tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76909598563189765752024-03-05T01:47:40.385-06:00Mrs. Spaeth's Book BlogKarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-28073572986498777572017-05-16T11:47:00.000-05:002017-05-16T11:47:55.037-05:00Gear up for Summer Reading!Summer is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking about books you might like to read during all that time off! Let me give you a few suggestions from some books that I've read in the last few weeks.<br />
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First up, if you want to read a great realistic fiction story, you might like <i>Piecing Me Together</i>, by Renee Watson. In this story, we meet Jade, who lives in a poor neighborhood, but has earned a scholarship to a private school on the other side of town. She knows that she is going to have to work really hard to get out of her neighborhood and make a better life for her future. When Jade is selected to be a part of Women-to-Women, a mentorship group, she doesn't know what to think. When she finds out that she was selected because she is "at-risk" because of the fact that she is black and from a poor neighborhood, Jade is less than enthusiastic. She's not sure she really needs a mentor or if her mentor can really understand Jade's own experiences. Join Jade as she works to figure out her best path for his life. You can borrow this book from me next year if you're interested, or you can find it on MCPL's shelves this summer!<br />
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If you're more in the mood for a fairytale-like story, you might like <i>Echo</i>, by Pam Munoz Ryan. In this story, we start by meeting Otto, who is lost in a forbidden forest and his helped by 3 mysterious sisters who provide him with a quest, a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica that help to lead him home. Many years later, we meet Freidrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, & Ivy in California. Otto's story weaves throughout these 3 stories and eventually leads them all together. If you like reading magical stories that warm the heart, you will love <i>Echo</i>. You can find copies at MCPL, on MCPL's Overdrive, or next year off my shelf or in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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If you're looking for a humorous story, you might like Gordon Korman's newest novel, <i>Restart</i>. In this story, the main character, Chase Ambrose, falls off his roof and the knock on his head causes him to end up with amnesia. He suddenly has to figure out everything about his old life, and he quickly discovers that he was not the nicest person before his amnesia. No one is sure whether they can trust the new Chase, who is accepting of everyone, when he was such a big bully before his fall. The question is - as Chase begins to remember pieces of his past, will he revert to his old ways or be the new, trustworthy person he has been since his accident? You can find copies of this book at MCPL or borrow from me when we return to school in August.<br />
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If you like to read books about friendship, you might want to read <i>The Wonder of Us</i>, by Kim Culbertson. This story is told in the alternating points of view of best friends (kind of) Riya and Abby. Ten months ago, Riya moved to Berlin with her family and left Abby feeling alone and friendless back in their California town. The distance between them has been destructive on their friendship, so Riya invites Abby to go on a "Grand Tour" of Europe with her the summer between their junior and senior years in order to help restore their friendship. Join them as they travel around some amazing places in Europe and meet a lot of interesting people along the way. You can find this book on the shelves at MCPL or you can borrow from me when we come back to school.<br />
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Finally, I'll recommend a series, of which I've recently read the 4th installment, <i>Legion</i>, which is part of Julie Kagawa's <i>Talon</i> series. If you like stories that are full of action, adventure, suspense, and magic, you might like this series. It follows Ember, a dragon living mostly in human form who is sent out into the world for Talon, the organization that has raised her. When she meets soldier for St. George, a group that fights dragon-kind, she starts to discover that Talon is not an upstanding organization, and she's not sure she wants to be a part of it. I was able to read <i>Legion</i> in an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley, but it's now available at Mid-Continent on their shelves or on Overdrive. If you want to read the series, here they are in order: <i>Talon, Rogue, Soldier, </i>then <i>Legion</i>.<br />
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There you have it. Keep checking back for more recommendations throughout the summer!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-89160854334669010472017-03-23T10:44:00.001-05:002017-03-23T10:44:42.015-05:00Spring Book FeverIt's hard to believe that our spring break is nearly over, and I don't know about you, but I've been spending lots of my time reading! I've got lots of titles to tell you about today!<br />
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Let's start with a new book by John Boyne, who is the author of <i>The Boy in the Striped Pajamas</i>, which I know many of you really like. In his newest work, <i>The Boy at the Top of the Mountain</i>, we meet Pierrot, the son of a French woman who married a German man after World War I. Pierrot's father, who fought in the war, never recovered and became an abusive alcoholic, who eventually is killed in an accident. His mother develops tuberculosis and dies, as well, and after a year at an orphanage, Pierrot's long-lost sister Beatrix, finds him and brings him to Austria to live with her where she is the housekeeper for Germany's leader, Hitler, at his house that is high in the Austrian Alps. Hitler becomes a father-figure for Pierrot as he grows up at the house on the top of the mountain, but when Hitler is gone and the war is over, can Pierrot face the horrors that the German people brought onto so many others in the world? This was a fascinating look at what it might have been like to grow up under the beliefs of a dictator. You can find this book at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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If you're more into reading something really fantastical that has something of an <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> meets with a <i>Hunger Games</i> type of feeling, you might like <i>Caraval</i>, by Stephanie Garber. In this story (the first in a series), we meet Scarlett and her sister Tella, who live on an island with their cold and abusive father. For years, Scarlett has been writing to the elusive Legend, host of the yearly Caraval, an event like no other. To Scarlett's surprise, this year she receives an invitation to attend Caraval, a game where there can only be one winner, and this year's winner will receive a wish as their prize. A sailor friend of Tella's, Julian, promises to get Scarlett and Tella to Caraval, but when Scarlett arrives with Julian, Tella has disappeared. Tella has been taken by Legend, and the person who manages to find her before Legend kills her will be the winner. Scarlett is desperate and will do anything to save her sister from this dark game that threatens both of their lives. This story is full of magic and unexpected twists and turns. You never really know who Scarlett should trust - or even if she should trust herself. If you're looking for something fun and mysterious with a little romance, you might like <i>Caraval</i>. You can find this title at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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If you read <i>Counting by 7's </i> as your book club choice, or maybe you just wanted to read it, but didn't get the chance, you might like the author's (Holly Goldberg Sloan) newest book, <i>Short</i>. Here we meet Julia, who has always been extremely short for her age, but doesn't want to be defined by how tall she is. Over the summer, Julia's mom makes Julia and her brother try out for the local college's production of <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>. When Julia and her brother get cast as munchkins in the play, Julia thinks that nothing could be worse. However, as she starts rehearsals and meets the interesting and quirky people who are part of the production, Julia starts to discover things about herself that she never realized. This was a fun and funny story about growing up and learning about who you are as you start to really pay attention to the world around you. You can find this title at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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I just finished reading <i>The Possibility of Now</i>, by Kim Culbertson, a realistic fiction story about Mara, an overachiever who recently had a major meltdown at school that was video-taped and posted on YouTube. When the video gets over 600,000 views, Mara feels like there is no way that she can face going back to school and asks her mom if she can live with her father, who has pretty much been out of the picture for her whole life. When her mother and father agree to a short stay, Mara heads to Tahoe during the heart of ski season and decides that she is going to start learning to live in the now, and makes lists to help her do so, but in checking things off her "Now" lists, is she really learning to live in the now? In the slower pace of life, Mara starts to learn who she really is and what her real priorities are in life. When her time is up with her father, will she want to return to her former life? You can find this title at MCPL and on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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Another great realistic fiction book I read recently is called <i>Love and First Sight</i>, by Josh Sundquist. In this story, Will, who has been blind all his life, decides that he wants to get out in the world and experience it the way a person with sight would. He's always gone to a school for the blind and visually impaired, but wants to attend a "normal" school and prove that he can be as successful there as he has been at his school for the blind. When Will starts at the school, he gets pushed toward the uber-shy Cecily by his new group of friends. Will starts to develop a friendship with Cecily, which turns to more than friendship, and when Will gets the opportunity to have a surgery that will give him sight, he is thrilled, despite the obstacles that he will face. When he finally gains his sight, he discovers something about Cecily that no one, including Cecily, ever thought to share with him. This story really looks at how we define beauty in our society and how we can judge people based on their outward appearance. Will's narration in this story is super funny, but sweet and heartwarming, as well. I really enjoyed this one! You can find this book at MCPL and on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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Another great romance I was able to read was <i>At First Blush</i>, by Beth Ellyn Summer. I was able to read an Advanced Reader's copy of this book thanks to NetGalley. If you're a fan of Kasie West (<i>PS I Like You, The Fill-in Boyfriend</i>), then you'll love this new book about Lacey Robbins, who has built up a huge following with her YouTube channel "laceyblushes" where she films makeup tutorials and fashion tips. She feels like she's just got her big break when she earns an internship with On Trend magazine the summer before her senior year in high school. She's going to promote the magazine's next cover star and hopefully get sponsored by an awesome makeup company, grow her channel, and maybe be picked up by a company that launches YouTube careers. Everything seems to be going right until the cover star turns out to be Tyler Lance, a once-member of a famous boy band who is now on his own and has garnered some not-so-great publicity in the year since he's left his band. Now, he's getting ready to launch a solo career and wants to clean up his image with On Trend magazines help. Lacey isn't thrilled with Tyler at first, but as she gets to know him, she starts to see that all the headlines about him didn't really tell the whole story, and the two fall into serious like with one another. Lacey is also discovering that her internship is not going the way she thought it would, and what used to bring her joy, now only seems to bring her stress. Lacey and Tyler both have a lot of growing up to do as they not only get to know one another, but themselves, as well. This was such a fun read. This book isn't out there yet, but will be published on April 4th. Be sure to look for it!<br />
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If you're looking for a less light and more emotional romance, you might like Brigid Kemmerer's newest book, <i>Letters to the Lost</i>. The story alternates between Juliet's and Declan's perspectives. Both have experienced huge losses in their lives. Juliet deals with the death of her mother by writing her mother letters and leaving them at her grave. When Declan, who is doing community service at the cemetery finds one of her letters and writes back, at first Juliet is furious that someone has dared to read something so private, so she writes back an angry response. Eventually the two develop a friendship through their letters and eventual emails with one another that helps them both cope with the losses that they've experienced. They know each other better than anyone else, yet they don't know one another's actual identities...the question is, do they want to? This is definitely not a light-hearted story, but it is deeply emotional and touching as Juliet and Declan work through their grief. This is another book that I was provided an advanced copy through NetGalley. Look for it after it publishes on April 4th.<br />
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These are some great books for you to check out if you're looking for some new reading material. There's nothing better than getting comfy with a good book on these beautiful spring days! Happy reading!<br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-50687059093114433712017-02-02T11:52:00.001-06:002017-02-02T11:52:24.866-06:00Books to Beat the Winter BluesThere's nothing better than curling up with a good book on a cold day and the groundhog says there are 6 more weeks of winter, so let me tell you about some books will keep you entertained through these last few weeks of cold and drear.<br />
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First up is <i>Falling Over Sideways</i>, by Jordan Sonnenblick. In this story, we meet Claire who is struggling through her 8th grade year dealing with mean girls and falling behind her best friends in her dance class. On a particularly difficult night, when her dad tries to joke around with her about her problems, she tells him that maybe he needs to struggle more. The next morning at breakfast, Claire is home alone with her dad when he falls over and is unable to communicate. It turns out, her father, a writer, has had a stroke and is left unable to communicate through words. Talk about struggling. Claire struggles with feelings of guilt for what happens with her father and is determined to do everything she can to make things right for her family once again. This book is a heartwarming story, but has lots of laughs throughout to keep you entertained. You can find this book at MCPL or in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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If you're more into a dystopian suspense story, you might try <i>The Darkest Minds</i>, by Alexandra Bracken. This is the first book in a series about kids who survived a deadly disease that gave them mind control powers. The kids who don't immediately die are gathered into camps that promise to rehabilitate these kids, but they're really collection centers to do away with the problems these kids cause. The kids are grouped into different color groups based on their abilities. Blues and greens are relatively harmless, but yellows, oranges, and reds can use their powers in dangerous ways. Ruby is an orange, but is passing herself off as a green to keep safe in her camp. When her status as an orange is exposed, Ruby gets unexpected help to escape the camp. When her "help" is exposed as a dangerous group that wants to use her for her abilities, she escapes again and joins with other kids on the run who are looking for the mythical East River sanctuary where kids with mind abilities are safe...but is it really a safe place, or will Ruby and her new friends find even more danger? This book is full of action and adventure. You can find this book at MCPL, on MCPL's Overdrive and in our Congress Media Center.<br />
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Another great new dystopian novel is <i>The Scourge</i>, by Jennifer A. Nielsen. In this story, we meet Ani Mells and her best friend, Weevil, who are "River Rats" or the poorest of the poor in their society. Their families are struggling to survive on a day-to-day basis when a dangerous plague, called "The Scourge" begins to sweep across their country. Though none of the river people have come down with the scourge, Ani and Weevil are picked up by the governor's soldiers to be tested. When Ani is found to have the scourge, she and Weevil are sent to Attic Island, a former prison where people who are sick with the scourge are now quarantined. Once on Attic Island, Ani and Weevil become very suspicious that something much darker and more sinister than the scourge is going on in their country. Can Ani and Weevil save themselves and others from the scourge? You can find copies of this novel at MCPL and in our Congress Media Center.<br />
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Another great realistic fiction story you might like is <i>If You're Reading This</i>, by Trent Reedy. In this story we meet Mike, who is beginning his sophomore year in high school and is a few weeks away from turning 16. Mike's dad died fighting as a soldier in Afghanistan 8 years ago and life has been tough for Mike, his sister Mary, and his mom ever since. His mom works 2 jobs and Mike is also spending a lot of his own time working to help support his family. Mike really wants to play football, but his mom is way overprotective since his father's death and won't sign the permission form. When Mike receives a letter from his late father that encourages him to play a sport, Mike decides to follow his dad's advice. More letters come from his late father that give Mike advice and encourage him to try different things. Mike wants to do what his father advises, but doesn't always go about it in the right way and he really wants to know - who is sending these letters? You can find out when you read this great story about growing up and learning to make the right choices.<br />
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If you'd rather read a historical fiction novel, you might try <i>Hattie Big Sky</i>, by Kirby Larson. After her parents death when she was 5, the main character in this story, Hattie, has been moved around from relative to relative to the point that she calls herself "Hattie Here-and-There" because she's never really felt like she had an actual place to call home. When an uncle that she's never even met leaves Hattie his claim in Montana, Hattie decides to leave Iowa to "prove" her uncle's claim and make a home of her own despite the fact that she is only 16 years old. Hattie finds herself in a shack in Montana where she has to farm and produce results that will allow her to keep her new home. Not only that, World War I is going on in Europe causing everyone to make sacrifices in an already difficult time. This is also causing a lot of anti-German sentiments around the country and Hattie is torn between her friendship with her German neighbor and trying to be "patriotic" to her country. This is a story of growing up and not giving up when faced with huge obstacles in order to find your place in the world. I absolutely loved <i>Hattie Big Sky</i>, which was actually based on the author's great-grandmother's real life. You can find copies of this story at MCPL, on MCPL's Overdrive, and in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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If you're more in the mood for a fun romance, you might try <i>Love & Gelato</i>, by Jenna Evans Welch. Lina is spending her summer in Tuscany, Italy fulfilling her mom's dying wish that she get to know her father, whom she's never met and didn't even really know anything about until her mother was diagnosed with cancer. Lina reluctantly spends the summer with Howard, her father, but plans to go home as soon as she can. When she's given a journal her mother wrote while she studied photography in Italy before Lina's birth, Lina is intrigued by what her mom wrote in the cover of the journal: "I made the wrong choice." Lina decides to follow in her mother's footsteps with the help of a cute neighbor boy, Ren, to figure out what wrong choice her mother made and to help her along on her own journey of grief and getting to know her father. This was a touching and fun story that will make you want to laugh and cry. You can find copies at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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My final recommendation is Stacey Lee's newest novel called <i>Secret of a Heart Note</i>. In this story, Mim and her mother are aroma experts who are hired to help people fall in love by making elixirs based on scents. When Mim makes a mistake and doses the wrong woman, she has to figure out a way to fix her mistake without her mother finding out, because her mother might take away the new freedoms that Mim is just receiving - like going to a real school instead of being home-schooled. To try to fix her mistake, she enlists the help of the son of the woman she mistakenly dosed, but she has to work to keep herself from falling for him, because if she falls in love, she'll lose her ability to use scents to help others. This was a unique new romance and I really enjoyed it! You can find copies of this book at MCPL.<br />
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There you have it - seven new books that will help you stay warm in these last days of winter! <br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-73067351145052234092017-01-01T16:44:00.001-06:002017-01-01T16:44:23.193-06:00New Year...New Books to Recommend!Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that another year has gone by, but I always like to look back and reflect on what I've read in the past year. In 2016, I read 222 books! Here's a quick look at my stats (my husband was totally making fun of me yesterday as I studied my stats...he just doesn't understand!):<br />
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Now, let me take a little time to recommend a few of the books that I've read over the past couple of months since I last posted.</div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81nbVfUyLQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81nbVfUyLQL.jpg" width="131" /></a>First up, <i>Bounce</i>, by Megan Shull. I recommended Shull's <i>The Swap</i> about a year & half ago...you can read about that title <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/search?q=the+swap" target="_blank">here</a>. In <i>Bounce</i>, we meet Frannie, who would like nothing more than to trade in her family for a better model. Her older brother ignores her, her older sister treats her like dirt, and her parents seem to wish she didn't exist. When her parents drop the news that they're going away for Christmas, and leaving the kids home to fend for themselves, Frannie is devastated. When her older brother & sister decide a party is in order, Frannie barricades herself in her room wishing she was anywhere but there. And when she wakes up...she's not there, she's someone else entirely and it's Christmas day again, and again, and again...she lives multiple different lives and starts to wonder if she'll ever actually see home again. You can find <i>Bounce</i> at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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<a href="http://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1452189910i/17659011._SY540_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1452189910i/17659011._SY540_.jpg" width="131" /></a>I recently recommended Marissa Meyer's <i>Lunar Chronicles</i> series (<i>Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, & Winter</i>) and her newest stand alone title, <i>Heartless</i>, did not disappoint. <i>Heartless</i> is Meyer's prequel to Lewis Carroll's <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i> and is about Catherine, who is eventually destined to become the hated Queen of Hearts. She wasn't always hated, though. She was a favorite of the King of Hearts, but more than anything, she wanted to be a baker and bake the most delightful treats in Hearts. In trying to avoid a proposal from the King of Hearts, Catherine meets the newest member of the King's court, Jest. The two fall in love, despite knowing that it is likely impossible that they'll ever be able to be together. Meanwhile, a mysterious creature is terrorizing hearts, and Catherine and Jest become embroiled in the mystery. This story was whimsical (as Wonderland should be), funny, romantic, and heartbreaking all rolled into one. You can find this book on MCPL's shelves and on Overdrive. I would expect to see this one show up on our CMS Media Center's shelves one day soon, as well!<br />
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A book I'd been meaning to read for quite some time that I finally got around to is Laurie Halse Anderson's <i>Chains</i>, which is the first book in her <i>Seeds of America</i> trilogy. In <i>Chains</i>, we meet Isabel, a 13-year old girl who was born a slave, and who is living during the American Revolution. Though she and her sister Ruth were promised their freedom upon the death of their current owner, they are not given their promised freedom and are sold to a cruel couple who don't care about Isabel or Ruth and are against the revolution and on the side of the British. When Isabel meets Curzon, who works with the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners and use what she knows to win her freedom. This story is Isabel's courageous fight to earn her place in the world. You can find copies at MCPL, on Overdrive, on our CMS Media Center Shelves, and on my classroom bookshelf if you're interested in reading this riveting historical fiction tale.<br />
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If you enjoy poetry that tells a story, I recommend Jacqueline Woodson's beautiful story of her childhood, <i>Brown Girl Dreaming</i>. Woodson tells about growing up in both the north and the south during the 60's and early 70's and what shaped her into becoming a writer. Her experiences as a young black girl who spent time growing up in two very different worlds shaped her and gave her a perspective that she wouldn't have had if she had just grown up in only one place. Because she tells her story in verse, it is a very quick read, but her story will stick with you long after you read it. You can find this book at MCPL, on Overdrive, and on our CMS Media Center Shelves.<br />
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If you're more into an action-adventure story, I recommend Ryan Graudin's <i>Wolf by Wolf</i> series. I recently read the 2nd and final book <i>Blood for Blood</i>. You can read about <i>Wolf by Wolf</i> <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/search?q=wolf+by+wolf" target="_blank">here</a>. <i>Blood for Blood</i> continues this alternate history story where Hitler and Germany triumphed in World War II. Yael continues her quest to bring freedom and end tyranny in Germany. There is a lot of action and suspense to be found in this series. You can find copies at MCPL and on Overdrive.<br />
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Another book I really liked that I read recently was <i>The Boy in the Black Suit</i>, by Jason Reynolds. In this story, we meet Matt, whose mother recently passed away after a too quick battle with breast cancer. As Matt begins his senior year in high school, he feels lost and unsure of who he is anymore. His father has turned to alcohol and Matt just wants to move on with his life. When Matt is offered a job at the local funeral home by his neighbor and family friend, he takes it, because it pays better than working at the local fast-food place. He starts wearing his black suit everywhere he goes and tries to figure out why it is comforting for him to attend other people's funerals. When he meets Lovey, a young lady who has been through even more than him, but has found a way to move forward, he starts to believe there just might be hope for his future again. You can find this book at MCPL or on Overdrive.<br />
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Finally, one last series I have to recommend to you is Jen Calonita's <i>Secrets of My Hollywood Life</i> series. I actually read the first 2 books 3 years ago, but recently revisited my enjoyment of the series by reading the 3rd & 4th books (there are a total of 6). In the first book, we meet Kaitlin Burke, 16 year old star of the long-running TV series <i>Family Affairs</i>. Though she enjoys some aspects of her fame, she gets tired of not getting to live a normal life. That's when she and her best friend Liz decide to concoct a plan - disguise herself as a regular girl and attend a regular high school. This series is funny and a lot of fun. I highly encourage it if you want to do some light reading that is just entertaining. You can find copies at MCPL and on Overdrive.<br />
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That's it for now. I hope you can find something to read that will get your new year started in an awesome way!<br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-6596132230996346742016-11-09T18:55:00.000-06:002016-11-09T18:55:16.871-06:00Book GratitudeAs 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.<br />
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First up is <i>My Unscripted Life</i>, 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. <br />
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Next up is another book I got to read through NetGalley that has also been released. It's called <i>How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You</i>, 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 <u>would</u> 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.<br />
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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 <i>Finding Perfect, </i>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.<br />
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<a href="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454343290l/28110143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1454343290l/28110143.jpg" width="132" /></a>If you'd rather read a fantasy-like fairy tale, you might want to check out Tahereh Mafi's newest book called <i>Furthermore</i>. 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 <i>Furthermore</i> 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.<br />
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If you're more interested in a dystopian story, you might want to check out Traci Chee's <i>The Reader</i>, which is her first book in a new series called <i>Sea of Ink and Gold</i>. 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 <i>The Reader</i> to find out! You can find this book at MCPL or through their Overdrive system.<br />
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Finally, another dystoptian-fantasy story you might enjoy is <i>The Orphan Queen</i>, 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, <i>The Mirror King</i>, 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!<br />
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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! Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-32392344029671852932016-10-07T13:50:00.002-05:002016-10-07T13:50:32.816-05:00Link to Book Trailer Prezi from 10-7 ClassIf 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 <a href="http://prezi.com/aikm8g34qptw/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share" target="_blank">here</a>. 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!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-41548111645260222022016-09-28T14:36:00.003-05:002016-09-28T14:36:50.199-05:00Fall into a Good BookHaha...see what I did there with that amazingly clever post title? I know, I know...<br />
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But really. Let me fill you in on some great books that you might want to curl up with on a chilly fall night.<br />
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First up, is a great new book by Jason Reynolds, called <i>Ghost</i>. 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 <i>Ghost</i>. You can find copies at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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I've continued to read some potential Truman nominees for next year. Here are a few of those.<br />
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First up is <i>Losers Take All</i>, by David Klass. Klass also wrote <i>Grandmaster</i>, one of this year's nominees. In <i>Losers Take All</i>, 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.<br />
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Another potential Truman you might like is <i>I am Princess X</i>, by Cherie Priest and illustrated by Cali Ciesemier. <i>I am Princess X</i> 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.<br />
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If you're more after a futuristic action-adventure book that's along the lines of <i>The Fast and the Furious</i>, you might want to check out <i>Tracked</i>, by Jenny Martin. <i>Tracked</i> 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 <i>Tracked</i>, which you can find at MCPL.<br />
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If you're into Marvel's Avengers, you might like Margaret Stohl's new series about Natasha Romanoff, aka The Black Widow, in <i>Black Widow: Forever Red</i>. 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 <i>Forever Red</i>. You don't have to know anything about <i>The Avengers</i> (like me!) to get into and understand the story. You can find copies of this book at MCPL or through their Overdrive.<br />
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In Pintup Dunn's <i>Forget Tomorrow, </i>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.<br />
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Finally, I want to give a shout-out to the final book in Bree Despain's <i>Into the Dark</i> trilogy. <i>The Immortal Throne</i> 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!<br />
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That's it for today. Find something to read that you enjoy!<br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-11252265436804879612016-09-05T10:10:00.000-05:002016-09-05T10:10:58.893-05:00I 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!<br />
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I'll start with <i>PS I Like You</i>, 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: <i><a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-been-awhile.html" target="_blank">The Distance Between Us</a></i>, <i><a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/dystopia-for-alland-two-for-girls.html" target="_blank">On the Fence</a></i>, <i><a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-year-new-books.html" target="_blank">Pivot Point</a>, <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/ive-been-reading-some-good-sequels.html" target="_blank">Split Second</a></i>, & <i><a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/search?q=the+fill+in+boyfriend" target="_blank">The Fill-in Boyfriend</a></i>. I have a copy of all of those books, except for <i>Split Second</i>, but you can find all of those at MCPL, MCPL's Overdrive, & <i>PP/SS</i> are both in the CMS Media Center. But back to <i>PS I Like You</i>. 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.</div>
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Another fun story that I read over the summer, but forgot to mention in my last blog post is <i>A Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, </i>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.</div>
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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 <i>The Family Romanov</i>, 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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First up is <i>The Honest Truth</i>, 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.<br />
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<i>Roller Girl</i>, 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 <i>Roller Girl</i>...as a graphic novel, it is a quick read. You can find copies at MCPL & in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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<i>Code of Honor</i> is by the author of last year's Truman winner, Alan Gratz (<i>Prisoner B-3087</i>). 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.<br />
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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 <i>Fallout</i>, 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 <i>Daily Planet</i> newspaper, writing for a junior magazine called, the <i>Daily Scoop</i>, 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.<br />
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If you're more into a fantasy book, you might like <i>Hunter</i>, 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 <i>Hunter</i> to find out. You can find copies at MCPL.<br />
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A different type of fantasy you might like is <i>The Leveller</i>, 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.<br />
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If you're more into a horror story, you might like <i>What Waits in the Woods</i>, 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.<br />
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Finally, if you want to read a dystopian story, you might try <i>Soundless</i>, 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.<br />
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That wraps up my recommendations for this post. Hopefully, with all those titles, you can find something you want to read!<br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-77940571881510955582016-08-13T09:48:00.001-05:002016-08-13T09:48:23.102-05:00Back to School Must ReadsIt'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.<br />
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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. <i>A Week of Mondays</i>, 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.<br />
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Another book I really liked was Cinda Williams Chima's first book in her newest series, <i>Flamecaster</i>. I read Chima's <i>Seven Realms </i>series last year and loved it (you can read about the first book in that series, <i>The Demon King</i>, <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/more-summer-read.html" target="_blank">here</a>) and <i>Flamecaster</i> (<i>Shattered Realms </i>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 <i>Flamecaster</i>, 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 <i>Seven Realms</i> series, you can find those 4 books at MCPL, MCPL Overdrive, and in our Congress Media Center. You can find <i>Flamecaster</i> at MCPL and through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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If fantasy novels aren't your thing, and you want a story that's more heartwarming, then you might like <i>Bluefish</i>, 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 <i>Bluefish</i> to find out. You can find this book at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive. If you read <i>Bluefish</i> and like it, then you also must read <i>Okay for Now</i>, by Gary D. Schmidt...another incredibly uplifting story of overcoming impossible odds. You can read more about it <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/for-fans-of-stand-alone-novel.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Another really heartwarming story I read was <i>Summerlost</i>, 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.<br />
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If you want a book that's more filled with action, you might want to check out the <i>Virals</i> series (5 novels + 4 novellas) by Kathy and Brendan Reichs. Kathy Reichs is the author of the adult series that the TV show <i>Bones</i> is based off of. In <i>Virals,</i> 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 <i>Virals</i> series. You can find these books at MCPL, through MCPL's Overdrive, and in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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If you're looking for a light-hearted read, you might want to check out Wendelin Van Draanen's book, <i>Flipped</i>. A few years ago, I read Van Draanen's <i>The Running Dream</i>, which is also incredible (read about it <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/five-new-titles.html" target="_blank">here</a>). In <i>Flipped</i>, 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.<br />
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Finally, if you're more into historical fiction, you might like <i>Poppy</i>, by Mary Hooper. If you've watched <i>Downton Abbey</i>, and you liked it, you'd definitely like <i>Poppy</i>, 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 <i>Poppy</i> on the shelves at MCPL.<br />
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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!<br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-86620617916243409692016-06-26T10:56:00.001-05:002016-06-26T10:56:20.118-05:00Hot Summer Reads<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 556px;">
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<td class="xl63" height="28" style="height: 21.0pt; width: 417pt;" width="556">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.<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456645564l/16068916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456645564l/16068916.jpg" width="133" /></a>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 <i>Two Summers</i>, 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.<br />
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Another entertaining book I enjoyed was <i>This is My Brain on Boys</i>, 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.<br />
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I also really enjoyed Stacey Lee's newest book, <i>Outrun the Moon</i>. 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 <i>Under a Painted Sky</i> - read a summary <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/04/new-upcoming-titles.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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If you're into a darker story, you might want to pick up Julie Kagawa's <i>Talon</i> series. You can read about the first two books <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/start-that-summer-reading-list.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I read the 3rd book in the series, <i>Soldier</i>, 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.<br />
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For a dark, historical fiction read, you might want to check on Kiersten White's <i>And I Darken</i>, the first in her new series (<i>The Conqueror's Saga</i>). 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.<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455062382l/29011221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455062382l/29011221.jpg" width="130" /></a>Another book I've read recently thanks to NetGalley is <i>In the Hope of Memories</i>, 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. <br />
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That's it for now, folks. Even if these titles aren't for you, I hope you're reading SOMETHING this summer! <br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-6262995280898075612016-05-30T16:47:00.002-05:002016-05-30T16:47:35.044-05:00Series Updates<div>
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If you haven't checked out Jennifer Lynn Barnes, <i>The Fixer</i>, you need to. I blogged about the first book <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/books-valentines-day-love.html" target="_blank">here</a>...check it out if you haven't read it. Once you do, you'll want to read the second installment in the series, <i>The Long Game</i>, 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!<br />
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<a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dec8b3e4b0d191d4ffbf51/t/56717433a12f44d76868a576/1450275905025/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54dec8b3e4b0d191d4ffbf51/t/56717433a12f44d76868a576/1450275905025/" height="200" width="131" /></a>I recently finished the long awaited final book in <i>The Selection</i> series - <i>The Crown</i>. 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 <i>The Crown</i> to find out! You can get a copy at MCPL or through Overdrive.<br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-9732462930681656902016-05-08T16:38:00.000-05:002016-05-08T16:38:03.506-05:00Stock 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.<div>
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First up is <i>Riders</i>, 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.</div>
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Another book that I read recently that I love was <i>Rebel of the Sands</i>, 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.</div>
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If you're more into a re-telling of a favorite childhood tale, you might like <i>Unhooked</i>, 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.</div>
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If you're more into heart-wrenching realistic fiction, you might want to check out <i>The Serpent King</i>, 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.</div>
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For those of you who are fans of Steven James' <i>Blur</i> 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), <i>Curse</i>, 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!</div>
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If you're more into historical fiction, you might want to check out <i>The Passion of Dolssa</i>, 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.</div>
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Finally, another historical fiction/spin-off story that you might like is <i>A Little in Love</i>, by Susan Fletcher. This story is based off of a character from <i>Les Miserables</i>, Eponine. You don't have to have read <i>Les Miserables</i>, 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.</div>
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That's it for now. Start that summer reading list!</div>
Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-82555117451398078092016-04-11T09:44:00.000-05:002016-04-11T09:44:15.756-05:00Books to Look Out ForLet 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.<br />
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First up is April Henry's latest thriller, <i>The Girl I Used to Be</i>. Henry is the author of favorites <i>Girl Stolen, The Girls Who Was Supposed to Die, </i> and <i>The Body in the Woods</i> - all Truman nominees (and <i>Girl Stolen</i> won). I expect we will see <i>The Girl I Used to Be</i> nominated for the 2017-18 awards, but we'll have to wait awhile to find out! In <i>The Girl I Used to Be</i>, 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.<br />
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Another title you might be interested in is Cindy Anstey's historical romance, <i>Love, Lies, & Spies</i>. 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.<br />
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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. <i>Just a Drop of Water</i>, 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.<br />
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Finally, for all you fans of Kiera Cass and <i>The Selection</i> series, let me share with you about Cass' first novel <i>The Siren</i> that was just re-published for a more widespread audience. In <i>The Siren</i>, 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.<br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-51491458637984266142016-03-18T14:18:00.002-05:002016-03-18T14:18:45.705-05:00Spring Break ReadsSpring break has finally begun! If you're facing all that time ahead with not much to do, maybe it's time to try to find a good book to read. Let me recommend a few recent favorites that I've enjoyed.<br />
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My very favorite book that I've read recently is Ruta Sepetys' <i>Salt to the Sea</i>. You'll hear this author's name from me again in the near future when we do our upcoming book club. Sepetys' <i>Between Shades of Gray</i> is another favorite of mine. <i>Salt to the Sea</i> takes place in 1945 Germany as German citizens are trying to evacuate their country as the Soviets move in from the East and the Americans/British move in from the west. The story is told from the perspectives of 4 teenagers, each from a different homeland and each have experienced tragedies over the course of the war. Their stories converge when they all gain passage on the <i>Wilhelm Gustloff</i>, which is about to experience a tragedy all its own. This fictional story is based on the real-life single greatest maritime disaster in history, and it won't leave you dry-eyed. I can't even tell you how strongly I recommend this one! You can find copies at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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Another great story that you might enjoy is Rebecca Stead's <i>Goodbye Stranger</i>. The story is told from 3 perspectives. First, from that of Bridge Barsamian, survivor of a near-death accident who is trying to figure out who she is as she begins 7th grade and her friendships get way more complicated. The second perspective is Sherm Russo's, another 7th grader who befriends Bridge, but is struggling with his own personal difficulties. The last perspective is an unknown high school student - who tells her story in 2nd person point of view, and who's story will overlap with Bridge and Sherm's in the end. This was another really touching story about what it means to grow up and being okay with who you are no matter what. You can find a copy of this in our CMS library, as well as at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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Another book that is a bit of an emotional roller coaster that I really liked is <i>Apple and Rain</i>, by Sarah Crossan. Apple's mom left her with her grandmother 11 years ago, and Apple has never stopped hoping that she might one day come back home. Apple's nan (what she calls her grandma) is really strict and is making Apple's 8th grade year harder than it has to be. When Apple's mom actually does show up, it seems like it is more than Apple could have hoped for, and she soon decides to move in with her mother. What she didn't know was that she had a sister, Rain, who is even more lost and broken than Apple herself. And when her mom doesn't live up to Apple's expectations and things start to fall apart even more, Apple has to figure out who she can trust and rely on. It's not a light-hearted read, but it is worth it! You can find this at MCPL or on Overdrive.<br />
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If you're more in the mood for an historical-paranormal-mystery, you might enjoy <i>These Vicious Masks</i>, by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas. In 1800's England, Evelyn is struggling to fit into society. Her parents just want her to make the perfect match, but she could care less about that. When her sister Rose is kidnapped, Evelyn decides to leave home and do everything she can to find her. With the help of the dashing Mr. Kent and mysterious Sebastian Braddock, Evelyn sets out to find out who took Rose and to get her back. In searching for Rose, she discovers that she has an unusual ability to heal people and that Rose has this ability as well, which is why she was kidnapped in the first place. Can Evelyn find Rose before disaster strikes? You'll have to read <i>These Vicious Masks</i>, the first of a series, to find out! You can find copies at MCPL or on Overdrive.<br />
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Finally, let me recommend two books that are the second books in a couple of different series. First up, is <i>Glass Sword</i>, by Victoria Aveyard. This is the second book in the <i>Red Queen </i>series and it will leave you shocked as Mare Barrow and Cal join the rebels and set out to try to get Maven removed from his throne. I don't want to give too much away if you haven't read <i>Red Queen</i> yet. If you haven't, you need to check out this riveting dystopian series! You can find copies at MCPL and on Overdrive.<br />
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Last, if you haven't start Ally Carter's <i>Embassy Row</i> series, it's a great one to get into. The second book, <i>See How They Run</i> continues Grace's story, as she continues to deal with the truth about her mother's death. Now Grace herself is a target, and she doesn't know who she can trust. When a family friend ends up dead, Grace knows she has to get to the bottom of what is going on...and hopefully not cause a diplomatic disaster. This is another page-turner, and Grace continues to be a dark main character... You can find copies of both <i>Embassy Row</i> books in our CMS Media Center, as well as at MCPL and on Overdrive.<br />
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There you have it. Maybe I'll have a few more recommendations before spring break is over. I plan to do A LOT of reading over the next week! Enjoy your time off!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-27728038125970348712016-02-12T19:07:00.001-06:002016-02-12T19:07:25.304-06:00Books + Valentine's Day = LOVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have not had many opportunities to update my book blog lately, so it's high time I recommend a few books for your 2016 reading list! Hopefully, you'll see something that catches your interest...something you might "fall in love" with perchance as Valentine's Day nears...<br />
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Let me start with <i>The Wrong Side of Right</i>, by Jenn Marie Thorne. This is a stand-alone realistic fiction novel. Kate Quinn lost her mother in a car accident a year ago, and her dad was never in the picture. In fact, Kate never even knew who her father was. She's been living in South Carolina with her aunt and uncle, and has just finished her junior year when she arrives home to a shock. Her father is waiting for her there...and he's one of the nominees for U.S. President in the upcoming election. Kate goes from a quiet life where no one knows her to the center stage in the upcoming political race. She wants to get to know her father and his family and help him win the election, but her friendship...and budding romance with their opposing candidate's son may not help the campaign. This book was funny, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming all in one. I highly recommend this one! I got my copy from MCPL's Overdrive, or you can find it on their shelves.<br />
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If you're more into a suspenseful thriller, you might like <i>The Fixer</i>, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This is the first book in the <i>Fixer</i> series. You might remember that I have a copy of this book and shared it in class...before I actually read it. Now that I've read it, I can tell you...it's really good! In this story, Tess Kendrick has been living with her grandfather on his ranch in Montana for the last several years. For the last few months, her grandfather has been showing signs of developing Alzheimer's Disease, and Tess tries to hide it for as long as possible, but eventually the truth comes out and Tess's older sister shows up. Tess has no choice but to move to Washington DC with Ivy, who is a powerful "fixer". If someone in power has a problem, they call Ivy...and she fixes the problem and makes it disappear. When Tess starts at her new school, her new classmates expect her to follow in her sister's footsteps and fix their problems too. Eventually the problems Tess is trying to fix collide with problems Ivy is trying to fix, and things turn deadly for both of them. This was a really fun read. It kept me guessing and I can't wait to read the second book in the series, <i>The Long Game</i>, due out on June 7th. You can borrow my copy if you're interested, or get this from MCPL's shelves or Overdrive.<br />
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Another recent favorite that I've read is <i>A Step Towards Falling</i>, by Cammie McGovern. In this story, Emily and Lucas witness a classmate with special needs being assaulted at a football game. Emily tries to get help, but in the excitement of the game, she gets overlooked. When she sees that police arrived, she assumes Lucas got someone to help, which wasn't actually the case. When the incident is investigated, both Emily and Lucas receive consequences for being bystanders who did nothing, and are required to spend several weeks volunteering in a community education class for young adults with special needs. This story is told alternately in Emily's point of view, and that of Belinda, the girl who was assaulted. I thought this story was incredibly touching as Emily explores the fact that she didn't act and get help when she knew she should, and as Belinda tries to cope and deal with what happened to her. This story was really emotionally moving on a lot of levels. I highly recommend this title! You can get a copy from MCPL's shelves or Overdrive.<br />
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If you're more into a ghost story, you might want to check out Katie Alender's (<i>Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer</i> & <i>Famous Last Words</i>) latest, <i>The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall</i>. In this stand alone novel, 17-year old Delia inherits her Aunt Cordelia's home. After Delia makes a really foolish decision, her parents decide that this summer is the perfect time to drive up to Delia's inherited house and get it cleaned up and ready to sell. As soon as they arrive and Delia learns that the "house" is actually a former mental hospital for troubled girls and all kinds of people have died in the house, she's not so sure staying. As she explores the house, really strange things happen and Delia thinks they should leave, but her parents aren't for that...I don't want to say much more, or I will give away something that is a huge twist in the storyline. If you want to find out, you can check this out from MCPL's shelves or Overdrive. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjoxSp9loxjWiq71w1XWbvtxV0gSvSOpg4BWntvb8_JbX-fG2XC8nk6TuUrHvht_G1m4Ofe0biw1UWFYaHvqcqDkgZxrlvOUV1yevaZocp3pdkJtoIfhe_JdpkXp0_vNqYAeEmI2n9tEoj_yhwecfPzuQOEcCZrkVTgZpg-1l15QHdLuXb732qB49-6plRLfuko9A=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thelunarchronicles.com/uploads/book-covers/9780312642983_FC_PMIbnCm.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>For those of you have enjoyed the <i>Lunar Chronicles</i> series, make sure you check out <i>Winter</i> (#4). This wraps up the story of Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and now Winter. This story is a fractured fairy tale based off of Snow White. It was a fantastic ending to an awesome series. And not only that, you can get <i>Stars Above</i>, a collection of 9 novellas about several of the different characters from the story. You can borrow Winter from me or find both of these books on MCPL's shelves or Overdrive.<br />
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Finally, I'll wrap up with the book I'm currently reading - also #4 and final book in a series. <i>Manners and Mutiny</i> continues Sophronia Temminick's finishing school education. She and her classmates are back & ready for even more espionage missions and intrigue as they work through their final year as students at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. A mystery and plenty of spying are sure to ensue. If you haven't read the first 3 books in this series - <i>Etiquette & Espionage</i>, <i>Curtsies & Conspiracies</i>, and <i>Waistcoats & Weaponry</i>, you should definitely check them out! This is a fun series...full of very dry humor! You can borrow #1 from me, the CMS library has #1 & 2, and of course, MCPL shelves & overdrive contain them all!<br />
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Enjoy your 3-day weekend and spend some time reading!
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My goal was 200 & I'm happy to report that I exceeded it. I read 222 books! Most of the books I read were pretty good...this graphic is thanks to Goodreads. The longest book I read was 896 pages. I've already started on working toward this year's goal of 210 books. I've got 2 down & only 208 to go! Happy new reading year!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-39088905553966887622015-12-22T14:55:00.001-06:002015-12-22T14:55:20.656-06:00Christmas Break ReadsThis is a long overdue post...but thank goodness for a break so we can all read as many books as possible, right?<br />
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Let me start with <i>Not if I See You First</i>, by Eric Lindstrom. Parker Grant has been blind for several years. She lost her sight after a car accident in which her mom was killed. Now she is reeling because her father has also recently passed away and her aunt and family have moved in so that Parker doesn't have to adjust to a new home and new school on top of everything else she's dealing with. When a former friend who betrayed Parker in 8th grade reappears in her life, she's content to continue to block him out and pretend as if he doesn't exist. But as Parker attempts to move on, she starts to re-evaluate her past and wonders if what she thought was betrayal wasn't a betrayal at all. Parker is a sassy (and - warning - somewhat foul-mouthed at times) narrator, but she does not fail to make you feel some of what it must be like to navigate life without the gift of sight that we take for granted. I was able to read an advanced reader copy of this title thanks to NetGalley. You can find <i>Not if I See You First</i> on the shelves at MCPL.<br />
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Another book I was able to read courtesy of NetGalley was <i>This Raging Light</i>, by Estelle Laure. Seventeen year old Lucille thought the worst that could happen already did when her dad went crazy and ended up in a mental institution a few months ago. It turns out that things can get worse. Now, her mom has left and doesn't seem to be returning anytime soon. Lucille decides she has to hold it together for her 9-year-old sister and somehow hide the fact that they have no parents taking care of them. On top of this, Lucille is dealing with her long-time crush on her best friend's brother. Can Lucille hold it together and be both parent and sister? If you like emotional roller coasters, you'll like <i>This Raging Light</i>. You can find copies of title at MCPL soon...this title was just released today!<br />
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If you're a fan of <i>The Selection</i> series, you will want to read <i>The Favorite</i>, another novella by Kiera Cass that tells Marlee's story. Marlee was America's closest friend in the Selection...this give a behind the scenes look at how Marlee's story unfolded. You can check it out through MCPL's Overdrive or in our CMS media center with the other 3 novellas (<i>The Prince, The Guard, </i>&<i> The Queen)</i> in the series in a bundle called <i>Happily Ever After</i>. <br />
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If you're more into historical fiction, you might want to pick up <i>A Night Divided</i>, by Jennifer A. Nielsen (author of the <i>False Prince</i> series). In this story, we meet Gerta, who is 12 when the Berlin Wall goes up separating herself, her mother, and brother in the east with her father and other brother who were visiting in the west. After 4 years of no contact, Gerta sees her brother and her father on the other side of the wall on her walk to school one morning. Her father seems to be dancing and acting silly, but Gerta knows he's trying to tell her a way she and the rest of her family can escape. The question is, can they do so without being killed? This was a fascinating look at what it might have been like to live in Berlin at the heart of the cold war when the Berlin Wall went up. You can find this on MCPL shelves and Overdrive. We also have a copy in our CMS media center, and I have a copy you can borrow, as well.<br />
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If you're more interested in a mystery-thriller type read, you might want to check out Jennifer Lynn Barnes', <i>The Naturals, </i>the first in series. In this story, we meet Cassie, who is a natural at reading people. She's been living with her father's family since her mother's death a few years ago, but she's never really felt like she fit in. When she's recruited by an FBI agent, to become a part of an elite group of teenagers who also have natural abilities, Cassie jumps right in. She wants to be a part of helping solve murders...especially the murder of her mother. But when a serial killer sets his eyes on Cassie, she's going to have to work fast in order to protect her own life. You can find this title at MCPL or through Overdrive.<br />
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For those of you who want to read a good fantasy title, you might want to check out <i>The Warrior Heir</i>, by Cinda Williams Chima. This is the first in a 5-book series about a boy named Jack who was living out a normal life in Ohio, completely unaware of the role he is about to play in a centuries old war. Jack is a warrior - gifted with incredible fighting abilities that have been suppressed by "heart medicine" that he's been taking since he was a baby. When he forgets a dose and inadvertently uses some of his supernatural powers, the race is on from two opposing forces to find Jack and claim him as their warrior in a fight to the death for control. If you like a lot of action with some magic thrown in, you'll want to check out this book. You can find it at MCPL, through MCPL's Overdrive, or on the shelves in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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Finally, let me tell you about a book that was a potential Truman Nominee for next year. This title wasn't selected, but I thought it was really good. <i>Extraction</i>, by Stephanie Diaz is a dystopian fantasy about a future Earth where those who live the planet Kiel's surface live in constant danger from the acid dripping from the moon. Clementine is about to turn 16 and have the opportunity to be "extracted" from the dangerous surface to live in the interior of the planet in relative safety and luxury. When she is selected, Clementine is thrilled, except for having to leave behind her best friend and secret crush, Logan. But when Clementine goes below the surface, she starts to see a society that is built on lies and deceit. She knows that she has to find a way to save herself, Logan, and all those who are on the surface from a dangerous plan to destroy them all. This is the first book in a series. You can find copies of all three books in this series at MCPL. Our CMS Media Center has copies of <i>Extraction</i>, as well.<br />
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I wish you all a Merry Christmas and many happy days of reading over the rest of this break!<br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-3898277682059356182015-12-16T18:32:00.001-06:002015-12-16T18:32:16.498-06:002016-17 Truman Nominees!The Truman Nominees for next year were announced today! If you want to get a head start on reading them, here is the list!<br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-68744495429611637632015-11-17T18:34:00.001-06:002015-11-18T18:16:18.949-06:00A Western, Chess, Adventure, & Mockingbirds?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As usual, I've been churning through book after book. In fact, I just finished my 200th book of the year over the past weekend! That means I'm overdue to make a few recommendations to you.</div>
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<a href="http://www.embowman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/portfolio_vengeanceRoadCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.embowman.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/portfolio_vengeanceRoadCover.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a>Let me tell you, I really like a good Western. Seriously...and <i>Vengeance Road</i>, by Erin Bowman was a good Western. Kate Thompson comes home from hunting to discover that her father has been murdered by a notorious gang, and she sets out across the Arizona desert intent on getting vengeance for her father. Kate plans to hunt down every member of the gang and kill them. Only then will her father be avenged. Along the way, Kate picks up allies who join her to help her in her cause. As Kate gets closer to hunting down the guilty gang, she discovers some surprising information about her family that she never knew about her dead mother and a secret, lost gold mine that some people will do anything to find. Will Kate's thirst for vengeance heal the wound left by her father's murder? You'll have to read <i>Vengeance Road</i> to find out! You can check out a copy from MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BFlUlFz5L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BFlUlFz5L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>Next up is the highly anticipated second book in Marie Lu's <i>Young Elites</i> series - <i>The Rose Society</i>. I don't want to give away too much, but I will tell you this - Adelina Amouteru decides to embrace her badness and goes completely over to the dark side in this story. I'm not usually a fan of a bad main character, but there is something about Adelina that keeps you rooting for her, even though you know you wouldn't want to run into her in a dark alley yourself. If you liked <i>The Young Elites</i>, you'll definitely want to read this book to see how the story continues.</div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430165052l/24187925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430165052l/24187925.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a>If you're looking for a good historical fiction mystery, you might want to give <i>These Shallow Graves</i>, by Jennifer Donnelly a try. In this story that takes place in 1890, young socialite Josephine Montfort is close to graduating from her finishing school, and is likely to be engaged to the most eligible bachelor in New York when her father suddenly dies after accidentally shooting himself. Jo, who is an aspiring writer, knows that in her society she has no chance of getting to be a reporter, but her inquiring mind can't accept that her father would accidentally shoot himself. When she inadvertently overhears someone say that her father committed suicide, she can hardly believe that either, so she decides to investigate. With the help of handsome reporter, Eddie Gallagher, Jo pieces together evidence that her father was actually murdered and it was staged to look like a suicide. Now Jo has to figure out who murdered her father and why...before her own time runs out. If you like a fun historical read with an interesting mystery, you'll like <i>These Shallow Graves</i>. I received an advanced copy of this novel thanks to NetGalley. You can find copies at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive. </div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375932005l/17934426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375932005l/17934426.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>I've also been reading lots of prospective Truman nominees for next year. One of those possible nominees is <i>Grandmaster</i>, by David Klass. I admit, I know pretty much next-to-nothing about playing chess, but despite that, I really liked <i>Grandmaster</i>. Freshman Daniel Pratzer decides to join the chess club when he starts high school. He's not much of an athlete, and he really doesn't know a whole lot about chess, but he wants to get involved in something. When he's invited by two seniors to travel to New York for a parent-child chess tournament, he can't figure out why they'd invite him...until they tell Daniel that his dad was classified as a chess grandmaster as a teenager. As far as Daniel knows, his dad has never even played chess, because his dad has never mentioned a word about it. When Daniel's dad admits the truth and reluctantly agrees to play in the tournament, Daniel has to do his best to hold his dad together as he faces a past he'd rather forget. If you like chess, and even if you don't, but you like a good story about relationships, then you'll like this book. You can find copies at MCPL.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51auYXsfv4L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51auYXsfv4L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>Another potential Truman nominee is <i>The Girl Who Never Was</i>, by Skylar Dorset. This is the first in at least a 2-book series. In this story, Selkie Stewart, who has been raised by her two elderly aunts, because her mother left and her father is in a mental institution, discovers that her whole life is one big lie. When Selkie decides to try to find her mother, everything in her life falls apart...because it turns out that if her mother finds Selkie...she's going to kill her. When Selkie discovers that Ben, the boy she's secretly in love with, has been captured by her mother, she knows she has to save him, even if it puts her own life at risk. If you like fantasy and lots of adventure, you'll like <i>The Girl Who Never Was</i>. You can follow it up with <i>The Boy with the Hidden Name</i>, where the story continues. You can find copies of this in our CMS library and at MCPL.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oaVjNtcUL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oaVjNtcUL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>Since we're currently reading <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> in reading class, you might enjoy this next potential Truman nominee; <i>I Kill the Mockingbird</i>, by Paul Acampora. In this story, Lucy and her two friends, Michael and Elena want to pay tribute to their teacher who died earlier in the school year. They know that this teacher wanted his students to read <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i> over the summer and they want to make sure that everyone WANTS to read this book. So, they devise a campaign called "I Kill the Mockingbird". They go into book stores and libraries and remove all the copies off the shelves and creatively shelve those copies elsewhere. They leave flyers with links to a website and social media sites they've set up and start a sensation across the country and suddenly everyone, everywhere wants to get their hands on a copy of <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>. Since you're reading <i>TKAM</i> (you are reading it, right?), you'll appreciate all the references to the original story in <i>I Kill the Mockingbird</i>. This was a really fun and entertaining read, plus it's pretty short! You can find a copy of this at our CMS library and at MCPL.</div>
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Finally, let me tell you about a final potential Truman nominee, <i>Codename Zero</i>, by Chris Rylander. Seventh grader Carson Fender is bored in his North Dakota town. Nothing ever happens there...ever. To keep himself entertained, Carson is always planning his next big prank. In the midst of one of his elaborate pranks, though, a man in a suit who is being chased by strange, pale men hand Carson a wrapped box and asks him to deliver it to a Mr. Jensen and tells him that whatever he does...don't unwrap the box. So what do you think Carson does...of course, he unwraps the box! One thing leads to another and Carson ends up the newest agent for a top secret agency that is at work right there in his own town. His job...befriend and protect the newest student at school. Can Carson fulfill his mission, project this student, and maybe even save his town? You'll have to read <i>Codename Zero</i> to find out. If you like this one, you can check out book #2 <i>Countdown Zero</i> and a third book, <i>Crisis Zero</i>, will release in February of 2016. You can find copies of <i>Codename Zero</i> at the CMS library and at MCPL.<br />
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There are lots of books that you can choose from here! We're heading to the library later this week, so make a note of any of these you want to read!</div>
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-76419580728503552662015-10-25T16:46:00.002-05:002015-10-25T16:46:58.636-05:00Gold, Monsters, Thieves...and more!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been busy, busy, busy trying to keep up with all the books that keep ending up on my shelves. Let me tell you, I've read some pretty good stuff over the last couple of weeks. Here are seven new recommendations I have for you.<br />
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First up, is <i>Walk on Earth a Stranger, </i>by Rae Carson. I absolutely loved Carson's <i>Girl of Fire and Thorns</i> trilogy, so I was really excited to read this first book in a new series, and it did not disappoint. Lee Westfall is an only child growing up in the mid-1800's with her parents. But when her parents are murdered, Lee isn't sure what to do. When she realizes her uncle, who has become her guardian, is behind her parents' deaths because he wants to use Lee, she knows she has to get away. You see, Lee has the ability to sense gold...and her uncle wants to use her to make him rich, because the California Gold Rush is beginning. Lee runs away, but can she make it to California on her own and escape her evil uncle? I love a good Western - and with the paranormal element of Lee's unusual ability added in, it made for a great story. I am already highly anticipating the next book! You can find this book on MCPL's shelves or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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A potential Truman nominee I recently read was Matthew Jobin's <i>The Nethergrim</i>, the first book in a series. In this fantasy story, the town of Moorvale celebrates their freedom from the evil nethergrim every year. The story of how the knight, Tristan, and the wizard, Vithric, defeated the nethergrim is known and celebrated by all. But when darkness returns to the land and animals and then children start to disappear, Edmund believes the nethergrim has returned. When his brother is taken, Edmund knows that he has to try to get him back. Edmund is a self-taught student of magic...but does he know enough to save his brother, and himself, from the nethergrim? You can find copies of this story in our Congress Media Center or at MCPL.<br />
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If you prefer a more humorous story, you might enjoy another potential Truman nominee - <i>Also Known as Elvis</i>, by James Howe. Skeezie Tookis is about to spend a few weeks of his summer alone, because his three best friends are leaving town. When his mom tells him he has to get a job to help out with the bills, Skeezie, who is also known as Elvis by some because of the leather jacket he wears at all times, isn't too excited. But when his dad, who left two years ago, shows up and seems to want a second chance, Skeezie is really unhappy. Having to navigate through all this without the help of his friends may prove to be his undoing. If you like a good heartwarming story that will make you laugh along the way, <i>AKA Elvis</i> is a good book for you. You can find a copy of this title at our Congress Media Center and at MCPL.<br />
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If you're looking for a post-apocalyptic dystopian story, you would probably really like Amy Engel's <i>The Book of Ivy</i>, first in a new series. Ivy Westfall (no relation to Lee from <i>Walk on Earth a Stranger</i>) is in a bad situation. After the nuclear war that led to much of the destruction of the U.S., Ivy's grandfather founded the town of Westfall. But after the town was established, another family, the Lattimers took control and began their rule over the town. In the town of Westfall every May, girls from the losing side of town are chosen to marry boys from the winning side of town. And this year, Ivy has been chosen to marry the president's son, Bishop. But what Bishop and his family don't know is that Ivy is part of a plot to kill him and help her own father take back control of their town. But once Ivy gets to know Bishop, she's not sure if she can follow through. This story was a page-turner, and of course, it ends with a huge cliffhanger that will leave you waiting with anticipation for the next book in the series, <i>The Revolution of Ivy</i>, which is due out early next year. You can find a copy of this book at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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If you read Leigh Bardugo's <i>Grisha </i>trilogy (<i>Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising</i>), then you'll love the first book in her new series called <i>Six of Crows</i>. I just finished this book today and I'm still trying to catch my breath. Though this book has a new cast of characters, the setting is the same world as in the <i>Grisha</i> trilogy. Kaz Brekker is a lieutenant of the Dregs, a gang that is part of Ketterdam's streets. When Kaz is approached to pull off what appears to be a nearly impossible heist, he puts together a team of six who just might be able to pull it off. Their job: break into one of the best and most well-guarded prisons in the world and kidnap a prisoner. This book is told from the perspectives of most of the six players in this fantastical <i>Ocean's Eleven</i> - like story. I absolutely loved it and am a little devastated that I'm going to have to wait about a year for the next book in the series to come out. Because, yes, giant cliffhanger at the end of this one. You can find this title at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.<br />
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Finally, if you're up for an action-adventure, alternate history thrill ride, then <i>Wolf by Wolf</i>, by Ryan Graudin is a must-read for you. I got to read this book thanks to NetGalley. It was just published last week. This story takes place in 1956 in a world where Hitler and the Axis powers won World War II and are in power. Yael, a Jewish girl who was imprisoned in a death camp and experimented on as a child, escaped and is determined to get her revenge. Because of the experiments done on her in the prison camp, Yael has the ability to skin-shift - to take on the identity of anyone she sees. After escaping, Yael falls in with a resistance group and has been given the most important job they have. She is to join the Axis Tour, an annual motorcycle race to commemorate the Axis' victory. She must impersonate last year's winner, Adele Wolfe, and win the race. If she wins, she'll be able to get close enough to Hitler to kill him, get her revenge, and start a revolution. But she doesn't count on Adele's brother, Felix, and another former race winner, Luka, who make this job harder than she ever expected it to be. This book was dark, but such an interesting look at how the world could have been had the Allies not won the World War. It seems that there will be another book following <i>Wolf by Wolf</i>. I hope so, because I don't think Yael's story is really over yet. You can find this book on the shelves at MCPL. <br />
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That's it for now. With a long weekend ahead due to parent-teacher conferences coming up, there's no better time to pick up something good to read over that break!<br />
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-30771277408655918212015-10-04T16:58:00.001-05:002015-10-04T17:10:14.470-05:00Fall ReadsThe air is starting to get chillier and you know what that means...time to snuggle up with a good book! Let me tell you about a few I've read recently.<br />
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First up, is a potential Truman nominee for next year called <i>Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek</i>, by Maya Van Wagenen. This is a memoir that Maya, who is currently 15, wrote about her eighth grade year when she embarked on a huge social experiment. When a popularity guide written in 1951 turns up when cleaning out their house, Maya's mom suggests to her that she try following the advice of the author to see how well it would work in today's day and age. Maya, who proclaimed herself to be at the very bottom of the social ladder in her school, decided to give it a try. Each chapter is dedicated to a month in which she follows advice in areas such as: hair, makeup, posture, and more. I think this is a must-read for every teen-aged girl. It was hilarious, yet brought back so many memories of how awkward and completely unpopular we all feel during middle school (and sometimes even adulthood!). If you're interested in this title, you can pick it up at MCPL or in our own CMS Media Center.<br />
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Another potential Truman nominee I recently read is <i>Minion</i>, by John David Anderson. The main character Michael Morn was abandoned as a baby in a fast food restaurant and lived his first nine years in an orphanage. Adopted at age 9 by a mad scientist sort-of-guy, Michael is getting along just fine, even when he realizes that the little black boxes his dad invents are being sold to the mob-like criminals who run his town. Michael knows that he and his dad aren't the good guys, but they're definitely not evil either - just doing what they have to do to get by. But when a super hero comes to town...one who is working to clean up the criminals, Michael worries that he and his dad are no longer safe. They're going to have to decide - stay or go. This was an entertaining book and is a companion book to Anderson's <i>Sidekicked</i>, another super hero story. You can find this title at MCPL or in our CMS Media Center.<br />
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A final potential Truman nominee I've read is called <i>Falls the Shadow</i>, by Stefanie Gaither. In this book, Cate's sister, Violet, died a few years ago and was immediately replaced by her sister's clone. After a devastating plague wiped out a large chunk of the population when her parents were younger, they decided to clone their children in case the worst happened. But when Violet's clone is accused of murdering a classmate and disappears, Cate knows she has to find her. The anti-cloning community wants everyone to believe that clones are violent and unpredictable, but Cate feels a responsibility to find and defend her "sister". She ends up caught in the crossfire of a battle between two sides that both think they're right. This is a science-fiction action-adventure that will keep you turning the pages as you read it. You can find a copy at MCPL and in our CMS Media Center. <br />
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Let me also tell you about two books that are set to release this coming Tuesday, October 6th. I was able to preview both books thanks to NetGalley.<br />
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First up is A<i> Thousand Nights</i>, by E.K. Johnston. This is based on the story known as <i>1001 Nights</i> or <i>Arabian Nights</i>. This was a fascinating story, but I will warn you that it is a slower-paced story. It is beautifully written and thought-provoking story, though, if you're willing to give it the time. In this story the only named character is a ruler named Lo-Melkhiin, who has married and killed 300 girls by the time he arrives at the main characters village looking for his next bride. Our main character knows her sister is likely to be chosen and in order to save her sister, she makes herself stand out and is chosen. She manages to survive one night, then another until she becomes the longest-surviving bride of Lo-Melkhiin because of the stories she weaves for him. And as she survives, strange things start to happen and she starts to develop her own strange magic that just might save her people if she can survive her husband. <br />
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For a faster-paced read, you might enjoy Spinning Starlight, by R.C. Lewis. This is a futuristic science-fiction action-adventure in which the major planets in the world are known as the Seven Points and they are connected through portals called conduits. When Liddy Jantzen, the heiress to the most powerful tech company in the galaxy is nearly attacked in her home, she learns that the person running her family's company, Minala Blake, is responsible. The conduits are failing and Minala has trapped Liddy's 8 brothers within the conduits and then implants Liddy with a device that will kill her brothers if she tries to get help for them. Liddy manages to escape to what everyone believed was the lost eighth point where she meets Tiav, who may be the only person who can help her. But she has to find a way to communicate without her voice. This is a page-turner of a book, and it will keep you guessing. My only complaint about this one is that it gets quite technical at times, which can be a little confusing, but the story is a good one.<br />
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That's it for now. More to come in the future!
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Let me start today by telling you a little bit about the book I just finished. I won't tell you much, because it's book 2 in Mary E. Pearson's <i>Remnant Chronicles. </i>If you haven't read book 1, <i>The Kiss of Deception</i>, I don't want to ruin it for you. If you haven't read it, you need to. It is So. Good. You can read about it <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/dragons-magic-little-romance.html" target="_blank">here</a>. What I will tell you is this - Lia's, Rafe's, & Kaden's story continues in <i>The Heart of Betrayal</i> and this book ends in maybe an even bigger cliff-hanger than book 1 did. And even though it's killing me to know that book 3 won't be out until next July, I'm telling you, you've got to check out this series. I have a brand new copy of <i>The Kiss of Deception</i> that I just picked up last week from Scholastic. You can also find copies of both books at MCPL & through MCPL's Overdrive.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you're looking for a book that doesn't have a soul-crushing end, you might want to check out <i>Navigating Early</i>, by Clare Vanderpool. In this historical fiction novel that takes place right after WWII ends, Jack Baker finds himself attending school in Maine. After his mother's unexpected death, his dad moves him from the middle of Kansas, the only place he's ever known, to a boarding school in Maine where he meets the strangest of boys...Early Auden. Early seems to do his own thing and everyone at the school lets him. When his plans for Thanksgiving fall through, Jack ends up on an incredible adventure with Early where he discovers that they may not be as different as he once thought. If you like stories with some adventure, some humor, and a lot about friendship, you'll like <i>Navigating Early</i>. You can find copies at MCPL and through MCPL's Overdrive.</div>
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If you've read <i>This is What Happy Looks Like</i>, by Jennifer E. Smith, you'll probably want to check out <i>Happy Again</i>, a novella that tells what happened to the Ellie and Graham one year after they meet and his movie has been filmed. If you haven't read <i>This is What Happy Looks Like</i>, you can read about it <a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/wow-i-guess-ive-read-book-or-two-lately.html" target="_blank">here</a>. This short novella gives you a chance to fall in love with Ellie & Graham all over again.</div>
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Now...let me tell you about a few books that are under consideration for nomination for the Truman Reader's Award for next year.</div>
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First up is Katie Alendar's <i>Famous Last Words</i>. If you recognize this author's name, it might be because her book, <i>Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer</i>, is one of this year's nominees. <i>Famous Last Words</i> tells the story of Willa, who has just moved to LA after her mom marries a famous movie director. Right away, strange things start happening to Willa. Things like seeing a dead body in her swimming pool and strange messages on her walls. And while all this is going on, there is a serial killer on the loose in Hollywood who is reenacting murder scenes from famous old films with each murder he commits. Willa starts to believe that there is a ghost in her house that is trying to tell her who the killer is...but can she figure it out before she becomes his next target? If you like creepy ghost stories and mysteries, you'll probably like <i>Famous Last Words</i>. I have a copy of this book if you're interested. You can also find copies at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.</div>
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If you're more up for an action-adventure story, you might like Carter Roy's, <i>The Blood Guard</i>, which is book one in a series. In this book, Ronan Truelove's ordinary life gets turned upside down when his mom pulls him out of school, tells him some crazy story that she's a member of some ancient order of knights called The Blood Guard, who protect people who are Pure - 36 normal people who's safety keeps the world as we know it is to survive. All of a sudden, all of the crazy lessons his mom enrolled him in over the years now make sense. Those have given him the skills he's going to need to protect himself as he sets off on a crazy adventure with a pickpocket named Jack and a girl he hasn't seen in years, Greta. A thrilling adventure and a shocking ending make <i>The Blood Guard</i> hard to put down. If you're interested in this story, you can get a copy at MCPL.</div>
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Another story under consideration is <i>Pieces of Me</i>, by Amber Kizer. You might recognize Kizer's name, as well, because her book <i>A Matter of Days, </i>is one of this year's Truman Nominees. <i>Pieces of Me</i> is a very different type of story, whose main character, Jessica, is killed in a car crash. After she is killed, her parents decide to donate her organs and 4 other teens are given a chance at new life with that donation. Jessica lives through these 4 teens because of cell memory...and watches them either bloom or destroy the gift that was given through her life. If you like a book that's going to cause you to feel some strong emotions, you'd probably like <i>Pieces of Me</i>. You can find copies of this book at MCPL and on MCPL's Overdrive.</div>
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If you're more in the mood for something that will make you laugh as you read, you might like <i>I Have a Bad Feeling About This</i>, by Jeff Strand. In this story, we meet Henry, a normal, but quite un-athletic 16 year old boy. Henry's parents decide he needs to toughen up and send him to Strongwoods Survival Camp, which is out in the middle of nowhere. Max, the only adult around at survival camp may be mentally insane, but he's the one in charge of teaching Henry and 4 other boys how to survive. When the camp-ending Survival Games become all too real, Henry has to rely on what he's learned to save his own life and that of his fellow campers. You can find a copy of this story at MCPL.</div>
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Finally, let me tell you about another humorous story - <i>Skink, No Surrender</i>, by Carl Hiassen. In this story, Richard's cousin has been abducted by an Internet predator. Everyone else thinks that she left early for her new boarding school up north, but Richard figures out otherwise. She left willingly to avoid this new boarding school, but now can't get away from the crazy man she thought was helping her. Richard inadvertently gets the help of a man, whom he first thought might be homeless when he met him on the beach. It turns out that his man - who goes by Skink - used to be the governor of Florida and has connections that just might help Richard to get his cousin back...if they can survive. You can find a copy of this in our Congress Media Center or at MCPL or through MCPL's Overdrive.</div>
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There's lots to read out there. I hope you can find something that is right for you!</div>
Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-31891331400213958272015-08-28T13:37:00.000-05:002015-08-28T13:37:06.125-05:00Book Trailers from 8-28<a href="http://prezi.com/u_mtdy4zsh0b/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the link to today's book trailers!Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-60652207706470274832015-08-23T16:13:00.002-05:002015-08-23T16:13:38.263-05:00Books for Now & LaterEven though school is back in full-swing, I'm still doing as much reading as I can, so let me update you with a few books that might interest you.<div>
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First up is <i>Epic Fail</i>, by Claire LaZebnik. This is a stand-alone novel about Elise Benton, who has recently moved with her family to LA when her mom took the job as principal of fancy Coral Tree Prep School. When Elise's older sister Juliana starts dating Chase, Elise gets thrown together with the school's elusive heart-throb, Derek, who happens to be Chase's best friend and the son of ultra-famous movie stars. Unfortunately for them, they don't always get along, especially when Elise befriends Derek's enemy, Webster Grant. Constantly pulled back and forth between liking and hating Derek, Elise isn't really sure what to think. But when forces work against Juliana and Chase, Elise and Derek join together to try to help them...and that may just be the nudge they need to find a relationship for themselves. This was a really light read - often funny and pretty entertaining. If you're looking for a fun romance, you'd probably like <i>Epic Fail</i>. I checked this out through MCPL's Overdrive, and you can find it on their shelves, as well. </div>
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Next up, is book number 2 in Bree Despain's <i>Into the Dark</i> trilogy, <i>The Eternity Key</i>. Book number one, <i><a href="http://spaethbookblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-last-of-trumans-and-more.html" target="_blank">The Shadow Prince</a></i>, introduced us to Haden, son of the king of the Underworld, and Daphne, a girl whom Haden was supposed to bring back to the Underworld. Without giving too much away for those who have not yet read the first book, Haden's and Daphne's story continues as they fight against the powers that want to keep them apart, and against those that want to bring war to the Underworld. This series is based on Greek mythology and is full of action, adventure, and some romance too. I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy, which should be out sometime next summer. You can find both <i>The Shadow Prince</i> and <i>The Eternity Key</i> on the shelves at MCPL.</div>
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Next up is a book that I read thanks to NetGalley. <i>The Secret Fire</i>, by C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld is due to be released on September 3rd. In this story, we meet Sasha Winters, a French teenager who can't die until his 18th birthday. Until that time, he can throw himself off buildings, be stabbed, shot, or whatever...and he'll recover and live. But...his time is growing short, because his 18th birthday is only a few weeks away. We also meet Taylor Montclair, a normal English girl whose path crosses with Sasha's when one of her teacher's asks her to tutor him in English online. Sasha and Taylor soon discover that they have connections that go beyond tutoring - Taylor may be the key to saving his life. If you like action and adventure, you'll like <i>The Secret Fire</i>, but I'll warn you, you'll be left hanging at the end of this first book, because it's the first in a series. </div>
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I was also able to read <i>The One Thing</i>, by Marci Lyn Curtis, thanks to NetGalley. This stand-alone book is due to release on September 8th. Maggie Sanders has been blind for the last six months, and she doesn't want anybody's pity. In fact, she goes to outrageous lengths to prove that she's okay, which lands her in hot water...and causes her to have a probation officer. While visiting her probation officer, Maggie meets Ben, a 10-year old boy with a big personality - and she can see him. Hoping this means her sight is going to return, she befriends Ben and hopes for the best. Ben's older brother, Mason, lead singer of Maggie's favorite new band, suspects that she can see and that she's just using Ben to get to him. This book is at turns, both hilarious and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved it. Look for it after September 8th!</div>
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Finally, let me tell you about <i>Edgewater</i>, by Courtney Sheinmel. This is another title I read courtesy of NetGalley and will be released on September 8th, as well. In <i>Edgewater</i>, we meet Lorrie Hollander, whose family was once rich, but as things stand, are now most definitely not. After Lorrie's mother ran off 12 years ago, leaving Lorrie and her sister in their aunt's care, their lives and their home, called Edgewater, are literally falling to ruin. When Lorrie befriends a famous Senator's son, Charlie, who is living in a neighboring home for the summer, it's all she can do to keep of the pretense that everything is okay in her life. What Lorrie doesn't know is that there are deep and dark secrets between her family and Charlie's...and as all secrets do, they eventually come to light. This is a dark and emotional mystery that will keep you guessing. Keep an eye out for this one after September 8th.</div>
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Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7690959856318976575.post-13530701626605592142015-07-27T19:29:00.000-05:002015-07-27T19:30:19.372-05:00More Summer Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our summer break is quickly approaching its end, but I've been reading like crazy trying to get in as many titles as I can before heading back to school next week. Let me tell you about a few that might interest you. </div>
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<a href="http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/DK_cover_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cindachima.com/Demon_King/DK_cover_md.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a>First up is a book called, <i>The Demon King</i>, by Cinda Williams Chima. This book was actually published several years ago and was recommended to me by Goodreads...one of the many reasons I love that website. All I can say is thank goodness it was published several years ago, because it is a 4-book series and I quickly devoured the first 3 and can't wait for the 4th one to be available (I'm next in line, so I hope whoever has it checked out hurries up!) This series is JUST. SO. GOOD. A thousand years ago a queen married a wizard who broke apart and nearly destroyed the world...he was known as the demon king because of his destruction. Now, a thousand years later the kingdom of Fellsmarch is still ruled by the line of Hanalea, the queen who defeated her husband, the demon king. There is conflict between the wizards and the clans who live in the mountains, who control the magic allowed to the wizards. Han Alister is a former streetlord from the city known as "Cuffs" because of the strange silver cuffs he's worn for as long as he can remember. He's left the street life and been somewhat adopted into one of the mountain clans, and he's just trying to get by. When he and his friend Fire Dancer encounter 3 wizards where they don't belong, they confront them and take the amulet of one of the young wizards...and amulet that little known to Han has a dark and dangerous legacy. Raisa <i>ana</i>'Marianna is the princess-heir...next in line to the throne of Fellsmarch. Her future is in danger, but she doesn't know it yet. Han's and Raisa's paths will cross in this first book...only barely, but enough to keep you reading through the series. This story has action, mystery, suspense, magic, and just a little romance. I couldn't put it down. You can find copies at MCPL & through Overdrive. If you can wait until school starts, our CMS media center has all 4 books in the series available and ready to be checked out!</div>
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<a href="https://em.wattpad.com/104d52d7276a7fbd3ab24ba637be205f2670057a/687474703a2f2f62726178746f6e636f7362792e636f6d2f77702d636f6e74656e742f75706c6f6164732f323031342f30332f537465656c68656172742e6a7067" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://em.wattpad.com/104d52d7276a7fbd3ab24ba637be205f2670057a/687474703a2f2f62726178746f6e636f7362792e636f6d2f77702d636f6e74656e742f75706c6f6164732f323031342f30332f537465656c68656172742e6a7067" width="130" /></a>Another adventure series you might be interested in is Brandon Sanderson's <i>Reckoners </i>series. The first book is called <i>Steelheart</i>, and we meet David, a normal boy growing up in the (literally) dark world of Newcago (New-Chicago) where 10 years ago a burst of power called Calamity turned regular people into what are now known as Epics. Epics developed super-powers, but unfortunately none of them seem to be using those powers for good. They've toppled the government and are now in control. Steelheart controls Newcago & he's unbeatable, but David has seen him bleed...when Steelheart killed his father 8 years ago. David knows that Steelheart must have a weakness that caused him to bleed and he is determined to discover that weakness and take Steelheart down. David manages to join a resistance group called the Reckoners...and now he has to convince them to go along with his plan to go after Steelheart. This book is full of action and suspense. You can find copies at MCPL and through overdrive. Book 2 (<i>Firefight</i>) is available, but book 3 won't be out until early next year.</div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91r%2BHmWT3SL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91r%2BHmWT3SL.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a>If you're more interested in historical fiction, you might like <i>The Lions of Little Rock</i>, by Kristin Levine. Marlee is a twelve year old girl in 1958 Little Rock. Marlee is a good student and very smart, but she struggles to talk and communicate with others. She finds she never really knows what to say, so she usually just says nothing. But as she starts 7th grade, there is a new girl, Liz, who seems to bring out the best in Marlee and helps her learn to start saying what she thinks. But one day Liz doesn't show up and people start to say that Liz is not what she said she was - she's black and she was trying to "pass" as white, and that just wasn't acceptable in that time and place. Marlee has to figure out how to maintain the new confidence she gained through her friendship with Liz...and how to speak out for what really matters. This was an excellent book about friendship, and I felt like I learned a lot about the school integration conflict that was taking place in Little Rock at this time. I highly recommend this one. You can find copies at MCPL and through Overdrive. This one is also available in our CMS Media Center.</div>
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If you're more in the market for a romance, you might like <i>How to Say I Love You Out Loud</i>, by Karole Cozzo. Jordyn moved to Valley Forge High School just before her sophomore year and met Alex through her summer job. They've been best friends ever since, but when Jordyn starts her junior year and finds out Alex has a girlfriend, she realizes that even though she doesn't want to be more than friends, she's jealous. Jordyn holds herself back from all her friends, because she doesn't want them to know about her brother, Phillip, who is highly autistic. When Phillip's special school closes and he has to attend her high school, Jordyn is terrified of anyone finding out that he is her brother. Over the course of time, things start to fall apart for Jordyn...and not because people are judging her because of her brother, but because of her dishonesty about what her life is really like. This is a heartbreaking, yet heartwarming story of self-discovery and learning that real friends aren't going to judge you by your family or any others. I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced copy of this story thanks to NetGalley. You can find a copy of this book when it becomes available next Tuesday, August 4th!<br />
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<a href="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/31726070-368-k726528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/31726070-368-k726528.jpg" width="127" /></a>Finally, let me tell you about <i>The Last of the Firedrakes</i>, by Farah Oomerbhoy. This is the first book in a new series. I was able to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley, but if you're interested, keep an eye out - it will be available on August 15th! This story is very much a fairy-tale-like story about a girl name Aurora. Aurora was orphaned as a baby and adopted by loving parents, who were unfortunately killed in an accident and taken in by and aunt and uncle who really don't seem to like her. She's dreaming of the day that she can get away from them and be on her own when she's kidnapped into a magical kingdom and is going to be taken before the evil queen of the kingdom of Avalonia. When Aurora is rescued by a dashing outlaw known as the Black Wolf, who figures out why she's been kidnapped and takes her to her powerful uncle. It turns out Aurora is the long-lost, thought-dead daughter of the rightful King and Queen of Avalonia, who were killed by the current queen. Aurora has magical powers of her own that she had no idea about...now she has to learn to use them and set out to take back the throne that should rightly belong to her. If you like fairy tale adventure type stories, you will probably enjoy <i>The Last of the Firedrakes</i>.<br />
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That's it for now. I'll keep reading in the days I have left and update again if I have a chance before I return to school next week. <br />
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<br />Karahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17092046241350415413noreply@blogger.com0