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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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!