Scott County Teens

The Late Bus

2012-01-26T11:31:00.002-06:00

The Late Bus by Rick Jasper is a short, spooky novel about Lamar. He takes the late bus home after football practice. The driver had always been a nice older lady named Miss Robin. Miss Robin suddenly dies so Lamar and his friends attend her funeral. Suddenly, Miss Robin sits up and tells Lamar that someone is in trouble. No one else seems to have seen what happened and Lamar has no idea who or what she is talking about.
Then they meet the new bus driver, Mr Rumble. He doesn't talk much and he seems to be hiding some dark secrets from the kids. Bad things begin to happen on the rides home. Can Lamar figure out what is haunting Mr Rumble?

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)

2011-12-30T14:13:00.005-06:00

This book is a collection of essays written by the adorable and honest Mindy Kaling. You might recognize her from The Office. She is a producer and writer, as well as actress.
Mindy talks about happy and innocuous issues like weight, fashion, and friendships. She tells the story of a recent photo shoot where the stylist brought her a bunch of outfits in size 0 and one ugly dress in her size. This caused her to break down in the bathroom, but she decided the photo shoot was going to go her way. She insisted that one of the small dresses be altered for her size and ended up feeling and looking great.
Mindy also talks about her journey to Hollywood and the people who helped her get there. It's an interesting look at how to become a Hollywood writer/actress without losing oneself. This is a cute and lighthearted read that will appeal to aspiring actors and writers.

Bad Island by Doug Tennapel

2011-12-11T13:59:00.000-06:00

Bad Island is another fun graphic novel by Doug TenNapel, author of Ghostopolis. In Bad Island, we meet a family preparing to go on vacation. The son, Reese, would rather stay home than spend time boating with his parents and little sister Janie. Nonetheless, he joins the family and they have quite an adventure. A dangerous storm shipwrecks them on an island. The plants and animals are very foreign and unlike anything they have ever seen. The family keeps running into these mysterious stones with symbols on them. When strange creatures begin to attack them, they realize that they are safe when they are near these stones. The family also runs into a skeleton of a man who has a map. They try to decipher what the map may mean and where they are safe on the island.

There is another story in the book that details how these creatures came to the island and what their back story is. The story flashes back to a war between two factions and of course, the two stories intertwine and come to a satisfying conclusion.

The story was fascinating and the illustrations are fantastic. I love the artist's style. Very vibrant and expressive. This is recommended for fans of Amulet and Ghostopolis!

Dead is Not an Option

2011-09-08T15:27:00.002-05:00

Dead is Not an Option is another great installment in the Dead is series by Marlene Perez. (and the last?) Daisy is nearing the end of Senior Year and something sinister is brewing in Nightshade. Tension is high between the Weres and Vamps and the Council cannot seem to keep it under control. Many weres and vamps have been found dead or injured and both blame the other side. This causes some tension within Daisy's family as well, because the sisters are dating both vamps and weres. To add to the stress, Daisy has not heard from any of the colleges to which she applied.
Of course, Daisy takes it upon herself to help Chief Mendez and Mr Bone solve the murders and attacks. She uses her detective and her psychic abilities to aid in the hunt.
As always, the characters are very real and likable. The story contains many twists and turns, with more than just one conflict to solve. Teens will love this fun and slightly dark series.

2011-08-18T16:13:00.000-05:00

Bad Taste in Boys is about Kate Grable. Kate is a very intelligent girl who wants to be a doctor one day. In the meantime, she has been volunteering as the athletic trainer for her schools football team. One day, the coach asks Kate to inject some players with these syringes that he claims are filled with a vitamin. Of course, she refuses and suspects the vials actually contain steroids.
Later, she is at a party with a bunch of the players. One of them passes out and stops breathing. She starts to administer CPR and suddenly, he snaps up and smacks her on the butt. She still can't seem to find his pulse and he still looks very white and, well, dead. Having seen an injection site on him, she starts to worry that the coach injected him and this maybe some strange side effect. When she sees him again, he lunges at her and bites a big chunk out her lip. Very strange.
Soon, Kate starts noticing the crazy behavior from the coach and from other players. It seems that this shot has been turning people into zombies. And they are hungry.

This is a fun book that will appeal to both guy and girl readers and fans of zombie books. It is well written and not filled with a bunch of silly slang talk like some teen books. This is a clean read- parts of it are slightly gruesome, but nothing too graphic. There's also no cursing or mention of sex.

The Water Wars

2011-08-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

The Water Wars is set in a future in which water is now more valuable than oil or gold. The author does not give much background on how this happened, just that most of United States is now like a desert, and millions have died from starvation or dehydration. Water is only used for drinking, and even then, only a small amount is rationed to each family. Of course, the water companies have become more powerful and corrupt than ever, and they often fight against each other, the government, and pirates for untapped springs.

The story follows two siblings, Will and Vera. This water deprived life is the only one they have ever known. As they are waiting for the school bus one day, they meet a boy named Kai. Kai is not worried about water in the least. He eventually tells them that he is a diviner, a person who can sense water. His father is a driller. Together they are very valuable for their talents. Kai is driven everywhere in a limo and is often accompanied by an armed bodyguard.

When Will and Vera don't hear from Kai, they get worried and stop by his house. They find it ransacked, and his bodyguard dead. Together, they decide that they need to rescue Kai and his father from whoever may have taken him. This leads them on a grand adventure across North America, involving pirates and evil terrorists, eventually leading to a showdown at a water plant off the east coast.

I thought this was a great book, filled with lots of action and adventure. The characters were likeable and well developed. It did remind me a bit of the Hunger Games because of the survival strategies and violence. Fans of that trilogy will enjoy The Water Wars as well.

2011-06-08T11:14:00.003-05:00

SIGN UP FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM TODAY!

Teens have from June 1st through July 31st to complete 10 hours of reading. Prizes are rewarded at the halfway point, and at the finish. We will also be raffling off gift cards and a Nook to a lucky finisher.

Join us on Friday, June 10th for a movie and pizza! Starts at 1 p.m.

Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

2011-04-29T11:59:00.001-05:00

Shark Girl is similar to the story in the new movie Soul Surfer. It's a novel about Jane, who is attacked by a shark. She is pulled to shore by her brother, where she suffers shock and loses most memory of the incident. She awakes in the hospital days later, after being put in a coma to prevent brain injury. Lucky to be alive, Jane must now cope with having her entire arm amputated.
Jane isn't comfortable with the odd stares and sudden outpouring of emotion for her. She even starts to receive fan mail. She becomes very depressed as she can no longer draw and create art as well as she used to. Making matters worse, she is having trouble adapting to her prosthetic limb, and still feels phantom pain where her arm used to be. Will she ever be able to get her old life back?
This is a great read for boys and girls, ages 11+

BOOKS FOR BOYS 12+

2011-04-06T15:17:00.002-05:00

SERIES

Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer YA BRE
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins YA COL
Maze Runner series by James Dashner YA DAS
Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney J DEL
Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan YA FLA
Tunnels series by Roderick Gordon J GOR
Various series by Margaret Haddix J HAD
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz YA HOR
The Seems series by John Hulme J HUL
Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Land YA LAN
Dreamhouse Kings by Robert Liparulo YA LIP
FableHaven series by Brandon Mull YA MUL
Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix J NIX
Maximum Ride and Daniel X –James Patterson YA PAT
Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson YA PEA
Percy Jackson and other series by Rick Riordan J RIO
Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott YA SCO

AUTHORS

SA Bodeen YA BOD
Charlie Higson YA HIG
Will Hobbs YA HOB
Walter Dean Myers YA MYE
Gary Paulsen YA PAU
Roland Smith YA SMI
Will Weaver YA WEA

SPORTS AUTHORS

Jon Coy YA COY
Carl Deuker YA DEU
John Feinstein YA FEI
Tim Green J GRE
Mike Lupica J LUP
Rich Wallace YA WAL

Mix & Mash @ Your Library 2011

2011-03-07T18:36:00.000-06:00

Girl, Stolen

2011-01-27T14:10:00.002-06:00

Looking for an action packed book with a twist? Try Girl, Stolen by April Henry.

When the book begins, Cheyenne is sick and resting in the backseat of her stepmother's car. Her stepmother had just run into the pharmacy to pick up some medicine, so she left the car running. Suddenly, Cheyenne hears someone get in the car, but it's not her stepmother. She's trapped with two car thieves speeding down the road. Oh and one other thing, Cheyenne is blind.

This is a thrilling book full of twists and turns that you'll want to read to find out what happens to the Girl, Stolen.

HEX HALL

2010-12-30T10:47:00.002-06:00

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins is the first in a new series about a different kind of school...a school for all beings supernatural. Sophie ends up in Hex Hall because she is witch, who happened to cast a spell at her human high school which caused a bit of an uproar. Suddenly her absentee warlock dad showed up and told she had to attend a different school, Hecate (aka Hex) Hall.

While the school is different in many ways, the same old high school cliques and politics exist, and Sophie must learn to fit in and deal with the drama. Of course, it's a little bit different when magic is involved.

As Sophie starts to learn about her past and her powers, she comes to realize that she has a very special gift and she must use it wisely.

DEAR GEORGE CLOONEY

2010-12-01T11:52:00.004-06:00

I just finished reading a hilarious book, Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen. Violet's mother and father are divorced. Her father moved to LA and married a famous actress. Violet lives with her mother and sister in a small apartment in Vancouver. Her mother has been through a long string of terrible boyfriends and the latest one is the WORST. He dresses terrible and his name is Dudley Wiener.

Violet and her best friend Phoebe want to end the madness once and for all, so they decide to find her mom a new handsome boyfriend. They even write a letter to George Clooney trying to convince him to settle down and marry her mother. Their efforts don't always work out like they want them too.

Check out this book for a lot of laughs !

CHI'S SWEET HOME

2010-11-12T11:13:00.000-06:00

Chi's Sweet Home is a new graphic novel series about this cute little cat name Chi. Chi cannot find her mother cat, but luckily he was rescued by a family. Unfortunately, this family lives in an apartment complex that does not allow pets. They try to keep Chi a secret while they search for a new home for him. This is hard because Chi, like most cats, gets himself into some troublesome situations.

This is a fun story and is just the first in a series about Chi's many fun adventures. The manga illustrations are simple, cute and colorful. This is sure to appeal to girl graphic novel enthusiasts.

MY LIFE AS A BOOK

2010-11-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

My Life as a Book, written by Janet Tashjian, is all about the funny and artistic Derek. He's a bit of a slacker in school and despises reading books. What he really likes is drawing and reading comics. His mother tries to bribe him into reading but he ends up hiding in the attic and searching through all the old boxes. Inside one of them he finds an old newspaper article with the headline, Local Girl Found Dead on Beach. This peaks his interest even moreso when his mother confiscates it and throws it away.

Derek ends up in Learning Camp AKA Summer School and is assigned to read and report on three books over the summer. Yeah right. Instead, Derek finds himself investigating the mysterious newspaper article and trying to figure out why it was in their attic.

This is a fun mystery read with a good character that most kids can relate to. Derek's doodles fill the pages' margins and add humor to the story.

TEEN ANIMEFEST IS SATURDAY!

2010-10-19T14:29:00.002-05:00

Saturday starting at noon at the Figge Art Museum is the 3rd annual Teen AnimeFest. Please submit your artwork or videos to the library ASAP. Come dressed in costume or make your own at the workshop. Learn chip tuning, costume making, plushie sewing, and how to make candy sushi. Everyone ages 12-19 are invited whether or not they contribute to the art show. Admission to the Figge is $5.

See you then!

ANIME MADNESS

2010-09-09T10:17:00.002-05:00

Check out these two upcoming events for Ani-maniacs!

More info is available at your library.

MOCKINGJAY

2010-08-23T14:15:00.003-05:00

The final book in the amazing Hunger Games Trilogy comes out tomorrow! Get your hands on this book immediately! Learn what happens to Peeta, Katniss, Gale, and the other tributes. Let me tell you, it is awesome!

THE LOST CITY OF Z by DAVID GRANN

2010-08-20T11:57:00.000-05:00

The Lost City of Z by David Grann is about the British explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared in 1925 while searching for a lost elaborate city in the Amazon. The lost city of gold, or El Dorado, was long sought by explorers to the region. Fawcett wasn't searching for gold as much as he was searching to prove himself correct. He believed in a civilization that could live and thrive in the dangerous region. He himself had visited the Amazon numerous times and learned how to communicate with the local tribes and avoid the disease and starvation that had plagued so many. If anyone could find a lost city, it would be Fawcett.
Fawcett also took along his son Jack and Jack's friend Raleigh. They were last heard from on May 29, 1925. He was a well known explorer, so many people decided to venture after him. The book reports that some have estimated over 100 people died or were lost trying to find him.
The story is fascinating and Grann does a terrific job of describing the character that was Fawcett. He, himself, also ventured to the Amazon region and found a world much different than the one Fawcett explored.

This is a great adventure read that doesn't get bogged down by scientific facts or narrative. Highly recommended for ages 12+

SUMMER READING COOKOUT

2010-07-19T13:55:00.001-05:00

Join us on Friday July 30th at Centennial Park in Eldridge for a cookout to celebrate the end of the summer reading program. Free hot dogs, chips, and pop! All teens are invited attend.

Stop by any time from 12-1:30 p.m.

CHOCOLATE DAY and MODELS DON'T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

2010-06-29T10:31:00.004-05:00

Celebrate Chocolate Day at the library! JULY 7TH 1-3 PM
Watch a movie about a sweet chocolate factory and it's eccentric owner. Starring Johnny Depp.

You gotta have chocolate to celebrate, so of course we will be eating lots of chocolatey treats. I'll even have a recipe for making body scrub from cocoa.

In the meantime, read Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies by Erin Dionne. It's all about a girl named Celeste who is constantly trying to lose weight (and not eat chocolate). What she doesn't realize is that her mother entered her in a modeling contest for plus sized girls. And now she is a finalist. Celeste decides to sabotage herself by losing weight. But chocolate cookies are just too good to resist. Will she be able to accept herself as she is and be proud of her modeling? Or is losing weight the only way she will be happier?

SETH BAUMGARTNER'S LOVE MANIFESTO by ERIC LUPER

2010-06-17T09:30:00.003-05:00

I just finished this fun novel by Eric Luper called Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto. Seth is obviously the main character. His life takes a turn for the worse all in one day. It all starts when he visits his girlfriend during her break at the Applebee's where she works. She decides they need to break up because they've become "too comfortable" with each other. While there, Seth also sees his father and a lady, who is NOT his mother, cozying up in a booth. He hurries back to his job, only to be fired.

Most of the book focuses on Seth trying to get back with or get over his ex, finding a new job, and investigating this mystery woman his father is seeing. Of course, he gets in a lot of trouble on his way to figuring these things out.

Recommended for ages 13+

NEW STEPHENIE MEYER BOOK

2010-06-08T10:42:00.003-05:00

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer is out now! You can buy it in a bookstore, which donates $1 of the sale to the American Red Cross, or you can read it online until July 5th at www.breetanner.com

Or you can always order it from the library...
visit our website and click Online Catalog to search. There will undoubtedly be a wait for it, so place a hold using your library card and we will let you know when it's ready for you!

The book is about a minor character from the Eclipse book, Bree Tanner. She's a vampire, but not of the Cullen "no human hunting" persuasion. Be sure to come to our Eclipse party on June 28th from 3-4 p.m. to talk about the book and win cool Twilight prizes.

SUMMER READING

2010-05-21T10:27:00.005-05:00

PRIZES AWARDED BASED ON HOURS READ

5 HOURS- Rubber Ducky and Raffle entry for River Bandits tickets
10 HOURS- Cell phone/MP3 pouch and Raffle entry for Visa gift cards
15 HOURS- Brand new book and Raffle entry for Visa gift cards
20 HOURS- Bonus entry into Raffle.

Sign up at your branch library or click here to download a log. You will need MS Publisher

CLICK HERE FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER READING COMING SOON!!!

2010-05-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

GOOD DOG GREEN DOG by DOMINIQUE de VITO

2010-04-20T13:20:00.002-05:00

Earth day is Thursday, April 22nd! Today's book is all about helping the environment and helping your dog....

Green Dog, Good Dog by Dominique DeVito is a short book that offers helpful tips on how to reduce "your best friend's carbon paw print." DeVito does so without being preachy or too technical when it comes to being earth friendly.
Her tips can make a huge difference in saving energy. According to her, if 10% of households with pets chose greener options, 4 million households would be generating less waste and electricity. That is a big difference made just by following a few tips.
Her tips actually come in 4 levels. Level 1 is just making a conscious choice to be greener. Level 2 is making a strong effort, level 3 is living as green as possible, and level 4 is the greenest. She recommends starting with level 1 and working your way through the levels.
For me, the most helpful tips were the home remedies that can be used in place of chemical treatments for things like shampooing, flea and tick prevention, and grooming.
If you have a dog, check out this book and see what you and your dog can do to minimize your impact on the environment.

SPRINKLE WITH MURDER by JENNIFER MCKINLAY

2010-04-06T13:55:00.002-05:00

Looking for a fun book to read while on vacation, I found Sprinkle with Murder by Jennifer McKinlay. A new title in the Berkley Prime Crime line up, this book begins the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. The 'star' of the series is Mel Cooper, one of the owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcake Bakery. She works with her best friend and co-owner Angela. The third owner is their other best friend Tate.

Tate is engaged to fashion designer Christie Stephens. Christie is a bit of a diva and demands that Mel bake her some sample cupcakes so she can decide what to order for her wedding. Unfortunately for both of them, Christie is found dead with Mel's cupcake in hand. With rumors swirling of Mel and/or Tate being involved in the murder, Mel decides to take matters into her own hands and solve the case.

This is a fun mystery that will appeal to teens and it's a must-read for all cupcake fans! There are a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, and a brewing romance. I plan on trying out some of the great cake recipes in the back.

YouTube Red Carpet Premiere

2010-03-27T14:11:00.001-05:00

Check out the grand prize winning videos here...

and here's a list of the winners!

Congrats!

The 3rd Annual IMAX screening event was a hit! Check out the list of winners:
Best Cinematography- Words Can Mend by Shelby Bargren

Best Original Screenplay- A Day in the Life of Stephen King by Steven Bieber, Anjel Niaves, Thomas Bieber

Best Costume Design- Anime Surfing by Liberty Meyer, Ernest Meyer, Victoria Meyer, Tami Koob, Zac Dague

Best Action Video- Adventures of Candy by Dorothy Weaver and Taylor Myrick

Best Drama- Stephenie Meyer: Daydreamer by Christine Hultquist, Stephanie Pete, Carlie Mullins, Maggie Kirby

Best Directing- A Day in the Life of Stephenie Meyer by Justin Wheeler and Alex Bock

Best Comedy- Red Riding Hood by Ali and Gabi Lenger

Best Acting- Ouran High School Host Club by Gabriella Garrido, Maya Garrido, Susana Garrido, Brandon Stephens, Caitlyn Stineman, Rhiannon Moore, Kaitlyn Martin

Best Sound Effects- Z.Rex by Nathan and Brady Bargren

Best Soundtrack- Makoto and Chiaki by Kimber Johnston

Best Visual Effects- The Magic Lights by Ben, Matt, and Josh Haycraft

Best Suspense- The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod trailer by Trent Dailey

Best Animated Short Film-The Visit to Dr. Pepper by Ben, Matt, and Josh Haycraft

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:
Librarian’s Choice Award-A Day in the Life of Stephen King

Viewer’s Choice Award-Ouran High School Host Club

YouTube

2010-03-17T16:02:00.002-05:00

The YouTube video fest is March 25th

Everyone is invited to attend the screening at 7 pm at the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre in Davenport. Those who entered videos are invited to pre-screening pizza party, starting at 6 pm. Be dressed to impress as Kurt Liske from Fox News will be there as well as Stephanie from the QC Times, and many other news organizations!

Check out the videos submitted by CLICKING HERE!

OPERATION ANIME- MARCH

2010-02-23T16:19:00.001-06:00

March 15th at 6 p.m., right before our March Madness Party, you can view Save Me! Lollipop! Episode 1. Rated TV-PG

THE VINYL PRINCESS by YVONNE PRINZ

2010-02-17T15:49:00.004-06:00

This is a great read for all music lovers out there. Especially those who collect records.
Allie is a record junkie. She loves collecting vinyl and listening to all types of music on her record player. It's summer and she's enjoying her job working at Bob and Bob Records in Berkley CA, going through records and eyeing the mysterious new guy who has been browsing the bins. The summer takes an interesting turn for all characters when Allie gets asked out, her friend dumps her cheating boyfriend, her mom starts dating again, and her dad announces his girlfriends' pregnancy. All the while, Allie discusses her favorite records on her new blog, The Vinyl Princess. Will she find other record junkies and/or true love? Check it out at the library.

MARCH MADNESS MONDAY

2010-02-15T14:20:00.005-06:00

ON March 15th at 6:30 p.m., teens are invited to stop by the library to celebrate the madness that is March. Fill out an NCAA bracket and the teen who comes closest to the actual results will win a prize (after the tournament is completed) Also, on that Monday night we will be eating some game time snacks and having a NERF free throw contest. Ages 12+ are invited !

FEBRUARY 15TH

2010-02-03T10:33:00.001-06:00

Feb. 15th is our Anti-Valentine's Day party with a movie and pizza! 6-7 :30 p.m. in Eldridge

Also...
Pay your overdues and help Haiti!!

3rd Annual YouTube Video Contest!!!

2010-01-26T11:21:00.001-06:00

Click below for the YouTube entry forms in publisher or jpg formats. See the library for details.

youtube-flier-2010.pub

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID TRAILER!

2010-01-22T13:52:00.001-06:00

This movie should be good... we'll see...it's out in April

ATTN: ANIMANIACS: OPERATION ANIME

2010-01-11T13:44:00.002-06:00

The next screening will be January 18th from 6 - 6:30p.m. at the Eldridge library.
We will be watching Black Cat !

Check out www.funimation.com for a preview. All teens 12+ are invited to attend.

I SO DON'T DO SPOOKY by BARRIE SUMMY

2010-01-11T13:26:00.005-06:00

For a fun mystery read with a paranormal twist, check out I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy. Sherry's mother was killed while serving as a policewoman for the city of Phoenix. However, Sherry can still talk to her ghost. Because her mother was a great detective when she was alive, the Ghost Academy uses her to solve spooky mysteries. Sherry seems to have inherited her mother's gift as well, so she also helps the Academy with their mysteries.
In this particular book, Sherry's stepmother Paula is being stalked and it's up to Sherry and her mother to figure out the who and why. The suspects include a student who is failing one of Paula's classes, students from another school, a dead principal, and maybe a few other possible ghosts. Just when you think you have it figured out, there's another twist to throw you off. This is a fun relatively non-spooky mystery for younger fans of the Dead Is and Maggie Quinn series or older fans of Nancy Drew.

Craft for Charity !

2010-01-07T10:36:00.001-06:00

Come to the library on Saturday January 30th to volunteer your time for a charity!
Stop by from 1-2 p.m. to create Valentine cards for service men and women serving overseas. All supplies will be provided. have a heart! give a heart!

PURGE by NICOLE JOHNS

2009-12-29T09:35:00.003-06:00

Here's a compelling non-fiction pick for all you fans of A Child Called It and other memoirs. Purge is a true story of what the author, Nicole went through with her eating disorder. She struggled with it over many years and documented it in a journal. Her binging, purging, and eating restrictions caused heart and other health problems. Eventually, it got so bad that she spent some time in a rehab center to help her get through her disorder. It's a true and sometimes difficult book to read, but an important one, especially for teen girls.

SHIVER by MAGGIE STIEFVATER

2009-12-01T11:03:00.003-06:00

Shiver is a spooky tale about a girl named Grace. Grace lives in Northern Minnesota where wolves are a common sight in the winter. One winter, Grace was attacked by a pack of wolves and is still haunted by memories of it. However, one wolf seemed to have influenced the others to turn away and Grace watches for his return every winter. This particular wolf had yellow eyes.

One winter, a local teen is killed and the town goes on a hunt for the wolf they believe is responsible. This leads to an encounter between Grace and a boy named Sam. From there on out, it becomes a bit of a love story that will appeal to fans of Twilight and light romance.

LET IT SNOW

2009-11-17T10:18:00.003-06:00

To get into the holiday spirit, I read Let It Snow, a collection of three holiday romance stories. It came out last yr in hardcover, but is now available in paperback.

Though technically romance stories, they are actually really funny and would appeal to some guys as well. Each of the three stories centers on one town where a train has been stopped on Christmas Eve due to a terrible snowstorm. The first story is about a girl who was going to Florida on the train, but got stranded in this small town. At the Waffle House she meets a guy who invites her to spend Christmas with his Jewish family. The second story is about three friends who are trying to make their way through the snow to the Waffle House for hashbrowns and cheerleaders... The third story follows a girl who spends her holidays heartbroken after breaking up with her boyfriend and then having him stand her up when she tried to apologize. Characters and places in all three stories intersect.

Though I enjoyed the stories, they were really "winter stories" rather than holiday. Didnt get me into the holiday mood, but I did have fun and a few laughs reading the book. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

New Moon wrap up and The Clique!

2009-11-17T10:05:00.006-06:00

The New Moon party was a great time. We had yummy vampire and werewolf treats and gave a way over 30 prizes! Watching the previews got us all pumped up for the movie, comes out Thursday night!

Our bloody drinks and werewolf chow:

Come to our next party on Wednesday, November 25th where we will eat cupcakes and watch a movie based on the popular book series by Lisi Harrison. 1 p.m. in Eldridge in the program room !!!

NEW MOON PARTY

2009-11-03T09:58:00.004-06:00

Our New Moon Party is in less than 2 weeks!!
We'll have games, food, and prizes!

Be Here- November 16th from 6-7 p.m. to join in on the fun (and swoon over Jacob or Edward)!

Anime

2009-10-13T12:32:00.002-05:00

the Anime Fest and Art Show is this Sunday, October 18th!!! 12:00- 4:00 p.m. Dress in cosplay! Learn martial arts! Make candy sushi! View Manga art! Win Prizes! Watch AMVs!
Cost is $5 admission to the Figge.

NEVER CRY WEREWOLF by HEATHER DAVIS

2009-10-06T15:27:00.003-05:00

Shelby’s annoying stepmother reacts badly when she catches Shelby kissing an older boy, after taking a joy ride in a stolen porche, so she sends her off to Camp Crescent to shape up. While there, Shelby meets and fallsf for a mysterious guy named Austin. Austin is the son of a famous rock star. He is also hiding a darker family secret and, now that Shelby knows it, she is in danger and could be in more trouble than she ever got into before. Austin needs to run away from camp so no one will find out, and Shelby wants to help him, but she knows she needs to stay away from trouble. oh what to do what to do. Read it and find out what Austin's secret is (as if the title doesn't give it away).

Books from our Jr High visit

2009-10-01T15:13:00.008-05:00

Below is a list of the books we discussed during our two-day visit to NSJH...
visit the library catalog or call us to reserve one today! 285-4794

Non-Fiction:
Playing with the Enemy by Gary Moore
Elephants on Acid by Alex Boese
Geeks' Guide to World Domination by Garth Sundem
Sneakiest Uses for Everyday things by Cy Tymony
Father Water, Mother Woods by Gary Paulsen
Road to Omaha by Ryan McGee

Graphic Novels:
Inubaka by Yukiya Sakuragi
Nightschool: The Weirn Books by Svetlana Chmakova

Fiction:
Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
Read my Lips by Teri Brown
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Thwonk by Joan Bauer
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
Tempo Change by Barbara Hall
The Tear Collector by Patrick Jones
Fairest of All by Serena Valentino
Monster's Proof by Richard Lewis
All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg
H.I.V.E. by Mark Walden
POP! by Gordan Korman
Tunnels by Gordon Korman
The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner
Shooting Star by Frederick McKissack
Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman
Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by Ehrich van Lowe
Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Episodes: My Life as I See It by Blaze Ginsberg
On The Devil's Court by Carl Deuker

FREE BOOK FRIDAY

2009-09-19T11:40:00.003-05:00

Check out this website, FREE BOOK FRIDAY. Every Friday they give away free copies of books. All you have to do is put in your name and email address. They also have some cool author interviews and what not.

Cool Website

2009-09-16T14:58:00.004-05:00

Check out this website, all about the books THEY don't want you to read. pssh
click below

BANNED BOOKS

PRISM by FAYE & ALIZA KELLERMAN

2009-09-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

Kaida and two of her classmates she doesn’t know well get stuck riding together in a van on a class trip to Carlsbad Caverns. Kaida drifts off to sleep and wakes up as the van careens off the road, rolls and burst into flames. Her and her two classmates escape and wait roadside in the desert. It starts to pour so they run into a cave. As they go deeper into the cave, Joy falls into a hole and the other two fall in trying to help her.

Suddenly, Kaida wakes up and she is at home in her own bed, about a week before the trip is supposed to take place. She figures it’s all a dream until she goes to school and both Zeke and Joy come to tell her that they had the same experience. Other things are off in the world they live in. As Zeke and Kaida are walking home, they see a man get struck by a car. No one seems to notice or do anything to help. Instead, a cleaning crew comes, cleans up the mess, and takes the man’s body. Nothing is quite the same as it used to be, so they try to uncover why, but they aren’t supposed to know the truth.

Faye Kellerman is a best selling adult mystery author and she wrote this one with her daughter. It's a great mystery with some action thrown in as well.

VACATIONS FROM HELL

2009-09-08T13:59:00.004-05:00

Here's a fun one. A collection of short stories from today's best writers of teen fiction. This one is all about vacations that go terribly wrong, mostly from paranormal occurrences.
Authors include :
Libba Bray (Great and Terrible beauty- Gemma Doyle trilogy)
Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments series)
Claudia Gray (Evernight)
Sarah Mlynowski (Magic in Manhattan series) and
Maureen Johnson (Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes)

This is a great warm-up to the Halloween season. You could read a story each night for 5 nights and be done. Be sure to check out the first anthology Prom Nights from Hell which includes a story from Stephenie Meyer.

NEXT BIG THING?

2009-08-26T10:37:00.005-05:00

Twilight spawned a whole slew of authors trying their hand at writing the "next big thing." So what series or book will be the next 'Twilight?'

The Hunger Games from Suzanne Collins has gotten a lot of buzz and the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire, comes out September 1st. The trilogy is set in the future and the United States is divided into 12 districts with an oppressive government and shortage of food. Each year, group of kids are selected by lottery to compete in this massive reality show/game to win food for their district. Suddenly it's kill or be killed, all while the citizens of the district watch and hope for their competitor to survive and win them food.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (author of Coraline) is another hit for the popular writer. I could see this one being a Tim Burton movie someday. It is similar to the Jungle Book, but the young baby escapes a murderer and ends up in a graveyard. The ghouls and spooks of the graves raise him (they call him "Nobody") from infant to teenager, much like the animals of the jungle raised Mowgli. This recently won the Newbery Medal.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike is set to become a movie. It is the first of four books about a girl who suddenly sprouts wings on her back. She then discovers that her parents found her on their doorstep when she was a baby, so she goes about to uncover her past and who her real parents are.

BRUTAL by MICHAEL HARMON

2009-08-24T11:51:00.005-05:00

Brutal is a cute book about Poe, who is sent to live with her absentee father after her mother deserts her to provide aid in South America. The story follows Poe as she tries to get to know her dad and figure out why he left their family in the first place. She has always been a free thinker and a bit of a trouble maker so, at her new school, she tries to stir things up by pointing out all the unfairness to school administrators. This causes some trouble as her dad is the school counselor. However, Poe thinks it is necessary as she is trying to protect her sort-of-friend Velveeta after he becomes the target of some vicious bullies.
The story was interesting, but I would have liked a little more character development with Velveeta and Theo. It was a fast read and will appeal to boys and girls age 13+

SO PUNK ROCK by MICOL & DAVID OSTOW

2009-08-14T11:13:00.005-05:00

So Punk Rock (and other ways to disappoint your mother) follows 4 friends from a conservative jewish school who form a punk band. The band was the brain child of Ari Abramson, who just wanted to play good music. He recruited his best friend Jonas, who is in it for the "fame" and girls, the only drummer he knows- social outcast Yossi, and Yossi's sister Reena, who has to be in it because their parents insist.
Their band, The Tribe, is the first and only band to come from their school, so they quickly find themselves the talk of the town. This creates some trouble for Ari, who keeps the band a secret from his parents. Soon, they find themselves bigger than they can handle as egos inflate and Ari struggles to keep his secret.
This is a fun read and I learned a lot about Jewish culture as well. For fans of music books and humor.

ANIME CLUB

2009-08-12T13:48:00.002-05:00

Plans have begun for our 2nd annual Anime Fest to be held at the Figge Art Museum. It will be Sunday October 18th from 12-4 p.m. We have a lot of cool stuff lined up, so start planning your cosplay now! Also, those interested in joining the Anime Club should email me and I'll let you know when our get togethers will be during the school yr.
scarlin@scottcountylibrary.org

CHASING LINCOLN'S KILLER by JAMES SWANSON

2009-08-06T09:47:00.002-05:00

Another great read about our famous 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Well, it's less about Lincoln, and more about his killer, the infamous John Wilkes Booth. Booth was a star in his day, having been in many big stage productions. He was a name well known throughout the east coast and especially in Washington D.C. So him murdering Lincoln would be like Brad Pitt murdering the President.

The book reads a lot like a mystery/thriller. It explains why Booth did it, and follows him and his co-conspirators as they try to escape the lawmen and army hunting them. You will also learn about the other attempted assassinations that night and how they were able to fight off or avoid the murderers. Very compelling true story for fans of action, mystery, and drama

HIGHWAY TO HELL by ROSEMARY CLEMENT-MOORE

2009-08-06T09:35:00.005-05:00

I am a big fan of the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series because it's fast fun reading that will appeal to a wide variety of teens.
Maggie Quinn has psychic abilities, but she is still just learning how to use them. She often encounters demons and other supernatural beings and she tries to figure out how to banish them from earth. In the previous books, the demons showed up at the prom and in a sorority house. This time, they show up in a small ranch town in Texas in the form of demon chupacabras.
It's up to Maggie and her best friend Lisa-(who does wiccan-like spells) to help this town. There is a lot of action and many encounters with the demons. Also, it's a mystery in which the reader learns a lot about folk lore and the supernatural while Maggie tries to figure out what the demon is, why it's there, and how to fight it. Another great entry into this fabulous series. CLICK HERE to see all the books in the series

Nightschool: The Weirn Books

2009-08-01T14:09:00.003-05:00

We just got this first book to a new graphic novel series last month. It's called Nightschool and though it's drawn in manga style, it's not originally from Japan. It was written by Svetlana Chmakova for Hachette Books new imprint, Yen Press. Unlike mangas, it is read like an english novel, left to right, front to back.
Nightschool is what takes place after hours in a normal school. That's when all the demons, vampires, witches, etc. go to class. The first book centers around a young girl, Alex who seems to be a witch of some sort. She does not attend night school, she is homeschooled by her older sister Sarah. Sarah is also the new Night Keeper at Nightschool.
One night while working at the school, Sarah goes to check out a disturbance in the west wing hall. She disappears and no one at the Nightschool has any recollection of her. Only her sister Alex remembers her. In the following books, we will find out how Alex goes about finding her sister.
There are also some subplots involving Alex and some vampire hunters.
This was a fast read and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book to find out what happened to Sarah. It will be released later this year.

CITY OF BONES by CASSANDRA CLARE

2009-07-29T10:57:00.004-05:00

This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series. I don't normally read fantasy, but the cover looked cool and had a quote that described the book as funny, dark, and sexy. It introduces readers to the Downworlders and Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters kill demons to try to make the world a better place. Downworlders are vampires, werewolves, etc. and if they get out of hand, the Shadowhunters might come after them too. Most humans cannot see either. However, Clary can. She is the main character who finds out about this world while at a club. She watched a Shadowhunter kill a demon and wondered why no one seemed to notice except her. That's when Jace, a shadowhunter, realized that she had "the sight."
Later, her mom disappears and Clary begins to find out the truth about her mother and father's involvement in the other world. A lot of mystery and action follow as she and Jace try to track down her mother.
I recommend this book to both guy and girl fans of fantasy. Though someone had said this was a Twilight readalike, I would disagree. Not everyone will get caught up in the fantasy world of the Mortal Instruments. CLICK HERE for more info about this series and books 2 and 3, City of Glass and City of Ashes.

CHIBI VAMPIRE

2009-07-29T10:50:00.004-05:00

Chibi Vampire is a manga series about Karin Maaka, a teen girl vampire. Except there's a twist...instead of feeding off people's blood, she gives blood to people. And this blood makes them feel refreshed and full of life. Her mother shuns her because of her difference, but her siblings try to teach her how to use her special talent for good.

In the first volume, Karin meets a new student, Kenta, who she has a strong urge to bite, so she tries to avoid him at all costs. Things get difficult when he gets a job at the same restaurant where she works. This is a fun manga that has about 13 volumes out so far. This is great for people just getting into graphic novels.

This FRIDAY JULY 31ST

2009-07-29T10:23:00.002-05:00

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT by DEREK LANDY

2009-07-29T10:14:00.003-05:00

Looking for a book packed with magic, action, and murder? Skulduggery Pleasant is a new series that is just right for you. The series follows Stephanie, who is your average 12 year old. Then her famous horror writer uncle dies and leaves her his creepy estate in England. stuck there alone one night during a storm, an intruder breaks in and threatens her. A tall mysterious man wearing a trench coat and hat saves her. He is Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton magician who was friends with her uncle. Suddenly Stephanie finds herself in a world where the dead can come back to life and magic is real and deadly.

You can read an excerpt of the book by clicking HERE

If you are a bit squeamish, this book is probably not for you! Though much of the violence is created through magic, there is a lot of fighting and death. Nothing too graphic though. It is also very funny and has a great story of the struggle between the good and evil magicians. The second book is also out now, but I haven't read it yet. I would recommend the series for ages 13 and up.

FAKIE by TONY VARRATO

2009-07-29T10:11:00.004-05:00

Alex Miller and his mother have been running for years. When he was younger, Alex witnessed a crime. To protect him, the FBI put him and his mother in the Witness Relocation Program. After Alex makes a great play during a football game and has his picture in the paper, his mother and him move to Virginia Beach. Though the criminal is in jail, he still has people on the outside working for him to try and track down Alex.
In the meantime, Alex is trying to make friends and build a new identity for himself. He decides to try to fit in with the skaters, which is difficult because he has never skated before. When Alex's enemies get closer to discovering where he is, the drama and action really picks up. This is a great page turner that will keep you reading and wondering what happens next. Recommended for ages 12+.

SUZI CLUE: The Mystery of the Prom Queen Curse by MICHELLE KEHM

2009-07-29T09:58:00.003-05:00

Though the cover makes the book look like it's for kids, Suzi Clue is actually an awesome mystery book for teens. It follows Suzi, a freshman girl with a unique fashion sense and pink stripes in her hair. Suzi's locker is next to popular GiGi's. GiGi is the lead candidate for prom queen until someone locks her in the gym basement and plants spiders in the pom pom bag. GiGi emerges with spider bites on her legs and a threat written on her locker. Soon the other candidates for queen find themselves in similar predicaments and the school is abuzz with word of a prom queen curse. Suzi loves a good mystery, so of course she decides to solve it and save prom.
I really loved this mystery because Suzi was a very realistic character who is witty and smart. As she gathered the clues, I tried to solve the mystery, but luckily there were enough twists and turns that I didn't find out until the very end when Suzi finally did. Recommended for ages 13+

OH MY GODS by TERA LYNN CHILDS

2009-07-28T11:20:00.003-05:00

Phoebe has her future all planned out for her, attend her senior year of high school in California with her best friends and then graduate and go to USC together. She even has a lock on a cross country scholarship there. Unfortunately, her mother returns from a trip to Greece engaged with plans to move her and Phoebe there. Devastated, Phoebe reluctantly leaves Cali behind and hopes to do well in her studies and running at her new Greek school. But once she gets there she finds out that the school is full of teens who are descendents of Greek gods and goddesses. And they have special powers. They even look down on her for not being a descendent. Without special abilities will Phoebe be able to make friends and keep her goals in academics and running? Read the book to find out, I enjoyed it immensely and especially recommend it to track or cross country runners. There's even a sequel called Goddess Boot Camp.

VLADIMIR TOD series by HEATHER BREWER

2009-07-28T11:11:00.006-05:00

Vladmir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

This is the first book in a new series about Vladmir Tod. Vlad is half vampire. The only people who know are his best friend and his aunt. His parents were mysteriously killed a few yrs ago, so he lives with his aunt. Vlad wants to be a normal 8th grader, so he satisfies his thirst for blood with packets his aunt brings home from the hospital.

One day, Vlad's teacher disappears. He is soon replaced by a substitute who is very odd and seems to have it out for Vlad. Does he know Vlad's secret? And if he does, what does he want?

This is a great book full of action and humor, I would recommend it to anyone into vampires

Vladmir Tod: Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer

This is the second book in the series about Vlad. In this book, he starts high school with his best friend Henry and Henry's cousin Joss, who is new to town. In his first yr in high school, Vlad gets picked on a lot and still doesn't quite know how to talk to his crush. To add to his misery, Vlad's uncle warns him that there is a vampire slayer in town out to kill him. During winter break, Vlad visits his uncle in Siberia and meets with a bunch of vampires who want to teach him how to use his skills. These skills will come in handy when faced with vampire foes and the slayer who wants him dead.

Unlike the first book, this one delves deeper into this secret world of vampires and describes what kind of powers they have. There is a lot of mystery and action in this book and a surprise ending will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Vladimir Tod: Tenth Grade Bleeds

I'm a fan of this series and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good vampire story without mushy romance. Though there is some romance, it definitely isn't the main focus of the story. If you haven't read the Vladimir Tod series before, start with the first book, Eighth Grade Bites (reviewed above).

In this 3rd book of the series, Vladimir must say good bye to his uncle Otis who has been in town protecting him. Now on his own, Vlad is being stalked by two vampires and a nosy schoolmate. One vampire wants him dead and the other wants Vlad's father's journal. Vlad is also struggling with his growing need for human blood...from the source, and growing apart from his best friend Henry. Will Vlad become a killer vampire or will he be killed by his vampires stalkers? Lots of conflict and action in this one!

ONE GOOD PUNCH by RICH WALLACE

2009-07-28T11:08:00.004-05:00

Would you rat out a friend if your future was at stake?
Michael Kerrigan, star of East Scranton's track team finds himself in such a predicament. His loyal friend Joey stashes drugs in his locker the weekend before school officials run an unannounced drug sweep. Suddenly Michael has lost his job, the track season he worked so hard for, and possible track scholarships for college. Everyone urges Michael to rat out his friend who really did it, Joey, a known drug dealer, but loyal friend. What will he do? What would you do?
Rich Wallace gives readers that question in the short 115-page drama, One Good Punch. Recommended for readers who want something short and to the point or areinarushtodoabookreport!

DERBY GIRL by SHAUNA CROSS

2009-07-28T11:02:00.008-05:00

Derby Girl is about Bliss, a 16 yr old Pageant Queen...sort of. Her mother wants her to be a pageant queen but Bliss is into indie music and boys. She finds a flier for a roller derby match, so she and her friend Pash check it out. Bliss instantly falls in love with the unusual sport and heads to tryouts the next week. Though she was never very athletic, Bliss discovers that she is really really good at derby. Even though she is the youngest- and claims to be 18, she becomes one of the stars on her team. She also meets a hot guy who is into music and derby too. Suddenly she finds her life consumed by derby and finds herself alienated from her family, who has no idea she is in derby, and her best friend Pash.
This is an exciting story with the usual drama of high school and boys with the added element of derby action and excitement.
Here's a trailer for the movie Whip it! which is based on the book. I'm super excited to see it!

Also, here's a link for the local roller derby team, Quad-City Rollers.

DAIRY QUEEN by CATHERINE MURDOCK

2009-07-28T11:00:00.003-05:00

Sixteen year old DJ has been running the family farm ever since her dad broke his hip and her two older brothers left for college. It hasn't been easy for her, but she rarely complains and enjoys the hard work. Her father's friend, football coach for a rival high school's team sends over his quarterback to learn hard work from DJ. She shows him the ropes of working on the farm, helps him train for the upcoming football season, and unexpectedly finds herself falling for him. With his encouragement, DJ begins to speak up for herself and let her family know that she needs a life outside of the farm. And that life includes trying out for her high school's football team.

Dairy Queen is a funny book, easy to read, and full of realistic teen dialogue-nothing poetic or airy. The story has a typical romantic subplot, but takes a few twists and turns, and ultimately focuses on the bigger changes in DJ's life.
DQ is filled with likeable, real characters- DJ is not your typical smart or beautiful heroine, she is your everyday girl struggling with insecurities and being pulled in many directions. Although not preachy or cheesy, the book teaches readers the importance of finding balance in life, speaking up for yourself, and overcoming obstacles.