Talking About Teen Books

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

2012-01-28T11:55:00.000-06:00

First Line: "Long ago and far away in the land of ice and snow, there came a time when it seemed that winter would never end."

About: Lass, an ordinary young woman growing up in endless cold winters of Norway, frees a magical white reindeer and in return is given a gift that will alter her life. Now with the power to speak to animals, Lass is sought after by many to help with animal problems, but when a polar bear seeks her help, Lass is swept up in a magical mystery involving gargoyles, trolls and bewitched princes.

My Thoughts: If you are familiar with my blog you are probably familiar with my love of fairy tales! I enjoyed Lass and her adventures with her pet wolf, Rollo. I found the Lass was an inquisitive and strong female character. My only dislike was that the ending seemed to happen very rapidly.
Highlights: Magical, Menacing, Easy

Readalikes:You will enjoy other Jessica Day George books and try "Entwined" by Heather Dixon and "East" by Edith Pattou. Also look for books by Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale and Donna Jo Napoli.

"Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for February.

The envelope please...

2012-01-24T15:55:00.000-06:00

The Young Adult Library Services Association just announced the winners of the big book awards for teen readers. Here are their top picks:

Michael L Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award, sponsored by Booklist, honors the best book written for teens each year.

Winner: "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley
Seventeen-year-old Cullen's summer in Lily, Arkansas, is marked by his cousin's death by overdose, an alleged spotting of a woodpecker thought to be extinct, failed romances, and his younger brother's sudden disappearance.

Honor Books: "Why We Broke Up" by Daniel Handler
Sixteen-year-old Min Green writes a letter to Ed Slaterton in which she breaks up with him, documenting their relationship and how items in the accompanying box, from bottle caps to a cookbook, foretell the end.

"The Returning" by Christine Hinwood
A large cast of characters from two fictional kingdoms recover from a drawn-out, brutal war in a portrait both sweeping and specific as it explores the ramifications of the conflict on Cam, the only one who lives to return to his village.

"Jasper Jones" by Craig Silvey
In small-town Australia, teens Jasper and Charlie form an unlikely friendship when one asks the other to help him cover up a murder until they can prove who is responsible.

"The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater
Nineteen-year-old returning champion Sean Kendrick competes against Puck Connolly, the first girl ever to ride in the annual Scorpio Races, both trying to keep hold of their dangerous water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

To read more about these winners and to see winners from other categories, please see the YALSA website.

Dreaming of summer

2012-01-13T17:05:00.000-06:00

The cold air has come, the ground is covered in snow. How about some books to keep our minds off how far away summer is? How very, very far...

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

Mediterranean Holiday: Or, How I Moved to a Tiny Island and Found the Love of my Life by Kate Cann
Hi Abby, Bet I'm the last person you expected to get a card from. The island is hot and beautiful and brilliant, but you were 80% right about Davinia. No-90% right. She's totally self-centered and she's trying to force me to date this creep! Aren't holidays supposed to be relaxing?! Abby, I wish we hadn't fallen out. Maybe see you when I get back? Lots of love (honest!), Chloe xxx

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother, and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, all the trauma of her parents' divorce is revived, even as she is making new friends and having new experiences such as learning to ride a bike and dating.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
When sixteen-year-old Amy, a spoiled American, goes to Israel for a three-month summer vacation with a father she barely knows, she is not prepared for his Jewish family and the changes they bring about in her life.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Pi Patel, having spent an idyllic childhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper, sets off with his family at the age of sixteen to start anew in Canada, but his life takes a marvelous turn when their ship sinks in the Pacific, leaving him adrift on a raft with a 450-pound Bengal tiger for company.

Captives by Tom Pow
When two families are kidnapped while vacationing in the Caribbean, they come to understand something of the island's political backdrop and the events that fuel their captors' actions.

Past Perfect by Leila Sales
Sixteen-year-old Chelsea knows what to expect when she returns for a summer of historical reenactment at Colonial Essex Village until she learns that her ex-boyfriend is working there, too, and then meets the very attractive Dan who works at a rival historical village.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2012-01-05T16:01:00.000-06:00

First Line: "Something hit Ben Wilson and he opened his eyes."

About: Ben, living in Minnesota in the 1970s, has just lost his mother and is feeling out of place at his aunt and uncle's home. One night, after sneaking back into his old house, he finds a clue about who his father may be and Ben is off on an adventure. Rose, living in New Jersey in the 1920s, is struggling in life as a deaf person. Her father tries to protect her, her mother, a famous actress, tries to ignore her. As Ben and Rose tell their story, their paths slowly begin to cross and merge.

My Thoughts: Even better than Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," I could not put "Wonderstruck" down. The illustrations are magical and moving and you will quickly fall in love with both Ben and Rose.
Highlights: Fast paced, thoughtful, unusual

Readalikes: The only book that is with a very similar format is Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." But I also recommend "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" and "The Chronicles of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg. Also try "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie and "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman.

Abarat by Clive Barker

2011-12-23T11:23:00.000-06:00

First Line: "The storm came up out of the southwest like a fiend, stalking its prey on legs of lightning."

About: Candy Quackenbush, of Chickentown, Minnesota, finds nothing interesting about her town. When she is assigned to come up with 10 interesting facts about Chickentown, Candy stumbles upon some rumors about the founding family of the city. Unfortunately, Candy's teacher feels she made up these facts and Candy is kicked out of the classroom for arguing. Instead of going to the principle's office, Candy begins walking to the outskirts of Chickentown where she meets a man with several heads who needs Candy's help desperately.

My Thoughts: One of my very favorites, "Abarat" by Clive Barker is a thrilling world that sits hidden next to our own world. Filled with fascinating characters and an exciting storyline, "Abarat" is the first in a series (expected to be 5 books).
Highlights: Quirky, exotic, magical

Readalikes: Here are a few to try, "Incarceron" by Catherine Fisher, "Leviathan" by Scott Westerfeld, "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman, "Sabriel" by Garth Nix, and "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman.

"Abarat" is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for January.

OPL Teen Book Club Picks for 2012

2011-12-15T16:02:00.000-06:00

The Oshkosh Public Library Teen Book Club has selected their reads for 2012! Here's a little preview:

January: Abarat by Clive Barker
Candy Quackenbush of Chickentown, Minnesota, one day finds herself on the edge of a foreign world that is populated by strange creatures, and her life is forever changed.

February: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

March: Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
After their father's "research experiment at the British Museum unleashes the Egyptian god Set, Carter and Sadie Kane embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest which brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

April: Vampire Knight Vol 1 by Matsuri Hino
Cross Academy is attended by two groups of students: the day class and the night class. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the guardians of the school, protecting the day class from the Academy's dark secret: the night class is full of vampires!

May: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves--and maybe the world?

June: Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
After finally getting noticed by someone other than school bullies and his ever-angry father, seventeen-year-old Tyler enjoys his tough new reputation and the attentions of a popular girl, but when life starts to go bad again, he must choose between transforming himself or giving in to his destructive thoughts.

July: Divergent by Veronica Roth
In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

August: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous work for Britain's intelligence agency, MI6.

September: Eon by Alison Goodman
Sixteen-year-old Eon hopes to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and learn to be its main interpreter, but to do so will require much, including keeping secret that she is a girl.

October: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Having discovered the double identity of the wealthy Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula, a small group of people vow to rid the world of the evil vampire.

November: Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

December: Savvy by Ingrid Law
Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--a magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.

To learn more about the Teen Book Club, click here.

Getting in the holiday spirit

2011-12-06T15:48:00.000-06:00

Not ready for Jingle Bells and mistletoe? Here are a few titles that may help you get in the holiday spirit!

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A miser learns the true meaning of Christmas when three ghostly visitors review his past and foretell his future.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Told in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two sixteen-year-olds carry on a wintry scavenger hunt at Christmas-time in New York, neither knowing quite what--or who--they will find.

Ex-mas by Kate Brian
With her parents gone on vacation, seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith is ready to throw a killer Christmas party until her little brother Cooper and his best friend Tyler run away on a mission to save Santa from global warming. The only person who can help Lila find them before her parents get home is Tyler's older brother Beau, who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend.

Home for the Holidays by Heather Vogel Frederick
Four girls continue their mother-daughter book club, reading Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol," but from unexpected blizzards to a sledding disaster, nothing goes as planned.

Kringle by Tony Abbott
In the fifth century A.D., as order retreats from Britain with the departing Roman Army, orphaned, twelve-year-old Kringle determines to rescue his beloved guardian from the evil goblins who terrorize the countryside by kidnapping and enslaving humans and, in the process, with the help of elves and others along the way, discovers his true destiny.

The Simpsons Holiday Humdinger by Matt Groening
What winter holiday celebration would be complete without: sleigh rides, jingle bells, reindeer games, happy little elves, fruit cakes, radioactive Christmas trees, snow mums, defective toys, grimacing Grinches, secretive Santas, miserly Scrooges, and New Year's resolutions you will never keep? So, deck the halls with The Simpsons and be of good cheer with glad tidings of joy that will last through the year!

Will the Real Raisin Rodriguez Please Stand Up by Judy Goldschmidt
Although reluctant to leave her new boyfriend CJ Mullen behind, Raisin anticipates a happy Christmas reunion in Berkeley with her father and best friends, Claudia and Pia, but realizes soon after her arrival that nothing is the way she imagined it would be.

My five favs of 2011

2011-11-29T13:05:00.000-06:00

It was hard to narrow it down to five, but here's my list:

5. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
After modern science turns every human into a genetic time bomb with men dying at age twenty-five and women dying at age twenty, girls are kidnapped and married off in order to repopulate the world.
Read my full review and watch a book video here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/wither-by-lauren-destefano.html

4. Shine by Lauren Myracle
When her best friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover the culprits in her small North Carolina town.
Read my full review here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/shine-by-lauren-myracle.html

3. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
In a future where chocolate and caffeine are contraband, teenage cellphone use is illegal, and water and paper are carefully rationed, sixteen-year-old Anya Balanchine finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight as heir apparent to an important New York City crime family.
Read my full review and watch a book video here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/all-these-things-ive-done-by-gabrielle.html

2. Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Alex, a resourceful seventeen-year-old running from her incurable brain tumor, Tom, who has left the war in Afghanistan, and Ellie, an angry eight-year-old, join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky and kills most of the world's population, turning some of those who remain into zombies and giving the others superhuman senses.
Read my full review here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/ashes-by-ilsa-j-bick.html

1. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.
Read my full review here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/beauty-queens-by-libba-bray.html

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz

2011-11-23T17:21:00.000-06:00

First Line: "Matt Freeman knew he was making a mistake."

About: After Matt's parents are killed in a car accident he is sent to live with an aunt who only wants him for his inheritance. When the inheritance runs out, so does all her patience for Matt. Matt begins getting into trouble, in school and out of school. After one terrible mistake, Matt is sentence to 2 years at LEAF (Liberty and Education Achieved Through Fostering). But the foster house he is sent to is hiding secrets, from a painting on the wall that seem to watch your every move, to creepy neighbors, to dire warnings, Matt begins to realize that his very life is in danger.

My Thoughts:This was an exciting, page-turning read. Matt is a character you quickly come to care about, he hasn't had an easy life. Horowitz is planning for this to be a 5 book series, book 2 is "Evil Star," 3 is "Nightrise" and 4 is "Necropolis." The fifth and final book is supposed to be released in 2012.
Highlights: Easy, fast paced, mystical

Readalikes: You will like Anthony Horowitz's other books, such as the Alex Rider series. Also try the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy or James Patterson's Witch and Wizard series. Or try authors Darren Shan, Garth Nix, Rick Yancy and Rick Riordan.

Raven's Gate is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club book selection for December. For more information on the Teen Book Club check this site: http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/ourspace/onlinebookclub.

Fairy Tales

2011-11-17T13:28:00.000-06:00

Are fairy tales your favorite? Here are some of my picks for the fans of fairy tales, enjoy!

Card, Orson Scott. Enchantment.
The moment Ivan stumbled upon a clearing in the dense Carpathian forest, his life was forever changed. Atop a pedestal encircled by fallen leaves, the beautiful princess Katerina lay still as death.

Finn, Alex. Beastly.

A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form.

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Just Ella.

In this continuation of the Cinderella story, fifteen-year-old Ella finds that accepting Prince Charming's proposal ensnares her in a suffocating tangle of palace rules and royal etiquette, so she plots to escape.

Hale, Shannon. The Goose Girl.

On her way to marry a prince she's never met, Princess Anidori is betrayed by her guards and her lady-in-waiting and must become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers.

Levine, Gail Carson. Fairest.

In a land where beauty and singing are valued above all else, Aza eventually comes to reconcile her unconventional appearance and her magical voice, and learns to accept herself for who she truly is.

McKinley, Robin. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast.

A young girl trying to save her father is captured by a beast and taken to live in his castle; based on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast is beautifully written and exposes readers to a rich experience in language.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast.

This version of Beauty and the Beast begins in Persia, where proud prince Orasmyn, who loves roses, makes an unfortunate decision that sets in motion a curse: he becomes a lion who can only be restored by the love of a woman.

Pattou, Edith. East.

A young woman journeys to a distant castle on the back of a great white bear who is the victim of a cruel enchantment.

Vande Velde, Vivian. The Rumpelstiltskin Problem.

A collection of variations on the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-11-07T09:38:00.000-06:00

First Line: "There is nothing more humiliating that being topless in the backseat of your boyfriend's car when someone decides to throw an egg at the windshield."

About: At Hamilton High School, the rivalry between the football team and the soccer team is legendary. When a student is injured, however, Lissa decides it is time to make a change. Lissa, who is dating the football team's quarterback, gathers all the girlfriends of the football and soccer teams and they come up with a plan--no affection of any kind (kissing, hugging, sex) until the rivalry comes to an end.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Kepliner's first book, "The Duff" and was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this book. Lissa is a great character, flawed and likeable, there are several great secondary characters in this battle-of-the-sexes book. And a plus--several library scenes!
Highlights: Fast paced, steamy, thought provoking

Readalikes: Try authors Simone Elkeles, Sarah Dessan and Deb Caletti. I also recommend trying "Dairy Queen" by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

2011-11-03T20:26:00.000-05:00

"The Maze Runner" by James Dashner is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club book selection for the month of November. For more information on the Teen Book Club, see this page: http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/ourspace/onlinebookclub.

To read my thoughts on "The Maze Runner" and watch a book video based on "The Maze Runner," check out my post here: http://talkingteenbooks.blogspot.com/2010/02/maze-runner-by-james-dashner.html.

I also highly recommend you stop by James Dashner's website. And below, why not try your hand at "The Maze Runner" the game, think you could survive the maze?

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-10-28T16:51:00.000-05:00

First Line: "'Where are you?' Aunt Hannah demanded as soon as Alex thumbed TALK."

About: Alex, spending several days camping in Michigan, meets a young girl, Ellie, Ellie's grandpa and Ellie's dog, Mina, in the wilderness. In a sudden and painful moment, the world changes and Alex and Ellie are running for their lives. As they travel together, they discover that some people simply dropped dead, others changed into something terrifying.

My Thoughts: It has been a long time since a book has affected me the way "Ashes" did. Probably not since "The Hunger Games." I nearly quit reading several times, committed the ultimate book sin (skipped to the end), and had dreams about this book. But "Ashes" wouldn't give up on me. I think what finally made me finish was know that there were going to be sequels--there could no way this book of 465 pages could resolve all the issues and have a happy ending. It is gruesome, it is frightening, it is also so very very worth it. Alex is unlike any other character I've read and the world that Bick imagines is fearsome and believable.
Highlights: Dark tone, engrossing, foreboding

Readalikes: Lots of end-of-the-world books available. Try "how i live now" by Meg Rosoff, "The World as We Knew It" by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games trilogy and "Dark Parties" by Sara Grant.

Enclave by Ann Aquirre

2011-10-27T14:39:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I was born during the second holocaust."

About: Deuce has spent her whole life underground. The Earth above has changed, rumors of death and destruction led people to move underground. When Deuce turns 15 she is given her role in society, she will be a Huntress, looking for food for her people and fighting off the Freaks, zombie-like monsters that hunt humans. Deuce and her partner, Fade, begin to question their society and, in a trying to protect an innocent friend, are evicted. Do Fade and Deuce dare to see what exists about ground?

My Thoughts: I picked this book up on a whim, dystopia and zombies--it sounded like it might be interesting. I quickly began a huge fan of Deuce's. The book is a page turner and luckily for me, there will be a sequel to come!
Highlights: Breakneck, menacing, unusual

Readalikes: "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano, "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, "Rot and Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry, "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" by Carrie Ryan, and "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-10-18T17:37:00.000-05:00

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for October.
For more information on the Teen Book Club, please check this site.

To read my thoughts on "The Hunger Games," please check this blog entry.

Did you enjoy "The Hunger Games"? Here are some recommended readalikes that you should enjoy, too!

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Alex, a resourceful seventeen-year-old running from her incurable brain tumor, Tom, who has left the war in Afghanistan, and Ellie, an angry eight-year-old, join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky and kills most of the world's population, turning some of those who remain into zombies and giving the others superhuman senses.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Epic by Conor Kostick
On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik persuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States.

how i live now by Meg Rosoff
To get away from her pregnant stepmother in New York City, fifteen-year-old Daisy goes to England to stay with her aunt and cousins, with whom she instantly bonds, but soon war breaks out and rips apart the family while devastating the land.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve
In the distant future, when cities move about and consume smaller towns, a fifteen-year-old apprentice is pushed out of London by the man he most admires and must seek answers in the perilous Out-Country, aided by one girl and the memory of another.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In a futuristic world, teenage Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty.

Picture It @ Your Library

2011-10-14T16:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Teen Read Week! Oshkosh Public Library is celebrating Teen Read Week™ (October 16-22, 2011) with special events and programs aimed at encouraging area teens to read for the fun of it. This year’s theme, Picture It! @ your library® encourages teens to read a variety of materials, including graphic novels, movies, books about photography, and more. Find out more about the events at OPL during Teen Read Week here!

Looking for book? Try some of my "Picture It" suggestions:

Boy Proof by Cecil Castelluci
Feeling alienated from everyone around her, Los Angeles high school senior and cinephile Victoria Denton hides behind the identity of a favorite movie character until an interesting new boy arrives at school and helps her realize that there is more to life than just the movies.

Brain Camp by Susan Kim
Lucas and Jenna are chosen to attend a camp that promises to turn delinquents into high achieving students, but when they arrive, they realize that the camp is not what it seems.

Chew by John S. Layman

Confessions of a Hollywood Star by Dyan Sheldon
Upon learning at the end of her senior year of high school that a Hollywood film is being made in her hometown, Lola stops at nothing to get a part and upstage her nemesis, Carla Santini.

Digital Photo Madness: 50 Weird and Wacky Things To Do With Your Digital Camera by Thom Gaines

Drawing Action Manga: Easel Does It by Keith Sparrow

Experimental Digital Photography by Rick Doble

Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Garth Hale is as good as dead...The only problem is he's still alive. When Garth Hale is accidentally zapped into the ghost world by Frank Gallows, a washed-up ghost wrangler, he discovers that he has special powers. Soon he finds himself on the run from the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who wants to use Garth's newfound abilities to tighten his grip on the spirit world.

Prince of Persia: Before the Sandstorm by Jordan Mechner

Reel Culture: 50 Classic Movies You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) by Mimi O'Connor

Halloween Reads

2011-10-10T16:37:00.000-05:00

Looking for something spooky to read on your Halloween night? Try one of these horror filled tales and watch for more spooky reads coming later this month!

Bliss by Lauren Myracle
Having grown up in a California commune, Bliss sees her aloof grandmother's Atlanta world as a foreign country, but she is determined to be nice as a freshman at an elite high school, which makes her the perfect target for Sandy, a girl obsessed with the occult.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

The Enemy by Charlie Higson
After a disease turns everyone over sixteen into brainless, decomposing, flesh-eating creatures, a group of teenagers leave their shelter and set out of a harrowing journey across London to the safe haven of Buckingham Palace.

The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales by Poe
Master of the macabre Edgar Allan Poe brings his nightmare visions to vivid, dramatic life in this definitive collection of 14 of his classic stories, including "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and his only full-length novel, "Narrative of A. Gordon Pym."

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts and other denizens of the graveyard.

Half-Minute Horrors by M.T. Anderson
An anthology of very short, scary stories by an assortment of authors and illustrators including Chris Raschka, Joyce Carol Oates, Neil Gaiman, Jack Gantos, and Lane Smith.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
In 1888, twelve-year-old Will Henry chronicles his apprenticeship with Dr. Warthrop, a scientist who hunts and studies real-life monsters, as they discover and attempt to destroy a pod of Anthropophagi.

The Reflacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Sixteen-year-old Mackie Doyle knows that he replaced a human child when he was just an infant, and when a friend's sister disappears he goes against his family's and town's deliberate denial of the problem to confront the beings that dwell under the town, tampering with human lives.

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

2011-10-05T12:44:00.000-05:00

First line: "I'd always welcomed war, but in battle my passion rose unbidden."

About: Calla is in training to be the new alpha of her wolf pack, which means marrying the pack's alpha male and leading her wolves against their enemies, the Searchers. Calla finds her heart being torn in two when a human boy moves into her town and Calla is sworn to protect him. Will Calla choose the human boy over her pack?

My Thoughts: Thrilling and filled with interesting secondary characters, Calla and her werewolves are an addicting read. I love the strong female characters and plot twits that keep readers on their toes. The sequel, "Wolfsbane" is out now.
Highlights: Compelling, fast paced, intriguing secondary characters

Readalikes: Try "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater, "Blood and Chocolate" by Annette Curtis Klause and "Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White you will also try author Cassandra Clare's books.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

2011-09-29T13:37:00.000-05:00

First Line: "The night before junior year--I was sixteen, barely--Gable Arsley said he wanted to sleep with me."

About: Many years in the future, chocolate and caffeine are banned, streets are filled with violence and water is nearly nonexistent. Luckily, Anya is able to care for her brother and sister because of their family connections to a wealthy chocolate mob. Things begin to change this year when a new D.A. arrives in town with plans on crushing the mobs. Complications include his son, who Anya finds extremely appealing. Filled with tainted chocolate and unsavory characters, Anya finds herself being pulled in many different directions.

My Thoughts: Exciting and interesting, Anya's world in one where society spends most of its time worrying about losing resources than trying to figure out how to stop the downfall. Anya and her friends are appealing characters and readers will get pulled into her life and her story.
Highlights: Edgy, unusual, thoughtful

Readalikes: Try "Across the Universe" by Beth Revis, "Matched" by Ally Condie, and "Bumped" by Megan McCafferty.

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

2011-09-19T15:32:00.000-05:00

First Line: "My parents died on a hot August evening."

About: After her parents are found mysteriously dead, Renee is sent by her grandfather to a boarding school in New England. Far away from her home in California, her friends and the boy she likes, Renee is confused by her new school. No longer studying geometry and chemistry, now Renee is taking classes on Latin and Horticulture while the school's motto is "Bring us death so we can study it. To capture the mind of a child is to gain immortality. So that when we die, our minds live forever." Quickly Renee is attracted to the mysterious loner, Dante, and she becomes wrapped up in a mystery when her roommate goes missing.

My Thoughts: After you get past the similarities to "Twilight" (For example, Renee and Dante are assigned to be lab partners, Dante is at first rude to her then suddenly seems to have a change of heart and falls madly in love, sound familiar?) you will get lost in the story and characters. I found Woon's take on the undead to be interesting and the setting and story are intriguing. The sequel, "Life Eternal" will be released in January of 2012 (see the cover and read some reviews here).
Highlights: Compelling, mystical, romantic

Readalikes: Try Kimberly Derting's "The Body Finder" or Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

2011-09-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

First Line: "Are you all right?"

About: A plane full of beauty queens crashes on a remote island and the young women who were used to readily available hair gel and perfect manicures are left to fight for survival. Throw in some dangerous terrorist, shady gun dealers, lusty pirates and you've got Libba Bray's "Beauty Queens."

My Thoughts: Often hilarious and filled with sarcasm, "Beauty Queens" had such an interesting premise that I couldn't pass it up. I found myself having a hard time keeping all the beauty contestants separate (sometimes they are called by their names and sometime by the states they are from) but it was worth it to keep reading. This is an unusual book that will have you rethinking the products you buy and the advertisements that you watch daily!

Highlights: Quirky, thoughtful, multiple points of view

Readalikes: You may like "Bumped" by Megan McCafferty, "Feed" by M.T. Anderson, or "Nation" by Terry Pratchett. Or try a classic, "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe or "Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann David Wyss.

Biographies and Memoirs

2011-09-08T13:36:00.000-05:00

Homework time already? Here are some suggested biographies and memoirs for that report that's due...tomorrow.
For more suggestions, come to the library's 2nd floor Reference Desk.

The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini by Ruth Brandon

Ruth Brandon explains in fascinating detail the secrets of Houdini's most celebrated escapes, but, more important, she asks, "What was Houdini really trying to escape from?" Searching for the answer, she reveals a man far more extraordinary than any of his audience could have imagined.

Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

From one of the most beloved and bestselling authors in the English language, a vivid, nostalgic and utterly hilarious memoir of growing up in the middle of the United States in the middle of the last century. A book that delivers on the promise that it is "laugh-out-loud funny."

King of the Mild Frontier by Chris Crutcher

Chris Crutcher, author of young adult novels such as "Ironman" and "Whale Talk," as well as short stories, tells of growing up in Cascade, Idaho, and becoming a writer.

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos

The author relates how, as a young adult, he became a drug user and smuggler, was arrested, did time in prison, and eventually got out and went to college, all the while hoping to become a writer.

Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy

This powerful memoir is about the premium we put on beauty and on a woman's face in particular. It took Lucy Grealy twenty years of living with a distorted self-image and more than thirty reconstructive procedures before she could come to terms with her appearance after childhood cancer and surgery that left her jaw disfigured. As a young girl, she absorbed the searing pain of peer rejection and the paralyzing fear of never being loved.

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton, a teenage surfer lost her arm in a shark attack off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Not even the loss of her arm keeps her from returning to surfing, the sport she loves.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip M. Hoose

On March 2, 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. In her own words, Claudette gives a detailed look at segregated life in 1950s Memphis and the start of the civil rights movement.

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

Nicknamed "Zippy" for the way she would bolt around the house, this small girl was possessed of big eyes and even bigger ears. In this witty and lovingly told memoir, Kimmel takes readers back to a time when small-town America was caught in the amber of the innocent postwar period--people helped their neighbors, went to church on Sunday, and kept barnyard animals in their backyards.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Soldier by Dean Ellis Kohler and Susan VanHecke

Dean Kohler's band had just gotten a recording contract when he was drafted during the Vietnam War. Leaving the band and his dream behind, Kohler arrives in Vietnam assuming his career as a musician has been put on hold.

Into Thin Air by John Krakauer

The author describes his spring 1996 trek to Mt. Everest, a disastrous expedition that claimed the lives of eight climbers, and explains why he survived.

Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers

Into a memoir that is gripping, funny, heartbreaking, and unforgettable, Walter Dean Myers richly weaves the details of his Harlem childhood in the 1940s and 1950s: a loving home life with his adopted parents, Bible school, street games, and the vitality of his neighborhood.

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers

Through the story of Ali's childhood, his rise as a champion, his politics, and his battle against Parkinsons' disease, readers will come to know the man behind the brash public persona -- the man whose talent and legacy will stir and inspire a new generation of fans.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2011-09-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

First Line: "'Wait--did you--You just yawned!'"

About: Evie has spent most of her life at the IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency), an agency that tracks, tags and re-assigns paranormals. Evie is a valuable asset to the agency because of her ability to see beyond glamours to the real paranormal. When a shape shifter breaks into the agency one night, claiming to know clues to Evie past, she has to first save him before she can get her answers.

My Thoughts: Evie is a fantastic character, full of spunk, individuality and sarcasm. It is great to follow her as her eyes are opened to the agency she trusted and as she begins to question the only life she has known. Get more Evie in "Supernaturally," the second in the trilogy.
Highlights: Engrossing, humorous, magical

Readalikes: Try Patricia C Wrede's "Sorcery and Cecelia." You may also like Kristin Cashore, Cassandra Clare and Julie Kagawa.

Scepter of the Ancients by Derek Landy

2011-08-30T14:28:00.000-05:00

Wait a minute, I know what you are thinking. Hasn't this book already been talked about on this blog--repeatedly? Yep. But it was my lucky day when the Teen Book Group decided to read "Scepter of the Ancients" as our September book club selection!
Read my original review of "Scepter of the Ancients" (originally published as "Skulduggery Pleasant") here.
Read more of my thoughts on the Skulduggery series here.
And here's some info on the Teen Book Club.

If you find yourself interested in the Skulduggery books, be sure to check out Skulduggery's website and make yourself an avatar!

Highlights: Breakneck, quirky, humorous
Readalikes: Try Catherine Jinks, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Thinking about giving manga a try?

2011-08-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Pick up a popular manga today!

Akamatsu, Ken. Love Hina series.

Keitaro is kicked out of the house when he fails his university entrance exam for the second time, so when his grandmother offers him the caretaker position at Hinata Lodge he jumps at the opportunity, even though it means being the only guy around.

Arakawa, Hiromu. Fullmetal Alchemist series.

Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric are powerful government agents in a world where alchemy is real and not everyone who wields its power is benevolent.

Chmakova, Svetlana. Dramacon series.

Chris is excited to attend her first anime convention and to sell her manga in the artists’ alley, but when she meets an unusual cosplayer named Matt, her convention experience takes an unexpected turn.

Fujishima, Kosuke. Oh My Goddess! series.

After dialing the Goddess Technical Help Line by mistake, Keiichi makes an offhand wish, believing it’s all a joke, and finds himself with his own goddess companion for life.

Hotta, Yumi. Hikaru No Go series.

Hikaru Shindo is just an average Japanese boy until the day he discovers an old Go game board and is instantly merged with the ghost of an ancient Go master who has been trapped in the board for centuries.

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto series.

Naruto is a prankster and a klutz, shunned by most of his village and without friends when he attempts to pass the entry test and be admitted to the Ninja Academy, but his unpleasant reputation masks a hidden and fearsome secret.

Kubo, Tite. Bleach series.

Ichigo Kurosaki can see ghosts, but he’s still surprised at the world he discovers after Rukia, a member of the Soul Society, shares her powers with him in an attempt to save his family from a Hollow, an evil spirit that feeds on human psychic energies.

Miyazaki, Hayao. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind series.

Nausicaa, the princess of a small kingdom in the Valley of the Wind, plays a pivotal role in the war between two mighty empires as they battle for the last remaining natural resources in the face of worldwide ecological disaster.

Ohba, Tsugumi. Death Note series.

Light Yagami’s life changed when he found the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a death god, and he vowed to use its powers for good, but when criminals start turning up dead Light comes to the attention of the legendary detective investigating the murders.

Shigeno, Shuichi. Initial D series.

After saving Kira from the harassment of her art teacher, popular Rei finds himself drawn to her, and she to him, but Harumi has had her sights set on Rei for a long time and has no intention of letting Kira start a relationship with him.

Takahashi, Rumiko. Ranma ½ series.

Sixteen-year-old martial artist Ranma Saotome has been training all his life, but after falling into a lake during a practice session he’s cursed to change into a girl every time he’s splashed with cold water.

Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket series.

With no place to live, Tohru pitches a tent in the woods but is soon taken in by the family who owns the woods as long as she promises to keep the family secret: when they’re hugged, they turn into animals from the Chinese Zodiac calendar.

Tsuda, Masami. Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances series.

Yukino has always been at the top, popular at school and best in her class, but behind her perfect facade lurks a narcissistic young girl who may have met her match when she meets Soiichiro, a genuinely nice boy and her equal in every way.

Watsuki, Nobuhiro. Rurouni Kenshin series.

Former assassin Himura Kenshin wanders Japan protecting the people and attempting to atone for his crimes.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

2011-08-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

First Line: "The book said there was a witch in the woods."

About: Gretchen hasn't been able to move on from one horrifying event from her childhood. Gretchen, her brother Ansel, and Gretchen's twin sister were walking in the woods near their home when a creature chased them and captured Gretchen's twin sister. Many years later Gretchen and Ansel are kicked our of their home by their stepmother and set off to start over. When their car breaks down in a small town, they slowly realize that things are not what they seem in this little town and their biggest fears are resurfacing.

My Thoughts: I have always liked retellings of fairy tales and Jackson Pearce does not disappoint with this retelling on Grimm's Hansel and Gretel. I like the relationship between the siblings, how they trust each other completely, and there are several secondary characters that are interesting. Highly recommended for fans of fairy tales.
Highlights: Foreboding, magical, menacing

Readalikes: Try authors Donna Jo Napoli, Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley, Jane Yolen, Gail Cason Levine. You may also like Catherine Gilbert Murdock's "Princess Ben."

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

2011-08-16T08:24:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I'm standing in the dark, not the gentle gray of dusk or the soft black of a moonlit night but pitch-black."

About: Neva hides a journal in her mattress, illegally, since keeping written records in her society is forbidden. The Protectosphere has very strict rules on what people can and cannot do but Neva and her friends are beginning to wonder if the Protectosphere has been lying to them, is there any life beyond the protective dome?

My Thoughts: Suspenseful and fast-paced, I found myself not wanting to put down "Dark Parties." The title comes from parties teenagers have in this futuristic world, where they turn off all lights and darken the windows and even door cracks. It is during one of these parties that a teenage revolution starts and Neva gets wrapped up in government lies. Neva and her best friend Sanna also get trapped in a love triangle and I am keeping my fingers crossed that a sequel will be out soon!
Highlights: Plot twists, menacing, unusual

Readalikes: There are lots of dystopian novels out there now to choose from...I recommend trying "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, "Across the Universe" by Beth Revis, "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner, "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano and "Matched" by Ally Condie. Or try some classics such as "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury or "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley.

Road Trip!

2011-08-11T12:04:00.000-05:00

Summer is winding down and soon school will be starting. If you missed your chance at a road trip try one of these novels and live vicariously through the characters!

Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer
Jenna gets a job driving the elderly owner of a chain of successful shoe stores from Chicago to Texas to confront the son who is trying to force her to retire, and along the way Jenna hones her talents as a saleswoman and finds the strength to face her alcoholic father.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Cameron Smith, a sixteen year-old who is diagnosed with Creutzfeld Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital in an attempt to find a cure.

True Confessions of a Heartless Girl by Martha Brooks
A confused seventeen-year-old girl, a single mother and her young son, two elderly women, and a sad and lonely man, with their own individual tragedies to bear, come together in a small Manitoba town and find a way to a better future.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman
While traveling to each corner of the country to build a whirligig in memory of the girl whose death he causes, sixteen-year-old Brian finds forgiveness and atonement.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.

Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Roadtrip by Linda Oatman High
In this novel told in slam verse, best friends and aspiring poets Laura and Twig embark on a road trip after graduating from high school, from Pennsylvania to New York City, to compete at slam poetry events.

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde
A gay teenage boy and a fragile teenage girl meet while living on the streets of New York City and decide to take a road trip across America to discover if the world is a beautiful place.

How to Be Bad by E. Lockhart
Told in alternating voices, Jesse, Vicks, and Mel, hoping to leave all their worries and woes behind, escape their small town by taking a road trip to Miami.

Play Me by Laura Ruby
Disappointed when he does not get the MTV production deal he so wants, high school senior Eddy leaves his girlfriend to take a road trip to find the mother who has left him and his younger stepbrother and taken a bit part in a television show.

Shine by Lauren Myracle

2011-08-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

First Line: "Patrick's house was a ghost."

About: After a horrible hate crime takes place in her small North Carolina town, Cat begins to wake herself up from the life she has been living. Cat's former best friend Patrick is in a coma and Cat is determined to undercover the truth of who hurt him and why. Soon Cat herself is in serious danger but she is committed to finding out who is to blame.

My Thoughts: Often painful and hard to read, "Shine" is about a young woman who is thrust out of her emotionless life and forced to face dark issues in her past. She has to come to terms with an event that changer her forever before she can rekindle her friendship with Patrick and find out who has committed such a horrible crime against him. You will quickly grow to love Cat and her braveness and loyalty. I highly recommend this book.
Highlights: Small town, dark, dramatic

Readalikes: You may also like "Stolen" by Lucy Christopher and "Twisted" by Laurie Halse Anderson. "Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell is darker and more violent but is also recommended.

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

2011-08-03T10:41:00.002-05:00

First Line: "The prisoner stood with his hands tied in front of him, tired, beaten, and filthy but with a proud back befitting his royal Indian heritage."

About: Looking for a job to help pass time during the summer, Kelsey is offered a position as an assistant in a traveling circus with one of her primary responsibilities to feed the circus's white tiger. Kelsey finds herself drawn to the white tiger and spends most of her free time near his cage, reading and talking to him. When a wealthy Indian wishes to purchase the tiger and move him from the circus to an Tiger Reserve in India, he hires Kelsey to accompany the tiger on his voyage. What Kelsey doesn't know is that the tiger is really an Indian prince that has been cursed for decades.
Highlights: Fast paced, exotic, magical

My Thoughts: The book, the first in a projected trilogy, is one of those books that you don't want to put down. Fans of "Twilight" will love the romance and love triangle. There is also lots of action and teen angst. Highly recommended.

Readalikes: Try Julie Kagawa's books, Donna Jo Napoli's books, especially "Beast," and Annette Curtis Klause's books.

Gone by Michael Grant

2011-07-28T20:16:00.001-05:00

First Line(s): "One minute the teacher was talking about the Civil War. And the next minute he was gone."

About: One day, in the middle of history class, Sam's teacher disappears. As the students wander around the school they begin to realize that all the teachers have disappeared, as well as everyone over the age of 15. Their city is now surrounded by a force field that keeps them from leaving. Sam and his best friend Quinn, with they help of other young teens and children, set out to find out what this mysterious wall means and what happened to all the adults.

My Thoughts: This is an exciting, fast-paced book with many characters to keep track of. The characters consist of the kids that were raised on Perdido Beach and go to the public school and the kids that are sent to Coates Academy, a school for "troubled" kids and teens. With a lot of conflict and twists and turns, fans of the X-Men and dystopian novels will enjoy this series by Michael Grant.
Highlights:Fast-paced, unusual, multiple points of view

Readalikes: Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore and James Patterson's Maximum Ride series.

Gone is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for the month of August.

It's getting hot in here...

2011-07-22T13:02:00.000-05:00

Think the heat is getting to you? Try one of these books, where the weather can be even more oppressive!

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In a futuristic world, teenager Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.

Matched by Ally Condie
All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry. When she is Matched with her best friend Xander, things couldn't be more perfect. But why did her neighbor Ky's face show up on her match disk as well?

Dark Life by Kat Falls
When fifteen-year-old Ty, who has always lived on the ocean floor, joins Topside girl Gemma in the frontier's underworld to seek and stop outlaws who threaten his home, they learn that the government may pose an even greater threat.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Teenager Amy, a cryogenically frozen passenger on the spaceship Godspeed, wakes up to discover that someone may have tried to murder her.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait...not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty.

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

2011-07-20T14:31:00.000-05:00

First Line: "This was getting old."

About: Bianca is the seventeen-year-old sarcastic and loyal friend to beauties Jessica and Casey. One night with her friends, a popular playboy from her high school, Wesley, informs her that she is her friends' DUFF, the Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Although Bianca knows her friends adore her, she is still troubled by the label of DUFF and to make matters worse, Wesely begins calling her Duffy whenever he sees her at school. Bianca, also suffering from a bad breakup and her parents relationship issues, begins to see Wesley as more than an annoying boy who torments her.

My Thoughts: I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. Reading teen angst books is tough enough but throw in mean nicknames and insecurity and you've got the possibility for a real downer. Luckily, this isn't a updated version of Mean Girls. Bianca and her friends Jessica and Casey are extremely likable and relate-able and the bad boy is perfectly bad and believable. I love that Bianca is insecure and unsure of herself at times but at other times is funny, confidant and firm.
Highlights: Fast paced, racy, easy

Readalikes: Try authors Elizabeth Scott, Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti and Simone Elkeles. I also highly recommend "The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things" by Carolyn Mackler.

Picks for Guys

2011-07-11T10:19:00.000-05:00

Anderson, M.T. Feed.
In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

Booth, Coe. Tyrell.
Tyrell’s life in the South Bronx is anything but ideal as he struggles to keep his little brother safe, to raise money doing something other than selling drugs, and to stay faithful to his girlfriend Novisha.

Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl.
Artemis Fowl is a genius with unlimited wealth and no conscience to speak of, but his kidnapping of fairy Captain Holly Short sets off a chain of events that will change everything.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games.
Katniss volunteers to represent her district in the 74th Hunger Games, a gladiator-type competition that brings honor to the districts but forces teens to train and make alliances while they strive to permanently eliminate one another in the arena.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy.
Fed up with his life in a series of foster homes, ten-year-old Bud runs away to find the man he believes to be his father, a jazz musician who, it turns out, is less than happy to meet him.

Dashner, James. The Maze Runner.
When Thomas arrives in the Glade he has no memory of his previous life and joins the other boys in their attempt to solve the deadly maze in which they seem to be imprisoned.

de la Peña, Matt. Ball Don't Lie.
After his mother’s suicide, Sticky bounces from one foster home to another and only seems secure when he’s hanging out at the basketball court where his ability guarantees him street cred.

Farmer, Nancy. The House of the Scorpion.
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States.

Green, John. An Abundance of Katherines.
Disconsolate after being dumped for the nineteenth time by yet another girl named Katherine, Colin meets a non-Katherine named Lindsey who helps him figure out a mathematical theorem to determine the length of romantic relationships.

Horowitz, Anthony. Alex Rider series. Book 1: Stormbreaker
When Alex Rider’s spy uncle dies, the British Intelligence Agency MI6 convinces him to assume his uncle’s role, and, when he agrees, the adventures never stop.

Jenkins, A.M. Repossessed.
Kiriel, who prefers to be called a fallen angel rather than a minor demon, takes an unauthorized vacation from his job in Hell and inhabits the body of an about-to-be-killed teen in order to experience life and maybe bring himself to the attention of the Creator.

Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob.
In this laugh-out-loud novel, Vince Luca, who refuses to be part of his family’s gangster interests, dates and falls in love with Kendra, who turns out to be the daughter of the FBI agent who’s been after his dad for ages.

Landy, Derek. Skulduggery Pleasant.
When Stephanie inherits her weird uncle's estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from the Faceless Ones.

Lubar, David. Hidden Talents.
New student Martin and his roommate Torchie are friends with other students with paranormal powers, talents that come in handy when they stand up to the school bully, Lester Bloodbath.

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster.
Facing murder charges in the killing of a store clerk, teen Steve Harmon is in jail during the trial that, based on his filmmaking experience, he describes in screen terms and diary entries, leaving the reader to decide if he’s innocent or guilty.

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon.
In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

Portman, Frank. King Dork.
Called a “dud” by high school girls and mocked by the associate principal, Tom hides by writing music and inventing long lists of possible band names while wondering how The Catcher in the Rye ties in with the death of his detective father.

Riordan, Rick. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Percy Jackson seems like just a regular kid, but he’s actually the half-blood son of the god Poseidon, a fact that entangles him in the looming battle between the Olympians and the evil Titan Time Lord Kronos.

Shan, Darren. Cirque du Freak series.
Darren, half-vampire assistant to Mr. Crepsley and sometime traveler with the Cirque du Freak, finds himself at odds with his former friend Steve and on the run from the evil Vampaneze.

Shusterman, Neal. Unwind.
Connor, Risa, and Lev are on the run, hoping to survive until they turn 18 and become safe from “unwinding,” the process of harvesting body parts from the young.

Trueman, Terry. Stuck in Neutral.
Shawn, born with cerebral palsy and unable to walk, talk, or move on his own, loves life, which is why he’s horrified when he begins to suspect that his well-meaning father is planning to kill him.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

2011-07-06T09:41:00.000-05:00

First Line: "An hour before Azalea's first ball began, she paced the ballroom floor, tracing her toes in a waltz."

About: Azalea and her sisters adore dancing and learning new dances, but when a death in the family has them in mourning for twelve months, dancing is one of the many things they are no longer allowed to partake in. However, Azalea and her sisters find a way around this rule when they discover a magic passage way in their castle that takes them to a fairy realm where dancing is always allowed, for a price.

My Thoughts: I have read other versions of the Brothers Grimm's Twelve Dancing Princesses before this one and have enjoyed them. In this version, the world of Azalea is appealing and unique. The older sisters are likable individuals and the book is filled with intrigue, romance and adventure.
Highlights: Engrossing, dramatic, magical

Readalikes: Try "Wildwood Dancing" by Juliet Marillier, one of my favorite takes on the Twelve Dancing Princesses. You will also like authors Shannon Hale, Julie Kagawa Donna Jo Napoli, and Jessica Day George.

Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

2011-06-28T22:21:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I've always been fascinated by spiders."

About: Darren and Steve, two best friends, sneak out to attend an illegal freak show one night. After a night filled with the terrifying, macabre, and funny, Darren and Steve each find themselves drawn back to the freak show. Darren drawn to a spider unlike any he as ever seen, and Steve drawn by his obsession with vampires. As Darren and Steve change, their friendship and their very lives are threatened.

My Thoughts: I have read the graphic novel version of this series and watched the film version (which combines book 1 "A Living Nightmare" and book 2 "The Vampire's Assistant"), but after reading the novel, I recommend it highly. Darren and Steve are relate-able characters and they are fun to read about. Filled with action and twists and turns, this will appeal to fans of mysteries, horror and action novels.
Highlights: Unusual, fast paced, easy

Readalikes: Try "Freaks: Alive, on the Inside!" by Annette Curtis Klause, "Eighth Grade Bites" by Heather Brewer and "Peeps" by Scott Westerfeld.

Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for July.

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

2011-06-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I saw an old commercial once where famous singers used their voices to shatter glass."

About: You would never guess that once Brooke and Kathryn were best of friends. You would never guess because Brooke is the queen of the school and Kathryn is an outcast treated horribly, most horribly by Brooke. But they were best friends, both in love with singing, until one night at a party their junior year when everything changed. Now it is senior year and both Brooke and Kathryn are trying out for a prestigious music scholarship and their rivalry is about to hit a crescendo.

My Thoughts: The characters and storyline are authentic and you will find yourself siding with both of the teens. There are some great secondary characters in this story including Brooke's evil friend Chloe and Kathryn's best, and only, friend Matt. A fun and entertaining book.
Highlights: Multiple points of view, easy, realistic

Readalikes: "13 Little Blue Envelopes" by Maureen Johnson, "Sweethearts" by Sara Zarr, "Lucky" by Rachel Vail, or try books by Elizabeth Scott and Laurie Halse Anderson.

Summer Picks

2011-06-13T18:57:00.000-05:00

Sun, sand and summer reading! Try out one of my picks for a great summer book.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother, and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, all the trauma of her parents' divorce is revived, even as she is making new friends and having new experiences such as learning to ride a bike and dating.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
When sixteen-year-old Amy, a spoiled American, goes to Israel for a three-month summer vacation with a father she barely knows, she is not prepared for his Jewish family and the changes they bring about in her life.

Hidden by Helen Frost
When fourteen-year-olds Wren and Darra meet at a Michigan summer camp, both are overwhelmed by memories from six years earlier when Darra's father stole a car, unaware that Wren was hiding in the back.

Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger
When their fathers insist that they get summer jobs, three fifteen-year-old friends in Tacoma, Washington, dedicate their summer vacation to fooling their parents into thinking that they are working, which proves to be even harder than having real jobs would have been.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.

Surface Tension: a Novel in Four Summers by Brent Runyon
During the summer vacations of his thirteenth through his sixteenth year at the family's lake cottage, Luke realizes that although some things stay the same over the years that many more change.

School Visits

2011-06-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

Here are the books I took on recent school visits:

Fantasy/Science Fiction

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (Video)
sequel: Desires of the Dead
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (Video)
Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill (Video)
Monster High by Lisi Harrison
Rash by Pete Hautman
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Video)
sequels: The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Dracula edited by Nicky Raven
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Video)

Historical Fiction

Day of Tears by Julius Lester
Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Graphic Novels/Manga

Captain America: To Serve and Protect
Nasume's Book of Friends by Yuki Midorikawa
Green Lantern - Green Arrow Collection by Dennis O'Neil
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan

Nonfiction
Mysterious Messages by Gary Blackwood
A Really Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Do Not Open by John Farndon
Bloody Times by James L. Swanson

Realistic Fiction

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin (Video)
Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley
Stolen by Lucy Christopher (Video)
Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Jane by April Linder (Video)
The Cruisers by Walter Dean Myers
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Mermaid Mania

2011-06-07T16:06:00.000-05:00

Move over vampires and werewolves, mermaids are joining the spotlight. With rumors of a Stephanie Meyer mermaid book and mermaids in the movies, why not pick up a mermaid tail (er, tale) this summer?

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Seventeen-year-old Lily, half-mermaid and half-human, has been living on land and attending high school, where she develops a crush on a boy but is afraid to tell him of her true destiny as the ruler of the undersea kingdom of Thalassinia.

Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
A love-struck mermaid named Aquamarine supplies adventure and insights to two girls, life-long friends who are spending their last summer together before one of them moves away.

Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
After finally convincing her mother that she should take swimming lessons, Emily discovers a terrible and wonderful secret about herself that opens up a whole new world.

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan
Lena, almost sixteen, has always felt drawn to the waters of San Francisco Bay despite the fears of her father, a former surfer, but after she glimpses a beautiful woman with a tail, nothing can keep Lena from seeking the mermaid in the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli
The gods grant immortality to the mermaid Sirena when she rescues a human man from the sea and they fall in love, but his mortality creates great conflict between love and honor when he is called to defend Greece in the Trojan War.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

2011-06-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

First Line(s): "I'm sixteen. Pregnant. And the most important person on the planet."

About: Melody and Harmony are identical twins who, at sixteen years old, have just met. Melody has grown up knowing that she may be pregnant three times before she turns eighteen. In this futuristic United States, everyone over the age of eighteen is infertile. Teens are selected to be birth mothers and the babies are handed over to adults to raise. Harmony, on the other hand, grew up in a religious community where teens are encouraged to marry young and have children early. Now, as Melody and Harmony get to know each other, they being to think differently about their prospective futures.

My Thoughts: Wow, where to start! There seems to be an awful lot of dystopian stories out there right now. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dystopia...but recently they seem to be focusing on infertility and early deaths. Kind of a downer. But "Bumped" doesn't focus on the down slide of the society we know today, instead it is a story about sisters and love and desire. This story is strange and unforgettable. A sequel is already planned.
Highlights: Multiple points of view, quirky, unusual

Readalikes: Try "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano, "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, "Matched" by Ally Condie, and Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series.

Story Time by Edward Bloor

2011-06-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

First Line: "Kate was flying."

About: George is ecstatic when he finds out that the school district maps have changed and he is to be transferred to Whittaker Magnet School, one of the finest schools in the US. George's niece, Kate, on the other hand is miserable. Soon George and Kate realize that there is more to Whittaker Magnet School than good test scores, including hidden rooms, possessed books and tests ALL DAY LONG. George and Kate need to get out or else they might be next on the growing list of deceased.

My Thoughts: Filled with unique characters, "Story Time" is a thrilling adventure that will appeal to fans of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" and Pseudonymous Bosch books.
Highlights: Intriguing secondary characters, quirky, menacing

Readalikes: Try "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart and "The Name of This Book is Secret" by Pseudonymous Bosch.

Story Time is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for June.

Books in the Bathroom

2011-05-25T16:31:00.002-05:00

You'd never realize how much happens in the bathrooms of teen books...

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak.

Though Melinda longs to explain why she called 911 the night of a pre-school party, she can’t bring herself to speak until her ex-best friend dates the boy Melinda calls “the beast.”

Bennett, Cherie. Life in the Fat Lane.

Lara is pretty, thin, smart, and popular, but once she starts gaining weight due to the onset of Axell-Crowne Syndrome she finds herself ridiculed and ostracized.

Cohn, Rachel, and David Levithan. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

Nick, straight bassist in a queer-punk band, and Norah, who’s been raised on music, meet one night at a New York club and pretend to be a couple for a five-minute scene, but the five minutes continues on through morning as each takes a chance on a new romance.

Crutcher, Chris. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.

Eric, whose weight makes him an outcast, found a friend in Sarah, disfigured by a childhood accident, so when she abruptly stops speaking and is committed to an institution he insists on helping her, no matter the cost.

Draper, Sharon. November Blues.
Pregnant and still grieving for her boyfriend Josh, who died in a fraternity hazing accident, November concentrates on preparing for the birth of her child instead of planning for her first year at Cornell.

Flake, Sharon. The Skin I’m In.

Maleeka Madison is smart and talented, and the new teacher wants her to live up to her potential, but Maleeka might be too busy caring for her depressed mother and worrying about her nonexistent social standing.

Fredericks, Mariah. The True Meaning of Cleavage.

When Jess’s good friend Sari develops a major crush on senior David Cole after he makes Sari think there’s a relationship developing, Jess prepares to prop up her friend when David doesn’t leave his girlfriend.

Limb, Sue. Girl, 15, Charming but Insane.

Jess Jordan leads a very confusing life as she and her best friend Flora love the same boy, her father e-mails horoscopes, and her mother is an embarrassing, hippie librarian.

Lockhart, E. Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything.

Gretchen Yee’s life was a mess before the day she woke up in the body of a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room, but what she observes there brings surprising new insights that offer her hope and a new understanding of friends, boys, and family.

MacHale, D.J. The Merchant of Death. Pendragon series, book 1.

Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon has a pretty good life as a popular basketball player in Connecticut, which is turned upside down when he learns he’s one of the Travelers and is sent through time and space to help end a war between the Milago and the Bedoowan.

Mackler, Carolyn. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things.

An absent father and a weight-obsessed mother are only two of the many problems in Virginia Shreves’s life, which also includes an older brother accused of date rape and a less-than-desirable boyfriend.

Powell, Randy. The Whistling Toilets.

When junior tennis star Ginny goes off her game she’s sent home from the competition circuit, and her parents and coach enlist her friend’s help in finding out what’s behind the slump.

Shusterman, Neal. Unwind.

Connor, Risa, and Lev are on the run, hoping to survive until they turn 18 and become safe from “unwinding,” the process of harvesting body parts from the young.

Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

2011-05-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

First Lines: "Arugula, put them down. You know thigh-high sandals give you cankles."

About: We meet Brooke Berlin, daughter of superstar Hollywood actor, Brick Berlin. Currently, Brooke's latest obsessions include finding the perfect dress for her sweet sixteen, making Hollywood realize she is the next A-list actress during her high school's production of My Fair Lady, and finding a way to one-up her nemesis, Shelby. What she never expects is her father's secret love child to move from Indiana to live with them. Suddenly Brooke is no longer the center of attention--which will just not do.

My Thoughts: Look no further for that perfect summer beach read. Celebrity name dropping, fashion and cattiness are all rolled up in this novel of 16-year-old half sisters. You will immediately like Molly, who is trying to get over the loss of her mother while adjusting to a new home and new family members. And slowly, Brooke will grow on you, too. Amid back stabbing (and accessory stabbing), rumors and the paparazzi, there are both hilarious and touching moments. This is for fans of chick lit, pop culture and redemption stories.
Highlights: Detailed, humorous, extravagant

Readalikes: Try Lisi Harrison's "Monster High" series and author Sarah Dessen.

Zombie Appreciation Month

2011-05-11T10:51:00.000-05:00

Did you know May was Zombie Appreciation Month? Here are my picks:

Zombies Vs. Unicorns
Twelve short stories by a variety of authors seek to answer the question of whether zombies are better than unicorns. Authors include Meg Cabot, Carrie Ryan, and Cassandra Clare

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks
Those who don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it. From the Stone Age to the information age, the undead have threatened to engulf the human race. They're coming. They're hungry. Don't wait for them to come to you!

Brains for Lunch: a Zombie Novel in Haiku? by K.A. Hold
At a middle school where zombies, blood-sucking chupacabras, and humans never mingle, "lifer" Siobhan and Loeb, a zombie who likes to write haiku, share an attraction.

Zombie Blondes by Brian James
Each time fifteen-year-old Hannah and her out-of-work father move she has some fears about making friends, but a classmate warns her that in Maplecrest, Vermont, the cheerleaders really are monsters.

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

Shaun of the Dead by Chris Ryall
Shaun’s a man lacking direction. But when Liz, his girlfriend, leaves him — and Britain is swept by a devastating plague of zombies — there’s only one thing to do: get the girl, kill the zombies, and save the day!

Let's Talk Graphic Novels

2011-05-06T09:08:00.000-05:00

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 7th! If you suddenly find yourself loving graphic novels, try out one of these greats:

Abel, Jessica, and Gabriel Soria. Life Sucks.

Vampire and convenience store clerk Dave prefers to get his blood from a bank, not people, but when vampire surfer Wes uses Dave’s resulting weakness to go after his girl, Dave has to make some hard choices to keep her safe.

Bendis, Brian Michael. House of M.

Former Avenger Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, is losing control of her ability to alter reality, and the Avengers and the X-Men must somehow come together despite an altered timeline to set things right.

Bendis, Brian Michael, and Michael Avon Oeming. Powers: Who Killed Retro Girl?
Homicide detective Christian Walker teams up with rookie Deena Pilgrim to investigate the death of one of the world’s most popular superheroes, Retro Girl, a search that takes them from dirty alleys to the pristine tower homes of heroes.

Black, Holly. The Good Neighbors series.

Rue Silver begins to notice strange creatures in her small town and successfully ignores them until the day her mother’s faerie family shows up to claim her as their own.

Gaiman, Neil. Preludes and Nocturnes: The Sandman series.

Morpheus, the Lord of Dream, is one of the Endless, a family of immortal personifications, but over the course of his long life he learns that even the endless must change or die, and he makes a surprising choice.

Hale, Shannon, and Dean Hale. Rapunzel’s Revenge.
After escaping from her hated tower, Rapunzel teams up with Jack, who she finds much more likeable than the prince, and tries to free her real mother (and the rest of the kingdom) from the evil witch who imprisoned her.

Hernandez, Gilbert. Sloth.
Miguel wills himself into and out of a coma and once returned to normal life, he finds himself, his best friend Romeo, and his girlfriend Lita investigating a local legend about a haunted lemon orchard and a goat man with the power to switch lives.

Jemas, Bill, and Brian Michael Bendis. Ultimate Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility.

Peter Parker is transformed from nerdy kid to superhero after he’s bitten by a radioactive spider in a familiar story updated and modernized but true to the original.

Medley, Linda. Castle Waiting.

Three ladies in waiting are left behind in the castle after Sleeping Beauty wakes up and rides away with her prince, and they transform their home into a refuge for anyone seeking shelter.

Miller, Frank. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
Batman hasn’t been seen for more than ten years and Gotham City has fallen even further into crime, decay, and despair with no hero around to help, but Bruce Wayne, a broken man who keeps to himself, hasn’t given up hope that things can change.

Sakai, Stan. Usagi Yojimbo series.
Rabbit samurai, Miyamoto Usagi, is on a warrior’s pilgrimage, hiring himself out as a bodyguard during his travels across seventeenth-century Japan.

Schrag, Ariel, ed. Stuck in the Middle: 17 Comics from an Unpleasant Age.
A variety of artistic styles are displayed by artists as they explore the often-unhappy junior high experience.

Smith, Jeff. Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume.

Three bone cousins leave Boneville and, after getting lost, spend a year in a fantastic valley where they encounter dragons, a giant mountain lion, and a great evil while making new friends and taking a dangerous journey to The Crown of Horns.

Thompson, Craig. Good-Bye Chunky Rice.

Leaving behind Dandele, a lovesick mouse, a turtle known as Chunky Rice sets off on a voyage aboard a rickety ship where he meets conjoined twins Ruth and Livonia and explores his desire to leave the safety and pleasantness of his old life for the unknown.

Vaughn, Brian K., et al. Runaways series.
Six sort-of friends discover they have more in common than they thought when they learn their parents are all members of a league of super-powered supervillains.

Willingham, Bill. Fables series.
When the denizens of hundreds of different stories, including Jack, the Wolf, various princesses, and King Cole, are driven from their fairy tale homes, they find themselves exiled to Fabletown, a haven located in the middle of modern day New York City.

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

2011-05-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I want to live on my own terms."

About: In this sequel to Perfect Chemistry (read my review here), we follow Alex's brother Carlos and his attempt to clean up his life and get out of a gang. Carols moves from Mexico to live with his brother in the States. Carlos immediately falls into trouble and is moved out of his brother's apartment and into high school senior Kiara's family home. There Carlos learns about trust and begins to fall in love--until the gang finds him and wants him back and they won't take no for an answer.

My Thoughts: I enjoy Simone Elkeles novels, you don't have to have read Perfect Chemistry to enjoy Rules of Attraction, but believe me, you will search for it afterwards. Elkeles has a way with her characters and you get sucked into the story. These are fun, fast-paced reads and I highly recommend them.
Highlights: Fast paced, steamy, gritty

Readalikes: You will probably enjoy Deb Caletti and Elizabeth Scott books.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

2011-04-26T13:39:00.000-05:00

First Line: "The funny thing about facing imminent death is that it really snaps everything else into perspective."

About: Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel are not related but they are the only family that each has ever known. Six kids living without parents is not the only unusual thing about this group, they also all have wings. 98% human, 2% bird, Max and her "siblings" were raised by scientists in a lab until one of the scientists helped them escape. Now Erasers, part human, part wolf bad guys, have kidnapped Angel so Max and the flock are on the hunt.

My Thoughts: This is a fast-paced adventure with lots of action and humor. The characters are unique and unforgettable and luckily for fans, there are several sequels.

Book #1: The Angel Experiment

Book #2: School's Out-Forever

Book #3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

Book #4: The Final Warning

Book #5: Max

Book #6: Fang

Book #7: Angel

Highlights: Easy, breakneck, family centered

Readalikes: Try anything by Suzanne Collins, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

This is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club selection for the month of May. Find more information here.

Earth Day

2011-04-22T17:03:00.000-05:00

Save the Earth! Get started with some ideas from these books:

My Life in Pink and Green by Lisa Greenwald
When the family's drugstore is failing, seventh-grader Lucy uses her problem solving talents to come up with solution that might resuscitate the business, along with helping the environment.

Flush by Carl Hiaasen
With their father jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home.

True Green by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnie
Presents 100 strategies for safeguarding the environment.

Generation Green by Linda Sivertsen and Tosh Sivertsen
Discover the inside scoop on the biggest issues affecting our planet, such as global warming and overflowing landfills; get dozens of tips on how to shop, dress, eat, and travel the green way; includes interviews with teens like you who are involved with fun, innovative green causes; shows that being environmentally conscious can be a natural part of your life -- and your generation's contribution to turning things around.

Blind Faith Hotel by Pamela Todd
When her parents separate and she and her siblings move with their mother from the northwest coast to a Midwest prairie farmhouse, fourteen-year-old Zoe, miserably unhappy to be away from the ocean and her father, begins to develop a deep attachment to her new surroundings, when, after a shoplifting episode, she is assigned to work at a nature preserve.

Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill

2011-04-18T12:30:00.001-05:00

First Line: "Mars stinks."

About: Durango is a teen mercenary living on Mars in a future where Earth was overrun with a plague and abandoned. Finding jobs that keep his crew fed is not Durango's biggest challenge, he also struggles with his feeling for Vienne, a fellow Regulator, tries to keep his father alive in prison and keep is AI (who's cloned to his brain) from driving him crazy. When a group of miners ask for protection from blood-thirsty monsters, Durango and his crew set off for an unexpected adventure.

My Thoughts: Durango is a young man who is struggling to follow the rules of being a Regulator and questioning what is the right thing to do in a violent world. Durango and his AI, Mimi, are hilarious. If you like show "Firefly" or the movie "Serenity" you will like Black Hole Sun, tons of humor and constant action. Highly recommended! P.S. There appears to be a sequel (s?) in the works.
Highlights: Breakneck, exotic, suspenseful

Readalikes: Try Rick Yancey's Monstrumologist and James Dashner's Maze Runner.

National Poetry Month, Part II: Novels in Verse

2011-04-14T14:19:00.000-05:00

Celebrate National Poetry Month! Here are a few of my favorite teen novels told in verse:

The Braid by Helen Frost
Two Scottish sisters, living on the western island of Barra in the 1850s, relate, in alternate voices and linked narrative poems, their experiences after their family is forcible evicted. One sister accompanies their parents and younger siblings to Cape Breton, Canada, and the other staying behind with other family on the small island of Mingulay. Each sister carries a length of the other's hair braided with her own and the braid binds them together even when they are worlds apart.
Highlights: Multiple points of view, historical details, dramatic

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.
Highlights: Compelling, historical details, family centered

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi, though poor, enjoys her life until the Himalayan monsoons wash away her family's crops and she is sold to a brothel in India by her stepfather. She remembers her mother's wisdom, "Simply to endure is to triumph," until the day comes that she can reclaim her life.
Highlights: Dramatic, tragic, detailed setting

Walking on Glass by Alma Fullerton
A teenage boy recounts, in a free verse journal, his attempts to come to terms with the realities of his mother's near-death coma.
Highlights: Fast paced, thought-provoking, tragic

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
My name is Sophie. This book is about me. It tells the heart-stoppingly riveting story of my first love. And also of my second. And, okay, my third love, too. It's not that I'm boy crazy. It's just that even though I'm almost fifteen it's like my mind and my body and my heart just don't seem to be able to agree on anything.
Highlights: Easy, lifelike, quirky

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

2011-04-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

First Line: "I wait."

About: Something went wrong. Too many people began to play around with genetics, creating babies that would be free from flaws, free from disease. To many, this sounded like a good idea--it was not. Now on earth females will only live to be 20 years old, males 25 years old. Rhine, at 16-years-old, is living with her twin brother when she is kidnapped and forced to become a sister wife to a young, wealthy man. Rhine forms attachments with her two other sister wives, vows to never give in to her husband, begins to have feelings for a servant, and earns to be back in her old life. Will she ever get a chance to see her brother again?

My Thoughts: Part The Handmaid's Tale and part Stepford Wives, Wither is the first in DeStefano's "The Chemical Garden Trilogy." I went into this book with some trepidation, several dystopian stories are in my top favorites of all time (The Give, The Handmaid's Tale, The Hunger Games, Uglies). Luckily, I found that did not want to put this book down. Rhine is an extremely likable character and her story had me on pins and needles. After such a disappointing first line (hehe) I was surprisingly pleased with the story and will definitely pick up the next in the series.
Highlights: Compelling, easy, edgy

Readalikes: See my favorites in the "My Thoughts" section and also try Matched by Ally Condie.

National Poetry Month, Part I: Anthologies

2011-04-05T10:13:00.000-05:00

Get your poetry fix from a few of my favorites:

19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by Naomi Shihab Nye

A Maze Me by Naomi Shihab Nye

Time You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25

Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems

How to (Un)cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block

Shakespeare in Love: the Love poetry of William Shakespeare

The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allen Poe

Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing by Gary Soto

Poems from Homeroom by Kathi Applet

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

2011-04-01T13:49:00.002-05:00

First Line: "Benny Imura couldn't hold a job, so he took to killing."

About: It has been 14 years since First Night, 14 years since the dead began to rise and the living began waging a war against zombies. Now Benny is turning 15 years old and that means getting a job or losing some of his rations. He tries being an artist, a fence tester, he tries to be a locksmith apprentice and a crank generator repairman. When all these attempts at work fail, Benny decides to join the family business and have his brother train him as a zombie slayer.

My Thoughts: This has to be one of my favorite first lines of a book--ever. Benny and his brother Tom have a precarious relationship, and now Benny, who has never been out in Rot & Ruin, what the living now call the majority of the U.S. where zombie are free range, has to rely on Tom for training. There are also a couple of very strong female characters in the book, a budding romance, and plenty of zombie violence. Highly recommended and I am hoping for sequels!
Highlights: Engrossing, suspenseful, unusual

Readalikes: Try Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

Featured Teen Book Video

2011-03-24T14:42:00.001-05:00

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

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Incarceron is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club book for April. Read more about the book club here and read my full review of Incarceron here.

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

2011-03-21T14:22:00.001-05:00

First Line: "'You are ready for your mission, then, little one?'"

About: The Rothschild family tends to have extraordinary children, the family has had wealth and power for generations and Phoebe is one of the youngest in the Rothschild family. She feels, however, that there is nothing quite extraordinary about her and she does not realize how deadly this feeling is. When her best friend Mallory's mysterious brother Ryland appears and shows Phoebe attention, her very life is on the line.

My Thoughts: I became a Nancy Werlin fan after reading Impossible. Again, this book involves the Fairy realm and a young woman in the dark about her family's past. I struggled a little with Phoebe's low self-esteem and at several occasions wanted to shake her, but the pay off is there and the last few chapters of the book were my favorite.
Highlights: Magical, family centered, foreboding

Readalikes: For more tales of fairy folk, try Carrie Jones, Melissa Marr, Julie Kagawa, or Holly Black.

Looking for a little luck?

2011-03-17T15:04:00.000-05:00

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a little bit o' lucky books!

Giff, Patricia Riley. Maggie's Door
In the mid-1800s, Nory and her neighbor and friend, Sean, set out separately on a dangerous journey from famine-plagued Ireland, hoping to reach a better life in America.

Heneghan, James. The Grave
Thirteen-year-old Tom, an unhappy foster child in Liverpool, falls into a massive open grave and is transported to Ireland in 1847, where he finds himself in the midst of the deadly potato famine.

Jones, Diana Wynne. The Game
Sent to a boisterous family gathering in Ireland by her overly strict grandmother, orphaned Hayley feels out of place until her unruly cousins include her in a special game involving travel through the mythosphere, the place where all the world's stories can be found, and where some secrets of her past are revealed.

Melling, O.R. The Hunter's Moon
Two teenage cousins, one Irish, the other from the United States, set out to find a magic doorway to the Faraway Country, where humans must bow to the little people.

Napoli, Donna Jo. Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale
Fifteen-year-old Melkorka, an Irish princess, is kidnapped by Russian slave traders and not only learns how to survive but to challenge some of the brutality of her captors, who are fascinated by her apparent muteness and the possibility that she is enchanted.

Ostow, Micol. Gettin' Lucky
Cass Parker moves with her father to Las Vegas where Cass finds a new kind of town, new friends, and poker night.

Perkins, Lynne Rae. As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth
A teenage boy encounters one comedic calamity after another when his train strands him in the middle of nowhere, and everything comes down to luck.

Thompson, Kate. Creature of the Night
Bobby lives a reckless life smoking, drinking, and stealing cars in Dublin. So his mother moves the family to the country. But Bobby suspects their cottage might not be as quaint as it seems. And spooky details of the history of their little cottage gradually turn Bobby into a detective of night creatures real and imagined.

Vail, Rachel. Lucky
As Phoebe and her clique of privileged girlfriends get ready to graduate from eighth grade, a financial scandal threatens her family's security--as well as Phoebe's social status--but ultimately it teaches her the real meaning of friendship.

Woman's History Month: Our History is Our Strength

2011-03-15T09:20:00.016-05:00

Let's celebrate Woman's History Month with a few kick-butt female heroines, shall we?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.
My Thoughts: Does this one really need any explanation? Katniss is strong, caring and protective, yet her struggles with her feelings make her more human and more endearing.
Readalikes: Try Graceling by Kristin Cashore or Across the Universe by Beth Revis

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and fiance, takes a job at a summer inn where she discovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on a true story.
My Thoughts: Mattie strikes out on her own during a time when women weren't often allowed the privilege, this takes courage and strength.
Readalikes: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sabriel, daughter of the necromancer Abhorsen, must journey into the mysterious and magical Old Kingdom to rescue her father from the Land of the Dead.
My Thoughts: Garth Nix's Abhoresen trilogy is fantastic and Lirael, the second book in the series is one of my all-time favorite reads. Nix's female characters face their fears head-on and won't let any silly monsters or the dead stand in their way.
Readalikes: You should also enjoy Philip Pullman and Tamora Pierce books

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, a learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure.
My Thoughts: I first had a young man suggest these books to me, he was so excited to get his hands on the last in the series that my interest was piqued. Alanna is a rather amazing female heroine, tough and smart, and her books are page-turners.
Readalikes: You will love Kristin Cashore books, start with Graceling and be sure to pick up other Tamora Pierce books

how i live now by Meg Rosoff
To get away from her pregnant stepmother in New York City, fifteen-year-old Daisy goes to England to stay with her aunt and cousins, with whom she instantly bonds, but soon war breaks out and rips apart the family while devastating the land.
My Thoughts: Another of my favorites, Daisy is stuck in the middle of a war in an unfamiliar country. She and her cousins are courageous and fascinating.
Readalikes: Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
My Thoughts: Possibly my all-time fav, Liesel is a character that has haunted me since the first time I read the book. She is so very human and lovable, so young to experience such loss. Truly a moving book.
Readalikes: Read Markus Zusak's other books, including I am the Messenger

Who are your favorite female heroines?

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

2011-03-10T15:53:00.000-06:00

First Line: "Daddy said, 'Let Mom go first.'"

About: Amy and her parents have signed on for an amazing opportunity, they are to be frozen and sent to populate and explore a new planet. The trip will take them 300 years but when Amy is woken up ahead of schedule, she realizes that the spaceship she is on is carrying a lot of secrets and a murderer.

My Thoughts: There has been a lot of buzz about this book in the literary world and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The book has much going for it, there is an interesting dystopian, futuristic world, a romance, a murder, and brain washing. Wow. I found myself a little surprised when I was about half way done with the book and there hadn't been a whole lot of action so far. But the twists and turns had just gotten started. This book was fun and page-turning. I will definitely be watching for more Beth Revis books. Check out the very fun website: http://acrosstheuniversebook.com and watch for books 2 and 3 in the series. This would be a perfect read for Teen Tech Week!
Highlights: Detailed, plot twists, thought-provoking

Readalikes: Try Annette Curtis Klause's Alien Secrets, Ally Condie's Matched and Kenneth Oppel's Airborn.

Teen Tech Week: Mix & Mash @ Your Library

2011-03-04T14:18:00.000-06:00

Celebrate Teen Tech Week March 6-12 with some of these suggested "techie" titles:

Crashed
Author : Wasserman, Robin

Living with other "mechs" since her wealthy parents transplanted her brain into a mechanical body to prevent her from dying in a horrible accident, Lia becomes a pawn in a religious leader's movement to outlaw "mech" technology and eradicate machines such as Lia.

Digital photo madness : 50 weird and wacky things to do with your digital camera
Author : Gaines, Thom

Double helix
Author : Werlin, Nancy

Eighteen-year-old Eli discovers a shocking secret about his life and his family while working for a Nobel Prize-winning scientist whose specialty is genetic engineering.

Epic
Author : Kostick, Conor

On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik persuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.

Feed
Author : Anderson, M. T.

In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

For the Win
Author: Doctorow, Cory
A group of teens from around the world find themselves drawn into an online revolution arranged by a mysterious young woman known as Big Sister Nor, who hopes to challenge the status quo and change the world using her virtual connections.

Geektastic : stories from the nerd herd

A collection of twenty-nine short stories about geeks. Includes stories from Cassandra Clare, Garth Nix, Libba Bray and many more!

Little brother
Author : Doctorow, Cory

After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

The radioactive boy scout : the true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor
Author : Silverstein, Ken

Robot Building for Beginners
Author: Cook, David

TMI
Author : Quigley, Sarah

Fifteen-year-old Becca has the habit of revealing too much personal information about herself and her friends, but when her boyfriend breaks up with her and she vows to stop "oversharing," she does not realize that her blog postings are not nearly as anonymous as she thought.

Uglies
Author : Westerfeld, Scott

In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent Ugly into a stunningly attractive Pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. But when Tally's new friend Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty.

Very LeFreak
Author : Cohn, Rachel

Consumed with emailing, online video games, and the many distractions of her electronic gadgets, hyper-frenetic Columbia University freshman Veronica, known as Very LeFreak, enters a rehab facility for the technology-addicted after her professors and classmates stage an intervention.

Whatcha mean, what's a zine? : the art of making zines and mini comics
Author : Todd, Mark

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

2011-03-02T17:07:00.000-06:00

First Line: "In a city called Stonetown, near a port called Stonetown Harbor, a boy named Reynie Muldoon was preparing to take an important test."

About: Reynie Muldoon, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall and Constance Contraire are unique, talented young people who are also orphans or runaways, this makes them perfect candidates for The Mysterious Benedict Society. Their first task: find out the secrets of The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (L.I.V.E.) without getting caught.

My Thoughts: A perfect read for fans of sleuths and mysteries! The Mysterious Benedict Society has plenty of twists and turns, suspense and silliness. With unique characters and a quirky setting this book will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket books as well as fans of Roald Dahl.
Highlights: Detailed, character centered, nostalgic
Note: This is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club book for March!

Readalikes: Try The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonyomous Bosch, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, and The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry.

Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching Adventures

2011-02-22T15:32:00.002-06:00

Imagine if you had a clan of six-inch tall blue men who were fierce, loyal, feisty--and completely devoted to you? Welcome to Tiffany Aching's life.
The Discworld is an unusual place to live, with wizards, vampires, trolls and Death roaming around, life on The Chalk can be a hard. When Tiffany's brother is kidnapped by fairies (Book 1: The Wee Free Men) it is up to Tiffany, her frying pan and the Nac Mac Feegles to enter Fairyland and rescue him. In A Hat Full of Sky Tiffany is taken over by a hiver (think "Invasion of the Body Snatchers") and must use her wits to free herself. In the third book, Wintersmith, Winter (yep, Winter) fancies himself in love with Tiffany (read my full review here). Enter Tiffany-shaped snowflakes. And now, sadly, the Tiffany Aching Adventures come to a close in the fourth book I Shall Wear Midnight. Something in the Discworld is igniting fear into the hearts of its people. Fear of witches and witchcraft. It is a dangerous time to be a witch, unfortunately it is also a time when The Chalk needs Tiffany to be their witch more desperately than ever.
I highly recommend the Tiffany Aching Adventures, enjoy meeting the Mac Feegles and learning magic alongside Tiffany. Be sure to check out Terry Pratchett's website and play Feegle Free-Fall.

Tiffany Aching Adventures:
Book 1: The Wee Free Men
Book 2: A Hat Full of Sky
Book 3: Wintersmith
Book 4: I Shall Wear Midnight

Black History Month

2011-02-14T15:47:00.000-06:00

February is Black History Month, celebrate by reading one of these recommended books:

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
About: In 1859, eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.
My Thoughts: The main character, Elijah, is charming, and while there are moments of humor and hope, there are also moments of terror and horror when Elijah is trying to regain the money that was stolen.

Day of Tears: a Novel in Dialogue by Julius Lester
About: Emma has taken care of the Butler children since Sarah and Frances's mother, Fanny, left. Now, to pay of his debts, Pierce Butler wants to cash in his slave "assets," possibly including Emma.
My Thoughts: This story takes place (primarily) during the largest slave auction in the history of the United States and is told in short, touching monologues. This is a fast read that would be a wonderful read aloud with a group. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time.

Who am I Without Him? Short Stories About Girls and the Boys in Their Lives by Sharon G. Flake
About: Hilarious and anguished, these 10 short stories about growing up black today speak with rare truth about family, friends, school, and especially about finding a boyfriend
My Thoughts: Recommended for someone who likes short stories that vary from heart-breaking to heart-thumping.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
About: Bobby's carefree teenage life changes forever when he becomes a father and must care for his adored baby daughter.
My Thoughts: Another short read, this is an eye-opening story about a young, single father.

The Land by Mildred Taylor
About: After the Civil War, Paul-Edward, the son of a white father and a black mother, finds himself caught between two worlds as he pursues his dream of owning land of his own.
My Thoughts: Mildred Taylor may be best known for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, but The Land is probably my favorite of hers. There are many highs and many lows in this book about Paul-Edward and his life torn between his father's and mother's cultures. Highly recommended.

Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
About: A teenage boy accompanies his father, who has recently escaped from prison, on a trip that turns out to be a time of discovery, often painful, for them both.
My Thoughts: Jimmy's struggles between loving and loathing his father, while his father is desperate to have his son believe in him. The characters and emotions are realistic and heart-wrenching.

Love Hurts

2011-02-09T11:30:00.001-06:00

Feeling less than romantic this year? Celebrate Valentine's Day with one of these books! Books for the fabulously unromantic and cynical.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Prom

Even though she doesn’t care one whit about prom, Ashley finds herself helping her best friend Nat save the event after their math teacher runs off with the funds.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Twisted

A summer spent in court-ordered physical labor transforms Tyler from high school nobody to high school hottie, but the attention of the girl of his dreams turns out to be more of a problem than a dream come true.

Anderson, M.T. Burger Wuss

Dumped by his girlfriend, Anthony takes a job flipping burgers to exact revenge against her new boyfriend, Turner, by setting him up for the theft of the burger Queen’s “condiment troll” in a laugh-a-minute tale.

Brooks, Martha. True Confessions of a Heartless Girl

Troubled Noreen arrives in a stolen truck and wreaks havoc on the weary inhabitants of a small Canadian town.

Green, John. Paper Towns

In love with Margo since they were children, Quentin is pleased when Margo, who runs with a faster, wilder crowd in their senior year, taps on his window and invites him on a mission of revenge, but then she disappears.

Kantor, Melissa. The Breakup Bible

After her boyfriend, who also happens to be her editor on the school paper, dumps her for another member of the newspaper staff, Jen decides she might need the advice in Dr. Emory Emerson’s The Breakup Bible.

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

Frankie is aware of the double standard between males and females at her boarding school, and it really irritates her that her boyfriend is a member of an all-male secret society, the Loyal Order of the Bassett Hounds, but Frankie has her own plans for them.

Lynch, Chris. Inexcusable

Keir knows he’s a good guy because he’s handsome, popular, and talented, so it’s impossible that he raped the girl he thinks he loves, isn’t it?

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Alice Alone

Alice is nervous about starting ninth grade but feels better with Patrick, her perfect boyfriend, by her side, until it becomes clear that he doesn’t really mind all the attention he’s getting from the new girl.

Nilsson, Pers. Heart’s Delight

An unnamed teen narrator falls in love with Ann-Katrin and saves every memento from their brief relationship, but each memento flashes him back to their brief encounter until he realizes theirs wasn’t a great romance.

Rabb, Margo. Cures for Heartbreak

After Mia’s mother dies of cancer, the New York City teen struggles to make sense of her grief, her family history, and her father’s health problems, while fumbling through a relationship with Sasha, who has medical problems of his own.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

2011-02-07T12:00:00.003-06:00

First Line: "I stood in front of today's schedule still holding my skateboard, still drenched from the ride over, and still desperately wishing that I hadn't dropped out of college."

About: Sam, Ramon, Frank and Brooke work at Plumpy's, a fast food restaurant in Seattle. The highlight of their day is playing potato hockey in the parking lot during their breaks. When Sam accidentally smashes a car's taillight with the potato, he has no idea what he is about to become involved in. Werewolves, zombies, severed heads, evil garden gnomes and more are suddenly entering Sam's everyday life.

My Thoughts: I laughed so hard that there were tears rolling down my face. You wouldn't think that necromancy and talking severed heads would be so funny--but trust me, they are. I adored all the characters, with their sarcastic comments and dry sense of humor. Sam and his friends are fun and likable. I highly recommend this book and hope that there will be sequels!
Highlights: Intriguing secondary characters, quirky, fast paced

Readalikes: The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey, Sabriel by Garth Nix, and The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks.

The Mortal Instruments Series, a book video

2011-02-03T15:51:00.003-06:00

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
Book 1: City of Bones
Book 2: City of Ashes
Book 3: City of Glass
Book 4: City of Fallen Angels (April 2011)
Book 5: City of Lost Souls (May 2012)
Book 6: City of Heavenly Fire (September 2013)

Remember, City of Bones is Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club book for February!

The Hunger Games, the movie

2011-02-02T18:58:00.005-06:00

Attention all fans of The Hunger Games: Lionsgate has announced the release date of the movie...March 23, 2012.
So, we have just over a year to discuss whether or not they will ruin the film adaptation! Keep an eye on IMDb for updates on filming, actors and more!

Think it's winter yet?

2011-02-01T17:42:00.024-06:00

If you feel a little chilly, it's from the wintry setting in this list of books!

Crutcher, Chris. The Sledding Hill
Grieving over the deaths of his father and best friend Billy, Eddie's supported by Billy's ghost when he opposes the school board's plans to ban a book.
Durbin, William. Wintering
After his first voyage carrying furs by canoe and on foot around the Great Lakes, Pierre toughens up enough that he signs up again, only this time he agrees to stay all winter.
Fisher, Catherine. Snow-Walker
Based on Norse mythology, Gudrun is a Snow-walker who seizes control over the Jarlshold, but she is eventually confronted by her exiled son and members of the former ruling family as they wrest power from her.
George, Jessica Day. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.
Hill, Stuart. The Cry of the Icemark
Inheriting the throne of Icemark, 14-year-old Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield negotiates alliances with werewolves, snow leopards, and vampires before she can lead her army against the invading, undefeated Polypontian Army.
Hokenson, Terry. The Winter Road
Finding her uncle passed out, Willa flies his Cessna solo to pick up her mother in the Canadian bush, but a storm front causes her to crash and she must be creative to survive the January snows.
Libbrecht, Kenneth and Patricia Rasmussen. The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty
Physicist Libbrecht's text explains the science behind the little bits of dust around which ice creates a snowflake, while Rasmussen's microphotographs illustrate the geometry of these water molecules.
Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. Winter's End
Fleeing their boarding school where they feel imprisoned, four teens dash across icy mountains to join the resistance movement and fight against the tyrannical government that killed their parents.
Murphy, Jim. Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America
In March 1888 two storms coalesce into a blizzard that stretches from the Mississippi River to the Northeast, with more than 55 inches of snow in parts of New York, 200 ships lost at sea, and 800 people dead in New York City.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Stones in Water
Trapped at the movie theater by German soldiers, Roberto and his Jewish friend Samuele are sent to work camps as forced laborers, but when Samuele is beaten to death, Roberto escapes into the Ukranian winter, returning to Italy to become a resistance fighter.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Blizzard's Wake
When Kate rescues her physician father from being stranded in a blizzard, she also saves the man she thought she hated--the driver of the car that killed her mother.
Pattou, Edith. East
Rose is the last of eight children born to a poor mapmaker, and though her mother tries to keep her at home, the arrival of a great white bear sets Rose on a journey to the North where she must undo the curse of the Troll Queen and find and claim her own true love.
Paulsen, Gary. Brian's Winter
In a sequel to Hatchet, Brian is not rescued from the downed airplane but faces winter on his own with a sleeping bag, rifle, fishing line, and several butane lighters, still relying on his surroundings for shelter, food and clothing.
Paulsen, Gary. Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod
When Paulsen runs his first Iditarod in 1983, he is unprepared for the more than 1,100 miles of sled racing on ice and snow as he takes wrong turns, is bitten by a moose, and suffers frostbite and sleeplessness but still loves every minute of the race.
Pratchett, Terry. Wintersmith
Tiffany Aching needs all the help she can get from her mentoring witch, 113-year-old Miss Treason, when she inadvertently attracts the attention of the Wintersmith, who wants to make her his bride and showers her and the land with Tiffany-shaped snowflakes.
Qualey, Marsha. Just Like That
On a winter night walk in snowy Minneapolis, Hanna later realizes that she may have been the last to see a young couple who drowned in an ATV accident and is pulled back to the scene of the tragedy where she meets Will, who's equally haunted.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

2011-01-24T10:17:00.007-06:00

First Line: "'You've got to be kidding me,' the bouncer said, folding his arms across his massive chest."

About: Clary stumbles upon a demon slaying one evening at a club and the slayers, Shadowhunters, are amazed that Clary can see them. Soon it is revealed that Clary has Shadowhunter blood and she must work with the other Shadowhunters to free her mother.

My Thoughts: Fantastical creatures, suspense, romance, action, Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments has the makings of a very entertaining series. I was worried that this would turn into a rather ho-hum fantasy but some nice twists and turns have me reaching for the second in the series.
P.S. This will be OPL's February Teen Book Club selection. For more information on the Teen Book Club, check out our website.
Highlights: Mystical, magical, romantic

Readalikes: Fans will also like Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods vampire series, Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Jule Kagawa books.

What's Cooking?

2011-01-19T11:47:00.007-06:00

We are experiencing a Big Freeze here in Wisconsin. Curling up with a good book and some warm food sounds just about perfect. What a coincidence that YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) created a new booklist that will be just perfect for this occasion!
Enjoy!

What’s Cooking?

Tasty reads to fill your belly and warm your soul.

Anderson, M.T. Burger Wuss.
One O'Dermott's burger, and order of fries, soda, and a side of revenge, supersized.

Ando, Natsumi. Kitchen Princess Vol 1. Illus. by Miyuki Kobyashi.
Searching for prince charming, one meal at a time.

Caletti, Deb. Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
Money can buy you a lot of pie but not happiness.

Dessen, Sarah. The Truth About Forever.
One summer, Macy learns to deal with death, love, and dirty dishes.

Gold, Rozanne. Eat Fresh Food: Awesome recipes for teen chefs.
Unleash your inner chef with these fresh and healthy recipes!

Hepler, Heather. The Cupcake Queen.
Beauty queen vs. cupcake queen who will win.

Ishihara, Yoko. The Manga Cookbook. Illus. by Chihiro Hattori.
Dust off your chopstick skills and chow down on manga-inspired Japanese cuisine.

Juby, Susan. Getting the Girl: A Guide to Private Investigation, Surveillance, and Cookery.
The nice guy doesn’t always finish last when there’s dinner, drama, and the d-list.

Layman, John. Chew Volume 1: Taster's Choice. Illus. by Rob Guillory.
Taking a bite out of crime one decomposing victim at a time.

Mackler, Carolyn. Vegan Virgin Valentine.
Life takes an unexpected turn when V moves in.

Pollan, Michael. Food Rules: An Eater's Manual.
A simple, easy-to-use manual to eating well in today's complicated world.

Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Tantalize.
Blood sausage is just one of the many specialties at this vampire-friendly restaurant.

Smith, Sherri L. Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet.
Family dinners can be torture.

Stern, Sam. Cooking Up a Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook.
Tasty recipes for the guys.

Whytock, Cherry. My Cup Runneth Over: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts.
A full-figured foodie, Angelica struggles with her perfect-sized friends and family.

Zielin, Lara. Donut Days.
Can donuts help Emma break away from her pastor parents?

Visit YALSA's site for more recommended reading!

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin (plus a book video)

2011-01-15T20:17:00.012-06:00

First line:"Dalton Rev thundered into the parking lot of Salt River High, a squat brick building at the top of a grassless hill that looked more like the last stop of the hopeless than a springboard to the college of you choice."

About: Dalton Rev, teenage private investigator, transfers to Salt River High to investigate the murder of a student. Hired by the dead student's sister, Dalton struggles to keep track of the cliques that rule Salt River High while not letting a girl make him forget his mission.

My Thoughts: Not only does this book come with a Salt River High Clique chart, but three pages that describe every clique, groupie and sub-clique that exists. There is A LOT to keep track of in this book. I found that it has taken me longer to read this book than any other book in months (probably years). But I pressed on and ultimately enjoyed the book. Dalton is a memorable and likable character, the cliques are unique and frightening and the writing is humorous. For example, Dalton tries to emulate a character from his favorite detective novels by coming up with his "rules." Here are a couple of examples (pages 134, 170):
"THE PRIVATE DICK HANDBOOK, RULE #28
Don't Rub it. Don't acknowledge it hurts. Think of Macy. Think of Landon. Think of your hand encased in a glacier. Smile. It DOES NOT hurt. At least not until you're by yourself. Then you can go ahead and cry."
and
"THE PRIVATE DICK HANDBOOK, RULE #34
Just stick you head out and see. It'll be like a cartoon and you'll get your hat shot off. Except, oh, wait, you're not wearing a hat."
Highlights: Detailed, quirky, complex

Readalikes: Hmmm, maybe try What Happened to Cass McBride by Gail Giles, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green or Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn.
NOTE: I read an unedited, advance reading copy of this book, there may be changes in the final version that are different than in the version I read.

Awards Season

2011-01-11T14:20:00.008-06:00

Awards season in the world of literature is here! Monday was the day of announcements and here are some of the big winners in teen lit:

Michael L. Printz Award
This is the big daddy of teen book awards. The winner this year goes to a futuristic/dystopian book.
The Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Printz Honor Books:
Stolen by Lucy Christopher (read my thoughts on Stolen here)
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick
Nothing by Janne Teller

Other mentionable winners:
Terry Pratchett won the Margaret A. Edwards award (given to one author a year who has made a difference in the world of teen literature--watch for my review of I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett coming soon!).

If you like listening to audiobooks, check out Odyssey Award winners here. The Odyssey Award is given to the year's best audiobooks.

2010 Favorites--It's that time of year!

2010-12-23T16:24:00.008-06:00

As 2010 winds to a close, I thought I'd share some of my favs from the year. Keep in mind I still have several from 2010 that I still need to read...

Fantasy is my favorite genre and three of my top picks fall into this category.

Sapphique, the sequel to Incarceron will be released on December 28th, this will be one of the first books I read in the new year.
I LOVED The Hunger Games, I LOVED Catching Fire. I had such high expectations for Mockingjay, no book could possible live up to what was in my mind. As I read Mockingjay, I was furious and heartbroken, after I finished Mockingjay I was still furious and heartbroken. Now that I have had several months to reflect, I appreciate what Suzanne Collins did and created. The movie version of The Hunger Games is set to start filming in 2011.
Julie Kagawa and her Iron series wasn't even on my radar this year until I read a good review of The Iron King in the fall. Now I'm waiting breathlessly for the final book in the series to be released in January!

Countdown was another surprise favorite of mine. I'm not much of a reader of historical fiction but the characters were unique and likable.

Hope you've had some great reads in 2010 and best wishes for more great reading in 2011!

Featured Teen Book Video

2010-12-16T20:03:00.003-06:00

A good book to check-out during our Wisconsin winter...

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Matched by Ally Condie

2010-12-11T09:21:00.013-06:00

First Line: "Now that I've found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?"

About: It is the day that Cassia will be Matched. In this perfect society, when you turn seventeen-years-old you are assigned your future spouse, your Match. Cassia is only feeling excitement and nervousness, she has no idea what her Match is about to bring her.
Memorable quotes: Page 114: "We live long, good lives. We die on our eightieth birthdays, surrounded by our families, before dementia sets in. Cancer, heart disease, and most debilitation illnesses are almost entirety eradicated. This is as close to prefect as any society has ever managed to get."
Page 228-9: "Xander is my Match and my oldest friend and one of the best people I know. When I kissed him, it was sweet. I'm drawn to him and tied to him with the cords of a thousand different memories.
Ky is not my Match, but he might have been. He's the one who taught me how to write my name, how to keep the poems, how to build a tower of rocks that looks like it should fall but doesn't. I have never kissed him and I don't know if I ever will, but I think it might be more than sweet."

My Thoughts: Part Fahrenheit 451, part The Giver, and part The Hunger Games, Matched is a compelling and heart-pounding read. My only issue, this is going to be a trilogy and the last thing I need right now is another teen series to keep track of! Book 2, Crossed will be released in November of 2011.
Highlights: Suspenseful, literary references, thought-provoking

Readalikes: Also try Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Feed by M.T. Anderson, and Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.

Featured Teen Book Video

2010-12-09T15:30:00.011-06:00

Zombies Vs. Unicorns, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

If you know me, you know I'm not a fan of short stories, but I decided to toss aside my prejudices and pick up Zombies Vs. Unicorns. I must admit, some of the stories were quite good. I was reminded that I liked Carrie Ryan, and truthfully, I am a die hard Garth Nix and Scott Westerfeld fan. So all in all, I give this short story compilation my approval.

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

2010-12-02T14:09:00.007-06:00

First Line: "I'm sorry I couldn't let you read Chapter One."

About: Two eleven-year-old misfits try to solve the mystery of a dead magician and stop the evil Dr. L and Ms. Mauvais, who are searching for the secret of immortality.

My Thoughts: The narrator of this story informs his readers that this story contains a secret so powerful that he has to change the names of the characters, their faces and their surroundings. This change will not only protect the characters but will also protect the readers. This is a fast-paced, fun read with mystery and humor throughout. The first in a series, The Name of This Book Is Secret, will make you eager for the next installment.
Highlights: Compelling, unusual, humorous

Readalikes: Readers will also enjoy The Mysterious Benedict Society books by Trenton Lee Stewart, Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events (start with The Bad Beginning), and the 39 Clues series (start with The Maze of Bones).
Also: The Name of This Book Is Secret is the Oshkosh Public Library's Teen Book Club Book Selection for December. Check here for more info.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

2010-11-23T16:45:00.006-06:00

First Line: "Violet Ambrose wandered away from the safety of her father as she listened to the harmony of sounds weaving delicately around her."

About: Violet was a young girl when she found a body while on a walk with her father. It would not be the only body she would find. Violet has inherited an ability to find dead bodies, the bodies seem to call to her, wanting to be found. The only people that know about her ability are her parents, aunt and uncle and her best friend Jay. When a murderer begins attacking young women around her town, Violet and Jay decide to use Violet's ability to find the killer...until the killer finds them.

My thoughts: Author Charlaine Harris (of Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood fame) has a series I enjoy about a woman that is able to find dead bodies. When I found out there was a new teen book coming out along the same line I was interested. This book was a nail-biting read, but it was more than that, it also had a sweet love story, a good friendship story and a coming-of-age story. It was so good that I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel Dairies of the Dead which will be released in February.
Highlights: Engrossing, menacing, unusual

Readalikes: Kiss the Girls by James Patterson and Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly series (start with Grave Sight) for readers that could handle a little more violence and gore, or try Meg Cabot's Mediator series (start with Shadowland).

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa AND Featured Teen Book Video

2010-11-22T10:22:00.009-06:00

First Line: "Ten years ago, on my sixth birthday, my father disappeared."

About: Meghan Chase is looking forward to celebrating her 16th birthday by getting her temps but, after a humiliation at school that day, she comes home to find her world turned upside down. Megan finds that her little brother has been kidnapped by faeries and replaced by a violent changeling. She decides that she will rescue her brother with the help of her friend Robbie but she doesn't expect the violence faery world or the news she is about to get from the faerie king Oberon.

My Thoughts: I generally dislike faery tales and stories of changelings and faery kings and queens, I'm often disappointed and bored with the tales of faery court and mischief. This one however, was recommended to me so I decided to give it a shot. I was blown away! The storyline is intriguing and I truly think this is the best faery world that I have ever read. There are strange and spooky characters and excitement around every corner. Highly recommended.
Highlights: Compelling, romantic, suspenseful

Side note: the second in this series The Iron Daughter is already out and the third The Iron Queen will be released in February of 2011. There is a short novella that comes between books 1 and 2 so be sure to read here on Julie Kagawa's website. At Kagawa's website, you can also watch videos from fans.

Readalikes: Try Need by Carrie Jones and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.