The YA Book Log

EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:37:09 -0500

Twilight fans who are anxiously awaiting Breaking Dawn (as I am), will want to check out Evernight by Claudia Gray.

When Bianca’s parents take teaching positions at the exclusive boarding school Evernight Academy, she decides she would rather run away than enroll in the creepy school where everything, including the students, is a little strange. Before she can run away, she meets Lucas, another new student and the two instantly form a strong connection. With Lucas by her side, Bianca is able to settle into her new life at school, but it is only a matter of time before the secrets of Evernight come out and Bianca and Lucas discover the secrets they are hiding from one another.

Evernight is full of plot twists and surprises that will keep you up all night reading. I recommend this book to teens in grades 8 and up.

Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian

FOUND by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:27:51 -0500

Thirteen years ago, an unauthorized plane mysteriously appeared on an airport runway. There was no pilot in the cockpit; there were no flight attendants on board; there were no adults at all. The only people on board were 36 babies, all strapped into their seats and left unaccompanied. The few people who witnessed the planes appearance were silenced by the FBI and the public never knew of the incident.

In the present day, Jonah Walsh is 13 years old and has always known that he was adopted. He leads a normal life until he starts receiving strange letters in the mail, the first of which reads “You are one of the missing.” Jonah soon learns that his best friend Chip, who is also adopted, has been receiving the same messages. After doing some research, they find out that they are two of the babies who were on that mysterious plane 13 years ago. Now, the two boys and the others who were on the plane must find out where they came from and who they really are.

Found is the first book in a new series by the author of Among the Hidden and it will keep you on the edge of your seat with every twist and turn.

I highly recommend this book for middle school students.

Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian

THE PIGMAN by Paul Zindel

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:02:14 -0500

Have you ever seen two high school students hanging out with an elderly man? In the book The Pigman by Paul Zindel, John Conlan, a sophomore who is not happy with his life, and Lorraine Jensen, a sophomore who receives criticism from her mother on her looks, befriend Mr. Angelo Pignati (the Pigman), a lonely elderly man.

The Pigman always has a smile on his face, but inside he is full of sadness and secrets. The Pigman loves John and Lorraine’s company, so the trio goes shopping together and go to the zoo to see Mr. Pignati’s best friend, Bobo the baboon. Mr. Pignati becomes ill and goes to the hospital, and John and Lorraine are given the responsibility to take care of the Pigman’s home. Mr. Pignati is in for a surprise when he returns from the hospital. What he finds may ruin the friendship that John, Lorraine, and the Pigman share.

I recommend this book to middle school and high school students.

Japbani Nanda
Grade 8
W.T. Clarke Middle School

MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR by Steve Kluger

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:22:59 -0500

When high school juniors TC, Augie, and Alejandra have to write an essay entitled “My Most Excellent Year”, they all write about their freshmen year of high school. That was the year that Alejandra, the daughter of a former Mexican ambassador transferred to public school and met flamboyant, musical theater loving Augie and big hearted Red Sox fan TC. Alternating points of view, the characters communicate with each other through emails and instant messages and write letters to their dead heroes in which they reveal their often hilarious intimate feelings and dreams.

Full of unforgettable and extremely likeable characters, this book is a very entertaining read especially for fans of Broadway or baseball.

I recommend this book to teens in grades 9-12.

Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian

THE FINAL WARNING: A MAXIMUM RIDE NOVEL by James Patterson

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:43:57 -0500

ATTENTION ALL MAXIMUM RIDE FANS (AS WELL AS OTHERS ) !! Even if you have not read any of the previous books, as long as you like adventure, action, humor and romance all in one book you should catch up and read this book !! Not only is this book everything you would want and more out a maximum ride book but it discusses an extremely important issue. It talks about Global Warming and raising awareness and trying to save the world from this becomes the flocks new goal. You can see how James Patterson intelligently incorporated facts about Global Warming and how to prevent it from worsening and this book is good to read because it raises awareness to this important issue, and encourages us to do something about it. Although the whole book isn't about global warming it has the whole flock back Fang , Iggy, Max, Nudge, Gasman, Angel and of course the witty and loveable Total. You will see that the flock all get new abilities or according to Jeb "are mutating on their own". Maybe a new member is added to the flock! I guess you will just have to read to find out.

I RECOMMEND MAXIMUM RIDE: THE FINAL WARNING FOR EVERYONE.

Monisha Gera
Grade 10
East Meadow High School

(NOTE: This is the fourth book in the series, MAXIMUM RIDE. To see a review of the first three books, check out Bobby Mazziotti's review on April 18, 2007.)

HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR by Jennifer Ziegler

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:59:49 -0500

Growing up with hippie parents has not been easy for Maggie Dempsey. Every year she is forced to leave behind her friends when her parents decide to move the family to a new city.

When her parents uproot her in her senior year, Maggie decides she can’t handle any more sad goodbyes. She vows not to make a single friend at her new school so that when her parents decide they are ready to move again, she won’t have to go through the painful process of saying goodbye to people she cares about.

In her attempt to turn herself into a social outcast, she borrows the most ridiculous clothing she can find from the thrift store her father runs and she shuns all attempts at friendship. Her rule book on How Not to be Popular includes things like “You must worship all that is totally and tragically unhip” so she begins carrying a star wars lunchbox to school. While at first she is laughed at, it isn’t long before her classmates start to admire Maggie’s unique style and she becomes much more popular than she bargained for.

I recommend this very funny book for girls in grades 8-12.

Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian

2008 3 APPLES TEEN BOOK AWARD

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:55:02 -0500

The book, A CHILD CALLED IT: ONE CHILD'S COURAGE TO SURVIVE by David Pelzer, is the winner of the 2008 3 Apples Teen Book Award, a New York State Teen Choice Award. This title was selected from teen nominations from across the state, when New York State teens voted during January, 2008. (For a complete list of the nominated books see the entry dated May 6, 2007.)

A CHILD CALLED IT chronicles one of the most severe child abuse cases in the state of California. David Pelzer was brutally beaten and starved by his alcoholic mother. He played his mother's sadistic games and dreamed of the day when someone would love him. He was saved by an alert school teacher and lived to write this book.

This is a particularly brutal and savage tale. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

HERO by Perry Moore

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:13:05 -0500

In Thom Creed’s world, the existence of superheroes is no secret. Both of his parents were part of the respected League of Superheroes until his mother disappeared and his father was cast out after a national incident. One day while playing basketball, Thom discovers he has superpowers of his own when he is able to heal a rival basketball player. Because of his father’s history with the league, Thom feels the need to keep his growing super powers a secret, but his powers are not the only thing he keeps hidden, he also hides the fact that he is gay from his father and everyone else he knows.

When super villains take over the bus Thom is on, he acts without thinking and helps save several passengers by using his powers to heal. His heroic actions impress the league and he is invited to try out for an apprentice position. He's teamed up with a ragtag bunch of people who can see the future, shoot fire and inflict disease on their victims. But when Thom publicly admits that he is gay in order to protect an innocent man, he is ousted from the league and shunned by everyone. The reappearance of his mother at the same time that chaos breaks out in the city inspires Thom and his gang of wannabe superheroes to team up and try to save the world.

HERO is a must read for comic book lovers and anyone who has ever felt like they don’t fit in.

I RECOMMEND THIS TITLE FOR GUYS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian

ONE GOOD PUNCH by Rich Wallace

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:47:36 -0500

In many people's lives there is a moment; a moment which changes the plans and dreams of an individual human being. Michael Kerrigan experiences such a moment in ONE GOOD PUNCH by Rich Wallace.

Michael Kerrigan, 18, is the captain of the track team with dreams of taking the team to the State Championship in his senior year of high school, then off to college and become a writer. He also works three evenings a week at the local paper as an editorial assistant writing obituaries for the paper.

One evening at work Mike receives a phone call from a friend. The friend has left drugs in Mike's locker at school. Mike tries to retrieve the drugs, but the high school is under a lock-down, while the police and school officials search all the lockers for illegal drugs.

With his life going out of control Mike must decide what to do; turn a possible drug dealer, his friend, in or face expulsion from school? Mike interacts with his parents, school officials, his friends and his work colleagues, as he chooses his fate. To describe those people important to him Mike writes their obituaries.

GREAT READ, GREAT ENDING.

I RECOMMEND THIS TITLE FOR GUYS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

Mrs Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

TAKEN by Edward Bloor

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:12:03 -0500

It is 2035 and a most profitable industry is kidnapping, because there are people with money and people without. Children of the rich and famous are the easy targets. Communities of wealthy families have sprung up; with security for the community and security for each family includes at least a butler/body guard and cook/maid. The children are always accompanied by security and most of their schooling is accomplished by satellite connections, however, Charity Meyer, our victim, is TAKEN in the Edward Bloor book.

Charity Meyer, 13, lives in secure community. She has been schooled in the rules of kidnapping including how to avoid stress. The rules are simple: the child is taken, the parents pay up within the 24 hour time period: the child is released and the victim stays cool by thinking of the good times.

Charity follows these rules. By staying cool we learn about who she is, her parents, her friends, and the servants through flashbacks. But this is not a normal kidnapping, one of the kidnapping is a young man, who life is very different from Charity. Through conversations between Charity and Dessi's life unfolds. Two teenagers with two different backgrounds meet during one kidnapping.

Once again, this is not an ordinary kidnapping. There are twists and turns that will keep the reader reading this thriller to the very end.

I RECOMMEND TAKEN FOR GUYS AND GIRLS IN GRADES 7 AND UP.

Mrs Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

THE WHITE DARKNESS by Geraldine McCaughrean

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:05:00 -0500

Imagine being in a dry desert with water everywhere but nothing to drink, because you are in Antarctica fighting for your life. This is the story of the 2008 Printz Award winner, THE WHITE DARKNESS by Geraldine McCaughren.

Antarctica was a passion for fourteen-year-old British, Symone. While her girlfriends concerned themselves with boys and dating, she reads everything about the South Pole. Her passion is so real, she had conversations with Titus Oates. Titus Oates, better known as Captain Lawrence Oates, was a member of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to be the first to plant a flag at the South Pole. The only problem with these conversations Titus and the entire expeditiion has been dead since 1911.

Sym's Uncle Victor is also obsessed with Antarctica and for Sym he is the only person who loves her. Victor believes Antarctica has an access hole to other worlds within the earth, and he has waited years to prove his theory. Victor, simply, misrepresents a weekend trip in Paris, and Sym gets to go on her dream trip to Antarctica.

This trip offers Sym the oppportunity to meet people unlike she has ever known, some rich Americans, a Norwegian filmmaker and the filmmaker's son. It is an adventure, until everyone gets sick and the trip is cancelled, but there is no way off the continent for her. Uncle Victor's obsession is about to become a life or death experience. Setting off in stolen vehicles Sym, Uncle Victor, the filmmaker and his son look for a way into the center of the earth.

You get to experience the cold and harsh life traveling across this barren ice continent. Each page uncovers the mad man in Uncle Victor, while Symone must accept the truth about him and the real people who love her.

This is a terrific adventure story of survival and deception. I RECOMMEND THE WHITE DARKNESS FOR ANYONE IN GRADES 8 AND UP.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services

BREAKING NEWS ON BREAKING DAWN

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:03:52 -0500

TWILIGHT fans won't have to wait much longer for the next book in Stephenie Meyer's bestselling series. Little, Brown announced the official publication date of BREAKING DAWN will be 12:01AM on Saturday, August 2, 2008. The cover of the book will be revealed this summer. Only 6 months to go!

Don't forget to sign up for the Twilight book discussion taking place on February 19 at 2 pm.

FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:15:57 -0500

A FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS IN TEEN SECOND LIFE on Saturday, February 2, 2008 You can celebrate young adult books in virtual reality with other teens!

The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), TeachingBooks.net, and Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries and Information Services are pleased to announce a very special event, “A Festival of Authors”, a virtual literary celebration that will take place on Saturday, February 2, from 10 am to 2 pm PST (1 pm – 5 pm EST), in Teen Second Life. This event will showcase a group of selected authors of young adult literature for a teen audience. There will also be avatar author appearances by Barry Lyga (10am PST/1pm EST), Marc Aronson (11am PST/2pm EST) , and Carol Baldwin(12pm PST/3pm EST) .

Teen Second Life (http://teen.secondlife.com) is a 3D virtual world where teens can learn valuable 21st century skills and build a variety of developmental assets as they engage with their peers from all over the world, communicate in multiple media formats, and express their identities through their own virtual appearances.

Teens have helped construct a space for author exhibits with content provided by TeachingBooks.net, including author photos, brief profiles, selected bibliographies, and links to other interesting information about the authors. Teens have helped select the authors they would like showcased. Writing, role playing, and anime/manga groups are just some of the teen-driven, literary-related groups within Teen Second Life.

THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:45:22 -0500

THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE by Rodman Philbrick is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi adventure! I enjoyed this book. It was real exciting and Philbrick's perception of the future is one of the most believable I've ever read about! It's about a teenage boy named Spaz who is an outcast in the Urb on a journey to save his sister. He is assisted by Ryter an elderly man who's prized possession is a book that he's been writing. In his adventures he goes from latch to latch (county to county) and meets some of the most feared gang leaders in the Urb.

I RECOMMENDED IT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE FICTION FANS AND EVEN MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WHO LOVE AN EXCITING BOOK.

Rita Rozen
Grade 7
W. Tresper Clarke Middle School

PAOLINI'S ANNOUNCES FINAL BOOK IN THE INHERITANCE CYCLE

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:21:05 -0500

Christopher Paolini has announced the last title in THE INHERITANCE CYCLE. It is BRISINGR.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers explains the title in their press release for the new book. "BRISINGR (BRIS-in-gr), an Old Norse word for fire, will be familiar to fans of the cycle as the first word in the ancient language that Eragon hears."

“BRISINGR is one of the first words I thought of for this title, and it’s always felt right to me,” said Christopher Paolini. “As the first ancient-language word that Eragon learns, it has held particular significance for his legacy as a Dragon Rider. In this new book, it will be revealed to be even more meaningful than even Eragon could have known.”

Originally slated for release on September 23, 2008, the book will now go on sale at
12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2008.

IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE BOOK, THE YOUNG ADULT DEPARTMENT WILL PURCHASE SEVERAL COPIES. WE WILL START TAKING RESERVES IN JUNE, 2008.

If you have not read the first two books, ERAGON and ELDEST, they are available at the Library.

Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services