JPL TeenLink

Hey, where's Perry?

2012-01-27T08:07:00.003-06:00

TITLE: Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick

AUTHOR: Joe Schreiber

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: What if the quiet, mousy, mild-mannered foreign exchange student that your family took in turned out to be a cold-blooded assassin?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: Seriously. How can you resist a title like that?

WHY I FINISHED IT: The book started with a bang and never let up until the end. The characters of Perry and Gobi were so well drawn that you connect with them immediately. Yes, Gobi is a trained assassin, but Schreiber takes such great pains to create a fully-realized character that you can't help but love her. This is a very cinematic novel, and I was already trying to cast the characters while reading it.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes action/adventure stories. People with a good sense of humor. The book description on Amazon calls this "Ferris Bueller meets La Femme Nikita", and that's a fair comparison.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: PG-13 level language warning, and a handful of sexual references, although nothing explicit. Also, given that Gobi is an assassin, people do die, often in violent ways. Gobi's back story may be a bit upsetting for some. Definitely aimed at the older YA reader. Still, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone I felt was mature enough to handle it.

See you at the library!

Jay Asher Two-fer

2012-01-12T12:55:00.004-06:00

TITLES: Th1rteen R3asons Why and The Future of Us

AUTHOR: Jay Asher / Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Th1rteen R3asons Why: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker -- his classmate and crush -- who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself -- a truth he never wanted to face.

The Future of Us: It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future...

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right -- and wrong -- in the present.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I grabbed these for the Kindle one day when I wanted something new to read. They both sounded interesting. I read Th1rteen R3asons Why first -- I was so impressed by Jay Asher's writing that as soon as I finished it, I absolutely had to read The Future of Us.

WHY I FINISHED IT: The writing, the story, the characters -- all of them are astounding. I was hooked from the first page of Th1rteen R3asons Why, and I simply had to keep reading.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: People who like true-to-life stories. There is a lot going on here, and not all of it is pretty, but it all rings true.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: These books are strongly, STRONGLY recommended only for mature teens. The subject matter, and the way it is handled, is definitely hard PG-13 area, sometimes venturing over into R-rated territory (moreso in Th1rteen R3asons Why than in The Future of Us). The occasional swear word appears, and sexual matters are discussed, sometimes bluntly.

See you at the library!

May the odds be EVER in your favor...

2011-11-30T11:01:00.004-06:00

TITLE: The Hunger Games Trilogy

AUTHOR: Suzanne Collins

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place. Thus begins an intense saga that leads to a stunning finale that will continue to haunt you long after you've finished reading.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: The trailer for the film (http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2402131481/) piqued my interest. By the time I was into the third chapter of the first book, I was hooked.

WHY I FINISHED IT: The story grabs hold of you and won't let go. Katniss is one of the best narrators I've come across, and even though she herself is conflicted sometimes about what's going on and who can be trusted, you won't be lost.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: People who like adventure stories, love stories, war stories -- there's a little bit for everyone.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This series is very intense, and might not be appropriate for younger readers. When the main battle in the first book involves twenty-four teenagers in a fight to the death, this isn't a fairy tale. But if you're mature enough to handle it, you'll find yourself in for a thrilling time.

See you at the library!

Catch as "Cat" can...

2011-09-08T08:50:00.003-05:00

TITLE: Cat Burglar Black

AUTHOR: Richard Sala

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Trained from an early age as a cat burglar, orphaned teenager K Westree is sent to ramshackle Bellsong Academy by a group known as "The Obtainers," who need to hone her skills so that she can solve a mystery surrounding her past and that of the school.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I've read several of Richard Sala's other graphic novels and really enjoyed them.

WHY I FINISHED IT: One thing about Sala's books -- the art might not always seem terribly impressive at first glance, but the story gets you. And once the story gets you, you begin to see how the art really plays into the whole feel of it.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: People who like graphic novels, mysteries, or stories where girls are the heroes.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This book seems unresolved -- there are several plot points that aren't cleared up. However, I believe Sala is intending for this to be the first book in a series, so hopefully they will be picked up in later books. Also, all of Sala's work is a little dark (think Charles Addams or Edward Gorey -- and if you don't know who they are, please take the time to check them out, too), so if you don't like that sort of thing, this might not be for you.

See you at the library!

Broke-down "Palace"...

2011-06-29T13:39:00.002-05:00

TITLE: The Midnight Palace

AUTHOR: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: "In the heart of Calcutta lurks a dark mystery...

Set in Calcutta in the 1930s, The Midnight Palace begins on a dark night when an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Despite monsoon-force rains and terrible danger lurking around every street corner, the young lieutenant manages to get them to safety, but not without losing his own life...

Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere's sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night -- and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces." (Summary from the published book)

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Absolutely love him. This is the second book in the "Mist" series, and his fourth English language title. I had to read it.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I had to see if it ended how I thought it would.

WHO I’D GIVE IT TO: People who like supernatural thrillers, Young Adult fiction, or Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

OTHER NOTES AND CONTENT WARNINGS: I have to admit, of the four English language books by Zafón, this is my least favorite.

I don't mean that to sound harsh. This is his fourth English-language title, but it was originally published in Spain in 1994 as his second book. As such, it seems to suffer from "sophomore slump". While the characters are interesting, the mystery was easily solved and all the clues were pretty obvious.

Still, it was well-written and is a decent time-waster. But compared to his later works, it suffers greatly in comparison.

As for content, there is a bit of violence and peril. Not for young children.

See you at the Library!

This book is anything but "DUMB"...

2011-05-02T13:04:00.004-05:00

TITLE: Five Flavors of Dumb

AUTHOR: Antony John

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Piper is a high school senior who has spent most of her school years invisible. During an encounter with the school's resident rock band, Dumb, she has a rare moment of outspokenness, which not only gains their respect, but leads to her becoming their manager... which might be even harder than it would seem, since Piper suffers from moderate-severe hearing loss.

One thing leads to another, and suddenly Dumb goes from a three-piece mess to a hard-rocking quintet. Finally on the verge of breaking through, they're also on the verge of breaking up.

While Piper tries to keep it together, she's also dealing with her family: an unemployed father, a workaholic mother, a brother who's constantly in danger of expulsion, and a baby sister who can either bring them all together again, or tear them completely apart.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love books and movies about music and music groups.

WHY I FINISHED IT: It was very well-written and you come to care about the characters. Piper is an amazing character, and everything about the books rings true. Setting it in Seattle also did a lot to enhance the music aspect of the plot.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who loves music and/or books about high school. Anyone who loved Bandslam or Lemonade Mouth.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Moderate language warning (Two PG-13-level outbursts, occasional other milder language).

See you at the library!

Paging Sgt. Pepper...

2011-04-05T13:02:00.001-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo at the Library. I just finished reading a book that I know the girls can relate to. The book is The Lonely Hearts Club, by Elizabeth Eulberg.

If you have ever dated a boy before, you know how they are. Sometimes they can really hurt you by breaking up with you. Penny Lane, a young high school student, has had one too many dates, and been hurt by one too many bad boys. Declaring "No more," she starts a club with two of her friends -- the "Lonely Hearts Club."

Before she knows it, the club has grown to thirty members, and more want to join. Upon joining the club, the girls make a pact not to date.

You can imagine what the boys think.

Eventually, though, Penny finds herself in a predicament. Her friend, Ryan, wants to be more than friends. And so does Penny. But how can the founder of the Lonely Hearts Club break her oath?

Check this book out and see what happens.

This is a young adult book. It's a quick read. If you like the Beatles, or if you've ever had a broken heart, you will definitely like this book. Enjoy!

See you at the Library!

Please help me, I'm "Fall"-ing...

2011-03-31T11:01:00.003-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo at the Library. I just finished reading a book that I think you will enjoy. It is called Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver.

What if you were one of the popular kids in high school? You know, the ones who don't care how you acted or treated others if they weren't part of your little group.

This story is about Samantha Kingston, who was one of those cool kids. She's at a party where there's drinking, and gets a ride home with her friend -- who swears that no matter how much she drinks, she can't get drunk. So it's safe, right?

Wrong.

There is an accident, and Samantha dies. But death isn't what she expects -- it's more like she's asleep, and she keeps re-living that same day over and over, for seven days. She sees all the changes she should have made in both her behavior and the choices she made. Over the course of seven days, she finally gets it right. But by then, it's too late.

This book should make you stop and think. About drinking, about drunk driving, and about the way you treat others. Because in real life, you don't get seven chances to get it right.

This book is in our young adult section.

See you at the Library!

A will of IRON...

2011-03-30T10:06:00.003-05:00

An unnamed mother of some of our young adult readers left us a review of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

TITLE: The Iron Fey series (Iron King, Iron Daughter, Iron Queen)

AUTHOR: Julie Kagawa

REVIEWED BY: [a mother]

BRIEF SUMMARY: Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school... or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: It looked like something my girls already read and enjoy

WHY I FINISHED IT: It was a good and interesting book.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My daughters. They have read books similar to these.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: It was a very enjoyable book to read. Interesting as well as kept you wanting to read more.

Thank you so much for your review. See you at the library!

Jennifer Lawrence cast as Katniss in HUNGER GAMES...

2011-03-21T11:12:00.005-05:00

After much speculation on the 'Net, Jennifer Lawrence has officially been cast as Katniss Everdeen in the upcoming film based on Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series.

An MTV article covering the story can be found here: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660152/jennifer-lawrence-hunger-games.jhtml

So, what's your opinion? If Jennifer hadn't gotten the part, who would you have picked? What about the other characters? Peeta? Rue?

See you at the library!

A kind of "Hush"...

2011-02-28T15:25:00.003-06:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo at the Library. I have just finished reading a book titled Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

All I can say is my years in high school were nothing like Nora's.

Nora Grey is a sophomore in high school. She likes school. She has her best friend, Vee. She has high hopes for college and her future. But like everyone else, she also has the regular, everyday high school drama to deal with.

One day, her life is changed forever. A seating change in biology class introduces her to Patch. Patch (we later find out) is a fallen angel.

What does he have to do with Nora? Nora is drawn to him and she doesn't want to be. Vee mistrusts him and her mother is leery of him, but he seems to be everywhere she is. Why? And how does he keep getting into her head? Who is he? What does he want with her? Is she in grave danger? And is she falling in love with him?

The Bible records that there were angels who were cast out of heaven. Could Nora's father be a fallen angel, too? Could there be fallen angels around you?

Check this book out. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Note: The second book in this series is called Crescendo.

See you at the library!

Poignant and moving...

2011-02-25T15:24:00.005-06:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo at the Library. I just finished reading a book titled God is in the Pancakes, by Robin Epstein.

Grace Manning, a 15-year-old student, is working in a retirement home. She has become close friends with a patient, Mr. Sands, and eventually becomes friends with his wife who also lives there. Grace looks up to Mr. Sands as if he was her father. Grace's parents are separated and she looks forward to seeing Mr. Sands every time she works. He helps her work out her problems. But Mr. Sands has Lou Gehrig's disease, and one day he asks her to help him die. He even gives her the pills to do it.

This book will definitely leave you with many questions. Would you do the same thing if you were in her shoes? Would you help knowing the person was not going to get better? Could you make this kind of decision on your own? What would you do if this happened to you?

Pick up this book and find out what Grace does.

(This book is in our Young Adult section.)

See you at the Library!

The Hunger Games cometh...

2011-01-26T08:35:00.004-06:00

From today's Shelf Awareness:

Lionsgate has set a March 23, 2012 release date for The Hunger Games, director Gary Ross's adaptation of the first novel in the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. A cast has not yet been named. Variety reported that Lionsgate "acquired the feature rights in 2009 and set the project up with Nina Jacobson at her Color Force banner with Collins adapting her own novel."

The Library owns the entire Hunger Games series. You can find them or place reserves here: The Hunger Games series in the JPL online catalog.

To find out more about the series and author Suzanne Collins, visit The Official Hunger Games Website at Scholastic.com.

See you at the Library!

The people in your "Neighbor"-hood...

2010-11-19T15:05:00.002-06:00

TITLE: The Good Neighbors series (Kin, Kith, and Kind)

AUTHOR: Holly Black ; illustrated by Ted Naifeh.

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Rue is your typical sixteen year old. Except her mother's disappeared. And her father is accused of murdering one of his students. And oh yeah, she sees things that may or may not actually be there. She's starting to see faeries, and what's more, she has reason to believe that her maternal grandfather -- whom she's never met -- might actually be one. Something big is about to happen that could threaten her friends, her father, and her town -- but can she do anything to stop it?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: It was new to the library. It looked interesting to me while I was cataloging it.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Although the Faerie-fantasy books have never really interested me, the story kept me going for the most part. A bit of confusion set in during the second book, and it could have used more explanation.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Young adult (and adult) readers who like the Faerie-fantasy genre.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: This is a graphic novel, so if you don't like those, you'll want to stay away. The art work alternates between stunning and confusing. Distinct character design should easily differentiate the faeries from the humans, but to tell the truth, many of the humans looked "faerie"-like and vice versa. Still, if you like this sort of thing, you will easily look past that.

All in all, I can't help but feel that this one might have worked better as a regular novel first, then a graphic novel adaptation later. The second book got kind of confusing with so many characters and plot lines going simultaneously, but I was able to keep up by going back every once in a while to remind myself who was who and what was going on. Two or three characters appear out of nowhere and are immediately appropriated as important plot points, but you have no idea who they are when they first appear. Again, it would definitely have benefited from more plot and character development if space had allowed.

See you at the library!

Get recruited into the Academy...

2010-10-25T10:13:00.003-05:00

TITLE: The Candidates (Book One of the Delacroix Academy series)

AUTHOR: Inara Scott

REVIEWED BY: Miss Jo

BRIEF SUMMARY: Dancia is a young, average girl going to high school in a small town who lives with her grandmother. Why is the elite, private school in her area trying to recruit her to attend? Something is not right with this school. Everyone is above average, why would they want her? Could it be because of her powers? But they couldn't know about her powers -- could they?

WHY I PICKED IT UP: It was new to the library. The cover drew me in.

WHY I FINISHED IT: It kept me wanting more.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Any young adult reader.

Miss Jo adds: "Pick up this book and you won't be disappointed. Great cast of characters. The author is working on a second book -- stay tuned for the continuing story!"

See you at the library!

A "Super"-exciting, action-packed read...

2010-08-12T09:08:00.005-05:00

Today, we have a guest review from reader Brittany Nicole. Thanks, Brittany!

TITLE: Super Human

AUTHOR: Michael Carroll

REVIEWED BY: Brittany Nicole

BRIEF SUMMARY: Super Human is about a group of teens fighting to save the world with their powers from an evil superhuman, who was taken from the past and put here to rule the world.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I like action books and the cover looked really good.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Because every page was filled with more action and I couldn't put it down

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My friends.

Sounds like a great read!

Don't forget: if you're interested in reviewing a book for the blog, pick up a review form in the Young Adult section, fill it out, and return it to the library when you're finished. We want your help to keep people informed of the great books we have in our library.

See you at the library!

Two-fer Tuesday...

2010-08-03T16:12:00.008-05:00

We have two reviews for you today: one from friend of the library and new blog contributor, Princess Ladybug; former blog editor Christina Lister also returns to offers up another review for your consideration. Thanks to both of them for contributing!

TITLE: City of Bones

AUTHOR: Cassandra Clare

REVIEWED BY: Princess Ladybug

BRIEF SUMMARY: Fifteen-year-old Clary Fray & her best friend, Simon, are hanging out at the Pandemonium Club when Clary discovers strange people that Simon can't see. After her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster, she is suddenly drawn into their bizarre world of demons and the Shadowhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I'm always on the lookout for something new to read. When a friend said he'd heard good things about it, I rushed right down to the library to check it out.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Lots of action moves the plot along nicely as Clary learns to deal with the new world she's found herself in. Each character she meets is more interesting than the last one on her quest to find and rescue her mother.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My niece or anyone who likes books that turn the universe upside down.

CONTENT WARNING: Due to some mature content and language, this book is actually in our adult section. We recommend that you check with your parents before reading this book.

TITLE: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

AUTHOR: Jacqueline Kelly

REVIEWED BY: Christina Lister

BRIEF SUMMARY: Callie is living in the Hill Country of Texas at the turn of the century, 1899. She is also at a turn in her own life -- one from being a girl to being a woman, which she doesn't particularly care for. She'd rather be a scientist like her Granddaddy, but her mom has other plans for her.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I love historical fiction.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Callie and I share a similar childhood.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Any girl who loves living in the country and likes science.

SIMILAR SERIES: The Penderwicks, Little House on the Prairie

Don't forget that you can be part of this blog, too. Just pick up a review form from the YA section when you pick out your book. When you're finished, just return the completed form to Miss Jo or to any staff member at the Circulation Desk.

See you at the Library!

The "Wonder" of it all...

2010-07-16T13:26:00.005-05:00

This time, we have a special treat for you -- a guest book review by former blog contributor Christina Lister. Thanks, Lister!

TITLE: The Cabinet of Wonders

AUTHOR: Marie Rutkoski

REVIEWED BY: Christina Lister

BRIEF SUMMARY: Petra is on a mission to avenge her father. Her father created a clock tower for the Prince; but after doing his job, the Prince gouged out his eyes to make sure he'd not make something so beautiful again. So Petra runs to Prague to get her father's eyes back and discovers a lot more to complete her mission, with help from some unlikely people!

WHY I PICKED IT UP: Interesting cover, the word "KRONOS" (a fan of Greek mythology and the Percy Jackson series)

WHY I FINISHED IT: Petra is one adventurous girl and the author writes a juicy story, making it hard to put down!

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes fantasy series and historical fiction or adventure.

See you at the Library!

"Angels" among us...

2010-07-15T09:51:00.003-05:00

TITLE: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

AUTHOR: James Patterson

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Max is the 14-year-old leader of a band of misfits. She, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel are unique -- they were genetically altered in a lab and are no longer completely human; in fact, they are 2% bird. Since their escape, they are on the run, hunted by a pack of mutant half-wolf humans called Erasers whose sole purpose is to either recover the children and return to them to the lab, or simply get rid of them. When little Angel is captured, the others must join together to rescue her -- even if it means returning to the School, where they were created and kept prisoner, and confront their pasts, their present, and their destinies.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: Sheer boredom and curiosity. I really wanted something new to read, and I was curious as to why James Patterson is such a popular author.

WHY I FINISHED IT: This one starts of with a bang, and then I really got involved. Max is such an appealing narrator that you can't help but continue reading, waiting to see what happens next. I do have to say that the constantly changing viewpoint took some getting used to -- Max narrates a chapter or two in first-person, then we switch over to a third-person narrator to see what the other characters are up to. Initially, this was annoying, but eventually I got used to it. Still, the characters kept you interested, and short chapters kept a constant barrage of action coming.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My nephew, and anyone who likes adventure books with a bit of fantasy.

See you at the Library!

A chilling tale of adventure and romance...

2010-06-04T13:57:00.004-05:00

NOTE: We've asked our young adult readers to help us out by contributing book reviews to our blog. This is the first of (we hope) many to come.

TITLE: Shiver

AUTHOR: Maggie Stiefvater

REVIEWED BY: Shyia Magan (13 years old)
BRIEF SUMMARY: Grace and Sam have loved each other from first sight. Since then their love was kept at a distance. Sam never had enough nerve to speak to Grace, until that fateful day. Sam, a werewolf, must fight to stay human so he can stay with his love, but Grace must suffer through the pain.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: The first thing that drew me in was the cover. After reading the summary, I was hooked. Adventure and romance.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Shiver was amazing from start to finish! It is a story you can never put down.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: I would give it to any of my peers, whom are Team Jacob. Werewolfs are the best!

Thanks, Shyia!

If you're interested in reviewing a book for the blog, pick up a review form in the Young Adult section, fill it out, and return it to the library when you're finished. We want your help to keep people informed of the great books we have in our library.

See you at the library!

A tangled web of "Mist"-ery...

2010-05-13T09:33:00.004-05:00

The Prince of Mist was actually Carlos Ruiz Zafón's first book, originally published in Spain in 1993. Now, seventeen years later, it is finally available in an English translation by Lucia Graves, and it was well worth the wait. I've loved all of his adult fiction books, and this book has the same haunting quality that they did, possibly due to the fact that Graves translated those as well. Or perhaps it's just because Carlos is such a good writer.

Now, don't let the fact that was originally published in another language put you off. So were the Inkheart books. The Prince of Mist is a wonderful, riveting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

In 1943, with Spain in the midst of World War II, watchmaker Maximilian Carver moves his family from the capital to a seaside village where he has recently bought a home. From the minute they arrive, strange and otherwordly things begin occurring. Soon, the Carvers -- especially 13-year-old Max and his 15-year-old sister Alicia -- find themselves caught up in a dangerous battle with the Prince of Mist, a supernatural entity who has been bargaining for souls for decades, and who just might be the Devil himself.

As the story unfolds, Max and Alicia must uncover the secret of the former inhabitants of their home, the truth about their new friend Roland and his grandfather, and find out just what happened to the Orpheus, a ship that sank in the harbor during a terrible storm a quarter-century ago -- and how it all ties together and ultimately leads back to the mysterious Prince.

Part mystery, part romance, part fantasy, and part gothic horror tale, I cannot recommend The Prince of Mist highly enough. Ruiz Zafón is a masterful storyteller, putting you right into the action, and creating characters that you will come to love and care about. Although the book contains mild language and mature themes, it is certainly suitable for anyone age 12 and up.

NOTE: The Prince of Mist is the first book in Ruiz Zafón's Mist trilogy. Book two, September Lights, is due out in May 2011.

See you at the library!

He's "unspeakable", all right...

2010-04-19T15:49:00.004-05:00

It's hard to review a book where you didn't like the main character. That's the problem I'm faced with now that I've finished I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb.

Oliver Watson, true to the title, is a genius of unspeakable evil. And yes, he does want to be class president. Oliver is twelve years old, overweight, and has fooled his parents, classmates, and teachers into believing that he is a slow-witted simpleton, when in reality he is the third-richest person in the world, an evil mastermind, and head of a secret empire well on his way to global domination.

The problem is that Oliver is also tedious, annoying, self-centered, and so bent on revenge against his father that I could not warm up to him. Everytime he took revenge against a classmate, secretly blackmailed or humiliated a teacher, or otherwise manipulated the system to get his own way, I was more appalled by his actions than amused.

I know, I know. This is fiction. This is supposed to be fun. This is the ultimate revenge fantasy for all those kids out there who are picked on.

But you know what? If this book had come out when I was in school -- when I would have been, in fact, the prime audience for a revenge fantasy like this -- I'd like to think I would still have been more appalled than amused.

While Oliver is a sarcastic genius of the highest order, he is also just plain mean. Perhaps if he'd had a shred of humanity in him, I might have liked him more. As it stands, I can only feel that he didn't get what he deserved in the end, and the path getting there wasn't worth the time I spent on it.

Still, maybe you'll like it better. Give us some feedback; let us know what you think.

See you at the library!

Movie Review: Bandslam

2010-03-25T11:00:00.006-05:00

Will Burton knows about music. A LOT about music. Will doesn't just know the Top 40 chart -- if fact, he doesn't really care much about the current Top 40. He cares about where the current Top 40 music came from; the original artists who took Reggae music and created Ska so Gwen Stefani and No Doubt can have their moment in the sun today.

But Will's a loner -- a bullied kid who spends his days writing e-mails to David Bowie. When Will's mother gets a new job in another state, it gives him the opportunity for a new beginning, a chance to become the person he's always dreamed of being but never had the chance.

At his new school, he hears about something called "Bandslam" -- a local music competition that was almost won the previous year by school band "Glory Dogs". How big is it? "Texas high school football big," says Sa5m, the girl he's been paired with for a class project (the "5", she tells him, is silent). "The winner gets a recording contract." Sa5m is also a loner, but together they form a bond of friendship that slowly brings them both out of their shells and leads to something more.

Will is also befriended by Charlotte, the former head cheerleader who is starting a band to rival the Glory Dogs. Charlotte gives Will a chance to put his vast musical knowledge into practice, offering him the chance to manage her band. Will takes to the challenge, bringing in extra musicians, changing the group's sound, focus, and even their name; giving the group a good chance at not just beating Glory Dogs, but winning the whole thing.

Just as things seem to be going perfectly, problems surface: by spending so much time on the band, Will may have ruined his burgeoning relationship with Sa5m. His past begins to catch up with him. Charlotte, too, has her own problems to deal with, and it all comes to a head at the Bandslam competition.

This is a wonderful film, filled with great music, drama, comedy, romance, and enough plot twists to keep you interested. More importantly, for me, it shows a real respect for music. You'll be heading online to Allmusic.com to find out about the groups and people mentioned by Will that you might not have heard of, but who were essential for bringing music to where it is today, and where it will head in the future.

Starring Gaelen Connell, Vanessa Ann Hudgens, Alyson Michalka, Lisa Kudrow, and Scott Porter. Rated PG for thematic elements, but certainly not a problem for most teenagers.

~~This movie is not currently available from the library, but is available for rental from most video stores.~~

EDIT: This movie is now available to check out from the library Circulation Desk. Please remember that you have to be 18 or older to check out items from the video collection.

TeenLink Returns...

2010-01-06T10:37:00.004-06:00

Happy New YeAr!

Well, what can we say? If you ever needed proof that New Year's Resolutions are hard to keep, the past year for this blog has been a good example. Still, we are nothing if not stubborn, so we are trying again this year. We're taking a different approach, and we've asked some of our friends to contribute with book reviews and such, so hopefully we'll be able to keep this thing active.

This year has seen several Young Adult books/series get made into successful films (including New Moon, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Whip It! -- based on Shauna Cross's Derby Girl, reviewed by Miss Jo back in January of last year). The teen vampire craze has continued with the TV series The Vampire Diaries (which we don't have, but we could get for you on Interlibrary Loan if you want to read them).

Teens are continuing to break down the barriers in the music business as well, with the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and the Scene, Mitchel Musso and Emily Osment all releasing breakout CDs this past year. This year we can expect debut CDs by Nick Jonas and the Administration, Jennette McCurdy, Miranda Cosgrove, and possible follow-up albums from past favorites.

We have added a good number series to our Young Adult section in the past year. They've been pretty popular, so you might want to get on the waiting list now for anything that looks interesting. We'll highlight a few of them here:

Carter House Girls by Melody Carlson.

What's it about? Mix six teenage girls and one ‘60’s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high school angst, throw in a Kate Spade bag or two…and you’ve got the Carter House Girls!
The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter.

What's it about? The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school -- that is, it would be if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but it’s really a school for spies.
House of Night by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

What's it about? HOUSE OF NIGHT is a thrilling, New York Times bestselling book series that follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird as she is “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the “Change” into an actual vampyre. She has to leave her family in Broken Arrow, OK, and move into the House of Night, a boarding school for other fledgling vampyres like her.

It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. Although Zoey has awesome new powers, it’s hard to fit in when everyone knows you’re “special.” As Zoey tries to make new friends and maybe find a hot boyfriend (or two), she comes up against all kinds of evil, from the perfect-looking, super-popular girl with not-so-faultless plans, to the mysterious deaths happening at the House of Night and all over Tulsa. Things at the House of Night are not always what they seem. Can Zoey find the courage deep within herself to find the truth and embrace her destiny?
Maximum Ride by James Patterson.

What's it about? Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel. Six kids who are pretty normal in most ways -— except that they're 98 percent human, 2 percent bird. They grew up in a lab, living like rats in cages, but now they're free. Aside, of course, from the fact that they're prime prey for Erasers -- wicked wolflike creatures with a taste for flying humans.
Cirque du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan) by Darren Shan.

What's it about? Darren Shan's an ordinary schoolboy, until he and his best friend Steve get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a bizarre freak show featuring such arcane performers as Hans Hands, Gertha Teeth, the Wolf Man and Rhamus Twobellies. In the midst of the ghoulish excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognises that one of the performers -- Mr. Crepsley -- is in fact a vampire!
Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody.

What's it about? In a world struggling back from the brink of apocalypse, life is harsh. But for Elspeth Gordie, born with enhanced mental abilities that would see her sterilised or burned if discovered, it is also dangerous. There is only survival by secrecy, and so she determines never to use her forbidden Talent. But it is as if they have their own imperative, and their use inevitably brings her to the attention of the totalitarian Council that rules the Land. Sent to the remote mountain institution of Obernewtyn where escape is impossible, she must throw off her cloak of concealment and pit herself against those who would resurrect the terrible forces of the apocalypse. Only then will she learn most truly who and what she is...
The Companion Quartet by Julia Golding.

What's it about? When Connie is sent to live with her aunt by the sea, she’s not expecting anything much -- not to make friends with Col, the coolest boy in town, and certainly not to discover that mythical creatures still exist, that an ancient society has protected them for centuries and that a dark and powerful force is now trying to destroy it. Above all, she doesn’t expect to discover that she has a special talent -- greater even than her secret ability to talk to animals -- which with Col’s help, could give her unimaginable power...

(NOTE: This series is actually in our Juvenile Fiction section.)

Of course, we've added the newest additions to some older series, finished up a few others, and added some great stand-alone novels, too. We're sure you'll find something you'd enjoy -- just come by and take a look!

You can also download a list of some of our great Young Adult series to research before you come visit us! Click here to download the list.

See you at the library!

BONE Update...

2009-03-17T08:49:00.003-05:00

Remember our review of Bone? No? Well, go read it and we'll wait.

Seriously, go ahead. No hurry.

Dum-de-dum-de-dum...

(Hums. Twiddles thumbs. Cleans fingernails.)

Okay? Back? Read it? Good. We'll continue.

You'll notice that the review said:

Due to its size (1300 pages! -- but believe me, they go fast) and some content that might frighten the younger kids, this book is currently located on the adult side of the library...

Well, things have changed a little. In addition to the original 1300 page one-volume edition, we've been able to buy the the much more manageable 9-volume series, and we've placed these in the Young Adult section. So now you can take the series a piece at a time and enjoy it in all its full-color glory. (That's right, the individual volumes have color illustrations instead of the black and white ones in the one-volume edition.)

Color pictures or not, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Read it now, before Hollywood tries to make a movie out of it.

See you at the library!

Book Bites

2009-03-09T13:01:00.006-05:00

Hi! It's Miss Jo. I've just finished three books that I thought you might like to check out. Here's a little bit about each one:

The first one is The Hand You're Dealt by Paul Volponi. It's amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. After Huck's father dies, his world starts to come apart. His best friend isn't there for him, the girl he likes won't talk to him, and his mother is working extra shifts to make ends meet. The only thing that makes sense is poker -- Texas Hold 'Em, the game his father taught him to play. This book deals with grief, family, school, and poker -- all mixed together, and keeps you hooked until the very last page.
The second book is Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This book is about a young girl who, thought to be a princess, was raised in hiding to be kept out of harm's way. Was she really a princess? Or just a young woman taken from an orphanage and trained as a princess? Pick the book up and follow the twists and turns to find out! This book was very entertaining and I never expected the ending to turn out the way it did. (Don't have time to read? This title is also available as an eAudio book.)
The last book is A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg. The setting of this book is in Mississippi in 1963, during the Civil Rights Movement. This book takes you through the good and bad times in the life of Addie Ann Pickett, a young black girl who lives with her mother, brother, and uncle in Kuckachoo, Mississippi, until things turn terribly wrong. How can something good that has happened to the people of this town turn into something bad for the black citizens, especially for Addie's uncle and brother? Check out this book to see how Addie's family and the black citizens of Kuckachoo fared through this difficult time. This book made me angry, and it made me cry. It will certainly make you stop and think. Remember, we're all in this world together.

All in all, these were great books. See you at the library!

A "Star" is born...

2009-01-30T15:59:00.002-06:00

Hola! It's Miss Jo (or Josefína, in this case). I just finished a book that I really enjoyed, called Estrella's Quinceañera, by Malín Alegría.

You may be wondering what a Quinceañera is? A Quinceañera is a traditional party for a young Mexican girl when she turns 15. It signifies that the young girl is becoming a woman.

Back to the book. Estrella Alvarez is a young, smart girl who is raised in the barrio with her mom, dad, and two brothers. Estrella has won a scholarship to Sacred Heart, an upscale high school in the wealthiest part of San Jose.

Estrella's life has changed. She has dropped all of her old friends for new ones at her new school. She is basically embarassed about her home life -- her life in the barrio. She tries to fit in with her new rich friends, but it's not working out. Her mom wants to give her a big Quinceañera, but Estrella is against it. She thinks it is lame and embarassing. What if her new friends found out?

The preparations for the Quinceañera are driving the whole family crazy. Her mom and her aunt are going completely overboard, making huge plans and spending too much money that the family does not have. It seems like Estrella's parents are always fighting. Finally, Estrella decides she wants out and yells at her mom and dad -- the party is off.

It takes a boy from the barrio and her old friends to make her see that she is the one who has changed -- and not for the best.

Will Estrella wise up? Will she make amends, and let her new friends into her real life? And what about the Quinceañera?

This book has taught me a lot about Mexican culture and the closeness of family. While I would recommend this book, please be aware that it is a young adult book due to some language.

Adios!

Miss Josefína

Living like there's no tomorrow...

2009-01-26T15:16:00.003-06:00

Hi! It's Miss Jo. I just finished a book that got me to thinking about what I would do if I found out I had less than a year to live. The book is Deadline by Chris Crutcher.

Ben Wolf is a senior in high school and runs cross-country for his small high school in Trout, Indiana, population 943. Ben goes in for his school physical and finds out he has a terminal illness -- and less than a year to live.

What would you do in this case? I'm sure it's different than what Ben decided to do. Ben decided to not tell anyone -- to keep this information to himself and not pursue treatment. The doctor wanted to tell his parents, but Ben told him NO. He told the doctor that he was eighteen and an adult, and that it was his own personal business. Since Ben was legally an adult, the doctor had to abide by his wishes.

Ben decided to live life to the fullest and even go out for football even though he only weighed 123 pounds. He gets a girlfriend for the first time in his life. He speaks up in class about things he is passionate about, knowing he will cause trouble and that he might not even graduate. (He even tries to get the name of "Main Street" changed to "Malcolm X".) Knowing you are going to die changes how you live your life.

This young man is very likable and is loved by all who know him. While I felt he was brave, I also feel that we need others to help us through difficult and trying times. After the disease starts to affect his life, Ben finally realizes this and tells his family and friends the truth.

This is a very good book and the characters are just like the people we knew in high school. Check it out -- I don't think you will be disappointed.

See you at the library!

On a Roll...

2009-01-05T14:12:00.003-06:00

Hi! It's Miss Jo. I just finished a book that I thought you might like to check out.

The book is Derby Girl, and it's written by Shauna Cross. It is a real easy read and just a fun one to take your mind off about going back to school.

Fifteen year old Bliss Cavendar is in high school in a small hick town not far from Austin called Bodeen. Bliss has a mother who is into beauty pageants and she thinks her daughters should be into it, too.

Bliss hates pageants and wants out. Bliss and her friend Pash take a trip to Austin and they end up at a Roller Derby event. Bliss loves it and so she tries out for a team without her parents knowing about it. You have to be 18 to be on a roller derby team, but Bliss lies about her age.

Well, she doesn't really lie -- she just doesn't tell them her age. She makes the team (the Hurl Scouts), and the rest is history.

Between school, parents, work a new boy friend and her new life as a roller derby star, everything is going along fine for Bliss, until her boyfriend cheats on her and her mother finds out about her roller derby life.

Grab your skates and check this book out and see what happens to Bliss and her life as a roller derby queen. Roller Derby is not a beauty pageant, but it is a lot more exciting.

ALL SKATE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-05T14:07:00.002-06:00

Welcome to 2009. One of our resolutions for this year is to take better care of this blog.

To that end, we have some book reviews coming up (including one this afternoon), and we'll be keeping you informed on books, music, and movies coming up that should interest you.

We invite you to join in! Comment on the blog entries, e-mail us or stop by the library to let us know what you think, and what you're interested in.

Remember, this is your blog. Help us make it better.

See you at the library!

School days, school days...

2008-09-09T13:24:00.007-05:00

Well, school's been back in session for a few weeks now, and we're sure you've all started thinking about homework. (Because let's face it: it's just so much FUN to think about, right?)

We just wanted to take a few minutes to remind you of some of the services the library offers that can help you out when it comes time to write that report -- or finish that algebra assignment.

Tutor.com - having a little trouble grasping that new concept in geometry? Having trouble in science class? Need a little help with that essay for English class? Tutor.com can help!

Tutor.com offers free online help from 2pm - 9pm, 7 days a week. All of the tutors are fully trained, qualified not only to help, but to teach the subject they're helping you with. As an added bonus, you can download the entire help session when you're finished, so you can refer to it later to refresh your memory. Great when test time rolls around. And it's free -- just enter your library card number to access.
Texshare Databases/Library of Texas - offers over twenty different online databases providing full text articles from a wide variety of journals, newspapers, magazines, and books; as well as a comprehensive catalog of libraries all over the world. Perfect for doing research when you can't get to the library. Available 24 hours a day! These databases are free, but you'll need to get the login and password from the Circulation Desk to access it.
Learning Express Library - offers online study guides for college entrance exams, civil service tests, and more. Prepare for your SAT, ACT, or ASVAB (along with many others) whenever you need it -- no more waiting for the study guide to come back to the library. Learning Express Library will automatically score your practice tests and tell you where you need improvemnt. Free -- use your library card to set up an account.
eAudiobooks - need to read a book for class, but just don't have the time to sit down and read it? There's a good chance that netLibrary offers it as an eAudiobook -- simply check it out and download it to your computer or transfer it to a portable media player and listen to it anywhere you go! This service is free, but you'll need to set up an account through the TexShare Database portal, so make sure you get the login and password from the Circulation Desk.
Dallas Morning News Historical Archives - offers the original text of the Dallas Morning News from 1885-1977. Great for when you need primary source information for a research paper. This is free; just use your library card number to access it.

Are you noticing a trend here? All of this is available to you for free with your library card! It's all here for you to use from anywhere -- you don't even have to be in the library. (Well, except to get your card and get the login and password for TexShare...) It's like having the library open 24/7 for your convenience!

We hope you'll remember these resources when it comes time to do your homework, or if you just need a little extra help in class. All of these links are available at the library's main Web site here: http://www.jacksonvillelibrary.com. Several of them are also available on the sidebar to the right of this blog.

Remember: We're your library, and we're here to help.

See you at the library!

TWILIGHT time has changed....

2008-08-16T13:57:00.003-05:00

In response to the release date change for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the release date for Twilight has been moved forward from December 12th to November 21st.

The full story is available here.

Keep those calendars handy -- this is starting to get confusing...

See you at the Library!

"Harry Potter" movie pushed back....

2008-08-14T20:15:00.003-05:00

According to this article, the November 2008 release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back until Summer 2009.

The new release date is set for July 17, 2009, "to bolster [the studio's] release schedule for the lucrative summer moviegoing season."

The two-part production of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will proceed as planned, with the first part scheduled to be released in November 2010.

(Oh, well. That just gives you more time to read the books!)

See you at the library!

Taking a break from "Dawn"....

2008-08-06T09:41:00.003-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo. Right now I'm reading Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. (I guess half the world is reading it by now...)

I am pleasantly surprised so far. It's like she called me up and asked me what I would like for her to put in the book. I'm almost finished and everything is working out great!

If you haven't read it, I won't spoil it for you. If you have read it -- all I can say is: "Oh, Edward!"!!!!

Let me know what you think about the book.

See you at the library!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2008-07-31T14:21:00.003-05:00

Teaser trailer released July 30, 2008!

Mark your calendar! The movie will be released November 21st!

And if you haven't read it yet, feel free to reserve a copy of the book, tape, or CD by visiting the library's catalog.

See you at the library!

BREAKING DAWN Breaking News!

2008-07-29T15:08:00.004-05:00

This weekend marks the long-awaited release of Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final chapter in her TWILIGHT saga.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Tyler will be having a Breaking Dawn Release Party this Friday night, August 1st, beginning at 10:00 pm, culminating in the actual release of the book for sale at midnight.

There are tons of activities planned all over the store, including a costume contest (the winner receives a free copy of Breaking Dawn), face painting/stylized makeup, and trivia contests about the books and upcoming Twilight movie!

"Prom pictures" will also be available.

Barnes & Noble is located at the Tyler Broadway Pavilion, 4916 South Broadway (between Loop 323 and Rice Road and across from Broadway Square). For more information, you can give them a call at 903-534-3996.

Come out and join the fun! And if you haven't already done so, be sure to get your name on the waiting list for one of the library's copies by clicking here.

A long, hard "Road"...

2008-07-18T15:01:00.003-05:00

Hi, Young Adult readers!

This is Miss Jo with a great book you might want to check out: The Road of the Dead, by Kevin Brooks. If you like violence, suspense, and blood, you'll like this one.

Two brothers, Ruben Ford, 14 years old, and his older brother Cole, come from a gypsy home. Ruben can see things in his mind that have happened. He knows his sister has been murdered. The two brothers set out to find who murdered her, and to bring her body home.

Instead, all they find is corruption and violence. They do find her body, and find who was behind her murder. But there is a long, bloody road to travel before they reach home. Along the way, the discover the importance of family, and how much they need each other to survive this ordeal.

Kevin Brooks, the author, has written several more young adult books than this one. The library will try to get more later in the year, or you can request them through the library's Interlibrary Loan service. In the meantime, check this one out -- you won't be disappointed.

See you at the Library!

A quick Web site plug....

2008-07-07T11:47:00.004-05:00

Have you heard of TeenReads.com? I just discovered this today and thought it was interesting.

Here's a quote from their "About Us" page, just to give you an idea of what the site's all about:

We at Teenreads.com bring teens info and features about their favorite authors, books, series and characters. We are a part of The Book Report Network, a group of websites founded in 1996 that share thoughtful book reviews, compelling features, in-depth author profiles and interviews, excerpts of the hottest new releases, literary games and contests, and more with readers every week. Teenreads.com is THE place online for teens to talk about their fave books --- and find the hippest new titles!

And that they do. Their front page right now features contests, giveaways, reviews, and interviews with the likes of Stephenie Meyer and Christina Meldrum. They also have a mailing list you can sign up for so you'll receive an e-mail whenever something new goes up on the site.

It's tool cool for words. Check it out.

I've got a BONE to pick...

2008-06-12T20:22:00.004-05:00

How do you begin to describe Bone?

It's a graphic novel, true. But it's not your typical superhero or "comic" novel. There is comedy, and there are heroes, but there is so much more. "Epic" doesn't even begin to describe it. Think Lord of the Rings meets Star Wars and The Marx Brothers and you might be close. But still...

Bone was originally published over 13 years. The library's copy is the "One Volume Edition", collecting all 55 issues into one volume. It's big, it's heavy, and I wouldn't read it any other way.

Jeff Smith's story centers around three cousins: Phoney Bone (the greedy, conceited one), Smiley Bone (the fun-loving, goofy one), and Fone Bone (our hero), who become lost in The Valley after they are run out of Boneville following one of Phoney's disastrous schemes. While trying to find each other (and the way home), they meet up with a wide cast of characters including the mysterious Thorn, her enigmatic grandmother, and a smoke ring-blowing red dragon who may or may not be a figment of Fone Bone's imagination.

As they make their way through The Valley, they encounter other humans and bizarre creatures who are threatened by the Lord of the Locusts, a dark and menacing figure from the past. Fone Bone is soon drawn into the events around him and finds himself on a hero's journey to help save the world.

Do the cousins find each other again? Can they avoid the Rat-creatures and help save The Valley from an ancient evil? What will happen to Thorn and her grandmother? And what about that red dragon?

Due to its size (1300 pages! -- but believe me, they go fast) and some content that might frighten the younger kids, this book is currently located on the adult side of the library (Call Number: 741.5 Sm), but is certainly suitable for anyone that could handle, say Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, the Harry Potter movies or The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Even if you don't care for "comic books", I encourage you to give it a try. If you like fantasy (Tolkien, Harry Potter, the Narnia series, etc.), then you are definitely in for a treat.

(If you like this book, there is also a prequel called Rose, but I recommend you read Bone first, lest a very important plot point be spoiled for you.)

Check it out...

Rob&Sara.com

2008-06-10T09:04:00.004-05:00

Is it possible to be best friends with someone you've never met?

After submitting a poem to an online message board for teen poets, Sara (or, Sara4348) meets Rob (Robcruise99), a mysterious character whose simple response of "I liked it" sticks out amidst a sea of wannabe critics who tear the poem apart and consequently tear Sara down.

After the initial message board comments, Sara and Rob begin exchanging e-mails. Their e-mail relationship leads to friendship, and friendship to "best"-friendship. As they learn more about each other, we in turn learn more about them. We genuinely begin to care about them, and where their relationship is headed.

Is Rob really a good guy, in spite of all the e-mails that Sara mysteriously begins receiving from others that call his character into question? And what about the fact that he's living in what is basically a juvenile detention center (even if it's called Pine Creek Academy)? What does this mean? Is he even a teenage boy at all?

The two authors, P.J. (Pete) Peterson and Ivy Ruckman, wrote the story one e-mail at a time, spending a year corresponding as their respective characters (Pete was Rob and Ivy was Sara). This lends the story an air of authenticity that might not be there if it had been written by one person.

All in all, this was a wonderful book that will keep you involved until the end... and hoping for a sequel.

Check it out.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog, already in progress...

2008-06-10T08:06:00.005-05:00

Seriously, please accept our apologies for the long break since the last post. May is always a hectic month around the library, and this year it was no different.

Well, it was a little different. On May 16th, we lost one of our employees. Circulation Clerk (and blog contributor) Christina (aka "Lister") obtained her Master of Library Science degree in April (YAY!) and accepted a job at a library in Garland in May (Not YAY! for us, but YAY! for her).

We'd like to take this opportunity to publicly thank "Lister" for all of her assistance and enthusiasm -- not just on the job every day, but in setting up this blog and redesigning the "JPL for Kids" Website. Her assistance and input was invaluable, and we know she'll go far in whatever she chooses to do. We wish her all the best.

Well, it's now June, and today is the first day of Summer Reading Club for the kids. While the Club is only for kids who have finished fifth grade or younger, Jo could always use a little extra help, so if you're interested in volunteering to help out, contact Jo here at the library (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays are best ; if you have to call here on a Tuesday or Wednesday, call in the afternoons after 2:15 or so).

We have a lot of new reviews on the way, so please bear with us and watch this blog for updates. Once things calm down a bit on the Summer Reading Club front, Jo will pipe in with her review of the sequel to Dairy Queen. I know it's no substitute for Jo, but I'll be posting a few reviews myself over the next few weeks or so.

In the meantime, can we possibly make it up to you by including this link to the Official Website (and trailer) for Twilight, coming to a theater near you on December 12, 2008? We thought so.

See you at the library!

Free rice means (a) end world hunger

2008-05-16T09:41:00.004-05:00

Who'd of ever thought that building vocabulary could help end world hunger... and be addicting?

But, alas, it can be and is. Thanks to one of our library's workers (named Lisa, to be precise), Free Rice was brought to my attention. It is a web site that not only helps one learn the vocabulary to ace all the examinations one will take over the course of one's life, but also helps to provide rice for people and end world hunger. For every correct answer, one donates 20 grains of rice through the auspices of the UN Food Program.

In this corner...

2008-04-25T15:01:00.003-05:00

Every year, teens are called to vote for their favorite book during Teen Read Week (for 2008, it is October 12-18). The top ten become that year's Teens' Top Ten.

So, I can vote for any book? Not exactly. Click here and scroll down until you get to 2008 Nominations. A few teen book groups around the USA choose these nominations.

Let's say that I have my choice already, but because there are so many nominated books I haven't read, I think I need to do more reading so my decision will be an educated one. ;)

Here's to the reading!
C.

"Breathe" deep...

2008-04-25T13:47:00.003-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo. I just wanted to tell you about a book I have just read.

It is called Breathe: a ghost story by Cliff McNish. He is a very good author who has also written a trilogy called "The Silver Sequence." These books can be found in the Young Adult Science Fiction section.
Well, back to the book. This is not your normal ghost story. A mother and son move into an old farmhouse after the father dies. This house is inhabited by four ghost children and a Ghost Mother, who is very mean. The Ghost Mother tries to catch the ghost children to suck their souls out of their bodies so she can stay out of the Nightmare Passage. Jack, the young boy who has just moved into the house, can see the ghosts. Because the four children fear and hate her, the Ghost Mother becomes friendly with Jack and tries to sway him to love her -- even more than he loves his own mother.

What will happen to the ghost children? What will happen to Jack and his mother? Will the Ghost Mother end up in the Nightmare Passage? You will have to read the book to find out.

All my babbling will not do this book justice. All I can tell you is that it is a very exciting book, and to this day I am still thinking about it. It was a very sad book, but in the end it turned out better than I was expecting.

You will not be disappointed.

See you at the library!

A few of your favorite things...

2008-04-21T07:30:00.004-05:00

mWell, we haven't had much response so far (but it's never too late to correct that -- hint hint), but here are a few of your favorite sites as left in the comments to our "It's Your Turn Now" post...

http://www.hp-lexicon.org is a great site for Harry Potter fans! i found out about it a few days ago... (Thanks, Klarissa!)
http://www.myspace.com/thebellacullenproject - Might be of interest to you Twilight saga lovers. It's a band that is Twlight inspired. Pretty good. (Thanks, Lister!)

And since we mentioned new CDs as well, I'll just take a second here to plug the new album "Volume One" by She & Him (http://www.myspace.com/sheandhim), the musical project of actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M Ward. I'm really enjoying it.

Keep those contributions coming in!

Behind the scenes of TWILIGHT

2008-04-21T07:09:00.004-05:00

MTV has some behind the scenes footage of the making of the TWILIGHT movie and interviews with the actors on their site. If you've been curious to see the actors playing the characters you fell in love with, or if you want to catch some interview footage with Stephenie Meyer, this is a must-see.

Visit MTV's site here for all the goodies: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1585900&vid=226476.

There's also an older behind-the-scenes clip at Entertainment Tonight Online here: http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/04/60435/index.html.

As always, for more information straight from Stephenie herself, be sure to visit the TWILIGHT movie page on her Website.

Teen Lit Day!

2008-04-04T10:05:00.002-05:00

Hey, Young Adult readers!

April 13th-19th is National Library Week. That Thursday -- April 17th -- is Teen Lit Day. To celebrate, we want you to write a blog entry about your favorite YA Lit book...just comment to this blog, bring it to us at the library, or e-mail it to us at webmaster@jacksonvillelibrary.com, and we'll post it for you.

Of course, the glory is not only in your blog entry being posted, but the best blog will win a special surprise!

So, get typin'! We can't wait to hear what your favorite YA book is.

It's your turn now...

2008-04-02T08:21:00.003-05:00

We've had JPL TeenLink up and running for about three weeks now, and so far all of the entries have been written by the library staff.

It's time for you to get involved.

If you've read a good book, send us a review so we can post it!

Got a favorite Website that you think others might be interested in? Let us know!

Does your favorite singer or group have a new CD out? We want to know what you thought about it.

What's your favorite movie or TV show? Tell us all about it!

Get involved. This is your place, so let's make it a little more "you".

If you're interested, please send any contributions to webmaster@jacksonvillelibrary.com with the subject "JPL TeenLink."

(While we would never edit your submission to change your opinion, some submissions may be edited for grammar, spelling, or length if deemed necessary. To help protect your identity, we will use only your first name and last initial to sign your post.)

See you at the TeenLink!

Life: the final frontier...

2008-03-28T15:16:00.006-05:00

When I was growing up, one of my favorite books was Jerry Spinelli's Space Station Seventh Grade. This book follows a year in the life of Jason Herkimer, who has just dropped from being top of the heap to low man on the totem pole.

Let me explain. Jason has just left elementary school -- where, as a sixth grader, he was in the group all the little kids looked up to -- for seventh grade and junior high. Now instead of being looked up to, he's being looked down on.

Add to this his home life (where he lives with his mom, stepfather, sister and half-brother) and the fact that he's entering puberty. He'd talk to his father, but dad lives in the big city, too far away to be there when Jason needs someone to talk to. He'd talk to his friends Richie, Calvin, Peter, or Dugan, but they'd just make jokes. And he'd talk to his stepfather Ham, but...

Well, no. On second thought, he probably wouldn't talk to Ham.

Jason has a lot to learn about adolescence, girls, growing up, and life in general. And before all is said and done, he just might learn a little bit about himself, too.

And yes, there's a space station in there somewhere. But not in the way you'd expect.

As I said, this was one of my favorite books when I was growing up (yeah, it's about twenty years old -- but Judy Blume's books are even older than that). I highly recommend it.

A warning to sensitive readers: the book contains a bit of language, and some of the subject matter is...well...just what you'd expect from a teenage boy. Be warned, but don't let it put you off.

Check it out and let me know what you thought!

Here comes the bride(smaid)...

2008-03-28T14:46:00.002-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo. I wanted to let you know about another neat book I just read.

Spring is in the air and I'm sure there are going to be some weddings in your neighborhood before too long. You might even be in the wedding as a bridesmaid. If so, you might want to check out The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott.

Abby Beaumont knows all about weddings and how ordinary women turn into "Bridezillas." Abby's parents own a catering hall and every week there is a wedding. Abby and her older sister Carol (who is off at college) help with these events. One day Carol comes home from college and tells her family that she is getting married.

How could she do this to Abby?

Everyone in the family is excited with all the wedding plans -- except Abby. Abby's mother turns into the evil mother of the bride. How could this happen? Her father is ignored when he offers his opinions. And Carol -- Abby doesn't even know who she is anymore. She goes crazy with the planning. She wants ugly bridesmaid dresses, and carrot cake for the reception.

Abby can't take it any longer. She has problems of her own: she has school to think about. Maybe a new boyfriend. Plus, she wants to study abroad her senior year. And to top it all off, her best friend -- her sister Carol -- will be moving to Colorado after the wedding.

Will the wedding go off without a hitch? Will Abby survive the madness?

This is a fun book with a twist. Check it out and enjoy.

See you at the wedding!

(HA!)

Dairy Queen

2008-03-24T10:05:00.001-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo coming to you from the Jacksonville Public Library. I just finished another great book and I thought you might like to check it out.

So grab a DQ cone, sit back, and enjoy Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
You would think this book has something do with your local Dairy Queen right here in Jacksonville, Texas. Guess again. Nothing to do with Dairy Queen.

This book is about D.J., a young girl in high school who lives on a dairy farm. The Schwenk Dairy. D.J. lives there with her family of three boys (2 are off at college, 1 who is a couple of years younger than she is) and her mom and dad. Her mom is the principal at the high school. The boys in the family are very athletic and were some of the greatest football players while they were at school.

D.J. has to run the farm all summer because her dad hurt his hip. Milking twice a day is hard work; not to mention cutting, baling, and putting the hay in the barn; but D.J. and her younger brother do it all without complaining.

The coach of the rival football team is a friend of the Schwenks and he asks D.J. to train their quarterback (Brian) over the summer. D.J. decides to help, hoping no one from school finds out that she is really helping the rival team. by training the quarterback. D.J. finds that she really enjoys training Brian, and she decides to try out for the football team at her school. This will be a first for her school: a girl on the team. Will they go along with this?

The trouble with all of this is that D.J. has fallen in love with Brian and they will be on rival football teams once school starts. (D.J. never got around to telling Brian that she is going out for football.) How will Brian take the news that the girl who has been training him all summer is now going to be playing football against him? How will D.J.'s family take the news that she will be playing football like her brothers? Will D.J. and Brian ever be friends again?

There is a lot of family drama in this book! Check it out and enjoy.

See you at the library!

The earth, my butt, and other round objects

2008-03-19T16:09:00.003-05:00

I finally finished listening to The earth, my butt, and other round objects by Carolyn Mackler. I promised you my response, but first a short synopsis.

So, it’s all about this girl named Virginia, or Gin, and her coming to terms with her identity. She lives in NYC, which sounds like a dream, right?, but attends a snotty school and her best friend, and life support, moves to Walla Walla, Washington. What, doesn’t she have other friends or a family? No, she doesn’t have any other friends and Gin’s family is not the most supportive. You see, her mother is a well-known shrink for teens, but she barely talks to her own teenager daughter. She is also obsessed with not only her weight, but with Gin’s, making Gin uncomfortable with her own body. Her father is always on business trips and likes to make comments about other women, causing Gin further discomfort with her own body. And her parents go off nearly every weekend to Connecticut, leaving Gin alone. What, no siblings? No, she has two, but her sister is off in Africa and her brother, who attends Columbia University, turns out not to the ideal man Gin always assumed—he does something to get kicked out of Columbia.

What does Gin do? How can she survive such a life? Well, I’ll tell you that it takes a whole lot of time, effort, and honesty to turn her life from something she and others thought was abhorrent into something she accepts as precious—and it doesn’t include losing weight or being someone other than Gin.
------------------------------------------
Like most stories, I am glad I finished it. I always recommend finishing what you start; it is worth it. The earth, my butt, and other round objects definitely empowers you to not only accept who you are, but to love who you are, regardless of who, what, where, when, and why.

Double Take

2008-03-18T16:38:00.006-05:00

It's Miss Jo again, and have I got a book for you!

If you are looking for a thriller, check out Margaret Peterson Haddix's book Double Identity.

This book is about a young girl named Bethany who finds out that she is not unique -- she's been cloned from a sister she didn't even know she had.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. Why are her parents acting strange? Why did they drop her off in the middle of the night and leave her with an aunt she didn't even know? What happened to Bethany's sister, and why does she look identical to her?

I enjoyed this book very much. Let me know what you think of it.

See you at the library!

Coming soon ... to a bookshelf near you!

2008-03-15T11:28:00.004-05:00

According to the Internet Movie Database, there are a lot of movies in production or scheduled for release based on books you might already be familiar with. Many of them can be found in our collection, and quite a few are in our Young Adult section.

Note that not all of these movies are scheduled for release soon (some are almost two years away, and others have just been announced). Also, don't take this list as an endorsement of these movies; this is just to let you know what's on the way.

Everyone always says "the book is better than the movie", so take the opportunity to read these books now before the movie comes out!

Click the links for more details...

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer [book] ... [movie]
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis [book] ... [movie]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling [book] ... [movie]
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray [book] ... [movie]
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi [book] ... [movie]
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne [book] ... [movie]
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke [book] ... [movie]
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 by Ann Brashares [book] ... [movie]
The Giver by Lois Lowry [book] ... [movie]
Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage [book] ... [movie]
Maximum Ride by James Patterson [book] ... [movie]
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien [book] ... [movie]
Marley and Me by John Grogan [book] ... [movie]

Wow. That's a lot to look forward to! And that's not counting the upcoming movies based on comics/graphic novels (such as Iron Man, the new Incredible Hulk movie, or Batman: The Dark Knight), or the hundreds of other movies already released based on books (like The Golden Compass, The Lord of the Rings and the other Harry Potters).

So if you want to read the book before you see the movie, give the library a chance. If we don't have it, we can usually get it for you in a week or so through Interlibrary Loan.

We'll be happy to do all we can to make sure you get to read the books you want!

Teen Ink

2008-03-12T10:07:00.003-05:00

Hi! This is Miss Jo again. I just wanted to let you know about a neat magazine you can find here at the library. It is just for teens and it's called Teen Ink. You might have heard of it.

It is full of great information, plus some great fiction, art, and photography submitted by teens just like you.

Are you looking to go to theater camp this summer? Check out some of the summer programs listed in the magazine. Looking for an art camp? There are plenty of those here, too!

There's also a great college directory to help you choose the school that's just right for you.

Do you like to write? Teen Ink is offering online creative writing classes! Check them out here: http://www.teenink.com.

If you have any fiction, art, or photography you'd like to submit for inclusion in the magazine, you can e-mail the editor at editor@teenink.com.

See you at the library!

A "Haunting" Tale of New York

2008-03-10T19:33:00.003-05:00

This is Miss Jo again! I wanted to share with you a book that is really pretty good.

The title is The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh. You would think by the title that this book is about some people traveling at night to reach their destination. Well, the tourists are the dead who have died and are still hanging around.

The story starts with a boy named Jack. He lives alone with his dad, a professor at Yale University. Jack is hit by a car one day and he starts to see ghostly beings. Jack's dad sends him to New York City to see a doctor. In Grand Central Station, Jack meets a young girl named Euri. It turns out that Euri is a ghost and she introduces Jack to New York's ghostly underworld. While Jack is there, he has a hope of seeing his mother again, who died eight years ago. If he finds her, he might be able to bring her back; then he and his dad would be happy again. And maybe he can bring is new friend Euri back so she can be with her family again, too.

Will Jack get to see his mother again and find out why she left him and his dad? Will his new friend Euri get out of the underworld and get to be with her family again? Who will make it out? Will Jack be at peace once he gets out? Will Jack make it out before his time is up?

I think you will appreciate this magical adventure. It is a quick read and keeps you turning pages to the very end to see what happens to Jack, Euri and their families.

Let me know what you think.

See you at the library!

Homework Help

2008-03-10T08:39:00.004-05:00

It's 9:00 on a Sunday night.

You're working on your math homework and you're stuck. You're learning something new in class -- trigonometry, calculus, algebra, whatever -- and you just don't get it.

What can you do?

Thanks to your Library and Tutor.com, the help you need is just a mouse click or two away. Just come to this blog and click on the Tutor.com link on the right. Enter the barcode number off the back of your library card and you'll be connected with a certified instructor who can help you.

This service is offered free of charge to all cardholders grades 4-12, seven days a week from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Subjects covered are math, science, social studies or English. (Spanish-speaking tutors are available for math and science questions Sunday through Thursday from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.)

Note that there are some basic system requirements to use this service (you can see those here: http://www.jacksonvillelibrary.com/tutor.htm); but most newer computers (those running Windows XP or above, or Mac OSX) will already have what you need.

The library offers a lot of free services to help you with your homework and general study needs. If you have any questions about the services listed under "Homework Helpers", feel free to leave us a comment, drop us an e-mail, or give us a call. We're happy to set you up with the help you need to succeed.

See you at the library!

Semi-reviews

2008-03-07T10:43:00.005-06:00

Hey, guys! David shared with you all about our new eAudio books. I am extremely pleased with this new format because (1) we, i.e., JPL, do not have many YA audio books from which to choose and (2) those we do have are not in the formats I or yourself may need. I can now log into http://www.netlibrary.com/ with my login name and password, download some title, and listen to it in a matter of minutes (and of course it will depend on connection speeds as to how MANY MINUTES).

I am listening to The earth, my butt, and other big, round objects by the ever clever Carolyn Mackler. It’s basically about that… well it’s really about the protagonist’s weight issues thanks to her family, her peers, and her own views (the discussion on how big her butt is absence, if you are wondering!). I ain’t done with it yet and my opinion of the book is a bit wishy-washy. Mostly, it makes me start to get paranoid about my own weight and makes me uncomfortable every once in awhile. While librarians are defenders of the freedom to read, please note that this book has been banned by entities. I’ll just go out on a limb and suggest it’s due to sexual content.

I’ll give you my complete verdict after another 2:45:20 of listening time elapses.

Another good Mackler book, Vegan virgin valentine, is also available via eAudio books. This book is less explicit and is about—you got it! wow aren’t titles great!?—a vegan, virgin gal with the last name of Valentine. It’s all about her senior year of high school and romance and family. It leaves you hanging with a mysterious dreamy feeling, or it did me.

'late,

On the go...

2008-03-07T06:45:00.003-06:00

Miss Jo brought up a valid point when she mentioned that she "doesn't have time to read." True, in her case (and in mine, and in many people's), it was just a matter of setting priorities -- taking time to read vs. taking time to watch TV, watch a movie, etc.

But it often seems that even if we have time to read, we don't have enough time to finish what we start reading. And when you have to read something for school, or if you just want to read a particular book your friends have read to find out what all the fuss is about, that can be frustrating.

That's one of the reasons why the library has partnered with netLibrary and Recorded Books to offer you downloadable eAudiobooks. These are the same books on tape/CD that you've seen or listened to for years, but with a difference: you can download these at home.

Once downloaded, you can either listen to them on your computer, or transfer them to a portable media player to take with you. Just as easy as downloading music from the 'net, and more convenient than trying to squeeze in time to read -- you can just listen to the book in the car on the way to school, to practice, or whenever.

There are over 1800 titles to choose from, including many particularly aimed at Young Adults. Several hundred more are aimed at "Children", but don't let the tag fool you -- these aren't easy readers. A lot of these are just as challenging as the Young Adult titles, but the subject matter may not be "mature" enough to place it in the Young Adult category.

In addition, there are classics, the Pimsleur language series (in case you need some extra help or just want to learn a new language), the Contemporary English Version of the Holy Bible, and popular adult fiction and nonfiction (which could come in handy when you have that history report on the life of Abraham Lincoln staring you in the face...).

For more information about the program, how it works and which devices are compatible (sorry, no iPods or Zunes at the moment -- complain to Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, respectively), you can visit the library's Web site at: http://www.jacksonvillelibrary.com/eaudio.htm

As always, please leave any questions or comments and we'll be happy to help.

Let's Dance!

2008-03-06T14:50:00.004-06:00

Hello! My name is Miss Jo, and I work at the Jacksonville Public Library. Welcome to our new Teen Site! I hope I will be hearing from you.

I was sitting around the house the other day, watching TV and thinking that I don't have much time to read. Is that stupid or what? I could just get up and turn the TV off, grab one of my books and just read and enjoy.

Actually, I just finished reading Dancing with Elvis by Lynda Stephenson. Would you believe this book has nothing to do with Elvis, or dancing with him?

The setting is a small Texas town about the size of Jacksonville. The story is about a rich family who has a high school-aged daughter named Frankilee. This family takes in a girl named Angel who is supposed to have been beaten by her mother. Frankilee feels sort of left out while her mother takes Angel under her wing. As time goes on, Frankilee starts to get suspicious: is Angel really an abused child, or is this just a way for her to get to live in a nice house and get to have special lessons like dance, piano, and singing?

The conflict between Frankilee and Angel makes the story intriguing. Frankilee thinks Angel is up to no good -- you'll need to read the book to find out if her instincts are true.

This is a quick, very entertaining read, and one that will leave you feeling good.

Well, that's just one of the good books I've read lately. If you have read it, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

See you at the library!

Welcome to JPL TeenLink!

2008-03-04T16:20:00.005-06:00

Attention : Teens of Jacksonville and Cherokee County —

Your place is here. Your time is now.

Your online connection to the Jacksonville Public Library is now available.

Find out about the latest young adult novels. Cool Websites. The newest movies and music. Information you can use.

Read. Comment. Question. Interact.

Tell us what you like. Tell us what you don’t. Tell us what you’d like to see.

Help us plan the library’s future.

We’re here. And we’re listening.