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!

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!

BONE Update...

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!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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!

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.

In this corner...

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.

Coming soon ... to a bookshelf near you!

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!