Hey, guys! Long time, no see!

This time we have a special guest review from teen reader Bridget Magness.

TITLE: Cinder

AUTHOR: Marissa Meyer

REVIEWED BY: Bridget Magness

BRIEF SUMMARY: In a futuristic Beijing where androids walk the streets and people live on the moon, Cinder is a gifted mechanic and cyborg. Hated by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister having a common deadly plague, she's treated like a slave. But then she meets Prince Kai and her whole world gets turned upside down. She suddenly finds herself at the center of a struggle between Earth and the Lunar people, and uncovers secrets about her past.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I read the inside cover and thought it seemed like a good blend of science fiction and fantasy, two of my favorite genres.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Although the book is a futuristic spin on Cinderella, it's very original, and the characters are lovable and interesting. The plot is also mysterious and fast-paced.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Someone who enjoys retold fairy tales and a fun, entertaining story.

Thank for contributing, Bridget! Sounds like a great book.

Remember: you can see your review on this blog, too! Just grab a Book Review form from the Young Adult section, fill it out, and return it to Miss Jo or one of the other librarians.

See you at the library!

Getting Away with Murder?

Today we have a guest review from teen reader, Bridget Magness.

TITLE: Confessions of a Murder Suspect

AUTHOR: James Patterson

REVIEWED BY: Bridget Magness

BRIEF SUMMARY: When Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, their daughter Tandy and her brothers are the only suspects. While questioning if her brothers have the motive to kill, she begins to have flashes of disturbing past events that lead her to believe that she herself may be the killer. Even so, she is determined to solve the mystery.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: James Patterson is my favorite author, and I knew it wouldn't disappoint.

WHY I FINISHED IT: The characters are very interesting and the story has lots of shocking surprises that keep you guessing until the end.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Someone who enjoys well-written murder and crime books.


Thanks, Bridget! 

Want to see your review here?  Pick up a review form in the YA section, fill it out, and return it to Miss Jo!

See you at the library!

The Last of Zafón's YA Novels...

TITLE: Marina

AUTHOR: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: When Fifteen-year-old Oscar Drai suddenly vanishes from his boarding school in Barcelona, no one knows his whereabouts for seven days and seven nights.

His story begins when he meets the strange Marina while he's exploring an old quarter of the city. She leads Oscar to a cemetery, where they watch a macabre ritual that occurs on the last Sunday of each month. At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, a woman shrouded in a black velvet cloak descends from her carriage to place a single rose on an unmarked grave.

When Oscar and Marina decide to follow her, they begin a journey that transports them to a forgotten postwar Barcelona -- a world of aristocrats and actresses, inventors and tycoons -- an reveals a dark secret that lies waiting in the mysterious labyrinth beneath the city streets.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I am a big fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and I have been waiting for Marina to be translated into English ever since I first read The Shadow of the Wind almost ten years ago.

WHY I FINISHED IT: After a slow start (it took me a few tries to get past the prologue and into the first chapter), it took hold of me and I just had to finish it. It literally became difficult to find a place to stop so I could put the book down and do other things. Like The Watcher in the Shadows, this book was scary, exciting, and just a bit disturbing -- with a hint of romance.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes scary stories, horror or dark mysteries. This book has you covered on all fronts.

OTHER NOTES: A few minor obscenities and some violence. Also, this book is very dark -- you can tell that Zafón was reaching the end of his YA career and was ready to write for adults. After this, he started his Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. which propelled him to worldwide acclaim.

See you at the library!

A "Star" in the making...

TITLE: Stargirl

AUTHOR: Jerry Spinelli

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: Jerry Spinelli wrote some of my favorite books when I was growing up. I wanted to see what he was up to now, and this won several awards.

WHY I FINISHED IT: Spinelli still creates compelling characters. I absolutely loved the character of Stargirl, and Leo was a good narrator. The story kept me interested, even though I knew what was coming based on the blurb on the book jacket.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes good, heartfelt stories and generally true-to-life characters.

OTHER NOTES: Notice how I said "generally" true-to-life characters?

Yeah. There's a reason for that.

A lot of Stargirl's awkwardness and unusual behavior is blamed on her having been homeschooled. The excuse is made that she doesn't know how to behave around other kids because of her lack of social interaction.

*Rolls eyes*

Oh, please.

I know plenty of homeschooled kids. My nephews are homeschooled. They get plenty of social interaction. And believe me when I say that they don't act that way. They wouldn't act that way. Not even ten years ago when this was published, before homeschooling really moved into the mainstream as a viable alternative to public school education.

Stargirl may be eccentric. Her parents might have (probably did) encourage her individuality and urge her to express herself creatively. But let's not blame it on homeschooling.

Stargirl is a good character. But this whole aspect of the story really didn't sit well with me.

Still, though. A good read if you overlook all that.

(The library has the sequel, Love, Stargirl, if you are interested in reading more of Stargirl's story.)

See you at the library!

Teen Read Week Winners (Part Two)...

As promised, here are the reviews submitted by our runners-up, sisters Maddy & Abbigail Mathis.

12-year-old Abbigail reviewed Lauren Oliver's Delirium:

TITLE: Delirium

AUTHOR: Lauren Oliver

REVIEWED BY: Abbigail Mathis

BRIEF SUMMARY: Love is a disease. The only way to escape it is the cure. But some people don't see it as a disease, so they attempt an escape to the wilds.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: It sounded interesting.

WHY I FINISHED IT: It was a suspenseful book that I couldn't put down.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My best friend, Emma.


17-year-old Maddy reviewed Thomas E. Ricks's Making the Corps:

TITLE: Making the Corps

AUTHOR: Thomas E. Ricks

REVIEWED BY: Maddy Mathis

BRIEF SUMMARY: A Marine tells about his journey through boot camp the trials everyone has to overcome and get past in order for them to come together as one.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I am joining the Marines.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I wanted to know everything he went through.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: My other friends who plan on joining the Marines as well.


Thanks, Abbigail and Maddy! And -- Semper Fi!

See you at the library!

Teen Read Week winners...

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our Teen Read Week contest. We will be publishing the reviews submitted by the winners here over the next few weeks.

We begin with the grand prize winner, 13-year-old Bridget Magness:

TITLE: Poison

AUTHOR: Bridget Zinn

REVIEWED BY: Bridget Magness

BRIEF SUMMARY: 16 year old Kyra is a skilled potion master and is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the edge of destruction. So she does the unthinkable and attempts to poison the future ruler, but misses and becomes a fugitive on the run.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: I read the summary of the book and thought it seemed like an interesting and intriguing read.

WHY I FINISHED IT: I got so caught up in the magical world that Poison is placed in, that I had to know what happened to Kyra and the kingdom.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: I would give it to anyone who would take a moment to appreciate an epic and entertaining read.

Congratulations once again, Bridget!

And remember: just because Teen Read Week is over doesn't mean you can't submit book reviews anymore.  We're always looking for new submissions.  If you can't find the review forms, ask Miss Jo or one of the other librarian for help.

See you at the library!

The "Shadow" knows...

TITLE: The Watcher in the Shadows

AUTHOR: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

REVIEWED BY: JPL TeenLink

BRIEF SUMMARY: When fourteen-year-old Irene Sauvelle moves with her family to Cape House on the coast of Normandy, she's immediately taken by the beauty of the place -- its expansive cliffs, coasts, and harbors. There, she meets a local boy named Ismael, and the two soon fall in love. But a dark mystery is about to unfold, involving a reclusive toymaker who lives in a gigantic mansion filled with mechanical beings and shadows of the past.

As strange lights shine through the fog surrounding a small, barren island, Irene's younger brother dreams of a dark creature hidden deep in the forest. And when a young girl is found murdered, her body at the end of a path torn through the woods by a monstrous, inhuman force, Irene and Ismael wonder -- has a demonic presence been unleashed on the inhabitants of Cape House? Together, they'll have to survive the most terrifying summer of their lives, as they try to piece together the many mysteries and secrets hidden in a town torn apart by tragedy, amidst a labyrinth of lights and shadows.

WHY I PICKED IT UP: Carlos Ruiz Zafón is one of my favorite authors. I picked up this book hoping it would be better than his last YA book, The Midnight Palace, which left me a little disappointed.

I wasn't disappointed this time. Zafón is back in top form here.

WHY I FINISHED IT: The book was fun, frightening, and kept you interested. This is good old scare-your-pants-off stuff -- no vampires, no werewolves, just creepy houses, looming shadows, and deadly secrets. This is the kind of stuff I really like.

WHO I'D GIVE IT TO: Anyone who likes scary stories, suspense, and well-written books in general. If you liked the movie of The Woman in Black, this is right up your alley.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: A few minor obscenities, but that's all.

See you at the library!