". . . it lets you enter a world completely different than your own."She also finds action, chick lit, non-fiction, and books by Nicholas Sparks "fun to read."
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| Cover images courtesy of goodreads.com |
Teens Talk . . .
Catie T., age 16, enjoys reading fantasy:
The Boneshaker
Milford, K. (2010). The boneshaker. New York: Clarion Books.
ISBN: 9780547550046 | hardback | 372 p. | $17.00 USD
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| Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com |
Book Talk: If you sense in your bones something is just not
right, what do you do? How far would you
go to uncover the truth? Natalie has an
uncanny feeling the traveling medicine show that has arrived in her small
Missouri town is not what it seems. Townspeople seem fooled, but Natalie finds it
odd that her mini-automaton suddenly works in the presence of the show’s doctor,
Dr. Jake Limberleg. As she follows her
suspicions, she discovers a truth that threatens her hometown, leading to an
epic battle for survival. Don’t miss
your chance to stare evil in the eye. Read The
Boneshaker.
My favorite thing
about the book:
The steampunk elements keep it fresh and hip, while the sketchlike
pen-and-ink illustrations add to the book’s old timely feel.
First Sentence:
“Strange things can happen at a crossroads.”
Favorite
character:
Natalie
Awards/Honors:
VOYA Top of the Top Shelf Pick 2010
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011)
Recommended Reading List for the 2010 Locus Award for
Young Adult Fiction
Learn More:
Check out the author's website
for great tidbits and more resources about topics in The Boneshaker.
Feast your eyes on this great
old-timey poster featuring Dr. Limberleg's traveling medicine show!
Don’t miss this book trailer for The Boneshaker created by graduate students.
Almost Perfect
Katcher, B. (2009). Almost perfect. New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 9780385736640 | hardback | 357 p. | $17.99 USD
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| Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com |
Annotation: Logan feels alone and unloved until a zany new student arrives at his small-town Missouri high school, keeping a big secret.
Book Talk: Logan Witherspoon’s senior year of high school is off to
a great start. Not only has he and his longtime girlfriend broken up after
learning she cheated on him, he’s having second thoughts about leaving his
small Missouri hometown to attend college. Despite their best efforts, his
friends and family can’t seem to cheer him up. His fog begins to clear,
however, after meeting Sage Hendricks, an intriguing new girl in science class.
She is quirky, funny, kind…almost perfect. After some initial awkward
interactions, Logan and Sage strike up an unlikely friendship, then a
flirtation, and then…a kiss. Afterward, overcome with guilt, Sage shares with
Logan her darkest secret: she’s actually a boy. Logan’s world is upended by her
revelation. In its aftermath, he is forced to re-examine not only his feelings
for Sage, but his ideas of friendship, loyalty and forgiveness. Logan and Sage
share an unconventional journey into adulthood as they together try to figure
out what it really means to be Almost Perfect.
My favorite thing
about the book:
The book doesn’t try to oversimplify the subject matter.
First Sentence:
“Everyone has that one line they swear they’ll never
cross, the one thing they say they’ll never do.”
Favorite
character:
Sage
Awards/Honors:
Capital Choice Noteworthy Book for 2010
Rainbow Lists - Young Adult Fiction: 2010
Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award:
2011
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2010
YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young
Adults: Forbidden Romance 2012
Learn More:
Brian Katcher shares about his writing process and
novels with two high school students.
Interview with YA Author Brian Katcher from Daniel Boone Regional Library on Vimeo.
The Mockingbirds
Whitney, D. (2010). The Mockingbirds. New York: Little, Brown.
ISBN: 9780316090537 | hardback | 335 p. | $16.99 USD
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| Cover image courtesy of goodreads.com |
Book Talk: On the surface, Themis Academy seems perfect. Perfect teachers, perfect students with
perfect behavior…but all is not what it seems.
The image of perfection exists only because the administration and
faculty turn a blind eye to any issues—bullying, cheating, even rape. When Alex, a star pianist at Themis, puts
together the hazy details from a night of drinking with her friends, she
realizes she was date-raped. Torn
between the girl she once was and now the girl who has to accept she was raped,
Alex needs help. But where can she turn
for justice? The school’s administration
will only sweep her troubles under the rug.
Can the Mockingbirds, an underground student society dedicated to
helping students in need, bring her rapist to justice and give Alex her voice?
My favorite thing about the book:
References to To Kill a Mockingbird
and Atticus Finch's sense of justice are woven in. Additionally, the
meticulous details of the workings of the Mockingbirds' club is
intriguing. From its rules, to codes of conduct, contracts, even the
checks and balances draw readers into the hidden club like they
themselves are a member.
First Sentence:
“Three
things I know this second: I have morning breath, I’m naked, and I’m waking up
next to a boy I don’t know.”
Favorite
character:
Alex, T.S. and Martin (One of the good guys!)
Awards/Honors:
Amelia Bloomer Lists—Young Adult Fiction: 2012
Association of Booksellers for Children New Voices Pick: 2010
Best Book for Young Adults—American Library Association
Chicago Public Library Best of Best Books for Teens: 2010
Goodreads Mover and Shaker: 2010
Indie Next List Pick
NPR Best Book of 2010
Romantic Times Best Book of 2010
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2011
Learn More:
Learn more about the author and The Mockingbirds
sequel, The Rivals, from Daisy Whitney's website: http://daisywhitney.com/
