New Books

Just a few new books that I've read lately...

Numbers by Rachel Ward

When Jem looks into someone's eyes she sees the exact date they are going to die. While hanging out in London, she discovers a group of tourists who all have the same death date, that day. Narrowly avoiding a bomb blast, Jem is seen running away and becomes a suspect in a terrorist plot.

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman

Hoping to leave her backstabbing "friends" behind, Charlie changes schools before freshman year to get a clean start. But her new school has challenges of its own.

Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn

Very is constantly texting, listening to music, talking, updating her status, and planning outrageous parties. But when technology overload threatens to get her kicked out of school, Very must find a way to balance her life.

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Best friends since they were in diapers, the dazzling Naomi and outrageously out Ely have been through just about everything together in their Greenwich Village apartment building. To prevent anyone from coming between them, they’ve created a “No Kiss List,” full of people who are off-limits to both Naomi and Ely. But when Ely kisses Naomi’s boyfriend, their never-ending friendship becomes a never-ending disaster. Can they ever recover, or is this the end of Naomi and Ely forever?

Told from multiple points of view, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List is a fast-paced, hilarious, and heartbreaking look at the relationship between two wildly independent best friends and learning the difference between love and being in love.

If you liked Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, this second book from authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is definitely worth a read. And don't miss their next book, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, coming in October.

Other books by Rachel Cohn:
Very LeFreak
Gingerbread
You Know Where to Find Me

Other books by David Levithan:
Love is a Higher Law
Boy Meets Boy
Wide Awake

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

From award winning Australian author, Melina Marchetta, comes Finnikin of the Rock.

The land of Lumatere has been shrouded in an impenetrable fog since the five days of the unspeakable. As retaliation for the overthrow of the king and the killing of her people, Seranonna of the Forest Dwellers lays a curse upon Lumatere; those within are trapped, those outside are exiles. One of the exiles is Finnikin of the Rock. Finnikin has spent the past ten years traveling between camps attempting to find a place to relocate the exiles. But it is only when Finnikin meets Evanjalin, a young apprentice priestess, that his journey to free Lumatere and bring the exiles home truly begins.

A wonderful blend of fantasy adventure, romance, and heart-breaking reality, Finnikin of the Rock is at its core a story of hope.

Teen Book Groups

Have you read any great books lately? Do you like talking about books and hearing what other people are reading? Then stop by one of the library book groups!

Here is what's coming up...

February
6th-8th Grade Book Group will be talking about Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.

9th-12th Grade Book Group will be talking about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on Wednesday, February 17 at 7 p.m. The high school book group also meets online via Facebook!

March
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer is the 6th-8th Grade Book Group title for March 24.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman is the 9th-12th Grade Book Group title for March 17.

April
To finish up the school year, the 6th-8th Grade Book Group will talk about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on April 28.

And the 9th-12th Grade Book Group will talk about Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult on April 21.

Hope to see you at one of these upcoming events!

For questions about book group please contact me at splteen (at) mcfls (dot) org. (email address is written out this way to deter spam)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Thanks to my friends over at the West Allis Public Library I heard that the title and cover of the third Hunger Games book has been announced! And check out what David Levithan, the editor, has to say about what won't happen in Mockingjay. Only a few more months to wait for the amazing conclusion...Mockingjay will be released on August 24, 2010!

Book Group: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

The next book on the 6th-8th Grade Book Group list is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. If you like historical fiction with a twist, lots of adventure, and exciting characters, you'll love Leviathan.

Set in an alternate history at the beginning of WWI, Austrian Prince Alek is on the run from the Clanker Powers. The Clankers use huge walking machines as their weapons of war. Meanwhile, Deryn has disguised herself as a boy to join the British Air Service and ends up working on the Leviathan. The British are part of the Darwinist Powers, who have discovered a way to genetically engineer amazing creatures; including the Leviathan, which is a huge airship whale. Yes, you read that correctly, the Leviathan is a whale (with modifications) that functions as a large floating ship. The excitement doesn't stop as Alek and Deryn meet up and figure out a way to thwart their enemies.

Stop by book group for snacks and fun conversation about this amazing book! We'll be talking about Leviathan on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.

And if you love Leviathan, you only have a few more months to wait for the sequel...Behemoth, comes out in October.

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

When Nimira meets a fairy automaton, a clockwork machine of a man playing the piano, her life changes forever. Hired by the wealthy sorcerer, Hollin Parry, to sing with the automaton as a stage act, Nimira finds herself involved in two mysteries. Is the handsome automaton haunted, enchanted by the fairies or something more sinister? And what secret is Mr. Parry hiding in the closed off third floor of his estate?

A gothic mystery wrapped in a fantasy setting, Magic Under Glass, is a charming story of romance and intrigue.

If Magic Under Glass sounds interesting, you might also like:
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle
The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

When Logan meets Skye Hendricks, the new girl at Boyer, he's instantly drawn to her. She's pretty, outgoing, and smart and she seems really interested in him too. But Skye is a ball of mixed signals, she says no to a movie invitation, but shows up anyway, she flirts and holds hands, but freaks out when Logan tries to kiss her. Logan is terribly confused but when Skye says she needs a friend, Logan decides he'll be there for her. That is until the night they share their first kiss and Skye reveals her secret. Skye has dealt with her transgender status for years, but this is all new to Logan and his confusion and anger may threaten them both.

Almost Perfect is a beautiful story of friendship, love, betrayal, and acceptance. If you're interested in other books like Almost Perfect, you'll find several great suggestions on our GLBTQ booklist.

Milwaukee Bucks Reading Challenge

There are still two weeks left in the Milwaukee Bucks Reading Challenge! This is a great way to read your way to a FREE ticket for a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game. Sign-up at any Milwaukee County public library; check out our website for more info.