Books to Beat the Winter Blues

There'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.

First up is Falling Over Sideways, 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.

If you're more into a dystopian suspense story, you might try The Darkest Minds, 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.

Another great new dystopian novel is The Scourge, 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.

Another great realistic fiction story you might like is If You're Reading This, 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.

If you'd rather read a historical fiction novel, you might try Hattie Big Sky, 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 Hattie Big Sky, 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.

If you're more in the mood for a fun romance, you might try Love & Gelato, 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.

My final recommendation is Stacey Lee's newest novel called Secret of a Heart Note.  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.

There you have it - seven new books that will help you stay warm in these last days of winter!

New 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!):

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.

First up, Bounce, by Megan Shull.  I recommended Shull's The Swap about a year & half ago...you can read about that title here.  In Bounce, 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 Bounce at MCPL or on MCPL's Overdrive.

I recently recommended Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles series (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, & Winter) and her newest stand alone title, Heartless, did not disappoint.  Heartless is Meyer's prequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 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!

A book I'd been meaning to read for quite some time that I finally got around to is Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains, which is the first book in her Seeds of America trilogy.  In Chains, 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.

If you enjoy poetry that tells a story, I recommend Jacqueline Woodson's beautiful story of her childhood, Brown Girl Dreaming.  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.

If you're more into an action-adventure story, I recommend Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf series.  I recently read the 2nd and final book Blood for Blood.  You can read about Wolf by Wolf here.  Blood for Blood 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.

Another book I really liked that I read recently was The Boy in the Black Suit, 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.

Finally, one last series I have to recommend to you is Jen Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life 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 Family Affairs.  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.


That's it for now.  I hope you can find something to read that will get your new year started in an awesome way!

Book Gratitude

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Link to Book Trailer Prezi from 10-7 Class

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

Fall into a Good Book

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back to School Must Reads

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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