Scowler

Ry lives with his mother and little sister on a decaying farm in Iowa in 1981.  His father has been imprisoned for terrible abuse to his mother and him.  The abuse is told in graphic, disturbing details, making Marvin into a true monster.  Ry was able to get through the abuse as a child with help from three small toys.  When word comes that there has been an explosion at the prison, Marvin shows up, inflicting more pain and fear than thought possible.  This is interrupted by the landing of a meteorite on the farm.  However, the meteorite only causes more problems.
This book is on the Tayshas list, and I was trying to get out of my comfort zone by reading it.  It is very dark and disturbing.  I'm not sure I would recommend this book due to it's domestic and family violence, but it was definitely scary.

This Star Won't Go Out

This Star Won't Out by Esther Earl with her parents Lori and Wayne, consists of journals, letters, sketches and pictures of Esther's life.  In 2006, at the age of 12, Esther was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and passed away in 2010.  Essays by family, doctors, and friends are also included and give even more insight into her four year struggle.  Esther remained funny and witty throughout and her journals sound much like any teenagers would.
Esther began writing at a young age because she always knew she wanted to be an author.  She was the third of five children to a family that enjoyed traveling the world.  Esther loved her family and the adventures traveling brought.  When she was diagnosed the family was living in France.  The move to Boston for the best care possible came soon after.
Esther continued to live her life, joining the Harry Potter Alliance, and forming an online group of tight-knit friends, Catitude, who were "Nerdfighters."  Nerdfighters are lovers of the author John Green and his brother Hank.  John and Hank post vlogs to YouTube that Esther and her online friends loved.  Esther met John Green at a Harry Potter convention and they remained friends until her death.  He wrote a beautiful introduction to the book.  Esther's Make a Wish was to have John Green and her Catitude friends join her for a weekend in Boston.
Students will devour this book.  The Fault in Our Stars was dedicated to Esther, though Green is adamant the story is NOT based on Esther.  He was working on the book when her met her, and she inspired him to finish the story.  It is very moving, a great read.

MidwinterBlood

      Eric Seven arrives on the island of Blessed to write a story about the mysterious orchid that grows only here.  He has heard it has health-giving properties and promotes well-being and energy.  Once he arrives on Blessed, he is treated kindly, and given an house to stay in.  He begins to feel deja vu.  He can't shake the feeling that he has been here before, and when he meets Merle, he cannot keep his mind off her.  And so begins the story of Eric and Merle.  The book moves backwards in time, telling the 7 lives Eric and Merle have lived.  Ending with a Viking king and queen.  It's such a short book, I don't want to give too much away.  But Eric and Merle find different ways of being together throughout time.

       This book was announced the winner of the Michael L. Printz Award which "annually honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit, each year." It is also on the new Tayshas list, so I thought it must be pretty awesome.  After reading it, I'm a little confused.  I did like the book.  I didn't love it, but it was very different, I'll give it that.  I just cannot really seeing teenagers enjoying this book.  It is a little confusing and the language is upper level.  This is just not the book I am going to try to sell to my students.  I did like the stories, each one is short, and it is quick read.  It's just not my favorite book of 2013.

Valentine's Library Display

All You Need is Love...And a Good Book!

In the middle of January, I set up a Valentine's display.  I pulled romance novels and placed them on a long shelving cart at the entrance.  Students went through them, and by the end of two weeks, most were gone.  I also made signs that I placed around the library and the school.  I used floral pick card holders to hold the hearts in place.  I purchased those from Amazon and they have come in very useful.  They also work to hold book reviews or recommendations.

                                            

I hope you have a great Valentine's Day!!

The Beginning of Everything

I was halfway through this book when I made my top ten list of YA love stories, so I felt it unfair to add it to my list.  Now that I have finished it, I would definitely move it to the top ten.
I loved, loved , loved this book.  There's just something about first loves that gets me every time.
Ezra Faulkner has it all.  At the end of his junior year, he is class president, captain of the tennis team, and the boyfriend of the most popular and beautiful girl in school.  That changes in an instant.
"I still think that everyone's life, not matter how unremarkable, has a singular tragic encounter after which everything that really matters will happen.  That moment is the catalyst- the first step in the equation.  But knowing that step will get you nowhere- it's what comes after that determines the result." 
Ezra's tragic encounter is with a black SUV that hits his Z4 as he is leaving a party.    His left knee, along with his life, is shattered.  He spends that summer in the hospital, and then physical therapy, learning how to walk again.  Not a single "friend" visits him  in the hospital, just send a card they all signed.  He is replaced on the tennis team, and voted out of his presidency.  All while realizing the life he had planned for himself has taken a sharp turn.
He begins his senior year as an outsider.  Everyone staring as he tries to make it to class with his cane, not sure how to address everyone.  The only bright spot is Toby, his best friend from elementary school who didn't join the popular crowd like Ezra.  They had grown apart, but Toby makes a reappearance and convinces Ezra to join the debate team, since tennis is out.
His first encounter with Cassidy Thorpe is not a very pleasant experience, she is the new girl, mysterious and beautiful.  She transferred from boarding school, and has a reputation of being an unbeatable debater.  Very slowly, they come together.  She takes him to the local community college to sit in on lectures.  She encourages him to apply for Ivy League universities, something he never considered before.  But not everything is perfect.  Cassidy is struggling with something terrible.  Something she feels she cannot share with Ezra, and their relationship is not an easy one.
I think I enjoyed this book because Ezra really changes throughout.  This is truly a coming of age story, and whether the accident, or Cassidy, was the catalyst doesn't matter.  Ezra realizes he was uncomfortable in the popular crowd and makes the decision to change.  
Highly recommended!

Tayshas 2014

The Tayshas list for 2014 was released a few weeks ago. I have read some of these books already, but I would like to try to read most of them throughout the year. I keep these on display in my library, and students do tend to look through them and check them out regularly. I think this list is a great place to start for a student searching for a book, but not sure what they want to read. I used PhotoPeach to upload the book covers and create this presentation.

My Favorite Love Stories

Happy Almost Valentine's Day!

I love reading YA romance novels.  They are so innocent and passionate.  I get asked for romance stories a lot, so I put together my top ten list of favorite YA love stories.
10.

This is a very cute book.  3 girls are sent to work on a peach orchard for the summer, and become close friends.  Of course, boys are involved, and a cross country trip to find the love of one of the girls is included. Light and fluffy.
9.
 
I'm not sure many would agree with me, but I loved the relationship between Tris and Four.  He is so protective of her and helps her through the initiation process.  Plus, Theo James is playing him in the upcoming movie.  You can't go wrong.

I would have chosen Dauntless too!

8.

Everyone loves Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.  Even though their love story was not smooth, he eventually came to his senses.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” 

― Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

The movie is also amazing!

7.

This was my first experience with teenage love.  I think I read this book in middle school and my friends and I all passed it around.  I haven't read it as an adult, but I remember loving this story and being heartbroken (spoiler alert!) when Michael and Kath broke up.  I wonder if my students would be able to relate to this book today.  Not sure.
6.

Another first love story, with its share of head over heels romance, only to come to a screeching halt when real life gets in the way.  An honest look at high school romance. 

5.

Delirium is set in a future, dystopian society that believes love is a disease.  At 18, every citizen must undergo a procedure to remove any feelings of love.  Lena has seen firsthand the problems love can cause and is looking forward to the day she will have her delirium removed.  Then she meets Alex, and begins to realize she might not want those feelings taken away from her after all.

4. 

This was my first book to read by Sarah Dessen.  She has written lots of books and she is always my go to for students looking for a love story.  Macy's boyfriend goes away to summer camp and she is lost without him.  When she begins working for a catering company, she beings to learn more about herself and the options open for her.
3.

Hazel Grace and Augustus meet in a cancer support group.  He shows her that life is worth living, taking her on adventures that she never imagined possible.  Such an awesome book, everyone loves it.  And the movie comes out in June!

2.

Hadley is not happy about going to London for her father's wedding. She misses her flight, and ends up waiting in the terminal for the overnight flight out of JFK.  That's when she meets Oliver.  Oliver cheers Hadley up, and the flight seems to pass in a matter of minutes.  But, they lose track of each other at Heathrow once they land.  Was their love meant to be?

1.

Oh, how I loved this book.  The Garretts were such a cute family and Jase such an easy boy to fall in love with.  The author is writing a follow up, and I can't wait to read more.

Have a great Valentine's week!

Going Vintage

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt is on the new Texas Tayshas list, and I think the cover is really cute! 

When Mallory opens her boyfriend's computer to begin work on his essay, she discovers he has created a virtual character in a game called Authentic Life.  A character with a cyberwife.  Jeremy and his "wife" BubbleYum have been sharing intimate emails through the game, and nowhere does he mention his actual, real-life girlfriend.   Mallory realizes she must come up with a way to get over her cheating boyfriend.  While cleaning out her grandmother's house the next day, she comes across a list written in 1962.  Mallory thinks life must have been so much easier then, without technology ruining lives.  So she swears of her cellphone, laptop, and decides to complete her grandmother's list.  Even dressing the part with clothes from the local resale shop.  Of course, there are complications, mainly her research paper for her history class, starting a pep club, and trying to sew a dress, when she has no idea how to sew.  Mallory is determined to finish the two weeks she has set her mind too, and ends up getting help from an unexpected source- Jeremy's mysterious cousin Oliver.

This was a cute book, I like the idea of a social experiment for teenagers.  I think going without texting and Instragram might be really good for some kids.  I thought the character of Mallory was a little annoying.  She is extremely whiny and has built her life around her boyfriend.  She also does this crazy diet, on some days she eats healthy, and others she goes completely insane.  Her younger sister, Ginnie, is much more likable and goes out of her way to help Mallory finish her experiment, and get over her boyfriend.

It wasn't my favorite book I've read, but teenage girls might relate to Mallory's struggles.                               

                                                                                                                                                                   

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