Winter Break? More Time to Read!

Our winter break is quickly approaching and I am looking forward to two weeks of non-stop reading.  I guess I'll have to fit Christmas in there too somewhere. ;)  I have several books on my shelf that I am really looking forward to reading, so I am thankful I'll have the time to start working my way through them starting Friday afternoon!  Here are a few recommendations from books I've recently read.

First up, Fallout, by Todd Strasser.  This is another book being considered for a Truman nomination, and I really hope it makes the list.  I could not put this book down.  Fallout takes place in 1962, around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union was in full force.  Scott's dad decided to build a bomb shelter under their house in case the worst happens.  We know that in real life, nuclear war was averted, but in Fallout, the author imagines what might have happened if the U.S. had been attacked with nuclear weapons.  Everyone thought Scott's dad was crazy for building the bomb shelter, until the air-raid sirens went off.  Then, it was a fight between neighbors to get themselves into the fallout shelter.  Over-crowded, with not enough food or resources, can Scott and his neighbors survive until it is safe to start over above-ground?  This story was based on the author's real-life memories of this time - and the fact that his dad also built a fallout shelter under their home that thankfully, never had to be put to use.  If you want to read this book, we do have a copy in our Congress library, so put it on hold next time you're there.  You can also find it at MCPL or as an e-book on MCPL's Overdrive system.

The final possible Truman nominee that I read was One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake.  This is another historical fiction novel that takes place in Wisconsin in 1871.  Georgie's sister, Agatha, disappeared a few weeks ago, and when the sheriff brings home a body he claims is Agatha, Georgie doesn't believe it.  She goes on a quest to find her sister, because she believes it's her fault that Agatha left in the first place.  Georgie faces the frontier on her own with her Springfield single-shot rifle, and refuses to come home until she uncovers what really happened to Agatha.  This is both a heart-warming and mysterious story.  I really enjoyed it.  If you're interested, you can borrow my copy.  You can also find this book in our Congress library, and as an e-book on our Park Hill Overdrive system.  It's of course, at MCPL and through MCPL's Overdrive system, as well.

I also recently read Ally Condie's new stand-alone title Atlantia.  I loved Ally Condie's Matched series (it's on my shelf if you're interested!), so I was eagerly anticipating this newest book, and it did not disappoint.  In this story, life aboveground became incredibly bad, so societies decided to split and build cities deep in the ocean to try to sustain life.  Rio and her sister Bay have always lived "below". When young adults who live below reach a certain age, they can choose to stay below or to go above.  All her life, Rio has dreamed of going above, but when her mother dies unexpectedly, Rio's sister, Bay, convinces her to stay below so they can stay together.  But when Bay chooses to go above, Rio is determined that she will do everything she can to get herself above too...no matter the risk, no matter the danger.  Can Rio make it above?  You'll have to read Atlantia to find out.  I have a copy of this book, and you can also find it in the Congress library.  It is also available at MCPL and as an e-book on their Overdrive system.

Finally, my favorite that I've read recently - The Young Elites, by Marie Lu. This was another book I've been highly anticipating, because Lu's Legend series was so incredible (I have 2 copies of Legend if you're interested - I highly recommend!).  The Young Elites did not disappoint.  This is the first in what will be a series, so we'll be waiting a bit for the next installment.  Our main character in this story, Adelina, is a very dark character - she is definitely not sunshine & rainbows, let me tell you!  Adelina survived the blood fever that hit her country as a child.  She is what is known as a "malfetto" - one who survived and is marked in some way.  Her hair turned silver, her lashes pale, and she has a scar where her left eye used to be.  When attempting to escape her abusive father, Adelina unleashes some dark power that was hidden within herself and is recruited by other malfettos, who also have powers.  Their goal:  overthrow the current king.  Adelina wants to be loyal, but when the king's military leader takes Adelina's sister prisoner, he uses this to blackmail Adelina into helping him.  Adelina has to choose - work for good or work for evil?   If you like an action-packed story full of conflict, you'll love The Young Elites.  I have a copy of this title, and you can find it both in the Congress library and on Park Hill's Overdrive.  It is also available at MCPL or through their Overdrive system.

There you have it.  Remember, you can find a links to the Congress Media Center, Park Hill Overdrive, MCPL, and MCPL overdrive on my reading page at our En Fuego wikispaces website.  We're heading to the library on Thursday.  I hope you can find something you'll WANT to read over the break!