Book Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is always a good time to reflect on all the things we're thankful for.  It should come as no surprise to you that one of the things I am thankful for is...books!  What a gift that there is so much out there for us to get our hands on and read...something for everyone if you look hard enough!  Let me throw a few suggestions your way that might make you appreciate all those books in your life.

First up is My Unscripted Life, by Lauren Morrill.  As the story begins, we find Dee, our main character, sorely disappointed that she wasn't accepted to a summer art program that she was counting on.  Doubting her artistic abilities and bummed that she won't be spending the summer with her best friend, Dee isn't sure what she's going to do with herself.  But then the unexpected happens.  A Hollywood movie is going to do part of it's location shoot in her town, and she manages to get a job with the set department.  When she discovers that her middle school pop-star crush is the star of the movie, she can't help feeling a little excited, but when she meets Milo, he couldn't be ruder.  When Dee and Milo keep getting thrown together, they start to develop a friendship...could it turn into something more?  You'll have to read this fun and funny romance to find out!  I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced copy from NetGalley, but the book is now released and you can find copies at MCPL.

Next up is another book I got to read through NetGalley that has also been released.  It's called How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You, by Tara Eglen.  Now that title may have you scratching your head, like I did when I read it.  I thought girls eventually hoped that someday a boy would kiss them. ;)  In this story, Aurora Skye is an up and coming business woman, developing her "Find a Prince" program guaranteed to help every girl find her perfect prince of a guy.  Aurora is also working on find her prince, and she has strategies to avoid kissing any boy who doesn't live up to her high standards.  The only person getting in her way seems to be her annoying neighbor, Hayden.  When Aurora and Hayden are cast as love interests in the school play, some unexpected feelings start to develop.  Can one's prince be someone you thought you hated?  You'll have to read it to find out!  You can find copies of this fun story at MCPL.

A recent favorite that I've read was also an advanced read from NetGalley, and though the book has been released, I don't see that MCPL is carrying it, but if you can get your hands on it, I would.  It's called Finding Perfect, by Elly Swartz.  This book was so heartbreakingly emotional...I carried the story with me for days after I read it.  In this story, we meet Molly, who believes that as long as everything is "perfect", everything will be okay in her life.  She believes if she can perform her poem perfectly at her school's slam poetry contest, her mom will come home from the job she left the family for in Canada.  Everything has to be neatly aligned and in groups of 4s, or life just won't work out right for Molly.  She thought she was in control of keeping everything perfect, but when nothing seems to be enough anymore, Molly starts to spiral out of control.  This is a really honest look at how Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders can affect a young teen.  I highly recommend this one...I couldn't put it down.


If you'd rather read a fantasy-like fairy tale, you might want to check out Tahereh Mafi's newest book called Furthermore.  Alexis Queensmeadow lives in the land of Ferenwood, where color is the most important quality and magical ability is to be celebrated.  Alexis, unfortunately, has no color.  Her father disappeared from Ferenwood 3 years ago, and it is Alexis' hope that one day he'll return home.  When she discovered that he left to go to the land of Furthermore and that she can go there and help save him, Alexis doesn't hesitate, but in a land where down is up and paper is alive, can Alexis figure out how to survive long enough to find her father?  You'll have to read Furthermore to find out.  This was a whimsical, delightfully written story that is only limited by your own imagination!  I read my copy through MCPL's Overdrive, and you can also find it on their shelves.

If you're more interested in a dystopian story, you might want to check out Traci Chee's The Reader, which is her first book in a new series called Sea of Ink and Gold.  Sefia, our main character, has been living her life on the run for the last several years since she found her father murdered.  Her mother died several years before her father, so all Sefia has left is her "aunt" Nin.  When Nin is kidnapped, Sefia is determined to find and save her, but the only thing she has in her possession is a strange rectangular object that is filled with paper that contains strange markings, something she eventually realizes is a book.  With a wide range of characters from a new mute (unable to speak) friend and pirates, Sefia starts to uncover who took her aunt Nin and what they're after.  Will she be able to find Nin in time?  You'll have to read The Reader to find out!  You can find this book at MCPL or through their Overdrive system.

If you like a good story that has Christmas as the backdrop, you might want to check out Jay Asher's newest book, What Light.  In this story, we meet Sierra.  Sierra's family owns a Christmas tree farm in Oregon, but they spend every year from Thanksgiving to Christmas in California operating a Christmas tree lot with trees from their farm. Though it's hard to be away from friends for a month, Sierra loves her time on the Christmas tree lot.  She has a good friend there and she just loves helping people find the perfect tree as they get ready to celebrate the holidays.  This year may be the last year, though, because though the farm itself is flourishing, the tree lot itself isn't making enough money.  When Sierra meets Caleb, a local boy with a troubled past, she isn't sure she wants to get involved.  She is only there for a month...then what?  Can Caleb change her mind?  This was a fun holiday romance...I enjoyed every bit of it!  You can find copies at MCPL or on Overdrive.

Finally, another dystoptian-fantasy story you might enjoy is The Orphan Queen, by Jodi Meadows.  In this story, princess Wilhemina has been living as an orphan for the last 10 years after her kingdom was conquered by the powerful Indigo Kingdom.  She watched as her parents were murdered by their conquerors, and now works with other orphaned children from her country in a group they call the Ospreys.  The Ospreys goal, find out a way to get their kingdom back.  Wil and her best friend Melanie infiltrate the palace, posing as refugees from another nearby country that was overtaken by a dark and mysterious problem called the "wraith".  Wil wants to find a way to not only take back her kingdom, but also find a solution to the wraith.  This book contains a little of everything - magic, adventure, mystery and suspense, and a little romance too.  It's the first book in a series, so if you like it, you can check out book 2, The Mirror King, as well.  You can find copies at MCPL and on Overdrive.  There is also a copy currently available as of this moment that I am typing in our CMS library.  If you hurry, you might get it!

Thanksgiving break is coming.  Not only is it a good time to remember to be thankful...but you also have some extra days off to read!

Link to Book Trailer Prezi from 10-7 Class

If you were in one of my classes that didn't get to see all 6 book trailers in class today, you can view the rest of the trailers by clicking here.  If there is a book you want to read, email me and let me know you'd like to be added to the waiting list!

Fall into a Good Book

Haha...see what I did there with that amazingly clever post title?  I know, I know...

But really.  Let me fill you in on some great books that you might want to curl up with on a chilly fall night.

First up, is a great new book by Jason Reynolds, called Ghost.  This is going to be the first in a series of books about running track.  In this story, we meet Ghost, a young man who is just trying to survive growing up poor and without a father.  When Ghost was young, his father tried to shoot him and his mother, and Ghost has been running ever since.  When Ghost witnesses the practice of an elite city track team, he decides to put himself up against the faster runner on the team.  When he shows incredible promise as a runner, the coach of the team invites him to join, but in order to stay on the team, Ghost has to stay out of trouble, which always seems to find him.  If you want to read a story that leaves you rooting for the main character,  you'll definitely want to pick up Ghost.  You can find copies at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.


I've continued to read some potential Truman nominees for next year.  Here are a few of those.

First up is Losers Take All, by David Klass.  Klass also wrote Grandmaster, one of this year's nominees.  In Losers Take All, we meet Jack Logan, the son and brother of incredible athletes, but sports have never really been Jack's thing.  Before Jack's senior year, his high school's beloved principal dies, and the new principal decides that in the former principal's honor, every senior must sign up for a sports team.  Jack and his other non-athletic friends are not happy.  They decide to start a co-ed third-string soccer team that is dedicated to losing.  When their crazy antics start to gain national attention, the Losers, as they call themselves, bring to light how a lot of people REALLY feel about sports.  This was a super fun read, full of humor and great life lessons.  I highly recommend it.  You can find this book at MCPL.

Another potential Truman you might like is I am Princess X, by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Cali Ciesemier.  I am Princess X is mostly novel, but has a few parts that are depicted as a graphic novel.  In this story, we meet Libby and May, who befriend one another in elementary school and who start their own graphic novel series about a character named Princess X.  May writes the stories, and Libby illustrates and over the years, their combined efforts produce a lot of Princess X stories.  But that all ends when Libby suddenly dies in a car accident and May is left feeling incredibly alone.  Now it's a few years later, and May spots a sticker with Princess X in a window in a shop as she's walking around town.  She goes home and searches for Princess X and discovers there is a whole Princess X movement with new stories, and she is convinced that Libby must be alive and is using Princess X to get May's attention to help her.  This was a fantastic story about friendship and doing all you can for the people you love.  I loved it!  You can find copies at MCPL.

If you're more after a futuristic action-adventure book that's along the lines of The Fast and the Furious, you might want to check out Tracked, by Jenny Martin.  Tracked is the first in a series about Fee, a young girl who lives far in the future on the corporation-controlled planet called Castra.  Fee is an orphan who's mom disappeared and who's dad was killed on the racing circuit when she was young.  Racing is in Fee's blood, and she and her best friend Bear have been competing in illegal street races for a couple years.  When Fee and Bear are arrested, she is given the option of going to prison on another planet and certain death or the option of joining an established professional racing team.  As much as Fee doesn't want to feel like she is owned by a corporation, she definitely doesn't want to go to prison.  As she gets into the racing world, she discovers all is not as it seems on the surface and in order to change her world, she may have to take some pretty drastic measures.  This in a non-stop action story.  If that's what you like, you'll probably really enjoy Tracked, which you can find at MCPL.

If you're into Marvel's Avengers, you might like Margaret Stohl's new series about Natasha Romanoff, aka The Black Widow, in Black Widow: Forever Red.  Natasha is an assassin, who now works for the good guys, but was raised and trained by Ivan Somodorov, her teacher at the infamous "Red Room" school for operatives.  When we first meet Natasha, she is about to kill Ivan and save the lives of other children who were in Ivan's hands, like Ava Orlova.  A few years later, Ava Orlova is living on the streets of New York, when Natasha comes back into her life.  It looks like Ivan didn't die and wants to take Ava out.  Natasha and Ava have to work together to take out Ivan once and for all.  If you like an action-packed adventure, you'll enjoy Forever Red.  You don't have to know anything about The Avengers (like me!) to get into and understand the story.  You can find copies of this book at MCPL or through their Overdrive.

In Pintup Dunn's Forget Tomorrow, another first in a series book, we meet Callie.  Callie lives in a futuristic society where when you turn 17, you get a memory from your future self.  When Callie's future memory shows her murdering her beloved younger sister, Callie knows she has to escape in order to prevent herself from committing this terrible act.  She discovers a whole society of people who are trying to escape their future memories, but is running away enough to escape the future?  You'll have to read this dystopian thriller to find out.  You can find copies at MCPL.

Finally, I want to give a shout-out to the final book in Bree Despain's Into the Dark trilogy.  The Immortal Throne finishes Haden's and Daphne's story that is based on Greek mythology.  As in the first two books, there is action, adventure, and romance.  This is a great series if you enjoy Greek mythology based in today's world.  This final book isn't released until next week, but once released, I'm sure you'll be able to find copies at MCPL.  Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy!

That's it for today.  Find something to read that you enjoy!

I have BUNCHES of titles to recommend to you today.  I have been busily reading, as usual, and have a variety of books to tell you about!

I'll start with PS I Like You, by Kasie West.  If you were paying attention in class this week, you might remember me gushing a little bit about West's newest book.  I'm pretty sure that Kasie West has never written anything less than fantastic (at least in my book), but her books will definitely appeal more to girls than boys.  If you want to learn more about her other books, click on the following titles:  The Distance Between Us, On the Fence, Pivot Point, Split Second, & The Fill-in Boyfriend.  I have a copy of all of those books, except for Split Second, but you can find all of those at MCPL, MCPL's Overdrive, & PP/SS are both in the CMS Media Center.  But back to PS I Like You.  Our main character, Lily, is an aspiring songwriter, but just can't ever finish the lyrics she tries to write.  In real life, she struggles to go after the things she wants and feels a little lost in the crowd in her huge family.  When her chemistry teacher notices that she's always writing in a notebook that contains her partial songs and song ideas, and threatens to take it away, she starts doodling the lyrics from a favorite song on her desk.  Much to Lily's surprise, she discovers that someone has continued the lyrics on the desk when she returns to class the next day.  She and her pen pal continue to write each other, but start leaving notes sharing things with one another that they don't share with people in real life.  When Lily realizes that her pen pal is a boy, she has to decide if she needs to pursue her real life crush with the boy she likes, or find out who her pen pal is.  This book was such fun to read...it kept me guessing nearly the whole way through, wondering who the pen pal could be.  You'll have to read it yourself to find out.  I plan to get a copy of this for my classroom, but in the meantime, you can find it at MCPL or on their Overdrive.

Another fun story that I read over the summer, but forgot to mention in my last blog post is A Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, by Sarvanez Tash.  In this story, we meet Graham and Roxy, who have been best friends for 8 years.  Not only are they best friends, but they love comics and even team up to write and illustrate their own.  What Roxy doesn't realize is that Graham is secretly, desperately in love with her.  When Graham discovers that Roxy's favorite comic writer is going to be at New York City's comic con, he knows that he just has to get tickets, and put together a surprise that will amaze Roxy...and then he'll be able to tell her how much he loves her, but nothing is ever as easy at it seems it will be.  This funny story is a comedy of errors as Graham tries his hardest to get Roxy's attention.  You can find this story at MCPL or through their Overdrive.

If you've looked much through my blog, you've probably realized that I mostly read fiction, but every once in awhile, I try to read a little nonfiction too.  One nonfiction title that has been on my to-read shelf for quite some time is The Family Romanov, by Candace Fleming.  This story is a fascinating look at the last Russian Tsar (Nicholas) and his family.  If you're scratching your head because you've never heard of them, you've possibly heard of one of the daughters - Anastasia.  There have been several movies written about this particular daughter of the Romanov family.  The story covers the time period from the late 1800's through 1918 when the family was brutally executed.  It's a fascinating look at the family and at what life was like for both the wealthy and the poor in Imperial Russia.  I had a hard time putting it down.  You can find this book at MCPL or through Overdrive.

What I've really been busy reading lately are the potential Truman nominees for NEXT school year.  I always sign up to be a "reader-selector", which allows me to read the potential titles and then be part of the vote that selects the final 12 nominees.  There are 23 books on the list this year, and I had already read around 9 of those titles - and have recommended most of those on this blog.  Let me tell you about some of the most recent ones I've read.

First up is The Honest Truth, by Dan Gemeinhart.  Let me warn you - as most books about boys and their dogs do - this book has the power of making one sob uncontrollably.  At least for me, but oh, the tears were worth it. Mark has cancer - he's been fighting it for several years.  When he receives bad news, he decides that he's done with it all.  He leaves home with his faithful dog, Beau, and the camera his grandfather left him, and sets out to do the one thing he wants to do before he dies - climb Mount Rainier.  Leaving only a haiku poem for his best friend Jessie, Mark and Beau set out to do the impossible - even if may kill him.  I just don't have the words for what this book will do to your emotions, but I loved every minute of it!  You can find this title at MCPL or through Overdrive.

Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson, is a super fun graphic novel about a girl named Astrid who goes to a Roller Derby match, and knows that she is meant to not just watch the Roller Derby, but be part of it.  She just assumes her best friend of forever, Nicole, will want to do the same.  But that's not the case.  Not only does Nicole not want to join Astrid in attending Roller Derby camp all summer, she befriends someone who Astrid considers a mortal enemy.  Roller skating is not as easy as it looks and when you pair that with fighting a pack of crazy girls in a match, plus losing your best friend, life gets pretty hard.  Can Astrid prevail over her circumstances?  This book was funny, insightful, and informational too.  I learned a ton about how a Roller Derby match works.  I really liked Roller Girl...as a graphic novel, it is a quick read.  You can find copies at MCPL & in our CMS Media Center.

Code of Honor is by the author of last year's Truman winner, Alan Gratz (Prisoner B-3087).  This is a story about Kamran Smith, a Persian-American (his mother is from Iran & his dad is American) who seems to have it all going for him.  He's got a chance at playing football for the Army at West Point...following in his older brother Darius' footsteps.  But everything goes down the drain when Darius appears to be part of a terrorist group.  Everyone turns on Kamran and his family, and Kamran is the only one who believes that there is no way Darius could be guilty.  When Kamran and his parents are taken into custody for questioning, Kamran knows he has to convince everyone that Darius is innocent.  This was definitely a story that kept you guessing about Darius' innocence/guilt throughout the whole story...another winner from Alan Gratz!  You can find this at MCPL, Overdrive, in our CMS Media Center, and I have a copy on my shelf, as well.

I also really enjoyed Gwenda Bond's re-imagining of Lois Lane (of Superman fame) as a teenager, in her new series about Lois.  The first book is called Fallout, and introduces us to Lois, an aspiring reporter who just can't seem to stay out of trouble.  When her military family is relocated to Metropolis, Lois vows that this will be the move where she lays low and actually makes some friends.  However, when Lois witnesses a strange group of kids, called the Warheads, who are bullying another student, and then sees the principal of the school blowing off the bullying claims, Lois knows she can't stay uninvolved.  After nabbing an after school job with Perry White at the Daily Planet newspaper, writing for a junior magazine called, the Daily Scoop, Lois and her team of new possible friends set out to uncover what's really going on with the Warheads.  Oh yeah, and she also gets a little help from on online friend known only as "Smallvilleguy" - I wonder who that could be? ;)  You can find copies of this book at MCPL.

If you're more into a fantasy book, you might like Hunter, by Mercedes Lackey.  This is the first book in a series about a girl named Joyeaux (or Joy, for short), who has been trained to hunt bad guys that come from the "Otherside" after the world went through the Diseray.  These monsters are terrors from both imagination and ancient mythology and folklore and Hunters protect everyday citizens, or Cits, from these monsters.  When Joy is called up out of her mountain home to go to Apex City to become one of its hunters, she sees hunting in a whole different light.  In Apex City, Hunters are like celebrities and sports' stars, but things are getting worse and more monsters are getting through the city's barriers.  On top of that, someone seems to be after Joy.  Can Joy save herself and save Apex City?  You'll have to read Hunter to find out.  You can find copies at MCPL.

A different type of fantasy you might like is The Leveller, by Julia Durango.  In this story, Nixy Bauer uses her parents' jobs as video game designers to her advantage.  She's a bounty hunter who goes into the virtual reality gaming system and pulls kids back out into real life when they've spent too much time in the game.  When the CEO of the video game company calls on Nixy to help pull out his son, who appears to be taking his own life by using the game, Nixy figures it is a sure way to make a big load of cash.  But when Nixy gets into the game, she realizes that Wyn, the CEO's son, isn't committing suicide, he's been kidnapped into the game, and now it seems there is no way out for either Nixy or Wyn.  This action-fantasy story will keep you on your toes as you try to guess how Nixy and Wyn try to outsmart the bad guys and get back to real life.  You can find this book at MCPL or through Overdrive.

If you're more into a horror story, you might like What Waits in the Woods, by Kieran Scott.  In this story, Callie goes on a camping trip with her two best friends and boyfriend.  Callie has never been camping and is already a little weirded out by spending time in the woods, especially when her friends tell her about the "skinner" a murderer who killed kids in these woods back in the 80s.  When strange things start happening to their group and they encounter problem after problem, Callie isn't sure who is the bigger danger - her friends or someone stalking them in the woods.  Can Callie get out alive?  You'll have to read the story to find out.  You can find copies of this book at MCPL or on Overdrive.

Finally, if you want to read a dystopian story, you might try Soundless, by Richelle Mead.  In this story, Fei lives in a mining village high up in the mountains where no one has the ability to hear. She and her sister, Chen, have been orphans for the last several years, but thanks to Fei's talent as an artist, she and her sister lead as good a life as possible in the harsh conditions of their town. When Chen starts to lose her eyesight, in addition to her hearing, Fei knows that she has to do something, but it has always been too dangerous to leave their village to go down the mountain because of their inability to hear.  As Chen loses her eyesight, Fei somehow starts to gain her hearing, and knows she has to use this to her advantage.  With the help of handsome Li Wei, Fei decides to do everything she can to save her village and her sister.  You can find copies of this book at MCPL and on Overdrive.

That wraps up my recommendations for this post.  Hopefully, with all those titles, you can find something you want to read!

Back to School Must Reads

It's official...school has started for us at Congress Middle School!  It's been over a month since I've updated the old book blog, so it's high time I did so.  As we get ready to start spending time reading on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during homebase, let me tell you about some titles you might want to look into as we start making library visits.

First up, let me tell you a little bit more about one of the books I mentioned in class as one of my favorite books of the summer.  A Week of Mondays, by Jessica Brody, is about a girl named Ellison Sparks who just had the worst Monday of all time:  she ran a red light and is expecting a ticket, she took the worst school photo of all time, she bombs a speech in front of her whole school, has an allergic reaction that makes her face swell up, and worst of all, her boyfriend breaks up with her.  When Ellie wakes up the next morning and discovers she is re-living her Monday, she sets out to change all of the mistakes she made and maybe if she can do that, her boyfriend won't break up with her.  This hilarious story shows Ellie living through a week of Mondays trying to figure how to get things right...and it may not necessarily work out the way she expected.  This book was right in my sweet spot of things I like to read - it's funny, it has a little romance (but not too much), and it makes you feel good in the end.  I was able to read an advanced copy through NetGalley, but it is now available at MCPL if you're interested in checking this one out.

Another book I really liked was Cinda Williams Chima's first book in her newest series, Flamecaster.  I read Chima's Seven Realms series last year and loved it (you can read about the first book in that series, The Demon King, here) and Flamecaster (Shattered Realms series #1) takes place in the same setting a generation later.  You don't have to read the other series first, but it would definitely give you some background information into the setting.  In Flamecaster, Ash, son of the queen and high wizard of the Fells, is a gifted healer who wants to get revenge on the king of Arden who has brought grief to his family.  Jenna, a girl who has grown up as basically a slave to Arden in her mining town of Delphi also wants to bring down the evil king of Arden.  When both Ash and Jenna end up in Arden and their paths collide, the king of Arden better watch his back!  This story is an incredible melding of fantasy, action-adventure, and romance.  I am already looking forward to the next installment in this series, but of course, will have to wait a year for it to come out!  If you're interested in the Seven Realms series, you can find those 4 books at MCPL, MCPL Overdrive, and in our Congress Media Center.  You can find Flamecaster at MCPL and through MCPL's Overdrive.

If fantasy novels aren't your thing, and you want a story that's more heartwarming, then you might like Bluefish, by Pat Schmatz.  This story will hit you in the feels, let me tell you.  Travis is forced to start over in a new town with his recovering alcoholic grandfather.  He's left everything he's ever loved - his home in the swamp and his faithful dog who went missing right before they left.  He has to start 8th grade at a new school, and he knows it's only a matter of time before his teachers discover how inadequate he is as a student.  But Travis meets Velveeta, a girl who seemingly has it all together, and she seems to want to be his friend.  There is more to Velveeta than meets the eye, though.  She's suffering through some grief of her own, and she most definitely does not have it all together.  Can the friendship they form and the help of an observant teacher help them to overcome their obstacles?  You'll have to read Bluefish to find out.  You can find this book at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.  If you read Bluefish and like it, then you also must read Okay for Now, by Gary D. Schmidt...another incredibly uplifting story of overcoming impossible odds.  You can read more about it here.

Another really heartwarming story I read was Summerlost, by Ally Condie, who is a favorite author of mine.  In this story, Cedar is still dealing with the deaths of her father and younger brother in an accident a year ago.  She, her mom, and her other brother are spending their summer in their mom's hometown, where they've purchased a home.  When Cedar sees a boy her age riding a bike wearing a strange costume, she's curious...where is he going and why is he wearing that ridiculous costume? When she meets the boy - Leo - she learns he works at the town's annual Shakespeare festival, called Summerlost, and he helps her to get a job there too.  While working, they get caught up in a quest to discover what really happened to the Hollywood actress who died too young in their town 20 years before.  And through all the adventure, Cedar starts to work through the grief for her lost family that she's been struggling with.  This was a fun story, but it definitely was full of emotion, as well.  You can find this book at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.

If you want a book that's more filled with action, you might want to check out the Virals series (5 novels + 4 novellas) by Kathy and Brendan Reichs.  Kathy Reichs is the author of the adult series that the TV show Bones is based off of.  In Virals, a group of 4 teens, Tory, Ben, Hiram, and Shelton, are exposed to a virus that changes their lives completely.  Tory and friends suddenly have heightened senses and animal reflexes that they must use to catch a killer who is on the loose.  If you like science fiction and a lot of action, you would love the Virals series.  You can find these books at MCPL, through MCPL's Overdrive, and in our CMS Media Center.

If you're looking for a light-hearted read, you might want to check out Wendelin Van Draanen's book, Flipped.  A few years ago, I read Van Draanen's The Running Dream, which is also incredible (read about it here).  In Flipped, we meet Bryce and Juli.  When Bryce moves into the neighborhood, Juli is instantly smitten with him, despite the fact that they were only in 2nd grade at the time.  For the past 6 years, Juli has driven Bryce absolutely crazy with her attention and over-the-top behavior.  He just wants to get away from this girl.  Then the story is flipped - and Juli tells us her side of the story, but as Bryce and Juli go through their 8th grade years, Juli starts to see Bryce through new eyes...and guess what, Bryce starts to see Juli for who she really is, as well.  I will warn you...this story does leave you hanging in the end, but that means that you can decide for yourself what really happens between Bryce and Juli.  You can find copies of this story at MCPL, through MCPL's Overdrive, and in the CMS Media Center.

Finally, if you're more into historical fiction, you might like Poppy, by Mary Hooper.  If you've watched Downton Abbey, and you liked it, you'd definitely like Poppy, because it takes place in 1914-15 England.  Poppy is a young servant to a wealthy family when World War I breaks out.  She is falling in love with the youngest son of the family she works with, but knows they likely don't have a future, so she decides to volunteer to train as a nurse who treats soldiers who are wounded an recovering from the war.  Poppy had no idea of the horrific things she would see as a nurse, but is amazed to find that despite that, she is really good at what she does.  When it looks like she might have a chance with the young son of her former employer, Poppy is thrilled, until that relationship comes to a devastating end.  Poppy has to decide what she'll do next with her life...you'll have to read the story to find out what that might be.  You can find Poppy on the shelves at MCPL.

That's it for now.  If you're new to my blog, I encourage you to explore through it...I've made many book recommendations over the last few years.  I hope you'll find something that you'd really like to read!

Hot Summer Reads

We are one month into our summer break and I hope it's treating you right!  I've been reading my time away, as usual, and have a variety of recommendations to make for your summer reading enjoyment. I'll start with a couple of titles that are just fun reads - something good to take to the pool or beach.  First up is Two Summers, by Aimee Friedman.  Summer Everett is about to board a plane to France for the summer to visit her artist father when her phone rings.  Summer debates whether or not to answer the call - she needs to get on that plane...and here is where the story begins.  The author takes on two different journeys - one of what happens if Summer takes the call and the other of what happens if she doesn't.  There are both joys and heartaches either way for Summer.  Though Summer has some emotional struggles and has to deal with a waning friendship and a family secret, this is really a light-hearted and fun read.  I really enjoyed it!  You can find it on MCPL's shelves or on Overdrive. Another entertaining book I enjoyed was This is My Brain on Boys, by Sarah Strohmeyer.  Addie is a genius who doesn't believe in love, but despite that, she's in the middle of conducting an experiment to prove that you can simulate falling in love by putting a boy and girl through traumatic experiences together...and her future depends on it.  This experiment could win her an award that will pay her way through college, but she has a couple of issues - her sketchy lab partner and the fact that she herself might be falling for one of her research subjects.  I really enjoyed Addie's analytical approach to everything she did - this made for a really funny and entertaining read!  You can find copies at MCPL or on Overdrive. I also really enjoyed Stacey Lee's newest book, Outrun the Moon.  This is an historical fiction novel set in San Francisco in 1906.  If you know your history, you know a huge earthquake hit the area in 1906 causing an incredible amount of destruction and devastation.  Our main character, Mercy Wong, is a Chinese American.  Though her parents were immigrants, Mercy was born in the US and is a citizen, but that doesn't matter to most.  Prejudice against the Chinese runs rampant through the city, but despite this, Mercy is determined to continue her education at the the prestigious St. Clare's School for Girls.  She bribes the school board president into to gaining admittance for herself, but things do not go smoothly at school for Mercy...and then the earthquake hits.  Mercy has to find a way to pull the girls of the school together to help them survive.  This was a great story and I loved the setting.  You can find this book on MCPL's shelves and Overdrive.  If you like it, you might also want to read Lee's Under a Painted Sky - read a summary here. If you're into a darker story, you might want to pick up Julie Kagawa's Talon series.  You can read about the first two books here.  I read the 3rd book in the series, Soldier, recently and it is as packed with action and suspense as the rogue dragons, Talon, and St. George continue to come up against one another.  This one ends with a bang that will leave you stunned...in fact, I'm still a little stunned just thinking back on it!  You can find this series on MCPL's shelves and on Overdrive. For a dark, historical fiction read, you might want to check on Kiersten White's And I Darken, the first in her new series (The Conqueror's Saga).  This novel is based on the idea of history's Vlad the Impaler as a female, rather than a male.  Lada Dragwlya is not your average female in the 1400's - she is fierce and brutal.  She and her gentler brother Radu were abandoned by their father to the Ottoman courts as children and Lada knows that she has to be ruthless in order to survive.  They become friends with Mehmed, the sultan's son, and know that this relationship is the key to their survival.  This book does have a lot about the political and religious goings-on of the time, so be aware of that.  It is not a light-hearted or quick read, but believe me, you won't know whether you actually like Lada or hate her...she is definitely an anti-heroine.  This book releases on Tuesday, so it's not at MCPL yet, but I expect it will be soon.  Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read an advanced reader's copy. Another book I've read recently thanks to NetGalley is In the Hope of Memories, by Olivia Rivers.  This book is out, but MCPL does not have it, so if you're interested, you'll have to look for it elsewhere.  In this story, 4 friends of a girl named Hope who recently passed away, are brought together after her death through a scavenger hunt in NYC Hope planned for them.  They all had a connection to Hope, but none of them knew one another, but Hope knows that they'll need one another to not only cope with her death, but to deal with their own personal struggles.  This was a book that had both emotional highs and lows as a reader, but it was overall a really enjoyable read told from the 4 perspectives of Hope's friends. That's it for now, folks.  Even if these titles aren't for you, I hope you're reading SOMETHING this summer!

Series Updates

If you haven't checked out Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Fixer, you need to.  I blogged about the first book here...check it out if you haven't read it.  Once you do, you'll want to read the second installment in the series, The Long Game, that comes out next Tuesday, June 7th.  In book 2, Tess is reeling with the secrets that were revealed at the end of book 1 and trying to get her life back into a normal place when a terrorist group strikes close to home...and Tess is the only one who can solve this problem.  This book is full of suspense, action, and emotion.  I couldn't put it down!  I was able to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley...put it on your summer to-read list, because it won't disappoint!

I recently finished the long awaited final book in The Selection series - The Crown.  I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of Maxon & America's (books 1-3) daughter Eadlyn in book 4, but she definitely grew on my in this final installment.  In book 5, Eadlyn's selection continues as she basically runs the country while her father helps her mother recover from her heart attack.  Eadlyn is also dealing with the fact that she is not a very popular member of the royal family, which makes running things even harder.  She has to find a way to make herself look better in the eyes of the public...and maybe finishing the selection is the way to do that...but will she find true love?  You'll have to read The Crown to find out!  You can get a copy at MCPL or through Overdrive.

Stock Up for Summer Reading!

Summer is quickly approaching, and if you're anything like me, you're already looking for recommendations for good books to read once you have all that time on your hands.  I know I can't wait!  I've got several new titles that you might want to add to your list.

First up is Riders, by Veronica Rossi.  This is the first book in a new near-apocalyptic (I may have just coined a new genre...I don't know) series about Gideon Blake, who is training to be an Army Ranger when he nearly dies when his parachute fails to open after a jump. After the accident, Gideon finds that he is not the same as he was.  He is wearing a cuff on his wrist that he can't remove, and he is developing powers that seem beyond human.  When a girl named Daryn finds him and tells him that he has become War, one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse from Revelation in the Bible.  She says they have to find the other three horseman in order to save humanity from a group of really bad guys.  He's skeptical at first, but realizes that he is not the same as he was, so it must be true.  If you like a good action story, you'll love this first book and be anxiously awaiting the next book like I am!  You can find this book at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.

Another book that I read recently that I love was Rebel of the Sands, by Alwyn Hamilton.  This is a fantasy/dystopian novel about a girl named Amani who just wants to get out of the desert town she's lived in her whole life.  Her mother murdered her father and was hanged for it, and living conditions with her aunt and uncle have not been ideal.  In order to get out of Dustwalk, she enters a shooting competition as a boy, and nearly wins, but when chaos breaks out and she and the other front-runner in the competition, a foreigner to her town, barely escape with their lives, she nearly loses hope.  After another run-in with the foreigner, they end up leaving together and Amani gets involved in a rebellion to overthrow the Sultan of their country.  She discovers that there is more to her than she ever believed possible.  This book has it all - magic, action-adventure, romance - and was so much fun to read.  I highly recommend it.  You can find it on MCPL's shelves or through Overdrive.

If you're more into a re-telling of a favorite childhood tale, you might like Unhooked, by Lisa Maxwell.  In this Peter Pan retelling, Gwendolyn and her mother have just moved to London, and her best friend Olivia came along to help them settle in.  Gwen hopes maybe they might stay put for awhile...it feels like her mother has picked up and moved them constantly throughout her whole life.  The first night in her new home, Gwen and Olivia are both kidnapped and both end up in Neverland, though not together.  Gwen ends up on a ship with Captain Hook and can barely believe it when he tells her where she is.  He assures her that it is nothing like the story that she may have heard, though.  When she meets Pan, and he promises to take her to Olivia and get them home, she goes with them, only to find out that Hook was right - and maybe Peter Pan isn't the hero of the story.  Can she and Olivia survive the horrors of Neverland and make it home again?  You'll have to read it to find out.  This was another story I had a hard time putting down.  I always enjoy different takes on familiar stories and this one didn't disappoint.  You can find it at MCPL or on Overdrive.

If you're more into heart-wrenching realistic fiction, you might want to check out The Serpent King, by Jeff Zentner.  In their small-town of Forrestville, Tennessee, Dill, Lydia, and Travis are rejects and misfits who have never fit in.  Dill is the son of an extreme minister who handled snakes and poison, and whose fall from grace and imprisonment has stained Dill's reputation for the last few years.  Lydia, who has an eye for fashion and an incredibly successful fashion blog, is laser-focused on getting into NYU and getting the heck out of Forrestville forever.  Travis, who's obsession with a fantasy book series, is misunderstood by a violent father who wants him to be more like his dead brother.  These three friends begin their senior year of high school and events that none of them could have foreseen might tear their friendship apart forever.  This book was an emotional roller coaster, but oh, so worth the read.  I absolutely loved it.  You can find copies at MCPL or on Overdrive.

For those of you who are fans of Steven James' Blur series, get ready, because the third book in this so-called trilogy (I really think there will have to be more...but we'll see), Curse, is being released on May 24th.  I got to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley, and if you have liked this series so far, this book won't disappoint.  Daniel has just started summer vacation when he begins having blurs again right before he is due to head to Atlanta for a basketball camp that he was selected and given a scholarship to attend.  He and 3 friends are taking a road trip to Atlanta and he can't wait, but the blurs keep coming.  When he is kidnapped in Atlanta, his friends go in search of him...not knowing that he has actually been taken in by someone familiar who wants to use his blurs to find someone who has really been kidnapped.  All stories eventually intersect and mystery, action, and excitement ensue!  Keep an eye out for this one at MCPL at the end of the month!

If you're more into historical fiction, you might want to check out The Passion of Dolssa, by Julie Berry.  This book was nothing like what I thought it was going to be...when I checked it out, I had no idea that this fictional story was based on real people and real stories.  The story takes place in 13th century (1200's) France and Spain.  Dolssa is an upper class girl who is labeled a heretic (a person who is accused of being at odds with a religion) by the priests in her town and is sentenced to be burned at the stake along with her mother.  While her mother burns, Dolssa is saved and escapes into the countryside where she is hunted, so her sentence can be carried out.  Near death, she is discovered by Botille, a young matchmaker, who conceals Dolssa and brings her home to nurse her to health.  When Dolssa's presence causes unexpected miracles to occur, Botille knows that she's going to have to use every trick up her sleeve to try to save Dolssa and her family.  This story was beautifully written, and I found the history incredibly fascinating.  You can find copies at MCPL or on Overdrive.

Finally, another historical fiction/spin-off story that you might like is A Little in Love, by Susan Fletcher.  This story is based off of a character from Les Miserables, Eponine.  You don't have to have read Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, to understand this story, because I haven't read it and really have only a basic knowledge of the storyline.  It might make this story more interesting for you if you know the background, though.  In this story, Eponine is a young French girl who is the daughter of deceitful and thieving parents, who raise her and her sister to be the same.  Eponine is good at stealing, but she doesn't like it.  When her parents take on another little girl, Cosette, and make her their slave while taking the money her mother sends for her care for herself, Eponine finds herself treating Cosette unkindly in order to please her parents.  When Cosette is rescued, though, Eponine finds that she wishes she could have been rescued right along with her.  When years later, circumstances cause Eponine's family to move to Paris, her story and Cosette's stories intersect once again when they both fall in love with the same boy.  Will Eponine and Cosette find happiness?  You can find this book at MCPL and on Overdrive.

That's it for now.  Start that summer reading list!

Books to Look Out For

Let me fill you in on a couple books you should be on the look out for in the next few weeks, as well as two that you can already find on shelves.

First up is April Henry's latest thriller, The Girl I Used to Be.  Henry is the author of favorites Girl Stolen, The Girls Who Was Supposed to Die,  and The Body in the Woods - all Truman nominees (and Girl Stolen won).  I expect we will see The Girl I Used to Be nominated for the 2017-18 awards, but we'll have to wait awhile to find out!  In The Girl I Used to Be, Olivia has to go back and re-live a violent past.  Seventeen and emancipated after several years in the foster system, Olivia thinks she has her life on track when her past returns to haunt her.  When Olivia was 3, her mother was brutally murdered and her father was suspected of committing the crime, but when her father's bones turn up in the vicinity of where her mother was found, it is clear that he has been falsely accused for all these years.  Olivia decides to go back to where she came from, and when she does, memories of the past start to return...but if the murderer finds out, will Olivia become the next victim?  This is a fast-paced mystery, and if you already like April Henry, she won't disappoint you with this one.  The only thing you may find disappointing is that this book is not out on shelves yet.  I got to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley.  You'll be able to find it on shelves on May 3rd.

Another title you might be interested in is Cindy Anstey's historical romance, Love, Lies, & Spies.  This book takes place in 1800's England when England is at war with France and Napoleon Bonaparte.  Juliana Telford is not your typical young lady...she's more interested in her scientific research of bugs than gowns and balls and boys.  However, she decides to use the excuse of a "season" in London in order to get her research published.  Spencer Northam is not interested in marriage either, but in his secret spy work for the War Office, he is determined to take down the traitors who are passing on information to France illegally.  When the suspects turn out to be the family Juliana is spending time with, Juliana and Spencer agree to pretend interest in one another...her so she can avoid other suitors and him (unknowing to Juliana) to spy on his suspects. Of course, romance ensues whether they want it to or not.  This was a fun read.  This book is also not published quite yet...it will be out on April 19th...only a little over a week away.  Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

This next book is one of the Truman nominees for next year that I didn't get a chance to read during the voting process a few months ago.  Just a Drop of Water, by Kerry O'Malley Cerra is a story about Jake, an 8th grader who is caught in the midst of an unexpected struggle after the events of 9-11 in 2001.  All Jake cared about was getting to be captain of the cross country team for his 8th grade year with his best friend, Sam.  Jake doesn't love cross country, but his coach requires him to participate in it, if he wants to be on the track team in the spring.  When Jake loses the captain's spot to a new student, he's already angry.  But when 9-11 happens and the whole world goes crazy, Jake doesn't know how to deal with it.  His best friend Sam's family has a Muslim heritage, so when Sam's dad is taken in for questioning by the FBI, Sam becomes a target at school.  Jake tries to stick up for Sam and his family, but Sam won't hardly talk to him either.  This story will take you through what it was like to experience 9-11 through the eyes of a boy who is forced to grow up and learn what's really important.  You can find this book at MCPL, on our shelves at CMS, or through Park Hill's Overdrive.

Finally, for all you fans of Kiera Cass and The Selection series, let me share with you about Cass' first novel The Siren that was just re-published for a more widespread audience.  In The Siren, we meet Kahlen, who survived a shipwreck caused by sirens and was made a siren in order to serve the ocean.  Each siren must serve the ocean for 100 years, then can return to a normal life, but for those 100 years, sirens must call people to their deaths on the ocean in order to feed the ocean and save the rest of humanity.  Kahlen has served for 80 years when she meets Akinli.  She knows that she can't fall in love, but after a particularly bad night of death and destruction, Kahlen escapes the ocean to spend just one day with Akinli.  Little does she know that this day could lead to both of their destructions.  If you like Kiera Cass, then you'll likely enjoy her first novel.  You can find copies on MCPL's shelves or through their Overdrive.