Thanksgiving Reading Ideas

Thanksgiving break is quickly approaching.  You will have 5 whole days off to do some reading!    That's my plan, anyway.  If you're looking for some good titles to read, look no further.  Let me make some recommendations for you.

I recently read Illusions of Fate, by Kiersten White.  If you haven't read White's Paranormalcy series, it is a winner that I highly recommend.  Her newest book, Illusions of Fate, is a stand-alone title about a young lady named Jesamin, who is attending school away from her island home of Melei.  However, she is an outcast at her school in Albion because of prejudices against people from the island.  When she inadvertently meets Finn, a rich young Lord who is interested in her, she is put in the sights of the evil Lord Downpike, who wants to see her come to harm. I loved the historical feel of this fantasy novel that weaves elements of the past with magic.  If you're looking for a story involving magic, adventure, and romance, you might enjoy Illusions of Fate.  You can find this book at Mid-Continent, or check it out through Mid-Continent's Overdrive.


A student recently recommended The Paladin Prophecy, by Mark Frost, to me.  I was intrigued by his description, so I decided to give it a try.  In book, which is first in a series, our main character Will West has been living under the radar for his entire life.  He and his parents have moved around frequently, and they've always wanted him to just be average and keep to himself.  After taking a state test, on which he received a perfect score, Will is recruited to an exclusive private high school in Wisconsin.  In the middle of this happening, strangers come after Will and his parents and he knows that he needs to get away in order to figure out who is after him.  Little does he know that many of the answers he is seeking might be found at his new school where he is looking for safety.  If you like an action-packed adventure with lots of mystery, you'll probably enjoy The Paladin Prophecy.  You can check out this book through the Congress Media Center, through Mid-Continent, or through Mid-Continent's Overdrive.

My next 4 recommendations are all books being considered for Truman Award nominations for next year. 

First up is Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer, by Katie Alender.  In this story, Colette is really excited about her upcoming trip to Paris with her French class.  She's excited to get away and enjoy the time with her friends.  However, when they arrive, a killer strikes - chopping off the heads of his or her victims.  When Colette discovers that all the people murdered have an old family connection to former French queen Marie Antoinette, she knows that she may also be in danger.  Can Colette solve the mystery before Marie Antoinette gets to her?  If you like a fun, fantastical adventure, you'll enjoy this novel by Katie Alender.  You can find this book at Mid-Continent or ask me - I have a copy of this on my shelf.


SYLO, by D.J. MacHale, is about a boy named Tucker Pierce who moved to an island off the coast of Maine a few years ago.  When the island is suddenly overtaken by a deadly virus, an elite navy group called SYLO moved in to force a quarantine on the island.  Tucker is suspicious that the people of the island are not being told the truth.  He wants to figure out if there actually is a deadly virus loose on the island or if there is something more sinister going on.  Here is another book full of action & adventure if that's what you're looking for.  You can find this book in our Congress Media Center or at Mid-Continent.

In Rapunzel Untangled, by Cindy C. Bennett, the famous fairytale gets a new twist.  In this story, Rapunzel lives in a modern-day world where she is homeschooled on the Internet in her tower.  Her mother visits her daily, but Rapunzel can never leave her tower because of a disease she has.  One day, in Rapunzel's loneliness, she decides to visit Facebook where she friends a boy named Fane.  They begin messaging each other daily and become true friends.  When they meet, Rapunzel begins to question her whole life and whether or not the life her mother has forced her into is a lie.  But to confront her mother means Rapunzel's life will be in danger.  Can she save herself from the tower?  If you like fractured-fairy tales, you will like this story. You can find this book in the Congress Media Center and at Mid-Continent.


In A Matter of Days, by Amber Kizer, disaster has struck.  A new virus called BlueStar has struck and most of the world's population has been killed from it.  Fifteen year old Nadia and her younger brother were immunized by their uncle who works as a doctor in the military and have survived, but now must try to make their way across the United States from their home in Seattle to West Virginia where they hope to find their grandfather, who has prepared for a disaster such as this.  Thought most people have died, not everyone has making this long journey quite dangerous for Nadia and her brother.  If you like stories about natural disasters and survival, you'll like A Matter of Days.  You can find this book at our Congress Media Center.

Have a great Thanksgiving and read some good books while you have the time off!  I know that's what I'll be doing. :)