One of my favourite things about being a Children and Youth librarian is that every morning someone puts on my desk all the new books that have arrived at our Branch for me to look over. It’s a really great way for me to know what we have in our collection, and I’m learning about all kinds of great new books.
Considering I don’t have time to read everything, I thought I would highlight some of the books that I find on my desk that look really interesting.
Okay for Now by Gary D Schmidt - As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady. In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage. In this stunning novel, Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.
Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Release Date: July 2011
Summary: On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...
I love Barnholdts books. There is something simple and true about them. Plus they are easy to read and usually a lot of fun.
Demonglass (A Hex Hall Novel)
By Rachel Hawkins
2011
359 pages
Book 2
Summary: Turned out that Sophie isn’t a witch, she’s actually a demon, and there is a good chance she could kill someone if her powers get out of hand. In order to get control of her powers, Sophie, Jenna and Cal head to England to live with Sophie’s dad and the council. However, it looks like things are about to get dangerous, because Sophie isn’t the only demon there...which means someone is raising them to fight.
Review: Demonglass was a good sequel to Hex Hall. The writing was still fluid and fast-paced and the characters charming. Readers get a bit more back story in Demonglass as it sets the stage for the third book. Having a greater context to the world that Sophie lives in added more depth to her as a character. She was still the witty and sarcastic girl readers loved, but with a little bit more substance. While there wasn’t as much humour or action in this novel, there were still quite a few plot twists to captivate readers. A good second book that will no doubt leave readers wanting more.
Also by Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall
If you liked Demonglass you might also enjoy: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough.
Author website: http://www.rachel-hawkins.com/
Rating:
Writing: 3/4
Characters: 3/4
Plot: 3/4
Originality: 3/4
Popularity: 4/4
Cover: 3/4
Grade Level Interest: JS
Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books
What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.
This week’s question: If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?
Yes, eventually. Typically authors write similar style books, so I usually try to pace them out so I don’t get bored. But I love finding new authors who have tons of books that are great, not just one....Deb Caletti, Elizabeth Scott, Laura Wiess to name a few.
Ps. Sorry my posts have been a little scattered. My husband and I are in the process of moving and I’ve been doing most of the packing (he is studying for his final law school exams).
Happy Easter
Happy Hop
The Cardturner
By Louis Sachar
2010
315
Summary: The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner – whatever that means. Alton's uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich. But Alton's parents aren't the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp's good graces. They're in competition with his long time housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him. Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life. (Amazon)
Review: The Cardturner is a complete surprise. While one might think that reading a book about a complex card game would be boring or too confusing, you couldn’t be more wrong. Alton is charming and endearing and both male and female readers will be drawn to his awkward sincerity. The other characters are hilarious with all the quirkiness and fun expected from a Sachar novel. The story is compelling and readers will no doubt be drawn into the mystery surrounding Uncle Lester, the bridge tournament and the relationship between Alton and Toni. It is so easy to fall into the story of this novel that readers will forget they are actually learning about bridge. You quickly start to understand the language and the hands, even if you’ve never played before. Somehow Sachar brilliantly interweaves a compelling story about a regular boy trying to find his place alongside rules to bridge. An absolutely necessary read.
Also by Louis Sachar: The Wayside School series, Holes and Small Steps
If you liked The Cardturner, you might also enjoy: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, Lemonade Mouth by Mark Hughes, Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
Non-Fiction Connection: How to Play a Bridge Hand by William S Root
Author website: http://www.louissachar.com/
Rating:
Writing: 4/4
Characters: 4/4
Plot: 4/4
Originality: 4/4
Popularity: 3 (or at least it should be)
Cover: 1.5/4
Grade Level Interest: JS
Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books
One of my favourite things about being a Children and Youth librarian is that every morning someone puts on my desk all the new books that have arrived at our Branch for me to look over. It’s a really great way for me to know what we have in our collection, and I’m learning about all kinds of great new books.
Considering I don’t have time to read everything, I thought I would highlight some of the books that I find on my desk that look really interesting.
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen - Jessica is a runner. It's her identity and the only thing she wants to do, but after a tragic car accident leaves her a partial amputee, she thinks that her life might as well be over. As Jessica tries to cope with physical therapy, adjust to using a prosthetic leg, and catch up on all the work she's missed in school, she has a revelation and decides that she will run again. This ultimately upbeat and inspiring story will keep readers who like tales of triumph over adversity (such as Bethany Hamilton's faith-focused memoir Soul Surfer) captivated (lpl)
Blindsided
By Priscilla Cummings
2010
226 pages
Summary: Despite what she’s trying to believe, Natalie is slowly losing her eye sight. In order to prepare for her future, she must attend a school for the blind. But Natalie refuses to be like the rest of her classmates...she won’t learn braille, she doesn’t want a cane....she is not going blind. When the first symptoms happen, Natalie must decide if she will live hidden away and scared, or if she will embrace her strength and move forward with her new reality.
Review: Blindsided is a wonderful look at the heartbreaking difficulty of losing one’s sight. Readers will be drawn into the process that Natalie goes through and the struggles she must overcome. It is simply unimaginable to many of us what this must feel like for those in Natalie’s position. The pacing is a little slow, but it allows space for the reader to connect with Natalie and her process. There are also quite a few tense moments that will captivate the reader’s interest. Cummings does a good job of giving agency to a population that does not often make it into YA literature.
Also by Priscilla Cummings: Red Kayak, What Mr Mattero Did and A Face First
If you liked Blindsided, you might also enjoy: Andromeda Klein by Frank Portman, North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley, Birthmarked by Caragh M O’Brien
Author website: http://www.priscillacummings.com/
Rating:
Writing: 4/4
Characters: 3/4
Plot: 4/4
Originality: 4/4
Popularity: 3/4
Cover: 4/4
Grade Level Interest: JS
Coming Soon to a Library Near You is a weekly feature inspired by Jill at Breaking the Spine that looks at upcoming books.
This Week’s Book: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 2011
Summary: My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But
I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?
While this does sound a little bit like most paranormal books out there these days, check out the Cover!!! Plus, a Paris setting is always exciting!
The Duff
By Kody Keplinger
2010
277 pages
Summary: Bianca is cynical, sarcastic and a little jaded, but she has two wonderful and beautiful best friends. And while she would never call herself pretty, she’s still surprised when the school’s popular hottie (ie. womanizer), Wesley, calls her the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). But things aren’t great at home and in a drastic attempt at distraction, Bianca finds herself kissing Wesley. Even if he is the enemy, Bianca needs something to take her mind off her life and as it turns out Wesley isn’t really what he seems.
Review: The Duff was a fantastic and fun read. One of the strengths of the novel is the writing. It’s very fluid and quick, making it an easy novel to fall into. I thought that Bianca and Wesley were interesting characters and I think readers will approve of Bianca’s sass. While issues such as self-esteem, friendship, abuse, divorce and of course sex were addressed, there were parts of the book that did seem a little shallow and unrealistic. Readers should also be aware that there is a lot of sex and that it is treated in a way that was for the most part flippant. That being said I think it was an enjoyable read, one that female young adult readers will enjoy, especially considering that Kody was herself a teen when she wrote it.
Also by Kody Keplinger: Shut Out (due out Sept 2011)
If you liked The Duff, you might also enjoy: Freak Magnet by Andrew Auseon, Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern, Audrey, Wait! By Robin Benway and Fat Cat by Robin Brande
Author Website: http://kodymekellkeplinger.blogspot.com/
Rating:
Writing: 4/4
Characters: 3/4
Plot: 2.5/4
Originality: 3/4
Popularity: 4/4
Cover Art: 2.4/4
Grade Level Interest: S
Other Words for Love
By Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
2011
354 pages
Summary: When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York—and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else? (Amazon)
Review: Other Words for Love is a sweet story with characters that are charming and endearing. Ari is believable and many readers will connect to her feelings of falling in love for the fist time. The author also created very complex and interesting secondary characters, especially Blake and Ari’s sister Evelyn. Rosenthal does a great job of portraying the messiness of first love and heartbreak, making this a poignant novel. While I appreciated the 1980’s setting, some younger YA’s might find it hard to connect to that time period. Furthermore, while the story is quite in depth, the writing was at times slow. I think this novel is more suited for readers who enjoy slower-paced novels rich in character and story.
This is Lorraine Zago Rosenthal’s first novel.
Author website: http://lorraine-zago-rosenthal.blogspot.com/
Rating:
Writing: 4/4
Characters: 3.5/4
Plot: 3/4
Originality: 3/4
Popularity: 3/4
Cover Art: 4/4
Grade Level Interest: S
I always enjoy reading blogger’s monthly recaps. It’s a great way to see what you’ve missed, notice trends and see how books compare to each other. I stole this idea from Imagination in Focus, one of my favourite blogs to follow.
Number of Books Read: 7
Favourite Read: Stay by Deb Caletti
i
Least Favourite: Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal, I was just underwhelmed by it. It was still a good book though.
Most Original Idea: The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Best Character: Clara from Stay by Deb Caletti.
Best Villain: Beef from Shine by Lauren Myracle. He was a villain, yet he was still just a broken boy who made poor choices.
Best Supporting Character: Wesley from The Duff by Kody Keplinger. I loved to hate him. He was a lot of fun to read (even if I did want to punch him in the face).
March was a little all over the place for me. I read some new books and caught up on some that have been on my TBR list for a while. With work being so busy and my husband and I looking for a place to live when we move, I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked.
Time for the Blogger Hop from Crazy for Books
What a great idea! I love following readers blogs almost more than I like blogging myself. What a great way to get out there and meet new people who share the same interests as you.
This week’s question: Since today is April Fool’s Day, what is the best prank you have ever played on someone OR that someone has played on you?
First of all, happy April Fool’s! When I was in undergrad a few of my girlfriends and I pranked my now husband and his housemates by taking the labels off all their cans (they had a lot). I think it was more frustrating than anything for them...months of not knowing what food they were going to get!
Happy Hop!
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