Beautiful Creatures Trailer!

The Beautiful Creatures movie is due out in February!! I loved this book and the movie looks awesome!
Check out the trailer below:

Lara Avery. ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY

Bryce Graham was diving at the Olympic trials when she makes a slight mistake that nearly ends her life. She ends up in a coma for five years. But then she wakes up.

Everyone calls her a miracle. But it takes her a while to settle back into her life. Everyone else has moved on. Her best friend and boyfriend have graduated from high school and college. They are beginning careers. Bryce feels lost and unsure of herself.

Since her old best friend, Gabby, feels distant, she's become close with someone else. A med student named Carter watched over her in the hospital for years. They become close and he helps ease her transition back into every day life.

Although there's one aspect of her recovery that Bryce doesn't tell even Carter about. She begins having visions. Some are of the past, like while she was in the coma, while others are of the future. She isn't sure if her brain is playing tricks on her or if it's a symptom of something wrong. But she doesn't really want to know for sure, so she plans to ignore them - as long as she can.

This was an interesting read. I like the concept of missing five years of your life and trying to "catch up." I'm always fascinated by how the brain works and the effects of trauma to different parts of the brain.

There were some really lovely parts of the book that I enjoyed. Overall, a nice read!

M.L. Stedman. THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS

"Right and wrong can be like bloody snakes: so tangled up that you can't tell which is which until you've shot 'em both, and then it's too late."

Tom Sherbourne takes a job as a lighthouse keeper in Australia, attempting to live a peaceful life down after years in the war. He doesn't expect to find a lovely woman in the nearby town to settle down with. But Isabel takes him by surprise by agreeing to marry him and live with him on the isolated island of Janus Rock.

The two of them enjoy living alone on the island and look forward to starting a family. But after several miscarriages, Isabel becomes distraught and lonely. Their lives change forever one day when a baby turns up on shore in a small boat, along with her deceased father. Isabel feels like it's a miracle sent to them. Tom wants to alert the authorities  She convinces him to wait a day or two just to give her time to take care of the baby and make sure she's okay. Isabel swears that the mother must have drown since there was a women's cardigan in the boat. Tom sees how the baby has brought Isabel back to life and he's torn between doing the right thing and making his wife happy.

The longer they keep the baby, the harder the decision becomes for Tom to do what he knows is right. When they visit the nearby town on shore leave, the decision to keep the baby wreaks even more havoc on his conscious. He must make some difficult choices. And he's not the only one. Isabel has gut-wrenching decisions to make, as well as several other characters. Several families get caught up in this one decision that Tom and Isabel made.

This is an emotional, moral tale that will make you think deeply about what decisions you would make in Tom and Isabel's position. How much hurt would you case a person you love to do the right thing? Do you swallow your own guilt to please your loved ones? Or do you stay true to yourself but sacrifice their happiness?

The writing is exquisite and beautiful. I highlighted many meaningful sections. Here's an unforgettable section about forgiveness.

A character who seems always happy, even after all the bad that's happened to him, he's asked how he does it. He says he chooses to. He can either rot in the past or forgive and forget.

"Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things."

Wow. Truer words were never spoken.

Gingerbread Wonderland in the Library!

Check out our spectacular submissions for the Culinary Club's Gingerbread House contest!

Kendare Blake. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD

Theseus Cassio Lowood is a killer. A ghost killer. It's the family business. His father also went after ghosts, before he was killed on the job when Cas was seven. He and his mother travel from town to town taking care of business.

The ghost known as Anna Dressed in Blood draws Cas to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Usually on a job, he's able to keep to himself, do his detective work locating the ghost, and then take it out with no trouble. But Thunder Bay brings several new issues for him. A guy named Thomas follows him around asserting himself into the the hunt. The prom queen-type, Carmel, is also overly interested in Cas. But the most important issue is Anna herself, who is a much more powerful ghost than Cas has ever come up against.

When Cas gets to know Anna, things get even more complicated. He becomes sympathetic towards her plight. But he's supposed to kill her. Uh-oh.

I loved this book! It's a ghost story with some witty hard-boiled mystery novel sprinkled in. I was taken in immediately by witty Cas. And the supporting characters are just as wonderful. Thomas isn't merely the goofy friend type. He's becomes a fun, smart and strong friend. The relationship between Cas and Anna is unique, but it works well and I rooted for the two of them.

Kendare Blake is a new author and we're thrilled to be hosting her at our Montgomery County Book Festival in February.

Check out the trailer

David Levithan. EVERY DAY

"I keep looking at Roger's mother, who is so tired, so taxed. I feel as much belief in her as I do in God - I find faith in human perseverance, even as the universe throws challenge after challenge our way."

A (the character's name is "A") wakes up every day in a different body. It's been that way since birth. As a child, A didn't really understand what was going on, but now at sixteen, he has figured it out. (A doesn't identify as male or female, but it's easier to pick one than to keep using "he or she" or the even more cumbersome "the character.") He's able to access the memories needed to get through the day in each of the person's bodies he inhabits. He enjoys the everyday experiences and goes along just fine.

That is until he inhabits Justin's body and meets his girlfriend Rhiannon. He falls hard for her. He doesn't want to leave her. But he has no choice.

However, he manages to connect with her a few more times in different bodies. He finds a way to tell her about himself. He explains and finally convinces her that he travels from body to body. She feels the same way about him, but is reluctant to continue their relationship. A must find a way to make it work between them. After all, doesn't love conquer all?

I was intrigued by this concept and was excited to see how it played out. I think it worked well. I'm not sure I'm 100% pleased with the ending, but I think the author had no choice. You'll see what I mean when you read it. Please do read it.

One thing I really appreciated was the sheer number of mini-stories that the author had to create to depict all the lives A was traveling through. He had to create so many unique and interesting stories. Some were so compelling that I wanted A to stick around a few more days.

Another part that I loved was the relationship between A and Rhiannon. I felt the connection. I was moved by the connection. Overall, the book is unique and moving.

By the way, one of my favorite books of all time was written by David Levithan - DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES. It's a great holiday book. After you read EVERY DAY, you should totally check this one out too!

For more on David Levithan, here's his website.

Book Fair 2012 - A Smashing Success

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support the MS/US Libraries at our annual Barnes & Noble Book Fair! A huge thanks to all of our student performers who were brilliant! Thank you to our parent volunteers who did all of the major work to make the event run smoothly! Thank you to our Visual & Performing Arts department faculty who organized the student performances!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Now enjoy a slideshow of the event:

Lisa McMann. DEAD TO YOU

At seven-years-old, Ethan was abducted from his front yard. It’s nine years later and he’s been returned to his family.

He’s so happy. His parents and siblings are happy. But after a short while, his brother, Blake, becomes increasingly angry at him. Ethan isn’t sure why. His new little sister has become fast friends with him.  His mother and father are both so thrilled to have their family whole again. What's up with his brother?

Blake begins to question Ethan about the abduction. Ethan can’t remember anything about it or anything before the abduction. Blake makes accusations and begins investigating Ethan. Ethan just wants to be left alone to enjoy his new family. Why won’t Blake leave it alone? Are there really secrets to uncover about the incident?

I enjoyed Lisa McMann's CRYER'S CROSS, so I chose to read this one too. Ethan is a sympathetic character. I felt his pain and longing for his "normal" family. His little sister is a wonderfully engaging character. However, the ending left me wanting more. A lot more. I'm hoping there is a sequel. I'm not a fan of these kind of endings unless there is a sequel. But that's just me. Others loved the ending. You decide! And please, let me know what you think of the ending, if you read it.

Check out Lisa McMann's website. Below is the trailer:

Neal Shusterman. UNWHOLLY

“Does a sick society get so used to its illness that it can’t remember being well? What if the memory is too dangerous for the people who like things the way they are?”

UNWHOLLY is the sequel to the remarkably original UNWIND by Neal Shusterman. If you haven't read it yet, you really need to get on that! He's a wonderful writer and this is really one of the more unique dystopians out there today. By the way, I also love Shusterman's THE SCHWA WAS HERE and its sequel. Very different from UNWIND, but quite clever and enjoyable.

Now back to UNWHOLLY. This installment of the trilogy continues with the characters we love (Connor, Lev and Risa), but also introduces new characters. Shusterman has explored even more ways that unwinding would affect teens and adult.

Starkey is a stork AWOL, and he champions the cause for all storks. Nelson is a parts pirate making a living in a unimaginable way. Cam is completely new person who makes people question the very definition of what it is to be human. Risa is dealing with the decision not to have a new spinal cord transplant. Connor, as the leader of the airplane graveyard, has grown but also has a new set of frustrations and challenges.

If you loved UNWIND, you will devour this one too. With the additional characters and deeper plot development, Shusterman has written one of the best dystopian trilogies out there!

Check out the creepy trailer!

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

EasyBib Extension for Chrome!

Wow, check it out! EasyBib now has an extension to make citing directly from your browser super simple!

If you use Chrome, you can install this extension, so when you're ready to cite a webpage, you just click it to cite. EasyBib says they have a Firefox extension on the way.
Give it a whirl. You'll love it! 

Announcing EasyBib’s Chrome Toolbar Extension « EasyBib via kwout

Diana Renn. TOKYO HEIST

Violet is staying with her artist father when her dream of visiting Japan comes true. Her father has been commissioned to paint a mural in the Japan office building of a prominent Yamada family.

A mystery begins in Seattle when a few Van Gogh sketches are stolen from the Yamada's Seattle mansion.  It continues in Japan and involves a ransom note, Japanese gangsters and an unexplained suicide.

TOKYO HEIST packs art, action, anime and Japanese culture into an intriguing mystery. It's brimming with lively characters and an engaging plot that will keep you reading long into the night.

I really adore this book! Violet is a smart and interesting character. She draws manga, so she has an artist perspective, like her father. The author has brilliantly integrated a mini manga story drawn by Violet into the the plot. It doesn't take over. It's just the right amount to make it intriguing.

Also, I love the way the author has sprinkled Japanese culture and vocabulary throughout the book. It fits nicely, without being too much for the reader to comprehend.

Overall, this is brilliant novel with lots of energy and excitement. I'm shocked to see that this is the Diana Renn's first book! I eagerly await her next one.

Find out more about the author at her amazing website here. And check out the trailer below:

Celebrating Banned Books Week with a Forbidden display!

Don't forget to browse our Banned Books Week Display.

 (You're free to check out any of the banned books!)

For more information about Banned Books Week, click below the graphic:

Banned Books Week | Celebrating the Freedom to Read: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2012 via kwout

2013 Montgomery County Book Festival

Big news about the Montgomery County Book Festival! The location has changed from College Park High School to Lone Star College, which means we have more room to have more events and authors! We will have approximately 40 authors! Stay tuned by visiting our blog. We'll be announcing the author lineup beginning today. Every few days, more authors will be announced. We'll also post interviews with the authors. Stay tuned!

Harlan Coben. SECONDS AWAY

SECONDS AWAY is the sequel to SHELTER, Harlan Coben's new YA series. I loved Shelter, so I was eager to dig into this one. I read it only a few days, which is saying a lot. My schedule right now is very tight, so to be able to knock this one out so quickly shows just how awesome it is!

The story picks up right where it left off. Literally. Mickey is standing in the Bat Lady’s house listening to her story about a photograph of a Nazi torturer who looks strikingly similar to the paramedic who rescued him a few years ago. In other words, the man who took away his father. But that would make this man about 85 years old. Surely, he’s not the same man.

Not only do we have the continuing mystery surrounding the death of Mickey’s father, but we have a new juicy mystery for this installment. Mickey is on the telephone with Rachel moments before shots are fired in her home. Who could be after her? Is she keeping secrets from him? He begins to question whether she has a hidden agenda for befriending him.

This mystery series had seemed so innocent and simple when I first picked up SHELTER, but it sneaks up on you, grabs you and won't let go until you finish! I had a few more late nights with the sequel, and I’m looking forward to even more when the next book comes out!

Click here for the series website.
Check out the trailer below! SECONDS AWAY comes out on September 18th.

New Nook Books!

We have several new selections for the Nooks (including the highly anticipated sequel to Unwind - Unwholly!). Click here to see the full list of titles and to download the permission form. The newest titles are in the slideshow:

Alan Bradley. A RED HERRING WITHOUT MUSTARD

Flavia de Luce is one the most curious, charming characters I've had the pleasure of spending time with in a while.

I love this introduction to the series from Alan Bradley's website:

Picture an ancient country house somewhere in England. The year is 1950. 

Picture a girl who lives there with her most unusual family. Her name is Flavia de Luce—and she’s almost eleven. 

Picture a long-abandoned Victorian chemistry laboratory; no one ever goes there but Flavia.

Put them all together and you’ll have a new kind of detective fiction . . .

Flavia de Luce lives spends a lot of time in her chemistry lab, which was originally occupied by a distant relative whom she looks up to because of his science acumen. Although Flavia herself is becoming quite the scientist herself; She has a particular passion for poison. She also has a problem leaving any mystery unsolved. So when an attempted murder happens on her own property, she's the first one to begin the investigation. The local Inspector is not thrilled having a precocious, but accurate, eleven-year-old showing him up with clues and theories, but he begrudgingly takes her help.

This is a delightful mystery! Flavia will capture your heart early on and you'll be sad when the book ends. Not only is Flavia a delightful, snappy character but the dialogue is to die for. The tone of this series is part gumshoe detective, part proper British mystery. It's sharp, witty and seriously funny.

Alan Bradley has written several Flavia de Luce novels, but you don't need to read them in order. There are six so far and this is the third one. The series has its own website here. Check it out and pick one to begin the adventure.

NoodleTools Upgrade!

Welcome back students! I hope you had a restful and fun summer. We have new books in the library, as well as big plans for you this year. First, I'd like to share some exciting news about NoodleTools. They had an upgrade over the summer and I know you'll find it much easier to use! Those of you who like EasyBib, will notice some similar features (like ISBN import!).

(1) First of all, when you select your source, NoodleTools will give you some visual aids to determine if you've selected the right source.

(2)  Next, after you've verified that you have the right source selected, check this screen out:

This is a way simpler and easier to use format! You don't have to worry so much about reprints and how a source was originally published. You pick what your source is and then just GO. 

(3) Next, we have the ISBN import feature that you love about EasyBib:

(4) Finally, there is a cut & paste option! For example, you can click on "cite" or "create citations" in most databases and some websites. Well you can now use that it NoodleTools. You will still have to double check that it is correct, because databases do make mistakes. But it is a time saver.

There are many ways these features make creating your citations easier, but I won't bore you with the details here. When we begin research projects, you'll see how much NoodleTools has improved to make your life easier. Come see me anytime if you have questions!

For more check out the NoodleTools Blog.

Neal Shusterman. UNSTRUNG

"'And why? Because of words? Words don't hurt you.' Which is one of the hugest criminal lies perpetrated by adults against children in this world. Because words hurt more than any physical pain."

If you are as excited as I am about UNWHOLLY coming out in a few weeks, check out UNSTRUNG to tide you over. It includes a short story and the first few chapters of the sequel.

The story begins with Lev waking up injured in an Indian/Native American Reservation. Somehow he was able to scale the wall and end up there while running from the cops. The People of Chance (as they are called, neither Indian nor Native American seem to fit properly) don't allow unwinding. Since they are independent from the rest of the nation, unwinds are safe within their boundaries.

As the author explains here, this is the story of what happens to Lev between his time with CyFi and when he ends up at the graveyard. Even though Lev is the main character, this story also focuses on Wil and his family. It's just as heart-wrenching and moving as UNWIND. It's amazing how Shusterman can make such a short story so unforgettable. 

As mentioned earlier, you are also treated to a few chapters of UNWHOLLY and a new character named Starkey. The character of Starkey further elaborates on one of the societal repercussions of  the unwind program - storks. Starkey was a storked child and the fact that he wasn't wanted completely changes the course of his life (illustrated by the quote at the top of the page). Inevitably, his parents sign an unwind order for him.  But with Connor the Akron AWOL as his example, he escapes the juvie cops and goes on the run.

This short story is available in ebook format only from various online sources. It will definitely get you ready to dive into UNWHOLLY when it comes out at the end of the month.

I've noticed several authors releasing these short stories a month or so out from highly anticipated sequel releases. I really like it! I especially enjoy when it gives you insight to additional characters or simply more about the universe of the story.

Visit Neal Shusterman's website for more about his books AND be sure to click on the link about the UNWIND movie!

Cat Patrick. REVIVED

I was drawn to this book because I adored Cat Patrick's first book FORGOTTEN so much. (I even interviewed her about the premise.) If you enjoyed FORGOTTEN, you will love this one too!

Daisy is part of a unique program. When she was four-years-old, she was in a school bus accident. The bus skidded off the road into the water and all the kids were proclaimed dead. But in reality, about twenty of the kids were rescued and given a drug called Revive, which brought them back to life.

Since she was an orphan before the accident, Daisy lives with two agents from the secret government program. They monitor her and are seen as her parents to the outside world. Also, if Daisy gets into an accident, they are there to "revive" her. She's died five times already. Death begins to take on a different meaning for Daisy than for other people.

Each time she dies, the "family" must relocate, for obvious reasons. She takes on a different last name each time, but she's able to retain her first name, which gives her some consistency in her life. Daisy doesn't get to attached to people in each new location, because she knows she may not stay long. But this latest move to Omaha, Nebraska is different. Daisy becomes really close with two new people in her life. She also begins to uncover a mystery about the Revive program. She learns some dangerous facts about the organization that she's trusted with her life since she was four. 

The novel is an intriguing and unique mix of realistic fiction, science fiction and romance. It has some wonderful, endearing main characters. I couldn't put it down. I really loved it!

The brilliant execution of such a completely original idea is what I loved about FORGOTTEN and here it is again. Also, as with FORGOTTEN, REVIVED brings up fascinating ideas and questions. Just think about the moral dilemmas inherit in being able to revive people. In the book, the serum costs a million dollars. You see all of the issues attached to that? Why would it be right to revive some people and not others? You see the boatload of questions a reading group could have with this novel??

What a talented writer! I'm a huge fan and cannot wait for another book!

For more about Cat Patrick, check out her website, Twitter and Facebook account. You won't be disappointed with either of her books!

Megan Miranda. FRACTURE

"A lot can happen in eleven minutes."

I heard about this intriguing novel at a TLA author panel. It only took a few minutes for the author to rope me in. I'm sure it will be the same for you, once you read more.

Delaney fell into a crack in a frozen lake. She remained unconscious for eleven minutes before she was rescued by her best friend. After several days in a coma, she wakes up. Miraculously, she has no brain damage.

But her brain is changed. Delaney discovers she has an unusual "gift" of sensing when someone is about to die. She is pulled towards the person from across a room or even from across town. She is baffled by what's going on, and she doesn't tell anyone because she fears she'll be called crazy.

Then she meets Troy, an older boy who has a similar talent. She connects with him. But as she gets to know him, she realizes that he has a dark side that frightens her. What does she really know about Troy? Why does he seem to always be hanging around when people die?

The premise hooked me, but the nonstop tension and mystery kept me furiously flipping pages to the very end! You would think that after nearly dying that one's life would be a breeze afterwards. But the experience caused fractures throughout Delaney's entire life. Her relationship with her mother is in trouble, along with her relationship with her best friend. Delaney has to figure out how to live after getting her life back.

Megan Miranda has written a stellar first novel! The characters of Delaney and Decker are realistic and memorable. She depicts Delaney's struggles and emotions with such power and feeling. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Read more about Megan Miranda at her website. Looks like we have a sequel coming from Delaney's best friend's point of view called VENGEANCE. Cool!

Connect with the author and other fans at the FRACTURE page on Facebook.

Veronica Roth. INSURGENT

The sequel to DIVERGENT does not disappoint. It's action packed, emotional and a wild ride!

We pick up right where DIVERGENT left off at the end of the simulation where Erudite used Abnegation to go on killing sprees. Abnegation is left in ruins. People are choosing sides. Others are declaring that the whole faction system is unsustainable. Most people are going against Erudite in one way or another. But when Tris begins learning about deep secrets at the highest level, she must decide how much she wants to risk to discover the truth - and who she may have to betray to get there.

Choices seem to be around every corner for Tris and each one one has devastating consequences. She also struggles with the anachronism between her own behavior, which she considers unforgivable, and being a good person. She doesn't feel she deserves the love Tobias is willing to give her. Will she be able to move past killing Will? Does she deserve forgiveness even when people are willing to give it to her?

Many people I know were anxiously awaiting this sequel, and I'm happy to say that it definitely lives up to our expectations! The author has further developed the world and the characters. You will be much more invested in the series after reading this installment. The ending will excite you and frustrate you because you'll want the next book already. I LOVE this series!!

Check out the super cool trailer:


For more on Veronica Roth go here.
She's on Twitter here.

Terra Elan McVoy. BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS **Giveaway!! ***

I'm thrilled to be a part of the blog tour arranged by Literary Logistics for Terra Elan McVoy's new release BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS. (keep reading for your chance at a free copy of the book!!) I adored PURE, one of McVoy's previous books, so I was eager to dive into this one. 

Charlotte spends most of her time with boys. She manages and writes songs for a band made up entirely of boys. She has a best friend who's a boy and she studies with another boy. She has never had feelings for any of them until a new boy joins the band. She is suddenly aware that he isn't like the other guys. She isn't sure how to handle the electricity between them.

On top of those new feelings, her best guy friend suddenly begins acting strange and then proceeds to disappear from her life. It's hurtful because they were so close. All this time Charlotte loved how easy it was being friends with boys, particularly considering how some girl friends act.  But lately, the boys are confusing her more and more. What's a girl to do? Being friends with boys may not be so easy anymore.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun book! I remembered some of the qualities I love about McVoy's writing. Her characters are so relatable. Plus, she has a way of perfectly indicating a characters feelings not only with laser sharp dialogue, but also with facial expressions. She has a way of making a scene multi-layered in a way that I really admire.

Also, I want to point out something that I'm not sure other people notice. Most of the main characters names matched their personalities perfectly. I'm not sure I can explain this other than to say that I like the character development right down to the accurate naming of each person. I realize that names can have different connotations for different people. But for me - every single one of these names fit right. I don't necessarily always notice that. But I did here. In addition to the naming, each character feels rich and wonderful.

I enjoyed spending time with Charlotte and all of her boys. The relationship issues between Charlotte, the different boys, and the girls rang true. I related to many of the challenges that came up. I also fell into the same pitfalls as a teen. It was nice to see Charlotte become confident enough to stop worrying about what the popular girls thought of her and to thrive at being herself. I cheered for her as she found and developed the musician within her, and you will too!

Enjoy this wonderful summer read. You will be inspired. You may even wish you could be friends with a few of these characters yourself. I know I do!

And now for a few words from the author Terra Elan McVoy about being friends with boys. She is sharing the top 10 reasons why being friends with boys is different from being friends with girls. I get the pleasure of sharing reason #9 with you right here: 

Differences Between Being Friends With Boys, and Being Friends with Girls 
Terra Elan McVoy Blog Tour 2012

Ever since my novel, Being Friends With Boys was released, I’ve been asked a lot about friendships between guys and girls. Is it possible, for one thing (duh, yes), and how is being friends with boys different than being friends with girls. I happen to be very lucky to have had friendships with both guys and girls all through middle- and high school, and continue to have fantastic friendships with men (and women) to this day. Though I think the value and intensity of guy/girl friendships and girl/girl friendships are definitely equal, there certainly are some differences. Follow my blog tour to read a few of my thoughts on how being friends with boys isn’t quite the same as being friends with girls!

9. It’s easy to confuse liking someone as a friend for liking them another way. For me, this is the biggest problem with being friends with boys. The things we look for in friendship are so, so similar to what we want in a romantic relationship: he makes you laugh, she’s a good listener, you enjoy doing things together, he inspires and challenges you, she remembers things about you, etc. Pretty much the only difference between good friends and good romances is the whole physical fireworks part. So sometimes, especially at the beginning of a friendship, it’s easy to confuse the “Holy cow I really dig this person,” for “Holy cow I want to make out with this person.” Hopefully, if you are truly good friends, there’s room for this confusion in your relationship, and if one or the other of you goes through the mix-up (or even if you both do for awhile), you can work together and get beyond it.

So dear readers, do you agree with Terra? Have you had trouble distinguishing between liking someone and LIKING someone? Can girls and guys really be friends? Of course, this is a centuries old debate. But many women and men make it work quite well. I think it's much harder as a teen, though, having encountered some of these "confusions" myself as a teen. What do you think?

**And now for the chance at a FREE copy of BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS to enjoy for yourself! * * * * Just simply share with us in the comments your opinion of #9 (confusing liking for LIKING). Tell us whatever you'd like. Perhaps you have a funny story about this type of confusion. Or maybe you absolutely KNOW that Girls and Guys CANNOT be friends and that those crazies who claim to be friends are merely lying to themselves. Or maybe you think that OF COURSE they can be friends and why are the rest of us even wasting time asking??

Comment by midnight July 1st. I will then randomly select one of you to receive the prize of a hardback copy of BEING FRIENDS WITH BOYS!!  Go forth and comment!

Connect with the book in the following places:
Goodreads   Terra's Website    Terra's Twitter    
Blog Tour Stops   Lit Logistics

Suzanne Weyn. INVISIBLE WORLD

I adored Suzanne Weyn's DISTANT WAVES, so when I saw this new historical fiction by her, I snatched it up right away.

She chose the Salem Witch Trial era for her setting in INVISIBLE WORLD. Weyn delivers again with rich characters leading adventurous lives.

Elsabeth James has some powers that she isn't altogether sure about. Is she a witch or is she merely a psychic? She isn't certain. But surely having powers can't make you inherently evil, can it? Her father has been experimenting with her powers since she was a young girl. He believes her abilities are explained by science, and he intends to prove it with research and statistics. Her governess, Bronwyn, told her stories about how her grandmother and great grandmother were persecuted for being witches. Bronwyn warns her to be careful, so she doesn't end up in a similar situation.

When a famous scientist offers a research opportunity for Elsabeth and her father, the family sets off on a months long journey from their home in England to America. Elsabeth's journey has several tragic detours until she reaches America. Her life is threatened many times, and she must continually dig deep to find the courage to survive.

I really enjoyed this one! One of the traits I like about Weyn's writing is how she accomplishes so much with few words. It's a "tight" story. She uses just the right amount of words - not too many and not too few. But don't let that fool you; The story still has depth.

The characters come to life brilliantly, as does the setting. As with DISTANT WAVES, this is a story of a particular time in history, but the story becomes so much more. I loved Elsabeth and her relationship with Bronwyn. Plus, you get an idea about people's differing points of view during this time period. We have Elsabeth's scientist father, the Puritans in Salem, as well as the island people and slave owners. Everyone has a different opinion what characteristics prove one is a witch and whether or not a witch is evil. Fascinating!

My review copy is an advance copy from TLA. The book is due out in August. Check it out! This one's great for readers who like historical fiction.

Check out the other books by Suzanne Weyn at her website here.

Neal Shusterman. UNWIND.

I've been hearing about UNWIND for several years. But after hearing Neal Shusterman talk about it on a dystopian panel at TLA this year, I told myself that I would finally read it. I now understand what all the hype was about.

UNWIND is set some years in the future after a second civil war, called the Heartland War, has taken place. The war was fought on one single issue. Abortion.

Peace was only negotiated after a compromise called the "Bill of Life" was created. It was designed to satisfy both the pro-choice and pro-life sides of the war.

No one would be allowed to have an abortion at all. But, when a child reaches the age of thirteen, parents have an option to retroactively "abort" their child. This is called unwinding. When a parent decides to have their child unwound, the decision is final. No appeals. No arguments. It's done.

According to the law, when the decision is made, the child goes to a harvest camp where all of their parts must be saved - 100%. These parts are then used to help others when needed for accidents, disease or any other reason. So, the argument is that this is different from abortion because the child isn't really dying. When a person is unwound, they are still living, but in many different forms and helping other people in the process.

Our main characters Connor, Risa and Lev have all been sentenced to be unwound for various reasons. Connor is a smart kid, but has gotten into a lot of trouble. So his parents decided they'd had enough of him. Risa was an orphan living in the state home and due to budget cuts, they decided they couldn't afford her anymore. Lev was his parent's tenth child and is being unwound as a tithe.

They escape on the way to the harvest camp and discover an underground railroad for other Unwinds. If a teen makes it to eighteen, then they can no longer be unwound. So the goal is to stay hidden until that time.

Yes, the premise seems far-fetched at first, simply because the mere suggestion that a parent could ever want to "be rid of" their child is foreign to most of us. (not to mention heartbreaking) But you see how the society in the book got to this point. It's ridiculous, of course, but that's part of why the book is so relevant today. It's a cautionary tale, for sure.

Shusterman is a brilliant author. These characters are fully formed and alive. The story is fleshed out beautifully. I even appreciated how unique the airplane setting is for a major section of the book. I love the smart conversations among the teens. There was a creepy, devastatingly sad part near the end that I don't want to spoil here, but wow! You definitely will feel a huge range of emotions reading this. You certainly won't ever forget it.

This would make a phenomenal movie! Of course, every time I say that, I find out that a movie is in development, already. And...it's true this time too.
However, the trailer below is not from the forthcoming movie. It's a fan-made book trailer. There are  many, but I picked this one because of the creepy feeling it gives you. Enjoy!

***UPDATE*** Yay, this was good timing! I see there's a sequel due out August 28th! I had no idea it's actually going to be a trilogy. Supercool! Book cover below:

Lisa McMann. CRYER'S CROSS

Cryer's Cross has a unique setting and an interesting main character. The town has a population of 212, which means that our main character Kendall attends a one room high school with only 24 students in all four grades. When one teen girl disappears, it makes a huge impact on such a small community. Foul play is such a rare occurrence. The whole town searches for Tiffany, but after five days there are still no clues and no suspects.

Kendall returns to school and tries to get back into her normal routine, which is a little different from your typical teen. She's OCD, so she likes things just right and in order. Fortunately, this trait may help her solve the mystery of Tiffany's disappearance, because she picks up clues that others miss. When someone close to her disappears, she becomes even more intent on solving they mystery.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It has a touch of romance and a rich sense of setting. I felt at home in this small town. Kendall and her friends and family are interesting and likeable characters. In fact, they really make the book, since there wasn't as much action as you might expect for a mystery. It's also a little creepy (in a good way!) and a lot suspenseful! You'll most likely want to read it in one sitting.

One little note about character names. One character's name is Jacian. Even though the character tells us how to pronounce it, it doesn't feel right to me. I went several pages having trouble pronouncing it in my head. So, I made my own pronunciation and then I was able to go smoothly throughout the rest of the book. Character names that are hard to pronounce annoy me. But, I got over it here. At least we got the character telling us how to pronounce it, which is helpful for sure.

Lisa Mcmann's WAKE trilogy has been popular in my library, so I plan to read those too.

Check out Lisa McMann's websites and her other books here.
You'll get an idea of the creepy-factor when you watch the trailer:

Chrissie Wellington. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS: A World Champion's Journey

"One of the biggest fears of a male pro triathlete is getting 'chicked' by a lady. For the first time in history that fear applies to nearly all male professionals. Chrissie is that good."
-Lance Armstrong

I don't review a lot of nonfiction here, because my main focus is young adult literature. However, from time to time, I feel compelled to share some of the nonfiction I read. This is one of those times.

Everyone loves a great biography, young adults included. And with triathlons becoming more and more popular, this autobiography by Chrissie Wellington is perfect timing.

What I found so astonishing is that Chrissie didn't start at a really young age knowing that wanted to be a professional athlete. In fact, she was 30 when she raced her first triathlon! This is just unheard of for athletes. She had another successful career already. But one thing led to another and she decided to run the London marathon for charity, inspired by a friend. Well, she shocked herself by finishing with a time of 3:08! Uh, yeah. Her first marathon.

Then she went on to do pretty well in triathlons, but then her coach signed her up for her first Ironman to be raced only 10 months after becoming a triathlete. She went on to win that Ironman.  She proceeded to race 12 Ironmans after that. And she has won every single one. (4 of those being the Kona World Championship). It's pretty accurate to say that she's a talented athlete. But what's really inspiring is how many obstacles she's had in her races. She's crashed in a race and still come back to win. She's had flat tires in races and still come back to win. She's had broken bones and cracked ribs too close to race day, but still went on to win. It's flat out inspiring whether you're an athlete or not.

Since I'm a newbie to triathlons myself (1 year), I knew I would enjoy this book. But I really had no idea what I was in for. I was happy that I didn't know beforehand much about Chrissie, because I really enjoyed the suspense while reading. Another inspiring aspect of Chrissie is her heart. Her former career involved social development in poverty stricken areas of the world. Now that she has a voice, she's involved in several charities. She has said many times that champions come and go, but whether she does something positive with her success is what really matters.

Here's a snippet from her website:

"Sport has a tremendous power – and can be a force for considerable change. I feel very strongly that as a professional triathlete my impact and message should be wider than my performance on the race course, and last longer than my athletic career.

Triathlon is unique in that the professional athletes get to compete simultaneously with the amateur athletes. And as much as many athletes are inspired by the accomplishments of the professionals, we too are encouraged and inspired by the amateurs that we get to share the stage with."

She's an incredibly inspiring person, as well as an inspiring athlete. The book is well-written. I enjoyed the flow of the storytelling. Chrissie's honesty about her early challenges with eating disorders will be helpful to many readers. I also feel how funny she is and know for sure that she would be a lot of fun to hang out with!

This is a champion's story you won't soon forget.
For more about Chrissie go here to her website.

Rae Carson. THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS: 300th BOOK REVIEWED!!

What a wonderful book to mark this milestone! THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS is the 300th book I've reviewed for this blog. And it happens to be a spectacular debut by Rae Carson!

Elisa is the bearer of the Godstone, the chosen one. One person is chosen every hundred years to bear the stone and perform an act of service for her people. Elisa still wonders why she was chosen when her graceful, beautiful sister, Alodia, seems like the more obvious choice. Even though they are both daughters of the king, Alodia seems more the natural princess.

Elisa is even more confused when her father marries her off to become queen in the neighboring kingdom. Surely her sister is the more appropriate daughter to help rule an entire country. But when she realizes that her new husband wants her to be the savior for his people, she begins to understand her role. In fact, she's just getting used to the idea of being a wife and queen when her life takes a huge detour. During the detour, she begins to realize just how many groups are hunting for the "chosen one" and that some do not care whether they find their prey dead or alive. 

The continual challenges thrown Elisa's way help to build her confidence. She slowly begins to realize that she is more than a frumpy little sister. She begins to realize that only she can help her people with the coming war. Even so, Elisa still worries whether she will succeed in her act of service or if she will she fail herself and everyone counting on her.

Elisa is one of my favorite characters in recent years. She is smart, spunky, and never complains when she is challenged beyond what she thinks she can handle. I also love the new friends that she makes. There are many layers to uncover with a few of the characters. The story is so engaging that it kept me up late flipping pages anxious to find out what would happen next. 

Read it! Trust me on this - you will adore Elisa, her friends, and her story. 

Read more about the author at her gorgeous website here. I'm thrilled to discover that this is the first novel in a trilogy. The sequel is due out in September. Plus, we get a digital novelette in July! It's a prequel told from the point of view of Elisa's sister, Alodia. I can't wait!

Check out the video of the author's teaser video below:

Deb Caletti. THE STORY OF US

Cricket has just graduated high school, but is still pondering if she’s going away to college. She is torn between spreading her wings or staying home. In addition to her life being at a crossroads, two relationships in her life are also evolving. Cricket has just told her longtime boyfriend, Janssen, that she isn’t sure about their future. Plus, her mother is getting married. Her mother has been at the threshold of marriage twice before just before suddenly ditching those previous boyfriends. Cricket feels anxious for her mother. She hopes this marriage will work. Cricket, her brother Ben, and their mother go stay at a bed and breakfast for the wedding. They meet up with extended family, as well as her future family members.

Deb Caletti is really stretching her legs in this novel. It feels more complex than her books. She uses an interesting technique to tell the story of Cricket and Janssen. Since Cricket is separated from him, she writes him letters. Their love story is revealed through these letters as she is telling him how she got to this point in their relationship. The novel is told in alternating chapters between her letters and the events leading up to the wedding.

The novel is character driven, as expected from Deb Caletti. It’s contemplative and philosophical. I felt Cricket’s ambivalence to moving on with her life. I vividly remember that point in my life when I had moved out of my family home and needed to take that next step. I feel Cricket’s trepidation about leaving her family and her entire life.

I continue to love Deb Caletti’s writing. She brilliantly picks just the right word at the right time. Again, I have beautiful quotes to share:

Doesn’t this perfectly capture that feeling when you've just graduated high school:

“Gavin said, you could be anyone now that you graduated? You could sit inside the warm, familiar room of someone’s idea of you. Or you could step out the front door and see if they’d been right, or wrong, all along.”

So insightful:

“Egos were hungry things. Like Ben and Janssen, you could feed it breakfast, and a half hour later it would want pizza. You could start out using and end up being used, and by the time I got back up to the house, Amy and Hailey seemed full and happy, and I felt nothing but empty and exhausted.”

My favorite:

“Stories are what you have when the place is gone and the dried-up roses have crumbled and the ring is lost and that old car is finally junked. Stories are where the meaning ends up.”

THE STORY OF US is beautiful, insightful and thoughtful book. Check out Deb Caletti and her other books here. I really loved STAY and THE FORTUNES OF INDIGO SKYE

Summer Reading (some required)

Summer is a time to put your feet up and relax! Hopefully this includes lots and lots of reading.We have several suggestions for summer reading, but first, let's get the required reading out of the way. Go here for the required summer lists. For other reading ideas, check out the many ideas available on the "Books & Reading" LibGuide. (link below picture). In addition, don't forget about the downloadable eBooks!

Need a Good Book? - Books & Reading - LibGuides at The John Cooper Upper School Library via kwout

Robison Wells. FEEDBACK

It's the sequel to VARIANT, yay! I snagged an advance copy at the Texas Library Association conference, and I got it autographed. So that was super cool!

If you read Variant, you know that it ended with quite a shocking cliff-hanger. If you did not read Variant, please avert your eyes now! Otherwise, you will be spoiled. You've been warned.

If you remember when we left Benson, he had just escaped with Becky from Maxfield Academy. Shortly thereafter, he came across a little town outside the gate where he saw Jane. You know, the Jane who had been previously discovered to be a robot when they killed her inside of the school.

In FEEDBACK, we learn why Jane is in the town. We also see many more people from the school in the town. There is a much bigger, scarier scenario going on then Benson could've imagined. But the Benson we all know and love comes up with a plan.

This sequel is just as exciting as the first book. The plot thickens. Benson is put to the test over and over again. His dogged determination seems to make him stronger and stronger with each challenge. I enjoyed seeing his relationship with Becky blossom. Again, the action gets exciting near the end and we're left with another cliff-hanger! The last half of the book had me flipping pages at lightning speed. I can't wait to see what more people thing of the ending!

FEEDBACK is due out in October. Mark your calendars. And if you haven't read VARIANT yet, get on it!

Check out Robison Wells at his website.

Download eBooks from our library catalog!

It's finally here! The digital reader app that we've been waiting for is ready to go. Check out the slideshow to see how you can download eBooks to your iPad or Android tablet from our mobile library catalog.
*This means you can read library eBooks over the summer!*

Let us know how it goes for you. We're still testing it out ourselves, so if you find something not acting as it should, please let us know.

You know this means that you're free to check out books even over the summer. Enjoy! :)

Lisa Scottoline. LOOK AGAIN

After so many dystopians and fantasies, I was ready for a mystery! I had heard that Lisa Scottoline was going to be on a lunch panel that I attended at the Texas Library Association Conference last week, so I wanted to read one of her books. I'm so glad I did. I have another great mystery writer to recommend!

Ellen Gleeson's life changes dramatically one day because of a postcard in the mail. The postcard has a picture of a young boy with a caption that says, "Have you seen this child?" The picture looks remarkably like her own son. She decides to let it go. Surely it's a coincidence.

However, being a reporter, it was really hard for Ellen to let it go. She began researching her son's adoption. As she digs deeper and deeper, she gets a sinking feeling about the whole situation. What would she do if indeed her son wasn't really her son. What if he was kidnapped? What would she do with that information?

That's really all I need to say. I don't want to spoil any more of the plot, and it's a pretty intriguing concept without me saying much more.

I loved it! It was an emotional ride. I enjoyed the journey with Ellen. Of course, since I'm a mother, I could feel her anguish. There were real unexpected emotional sections that pulled at my heart. Ellen is a great character! I loved her boss and her father too. Anyone who picks this one up won't be able to put it down!

This is an adult mystery, but appropriate for high school teens.

Check out Lisa Scottolline and her other books here.

Lauren DeStefano. WITHER

Rhine and her twin brother are orphans because their parents were killed in a bombing at their medical facilities. They were working on a cure for the disease that has infected the human race. Females die at the age of 20, while males die at the age of 25.

The virus has caused a trend of kidnapping young girls and selling them to polygamous men who are anxious to bear offspring before they die. The men want to carry on the future generations, in hopes for a cure. For many of the girls, who are orphans living on the street, it's a better life for them.

But for Rhine, it's not a better life. Even though the life that her and her brother lead is tough, she is free. Unfortunately, she is tricked into answering an ad for a job and gets kidnapped. She's snatched with a group of other girls to a secret location. Three of the girls end up at a mansion where they are set up to become brides of Linden Ashby. His current bride is 20 and ill, so Linden's father is getting back ups for him.

Rhine realizes that she will be trapped there for the rest of her life, if she doesn't find a way to escape. The other two girls don't seem bothered by it. They even seemed enamored with the glitzy life they will lead at the mansion. However, Rhine is determined to escape and find her brother. She doesn't care about the money, the parties, and the fancy clothes. She just wants her freedom.

Authors are getting very creative with dystopians. I thought I'd heard it all, yet this book is very original. The idea that we could eventually genetically alter humans is intriguing. Furthermore, positing that doing so could have a greater negative impact is certainly plausible to me.

This book is well written. The inner conflict that Rhine feels is realistic and honest. The other characters are believable. The variety of reactions to being kidnapped and forced to marry are portrayed well in the other two girls. The are mysteries to uncover, as well as puzzles to solve. I loved it! I'm anxious to read the next book in the trilogy. It's called FEVER.

From what I can tell, this is Lauren DeStefano's first book. We've had a lot of great first books recently! There is a great new crop of authors out there today. Certainly, DeStefano is one to watch.

Check out the author's website here, and the website for the trilogy here.