Suggestions?

Hi! It's been a while since I've posted and I definitely would like to get back into posting regularly.  I just finished my stint at the Beaverton Library where I was the YA intern.  Learned alot and worked with some great people.  Now perhaps a job will materialize? :).  I'm reading a non-YA book right now (Ken Follet's Fall of Giants) which has a definte Downton Abbey feel to it-enjoying it) and looking for the next great YA book.  Any suggestions? Let me know and after I read it, I'll post a review!

And just for fun, I've posted a pic of our new kitten, Skippy, who we adopted from the Oregon Humane Society (named after Skippyjon Jones, a favorite book series of my daughter's-check it out!)

YA GBTLQ suggestions from School Library Journal

photo courtesy of desininspiration.com

I've been working on a Young Adult booklist for GBTLQ (Gay, bi, trans, lesbian, and questioning) and came across this article from the SLJ:

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/894412-427/lgbtq_lit_speaking_out.html.csp

It has some good suggestions and remember you don't have to be GBTLQ to appreciate these books.

Great websites for kids!

http://www.ala.org/alsc/greatwebsites/greatwebsitesforkids/greatwebsites

It's always good to hear from teens to see what they like to read.  Follow the link to a School Library Journal teen review article: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketsljteen/894695-444/book_reviews_for_young_adults.html.csp

Read along with me and let me know what you think!  I just got a copy of Veronica Roth's coveted book, Divergent, a dystopian Hunger Games readalike.  Can't wait to crack the spine!  My review will follow :)

From the Trenches: Picture Books for Teens

Check out this list of pictures books that will appeal to all ages @
From the Trenches: Picture Books for Teens

A few more for those Hunger Games fans (descriptions to come later):
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

If you loved The Hunger Games trilogy, try these books:             

1.  The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann, 2011. A cross between the dystopian world of the Hunger Games and the fantastical world of Harry Potter.    Each year in Quill, 13 year olds are divided into the Wanteds and the Unwanteds.  Wanteds, the smart and strong, go to university while the artistic Unwanteds are doomed to death.  Twins, Alex and Aaron, face separate fates when Aaron is sorted into a Wanted and Alex, an Unwanted.  Despite his death sentence, Alex finds safe haven in a magical world called Artime, where he learns to use his creative abilities magically.  Soon brother is pitted against brother as the Quilitary seeks to destroy Artime and its inhabitants. Ages 8 and up.

2.  Blood Red Road (Dustlands book 1) by Moira Young, 2011.  Saba’s family lives in the wasteland of Silverlake, where they scavenge landfills to survive. After her twin brother, Lugh, is captured by four mysterious horsemen, Saba vows to get him back.  To do so, she must leave Silverlake into the outlying and lawless land and all its dangers.  Soon she is joined by daredevil Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks.  Full of fast-paced action, and good characters with unique dialects, Blood Red Road is the first of the Dustland Trilogy, set in a post-Apocalyptic world. Ages 14 and up.

3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore, 2008. In Katsa’s world, selected people are given a Grace, a special talent or skill; hers is killing.  Katsa is forced by her uncle, the King, to be his assassin.  Soon Katsa is finding better ways to use her Grace: against the powers that be.  Along the way she meets Prince Po and is surprised when a friendship develops. A strong female character in the vein of Katniss in The Hunger Games as well as fast-paced action and a heart-racing romance, make this book a sure bet. Ages 14 and up.

4.  Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, 2010. Set in the American Gulf after all the country’s natural resources are exhausted, this is another dystopian post-apocalyptic tale yet with more gritty realism. Nailer, 17, is a “Ship Breaker”, a dangerous job where he crawls into wrecked oil tankers to strip them of their copper wires for salvage.  He must meet his quota or face the wrath of his violent drug-addicted father. One day, Nailer finds a beached luxury ship and thinks he’s made it big but soon must make hard choices when a wealthy girl is discovered among the wreck.  Should he save her or “break” the ship?  This is a fast-paced adventure story with compelling characters facing uncertain futures. Was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2010 and won the Michael L. Printz award in 2011. Ages 12 and up.

5. Survivor’s Club: The Secrets and Science that could Save your Life by Ben Sherwood, 2010. Part “I Shouldn’t be Alive”, part science, Survivors Club tells true stories of seemingly fatal encounters and whether you’ve got what it takes to be a survivor of such things as cancer, car accidents, crime, and airplane crashes.  Sherwood, a graduate of US Military elite survival schools, looks at the hidden side of survival in a fascinating way and allows the reader to test her Survivor IQ.  Read this and you may understand why characters like Katniss and Peeta survived in The Hunger Games and would you? All ages.

6. Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey, 2007. In this atmospheric dark fantasy, two characters’ lives, generations apart, intersect. After being double-crossed by a charlatan magician, Sadima conceals her ability to communicate with animals in a world where magic has been banned while Haph, the second son of a rich and disapproving father, tries to survive the school of wizardry he has been exiled to.  Haph faces starvation if he can’t conjure up food, while Sadima faces ridicule and exploitation should her abilities be revealed.  This page turner is the first in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy that will leave readers dying for the next book. Ages 12 and up.

7. Deathwatch by Robb White, 2011 (first published in 1972). After agreeing to take a man hunting for Bighorn Sheep, college student, Ben finds himself naked with no food or water in the desert being hunted by a madman.  This wilderness adventure is packed full of action and suspense.  Will Ben survive? Ages 12 and up.

8. Maze Runner by James Dashner, 2009. Thomas wakes up in an elevator that he can’t remember how he got into and when the doors open, he finds himself in the Glade where 60 teen boys are struggling to survive.   Completely enclosed by a maze, the boys eek out an existence all the while looking for a way out.  Every 30 days, a new boy arrives to join the Gladers, but for the first time a girl, a comatose girl with a mysterious note and connection to Thomas, enters the Glade.  The first book in The Maze Runner trilogy, fans of action-packed dystopian teen lit will eat this up. Ages 11 and up.

9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, audio version, read by Catherine McCormick, 2010. Okay, you’ve already read the book and seen the movie but if you are dying for more, get the audio book.  Put it in the car and be transported into the breathless action of the Games.  The narrator captures the darkness as well as the excitement that Katniss, Peeta, and the other tributes must face. A must-listen for diehard fans. Ages 13 and up.

Bookmobiles from around the world

Check out this article on bookmobiles from around the world: cool stuff! http://flavorwire.com/282092/incredibly-unique-bookmobiles-around-the-world?all=1

Hunger Games

For those of you who haven't read the book, a nice alternative is the audiobook version.  I had already read the books (still haven't seen the movie, darnit) but had to listen to an audiobook for a class.  My daughters and I enjoyed driving around listening to it.  Here is my review (also from class): 

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, read by Carolyn McCormick.

A post-war United States is now comprised of 12 struggling districts ruled with an iron fist. As part of a surrender pact, each year 2 teens from each district have to compete in the televised Hunger Games in which they fight to death.  Katniss Everdeen takes her younger sister’s place as District 12’s girl tribute.  Her hard scrapple life has made her a survivor and she is a believable and sympathetic character.  Collin’s gripping tale is fast-paced. It brings up ethical dilemmas such as love versus death, government control, reality TV, and class. McCormick’s narration captures the action and suspense of the novel as well as the emotional underpinnings of the brutality that Katniss and other tributes must face. Her telling of the story is spot-on; the only downside is that she falters a bit on the voices: Katniss’ is too timid and high-pitched to fit the character. Part of a trilogy, this will appeal to fans of Bacialupi’s Ship Breaker, teens and adults alike.

Passed the test!!!

I just found out I passed my comprehensive exam for my Master's Degree in Library and Information Science.  WooHoo!!! Now I just need to finish my classes this term and find a job of course :) )  Here's a cool pic of a library I found in honor of all cool libraries...

90 Second Newbery Film Festival

Laini Taylor, of Daughter and Smoke and Bone (see my review) fame is co-hosting the 90 Second Newbery Film Festival. This Saturday March 3 from 3-5pm at the Central Libary. Essentially, kids were invited to film 90 Sec. videos of their favorite Newbery Winner.  Should be alot of fun! Check out Laini's description from her website:
http://www.lainitaylor.com/2012/02/90-second-newbery-film-festival.html

Exciting news for Harry Potter fans

JK Rowling has signed a deal for writing a book for adults!  No details but can't wait!
http://www.jkrowling.com/

Adult books for teens

             


I haven't read these yet, but a guest blogger on Library Journal Online suggested these titles and had her students review them.

Here is the link to the full review:
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/adult4teen/2012/02/23/what-do-the-teens-think-3/   

Librotraficante fights "Wet Books, Illegal Literature"

I'm not usually a very political person, but since I lived for many years in Arizona and I believe in fighting book banning, this sparked my interest....anti-immigration, anti-Latino, and book censorship all in one.  Check out this organization's press release:  http://www.librotraficante.com/Press-Release.html  And I welcome your opinion on censorship or immigration, leave a comment!

The Mortal Instruments

Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones, New York: M.K. McElderry Books, 2007. 
This is the first in the urban-fantasy series, The Mortal Instruments. While visiting a nightclub, 15 year old Clary Fray is suddenly thrust into the dark world of Shadowhunters, vampires, demons, angels, werewolves, and warlocks.  She soon realizes she has a family connection to the Shadowhunters, who hunt demons to protect humans.  Clary is torn between her best friend, Simon's apparent love interest in her and cocky Shadowhunter warrior, Jace.  Although a dark fantasy, Clare's novel centers around family secrets and the love-triangle Clary finds herself in. This fast-paced book will appeal to both boys and girls, complete with lush detail and dramatic action. Besides having a refreshing strong female character, there is also a humorous gay warlock.  Teens will soon be reaching for the next in the series.  The books that follow include: City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels.  There is also a prequel series called The Infernal Devices that also features Shadowhunters. Ages 13 and up.

~"Lush and fun." Kirkus Reviews
~Fans of the smart.chic horror typified by Buffy the Vampire slayer will instantly fall for this new series." Publishers Weekly

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Taylor, Laini. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, New York: Little Brown & Co., 2011.
17 year old Karou is the main character in Taylor's fantasy.  She is independent (living in romantic mysterious Prague as an art student) yet seeks human connection as well as her personal origins.  Karou's only family are the chimera, mixed human creatures, that send her on teeth collecting missions around the world through magical portals. Mystery surrounds Karou's beginnings, what the teeth are for and why she is drawn towards an enemy of the chimera, a beautiful angel named Akiva.  Taylor's pacing is spot-on. She reveals plot and characterization seamlessly and her writing style is both visceral and elegant.  This novel will have cross-genre appeal as it blends realism, fantasy, and supernatural romance into one.  Readers will be anxiously awaiting the next in the series.  Grades 9 and up.

Reviews and Awards:
~"A breath-catching romantic fantasy about destiny, hope, and the search for one's self." NY Times Book Review
~"Young adults who enjoy fantasy, romance, and mystery will find this book difficult to put down."
VOYA
~ Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books
~School Library Journal Best Book of the Year