BOOKENDS
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I'm sure, if you're a Twilight fan, you've already gobbled your way through Stephenie Meyer's newest in the series, Breaking Dawn. And if you haven't read it, you're probably on the waiting list for it at the library. But have you read the sci-fi piece Meyer wrote for adults? I read it this weekend, and truth be told, I think teens are a perfect audience for it. However, don't expect another Twilight.
The Host recounts the story of an alien that has been implanted into a teenage girl's body -- part of a movement to take over the human population by these parasitic beings that have conquered many worlds before. And usually they have very little trouble when they conquer new worlds -- but Wanderer has trouble overcoming her host body and mind, Melanie. Her Comforter and Healer cannot help her and Melanie will not disappear -- she continues to bother Wanderer until Wanderer is persuaded to help Melanie seek out her brother and her boyfriend in the depths of the desert. They almost die in pursuit of Melanie's dream, but are found and rescued by her uncle who takes her to an underground mansion of caverns where he is hiding with dozens of other humans who have escaped implanting -- dozens of others, including Melanie's brother and boyfriend. However, trust is difficult, and Melanie and Wanderer are considered dangerous and almost killed a number of times before they begin to be accepted by the group. But greater dangers erupt, putting the whole group at risk, and Melanie and Wanderer face a question of huge importance to themselves and to the others in the caverns -- if they stay, will they bring more danger to the ones they love, or should they go and let everyone forget their existence? Melanie has one answer, Wanderer has another.
This was a surprising read for me. I wasn't sure I would like this new Meyer book, having received mixed reviews about it from other readers. It moves Meyer away from vampire teen fantasy fiction into science fiction, but it continues her themes of impossible love made possible and also reminds us that the individuality of humanity is important and powerful. My verdict? I liked it and I dare you to read it.
FICTION Meyer

Labels: book review, good books, science fiction

~emily - 4:26 PM~
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ONLY THE VERY BEST

I've just put out a new display on the fiction end -- a display which should highlight the best books YA fiction has to offer -- and it will be a display that will keep changing to offer new great titles as the next couple of months float along. Be sure to take a look at the display if you're stuck for finding something great to read.

Labels: booklists, books for boys, books for girls, displays, fantasy books, good books

~emily - 3:21 PM~
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TWILIGHT READ-ALIKES
I've been rushing around like a madwoman for the last week trying to get some tasks accomplished before the end of this week, which is fast approaching. So, I've been delegating some things off to my marvelous intern -- including this list:
Can't Get Enough Twilight? Try these read-alikes!
Now, I'm only including a few of the books on this blog post, but the others are posted at the library in the fiction shelves and also in the booklist binder. See what we've got to tide you over until the movie comes out and another book is born!

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
Thirsty by M. T. Anderson
Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell
High School Bites by Liza Conrad
The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Vampire High by Douglas Rees

This is some good stuff - -she did a great job!

Labels: booklists, books for girls, chick lit, fantasy books, good books

~emily - 2:14 PM~
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READING NOTES
Just a couple of notes on a few things I've read recently.

I took a summer vacation last week, and what better to read than a mystery! I read Dead Days of Summer by Carolyn G Hart -- a Death on Demand mystery. I started reading Death on Demand mysteries way back when Hart started writing them, and I've been enjoying them ever since. I'm a little behind on the series, but that's OK. The series centers around a mystery bookstore on an island, and the owner-turned-sometime-sleuth, Annie Darling (though she doesn't start out as darling). There's mystery, death, books, and a bit of romance in these enjoyable mysteries; I definitely recommend them!

Next on my vacation reading list was Moonheart by Charles de Lint -- a fine modern fantasy combining the world of Ottawa, Canada with the Otherworld and time travel, and including wonderful interpretations of myth and legend. The perfect reading-in-the-woods-while-camping book, this is truly a magical title superbly written. An excellent advanced fantasy.

And last night I finished off by reading the newest Minx book, Water Baby. Up until now I have liked the Minx books for the most part, but this one didn't thrill me. It's a realistic fiction piece about a girl who gets her leg bitten off by a shark and is learning to cope with the adjustment. It's also about friendship and relationships. I was hoping to like it, but it left me feeling dull and empty.

Labels: book review, booklists, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels, mysteries

~emily - 1:18 PM~
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BOOKENDS
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Heads or tales. A simple coin toss and Naomi is off to retrieve the $3000 camera recently purchased for the yearbook staff -- and that's OK b/c she's co-editor of the yearbook this year. But on her way up the stairs of the school, she trips and falls and hits her head, clutching the camera in safety. The next thing she knows, she's being dashed off to the hospital in an ambulance with someone who says he's her boyfriend. But she doesn't remember him. She remembers her name, but she doesn't remember the year -- or her parents' divorce, or her best friend, or even why she was co-editor of the yearbook. With a simple conk of the head, Naomi has lost four years of her life; now she must set about rebuilding them, or remembering them, or reshaping them -- or whatever an amnesiac does.
What a great book. I've been wanting to pick it up since we got it, but it seems to be out all the time (which is a good thing). So I finally picked it up, on a weekend I was sick, and read through the whole thing quite quickly. Can you imagine, being an amnesiac in high school? Not remembering your classes or your friends or your clubs? School is crazy enough without all those other factors playing in. So to make it short, I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
Does mention sex and birth control.
Y FICTION Zevin

Labels: book review, good books, teen issues

~emily - 5:33 PM~
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BEING A FAN OF COURTNEY
I don't know which Courtney you're thinking of, but the Courtney I mean is Courtney Crumrin of the graphic novels by Ted Naifeh. We just received Courtney Crumrin and the Fire Thief's Tale, and I had the pleasure of reading through it over lunch on the lawn. A delightful tale of werewolves, magic, faith, and love. It's a simple story told in black & white, but full of things to make you think just a little, if you want to.
I'll take more Courtney Crumrin any day of the week.

Labels: book review, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels

~emily - 1:56 PM~
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BOOK: THE HUNGER GAMES
On Monday I finished reading a preview copy of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (author of the Gregor the Overlander series) -- and what a read it was!
In a future North America, the Capitol rules harshly over what was once 13, now 12, outlying districts. Every year, in order to remind the citizens of its power, the Capitol requires each district to send one boy and one girl as tributes to participate in a nationally televised reality show -- the Hunger Games -- in which 24 teenagers are trapped in a remote environment and forced to fight to the death on live TV. The last one alive brings wealth and glory to their district. When her younger sister is chosen as a tribute, Katniss volunteers in her place, knowing that she will probably not survive. But once the Hunger Games begin, she becomes a real contender, struggling to survive and win while retaining her humanity and stick it to the system.
My first reaction to this book was that it's harsh! My second was that it was similar in content to many stories that I enjoy reading about the end of our world as we know it -- all those futuristic dystopia tales of hardship and struggle and a controlling centralized government. So despite the difficult premise and the hanging ending (this is the first book in a trilogy), I liked it; read it in about a day. Not for the faint-hearted, however -- there's blood and death and weapons -- but there's also love and redemption.
We don't actually own it yet -- it doesn't get published until October, but be looking for it then!
Until then, try reading the Longlight Legacy trilogy by Dennis Foon.

Labels: book news, book review, good books, new books, teen issues

~emily - 12:53 PM~
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CORALINE ON THE BIG SCREEN
If you're on my Facebook, you've seen today's posts from ICV2 about Coraline, that fantastic book by Neil Gaiman, going big screen early next year. I think I reported the news about Coraline some time ago, but now it's really on it's way. And on top of that, there's a graphic novel of it coming out this summer (be looking for it on our shelves in a little while -- I have it on order). I decided I'd link to Variety's article on the upcoming movie and the other projects Laika Studios are planning on doing in the near future -- they look pretty good.
Here's the link. Enjoy. I'm totally looking forward to this stuff -- I loved reading Coraline.
(PS -- Coraline is on the Middle School Summer Reading Long List.)

Labels: book news, fantasy books, good books, graphic novels, movies, summer reading

~emily - 11:36 AM~
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BOOKENDS: 2 BOOKS
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Elizabeth Holland is one of the social ruling class of Manhattan in 1899. She is well-mannered, rich, from an important family, and of course, very beautiful. Her best friend is her greatest rival, her personal maid is jealous and vindictive, her sister finds her bland and weak-willed. When her mother tells her that their family has been left with heavy debts after the death of Elizabeth's father, it becomes Elizabeth's responsibility to save the family from poverty by marrying a young man of high social status and wealth -- a cad who has his own reasons for marrying her. But Elizabeth has a secret, a dangerous secret that could turn her family to ruin and must make her decide between true love and family responsibility. As events start turning, rumours, misunderstandings, and small tragedies abound, all leading up to the fateful day that was to be her wedding day....
If you like prince-to-pauper stories of social status, gossip, passion, mystery, tragedy, love, infatuation, pettiness, and wealth, this will be just the book for you. Set in Manhattan at the turn of the last century, it blends historical fiction with the difficult life of a teen socialite with heavy responsibilities and her own dreams for happiness. Each chapter is headed with a newspaper clipping or quotation from a magazine, and each chapter is told from a different viewpoint. It's a fun read that sweeps the reader along, almost like reading a gossip column or a tabloid.
The few sexual encounters are quickly glossed over and left fairly vague.
Y FICTION Godberson


Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Terrorists have attacked San Francisco, blowing up the Bay Bridge. Marcus and his friends, skipping school in favour of playing a game, are picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and taken to a prison where they are questioned and threatened. When all but one of them are let out and they find that their hometown has turned into a police state with every move of every person monitored every day, Marcus is determined to do something -- he wants to get back at the DHS for kidnapping his friends and torturing them. He believes that the government has overstepped its bounds of authority in taking away his freedoms and the freedoms of everyone else in San Francisco. So he starts his own private war, setting up an untapped internet and starting a movement that soon builds a life of its own.
A fascinating look at terrorism, technology, government policies and practices, and the rights of American citizens. The pacing was good, the story was good, and overall, it was mostly believable -- it reads like something that could happen today, tomorrow, or next year. I found it a hard book to put down and was even interested in the short technological tangents about hacking and software and gaming and such. A great book for techno-geeks, free spirits and freedom lovers, and fans of books like 1984 and Animal Farm. Of course, others will like it a lot, too. Recommended.
Sexual scenes and conversations included.
Y FICTION Doctorow
(For more on Little Brother, or for the audio download, see previous posts.)

Labels: book review, books for boys, books for girls, chick lit, friends, good books, historical teens, mysteries, new books

~emily - 9:08 AM~
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COMIC BOOK READING
With the Iron Man movie just out and the upcoming Batman and Hellboy and Incredible Hulk films, superhero comic books and graphic novels have suddenly taken over much of my reading again. I worked my way through the three Birds of Prey GNs we have, thoroughly enjoying them (for the most part) -- they combine a multitude of DC comics characters, centralizing on Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, aka Oracle, and the female superhero group she puts together. In the middle of one of the titles, there was a year-long break, during which the Infinite Crisis happened. OK, so I'll admit that I was a little annoyed to see that break in the middle of one of the books I was reading, but I came to the library the next day and picked up The OMAC Project: Countdown to Infinite Crisis, and now I'm waiting for Infinite Crisis, which happens to be checked out.
Anyway, all this to tell you that there are some fabulous superhero comic books out there, and I hope you're finding what you want at the library -- and if you're not, please recommend some. (But if you want to read Iron Man, you're going to need to put in a request, because he's super popular right now!) Be looking for more coming to the shelves soon!

Labels: comics, good books, graphic novels

~emily - 12:52 PM~
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BOOK OF THE DAY
I thought I'd share a few of the recent Books of the Day that I have posted on my Facebook and my MySpace bulletins:

Here Lies the Librarian
Mortal Engines
Elantris
On Fortune's Wheel
Troy
The Language of Goldfish
Click
Confessions of a High School Word Nerd

When you get the Facebook notices, you can also read the description and get a picture of the book cover (both of which you can also see by clicking on the links above).

Labels: booklists, books for boys, books for girls, fantasy books, good books, science fiction

~emily - 12:29 PM~
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LOVE STORIES
Get in the Mood













Less then two weeks before Valentine's Day -- and we have love stories -- a whole display of them! Come check them out and get in the mood (or not, as the case may be).

These and many many more~!

Labels: booklists, books for boys, books for girls, displays, good books

~emily - 9:37 AM~
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BOOKENDS: THE NAMING
The Naming by Alison Croggon
Maerad, a slave living a poor excuse for an existence, is discovered and rescued by the wandering bard, Cadvan, when he perceives something special about her. As he begins to learn who she is and discover her powers, he becomes convinced that she is a necessary player in defeating the Dark, one of whom legend foretold. He takes her to a barding city and school, where for a short week she is taught in the ways of the Bards. But there is trouble, distrust, and divisions among the bards, and they leave, on their way across the perilous land to Norloch to meet the head Bard and be given her bard name so she can be truly trained in all of her powers. It's a journey full of danger, desperation, and hidden truths, and Maerad begins to learn the extent of her powers and, her true history, and part of what her future holds.
The first of a coming quartet (three have been published so far), this is a wonderful introduction to a very promising epic fantasy. The writing is lyrical, the adventure is intense, the battle between Light and Dark is dangerous, and everything else is honest and magical. Anyone who's been following the blog will know that around the holiday season, I love to curl up with heavy, engrossing epic fantasy tales -- this one did not disappoint. Good vs evil, magic, creatures and beasts, music, learning, danger, questing.... I've finished the first and can't wait to begin the second, have the third on order, and hope that Alison Croggon gets the fourth published soon!
Y FANTASY FICTION Croggon

For more fantasy reads, visit the More Than Magic Mirrors site.

Labels: book review, fantasy books, good books

~emily - 12:17 PM~
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SPACE OPERA
A few posts ago I wrote a bit about space opera, after having picked up (yet another) book by Elizabeth Moon. I have, as of yesterday, finished the entire 7 book series! I consider this quite an accomplishment, despite the enjoyment of reading the books. If you are a fan of space science fiction, complete with invasions, colonies, clones, wars, spaceships, technology, humor, romance, action, politics, and such things, I recommend catching a title or two in the space opera genre. It's terribly fun reading (if you like that kind of thing)! -- Think Star Wars, Ender's Game, Farscape, Vatta's War, Warchild, Serenity, etc.

Labels: good books, science fiction

~emily - 9:11 AM~
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GOODREADS
What's everyone reading these days? Here's a way to

- see what your friends are reading
- keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read
- get great book recommendations from people you know

It's GoodReads.com -- take a look. It's a little bit like LibraryThing, a little like the iRead Facebook app, something like local library bookgroups, and a little like your own online bookstore.
What are you reading?

Labels: friends, good books, links

~emily - 1:58 PM~
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RSS & HP
Just a quick message on this beautiful Sunday afternoon -- RSS feeds through bloglines appear to have been restored.
And... have you finished the Harry Potter book yet? What did you think?
Today's stats on HP are: 1160 holds on first copy returned of 412 copies (and some copies are even available in some libraries -- check the catalog to see which ones!).

Labels: fantasy books, good books, harry potter, reserve

~emily - 1:34 PM~
1 comments

HARRY POTTER READING
The final Harry Potter book hits the stores in less than two days -- have you ordered or reserved your copy yet? There are 1353 reserves in our library system on the Deathly Hallows -- and 275 copies being processed for release on Saturday.

Waiting anxiously but not sure when you're going to get your copy? Looking for another great fantasy to read to pass the time? Here's a booklist you may want to consider -- and here are a few titles from that list:

13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear — Walter Moers
Cry of the Icemark — Stuart Hill
Dealing With Dragons — Patricia Wrede
East — Edith Pattou
Golden Compass — Philip Pullman
Plague of Sorcerers — Mary Frances Zambreno
Princess Bride — William Goldman
So You Want to Be a Wizard? — Diane Duane
Dreamhunter Duet — Elizabeth Knox
Dark is Rising Sequence — Susan Cooper
Chrestomanci Series — Diana Wynn Jones

Now, I'm not saying these are exact read-alikes to the Harry Potter series, but a few of them have definite similarities and others are just fantastic reads.

Labels: books for boys, books for girls, fantasy books, good books, harry potter, reserve

~emily - 4:02 PM~
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