Book Trailers from 9-26

If you'd like to see the rest of the book trailers from today's reading class, click here!

For Fans of the Stand Alone Novel

It seems like so many books these days are part of a series, and sometimes it's hard to keep up with them...or wait for the next book to release.  Because of that, I enjoy a good stand-alone title every once in awhile.  It's nice to read a book and just be finished with the story when you're done reading and not be left with a huge cliffhanger for months!  Let me share some good stand alone titles I've read recently.

Thanks to Netgalley, which provided me with a pre-release copy, I recently read The Bridge from Me to You, by Lisa Schroeder.  In this story, Lauren has recently moved in with her aunt and uncle to their small town from Seattle.  She came with a deep secret.  Colby has lived in this small town all his life, and though his life may seem charmed, he has some problems of his own.  When Colby and Lauren meet, they begin a friendship that helps each of them through the hardships they've been carrying on their own.  This is a sweet story of friendship that could be more.  Despite what the characters are going through, this book ends on a promising note.  It's a great feel-good read!

I was also able to read The Fourteenth Goldfish, by Jennifer L. Holm thanks to Netgalley.  This was a short and very entertaining read about a girl named Ellie, who has just begun the sixth grade.  One day, her mom brings home a teenage boy who proclaims to be Ellie's grandfather.  The boy, Melvin, has found the fountain of youth, but now that he's a teenager, he can't get into his lab to save his work.  He enlists Ellie's help  to try to save his work and bring his cure to aging to the world.  Ellie gets to know her grandfather in a way she never did before - and she learns a lot about herself as well in this humorous mis-adventure.  This is another light-hearted and feel good kind of book.

Netgalley also provided a copy of first-time author Esther Erlich's new book, Nest.  In this story that takes place in the early 1970's, Chirp is 11-years old and lives year-round in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  She is watching her former-dancer mom fall apart before her eyes.  Her mom's physical health is in decline and because of that, her mental health is suffering as well.  When her mom has to go stay in a mental institution for several months, it's all Chirp can do to help hold herself and the rest of her family together.  She's trying to navigate the changes in her own life without the help and support of her mother, and it's not easy.  She finds solace in watching the birds in the forests and near the ponds near her home, as well as in her troubled neighbor and classmate, Joey.  This story is a sometimes humorous, sometimes deeply sad story of triumph and the power of family and friendship.  I absolutely loved Nest and Chirp is a character who I won't soon forget.

Nest reminds me of one of my favorite books that I read a couple years ago that also took place in the 1970's.  I think I read it before I started this book blog, so I've never written about it on here.  It's called Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt.  It's about a 14-year old boy named Doug Swieteck who is basically a loser from a family of losers...at least that's how it appears to everyone around him.  When his dad gets fired from his job and they have to move, Doug is not happy.  When they move into a small town into a small, cruddy house, he knows that people will still look down on him.  His dad is abusive, one brother is fighting in Vietnam, and the other is a huge bully and juvenile delinquent.  Doug has problems of his own without even adding his family into the equation.  However, some key people take an interest in Doug and prove that a person is more than just the family they come from.  Every person has the capacity to excel and soar.  Honestly, writing about this book makes me want to read it again...it's just that good.  Don't take my word for it...read it yourself!  

Dystopia For All...and Two for the Girls

Along with Mrs. Gehrt and a couple of students from our team, I have committed to reading the 20 books being considered for next year's Truman nominations.  I've read about 7 of the 20 so far and several I've already blogged about on this site, but I read 2 new ones from the list over the weekend, so let me recommend them to you today.

First up, The Darkest Path, by Jeff Hirsch.  I've read 2 of Hirsch's other books and he writes great dystopian, stand-alone titles.  If you're not up for a series, Jeff Hirsch might be the author for you.  In The Darkest Path, a religious cult called "The Glorious Path", has taken over most of what was formerly the United States.  They come into an area and allow people to make "The Choice" - to either follow the path or not.  If not, let's just say they don't live too much longer.  Callum Roe and his brother were taken by the Path six years ago.  Cal has been looking for an opportunity for them to escape from the very beginning, so when an opportunity that he thinks will give them a better chance to get out doesn't come through, he finds himself desperate.  When Cal kills the man who is supposed to be in charge of him to protect an innocent, Cal knows he has to go on the run.  Can he escape the Path?  Can the United Commonwealth defeat the Path and regain ground in the country?  You'll have to read this exciting adventure to find out!

Another dystopian novel you might like is The Testing, by Joelle Charbonneau.  This is the first book in a 3-book series.  The good news is that all 3 books have been published, so if you like it, you won't have to wait around for the rest of the series to be published!  In The Testing, our main character, Cia, lives in a future United States that has been destroyed by nuclear and biological warfare.  Slowly, society has been rebuilding itself and trying to restore the Earth to what it was before it was destroyed.  In every community, students in the graduating class typically end up training with people in their community, but a lucky few get chosen for Testing.  If you pass the Testing, you can attend the University and continue your education.  It has been Cia's dream to go to the University for her whole life, so when she is chosen for the Testing, she is thrilled.  Cia comes to find out, though, that if you don't pass the test, you just might pay with your life.  This book is a thrill ride from the start, because you just don't know who Cia can trust.  If you like The Testing, you can check out book 2, Independent Study, and book 3, Graduation Day.

And I've got a couple of recommendations for the ladies.  No offense guys...I'm just not sure these books would be up your alley, but hey, feel free to give them a shot if you like a little romance. :)

You all know I love Kasie West (Pivot Point, Split Second, and The Distance Between Us).  Her newest book, On the Fence, didn't disappoint me.  In this book, Charlie has grown up with her dad and 3 brothers.  Her mom died when she was 6, but she doesn't really have any memories of her.  Her neighbor, Braden, is also around a lot, so much that Charlie almost considers him to be like an extra brother...until she doesn't.  When she has trouble sleeping because of strange nightmares about her mom's death, Charlie goes out to sit at her fence in the backyard and Braden starts joining her there and they have conversations between the fence.  Charlie realizes that maybe she has more than just sisterly feelings toward Braden, but does he feel the same way?  And why is she having these strange dreams about her mom's death?  You'll have to pick up On the Fence to find out.

And finally, if you're missing summer a little bit, you just might enjoy Jen Calonita's Summer State of Mind.  This is actually a companion novel to a previous book called Sleepaway Girls.  You don't have to read them in order - I haven't read Sleepaway Girls, but I want to now!  In Summer State of Mind, Harper's dad decides that she needs a reality check.  His idea of that reality check - send Harper to camp for the summer.  Harper knows right away that she is going to hate her time at Whispering Pines camp.  But a bet with her twin brother, who's also attending the camp, give Harper a reason to dig in and do her best to adapt and survive the summer camp experience.  This was a really fun read, and there is a love interest for Harper, as well.  If you want a light and enjoyable read, you'll enjoy Summer State of Mind.

There you have it.  Only The Darkest Path is available in our Congress Library.  I also have a copy of this one too.  If you're interested in the other titles, they're available at MCPL.  In fact, you can get The Testing, The Darkest Path, and Summer State of Mind as e-books on overdrive.  I have a link to MCPL's overdrive system on my reading page on our team website.  Happy reading!

Truman Nominee Book Trailers

If you want to re-watch the trailers for the Truman nominees that we saw this week, you can see them here!  It contains trailers for this year's 12 nominees, as well as trailers for the past winners of the award.  Enjoy!