The first one is titled The Eternal Smile by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Derek Kirk Kim.

Yang is also the author of the influential and award-winning graphic novel American Born Chinese.

The Eternal Smile is actually a collection of 3 short stories, each with a fantasy-meets-reality spin. The first short story is "Duncan's Kingdom." Without giving away too much, it begins with a medieval knight named Duncan who is fighting frog creatures to woo a princess. The story in reality is so much more, and in 55 pages, you see Duncan's world unravel and learn how things are not what they seem. But in a really cool way.

"Gran'pa Greenbax and the Eternal Smile" looks at a frog with a Scrooge complex, Gran'pa Greenbax, and how far he will go to fulfil his dreams of wealth beyond belief. This story investigates evangelical hypocrisy, greed, wish fulfilment, religion and reality television by poking fun at these unlikeable characters and making us look inward as well.

"Urgent Request" was my favorite story of the three. Cubicle worker Janet Oh receives one of those awful spam e-mails asking her to send money to the prince of Nigeria. In return, she will receive a cut of his riches when he can pay her back. Common sense dictates that we deny the request, but what happens when you follow the fantasy? The simple grayscale artwork compliments the story of Janet and her prince and the passive behavior she exhibits. You will want to wring her neck at some points, but that fits with her character growing until the end. It was a charming story.

A Family Secret by Eric Heuvel.
There is a sea of Holocaust literature out there, and much of it is excellent. In order to stand out, a new work needs to have either a unique angle or excellent quality. I felt that A Family Secret had both elements. The unique angle in this case was the combination of a graphic novel format and the voice of a girl from Holland. Although Maus is known as the benchmark Holocaust graphic novel, this story is definitely more appropriate for a YA audience.

The story is told mainly as a a series of flashbacks from a grandmother to her grandson. Helena Van Dort's wartime experience is documented in her journal and left in her attic for her grandson Jeroen to discover many years later. Here Helena's family secret is more of an omission from her history rather than something she's trying to hide.
The details of her childhood in Nazi occupied Holland are emotional as she struggles with her family to do what is right and stay safe. There are strong family rifts over how to handle their loyalty to the Nazis and to their family friends who are Jewish. Her father is a policeman, forced to join the party, and later seen as a collaborator. One of her brothers joins the German army while the other joins the Dutch resistance. Helena herself ties herself to the resistance and never forgets when her Jewish best friend was taken away from her.

The story is well told and the artwork is very skillful. The Dutch view of the war is not often covered - with the exception of the famous story of Anne Frank. There are also references to Helena's relatives in Japanese-occupied Indonesia, which I found interesting. A dark time in history rediscovered and retold in an ultimately hopeful way.

Enjoy!
Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

Marcelo, (pronounced MarSELLo and NOT MarCHelo) is a 17-year-old boy with high-functioning Asperger's syndrome. He literally marches to the beat of his own music - that is, the music he hears in his head - and is quite comfortable with the life he is used to. He is sheltered and content in many ways by attending a special-needs school called Paterson, where he even has the opportunity to work with ponies. However, his father is less than content with coddling Marcelo and strikes up a deal: Marcelo can choose to work at Paterson with the ponies in the summer and attend regular public high school in the fall or he can work at his father's law firm in the mailroom over the summer and go back to Paterson in the fall. Marcelo bravely decides to take on the mailroom to force himself out of his comfort zone and into the "real world".

Marcelo is a likeable character, written with such care and research that his personality and heart shine through his disability. His Asperger's syndrome is, in many ways, his gift. He has a "special interest" in religion and classical music and engages in theological discussions with his friend the rabbi. He also has the ability to uncover the truth of a situation and follow his moral compass, even if there are difficult consequences.

Through his experiences at the law firm and from the friendship he develops with his co-worker Jasmine, Marcelo slowly starts to blossom. He finds a place in the real world, and as the reader, I found myself wanting to protect him. But you can't. Ultimately that is what's great about growing up: you become stronger when you force yourself to do something that scares you. Even if you fail, you have succeeded in the sense that you have put yourself out there and conquered a fear.

This book has an uplifting message but doesn't sugar coat the evil that can exist in the everyday actions of people. Overall, Marcelo in the Real World is a really well-written and highly recommended book. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up winning some awards next year.

Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

There's a new book that has been haunting me lately - Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. From the publisher's description:

"In late nineteenth-century New York state, wealthy sixteen-year-old twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe find that they are on opposite sides of an ancient prophecy that has destroyed their parents and seeks to do even more harm."

This first book in a planned triilogy has all the right makings for a spooky fall tale. Let's see: a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other since the dawn of time? Check. A chilly gothic setting with old-fashioned and formal language? Check. The fate of a legion of lost souls hanging in the balance? Check. Yes, it fulfills many spooktacular requirements.

What I really enjoyed was how well-developed the characters are and the many plot twists that kept the novel from being stale and clichéd. Even though the book centers around a battle between good vs. evil, the main characters are not so black and white. Lia has a good heart, yet was born into a role she does not wish to fulfill. Alice seems evil from the beginning, but you sympathize with the fact that she ultimately cannot help her calling. The supporting characters, such as Lia's friends Sonia and Luisa, infuse some warmth and humor into the story and are instantly likeable.

Although the first book spends a lot of time world-building to set the stage for more action to follow, it is a world I very much enjoyed visiting and hope to return. This is definitely a book to curl up with under a fluffy blanket on a cool autumn night.

Sharon Long

Book review by: Anam Tariq

Nadio and Noelle are fraternal twins; add in Keeley, heir childhood friend and you get a perfect family. But when Keeley goes to Oxford, one summer vacation, everything changes. Noelle begins to feel lonely, afraid of being left behind, that she begins to hang out with shady characters to fill the gap in her heart. However, once Keeley arrives back from her trip, she too is different, in that she isn't open about her trip. In fact she's afraid to speak about her experience. Nadio is at a loss, as to what to do...how should he protect his sister and in the meantime protect his new found love with Keeley?

This is What I Want to Tell You, by Heather Duffy Stone, is a great teen novel portraying elements of love, loneliness, and desperation. Not to mention that High School life is always hectic. The novel is told in two points of views - Noelle and Nadio, giving an insight to Noelle's and Nadio's life and emotions. "Why don't people ever see the way other kinds of love can wreck you? What about the way being left out of love can wreck you?"

Some books have an opening line that just hooks you and draws you in. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to post some creepy favorites.

1 - "3 May. Bistritz--Left Munich at 8.35 P.M. on 1st May, arriving at Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6.46, but train was an hour late."

2 - "You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings."

3 - "It was a dark and stormy night."

4 - "When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning or in rain?"

5 - "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."

6 - "Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house."

7 - "I'd never given much thought to how I would die--though I'd had reason enough in the last few months--but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this."

8 - "My name is Darren Shan. I'm a half-vampire."

9 - "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."

10 - "Once upon a time, not so long ago a monster came to the small town of Castle Rock."

Can you guess the books?

Here are the answers:
1 - Dracula, Bram Stoker
2 - Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley
3 - A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle
4 - Macbeth, William Shakespeare
5 - 1984, George Orwell
6 - Coraline, Neil Gaiman
7 - Twilight, Stephenie Meyer
8 - Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, Darren Shan
9 - The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
10 - Cujo, Stephen King

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, collected from folklore and retold by Alvin Schwartz; illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, collected from folklore and retold by Alvin Schwartz; illustrations by Stephen Gammell.

These books haunted my childhood! Okay, these books are in the children’s room, but are still spooky enough for teens. C’mon, look at the cover illustrations! Spine-tingling! The illustrations throughout are enough to keep you up at night. The stories are collected from American folklore and have an urban legend feel to them. Familiar favorites that you might have heard in some form already include the Babysitter and the Hook. Definitely worth a re-read if you’re a fan of spooky stories. If you’ve never heard of this series, you need to pick up a copy ASAP.

Also worth noting, since we just celebrated Banned Books Week - this series of books has been one of the top ten most challenged books on the American Library Association’s list of banned and challenged books for being too violent, insensitive and inappropriate for its target age group. That's pretty awesome.

Another great blast from the past are the books from R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series. These fast, horror paperbacks are just the right amount of scary for a chilly fall evening. I remember reading The Stepsister and The Knife from my own teen years, but there are tons of other (humorously titled) tales such as:

The Dead Lifeguard and

Scream, Jennifer, Scream that you can pick up.

Classic horror never goes out of style, so why not take a look at the originals:

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?

You can always watch the old movies afterwards.

Old-school Halloween can be as scary or cheesy as you choose – just have fun!

Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

We all have to battle our angels and demons in some way, but here are a crop of new books that are LITERALLY about angels and demons battling each other.

Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill

The devil is in the details. When, after a demon appears to repossess her car, she discovers that both the car and her soul were given as collateral in a deal made with the Devil by her irascible grandfather, eighteen-year-old Bug Smoot, given two-days' grace, tries to find ways to outsmart the Devil and his minions.

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
When Miranda's guardian angel Zachary recklessly saves her from falling into an open grave and dying, the result is that she turns into a vampire and he is left to try to reinstate his reputation by finally doing the right thing.

The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Sixteen-year-old Nick and his family have battled magicians and demons for most of his life, but when his brother, Alan, is marked for death while helping new friends Jamie and Mae, Nick's determination to save Alan leads him to uncover a devastating secret.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Spunky teen Madison, though technically dead, uses a stolen amulet to retain the illusion of a body and help her in the struggle between Light and Dark reapers.

Enjoy!
Sharon Long

(Summaries from NovelistPlus)

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

Book Review by: Hailey Geltman

Jane Roberts is a beautiful southern California girl who has just moved to Los Angeles for a big internship. She moved with her best friend Scarlett, and together they have decided to tackle the new adventure they are on. One night, Jane gets a little more then she bargained for when approached with the idea to be on her own reality show, L.A. Candy. It would star herself, Scarlett, and two other girls, but Jane would be the star. Jane has never been one for the spotlight but agrees to do it. So what happens when the glamorous life of a reality show star stops filming? Drama.

This book is a surprisingly good read from an even more surprising author, reality television star Lauren Conrad. She blends our illusions of Hollywood with reality as only someone who has lived it first-hand is able to do. At times it may get a little corny and predictable (hooking up with your best friend’s boyfriend!), but it's for those same reasons that you keep reading. The even better part is that most of the storylines are true because we have seen Lauren live them on screen. Hopefully her judgment is a little better than her protagonist’s, Jane Roberts.

I would recommend this book to girls between the ages of 12-19 because it is a little racy for young girls. Anyone who likes reality television drama would definitely enjoy this book because there is plenty of it! All teen girls will love it. At times you will wish you were Jane and at other times…not so much!

Thanks for the review, Hailey!

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

VOYA Book review by: Carleen Sanchez

Forest Born is an enjoyable book because it is well written and has an interesting plot; however, sometimes it is repetitive. At times it is unrealistic and a little confusing. The author creates very unique characters that are appealing. In addition, the very descriptive language allows the reader to get a good mental picture of the setting. The book is very long because at some points the author rambles. The happy ending is excellent because it doesn’t leave the reader hanging.

VOYA rating:
3P 4Q
(This means she gave it a 3 out of 5 for Popularity – “Will appeal with pushing” and 4 out of 5 for Quality – “Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses.”)

At our Teen Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, we created some fun fall creatures:

Thanks to everyone who helped!
Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/17-and-baking

Elissa, a 17 year old baker in Seattle.

http://jeremycooks.blogspot.com/

Jeremy Salamon, an everyday 15 year old kid with an extraordinary passion for cooking.

http://teenagehealthnut.blogspot.com/

Cherry, an 18 year old vegan who loves cooking, eating healthy, volunteering, and using the internet.

http://veganteencuisine.blogspot.com/

Peggy, 16, vegan, and loving every bit of it....

http://foodieatfifteen.blogspot.com/

Nick, just a (now 16) year old high school student in the Philadelphia suburbs with a love for food.

At the library we have tons of cookbooks (on the main floor of the library) and a number of young adult novels with cooking and food themes. Here are a few of our recent titles:

Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser.

Shy sixteen-year-old Elaine has long dreamed of being the next Julia Child, to the dismay of her feminist mother, but when her first friend, the outrageous Lucida Sans, convinces Elaine to enter a cooking contest, anything could happen.

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara Zeises.

Seventeen-year-old Stella struggles with the separation of her renowned chef parents, writing a food column for the local paper even though she is a junk food addict, and having a boyfriend but being attracted to another.

Crush du jour by Micol Ostow

When Laine decides to teach a cooking class at her local community center, she meets Seth, her sexy co-teacher, and when he offers her a job at his family restaurant, Laine cannot resist, but soon discovers that Callie, another waitress, is planning to steal Seth for herself.

My Saucy Stuffed Ravioli: The Life of Angelica Cookson Potts by Cherry Whytock.

While preparing for and going on vacation to Italy with her friends and family, food-loving English teenager Angelica deals with her unrequited love for Sydney, her fear of being seen in public in a bikini, and her worries that her mother might be having an affair. Includes recipes.

Flavor of the Week by Tucker Shaw.

Cyril, an overweight boy who is good friends with Rose but wishes he could be more, helps his best friend Nick woo her with culinary masterpieces which Cyril himself secretly creates. Includes recipes from the story.

Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley.

When Molly and Cassie are assigned to work in the kitchen as a punishment for their food fight, they realize that the only way they are going to be released from the duty is to cooperate and learn to cook. Includes some recipes.

With so much inspiration, there's no excuse not to whip up something delish! Check the upcoming Winter newsletter at the Syosset Library for a teen cupcake decorating workshop at the library as well. Go forth and cook!

Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

Zenith by Julie Bertagna

Book review by: Sharon Lam

I’d like to recommend a book called Zenith to everyone,especially those who like books about adventures, friendship, and/or survival. Zenith is probably the best book I’ve read over the summer. It’s not only about strong bonds between people, but it’s also about survival when one knows one has a small chance to succeed.

This book alternates between three main characters: Mara, Tuck, and Fox. In addition, this book takes place in the future where all the ice caps have melted and lands have gone underwater. Mara, in the beginning, is on a boat full of refugees. These refugees believe Mara can help them find land. Mara is tracking down Greenland because she believes that Greenland has not drowned yet. Along the way, Mara meets Tuck. Tuck is a gypsy who has lived all his life in Pomperoy, a city made of boats chained together on the sea. When Mara and Tuck meet and land in Greenland along with Mara’s friends who survived, they face hardships such as finding food, and finding warmth in the middle of winter.

Meanwhile, Fox is Mara’s lover who is in a place called New World. New World is a city, built in the sky, which has a dictator. Fox refused to go north with Mara because he wanted to change New World into a better place. Hence, Mara and Fox can only communicate with a future technology, the cyberwizz.

I love this book because I feel it shows a perspective about life we don’t always look at. These teenagers have to face with life and death situations every day. In these situations, they handle them with calmness and most of all, courage. Readers would find this book fascinating and would starve for more!

Sharon Lam

I know. It’s THAT time of the year. Back to school, time to get back to the books. With cooler weather just around the corner, I wanted to remind everyone that there’s still time to sign up for some of our free college prep programs at the library for parents and teens.

Get ready for college with the following key programs:

Special lecture with Dave Marcus, author of Acceptance: A Legendary Guidance Counselor Helps Seven Kids Find the Right Colleges—and Find Themselves. Tuesday, September 22. 7:00 PM

“The college application process is a time of major anxiety for high school seniors and their parents. Fortunately for all concerned (including administrators, teachers, and private coaches), Marcus, the Pulitzer Prize–winning education writer for U.S. News and World Report, has documented the year he spent at suburban Long Island's Oyster Bay High School closely observing the rather unorthodox college counselor Gwyeth Smith and seven college-bound seniors. In this insider's look at the college application process, Marcus reveals the personal realities the kids and their parents face, the way college decisions are made and how and why Smith manages to ease the powder keg of worry and emotions with good advice, eventually helping make the right match for each student.” – Publishers Weekly

SAT Test Taking Tips with Joan U. Levy. Monday, September 21. 7 – 8:30 PM
Learn SAT test taking strategies to help raise your score.


College Financing with Barry Fox. Monday, November 2. 7 – 8:30 PM
For parents: learn the ins and outs of paying for your children’s college education.

You can register at TeenSpace or the Reference desk or by calling (516) 921-7161 x 242.

Enjoy the fall,
Sharon Long
Teen Services Librarian

Geek Charming
by Robin Palmer

Book review by: Teri Lam

Geek Charming is one of my favorite books I have read this summer. In this book it talks about changes over time in both of the main characters; one popular girl named Dylan and a film geek boy named Josh.

At the beginning of the story, they met when Dylan accidentally tossed her bag into the fountain and she needed a boy to get it for her. Josh came by and said he will pick it up for her if she would promise that he could film her for his documentary on high school popularity. Dylan had a popular boyfriend named Asher and very popular friends. Since the beginning of the first day when she and Josh started the documentary, Dylan and Asher’s relationship had gotten worse. Dylan’s friends had also told her that she did not hang out with them much and said that Josh was her closest friend. Dylan had always responded that they were doing business.

As chapters went by on this book, it shows the relationship between Dylan and Josh and how they became closer “friends.” Dylan learned more to be not self-centered and mean to other people. Josh learned not to be nervous when talking to other girls and not to use his inhaler as much. After the day Josh told Dylan that he had a crush on a girl named Amy, Dylan made a makeover on Josh. The next day, Josh got a lot of attention and girls said he was not such a geek anymore. Near the end of the book, Dylan realized that Josh was not that “geeky” and learned more to understand him better. They admitted that they were each other’s best friend at the end of the book, which I liked best in the story.

I would recommend this most to my friends and teens out there. This book switches chapters between the two main characters to talk about their opinions and thoughts about each other. To me, the disappointing part was when Dylan and Josh did not go to the Fall Fling dance together. They each got another date to go with. I was happy that they both changed, especially Dylan. Like the title of the book, Geek Charming, it shows the geek, Josh, and the Charming, Dylan, together as best friends.

Head Case by Sarah Aronson

The novel Head Case, by Sarah Aronson, is an extremely enlightening book. It makes people think how a disabled person feels. They are often trapped inside their own bodies, suffocating in their own skin. In Frank Marder’s case, he broke his neck and killed his girlfriend and an old man when he decided to drive while intoxicated. Though it was a terrible mistake, people believed that he should be put in jail for his crime against humanity. What they didn’t understand was that Frank was already in jail. He was kept prisoner by his body.

This book makes people think about how those that are paralyzed and how they must be feeling. Sarah Aronson accurately displayed a quadriplegic’s emotional hardships through a very complex character. Only one person ever fought on his side on the website www.Quadkingonthenet.com, whose name was not known at first, but is later revealed. The psychological aspect of this book is very intricate and shows how the conscience is the greatest enigma of all.

Overall, this book is a great quick-read, and also a learning experience. I would recommend Head Case to older teenagers because there are some curses and the content is meant for a more mature audience.

Review by Ashwin Kelkar