I guess it's hard to be nostalgic for the decade you were born in, but here are some sites you can visit to find out more about the 90s! Get ready for our 90s party on Friday night!!
InThe90s
This pop-culture site features music, movies, and television, as well as fads and world events. Right now, the homepage has people's lists of top ten songs of the 90s.
Wikipedia article on the 1990s
Technology, politics, and trends are all part of this comprehensive site. Scroll down to the bottom for a good list of links, too.
VH1: I Love the Nineties
Find out about the decade and get the showtimes for upcoming episodes.
BBC: I Love the 90s
For a British take on the 1990s!
7.25.2006
7.21.2006
Book Review: The Prophet of Yonwood
The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanette DuPrau (*NEW*)
SUMMARY: It’s 50 years before the settlement of the city of Ember, and the world is in crisis. War looms on the horizon as 11-year-old Nickie and her aunt travel to the small town of Yonwood, North Carolina. There, one of the town’s respected citizens has had a terrible vision of fire and destruction. Her garbled words are taken as prophetic instruction on how to avoid the coming disaster. As the people of Yonwood scramble to make sense of the woman’s mysterious utterances, Nickie explores the oddities she finds around town, while keeping an eye out for ways to help the world. Is this vision her chance? Or is it already too late to avoid a devastating war? In this prequel to the acclaimed The City of Ember and The People of Sparks, Jeanne DuPrau investigates how, in a world that seems out of control, hope and comfort can be found in the strangest of places. (excerpted from the inside flap)
OPINION: The main story of this book tackles big questions about the nature of good and evil, and the role of God in human conflict. And it has a huge old victorian house, a hidden dog, and snakes! It was a pretty good story, but it had very little to do with The City of Ember, except in the last few pages. It was rather a disappointment and left a lot of questions unanswered. Hopefully, there will be a fourth book that tells me what I want to know. Like, how the world was destroyed and how the first citizens of Ember reacted to their new lifestyle. Still, it is an interesting story, particularly considering the current war situation and fears of terrorism. Read it, but don't expect big revelations about Ember.
SUMMARY: It’s 50 years before the settlement of the city of Ember, and the world is in crisis. War looms on the horizon as 11-year-old Nickie and her aunt travel to the small town of Yonwood, North Carolina. There, one of the town’s respected citizens has had a terrible vision of fire and destruction. Her garbled words are taken as prophetic instruction on how to avoid the coming disaster. As the people of Yonwood scramble to make sense of the woman’s mysterious utterances, Nickie explores the oddities she finds around town, while keeping an eye out for ways to help the world. Is this vision her chance? Or is it already too late to avoid a devastating war? In this prequel to the acclaimed The City of Ember and The People of Sparks, Jeanne DuPrau investigates how, in a world that seems out of control, hope and comfort can be found in the strangest of places. (excerpted from the inside flap)
OPINION: The main story of this book tackles big questions about the nature of good and evil, and the role of God in human conflict. And it has a huge old victorian house, a hidden dog, and snakes! It was a pretty good story, but it had very little to do with The City of Ember, except in the last few pages. It was rather a disappointment and left a lot of questions unanswered. Hopefully, there will be a fourth book that tells me what I want to know. Like, how the world was destroyed and how the first citizens of Ember reacted to their new lifestyle. Still, it is an interesting story, particularly considering the current war situation and fears of terrorism. Read it, but don't expect big revelations about Ember.
7.19.2006
Redwall Feast & Fun
Tonight, 24 teens decended on the library to eat Redwall recipes and generally act silly. And we did both equally well. We did riddles, made up traveling troupe presentations, watched cartoon clips, did a backwards crossword puzzle, and got our own Redwall names. The menu included Strawberry Cordial, Fruit Muffins with Meadowcream Icing, Chocolate Abbotcake, Hotroot-N-Shrimp Stew, Shrewbread with Bee Butter, Brockhall Badger Carrot Cakes, and Springtide Stuffed Mushrooms. Some of the recipes were from the Redwall cookbook, which is a fun little book that you can check out of our library.
If you want to know more about Redwall, visit the official site at http://www.redwall.org. It has tons of info about Brian Jacques and his Redwall series.
Scroll down and check out the event photos!!
If you want to know more about Redwall, visit the official site at http://www.redwall.org. It has tons of info about Brian Jacques and his Redwall series.
Scroll down and check out the event photos!!
7.14.2006
Book Review: Smack
Smack by Melvin Burgess
SUMMARY: At 14, sweet-natured Tar leaves his small seaside town for Bristol to get away from his alcoholic, abusive parents. Gemma follows him to escape an infuriatingly repressive (to her, at least) home situation. Reveling in their newfound freedom, the two find shelter with a welcoming set of anarchists squatting in an abandoned building, then move on to live with Lily and Rob, a glamorous couple a year or so older who willingly share not just their squat, but their heroin too. Using multiple narrators, and only rarely resorting to violence or graphic details, Burgess chronicles drug addiction's slow, irresistible initial stages, capturing with devastating precision each teenager's combination of innocence, self-deceit, and bravado; the subsequent loss of personality and self-respect; the increasingly unsuccessful efforts to maintain a semblance of control. Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic. (excerpted from the Kirkus review)
OPINION: Heroin tricks your mind into thinking you are totally in control, when, in reality, you are a total junkie. This book chronicles the slow decline of teen abusers Tar, Gemma, Lily, and Rob. The sad part is that they are likable people. I was rooting for them through the whole book, no matter how many poor choices they made. This book is not overly graphic or overly preachy, but it is devistatingly realistic. If you like your realistic fiction on the gritty and streetwise side, this book's for you.
SUMMARY: At 14, sweet-natured Tar leaves his small seaside town for Bristol to get away from his alcoholic, abusive parents. Gemma follows him to escape an infuriatingly repressive (to her, at least) home situation. Reveling in their newfound freedom, the two find shelter with a welcoming set of anarchists squatting in an abandoned building, then move on to live with Lily and Rob, a glamorous couple a year or so older who willingly share not just their squat, but their heroin too. Using multiple narrators, and only rarely resorting to violence or graphic details, Burgess chronicles drug addiction's slow, irresistible initial stages, capturing with devastating precision each teenager's combination of innocence, self-deceit, and bravado; the subsequent loss of personality and self-respect; the increasingly unsuccessful efforts to maintain a semblance of control. Based on actual people and incidents, this harrowing tale is as compellingly real as it is tragic. (excerpted from the Kirkus review)
OPINION: Heroin tricks your mind into thinking you are totally in control, when, in reality, you are a total junkie. This book chronicles the slow decline of teen abusers Tar, Gemma, Lily, and Rob. The sad part is that they are likable people. I was rooting for them through the whole book, no matter how many poor choices they made. This book is not overly graphic or overly preachy, but it is devistatingly realistic. If you like your realistic fiction on the gritty and streetwise side, this book's for you.
7.13.2006
Animal Mask-Making
Last night, 14 teens came to the library to create wild animal masks using tissue paper decoupage. It was messy and a lot of fun! The masks we made looked more like Mardi Gras creatures than actual animals, but they all looked great. Check out the photos below to see a feathered tiger, a "gazebra," and an orange bejeweled bunny!
7.09.2006
Hot Off the Presses!
Well, hot off the processing shelf anyway. Here's the latest:
FICTION
FICTION
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
- Grand and Humble by Brent Hartinger
- Almost Eden by Anita Horrocks
- Monkey Town by Ronald Kidd
- Troll Mill by Katherine Langrish
- Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard
- Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
- Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To-Do List by Janette Rallison
- Undine by Penni Russon
- It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini
- Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater by Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson, Katarina Brideitis, and Katarina Evans
- Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Projects by Shannon Okey
- Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know about Fast Food by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson
- Monsterology: Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead by Arthur Slade
7.08.2006
Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
Last night's Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament was attended by 26 teens and 2 judges! There were a lot of new players there, so the competition was intense. The regular club attenders ruled in the end, though, making up three of the top four players. The final four were Sean, Jamaul, Greg, and Bryant. Each of them won movie candy. The winner of the whole tournament was Jamaul, who also won two packs of Yu-Gi-Oh cards and a $10 gift card to Game Stop. Look for another tournament on the fall schedule! And look at the pictures below:
7.05.2006
Book Review: The King of Attolia
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
SUMMARY: Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis, is back and just as clever as ever. As King of Attolia after literally stealing and marrying the Queen, he must convince the rest of her court and her subjects that he deserves his title. The Attolians think he's an idiot who is being used by the Queen. They refuse to believe that he and Irene could honestly love one another, considering that shes responsible for having his hand cut off. His attendants and guards mock him behind his back and play pranks on him, all the while thinking that he is too spineless and incompetent to protest. That is, until a guard named Costis punches him in the face and knocks him down. Beheading is the usual penalty for such a transgression but Eugenides devises a better punishment. It is through Costis's eyes that readers see how he and the court consistently underestimate the shrewd young man. (from the SLJ review)
OPINION: This book is the third in the trilogy that also includes The Thief and The Queen of Attolia. I read both of those a while back and didn't remember many details. So, it was hard for me to get into this book for a while. You really have to read the first two books to figure this one out. That said, it is an excellent end to the trilogy, with plenty of scheming and plotting worthy of Gen. Even though he is older now, and a king, he is just as irascible and unruly as ever. But how will this behavior convince the court guard to follow him, let alone his subjects ?
SUMMARY: Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis, is back and just as clever as ever. As King of Attolia after literally stealing and marrying the Queen, he must convince the rest of her court and her subjects that he deserves his title. The Attolians think he's an idiot who is being used by the Queen. They refuse to believe that he and Irene could honestly love one another, considering that shes responsible for having his hand cut off. His attendants and guards mock him behind his back and play pranks on him, all the while thinking that he is too spineless and incompetent to protest. That is, until a guard named Costis punches him in the face and knocks him down. Beheading is the usual penalty for such a transgression but Eugenides devises a better punishment. It is through Costis's eyes that readers see how he and the court consistently underestimate the shrewd young man. (from the SLJ review)
OPINION: This book is the third in the trilogy that also includes The Thief and The Queen of Attolia. I read both of those a while back and didn't remember many details. So, it was hard for me to get into this book for a while. You really have to read the first two books to figure this one out. That said, it is an excellent end to the trilogy, with plenty of scheming and plotting worthy of Gen. Even though he is older now, and a king, he is just as irascible and unruly as ever. But how will this behavior convince the court guard to follow him, let alone his subjects ?
7.03.2006
These Books Bite!
Literally. They're all about vampires.
FICTION
FICTION
- Thirsty by M.T. Anderson
- In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Demon in my View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
- Blue Bloods Melissa de la Cruz
- Look for Me by Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn
- Sweetblood by Pete Hautman
- Hawkes Harbor by S.E.Hinton
- The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
- Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
- Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde
- Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
SERIES
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (various authors)
- Vampire's Promise by Carolyn B. Cooney
- The Darkangel Triology by Meredith Ann Pierce (older readers)
- The Last Vampire by Christopher Pike
- The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (older readers)
- Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
- St. Germaine Chronicles by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (older readers)
- Vampire Encyclopedia by Matthew Bunson
- Vampires by Raymond H. Miller
6.30.2006
Book Review: Twilight
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
SUMMARY: Deeply sensuous and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger. (from the Amazon.com book description)
OPINION: This has been on my reading list for a long time, and I finally got to it! I couldn't put it down, and I am very relieved to hear that the sequel, New Moon, is being released in August. The cliffhanger at the end of the book is just plain mean! This book humanizes vampires and really makes it seem like they could be walking among us. The story is a great combination of romance and action, with enough plot twists to keep it interesting. Look for Twilight if you are in the mood for an engrossing and engaging read.
RECOMMENDED READING: If you liked Twilight, you should look for Silver Kiss and Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause.
SUMMARY: Deeply sensuous and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger. (from the Amazon.com book description)
OPINION: This has been on my reading list for a long time, and I finally got to it! I couldn't put it down, and I am very relieved to hear that the sequel, New Moon, is being released in August. The cliffhanger at the end of the book is just plain mean! This book humanizes vampires and really makes it seem like they could be walking among us. The story is a great combination of romance and action, with enough plot twists to keep it interesting. Look for Twilight if you are in the mood for an engrossing and engaging read.
RECOMMENDED READING: If you liked Twilight, you should look for Silver Kiss and Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause.
6.29.2006
New Now!
I am still finding new books to tell you about every time I walk in the teen section!
FICTION
FICTION
- The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell
- Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac
- Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant
- Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos
- The Black Canary by Jane Louise Curry
- Ark Angel (an Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz
- The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer
- Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jackie" Faber, Ship's Boy by L. A. Meyer
- A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone
6.27.2006
Ratty Reads!
Read some rat-related fiction and nonfiction:
PICTURE BOOKS
PICTURE BOOKS
- That Pesky Rat by Lauren Child
- Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
- Cinderella’s Rat by Susan Meddaugh
FICTION
- The Tale of the Swamp Rat by Carter Crocker
- Space Station Rat by Michael J. Daley
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- The Giant Rat of Sumatra Or Pirates Galore by Sid Fleischman
- Spy Mice: For Your Paws Only by Heather Vogel Frederick
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
- The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
- A Rat’s Tale by Tor Seidler
- The Revenge of Randal Reese-Rat by Tor Seidler
- I Was a Rat! By Philip Pullman
- Walter: The Story of a Rat by Barbara Wersba
- Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
- The Red-Hot Rattoons by Elizabeth Winthrop
- Pay the Piper: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
- Rats by Paul Zindel
SERIES FICTION
- Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins
- Redwall series by Brian Jacques
NONFICTION
- Rats! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly by Richard Conniff
- Rat Attacks by Cyntha Laslo
- Scary Creatures: Rats by Dr. Gerald Legg, Mark Bergin, and Bob Hersey
- Keeping Unusual Pets: Rats by June McNicholas
- Rats by E. Sandy Powell
- Rats: Observations on the History and Habitat of the City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants by Robert Sullivan
6.24.2006
Missed the Rat Party?
Glorify rats in the comfort of your own home!
WATCH
WATCH
- Willard (1971) and its sequel, Ben (1972)
- Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Rat Race (2001)
- Charlotte's Web (1973)
- the song Ben by Michael Jackson
- any songs sung by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, or other members of the Rat Pack
- any songs by the hair band Ratt
READ
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
- Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
- A Rat’s Tale by Tor Seidler
VISIT
6.23.2006
Rats!
Tonight, 28 teens came to our Rat Party at the library. We played some games and watched some rat-related media. We also ate theme food, like rat chow, rat poison cookies, and sewer water punch.
The highlight of the evening were our guests: Maria Pandolfi, Alyce Pandolfi, and Emily Elizabeth the rat! Maria runs Philadelphia's Rat Chick Rat Rescue, and her sister Alyce volunteers for the organization. Did you know that rats eat grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables? We learned lots of great information from them and had fun hanging out with Emily Elizabeth. Check out the photos below!
Look for more events relating to our summer reading theme, Creature Feature. You can sign up now for Animal Mask Making and Redwall Feast & Fun.
The highlight of the evening were our guests: Maria Pandolfi, Alyce Pandolfi, and Emily Elizabeth the rat! Maria runs Philadelphia's Rat Chick Rat Rescue, and her sister Alyce volunteers for the organization. Did you know that rats eat grapes, as well as other fruits and vegetables? We learned lots of great information from them and had fun hanging out with Emily Elizabeth. Check out the photos below!
Look for more events relating to our summer reading theme, Creature Feature. You can sign up now for Animal Mask Making and Redwall Feast & Fun.
6.20.2006
Monopoly Craziness!
Today, 34 teens attended the library Monopoly tournament. This was our first teen event since I've been back and it was wild! It totally burned me out...and I wasn't even playing!!
We started out with six games of five or six people. It was really loud! The winners of those games were: Conor, Kara, Shakira, Lamar, Sena, and Sophia. They went on to a final game. The winner of that game was Sophia, followed closely by Kara and Sena. The three winners got Parker Brothers games and all six finalists got candy bars. Thanks to everyone who attended. We'll do it again sometime, but maybe a bit differently! And with food!
For those of you who miss Giselle, you really missed out today because she surprised us by showing up to hang out at the tournament!
Check out the event pix below...
We started out with six games of five or six people. It was really loud! The winners of those games were: Conor, Kara, Shakira, Lamar, Sena, and Sophia. They went on to a final game. The winner of that game was Sophia, followed closely by Kara and Sena. The three winners got Parker Brothers games and all six finalists got candy bars. Thanks to everyone who attended. We'll do it again sometime, but maybe a bit differently! And with food!
For those of you who miss Giselle, you really missed out today because she surprised us by showing up to hang out at the tournament!
Check out the event pix below...
6.18.2006
Book Review: Nothing but the Truth (and a Few White Lies)
Nothing but the Truth (and a Few White Lies) by Justina Chen Headley (*NEW*)
SUMMARY: Hapa (Half Asian and half white) Patty Ho has never felt completely at home in her skin. Life at House Ho is tough enough between her ultra-strict Taiwanese mom (epic-length lectures and all) and her Harvard-bound big brother. But things get worse when a Chinese fortuneteller channels Patty's future via her bellybutton...and divines a white guy on her romance horizon. Faster than Patty can add two plus two, her mom freaks out and ships her off to math camp at Stanford. Just as Patty writes off her summer of woe, life starts glimmering with all kinds of probabilities... (from the inside flap)
OPINION: If you have ever struggled with your identity, your parents, your race, or your relationships, this is a book you will want to pick up. What I appreciated most about this story was the humor, especially the Mom Lecture Series and Patty's geometry-inspired Truth Theorems. Plus, I learned about cool things like buildering (climbing buildings rather than mountains) and product naming. How do those fit into the story? You have to read and find out! I guarantee you will enjoy this story of half-Asian, half-white Patty making a place for herself in her family, among her friends, and in her school.
SUMMARY: Hapa (Half Asian and half white) Patty Ho has never felt completely at home in her skin. Life at House Ho is tough enough between her ultra-strict Taiwanese mom (epic-length lectures and all) and her Harvard-bound big brother. But things get worse when a Chinese fortuneteller channels Patty's future via her bellybutton...and divines a white guy on her romance horizon. Faster than Patty can add two plus two, her mom freaks out and ships her off to math camp at Stanford. Just as Patty writes off her summer of woe, life starts glimmering with all kinds of probabilities... (from the inside flap)
OPINION: If you have ever struggled with your identity, your parents, your race, or your relationships, this is a book you will want to pick up. What I appreciated most about this story was the humor, especially the Mom Lecture Series and Patty's geometry-inspired Truth Theorems. Plus, I learned about cool things like buildering (climbing buildings rather than mountains) and product naming. How do those fit into the story? You have to read and find out! I guarantee you will enjoy this story of half-Asian, half-white Patty making a place for herself in her family, among her friends, and in her school.
6.08.2006
Book Review: Nailed
Nailed by Patrick Jones
SUMMARY: The nail that sticks out farthest gets hammered the hardest. Flint Southwestern High School is run by a cult: the jockarchy. And Bret Hendricks could never fit into their conformity cult. Bret doesn’t mind standing out from the crowd when he’s on stage acting or singing in his band. And he feels at home in his funky girlfriend’s arms because sticking out together doesn’t seem as hard. But loyalties aren’t what Bret thinks they are, as his safe havens seem to disappear one by one, and he learns that sometimes you just have to risk getting hammered in order to build the future. (excerpted from the inside flap)
OPINION: If you sometimes feel like an outcast in your own life, let alone in your school, you will identify with this book. It is full of thrift store shopping, punk rock, and betrayal...all the best elements of a non-conformist story. Bret's frustration with coach-teachers who let jocks slide, his anger at being muzzled in a class debate, his helplessness as a target of bullies, and his passivity in relationships are experiences that too many of us can identify with. Visit the dark side of high school in this book, if you haven't had enough of it yourself...
SUMMARY: The nail that sticks out farthest gets hammered the hardest. Flint Southwestern High School is run by a cult: the jockarchy. And Bret Hendricks could never fit into their conformity cult. Bret doesn’t mind standing out from the crowd when he’s on stage acting or singing in his band. And he feels at home in his funky girlfriend’s arms because sticking out together doesn’t seem as hard. But loyalties aren’t what Bret thinks they are, as his safe havens seem to disappear one by one, and he learns that sometimes you just have to risk getting hammered in order to build the future. (excerpted from the inside flap)
OPINION: If you sometimes feel like an outcast in your own life, let alone in your school, you will identify with this book. It is full of thrift store shopping, punk rock, and betrayal...all the best elements of a non-conformist story. Bret's frustration with coach-teachers who let jocks slide, his anger at being muzzled in a class debate, his helplessness as a target of bullies, and his passivity in relationships are experiences that too many of us can identify with. Visit the dark side of high school in this book, if you haven't had enough of it yourself...
6.01.2006
Book Review: Startled by His Furry Shorts
Startled by His Furry Shorts (Book 7 in the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series) by Louise Rennison (*NEW!*)
SUMMARY: "On the rack of romance. And also in the oven of luuurve. And possibly on my way to the bakery of pain. And maybe even going to stop along the way to get a little cake at the cakeshop of agony. Shut up, brain, shut up." Georgia is in quite a predicament. Dave the Laugh has declared his love for her (at least she thinks he was talking about her), leaving her in a state of confusiosity. And then when she finally decides to give Masimo an ultimatum--to be her one and only--he tells her he needs to think about it. To distract herself from her romantic woes, Georgia throws herself into MacUseless play rehearsals and planning a Viking wedding, and tries to avoid all thoughts of boy decoys, Italian-American dreamboats . . . and let’s not forget guitar-plucking Sex Gods! (from the inside flap)
OPINION: I was hooked on this series when I read the first book (Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging) in my YA lit class in grad school. The series is total chick-lit fluff, but I love it! It has always made me laugh out loud, and this book is no exception. Any book that details the creation of a Viking disco dance is OK with me! One complaint: it ends with a HUGE cliffhanger. Grrr.
SUMMARY: "On the rack of romance. And also in the oven of luuurve. And possibly on my way to the bakery of pain. And maybe even going to stop along the way to get a little cake at the cakeshop of agony. Shut up, brain, shut up." Georgia is in quite a predicament. Dave the Laugh has declared his love for her (at least she thinks he was talking about her), leaving her in a state of confusiosity. And then when she finally decides to give Masimo an ultimatum--to be her one and only--he tells her he needs to think about it. To distract herself from her romantic woes, Georgia throws herself into MacUseless play rehearsals and planning a Viking wedding, and tries to avoid all thoughts of boy decoys, Italian-American dreamboats . . . and let’s not forget guitar-plucking Sex Gods! (from the inside flap)
OPINION: I was hooked on this series when I read the first book (Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging) in my YA lit class in grad school. The series is total chick-lit fluff, but I love it! It has always made me laugh out loud, and this book is no exception. Any book that details the creation of a Viking disco dance is OK with me! One complaint: it ends with a HUGE cliffhanger. Grrr.
5.23.2006
Teen Nonfiction Craziness
I saw today that the teen nonfiction section has grown beyond one shelf! That's amazing because the section isn't even a year old yet. Here are the newest titles:
- Gunstories: Life-Changing Experiences with Guns by S. Beth Atkin
- Mirrormask by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
- Where We Are, What We See: Poems, Stories, Essays, and Art from the Best Young Writers and Artists in America by David Levithan
- Fortune's Bones: The Manumission Requiem by Marilyn Nelson
- Big Book Unplugged: A Young Person's Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous by John R.
- Open the Unusual Door: True Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by Black Americans by Barbara Summer
- A Teen's Guide to Living Drug Free by Bettie B. Youngs, Jennifer Leigh Youngs, and Tina Moreno
These books cover everything from art to self-help, from history to guns. Teen nonfic has something for everyone!
5.22.2006
Book Review: Specials
Specials by Scott Westerfeld (*NEW!*)
SUMMARY: "Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out--until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same. (adapted from the back cover)
OPINION: If you are a fan of Uglies and Pretties, you will definitely want to read this conclusion to the trilogy. And if you haven't read them, start reading now! Even though Westerfeld tries to clue you in with some background at the beginning of Specials, you will be lost. That said, as a fan of the series, I wish he'd spent less time explaining things at the start of the book and more time getting to the actual plot. But once things started to happen, I couldn't put the book down. It is just as full of danger, intrigue, and passion as the first two books, and it will keep you guessing until the very end. You can't predict what will happen to Tally, so enjoy the ride!
SUMMARY: "Special Circumstances": The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary. And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out--until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same. (adapted from the back cover)
OPINION: If you are a fan of Uglies and Pretties, you will definitely want to read this conclusion to the trilogy. And if you haven't read them, start reading now! Even though Westerfeld tries to clue you in with some background at the beginning of Specials, you will be lost. That said, as a fan of the series, I wish he'd spent less time explaining things at the start of the book and more time getting to the actual plot. But once things started to happen, I couldn't put the book down. It is just as full of danger, intrigue, and passion as the first two books, and it will keep you guessing until the very end. You can't predict what will happen to Tally, so enjoy the ride!
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