes calling Darren realizes that his whole life is going to change.

Darren is a surprisingly sympathetic character and I find that what he is thinking is what I am thinking (apart from wanting to go to a freak show. ahhhH!)

Flush By Carl Hiaasen

2010-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Grade 5 Up–In Flush (Knopf, 2005), Carl Hiaasen's ecological concerns focus on illegal dumping of raw sewage from a floating casino. Noah Underwood's dad has sunk the gambling ship, the Coal Queen, in protest. Now the elder Underwood is launching a media campaign from his jail cell to raise public awareness since the sewage-spewing ship will soon be back in operation. Though Noah and his younger sister Abbey believe in their father's cause, they also fear their mother will file for divorce if he continues to react so outrageously to environmental issues. After a few false starts and run-ins with the casino owner's son and the ship's hired goon, the siblings come up with a plan to use food coloring to expose the hazardous dumping. Working with Shelly, the casino's bartender, and aided by a mysterious white-haired man, Noah and Abbey set their trap, but end up adrift off the Florida Keys. Rescue and an unexpected family reunion make their successful exposure of the corrupt casino owner even sweeter. It takes a few more plot twists before the Coral Queen is closed forever, and by then Noah's parents have learned better ways to manage their marital problems.

I really enjoyed reading this book . I predicted based on his other book Hoot that it would have an enviromental issue in it. The characters were believeable and it gave me a new appreciation for the enviroment in Florida where the book is set. It also made for a great discussion book becuase of not only the enviromental issues but, beacuse of many of the other issues about character, divorce, bribery, and even going to jail and the lesson of whats right and wrong.

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

2010-03-22T17:02:00.001-07:00

Grades 4+
Peewee idolizes Jake, a big brother whose dreams of auto mechanic glory are fueled by the hard road coming to link their Indiana town during the early 20th century. Then, motoring down the road comes Irene Ridpath, a young librarian with plans to astonish them all and turn Peewee’s life upside down.

This novel, with its quirky characters, folksy setting, classic cars, and hilariously larger-than-life moments, is vintage Richard Peck – an offbeat, deliciously wicked comedy that is also unexpectedly moving.

If anyone has read A Long Way From Chicago and liked it (and honestly what is not to like?), you will totally enjoy this book. There are some pretty silly characters but at the same time the sillier the events, the more believable the plot. The half inbred competitor mechanics are ridiculous, but you know there are people like that out there (right here).

I think what really makes a great books are its characters. What makes a great character is if I would want to be friends with him or her. I definately want to be friends with PeeWee, Jake and Irene. It's official. I love this book.

The Time-Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer

2010-03-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

Grades: 8-12
I have to confess that I am a little bit of a reality TV addict. I am just very interested in how people live. This interest spreads into a general interest in people and culture. I love books that are journal format (Dear America, Bridget Jones Diary, Ophelia, etc) because I feel like I get to eavesdrop. Isn't that like the most fun in the world?

Well, this book combines all those reality TV guilty pleasures with actual history. It is a "history" book but it is written like a travel guide. It breaks down every principle to the basic ideas and then expounds upon them. Very informative while being sooooo interesting!

Medieval England's social structure is completely different from the modern world we know and love. Even the basic "Christian" beliefs are different. Not only was deodorant not invented yet, it was thought that taking a bath could kill you. Think about life without indoor plumbing, toothpaste, band-aids, Advil. The average person lived to be 38. 38? That is not that old. How old are your parents right now. My Dad is 59. He likely would have been dead for the past 21 years.

I am always amazed that people could live at all without modern conveniences. I just don' t know how a person could even consider living without a microwave. Why would anyone WANT to do that. It just seems unfathomable. But that is history. Everyone has ancestors who were alive at that time. I don't know where mine were, but they very likely could have been in England not bathing and dying at age 38. Who knows?

This book used facts and historical events to capture my imagination more than Survivor EVER has.

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nichols

2010-03-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Grades 6+
I should have known. When I read the back of the book I knew it was about a kid, Sam, who has leukemia. But as I read, it became evident that Sam not only had terminal leukemia but he had less than 6 months to live.

Sam, as one would expect, struggles with the idea of death. To try to figure out life's big questions, Sam makes lists of questions and documents how he tries to reason them out. Then he starts to make lists of things he wants to accomplish before he dies and documents how he achieves those things.

The family dynamic was the most interesting part. The mother was so emotional about the whole thing. The father seemed to be in denial. The sister was just too young to know what was going on. Towards the end, the roles reversed, as they often do in life.

I hate to spoil the end, but Sam does die. So yeah, this was a depressing book. But it was also sooooo good. Sam is a believable character. He doesn't white wash anything and he is not perfect. He is brave in facing his own death and sometimes he has to show an example for his parents who can't easily accept that their child is going to die.

When I finished this book, I cried like a little baby. My grandfather died a few months ago and that was my first experience with true loss. While Sam's death was vastly different from my grandfather's, but Sam's character reminded me of my grandfather. Sam prepared for his demise and wanted to make sure his loved ones would be prepared and able to continue on without him. He showed strength and great heart.

Loss is universal and a scary part of life. The reason I cried so much when I was finished reading this book is that the book proved to be true and it touched my little librarian heart.

File this book under "life changing."

Tunnel in the Sky By Robert A. Heinlein

2010-03-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

The final exam for Dr. Matson's Advanced Survival class was meant to be just that: only a test. But something has gone terribly wrong...and now Rod Walker and his fellow students are stranded somewhere unknown in the universe, beyond contact with Earth, at the other end of a tunnel in the sky. Stripped of all comforts, hoping for apassage home that may never appear, the castaways must band together or perish. For Rod and his fellow survivors, this is one test where failure is not an option....

I was skeptical reading the first couple chapters of this book because, normally I would not just pick up a science fiction novel to read. However, what a surprise as I continued to read further in this novel the more I loved it. It was a book published back in 1955 but, could easily happen today. In reading the book I could picture what it was like to be one of the characters stranded in this unknow place with only limited reasources to use to survive. I definetly was hooked into this page turner of a novel and was rooting for Rod Walker and the rest to survive thier test and make it back alive. This was a great read and a perfect book for a book discussion!

Teen Tech Week Book Blog

2010-03-08T13:12:00.001-08:00

So this is our book blog.

The idea behind this is to have a place where we can easily share our thoughts and ideas about books we’ve read or want to read.

Part of reading is sharing. I’ve read many a book in my day, and nothing is more satisfying when you find someone else who loved a book you loved (Woot! Percy Jackson! I’ve read the books at least 3 times and given them as presents to my brother, husband, mother-in-law…) OR hated a book you hated (I mean, what was with the Scarlet Letter? Apparently it is a classic, or something, but I require more dialogue in my novels.).

Librarians can post topics and you can comment on them. If there is a topic you would like a librarian to blog about you can email us and we will blog at your command or we can post your comment verbatim and see what discussion comes up.

Now, there is one rule but it is very simple to follow: respect other people’s opinion. This does NOT mean that you can’t say you didn’t like a book. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same book. I for one didn’t much enjoy Twilight—sacrilege, I know. It takes all kinds and that is why there are different kinds of books. Some people like romance. Some people like science fiction.
The book blog will remain as long as there are those of you who read!

Read on!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (bks 1 and 2)by Jeff Kinney

2010-03-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

Grades 4+
Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.

In the second book, Greg enters the new school year. He’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular. Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules chronicles Greg’s attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe.

Alright. Greg is not a nice person. He is ashamed of his best friend. He is jealous of anyone who gets any attention. He lies and doesn't understand the purpose of being nice--unless it gets him something. He is always trying to get more even if he doesn't deserve it. Greg is a pretty miserable human being and is the type of person who made my life horrible in middle school--the bullied becomes the bully. If Greg is the type of hero that the world has to offer, the world is in trouble!

The books are certainly funny and capture the essence of Middle School. I was always hoping that Greg would do the right thing but I don't think he ever did, not once. For anyone who has read (or seen the movie) Emma, Greg is basically Emma: a self centered, unrepentant, jerk.

And yet, I read the first 2 books in one day and I want to read the third book. Is there something wrong with me?

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

2010-03-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Grades: 11-12

17-year-old Lucy Scarborough is a reasonable girl who lives with her foster parents while her crazy bag lady mother wanders around the city seemingly terrorizing people. But everything changes the night of Prom. Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil Elfin Knight, she realizes to break the curse she must perform three impossible tasks described in the song her mother always sang to her. She must complete the tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both.

I was stuck in an airport by myself when I remembered I had this book. It was a good read because it took me to another place. While Lucy was grounded in the "real world" there were elements of fantasy that were really fun.

The song was haunting. I had to go and listen to the Simon and Garfunkle song.

Does Anyone See A Problem?

2010-02-24T08:34:00.000-08:00

Love Percy Jackson. Love that they made a movie of the book (even though they changed lots of stuff...whatev). Love the whole thing. Just want to say that first.

<--This is a poster that being sold by the American Library Association. But there is a problem with this poster. Percy is dyslexic (this has to do with his demi-god status because his mind was designed to read only ancient Greek. Isn't that cool!? What if you were designed to read some language!? Just really great!). So Percy is a great hero but he isn't a reader in the normal sense because what he can read is ancient Greek and there aren't too many books published in ancient Greek.

Do you see the problem? Yeah. The sign should say, "The Greatest Heroes are Great Reads."

Oh well. The advertising folk tried to be cool. What more can they do? I don't know, maybe read the book?

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

2010-02-22T10:22:00.000-08:00

Grades: 6+

The Red Necklace is the story of Yann, a gypsy boy with the ability to read minds, and Sido, the daughter of a bankrupt nobleman. If either are going to survive the French Revolution they are going to need one another.

The power of gypsy magic was a well-accepted fact of the time period and the inclusion of the paranormal does not distract from the historical context of the novel, but actually adds to the dangerous and unpredictable atmosphere of the times. Gardner does an overall excellent job of depicting the Reign of Terror.

The night that Yann and Sido first meet, Yann is working as a magician's apprentice, putting on a show for Sido's father other members of the French aristocracy, including the sinister Count Kalliovski. When the magician is murdered by Kalliovski, Sido shows unexpected courage in helping Yann escape a similar fate.

Years pass before Yann has a chance to repay the favor. Sido, like all French aristocracy, is in danger of the raging passions from the hoi polloi, and also from an impending marriage to Count Kalliovski, a fate that is perhaps worse than death. Can Yann rescue Sido from both the guillotine and one of the most merciless men on the planet?

Gardner is successful in crafting a strong hero in Yann and villain in the Marquis de Villeduval, Sido's father and Count Kalliovski. Marvelous historical fiction set during the French Revolution. What more could you want when a novel contains mystery, romance, a magician, an orphan, a dwarf, an automotan and evil incarnate?

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible By A.J. Jacobs

2010-02-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

Grades: 9-12
From the bestselling author of The Know-It-All comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible.

Raised in a secular family but increasingly interested in the relevance of faith in our modern world, A.J. Jacobs decides to dive in headfirst and attempt to obey the Bible as literally as possible for one full year. He vows to follow the Ten Commandments etc. But also to obey the hundreds of less publicized rules: to avoid wearing clothes made of mixed fibers; to play a ten-string harp; to stone adulterers. The resulting spiritual journey is at once funny and profound and will make you see history's most influential book with new eyes.

Throughout the book, Jacobs also embeds himself in a cross-section of communities that take the Bible literally and he wrestles with seemingly archaic rules that baffle the twenty-first-century brain. Jacobs's extraordinary undertaking yields unexpected epiphanies and challenges.

I was really surprised I liked this book. I feel like even though Jacobs is a proclaimed agnostic he really gives the "Good Book" fair treatment.

Thou shalt not be able to put it down.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

2010-02-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

Grades 8+

Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but finds it hard to understand other people. When he discovers the suspicious death of a neighbourhood dog, he decides to solve the mystery and write a detective thriller about it. As in all good detective stories, however, the more he unearths, the deeper the mystery gets–for both Christopher and the rest of his family.

Autism is purportedly on the rise although the cause is not really known. People with autism, mild to severe, can be difficult to understand. The story explains some behaviors and gives a thought process to this boy's adventure.

This is a very exciting book and is just good.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

2010-02-17T12:51:00.001-08:00

Grades 4+
For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy"--a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. The story starts on the eve of Mibs's 13th birthday. But when Mib's father is in an accident, Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital. So she sneaks onto a salesman's bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up--and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

This is a very interesting premise. I really like the Beaumont family. Everyone knows that there is something not quite right but of course, no one will ever guess that the Beaumonts have special powers. I also like the family because even though their situation is extraordinary, they act like a real family. There are little inside jokes, fights, and all that stuff that happens in a family--they just keep a different kind of secret.

The Beaumont family, even with it's oddities(Mibs' brother name is Fish!), when juxtaposed with other familes, are doing just fine. Maybe even better than fine. They care about one another and support one another. I would rather be weird, than have a family that doesn't really love me.

I love the premise of the book and the cover art doesn't hurt either. Isn't it a good picture?

Masquerade (Blue Bloods, #2) by Melissa De La Cruz

2010-02-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her new found vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks, and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

This is the second book in the Blue Blood series about vampires with a different folklore. It is strange that there are new "theories" about vampirism so late in the game. I mean, the idea has been around for a while, but it is refreshing that we don't get the same sparkly picture that Stephenie Meyer paints. Variety is always welcome.

I really like this series ::looks slight ashamed::. It is fun and the snarky antagonist named Mimi Force, is so fun to read. Mimi is just someone you have in your life that you hate and feel totally justified in it. Mimi is a name for a person destined to be the alpha female in a group who will totally bite your head off for wearing that shirt with those pants ! Love it.

Although, as I read more of the series the mystery starts to wear off. The same thing happened to me when I read Harry Potter. As Harry becomes more familiar with his new environment there are not as many surprises. I really enjoy being enveloped in a new culture and trying to figure out what is going on. But that is not to say there is no mystery at all. We still don't know what is going to happen or what the silver bloods are up to. Very intriguing!

Waiting for Normal by Leslie Conor

2010-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

This book started out very depressing. Then it progressed to really depressing. But then, there was a happy ending.

Addison, also called Addy, is a 12 year old girl. She is very optimistic and makes the best of her situation which is her mother is crazy, her father is dead, and her step father who loves her and wants to take care of her can't get legal custody.

I loved Addison. At first, I didn't want to finish this book because it just seemed too depressing. But after I read about 50 pages, I fell in love with Addy. She is strong, caring, and loving. She is a wonderful person and so much better than her circumstances.

I am not so much an optimistic person. Could I have survived? Would the author have been able to write a happy ending if the main character was Ms. Librarian? I kept on worrying that everything was going to go wrong and I had to keep reading to make sure Addy was alright. I read this book in 1 day and in 2 sittings (I sat down and read 25 pages and then came back to it and finished the book). It was a delicious satisfying read!

This book reads very much like The Higher Power of Lucky so if you liked that book you should give it a try!

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

2010-02-05T07:31:00.001-08:00

I admit that I haven't quite finished the book yet. But this is my take so far.

So this kid, Cameron, is kinda a stoner and a loser even though his perfect sister is, well, perfect. Things get worse when after an outburst at school poor Cameron is diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Yep, poor Cameron is going bovine with Mad Cow Disease. Basically, his brain is getting spongy--you can imagine the outcome, but you don't have to because Libba tells us all about it.

After possibly hallucinating an "angel" Cameron goes on a road trip with the hypochondriac little person (dwarf? I am not sure what is the PC description) named Gonzo who shares his hospital room and who Cameron saw a couple times at school.

They traipse all around the country looking for Mr. X. And I have to say, thus far I am concerned about Cameron and Gonzo's safety. Apart from Gonzo who is in the hospital all the time because he and his mother always imagine illnesses, people are generally in the hospital for a reason. I mean Cameron's brain is turning to mush and he is riding buses from Texas to New Orleans to Flordia. It just doesn't seem like a safe environment or one condusive to regaining health.

Okay. Aside from that the book is really funny. Cameran talks like a normal teenager--actually, like a really funny teenager. You hear his inner monologue and it is just funny. I feel like I know people who think and act like him. He thinks his parents are annoying (when really, to this reader they seem normal and concerned). He cusses. He hates his job, ironically flipping burgers. He has a crush on a cute girl at school. Normal kid.

*UPDATE*
I have finished the book...I hate to say it but I didn't like it. I felt like it needed a good editing to reduce the novel by AT LEAST 100 pages.

Did anyone feel differently?

The Pox Party (The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, #1) by M.T. Anderson

2010-02-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

It is a very strange storyline. Octavian is a slave in 18th century America but he is not a slave the way generally understand the word. He is a boy dressed in silks and white wigs and given the finest education, raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers. But as Octavian grows up he begins to realize that he is an experiment and begins to find shaming evidence that he and his mother are not always treated as equals. Everything would have remained the same until the house of scholars changes hands and the new master is not so kind to Octavian and his mother. When the disquiet of Revolution reaches Boston, everything changes.

The title comes from an interesting practice held among the rich during this time. Small pox was the scourge in the cities. People were dying. In a immunization-like fashion, people would gather as if to attend a party, purposely expose themselves to the pox, and then hang out and wait around for people to get sick. With the plague being monitored and only being exposed to small amounts of the pox, it was thought that people would have more of a chance to live. The smart thing was, that once exposed to the pox, you are immune. This is described in more detail in the book.

Historically and emotionally this is a very curious and interesting book. We have a Black narator/protagonist telling us a story about being a slave before we really think about slavery. I feel conflicted about the way Octavian is treated. At first he is very well cared for and but on the other hand, he is a SCIENCE EXPERIMENT! That is just so degrating that I can't reconsile the care put into the "project." There are so many interesting discussion points.

This is the first in a series and I really wonder where it is all going.

So you like the Lightning Thief???

2010-02-01T16:22:00.000-08:00

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is an incredibly popular book. To prove that fact it is being made a movie:

Now if you haven't read the books yet...you should probably do that. Time is running out before the movie sweeps in and ruins everything! You *KNOW* it is always better to read the book first and then watch the movie!

If you have read the book you are probabaly needing something else to read. Fear not! There is always something good to read. Here is a list of books to read if you liked Percy Jackson. Enjoy!

Myth
Psyche in a Dress by Block, Francesca Lia; YAFic Blo
Odysseus: Escaping Poseidon’s Curse by Jolly, Kan; YAFic Joll
Skulduggery Pleasant by Landy, Derek; JFic Land
The One Eyed Giant by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
The Land of the Dead by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
Sirens and Sea Monsters by Osborne, Mary Pope; Juv883 Home
Sirena by Napoli, Donna Jo; YAFic Napo
Quiver by Spinner, Stephanie; YAFic Spinn
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Yancey, Richard; YAFic Yance
Humor
Artemis Fowl by Colfer, Eoin; YAFic Colf
Gregor The Overlander by Collins, Suzanne; JFic Coll
Once Upon a Marigold by Ferris, Jean; JFic Ferr
The Lovesick Salesman by Gray, Margaret; JFic Gray
Owl in Love by Kindl, Patrice; YAFic Kind
Larklight by Reeve, Philip; JFic Reev
Alcatraz Verses the Evil Librarians by Sanderson, Brandon; JFic Sand
The Alchemyst by Scott, Michael; YAFic Scott
Adventure and Fantasy
Dark Hills Divide by Carman, Patrick; JFic Carm
The Warrior Heir by Chima, Cinda Williams; YAFic Chima
Hunger Games by Collins, Suzanne; YAFic Coll
The Dark is Rising by Cooper, Susan; JFic Coop
City of Ember by DuPrau, Jeanne; JFic DuPr
Sea of Trolls by Farmer, Nancy; JFic Farm
Magyk by Sage, Angie; JFic Sage

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-02-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One winter when Grace was young she was dragged of her tire swing and nearly killed her. Yet, one yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again. In short, he is a werewolf. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

This is a paranormal/supernatural romance for teens that reads (somewhat) like Twilight. In fact, liked it more than Twilight. The characters take turns narrating the chapters so you get to hear both sides of the story. I totally fell in love with Sam during those chapters he narrated. He is so much cuter and more considerate than Jacob OR Edward. He feels protective of Grace ever since he saved her life and feels a connection to her.

In addition to the romance, there is a sense of a mystery. The beginnings of the werewolf disease (is it a disease?) is completely unknown. Why Grace never changed is unknown. How much time Sam has left is unknown. Everything is on the edge. It all comes down to these few weeks that we, as readers, are privy to. It could go either way. Maggie creates a anxious tone as these two star crossed lovers are desperate for time together.

I also really enjoyed the werewolf-lore. It was interesting and not the traditional switch back and forth business. It was a really interesting take the traditional stories--somehow it made more sense to me than at every full moon there are all these half man/half beast creatures running around under the guise of fur. Why have we never seen some kind of half beast walking around, drinking a Pepsi, and howling at the moon? It just doesn't make sense. But the way Maggie has her characters change is brilliant!

I totally want to read the next book

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

2010-01-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

Frankie Landau-Banks is a normal 15 year old who happens to go to a very exclusive boarding that like all old boarding schools used to be all male. Now the school is co-ed but all the exclusive clubs remain all male.

Frankie (a girl) has a newly developed knockout figure, a sharp tongue, a chip on her shoulder, and a gorgeous new senior boyfriend. Frankie Laundau-Banks. No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer. Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society, definitely not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them, and certainly not when there are so many pranks to be done.

I was surprised by how smart this book is. I always appreciate that. E. Lockhart is known for her fun chick lit books for teens. I liked The Boyfriend List and Fly on the Wall but they weren't particularly earth shattering and they were pretty exclusively girlie. But this title is Printz Honor 2009 and a finalist for 2008 National Book Award for Young People's Literature plus lots of other awards click here:http://e-lockhart.com/main/?page_id=7.

This was a smart book about relevant feminist issues facing young people today. Now, don't be afraid about the word feminist. "Feminist" means more than equal rights and equal pay; it examines how society views and values the woman's cultural role. This novel explores what is generally accepted as "appropriate" behavior for a young girl, what is equality, and what is the role that girls are expected to fill.

The book was thought provoking without being offensive. The storyline was cute but not unimpressive. The protagonist was a girl but girls don't have to be the audience. In general, this was just a really great book!

Any thoughts?

Printz 2010

2010-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

Newbery 2010

2010-01-27T09:07:00.000-08:00

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

2010-01-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

A hero with an incredible talent...for breaking things. A life-or-death mission...to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from a powerful secret network...the evil Librarians.

Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.

This was such a funny book. In the introduction, Brandon says that a Librarian will never recommend this title to you. But, it has happened. The book was good and there is a whole series of it.

I still think about this everytime I am late anywhere. Do I have a talent to being late? What a great unexpected hero. Who is your favorite unexpected hero?

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

2010-01-27T08:51:00.001-08:00

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia is haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

This is a illuminating story about one girl's struggle with anorexia. It is stream of consciousness but it has more structure and you can follow with ease what is going on; it jumps around a lot in the narrator's head. I rather like this style because it makes the characters feel so real. I really get inside her head.

I am not sure how helpful books like this are. While it is important to have these issues out in the open, it seems like more sensationalizing the issue that, I think is linked to this "emo is cool" some teens embrace. Now, I understand that some people just tend towards dark expression; I think of Edgar Allen Poe. While, Poe was certainly not a mood/happiness/general life achievement role model--he died drunk in a ditch-- he was being himself and that honesty is commendable. But there are plenty of people who jump on the band wagon and think "it's cool to act like X" or "I will get attention by acting like X." In reality, such behaviors are dangerous and you might end up drunk in a ditch dead. Not a good way to go.

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

2010-01-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie.

Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders.

I just finished reading this book and I liked it. Jane has reasonable problems and her hectic life is realistic. Sometimes in a cute romance you get a bunch of problems that aren't really problems. "My hair is way too curly and wild to date someone like that." I'm sorry, shut-up, go buy a brush and date the guy. But Kristina made Jane feel like someone I already know. I enjoy that. Plus, I like coffee!

The only problem I found was that it was too short. It is less than 200 pages. I have a thing. I know it's a weird thing. But I feel cheated when I want more. I don't like poems or short stories because I feel like if the authors really wanted to develop a character they should have written a book. You can go ahead and like short stories and poems, I JUST WANT MORE! It tends to be a theme in my life. But it is good when what I happen to want more is reading and not that evil chocolate cream pie.

OOOooooohhhhh! Chocolate cream pie goes very well with a tall caramel mocha!