Modelland by Tyra Banks

Every week, millions of would-be-runway walkers and inveterate model watchers in 170 countries tune into Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model for tips on the trade and human drama. The 17th cycle begins on September 14th (As if you'd didn't know!) Certainly no one can dispute the credentials of the show's creator and host to preside over this modeling boot-camp: During a career that began in the 11th grade, Banks starred in countless catwalks and graced covers of Vogue, Cosmo, and Elle. In her first novel, a trilogy launch, Tyra draws on her real-life experiences to flesh out the story of an insecure teenage girl who wants to achieve fame as a model. --Barnes & Noble

New Fantasy Books!

 

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The Fox Inheritance

by Mary E. Pearson

Once there were three. Three friends who loved each other—Jenna, Locke, and Kara. And after a terrible accident destroyed their bodies, their three minds were kept alive, spinning in a digital netherworld. Even in that disembodied nightmare, they were still together. At least at first. When Jenna disappeared, Locke and Kara had to go on without her. Decades passed, and then centuries. Two-hundred-and-sixty years later, they have been released at last. Given new, perfect bodies, Locke and Kara awaken to a world they know nothing about, where everyone they once knew and loved is long dead. Everyone except Jenna Fox.

A Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd by Patrick Ness

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor. At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting— he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd— whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself— Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

Wolfsbane (Nightshade Series #2) by Andrea Cremer

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack - and the man - she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real. They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula. Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

New Books I Can’t Wait to Read

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Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy

by Bil Wright 

Carlos Duarte knows that he’s fabulous. He’s got a better sense of style than half the fashionistas in New York City, and he can definitely apply makeup like nobody’s business. He may only be in high school, but when he lands the job of his dreams—makeup artist at the FeatureFace counter in Macy’s—he’s sure that he’s finally on his way to great things. But the makeup artist world is competitive and cutthroat, and for Carlos to acheive his stardom, he’ll have to believe in himself more than ever….

Now Playing: Stoner and Spaz II

by Ron Koertge 

Beautiful but troubled Colleen Minou is the only girl who ever looked at Ben Bancroft as more than a spaz— more than just that kid with cerebral palsy. Yet the more time Ben spends with her, the more glaring their differences appear. Is what Ben feels for Colleen actual affection, or more like gratitude? Then there’s Amy (aka A.J.), who is everything Colleen isn’t, and everything Ben’s grandma wants for him: clean-cut and upper-class, academically driven, just as obsessed with filmmaking as Ben is. But what does A.J. see when she looks at Ben? CP? Or the person behind the twisted body? In Ron Koertge’s sharp, darkly humorous follow-up to the award-winning Stoner & Spaz, Ben tries to come to terms with his confused feelings toward A.J. and his inimitable connection to Colleen, who is sometimes out of it, sometimes into him, and always exhilarating.

Pregnant Pause

by Han Nolan 

Nobody gets away with telling Eleanor Crowe what to do. But as a pregnant sixteenyear-old, her options are limited: move to Kenya with her missionary parents or marry the baby’s father and work at his family’s summer camp for overweight kids. Despite her initial reluctance to help out, Elly is surprised that she actually enjoys working with the campers. But a tragedy on the very day her baby is born starts a series of events that overwhelms Elly with unexpected emotions and difficult choices. Somehow, she must turn her usual obstinance in a direction that can ensure a future for herself—and for the new life she has created.

Viola in the Spotlight

by Adriana Trigiani

Viola is finally where she belongs—back home in Brooklyn, where there are no khakis or sherbet-colored sweaters and people actually think her yellow flats are cool. With two whole months of nothing to do but hang with her two best friends, Andrew and Caitlin, this is going to be the best break ever! But her BFFAA, Andrew, has started acting weird around her, and a new boyfriend has her friend Caitlin ditching her every chance she gets. When Viola's roommates from Prefect Academy show up for a visit, she starts to wonder—is Brooklyn where she wants to stay? When a tragic event shakes everyone's world, Viola realizes it's not where she belongs that matters—it's who she's with that really counts. In this heartwarming follow-up to bestselling author Adriana Trigiani's teen debut, Viola in Reel Life, Viola just may be ready to get out from behind her trusty video camera and take the starring role in her own life.

New Graphic Novels!

Bad Island

by Doug TenNapel

Something on this island is up to no good . . .When Reese is forced to go on a boating trip with his family, the last thing he expects is to be shipwrecked on an island-especially one teeming with weird plants and animals. But what starts out as simply a bad vacation turns into a terrible one, as the castaways must find a way to escape while dodging the island's dangerous inhabitants. With few resources and a mysterious entity on the hunt, each secret unlocked could save them . . . or spell their doom. One thing Reese knows for sure: This is one Bad Island.

 

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Vol. 1: The God Who Fell to Earth

Roger Langridge (Author), Chris Samnee (Illustrator), Matthew Wilson (Illustrator)

 

 

 

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, Volume 2

by Roger Langridge , Chris Samnee (Illustrator)

He's banished, he's mad, and he wants to fight. ROGER LANGRIDGE (Muppet Show, Eisner and Harvey Award nominee) and CHRIS SAMNEE (SIEGE: EMBEDDED, The Mighty) re-imagine the God of Thunder in THOR THE MIGHTY AVENGER! THRILL as he battles robots the size of cities! GASP as he tames the mightiest sea creatures! SWOON as he rescues damsels from the vilest villains!

Morning Glories, Volume 1 by Joe Eisma , Nick Spencer

Morning Glory Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country... but something sinister and deadly lurks behind its walls. When six gifted, but troubled, students arrive, they find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives as the secrets of the academy reveal themselves! Everything to date of the series from issues #1-12, plus many behind-the-scenes bonuses and other features. 

James Patterson's Witch and Wizard, Volume 2: Operation Zero by Victor Santos (Artist) , Dara Naraghi 

Whit and Wisty get the shock of their lives when a member of the New Order's inner circle, The One Who Bans Books, contacts them with a clandestine proposal: he wants their help in removing The One Who Is The One from power! He confesses to having grown disgusted with the N.O., and reveals that he's aware of an ancient book of the occult that holds a spell for stripping an individual of all their magic. Unfortunately, the book is in a heavily-guarded N.O. bunker that's shielded against magic portals from Shadowland. But more importantly, can the Allgood siblings even trust this man who is willing to commit treason, or is his offer just an elaborate trap?

New Fantasy Titles!

Chime

by Franny Billingsley

Before Briony's stepmother died, she made sure Briony blamed herself for all the family's hardships. Now Briony has worn her guilt for so long it's become a second skin. She often escapes to the swamp, where she tells stories to the Old Ones, the spirits who haunt the marshes. But only witches can see the Old Ones, and in her village, witches are sentenced to death. Briony lives in fear her secret will be found out, even as she believes she deserves the worst kind of punishment. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and mane of tawny hair. He's as natural as the sun, and treats her as if she's extraordinary. And everything starts to change. As many secrets as Briony has been holding, there are secrets even she doesn't know.

The Dark and Hollow Places (Forest of Hands and Teeth Series #3) by Carrie Ryan

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters. 
Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again. But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

 

Ironside (Modern Tale of Faerie Series #3)

by Holly Black

in the realm of faerie...the time has come for Roiben's coronation. Uneasy in the midst of the malevolent Unseelie Court, pixie Kaye is sure of only one thing her love for Roiben. But when Kaye drunkenly declares herself to Roiben, he sends her on a seemingly impossible quest to find a faerie who can tell a lie. Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye decides to tell her mother the truth that she is a changeling left in place of the human daughter stolen long ago. Her mother's shock and horror sends Kaye back to the world of Faerie to find her human counterpart and return her to Ironside. But when Kaye returns to the faerie courts, a battle of wits and weapons is being waged over Roiben's throne, and she soon finds herself at the center of it all.

…More Reviews

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

by Rachel Renee Russell , Rachel Renee Russell

The reason I chose this book was because this is an energetic and funny book for girls. The author Rachel Renee Russell catches your eye and brings you into a high schooler’s life. Nikki is the main character and she brings the story to life. She is a normal high schooler trying to enjoy her year at school. Every school, though, has a popular girl. Mackenzie is that girl and she is part of the ccp group (cute, cool, popular). She is the meanest girl in school, yet that’s an understatement for Nikki. Nikki meets some friendly girls, Chloe and Zoey, who become her great friends. While they are signing up for library shelving jobs they have an idea for the library trip to the New York library. Along the way, though, Nikki feels like Chloe and Zoey are ganging up on her. Will she be able to save her friendships? I feel this would be a good book for young readers. This shows how to get through a problem with your friend and make friends along the way. I enjoyed this book a lot and I hope you will too. Review by Hadassah

 

 

 

And..More Summer Reading Book Reviews

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

by Wendelin Van Draanen

One day when Sammy gets home from school her Grandmother tells her that the woman who lives one floor below them in the apartment building received a threatening note. Sammy’s grandmother is angry at Sammy because this woman thinks that Sammy put the threatening note on her door. Sammy realizes then that the thief put the note on the door and that, in fact, it was meant for Sammy. The thief just made a mistake when he/she missed the correct apartment by one floor. This threatening note was Sammy’s first clue. I didn’t like this book because it was off topic too much like on page 129, “The minute I got to school I could tell Heather’d been doing a lot of talking.” This is a mystery book. Why the book got into Heather’s faked broken nose (injured by Sammy – but not broken!) is beyond me. I felt it was a waste of time reading about what Sammy has going on in her life beyond the mystery that she was trying to solve. I don’t care to know Sammy’s character behind the scene – I just like to listen to the clues and solve the mystery. Another reason I didn’t like the book was because the case wasn’t really exact – especially in how it was solved. I felt the clues didn’t connect cleanly. I like mysteries where the reader has the chance to solve the case before the author gives the final answer. I felt how Sammy came to the resolution to this case was a little unclear. For example, I like it when I can look back in the book and say, “Oh!” and realize that he/she or it did it. The only reason I like the book is because during the last pages/chapter there was a huge chase scene. It had a lot of suspense which was the main reason it was my favorite part of the book. Review by Chris

 

One Day You'll Know (Heartland Series #6)

by Lauren Brooke

Times are anything but smooth sailing for Amy, her family, and their healing horse farm. Things are rough because Amy’s mother has died in an act of service to a horse that needed rescuing. She had the magic power to give the horses the treatment they needed. Now that she’s gone the healing power seems to fade from Heartland, despite the challenges Grandpa Jack, Amy, Lou (her sister), Ben and Ty (stable hands), and the horse doctor Scott try to keep the farm running. In every book Amy cures a troubled horse. In this book she cured Melodies, a foal. Amy’s sister Lou moved back to Heartland to help them overcome the loss of Mother. As the book progresses, though, the family issues get bigger and everything goes wrong. The last chapters of the book, though, are full of happy surprises. I gave this book 5 stars, 1,000,000 hearts, and 1,000 thumbs up! I appreciated how the author added suspense and surprises in places where you least expected them. I also like how she kept the problems real, instead of that they died because of an alien attack. The book was well-written and full of details. It was also full of horse facts, which was nice because I love horses. This book was great and I think that you should definitely read the Heartland series. Have fun and enjoy these awesome books! Review by Lauren

 

The Boy Next Door (Candy Apple Series #2)

by Laura Dower

This book, by Laura Dower, involves neighbors Taryn and Jeff who have been friends since they were little and do most things together. Once they reach middle school they have more fights and even crushes. Jeff is always teasing Taryn in a nice way, but one day he takes it too far. They promise each other that they will never do it again. Jeff stands her up one night, though, and she becomes furious with him, even starting to ignore him. Will Jeff do the right thing and apologize? This book is great for 5^th graders and middle schoolers. I would also recommend “The Accidental Cheerleader” by Mimi McCoy, “Miss Popularity” by Francesco Sedita, and “How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days” by Lisa Papademetriou. Review by Ellin

William Sleator

I regret to announce that YA author William Sleator  died suddenly in Thailand, at age 66.  Bill was one of the handful of writers who solidified the newly-created YA field in the early 1970s.  His writing career lasted 41 years, and his 1974 book, HOUSE OF STAIRS, was named one of the 100 Best Books of the 20th Century by the New York Times,   His last book, THE PHANTOM LIMB, will be published this fall.  Bill made  kids--boys especially--want to read.  Early in his career, Bill supported himself as a rehearsal pianist for the Boston Ballet.  He was able to give up that job in 1986 and write full time.  Bill loved meeting with his audience and was a frequent presenter at libraries and schools. Bill traveled extensively and divided his time between Boston, Massachusetts and rural Thailand.

--Stephen Weiner, Director, Maynard Public Library

More Summer Reading Book Reviews

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes is a seventh grader who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is in her Grandmother’s apartment, which she is not allowed in because it is for senior citizens always, when she sees a burglary take place with her binoculars. The only problem is she thinks the burglar saw her. To make matters worse she waved at him! Later that day she sees a bunch of police cars outside the scene of the crime, The Heavenly Hotel, and stops inside. She tells the police what she knows, but they don’t believe her. They ask for her address, but since she is not allowed to live where she does, she gives the address of her rich friend, Marissa. Throughout the book Sammy, with the help of Marissa, tracks down clues. By the end of the book they’ve found the thief and are able to help the police catch him. Review by Daniel

 

Death by Bikini

by Linda Gerber

This book is told through the eyes of a young teenage girl named Aphra Connolly. Aphra lives with her father at a quiet island resort. The location of the island makes the resort attractive to a lot of fake-namers (people hiding secrets, celebrities, you name it) so Aphra doesn’t find it strange when a family comes to the resort. What she does find strange is when her father doesn’t tell her the family’s name so she can check them into the hotel or search information on them. She also finds it weird that her father is putting them up in room 40 even though it is under construction. Aphra just assumes it’s just a famous family that is going to a lot of trouble to act like they’re not there, to be invisible. They are until Adam Smith, the only child of the mysterious family, saves Aphra from a tidal wave. Since there aren’t any other kids her age, Aphra befriends the boy. He seems sweet and kind and is good-looking – nothing out of the ordinary. Or so she thinks until the body of a young woman staying at the resort is found dead at the beach. Her bikini straps are tied tightly around her neck. Everyone thinks it was the water that did it, just an innocent drowning accident. Aphra, on the other hand, has other ideas. Does the murder (as Aphra presumes) have something to do with the Smith family? If so, does that mean the killer is still lurking around the resort? Since her father will not tell her anything about the Smiths Aphra decides it is up to her to discover the truth about the Smiths and the murder. She can tell no one of her plan. As she sets out for the truth, Aphra learns that when it comes to murder, you can trust no one. Review by Olivia

 

The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (Ranger's Apprentice Series #10)

by John Flanagan

The Emperor of Nihon-ja is the final book in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. The story begins when the characters Will, Halt, and Alyss are in the land of Toscana negotiating a peace treaty between Toscana and Arrida. They decide, though, to depart for Nihon-ja to find their friend Horace who went there in the previous book. They set out on the journey on their friend’s new ship, Wolfwill. When the friends get there, they find out that a clan has rebelled against the Emperor of Nihon-ja Shigeru. They also learn that Horace has stayed to help the Emperor and is currently in Ran-koshi, a fortress. With some help, Will and his friends go and find him. They learn that Horace and Emperor Shigeru have enlisted the help of Kikori, which are timber workmen. With the snows protecting them, they have some time to train the Kikori against the rebelling warriors, but will it be enough? I would recommend this book to anyone who has read books 1 through 9 mostly because it is the final book. Overall I think this is not the best book in the series because the main characters are not in much danger. The majority of the book is planning a war and that, at times, can be rather boring. At the end of the planning phase, though, there is a battle, and that is quite interesting to read. In addition, it has a very nice and romantic ending. I think the series wraps up very nicely in the final chapter. Review by Derek

More Summer Reading Book Reviews!

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

This is the first book in the 39 Clues series. Dan and Amy Cahill must go to extremes to find the 39 clues and be the most powerful, influential human beings on the planet. With nasty relatives, though, and many betrayals, they don’t know what to do. This story will make you want to learn more about history. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes history and mystery. This was a very interesting book. Review by Sylvia

 

 

 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

This book is exciting, especially the way Claudia surprises her brother with a trip. She asked her brother to run away with her to the Museum of Fine Arts in New York City. She found that home was “unfair” and that “nobody loved her.” At the museum they solved the mysteries of the exciting new sculpture Angel that everyone wants to see. Before that’s solved, though, Claudia wants to learn everything there is to learn. How will her brother manage? Review by Hallie

 

The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson

Beth is a fifth grader at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Her teacher assigns her class a project to come up with compliments for all their classmates. They also have to come up with extra compliments for one person and lucky Beth picks Imogine Herdman. Imogine is one of six Herdmans at the Woodrow Wilson School. They claw, spit, bite, steal, and do just about every bad thing you can name. They even stole Beth’s best friend’s little brother, scribbled on his bald head, and charged people to look at him. The Herdmans do many other insane things, but also do a few unnoticed good deeds. Imogine gets a boy named Eugene’s head out when it is stuck in the bike rack. She also gives baby Howard her old blanket when he loses his. This helps Beth come up with couple of nice compliments for Imogine and it makes Imogine very happy. Review by Daniel

New Historical Fiction

Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

Twelve-year-old Robert Jacklin comes face-to-face with bigotry, racism, and brutality when he is uprooted from England and moves to Zimbabwe with his family. Robert is enrolled in one of the country "s most elite boys " boarding schools. Newly integrated, the school is a microcosm of the horrible problems faced by the struggling new country in the wake of a bloody civil war. The white boys want their old country back and torment the black Africans. Robert must make careful alliances. His decision to join the ranks of the more powerful white boys has a devastating effect on his conscience and emerging manhood.

Novel in Verse

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Sixteen-year-old Liz is Photogirl--sharp, focused, and confident in what she sees through her camera lens. Suddenly, as the aftershocks from a startling accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship, and herself shifts out of focus.

Just In: The Sequel to Wings

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

"I don't do patrols, I don't go hunting, I just stick close to you. You live your life. I'll keep you safe," Tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from her face. "Or die trying."  Laurel hasn't seen Tamani since she begged him to let her go last year. Though her heart still aches, Laurel is confident that David was the right choice.  But just as life returns to normal, Laurel realizes that a hidden enemy lies in wait. Once again, Laurel must turn to Tamani to protect and guide her, for the danger that now threatens Avalon is one that no faerie thought would ever be possible. And for the first time, Laurel cannot be sure that her side will prevail.

New Science Fiction Books

Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

In the seventh book in the bestselling series, evil scientists are still trying to convince Max that she needs to save the world, this time by providing the genetic link in speeding up the pace of evolution. Worse, they're trying to convince her that her perfect mate is Dylan, the newest addition to the flock. The problem is that, despite herself, Max is starting to believe it.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended--and eccentric--family in London. The time-traveling gene that runs through the female half of her family supposedly has skipped over her. So it comes as a surprise when Gwen starts taking sudden leaps into the past.

New Realistic Fiction

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She Loves You, She Loves You Not… by Julie Anne Peters

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa had family, friends, and, most important, her girlfriend Sarah. But once cut off from those she loves, she moves hundreds of miles away to live with the biological mother she barely knows. As Alyssa struggles to forget her past and come to terms with her future, will she be able to build a new life and believe in love again?

Miles from Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother’s ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control....

The Queen of Water: A Novel Based on a True Story by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango

Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her large family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her village of ind genas, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta-stupid Indian-by members of the ruling class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her village to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds.

Summer Reading Book Reviews

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Desires of the Dead (Body Finder Series #2) by Kimberly Derting

Violet Ambross has a special talent: when somebody or something has died Violet can sense it. Until they are buried properly, vibrations, echoes, colors and more call to Violet. Chelsea, her best friend, and Jay, her boyfriend, are both supportive in different ways. Jay knows about her talent and helps her whenever he can. Chelsea doesn’t know, but knows when to be there for her. Mike and Megan are brother and sister and are new to Violet’s school. Mike is instantly best friends with Jay and dating Chelsea. He invites Jay, Chelsea, Violet and Claire (another friend) up to his cabin. Megan has a crush on Jay, though, and secretly hates Violet. She leaves hurtful notes and phone calls to try and scare her into breaking up with Jay. Nothing works, but Violet knows it’s Megan. When everyone is at the cabin, Violet gets a very strong echo/vibration. It pulls her out of the cabin and she starts digging to try and find a body underground. Someone comes up behind her with a gun. Who will save her? Review by Caitlin

 

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

When Genevieve Walsh finds out that her mom signed her family up for a camp out in the Wyoming wilderness, she doesn’t know what to expect. Especially when she discovers that this isn’t going to be an ordinary summer vacation. First of all, there’s no TV or internet and she’s not allowed to bring her new phone. The night before they leave, though, Genevieve can’t resist the urge to bring her phone with her so she can text her friends all about life on the 1890 style camp frontier. When the Walsh family arrives at the camp, most of the people are actually pretending its 1890 and to survive, they must act like it too. This means that they have to wear old-fashioned clothes, live in a one room cabin, and unlike a regular vacation where they would get to relax and take a break, this is quite the opposite. They actually have to do more work than they do at home. They have to grow their own crops although they have no experience, make their own recipes and cook their own food with barely any ingredients, and milk a cow. All through the summer, Genevieve texts her friends about how hard it is to live at a camp frontier. They find her information so interesting that they turn it into a very popular blog with 500,000 readers! When the owners of the camp find out that she’s brought a phone when the rule is no technology, how will she be able to convince them that it was for a good reason? Read “Little Blog on the Prairie” to find out what happens next. Review by Nataniah

 

101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw

This book is very addictive because the plot is always changing. First it’s about a 5^th grade boy inventor names Steve “Sneeze” Wyatt, who has big ideas for his creations. He brings a lot of his inventions to school with him to test them out. Most of his inventions, however, are failures. That doesn’t stop him from creating new ones. His glow-in-the-dark toilet seat ended up giving his teacher a glow-in-the-dark backside for a little bit. No matter what, though, his best and only friend “Hiccup” Denardo never leaves his side. When Sneeze is all excited about going to the Invention Convention his parents tell him that they can’t afford to go. He has to go because he received a letter that says a major professional inventor would like to release the “Nice Alarm,” one of Sneeze’s inventions. His parents send him to a summer writing class instead. Sneeze is so annoyed with them he starts to bug them. So he makes a book that has 101 ways to bug your parents in his writing class. He plans to sell the book to many people to raise enough money to go to the convention with an adult friend of his. Will all go according to plan? Or will everything go haywire? I would recommend this book to anyone ages 10-13.

Review by Brian

Don’t Forget! Free Art Workshop for Students Grades 9 – 12!

The Art of Sketching: Demo & Workshop

July 26, 2 – 4 pm

Students in grades 9 – 12

Gregory Maichack will demonstrate expressive pastel painting, detailing how to achieve luminous color and volume, structuring an engaging composition, and tips on creating impact.  Students will receive hands-on experience of basic sketching using pastels, as well as advanced techniques  All materials provided, including professional grade paper and hundreds of pastels to work with.

This project is supported by a grant from the Westwood Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Registration required.  Sign up at the reference desk, or call 781-320-1042.

Get Ready for Summer Reading!

 

If you’re in grade 6 – 12, join the YA summer reading program to win some great prizes!  For every book you read and write a short review about, choose from a selection of great new young adult books to keep!  Pick a small prize, too, as long as supplies last.  Sign up at the reference desk.

June 27 – August 31

Sponsored by Westwood Public Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the Boston Bruins, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

New Nonfiction Book

ask elizabeth: real answers to everything you secretly wanted to ask about love, friends, your body… and life in general by Elizabeth Berkley

Actress Elizabeth Berkley is the founder of Ask Elizabeth (Ask-Elizabeth.com), a not-for-profit organization that facilitates self-esteem workshops to empower girls ages 11 – 18.  This is her first book for teens.

If you’ve ever asked yourself why the ups and downs of friendships are so hard; if you’ve ever looked in the mirror and hated what you saw; if you’ve ever gone through a horrible breakup and wondered how you’ll make it through..guess what?  You’re not alone.  Over the past several years, more than 30,000 teens have participated in workshops conducted by actress Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell).  In an open, judgment-free atmosphere, girls come together to support, share, confess, and confide in one another.  Written in the spirit of a group diary, Ask Elizabeth addresses the emotional lives of teen girls based on the most frequently asked questions from these workshops.  Full of personal stories and advice offered up by countless teens, experts from a variety of fields, and Elizabeth Berkley herself, this ultimate life handbook for teenage girls can be relied on again and again for comfort, guidance, inspiration, and answers.

Have you ever wondered how to pronounce your favorite author’s name?

Like Cornelia Funke or Neil Gaiman?  Teachingbooks.net will tell you!  Check out this cool website where authors pronounce their own names for you.  Some of them even tell you the stories behind their names.

http://www.teachingbooks.net/pronunciations.cgi

New Books!

 

Father of Lies by Ann Turner

Lidda knew, with a clarity that was like a candle in a dark room, that all had changed; something was loosed in the village—Devil or not—and they would pay for it, every last man, woman, and child. Fourteen-year-old Lidda has always known she was different. She longs to escape Salem Village and its stifling rules—to be free to dance, to sing, to live as she chooses. But when a plague of accusations descends on the village and witch fever erupts, L idda begins to realize that she feels and sees things that others can't, or won't. But how will she expose the truth without being hung as a witch herself?  Gripping and emotional, Ann Turner's retelling of the Salem witch trials captures one girl's brave soul-searching amidst a backdrop of fear and blame.

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

You Killed Wesley Payne is a truly original and darkly hilarious update of classic pulp-noir, in which hard-boiled seventeen year-old Dalton Rev transfers to the mean hallways of Salt River High to take on the toughest case of his life. The question isn't whether Dalton's going to get paid. He always gets paid. Or whether he's gonna get the girl. He always (sometimes) gets the girl. The real question is whether Dalton Rev can outwit crooked cops and killer cliques in time to solve the mystery of "The Body" before it solves him.

Red Glove by Holly Black

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else. That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does. When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself? Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

The Art of Sketching: Demo & Workshop

July 26, 2 – 4 pm

Students in grades 9 – 12

Gregory Maichack will demonstrate expressive pastel painting, detailing how to achieve luminous color and volume, structuring an engaging composition, and tips on creating impact.  Students will receive hands-on experience of basic sketching using pastels, as well as advanced techniques  All materials provided, including professional grade paper and hundreds of pastels to work with.

This project is supported by a grant from the Westwood Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Registration required.  Sign up at the reference desk, or call 781-320-1042.

New Books!

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New realistic fiction

Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Missy didn’t mean to cut so deep. But after the party where she was humiliated in front of practically everyone in school, who could blame her for wanting some comfort? Sure, most people don’t find comfort in the touch of a razor blade, but Missy always was . . . different. That’s why she was chosen to become one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: War. Now Missy wields a new kind of blade—a big, brutal sword that can cut down anyone and anything in her path. But it’s with this weapon in her hand that Missy learns something that could help her triumph over her own pain: control. A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation,Rageis the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

Among Others by Jo Walton

Startling, unusual, and yet irresistibly readable, Among Others is at once the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood, a brilliant diary of first encounters with the great novels of modern fantasy and SF, and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment.

New science fiction

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't. Lauren Oliver astonished readers with her stunning debut, Before I Fall. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it "raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful. An end as brave as it is heartbreaking." Her much-awaited second novel fulfills her promise as an exceptionally talented and versatile writer.

New mystery

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent.

Just in: Sequels to All Your Favorite Paranormal Books! (and one stand-alone)

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All Just Glass by Atwater-Rhodes, sequel to Shattered Mirror

Tempestuous by Livingston, Wondrous Strange Series #3

Entice by Jones, Need Series #3

Awakened by Cast, Cast, House of Night Series #8

Afterlife by Gray, Evernight Series #4

Gemini Bites by Ryan

Two Great Realistic Fiction Books

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Pick-up Game: A Full Day of Full Court edited by Marc Aronson & Charles R. Smith Jr.

It’s one steamy July day at the West 4th Street Court in NYC, otherwise known as The Cage. Hotshot ESPN is wooing the scouts, Boo is struggling to guard the weird new guy named Waco, a Spike Lee wannabe has video rolling, and virgin Irene is sizing up six-foot-eightand-a-half-inch Chester. Nine of YA literature’s top writers, including Walter Dean Myers, Rita Williams-Garcia, Adam Rapp, Joseph Bruchac, and Sharon Flake reveal how it all goes down in a searing collection of short stories, in which each one picks up where the previous one ends.

Nothing by Janne Teller

"Nothing matters."
"From the moment you are born, you start to die."
"The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. You'll live to be a maximum of one hundred. Life isn't worth the bother!"

So says Pierre Anthon when he decides that there is no meaning to life, leaves the classroom, climbs a plum tree, and stays there. His friends and classmates cannot get him to come down, not even by pelting him with rocks. So to prove to him that there is a meaning to life, they set out to build a heap of meaning in an abandoned sawmill. But it soon becomes obvious that each person cannot give up what is most meaningful, so they begin to decide for one another what the others must give up. The pile is started with a lifetime's collection of Dungeons & Dragons books, a fishing rod, a pair of green sandals, a pet hamster — but then, as each demand becomes more extreme, things start taking a very morbid twist, and the kids become ever more desperate to get Pierre Anthon down. And what if, after all these sacrifices, the pile is not meaningful enough?

Need Some New Paranormal Books To Read?

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Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak. Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else. With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.

Elixir by Hilary Duff

17 –year-old Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life.  But after Clea’s renowned father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea begins to notice eerie, shadowy images in her photos of a strange and beautiful young man –a man she has never seen before.  As she is drawn deep inito the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, she discovers the centuries-old truth behind her intense bond with the mysterious man.  They must race against time to unravel their past in order to save their lives –and their futures.

Publish Your Poem on the Westwood Library’s New Poetry Blog

If you’re in grade 3 – 12, you can see your poem published on our poetry blog!  Follow the poetry bits link on the right under Westwood Library links.  Send us your poem by email: include your first name, grade and school, and we’ll put your poem up for everyone to read.  Family friendly language only.

New Books!

New vampire book: Bloody Valentine, a Blue Bloods book, by Melissa de la Cruz

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

New science fiction book: XVI by Julia Karr

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council–ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world–even the most predatory of men–that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina’s worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina’s mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past–one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

New historical fiction book: Strings Attached by Judy Blundell

From National Book Award winner Judy Blundell, the tale of a sixteen-year-old girl caught in a mix of love, mystery, Broadway glamour, and Mob retribution in 1950 New York. When Kit Corrigan arrives in New York City, she doesn't have much. She's fled from her family in Providence, Rhode Island, and she's broken off her tempestuous relationship with a boy named Billy, who's enlisted in the army. The city doesn't exactly welcome her with open arms. She gets a bit part as a chorus girl in a Broadway show, but she knows that's not going to last very long. She needs help--and then it comes, from an unexpected source. Nate Benedict is Billy's father. He's also a lawyer involved in the mob. He makes Kit a deal--he'll give her an apartment and introduce her to a new crowd. All she has to do is keep him informed about Billy . . . and maybe do him a favor every now and then.

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New realistic fiction books: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

A 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty—rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar—pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback. STOLEN is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare—or die trying to fight it.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

CHARLIE DUSKIN loves music, and she knows she's good at it. But she only sings when she's alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Gus's Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlie's mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer she's visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. She's got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that she's not entirely unspectacular.

ROSE BUTLER lives next door to Charlie's grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but can't wait to leave their small country town. And she's figured out a way: she's won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Rose's ticket out.

Told in alternating voices and filled with music, friendship, and romance, Charlie and Rose's "little wanting song" is about the kind of longing that begins as a heavy ache but ultimately makes us feel hopeful and wonderfully alive.