Teens

Teens

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Book Review: Afterworlds

Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies series, the Midnighters series, Leviathan series, and Peeps has just come out with a new book, a whopping 600 pages!

Afterworlds
Scott Westerfeld


Afterworlds

Darcy has just gotten the letter that her book, that she wrote in one month, will be published by Paradox.  Entering the world of adults (Darcy being only 17), she must traverse the world of authors, YA Heaven, and the relationships, stress, and enlightenment of her new situation.

Alternately, every other chapter, we read Darcy's story that will be published.  Lizzie experiences a near death experience at the hands of terrorists, and she can now see spirits and travel to the "flipside" where ghosts roam.  She meets the Lord of Death, Yama, who she feels a strong connection to, but must decide to remain among the living or the dead.

This suspense thriller is an on the edge of your seat kind of story.  What starts off as a kick to the seat of your pants with a mass murder only gets better and more intriguing as Lizzie must solve a 30 year old murder.  On the other side, Darcy's life is crazy, and it seems like a pretty good inside view for a young YA author.  There is drama and stress, and some things readers may not ever think about when it comes to getting a book published.

However, I never quite figured out the point of having Lizzie's story as part of the book, other than the fact that Darcy's part of the story could not stand alone without the presence of Lizzie's story, thus making the book 600 pages long.  At times, I was left wondering the importance of both parts, but because Lizzie's story was so incredible and enrapturing, I didn't mind the fact that it was juxtaposed with Darcy's life.


Friday, February 27, 2015

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

I found this awhile back, then rediscovered it last week...This student is my favorite student on the planet.



For those of you who have never heard of Rick Astley (most everyone who reads this blog), he is a 1980s wonder! Check out the original video and song that is quoted in the above essay...




Thursday, February 26, 2015

War on Ignorance

One of my favorite memes:


If you don't read, you probably have something wrong with you :-p

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

17 Problems Only Book Lovers Will Understand

I found this incredible link! It's SO true!
17 Problems Only Book Lovers Will Understand


Let me know if any of these apply to you!

Here are a few of my favorites:

When someone interrupts your reading.

17 Problems Only Book Lovers Will Understand

When someone you like tells you they don’t like to read.

17 Problems Only Book Lovers Will Understand



When a book makes you cry hysterically in public and everyone thinks you’re crazy.

17 Problems Only Book Lovers Will Understand




Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Book Review: Battle For Wondla

Wondla! Derived from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in a futuristic Earth, Battle For Wondla finishes in the story of Eva Nine

Battle For Wondla
Tony DiTerlizzi
The Battle For WondLa (WondLa, #3) 

All hope for a peaceful coexistence between humankind and aliens seems lost in the third installment of the WondLa trilogy. Eva Nine has gone into hiding for fear of luring the wicked Loroc to her companions. However, news of the city Solas being captured by the human leader, Cadmus Pryde, forces Eva into action once again. With help from an unlikely ally, Eva tries to thwart Loroc’s ultimate plan for both mankind and the alien life on Orbona.

I have always been a fan of Tony DiTerlizzi, every since I read the Spiderwick Chronicles.  This book sounded so great, I had to go through the whole series! I absolutely love the artwork throughout all of these books--it really adds to the story that they are all black and white with pale orange in some spots.  

This story started out amazing, continued amazingly in the second book, and blew my mind in this one.  The idea of Earth, having struggled and humans having to hide underground is a great enough concept.  But we have heard stories of Humans traveling to other planets and terraforming, but it is rare that we have a story where other lifeforms terraform Earth.  This is a refreshing take on Science Fiction.

Eva Nine has grown throughout these 3 books.  DiTerlizzi has done an amazing job at pacing Eva's growth physically, mentally, and emotionally. Eva's transformation is believable as is her growth in her multiple relationships.

This book WILL NOT disappoint, and the sooner you read it, the better.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Harry Potter Awesome-Sauce


So, I found some great memes on Pinterest last night--thanks Mary and Sidney! Below, prepare to have a good ole chuckle!

More true than you know.

 (Mulan meets Harry Potter)



Then BAM! He's Bilbo Baggins! Best British actor ever!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Book Review: Vitro

I fell in love with the writing of Jessica Khoury when I read Origin last year.  She captures Science Fiction and conspiracies perfectly, and Vitro is no exception.

Vitro
Jessica Khoury





Vitro (Corpus, #2)

From Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17617762-vitro?from_search=true

On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.

Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. With the help of Jim Julien, a young charter pilot, she arrives--and discovers a terrifying secret she never imagined: she has a Vitro twin, Lux, who is the culmination of Corpus's dangerous research.

Now Sophie is torn between reuniting with the mother who betrayed her and protecting the genetically enhanced twin she never knew existed. But untangling the twisted strands of these relationships will have to wait, for Sophie and Jim are about to find out what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.


 Let me start off by saying, I did not stop reading this book except to go to the bathroom and sleep...though I stayed up until 3am reading, and I was able to eat while reading!

Jessica Khoury is a great YA author for a few reasons: she is NOT a cookie cutter author--sure there is a love story, and good vs. evil, but she knows her science.  She knows her plot. She knows her characters.  She doesn't say "Hey! Teens love werewolves, let's write a book about them!" No.  She works outside the box to create a REAL story with depth.  There are secrets and betrayals that you may not even see coming.

Vitro works with teens as science experiments--where adults think they know what they are doing, all the while, not taking into account that these teens are real people. There is a good deal of Science "mumbo-jumbo" but Khoury explains it in terms that teens can completely understand, and can even use that information to solve the real conspiracy before the end of the book.

I have yet to buy these books for MCPL...I had to go to Goshen...but they are on my cart and should be here momentarily!

Here is the 3rd book:
Kalahari (Corpus, #3)

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Book Review: One for the Murphys

The next book for the NMS Young Hoosier Book club is One for the Murphys...and this book is riveting! Realistic fiction isn't usually my forte, but I definitely go in to this one.

One For the Murphys
Lynda Mullaly Hunt

One for the Murphys 


Twelve-year-old Carley Connors can take a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving mother, she's learned to be tough. But she never expected a betrayal that would land her in a foster care. When she's placed with the Murphys, a lively family with three boys, she's blindsided. Do happy families really exist? Carley knows she could never belong in their world, so she keeps her distance.

It's easy to stay suspicious of Daniel, the brother who is almost her age and is resentful she's there. But Mrs. Murphy makes her feel heard and seen for the first time, and the two younger boys seem determinded to work their way into her heart. Before she knows it, Carley is protected the boys from a neighbourhood bullly and even teaching Daniel how to play basketball. Then just when she's feeling like she could truly be one of the Murphys, news from her mother shakes her world.

This is a cute, intense story of a girl struggling in the foster system.  While I was not a foster child, and I am not sure I have ever known any foster children, the story still struck a chord.  Carley has a very rough couple of years and finally she has gotten out of a dangerous situation.  You would think she would be happy, but Hunt explains that this may not be the case for foster children.  The way they think, because of their circumstances, have a different outlook on how things in the real world operate.

This story is a tear-jerker for sure, but Hunt captivates the reader from the start with real issues and situations that run rampant in the U.S.  This story, while fiction, helps teach readers what it means to be a foster kid, the challenges they face, the lies they must tell to stay strong, and the love that is potentially available to them...

So grab some tissues and check out this book!

Friday, February 20, 2015

Book Review: Perfect Lies

I'm finally catching up with all the series I have started! So this book is the second book of the series written by Kiersten White.

Perfect Lies
Kiersten White
Perfect Lies (Mind Games, #2) 

Following the first story, Mind Games, Annie is now with the Lerner center and Fia is back with the Keane school.  Annie must remain hidden--the Keane Institute believes her to be dead at the hands of Fia. 

Fia must team up with James and a new friend, "Pixie" to bring down the Keane Institute and stop the misuse of those girls that have special powers and abilities. 

When Annie sees the death of Keane and her sister, she must come out of hiding to change the future she has seen.

 White has an interesting story plot that I have not quite seen in YA fiction, which gives her brownie points right off the bat. The story continues with some new twists, and White avoids creating the same story she did in the first book, which is sometimes the downfall of YA writers.  Annie and Fia have switched places and they now experience things the other did in the first book, but it is twisted in a way that it doesn't seem like you are reading the exact same story over again.

I love the way Annie (who is blind) becomes a stronger, more independent woman.  She starts the series off as a timid, shy, and weak girl that hides in her room most of the time.  Now she is blindly kicking butt and taking down the villains and standing up for herself and her sister.  She gets to play the hero in this second book, and it rocks my face off!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Book Review: Mind Games

I recently read a new series by Kiersten White, called Mind Games...check it out!

Mind Games
Kiersten White

Goodreads summery:   Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

This was an interesting read--not quite what I expected, but not bad by any means.  The story switches back and forth between Annie and Fia, and jump back and forth in time to tell the story and fill in gaps.  At first, I thought this would bother me, that the timeline is all screwed up, but White uses this technique so you only find out parts of the story when you need to.  This may make the story confusing, but it adds to the plot line.

Of course there is a love story.  No surprise there, but at least you see James as the jerk he really is, and the relationship with Adam is subdued, subtle, not in your face make out sessions and declarations of love that no teen could understand in the first place.

This story messes with your brain, and you gotta keep up, but it's well worth the read!  

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Book Review: Hades, Lord of the Dead

I'm starting to really enjoy graphic novels. I finally see the appeal. I'm still trying Manga...that's more difficult. Anyway, I got a head start on one of the Young Hoosiers for Book Club.

Hades, Lord of the Dead
George O'Conner

This is a graphic novelization of the story of the Greek God, Hades, who rules the Underworld.  It tells the story of how he kidnaps the daughter of the Goddess of Agriculture.  Persephone must decide if she wants to stay with Hades, and when she eats the fruit of the Underworld, (her choice), she creates the seasons--Fall/Winter when Persephone is away from her mother and her mother is in distress.  Spring/Summer when Persephone can come stay with her mother.

I'm totes in love with this story--not just this particular graphic novel, but the story of Persephone in general.  At first, she HATES Hades, and with good reason.  But Hades is misunderstood. Yeah, he messed up, but Zeus kicked him down into the Underworld to be the most detested God from Olympus.  Seriously, I feel for the guy.  So he sees a beautiful, kind woman, and wants to marry her.  Yes, Hades, you could have gone about that better, but still! He legitimately falls in love her, tries to give her everything her heart desires, and he is rewarded because she falls in love with him! Love, LOVE IT! It kind of reminds me of Beauty and the Beast.  Give Hades a chance.  He CAN be a good guy. And now, with a woman at his side, he is in tip top shape!

Thank you, George O'Connor for added amazing graphics to this story to really bring it to life! I love the changes we see in Persephone, and O'Connor know his mythology.  He explains a ton about Greek beliefs.  I think you will enjoy this one! He has the rest of the series here:



Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Book Review: The Program

I started another series, God help me.  I can't keep up with all these series! However, here is another futuristic story where Depression and Suicide have become an epidemic.

The Program
Suzanne Young


Sloane is a teenage girl with a loving boyfriend and best friend.  But there is an epidemic running rampant among teens.  Supposedly, depression and suicide are now an infection, and it's spreading.  The Program has been put in place to help those showing signs of depression---which means teens can't cry or get frustrated in front of the handlers.  They can show no emotion, lest they be misinterpreted as depression and taken to the Program.

The Program seems like it should help, but those who come back are empty shells.  They have lost every memory that had a negative connotation associated with it.  Friends forget friends and boyfriends.  When Sloane is taken by the Program, she must fight to keep her memories at all costs.

This is a FANTASTIC premise for a teen book.  Suicide and Depression are HUGE these days.  The story comes up with the theory of doctors and parents that it is an infection spread much like a virus.  It seems like a misunderstanding of the turmoil teens go through.  You get so frustrated throughout the story, because you KNOW what should happen to help these teens, but it's always the Program that determines the rules.

This modern take on depression is especially important, and I love the way everything was twisted, between Sloane dating her brother's best friend, her brother's suicide, entry into the program, and trying to remember her boyfriend after being released.  There is so much going on in this book, and I can't quite figure out who to trust! Luckily, there is a second book to the series! Here it is:



Monday, February 16, 2015

Book Review: In a Glass Grimmly

Another Young Hoosier and the second in the series!

In a Glass Grimmly
Adam Gidwitz
In a Glass Grimmly (A Tale Dark & Grimm, #2) 
More Grimm tales await in the harrowing, hilarious companion to a beloved new classic

Take caution ahead—
Oversize plant life, eerie amphibious royalty, and fear-inducing creatures abound.

Lest you enter with dread.
Follow Jack and Jill as they enter startling new landscapes that may (or may not) be scary, bloody, terrifying, and altogether true.

Step lively, dear reader . . .
Happily ever after isn’t cutting it anymore.

In this companion novel to Adam Gidwitz’s widely acclaimed, award-winning debut, A Tale Dark & Grimm, Jack and Jill explore a new set of tales from the Brothers Grimm and others, including Jack and the Beanstalk and The Frog Prince

Adam Gidwitz is a most hilarious storyteller, and I am very excited to have been able to read this second book of his series.  The only part I am not totally sold on is Gidwitz's interjections throughout the book.  I know he is trying to be funny and making sure the reader is following along, but as a 27-year-old, I find this redundant.  However, the age group it's meant for, this is probably one of the coolest parts of the book.

I love that Gidwitz twists fairy tales we have known our whole lives.  But he doesn't stop there, he intertwines ALL of those fairy tales into ONE big fat amazing story.  You don't just get the Frog Princess or Jack and Jill. You get the Frog Princess who is a brat, has a daughter (Jill) whose cousin is Jack who must work together to retrieve a mirror from the Giant on top of the beanstalk.  This book is one crazy ride, and you MUST check out!
 For those of you who come to craft night, or may be interested in starting, here is a preview for our March 5 Craft Night! We will be using old Altoid tins to be making candles, lip balm, travel Lego kits, and mini terrariums.  I will have ALL of the supplies, so you don't have to worry about anything.
If you'd LIKE to contribute materials, I am accepting:
     old lipsticks
     lego pieces
     altoid tins
     
Sign up at the library, call Kelsey at the library, or here: http://mdypl.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx





Sunday, February 15, 2015

Fun Memes

 I found these on Pinterest. I am on this website WAY more than I probably should be....

 How many of you have done this!? Fortunately, I have a few times, but most of the time, I have no idea where I am. I do this a lot before bed. I read until I fall asleep, but never marked my spot.

If you know me, you know that this IS Hell! LEARN YOUR ABCs, KIDS!

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Origami with the Teens

Last Thursday was Craft Night at the library.  It was the make-up origami program that got canceled last month due to weather.  I had 9 amazing teens show up to make:

Jumping Frog

Pecking Chicken

Lotus Flower

Inflatable Bunny



 Best Buds, Hannah and Chris


 Omar's Inflatable Bunny                                                      Mary's frog

 Origami Zoo!

AMAZING TEENS! LOVE THEM!



Friday, February 13, 2015

Ryan Gosling

2 Things I love: reading in bed with my cat and Ryan Gosling...

 FYI, "MARC" is the program in which I catalog all your books...


Thursday, February 12, 2015

Throwback Thursday

Well, I was going through some pictures for Mrs. Schmidt for her scrapbook up at NMS, and I found some stellar pictures from 2011-2012.  Here are the following Million Word Readers from this school year!

                                        Grace                                                                                                                                                                                    Hannah


                                 Jacob                                                                                                                                                                                     Mary


  Sidney

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Book Review: The Tinker King

Series are all over the YA age group...and you have to try to read them close together...I had a hard time remembering this series, so in the future, I need to read them one after the other.

The Tinker King
Tiffany Trent
The Tinker King (The Unnaturalists, #2)
Goodreads Summary:  After Vespa, Syrus and Bayne defeated the Grue and restored order to their world, they thought their future was secure. Empress Olivia, committed to peace and equality for humans and Elementals alike, was a fair and just ruler. And the Creeping Waste had vanished for good, giving them hope for the first time.

But rebellion is brewing in the far-off city of Scientia, and dark Elementals are plotting war in the ruins of New London. When a wave of unimaginable terror threatens to destroy everything in its path, Vespa, Syrus and their friends are plunged into a new swamp of intrigue, deception and magic---and the cost of survival may be more than any of them are willing to pay.


This whole series is set in the "Steampunk" genre, which I have a lot of respect for.  They generally combine magic with science/invention, and it is, in general, a really cool aspect of literature.

This series struggles a bit, I think, to be continuous.  This may be because I read the first story so long ago.  The story is told from a first person narrative of one person, and a third person narrative of the rest of the characters.  This varies from chapter to chapter and makes the general story hard to understand and stay dedicated to reading.  However, this narration style is also helpful to the story, because you see behind the mind of Syrus, the Tinker.  You understand his past, what he has gone through, and the feelings he tries to hide from Olivia.  It was a gamble from the author to do this, and I think if you concentrate on the story, the narrative will not be a big deal to you.

I do like this story because there IS magic combined with science/invention.  The four main characters work together using their different talents to overcome the Darkness and the Spider people. There is a lot of action and mystery involved in this plot, and I think teens interested in this genre, or even high fantasy or SciFi will be impressed with this book!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

LeVar Burton!!!

Oh my gosh O my gosh O my gosh! I met LeVar Burton last weekend! He is one of my heroes! He is the host of Reading Rainbow.  He starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Roots.  He has kickstarted a new Reading Rainbow program, and written a new book.  This man is the bomb.

 THAT'S HIM! I'M SO CLOSE!


 This is his new book that he read to all of us librarians! AND it's about a RHINO! This is my favorite animal!



 LeVar is reading his new book!  It deals with depression, but for kids.  It's appropriate and on level.  His rationale: "The rhino is the most fearsome and strongest animal in the animal kingdom.  If something can take down a rhino (depression), then it's (depression) strong enough to take down anyone.  No one is completely immune to depression."

A lot of inspiration for this book came from Fred Rogers (Mr. Roger's Neighborhood).  Rogers was an Army veteran who fought in WWII and suffered PTSD and depression that lasted his whole life.  Rogers died in 2003 due to stomach cancer.  Why did he always wear cardigans on the show?--Not only does it look cool, but he had tattoos all over his arms that he didn't want to show children on TV.

   Yep, he signed my book. I look like a little girl all giggly! Poor guy in the back had to be in all of the pictures :(

Monday, February 9, 2015

Young Hoosier Book Club--Lions of Little Rock

Another Young Hoosier Book Club at the middle school today! This month was for Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine.  We had a GREAT time exercising our brain rather than our brawn today.  We learned about segregation, racism, and life in the 1950s.  We also raced to fill out 3x3 and 4x4 magic squares!

Check out the good times!



 8th Grade





6th Grade












7th Grade