Teen Reads for January!

Check out the new list of Teen Reads for January! 

Teen pajama Day!

Next Tuesday, January 4th, we will be having a Pajama Day all day long!  We will have board games, loads of movies and snacks all day long!  Cast your vote for what movies you want to watch by commenting on this blog post!  Or you can email Ms. Laura at teenlibrarianrpl@yahoo.com so be sure to let me know so I have enough time to get all the movies!  We will have lots of fun!  Happy Holidays to those of you that celebrate!  I had an awesome Christmas and got loads of stuff!  Come into the library and check out some awesome books and be sure to stop by to see me and I will tell you all about my awesomeness!!!  Remember Pajama Day Tuesday January 4th from 10-6pm!!!

Dust City

Wow!!!  So for those of you that dont know, I have been in a fairy tale re-tell type of mind set for like the last 6 months and have read a lot of fairy tale type books (sleepless by cyn balog, the grimm legacy, fairest of all (the true story of the wicked queen),etc.).  Well this book just fits right in!  Dust City: "When you're dad is the wolf that killed little red riding hood, life is no fairytale" is what it says on the back cover.  This book was good!  It was a little slow to start, but once it starts going, I really enjoyed it!!!  Here's the synopsis:

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?


His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City; a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?

For those of you interested in other books that deal with fairy tale related themes, check these out!

Leave a comment, or ask Ms Laura for more types of things books if you're interested!!!
Happy Holidays!

 

The Magician's Nephew

Over the weekend Ms Laura and the Husband watched the Chronicles of Narnia movies (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian) in preparation for the 3rd movie being released this weekend!  I had never seen the movies before so when we finished them I decided I wanted to read the books...so off to the first one I ran!

Now there is some confusion as to which book actually is the first!  Some say Lion/Witch/ Wardrobe, some say magicians nephew.  Well I looked up that pick mamma jamma copy they have at Borders with all the books in it and saw that they have it published in a specific order so that's the order I decided to read them in; Magician's Nephew was up!

Order I'm reading (in case you wanted to read along):
Magicians Nephew
Lion/Witch/Wardrobe
Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle
(they say you can read "magicians nephew" and "horse and his boy" whenever since they dont really coincide with the story arch of the other books)

I was intrigued!  No wonder so many people love the Chronicles!!!  The Magician's Nephew was wonderful!  It was like writing you wouldn't see nowadays (probably cause it was written in the 50s)  Here's the synopsis and a link for the trailer of the new movie!!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0980970/ (trailer is on the right hand side under "Related Videos")

When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagined.


Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world they encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London when she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.



 

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters!

I did it!  I finished the book!  Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters was good!  It's told in three parts from the perspectives of three sisters.  I liked the book off the bat but the further I got, the less interested in the character I was.  The parts also get smaller and smaller to the point where once I got to the last sister, I didnt really want to get to know her cause there wasn't enough time to and her character wasn't very developed.  But I finished it none the less just because I wanted to see how it turned out.  If you like books baout high-society, you should pick it up.  Ms. Jen really liked it!!!  Here's the synopsis!

The Sullivan sisters have a big problem. On Christmas Day their rich and imperious grandmother gathers the family and announces that she will soon die . . .and has cut the entire family out of her will. Since she is the source of almost all their income, this means they will soon be penniless.


Someone in the family has offended her deeply. If that person comes forward with a confession of her (or his) crime, submitted in writing to her lawyer by New Year's Day, she will reinstate the family in her will. Or at least consider it.

And so the confessions begin....

New Teen Programs and DDR!!!!

I have just put up all of our programs for January through May 2011!!!  If you would like to check it out, go to our webpage at: http://www.richtonparklibrary.org/
The programs will be under the Young Adult Tab under "Programs".  While you're there, check out the Book Lists and Awards Tabs!!!  You will find super awesome stuff there!!!  Check back in soon for my take on "The Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters".  I'm about 2/3 of the way done!

DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) program this Friday, December 3rd from 4-5:30pm!!!

Teen Monopoly Tournament

Just a reminder that our Teen Monopoly Tournament is going to be this Saturday, November 27th from 10am-2pm.  You must make sure that you are:
1. In grades 7-12
2. Signed up by Friday, November 26th (we are open 10am til 9pm)
3. Here by 10am to start playing.  Late comers will still be able to play, but won't be in the tournament so make sure you are on time!!!

Winners will recieve their own monopoly game as well as other Hasbro games!!!  Be sure to tell your friends!  If you want to sign up via Ms Laura, send her an email at : teenlibrarianrpl@yahoo.com

YA TV Shows!!!

We are awesome! Ms Laura has just started what is going to be super awesome...we are getting a YA TV DVD Section!  That's right, all your favorite Teen shows plus some oldies but goodies will be available to check out soon.  This is including:

90210
Roswell
Friday Night Lights
Secret Life of the American Teenager
Degrassi
Veronica Mars
Saved By the Bell
16 and Pregnant
Teen Mom
Popular
....and many more!!!  So the next time you are in the library, be sure to ask Ms. Laura when all the awesomeness will be ready!!!

Creepiosity!!! Found!

So while this book isn't necessarily "Teen", it was hilarious and you should all read it!  It takes normal everyday things that we see and don't really think of as creepy and explains why they are....like used band-aids on the ground...and men that look like Santa Clause, that aren't Santa Clause.  Check it out!!!

"Creepiosity: A Hilarious Guide to the Unintentionally Creepy"

I'm also reading "Found" Which is pretty awesome!  It's a collection of objects people found on the street Here's the synopsis!

Discarded valentines. Ransom notes. To-do lists. Diaries. Homework assignments. A break-up letter written on the back of an airsickness bag. Whether they are found on buses, at stores, in restaurants, waiting rooms, parking lots, or even prison yards, these items give readers an uncensored, poignant, and often hilarious peek into other people's lives.


Found is chock-full of the latest and greatest of these finds, arranged in the style of the magazine, laying bare the tantalizing tales to be discovered in the trash we toss. By turns heartbreaking and hysterically funny, Found is a mesmerizing tribute to everyday life and our eternal curiosity about our fellow human beings.

Girl, Stolen

So I was really busy yesterday what with finishing two books and all but I must say I was kind of disappointed in this one.  I mean, it had its moments, but I felt like I was reading forever!  And the sad part was that I was really excited about this book and thought it had the potential to be great.  You be the judge.  Here's the synopsis!!!

"Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?"

Wimpy Kid-itis!!!

So I know its not really a teen book but if you havent read the Wimpy Kid, you should!!!  Number 5 was released yesterday and I finished it yesterday... it only took about 45 minutes to read.  So read all 5!!!  There is also a movie which was actually pretty accurate and might I add hilarious!!!  Check it out!

Oh yeah, and I wimpified myself!!!

Greg Heffley has always been in a hurry to grow up. But is getting older really all it’s cracked up to be? Greg suddenly finds himself dealing with the pressures of boy-girl parties, increased responsibilities, and even the awkward changes that come with getting older—all without his best friend, Rowley, at his side. Can Greg make it through on his own? Or will he have to face the “ugly truth"?

Teen Board and Goodreads!!!

Hey guys!  Two quick things to run past you:

1. This Wednesday is Teen Board from 4-5:30pm.  This will be an important meeting since we will be picking all of the activities we will be doing for Jan-May so if you want to have any say in this, please come!  And as always we will have snacks!

2. Have you ever checked out goodreads?  It's an awesome website for people that love books.  It gives you a space to check out new books or if you have a book in mind, see what other people have rated that book, read reviews and synopsis of books and get excited!  There is also a profile section that is all about you.  You simple search for the books you've read and then you can "add them to your bookshelf"  in which you can have quite a few.  The 3 standard ones are to-read, read, and currently reading so your friends can know what interests you have, what you are reading and what you've already read.  That way, they could possibly read the same books as you and then you can have something new and exciting to talk about.  Its really easy to find friends as well since you can connect your facebook to your goodreads!!!

So check it out!  I have one and if you would like to find me and the books I've read, check out the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1362428-laura

Happy Reading!

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

So I just finished reading this amazing book called the DUFF, which stands for: Designated Ugly Fat Friend.  Now I dont know about you, but I had never heard this term before and was surprised when the author of this book (who was 17 when she wrote it) said that hearing this term thrown around by her friends was what inspired her to write this book and show girls that they are better than that.  I know that I have always sort of felt like the DUFF with my group of friends, but after finishing this book, I realize that everyone feels like the DUFF at some point and that everyone has special qualities that they each bring to the friendship table.  I really enjoyed the message of this book and was amazed that the author was so young.  The book was just so fresh and funny and everything I didnt think it could be.  I think all girls should read this book, young and old!!!

Here's the synopsis:

"Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.


But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone."-goodreads

So check it out!!!! 

Read for a Lifetime!!!

New Challenge!!!  For those of you that love to read, here is a challenge for you!  We are participating in Read for a Lifetime!!!  Read 4 books off of this list by April 1st and get entered into a raffle for an awesome prize to be determined at a later date and get to come to a pizza party!!!  Sign up with Ms Laura at the library, or send her an email (teenlibrarianrpl@yahoo.com!!!  Here is a list of the books:  http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/pdfs/readinglist.pdf

I've read 2 but I'm hoping to read more!!!  I at least have to read 2 more right?  Cause then I can come to the pizza party!!! 

There will be a special prize if anyone reads all 25 Books so be sure to sign up today!!!

Ms. Laura

Wii Wii Wii all the way to the Library!!!!

Wii Day is tomorrow (Friday) November 5th from 4-5:30pm at the library!!!  Come to the RPPL and bring all your friends...I've been reading all of the new "Eat This, Not That" books and have slowly been working on "DUFF" so I will get back to it real soon!!!

National Novel Writing Month/Brave Girl Eating

November is National Novel Writing Month.  You pledge to write 50,000 words in November and by the end of the month, you have a novel!!!  I signed up today!  So I'm one day behind...who wants to join me!!!  Sign up here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ (Must be 13 or older to sign up) and get to writing today!!!

I also finished a book!!! 

Brave Girl Eating is Adult Non-Fiction book (I know, adult and non-fiction!!!) about a girl struggling with anorexia.  The only reason I even picked it up was because from a far, I said to myself, why does this book cover look like twilight and why is it in the adult section.  Then I saw what it was about and decided to try it out!

It is written by the girls mother and alternates between Kitty's story and factual information about the disease.  I sort of skipped over all the medical mumbo jumbo because I was really only interested in the story of the girl.  It was good.  It was definitely interesting to see a factual case of anorexia instead of reading a fiction book.  I have read just about all the fiction books about anorexia and other eating disorders along with a big chunk of  technical non fiction books about eating disorders, but never have I read a story that combined an actual case of an eating disorder along with the technical information.  Check it out!!! (If you are interested in this topic):

"I've never had anorexia, but I know it well. I see it on the street, in the gaunt and sunken face, the bony chest, the spindly arms of an emaciated woman. I've come to recognize the flat look of despair, the hopelessness that follows, inevitably, from years of starvation. I think: That could have been my daughter. It wasn't. It's not. If I have anything to say about it, it won't be.


Millions of families are affected by eating disorders, which usually strike young women between the ages of fourteen and twenty. But current medical practice ties these families' hands when it comes to helping their children recover. Conventional medical wisdom dictates separating the patient from the family and insists that "it's not about the food," even as a family watches a child waste away before their eyes. Harriet Brown shows how counterproductive—and heartbreaking—this approach is by telling her daughter's story of anorexia. She describes how her family, with the support of an open-minded pediatrician and a therapist, helped her daughter recover using family-based treatment, also known as the Maudsley approach.

Chronicling her daughter Kitty's illness from the earliest warning signs, through its terrifying progression, and on toward recovery, Brown takes us on one family's journey into the world of anorexia nervosa, where starvation threatened her daughter's body and mind. But hope and love—of the ordinary, family-focused kind—shine through every decision and action she and her family took. Brave Girl Eating is essential reading for families and professionals alike, a guiding light for anyone who's coping with this devastating disease."
-goodreads

Urban Legends and Creepy Books

In celebration of Halloween, I have created a scary book display here at the library.  There is also a pamphlet of scary books you wouldnt normally pick up!!!  So be sure to come into the library this week!  We will also be having Teen Urban Legends tomorrow (Wednesday) from 4-5:30pm.

I know I havent written any book reviews but I am in the process of reading two books, one fiction about a blind girl that has been accidentally kidnapped, and one non fiction about a girls struggle with anorexia (the non fiction is taking forever!) so hopefully I can finish them both soon and get on here! 

Happy Tuesday, talk to you soon!

Ms Laura

Your Favorite Song????

Voice of Youth Advocates, in Celebration of Teen Read Week polled Teens with this question:

"If an alien laser ray made all iPods on Earth limited to only one song, what song would be in your iPod?"

Some of the responses were:
"Airplanes" by B.o.B. (4)
"Back in Black" by AC/DC
"Despicable" by Eminem
"Diva" by Beyonce
"Drop the World" by Lil' Wayne
"East 1999" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
"Eenie Meenie" by Justin Bieber and Sean Kingston
"The Feeble Mind" by Psyclon Nine
"Find Your Love" by Drake
"Get Naked" by Travis Porter
"Heavy" by Gucci Mane
"Help Me Believe" by Kirk Franklin
"Hey Soul Sister" by Train
"Hotel Room Service" by Pitbull
"I Don't Wanna Play No More" by Erika Kayne
"I Stand Alone" by Godsmack
"Ice Cream Paint Job" by Lil' Wayne
"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz
"Intruder Alert" by Lupe Fiasco
"Irreplaceable" by Beyonce
"Jimmy Dean" by Icehouse
"Lemonade" by Gucci Mane
"A Little Faster" by There for Tomorrow
"Maybe" by Rocko
"Monster" by Skillet
"No Rain" by Blind Melon (Which happens to be Ms Laura's favorite song!!!)
"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" by Deborah Cox
"Not Afraid" by Eminem
"Ocean" by John Butler Trio
"OMG" by Usher
"Over" by Drake
"Picture me Rollin'" by 2Pac
"Pretty Boy Swag" by Soulja Boy (4)
"Prom Queen" by Lil' Wayne
"Replay" by Sean Kingston (2)
"Revolution Deathsquad" by DragonForce
"Rumors" by Waka Flocka Flame (3)
"Single" by Lil' Wayne (2)
"The Sky is the Limit" by Lil' Wayne
"Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
"Somebody to Love" by Justin Bieber
""Successful: by Drake (2)
"Wall to Wall " by Chris Brown
"Wavin' Flag" by K'naan
"We Be Steady Mobbin;" by Lil' Wayne
"Where Da Hood At" by DMX
"21 Guns" by Green Day

The numbers after the artist names are how many times those songs were mentioned in the poll.

What would you have on your iPod????  Leave a comment or let us know via our facebook!!!!
Ms Laura

Teen Top Ten!

There is a new Top Ten Books for Teens that were announced this afternoon.  Check them out!

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/teens-choose-catching-fire-their-favorite-book-yalsa-s-teens-top-ten

CHICAGO — Teen readers across the country chose “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins as their favorite book in the annual Teens’ Top Ten vote, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Teens cast more than 8,000 votes online between August 23 and Sept. 17, with the official list announcement during Teen Read Week™, October 17-24.


The 2010 Teens’ Top Ten is:

1.“Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins

2.“City of Glass” by Cassandra Clare

3.“Heist Society” by Ally Carter

4.“Shiver” by Maggie Stiefvater

5.“Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick

6.“Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

7.“Along for the Ride” by Sarah Dessen

8.“If I Stay” by Gayle Forman

9.“Fire” by Kristin Cashore

10.“Wintergirls” by Laurie Halse Anderson



World Wrestling Entertainment® Diva Eve™ announced the 2010 Teens’ Top Ten winners, in a webcast posted at www.ala.org/teenstopten, and WWE.com. YALSA and WWE® also made the announcement video available as a downloadable file for teachers and librarians to use and intend to make it available on TeacherTube.



The Teens’ Top Ten is a book list created entirely by and for teens as part of YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten Project, which facilitates access to advance copies of young adult books to national teen book discussion groups. These groups evaluated books published between January 2009 and April 2010 and then created a list of 26 nominations. Teen voters across the country then cast ballots for their three favorites, creating the 2010 Teens’ Top Ten. Final nominations for the 2011 Teens’ Top Ten vote will be posted on Support Teen Literature Day, April 14, at www.ala.org/teenstopten.

Deathday Letter

In celebration of the month of October (Ms Laura's favorite), I decided to read a book about death.  And this one was interesting.  It was about a boy named Oliver who at the beginning of the book you learn is going to die, there's no way around it.  There is no twist ending or miracle at the end that keeps him from dying.  It turns out that in the time in which Oliver lives, you recieve a Deathday Letter 24 hours, give or take a few minutes, before you kick the bucket.  The twist here is that Oliver is only 15, so he decides to go out with a bang.  This book was actually very enjoyable, considering you knew the main character was going to be dead at the end.  But for some reason, it made the book feel more real for me.  Like he was a real person that only had this much time to live.  What if I only had that much time to live; what would I do?  So be sure to check it out.  Boys, there are many a joke that you will enjoy!  I felt bad laughing while reading this book because he was going to die, but its just so funny!  Check out the synopsis:

"The clock is ticking? Ollie can't be bothered to care about anything but girls until he gets his Deathday Letter and learns he's going to die in twenty-four hours. Bummer.

Ollie does what he does best: nothing. Then his best friend convinces him to live a little, and go after Ronnie, the girl who recently trampled his about-to-expire heart. Ollie turns to carloads of pudding and over-the-top declarations, but even playing the death card doesn't work. All he wants is to set things right with the girl of his dreams. It's now or never?"-goodreads

Teen Read Week

Next week is Teen Read Week!  Be sure to come out and celebrate all of our awesome programs!  Karaoke Next Friday at 4pm, a Glee-A-Thon on Saturday starting at 10am.  And all week there will be an awesome display of Books with Beat!  Ms Laura pulled them all herself!

As an added bonus, Ms Laura will write a different review everyday of some awesome books so stop in and read the blog everyday!!!

Wrestlemania Reading Challenge Sign up starts next week as well!  So if you want to win tickets to WrestleMania 27 in Atlanta, come on in to the library to get everything you need!!!

Also, the week after Teen Read Week we have Teen Urban Legends Wed October 27th at 4pm.  There will be a new Freaky Display of books to creep you out!  So be sure to be on the lookout!!!

Every month, Ms Laura puts out a new list of books she is planning on reading as well as a list of New Books coming out that month.  Be on the lookout for November!!!  Its gonna be awesome!

We are having an Official Monopoly Tournament on Saturday, November 27th from 10-2pm.  Be sure to come in or call and sign up, spots are filling fast!!!

Mockingjay, I Am Number Four, Perfect Chemistry

First off let me just say how much of a bum I feel like!  I missed out on all of September!  But I finished some pretty awesome books!  Check it out!

Now I can say that I loved the first two books in this series. But this last one, while good, was a little bit disappointing.  I will let you decide for yourself.  Here's the synopsis:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

I have been looking forward to this book since its release at the end of August.  They have already made it into a movie to be released February 2011.  I have talked to other librarians about this book and they either never heard of it, or thought there was just too much action!  I'm thinking to myself, are you kidding me!  There is never too much action!  I thought this book was great and hope there are more books in the series!

Here is the synopsis:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
I am Number Four.
I am next.

Trailer link: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2731936025/
Website link: http://iamnumberfourfans.com/
Here is the link to the website and the movie trailer for more info!!!

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.
 
link to the Perfect Chemistry website and Perfect Chemistry Rap & trailer for "Rules of Attraction", the second book in the series: http://www.perfectchemistrythebook.com/

Perfect

So I know its been a while but so many new exciting books came out!  So I am now in the middle of reading 4 different books and hope to be done with them soon so I can tell you about them!  But until then, I have finished the 3rd book in the Pretty Little Liars series "Perfect".  The books are getting better the further you go along.  Still, it gets a little annoying when the author drops name brands in but the story is really starting to pick up!  The ending is sure to have you reaching for the 4th!  Here is the synopsis:

In a town where gossip thrives like the ivy that clings to its mansions, where mysteries lie behind manicured hedges and skeletons hide in every walk-in closet, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.


Three years ago, Spencer, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and their best friend Alison were the girls at Rosewood Day School. They clicked through the halls in their Miu Miu flats, tanned in their matching Pucci bikinis, and laughed behind their freshly manicured fingernails. They were the girls everyone loved but secretly hated—especially Alison.

So when Alison mysteriously vanished one night, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna's grief was tinged with . . . relief. And when Alison's body was later discovered in her own backyard, the girls were forced to unearth some ugly memories of their old friend, too. Could there be more to Alison's death than anyone realizes?

Now someone named A, someone who seems to know everything, is pointing the finger at one of them for Ali's murder. As their secrets get darker and their scandals turn deadly, A is poised to ruin their perfect little lives forever.

______
I am now reading the 4th in the Pretty Little Liars, a book entitled " I Am Number Four", The final book of the Hunger Games "Mockingjay" and a book entitled "7 Souls".  Check back for updates soon!  I only have 80 pages left in Mockingjay!!!!

Teen Board today!

We have our first Teen Board meeting this afternoon (wednesday) from 4-5:30pm...tell all your friends and come hang out with me!

The Grimm Legacy

Imagine a world where the magical artifacts like dancing shoes, genies, and magic mirrors truly existed. And what if you could check those items out of a library? This is the world created in the book, The Grimm Legacy. Elizabeth works at the library and is given all access to the special collections throughout. But soon, items start coming up missing. Its up to the teens in this book to figure out where the items have gone and how to get them back! Check it out!

Here's the synopsis:

"Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That’s where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White’s stepmother’s sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.

Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary— and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue."-goodreads

Well, that's all I got for now! I currently have an entire stack full of books to read. You can follow my reading adventures on goodreads! Check it out: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1362428

Ms. Laura

Stolen

So this book...wow. The mixture of emotions I felt while reading this book was incredible! The author does such a great job at making you feel things about both characters but then question what your feeling as a result of who these people are!

This book has 3 characters: the Kidnapper, the Kidnappee, and the outback. Girl is stolen from an airport by a man that has been watching her for years. He takes her from China to australia with different clothes and a different passport. He holds her in this house he has built over the last 6 years in the middle of the desert. There is no where to run and no way of escape. What will she do? Read the book to find out! Here's the synopsis!

"Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost" -goodreads

Sleepless

This was an interesting book! I have never read anything quite like it. I thoroughly enjoyed that the chapters were told alternatingly with two narrators. This book exceeded my expectations. I liked it so much that as soon as I got home, I ordered Cyn Balog's other book entitled "Fairytale". Check them both out!!!

"Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?"-goodreads

Pretty Little Liars

So some of you may have heard about this new show called Pretty Little Liars on abc family...but did you know it was actually a book series!?!?!?! I did...and I told myself that I had to read some of them before I watched the show.

I ended up reading the first two while I was on vacation and let me tell you; they were good!!! I'm on the third one right now. They really hold your interest and keep you guessing til the end! The only thing I didnt really like was the fact that when the author talks about shoes or purses or cars or phones, she busts out the name brands so instead of saying, "she put on her shoes" it ends up being this big old long 6 worded phrase. Which is fine for now, just a little annoying; but in ten years, the people that read the book are going to be saying, "what is she talking about???" Here are the synopsis for the first two books.

And can I say that after reading these two books, I decided I could watch the show...it is like totally different and I didnt understand what was going on!!! So if you havent read the books but have watched the show...read the books!!! Its like a completely different wonderful story...and if you havent watched the show yet...its good!

ok, here ya go!

"Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling."-goodreads

"Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive. "-goodreads

Keep Sweet

So I'm back! Vacation was wonderful driving through the mountains I was able to read lots of books! First on my list was Keep Sweet. Another one of my polygamist books. I thought they did an excellent job at making this story original. Heres a review!

" Alva Jane has never questioned her parents, never questioned her faith, never questioned her future. She is content with the strict rules that define her life in Pineridge, the walled community where she lives with her father, his seven wives, and her twenty-eight siblings. This is the only world Alva has ever known, and she has never thought to challenge it.

But everything changes when Alva is caught giving her long-time crush an innocent first kiss. Beaten, scorned, and now facing a forced marriage to a violent, fifty-year old man, Alva suddenly realizes how much she has to lose--and how impossible it will be to escape." -goodreads

This was an excellent book!!! Be sure to check it out!

So Many Books!!!

So I've been on a reading binge since the last time I wrote on here! I've read 3 different books! I will also be going on vacation next week to Colorado and hav about 8 books I'm taking with me!!! So I will be sure to write about those as soon as I get back! For now though, I want to remind everyone that the last day to turn in hours for Summer Reading is Saturday, July 31st! Remember, you have to turn in at least 12 hours in order to go to the end of the summer movie party!!! So get to reading! Perhaps one of these wonderful books I just finished:

The end of this series was just as good as the beginning! I highly recommend these books to anyone that likes fantasy! Here is a synopsis of it:

"Since ancient times, the great demon prison Zzyzx has protected the world from the most dangerous servants of darkness, including Gorgrog, the Demon King. After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx is on the verge of recovering the five artifacts necessary to open the legendary prison. Facing the potential of a world-ending calamity, all friends of light must unite in a final effort to thwart the Sphinx s designs and find a safe home for the five artifacts. To this end, Kendra, Seth, and the Knights of the Dawn will venture far beyond the walls of Fablehaven to strange and exotic magical preserves across the globe, where the end of every quest becomes the beginning of another. In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate struggle to control the keys to the demon prison."-goodreads.com

Catching Fire is the second book of the Hunger Games Trilogy!!! I read it in about 3 hours and it was wonderful...I didnt want to go to bed! I really can't wait for the 3rd installment, Mockingjay, to be released in August! Be sure to check these out! Here's a synopsis:

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge"-goodreads.com

and finally....

I finished this book!!! It was awesome! I really enjoyed! If you enjoy fantasy, you should check out this book! It will really make you think about how precious life is and will make you have to decide who you think is right and wrong. Here's the synopsis:

"In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them.

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive."-goodreads.com

Thats all for this post! Be sure to check back soon for my post vacation read-a-thon!!! And don't forget, we have loads of programs starting up in August just for teens including Teen Board, Book Chats, and Teen Just Dance!

Also, we have a brand new website! Don't forget to check out the awesome Teen Section with all our programs, booklists, award winners and much more!!!

Til next time,
Ms. Laura!

Almost there!

Ms. Laura has finished Book Four of the Fablehaven series...and man oh man do they just get better and better! I was sad that I had left my copy of the 5th one sitting at home when I finished! So now I am 100 pages in to the 5th and I just recieved my catching fire book, the second book after hunger games, to start reading once im done with fablehaven. And then of course I have to read Unwind for the Teen book dicussion on July 19th!!! Make sure you pick up a copy today! Also, we have a bunch of program the next two weeks for teens. This Friday is our Twilight Prom from 3-5pm, DDR Competition is Monday July 12th from 1-3pm, and Smoothie Challenge is Friday July 16th from 1-3:30pm!!!

Heres the synopsis of Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

Brace yourself for a shocking secret. Two hidden artifacts have been found. Three more remain unrecovered. More preserves face destruction as the Society of the Evening Star relentlessly pursues new talismans. Reading in Patton s Journal of Secrets, Kendra learns the location of the key to a vault housing one of the artifacts. In order to retrieve it, the Knights of the Dawn must enter a death trap a dragon sanctuary called Wyrmroost. The mission cannot proceed without stealing a sacred object zealously guarded by the centaurs. Anybody seen Seth? The race is on to acquire all five of the artifact keys to the great demon prison. Will the Knights of the Dawn conquer Wyrmroost? Who can stop the Sphinx? Can Vanessa be trusted to help? What artifact will be found next? Find out in Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary.

Even More Books!

So I don't know why I'm surprised that I thought this book was amazing... I have been wanting to read it for such a long time and now I finally was able to! This book is absolutely fantastic (as are all of Laurie Halse Anderson's books.

To sum it up quickly, Tyler went from scrawny to steamy over the summer after having to do community service. Now the most popular girl in school, not to mention Tyler's dream woman, Bethany is starting to notice. But when riskay pictures end up on the internet of Bethany, the cops think Tyler did it. What is Tyler suppose to do. Everyone tells him he's on a short leash and on thin ice. Tyler tries to act like a man, but no one ever told him how to be one.

Here's a review:

In TWISTED, Laurie Halse Anderson presents readers with Tyler Miller, whose transformation from a meek, social Mr. Cellophane to a chiseled, admired "tough guy" sets his world on end. As someone who spends his days unnoticed, Tyler finds himself with more attention than he wanted after he vandalizes school property and, to pay for his crime, takes a summer job doing landscaping. The unforeseen side effect is that he returns the next school year with a brand new bod that's turning heads, most notably the head of Bethany Milbury.

But not everything --- even Bethany's advances --- works out well for Tyler. As he struggles to contend with his angry father, a mistrustful faculty and the aftermath of a drunken party, Tyler comes to the painful realization that there's a substantial price tag for his newfound popularity, and juggling the consequences lead him to thoughts of suicide.

While the overall story tackles weighty issues such as identity, family and suicide, Anderson masterfully interjects wry humor that always seems to find its mark. There's something very genuine in the portrayal of Tyler's struggle, both as he seeks attention and as he seeks to banish it. His volatile family situation --- especially his relationship with his father --- is familiar without bowing to a stereotypical, dysfunctional family. Despite times when Chip Milbury (Bethany's brother and the bane of Tyler's rebirth) comes across a little cartoonish in his machinations, the characterizations ring true.

TWISTED, with its tip of the hat to black comedy, does what all good cautionary tales should do: leaves the reader with the certainty that something would be missing in their life without it. Don't miss out on this.
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Exposed by Susan Vaught is awesome.
The story goes like this. There once was a girl named Chan who had it with real boys... she decides to go online and meet a man...well a man she does meet. And she does things she really shouldn't in order to keep talking to him. She goes against all of her gut instincts and eventually finds out the truth.

Here's a review:
Chan Shealy’s got most things going right in her life—straight A’s, a shot at the regional majorette championships in baton twirling, and the best best friend a girl could wish for. But after the football quarterback spreads a vicious lie about her, and the whole school decides she’s too trashy for words, Chan begins to wonder if the only place she’ll find love is online.She’s careful. She follows all her parents’ rules, mostly anyway. A girl’s got to trust herself at a certain point, right? But what if your gut is telling you something that you’re just not hearing… until it’s too late?From the moment Chan logs on and meets Paul, until the truth begins to show through, Susan Vaught sends readers on a fast-paced and gripping ride. Even when you know something bad will happen, you still might not see it coming…

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I just finished reading an amazing book...it's entitled Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. It only took me about an hour and a half to read because I just couldn't put the book down. Anyone interested in this sort of book should definitely check it out so we can discuss it! Here's a synopsis:

From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review.

Fans of Scott's YA romances Perfect You or Bloom may be unprepared for the unrelieved terror within this chilling novel, about a 15-year-old girl who has spent the last five years being abused by a kidnapper named Ray and is kept powerless by Ray's promise to harm her family if she makes one false move. The narrator knows she is the second of the girls Ray has abducted and renamed Alice; Ray killed the first when she outgrew her childlike body at 15, and now Alice half-hopes her own demise is approaching (I think of the knife in the kitchen, of the bridges I've seen from the bus... but the thing about hearts is that they always want to keep beating). Ray, however, has an even more sinister plan: he orders Alice to find a new girl, then train her to Ray's tastes. Scott's prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating, the book exerts an inescapable grip on readers—like Alice, they have virtually no choice but to continue until the conclusion sets them free. Ages 16–up.

Review
"Some books are read and put away. Others demand to be talked about. Elizabeth Scott's Living Dead Girl will be talked about." -- Ellen Hopkins, New York Times bestselling author of Crank

"I was knocked over by Living Dead Girl. Most authors want to hear 'I couldn't put it down' from their fans. Living Dead Girl is a book you have to put down; then you have to pick it right back up. The beauty of this story is that, though none of its readers will have had this experience, all will feel connected to it. It is told in the rarest of air, yet speaks horrifically to all our imaginations."-- Chris Crutcher, author of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and Deadline

"A haunting story of an abducted girl you'll be desperate and helpless to save; her captor so disturbing, so menacing, you'll want to claw the pages from this book and shred them. Brava to Elizabeth Scott for creating such an intense, real, and perfectly painful story of terror, not without hope. Living Dead Girl is impossible to ignore."-- Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of Wake
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And finally, we have Sister Wife by Shelly Hrdlitschka and it was awesome! Check it out!

In the isolated rural community of Unity, the people of The Movement live a simple life guided by a set of religious principles and laws that are unique to them. Polygamy is the norm, strict obedience is expected and it is customary for young girls to be assigned to much older husbands.

Celeste was born and raised in Unity, yet she struggles to fit in. Perhaps it's because of Taviana, the girl who has come to live with them and entertains Celeste with forbidden stories, or Jon, the young man she has clandestine meetings with, or maybe it's the influence of Craig, the outsider she meets on the beach. Whatever it is, she struggles to accept her ordained life.

At fifteen she is repulsed at the thought of being assigned to an older man and becoming a sister wife, and she knows for certain she is not cut out to raise children. She wants something more for herself, yet feels powerless to change her destiny because rebelling would bring shame upon her family.

Celeste watches as Taviana leaves Unity, followed by Jon, and finally Craig, the boy who has taught her to think "outside the box." Although she is assigned to a caring man, his sixth wife, she is desperately unhappy. How will Celeste find her way out of Unity?

Torn from the headlines and inspired by current events, Sister Wife is a compelling portrait of a community where the laws of the outside world are ignored and where individuality is punished.

Other Books Ms. Laura has read!

Here is a list of books and reviews that I have done in the past. Check them out! There may be something you would love to read!

So I just finished an amazing book called Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. It's about a boy named Marcus and his three friends who are accused of being terrorist after a bombing takes out the Bay Bridge in California. After they are held hostage for a week and tortured for information, they are set free under the condition that they tell no one what has happened. It was awesome! It has alot of computer tech jargon which makes it take a little while longer to read but it was totally worth it! I have put it on Miss Laura's Recommended Reads Bookshelf so be sure to come in and check it out!!!

Here is the book review for it:

Starred Review. Grade 10 Up—When he ditches school one Friday morning, 17-year-old Marcus is hoping to get a head start on the Harajuku Fun Madness clue. But after a terrorist attack in San Francisco, he and his friends are swept up in the extralegal world of the Department of Homeland Security. After questioning that includes physical torture and psychological stress, Marcus is released, a marked man in a much darker San Francisco: a city of constant surveillance and civil-liberty forfeiture. Encouraging hackers from around the city, Marcus fights against the system while falling for one hacker in particular. Doctorow rapidly confronts issues, from civil liberties to cryptology to social justice. While his political bias is obvious, he does try to depict opposing viewpoints fairly. Those who have embraced the legislative developments since 9/11 may be horrified by his harsh take on Homeland Security, Guantánamo Bay, and the PATRIOT Act. Politics aside, Marcus is a wonderfully developed character: hyperaware of his surroundings, trying to redress past wrongs, and rebelling against authority. Teen espionage fans will appreciate the numerous gadgets made from everyday materials. One afterword by a noted cryptologist and another from an infamous hacker further reflect Doctorow's principles, and a bibliography has resources for teens interested in intellectual freedom, information access, and technology enhancements. Curious readers will also be able to visit BoingBoing, an eclectic group blog that Doctorow coedits. Raising pertinent questions and fostering discussion, this techno-thriller is an outstanding first purchase.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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I totally forgot to write about Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book was awesome!!! I really enjoyed it. Anyone who likes books about people with problems, pick this up!!!Check out this awesome book preview as well!:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/mBR84KI4N5BRO

Check it out:

*Starred Review* Problem-novel fodder becomes a devastating portrait of the extremes of self-deception in this brutal and poetic deconstruction of how one girl stealthily vanishes into the depths of anorexia. Lia has been down this road before: her competitive relationship with her best friend, Cassie, once landed them both in the hospital, but now not even Cassie’s death can eradicate Lia’s disgust of the “fat cows” who scrutinize her body all day long. Her father (no, “Professor Overbrook”) and her mother (no, “Dr. Marrigan”) are frighteningly easy to dupe—tinkering and sabotage inflate her scale readings as her weight secretly plunges: 101.30, 97.00, 89.00.

Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world where every piece of food is just a caloric number, inner voices scream “NO!” with each swallow, and self-worth is too easily gauged: “I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.” Struck-through sentences, incessant repetition, and even blank pages make Lia’s inner turmoil tactile, and gruesome details of her decomposition will test sensitive readers.

But this is necessary reading for anyone caught in a feedback loop of weight loss as well as any parent unfamiliar with the scripts teens recite so easily to escape from such deadly situations.

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This book is absolutely amazing. I started it this morning and it took me about 3 1/2 hours to read! Absolutely fabulous, couldn't put it down!!!

Check out the synopsis:

Until three months ago, everything about sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at an art studio downtown.

But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes far from ordinary.Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe he's trouble, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. Instead she's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch.

But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help – but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.
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So I just finished an amazing book called "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and the cover looks a little boring but don't be fooled. Check out the review and synopsis for the book. I hope you will enjoy it just as much as I did!

Here is also a link to a video preview of the book...very good!!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m18KFIH7XSEF5H

Mary lives in a small village in the middle of the forest governed by the religious Sisterhood and bordered with a fence to keep out the Unconsecrated—a horde of the undead unleashed many generations ago by a mysterious and cataclysmic event.

Life is simple but preordained; Mary fears her betrothal to a man she doesn’t love almost as much as the hungry jaws slavering at the fence links. Under the colonial trappings, this is a full-blooded zombie thriller, reminiscent of the paragon of the genre, George Romero’s 1968 film Night of the Living Dead.

Soon Mary and a small band of desperate survivors are thrown together to outwit the undead and work through their own weaknesses, suspicions, and jealousies. Ryan’s vision is bleak but not overly gory; her entry in the zombie canon stands out for how well she integrates romance with flesh-eating. Ryan’s ability to write a nail-biting escape scene will keep most readers riveted.
Grades 9-12.

Hunger Games!

Well we had our econd book discussion this Monday and discussed Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It was really good! This book also happens to be on my list of books to read by the end of the year! So it was like a 2 for 1!!! My only advice for you is that if you read this book, make sure you have the second one, Catching Fire, on hand as well. I made the mistake of only having the first one and am now waiting to get the second one from the library! These books are super popular so make sure you come into the library to get a copy! Here's a review!

"Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love."-goodreads

The third book in the series entitled Mockingjay comes out August 24th so be sure to get on the list (Ms. Laura is already number 333!)!!!

Fablehaven 3!!!

I finished Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague a while ago, but here is a review...these books just keep getting better and better!

"Kendra and Seth along with Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson discover that someone or something has released a plague that is turning the light creatures of Fablehaven into creatures of darkness. And for the first time, Kendra and Warren must visit another magical preserve called Lost Mesa in Arizona and try to recovery another hidden artifact. Can the plague be stopped? Can the artifact be found? And most importantly, is the Sphinx a traitor?"-goodreads

I also found out that perhaps they will be making a movie of this series...I hope they dont screw it up!!! Check it out! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fablehaven

Book Discussion!

Our First Fantasy book Discussion group will be held on Monday, June 14th from 4-5pm. Our first book is "Looking Glass Wars" Check out the review for it!!!

"The Myth: Alice was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook.

The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss' parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong.

Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts." -goodreads

If you are interested in joining us and reading the book, copies are available for check out. Just come to the reference desk and ask for one!!! See you soon!
Ms. Laura

Summer Reading's A'comin!!!

That's right! Tomorrow is the Kick off to our Summer Reading Program: Create, Discover, Explore @ Richton Park Library!!! And our first teen program is on Monday with Teen Crafts on the Lawn! Be sure to come on out and craft it up! Also, all of our books for the Fantasy book discussion are available for pick up so you have enough time to pick up your copy and finish it before the first discussion on June 14th!

Ms Laura is still reading Fablehaven 2 and it is just getting better and better! The problem with Ms Laura is that she gets to buy all the books you want to read and then wants to read those too! I have like 167 books on my to read list! DRAMA!!!

See y'all on Monday!
Ms Laura

Funny Book!!!

For those of you that don't know, Ms. Laura is giving herself a challenge this year!!! She is going to read all of the Rebecca Caudill, Abraham Lincoln Award and Read for a Lifetime nominees by the end of next school year...that's like 66 books!!! And so far, she has read 9. Plus she has an obsession with these Fablehaven books now!!! So there's a whole lot of reading going on here! She just finished reading All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall (A Caudill nominee)....check out a review!!!

WHEN 13-YEAR-OLD JOSH finds out he has to stay with his dad in Chicago for a few months, he’s not too thrilled. But when he arrives at the airport, he’s simply devastated. His father—who used to be a scatterbrained, but pretty normal, shoe salesman—has become a sideburn-wearing, hip-twisting, utterly embarrassing Elvis impersonator. Josh is determined to keep his dad’s identity a secret, but on his very first day at his new school, a note appears on his locker. It’s signed Elvisly Yours, and instead of a name, a sneering purple smiley face. The secret is out, and when his dad is invited to perform at a special 50s concert at his school, Josh is forced to take drastic action. From award-winning author Shelley Pearsall comes a hilarious novel about a father and son discovering something about being who you are—and who you’re not.

Up next on Ms. Laura's plate: Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star...be sure to check back!!!

Catcha on the flip! Don't forget to sign up for Summer Reading so you can hang out with Ms Laura all summer long!!!

Ms. Laura

Right up your alley!

Ms. Laura loves wierd things...and whats better that these creepy mascots just unveiled today for the 2012 London Olympics!!! Check it out!

Awesome books!!!

So over the weekend, I read some really awesome books! The first was Fablehaven by Brandon Mull and the second one was The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. They were both pretty amazing books!!! Here are reviews for both of them so you can check them out for yourself! And remember, you can come and get these books right here at the library!!!

Fablehaven


For centuries, mythical creatures of all description have been gathered to hidden refuges around the world where they are watched over by human caretakers. Kendra and her brother Seth discover that their grandfather is the caretaker of one of these secret wildlife sanctuaries—Fablehaven.

The Boy Who Dared

In October, 1942, seventeen-year-old Helmuth Hèubener, imprisoned for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, recalls his past life and how he came to dedicate himself to bring the truth about Hitler and the war to the German people.

Here is a link to the trailer for the book!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VunoYLVBon0

Summer Reading Programs for Teens!!!

Here is a list of all the awesome programs we are having at the library for Teens Only!!! and remember, for summer reading, the more books you read the more prizes you can win! Registration starts June 5th!!! Check it out!

Teen Crafts on the Lawn
Monday, June 7th
3:00-5:00pm
Come to the library and join your favorite librarian for crafts on the lawn!!! There will be many different kinds of crafts for you to choose from! We’ll also be listening to the musical styling's of Ms. Laura’s IPod that has a little bit of everything!!! Sign up soon, these spaces are sure to fill up fast!!!

Teen Book and Movie Discussion
Friday, June 18th
1:00-3:30pm
Everyone loves vampires!!! Why not check out this book and movie combo!!! We will be discussing Darren Shan’s Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare novel and the movie rendition: The Vampire’s Assistant. Pick up a copy of the book at the front desk then come and enjoy popcorn and the movie! Stick around afterward to talk about the similarities and differences between the two!!!

Teen Murder Mystery
Monday, June 21st
3:30-5:00pm
Do you love a good who dun it? Then come to the library for our first Murder Mystery Day!!! A young man has been found dead behind some bushes in the library parking lot. It’s up to us to figure out who did it! Bring your detective brains and skills to this sure to be horrific program! Sign up soon! Detectives and suspects needed!!!

Teen Twilight Prom
Friday, July 9th
3:00-5:00pm
Do you love Twilight? Then why not celebrate how awesome it is by coming to the library’s Twilight Prom!!! Come dressed up in your finest vampire/Goth gear and get ready to have a vampiriffic time. We will have a trivia contest, book cover re-creation station, themed snacks and more! Sign up today, space is limited!!!


Teen DDR Competition
Monday, July 12th
3:00-5:00pm
It’s our first ever Teen Dance Dance Revolution Competition!!! Come to the library with your dancing socks and dance along to the techno beats! Dance to the end and see who the Dance Champ will be!!! The best dancer will win the Dance Champ Award and their picture will be put on display on the Teen hot Spot Board!!!

Teen Smoothie Challenge
Friday, July 16th
1:00-3:30pm
Do you think you make the meanest smoothie in town? Then join in on the Teen Smoothie Challenge. All supplies will be provided for you!!! We will break into teams and see who can come up with the best tasting drink! And of course you know we get to drink all the smoothie goodness! Sign up today for this delicious program!

Teen Fantasy Book Discussion
Check out these must read books! Copies will be available at the front desk. Read the book and come to the library to discuss just how awesome they were!!! Sign up and see what’s new in the fantasy world!
Mondays 4:00-5:00pm
June 14th: Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
June 28th: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
July 19th: Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Check ya later!
Ms. Laura

We're New!!!!

Hey all you Richton Park Teens!!!! This is Ms. Laura, the new Teen Librarian for Richton park Public Library! Come and check out all the new things that are going to be going on at the library for teens! Our Summer Reading program starts in June; just in time for the end of school!!! We will be having craft days, movie and book discussions, a murder mystery night, a Twilight Prom and much more! Be sure to stick around for more details coming soon!

This blog was created to not only tell you about the exciting programs going on at the good old RPPL (Richton Park Public Library) but also for all those teens who love to read! I will be constantly putting up book reviews for the books that I read! Have a suggestion? Leave a comment!!! I love all types of books and will read anything!!!

Catcha on the flipside (or in the library)!!!

Ms. Laura