The Good Neighbors: Kin

The Good Neighbors: Kin

By: Holly Black & Ted Naifeh
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Graphic Novels


Holly Black has always been one of my favorites, and I enjoyed her foray into the world of graphic novels.

This one is beautifully illustrated and colored, an hits just the right tone of awe and dread when dealing with the Fae. Call them the "good neighbors" if you don't want to draw their attention...for the attention of Faerie can be lethal.

Recommended to: faerie lovers

It's Not You, It's Me

It's Not You, It's Me

By: Kerry Cohen Hoffman
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Romance


This was a quick read. Its the story of a girl who gets dumped, loses it, and obsesses and plots to get back together with her ex.

Her ultimate humiliation makes her face reality and get herself back together again.

Moral of the story, don't lose yourself to unrequited love.

Recommended to: younger teens - drama lovers

Debbie Harry Sings in French

Debbie Harry Sings in French

By: Meagen Brothers
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life, Romance

Johnny's a good kid. Sure he wears a lot of black, drinks,and listens to punk music, but he also takes care of his mom when she falls apart, does his homework, and tries his hardest to cope.

When his mom sends him away to live with his uncle, Johnny discovers Blondie, and begins to idolize Debbie Harry. No, he wants to be Debbie Harry.

I thought this story was funny and sweet, and Johnny was an immensely likeable character.

Recommended to: kids that are a little bit different

Plush You! Loveable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff

Plush You! Loveable Misfit Toys to Sew and Stuff

By: Kristen Rask
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Oh my lovely goodness, this book was MADE FOR ME. Or at least for people who like to handmake me wonderful little presents. :) Includes a list of materials and necessities to make everything, including an inside out bird, a much-loved Socktopus, the precious pink pirate bunny, or my fav: Wiggle, the Sweater-Wearing Tooth. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Recommended to: those crazy crafters

Show Me How

Show Me How: 500 things you should know, instructions for life from the everyday to the exotic

By: Derek Fagerstrom et al
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic

This is a great do-it-yourself book on how to do almost anything from the ordinary to the extraordinary. I’m not sure “How to use a muddler” or “How to serve and pair champagne” should be in a book in the YA section, but I like it. Fun!

Recommended to: DIYers

Art of Modern Rock Mini#2: Poster Girls

Art of Modern Rock Mini#2: Poster Girls

By: Dennis King
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


A collection of rock concert posters featuring the sultriest, the sexiest, the strongest and most beautiful women. A gorgeous little book.

Black Eyed Peas: An Unauthorized Biography

Black Eyed Peas: An Unauthorized Biography

By: Jake Brown
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Hated it!
Category: Bios

Juicy tidbits about this controversial band come enclosed in an unattractive package that looks like it was printed in somebody’s grandmother’s basement. Grainy black and white pics and yugly fonts galore.

Recommended to: my enemies

Gothic Lolita Punk

Gothic Lolita Punk

By: Rico Komanoya
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This stunning book highlights top Japanese Gothic Lolita (link to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_Lolita) artists of today with examples and explanations of the techniques they use. My fav is Nori Tomizaki, who mixes the morbid with the cute.

Recommended to: cosplayers, gamers, people who like manga

Catherine the Great Empress of Russia

Catherine the Great Empress of Russia

By: Zu Vincent
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios

Smart, stylish, a free lover, promoter of literacy, larger than life, Catherine the Great ruled over Russia for 34 years. So what qualifies her for the A Wicked History series? Well, maybe she stole the throne from her hubby, the tsar, and then hired a hitman to kill him. Among other things…

Attila the Hun: Leader of the Barbarian Hordes

Attila the Hun: Leader of the Barbarian Hordes

By: Sean Stewart Price
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios


Another smashing title from the A Wicked History series. Read about Attila, who led the Huns against the mighty Roman Empire, causing life and technologies to pause for five centuries or so. But was he as wicked as historians say? Most of the accounts were written by his enemies, as the Huns left no written records. You decide.

Recommended to: my BFF Shondra

No Such Thing as the Real World

No Such Thing as the Real World

By: An Na et al; edited by Jill Santopolo
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Six short stories by our favorite YA authors about teens having to face “the real world” for the first time. The coolest part is that HarperCollins invited readers ages 14-17 to submit a similarly-themed story for the paperback version of the book. I do so love an interactive reading experience!

Cashay

Cashay

By: Margaret McMullan
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Street Lit, Real Life


Cashay has lived her life in the projects of Chicago. When her sweet little sister Sashay is killed from a stray bullet and her mom begins using again, she finds solace in her mentor, Allison, who shares with Cashay a world outside of her own. A heart wrenching story of hope.

Year of the Bomb

Year of the Bomb

By: Ronald Kidd
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Historical Fiction


the time: the mid fifties
the place: sierra madre, CA

The era of red scare, b-movies coalesced into an interesting backdrop for the story herein. about a group of movie loving friends some intrigue and a movie filming in there normally quiet town.
featuring an eclectic cast and some fine examples of what effect McCarthyism had on folkes caught under the scrutiny of investigators.

This was a fun read and my 2nd favorite book read this summer.

Mexican White Boy

Mexican White Boy

By: Matt de la Pena
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Many Cultures (in the U.S.A.)


This was the one with which i had the hardest time identifying with the characters.

Villain.net

Villain.net

By: Andy Briggs
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Category: Series



If superpowers could be downloaded, would you be among those who choose to use those powers for good as the first book Heroes.com exemplifies or would you be drawn to the dark side become a supervillain out to thwart the heroes and rule the world.

Maybe these books if read in tandem might give you an idea.

Hero or villain, your choice.

The Dead and the Gone

The Dead and the Gone

By: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Read by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Category: RWL Live



If disaster struck weather it is an earthquake, hurricane or a global threat as this story depicts, how would you survive, could you survive?

This book gave me pause to ask these very questions and to also ask myself if i could manage myself with even half of the skill and fortitude posessed by the characters in this book.

The Journal entry format got a little repetitive and there are some unanswered questions that are apparently waiting for the next book in the series.

Sophomore Switch

Sophomore Switch

By: Abby McDonald
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Many Cultures (worldwide)


Exchange students have been a long standing tradition in academia.

Gives a good sampling from both sides of the pond as viewed from an exchange students view even if you have had such an opportunity or known someone who has you might have only known or guess half the problems faced.

Pirates of the Retail Wastelaned

Pirates of the Retail Wasteland

By: Adam Selzer
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Category: Social Activism



A group of gifted misfits decide to try and save their beloved coffee shop from the threat of a chain store and the glut of chain stores that is slowly taking over their town.

Some of the ideas herein are so outlandish that this serves as a dose of surreality.

The kids here remind me of those depicted in The Breakfast Club which is oddly timed given the recent death of John Hughes.

Dead is a State of Mind

Dead is a State of Mind

By: Marlene Perez
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Category: Romance, The Undead, Series



I saved this for last a freebie as it crossed the line between the supernatural and the romantic and at the same time is a 2nd book in a burgeoning series. I see this as very female oriented and would primarily recommend it for that audience.

The Golden Sword

The Golden Sword (Chantel's Quest, Book 1)

By: Oliver Neubert
Reviewed by: Michael R., Sunnyside
Category: Fantasy

Adequate fast read with an enjoyable story.

Skunk Girl

Skunk Girl

By: Sheba Karim
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Category: Many cultures (in the U.S.A.)


Nina Khan is a Pakistani-American girl, and a Muslim. She struggles with finding a balance between her Americanized self, and the traditional girl that her family wants her to be. It doesn't help that her older sister, Sonia is absolutely brilliant, and is held up as the shining example that Nina should follow.

To make things even more complicated, Nina's crushing hard on a boy. How is a good Muslim girl supposed to reconcile her fondness for an Italian transfer student, who doesn't fit her parent's ideals at all?

It's an entertaining scenario in this debut novel.

Recommended to: romantics, bi-cultural teens

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

By: Jill Wolfson
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Real Life, Made Us Cry


Holy smokes. My favorite book of the SRP! This book is the story of Tyler's little sister, Amanda, the perfect and smart gymnast whose name means "worthy of being loved," who suffered brain death after a subdural hematoma during a gymnastics meet.

Meet 15-year-old Dani, who just wants to pierce her ears and cut classes and eat junk food like other girls her age, but who was born with a weak heart on the wrong side of her body and it's just about given up. She is now at the top of the transplant list as Recipient #6211. Tired all the time, pale as snow, with cold hands, two weeks from death, Dani is waiting for somebody's someone to die so that she can have a working heart.

A beautiful tale about a delicate subject, I found myself laughing aloud, sobbing, grateful for the things I have and the people I love. Makes me glad to be human.


Recommended to: everyone

The Girl's Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess

The Girl's Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess

By: Sally Jeffrey
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Cutie book with how-to's that every girly girl needs to know, like how to smooth away dry hands, how to convince people you're a celebrity, how to pirouette, how to apply mascara. Sweet.


Recommended to:

More Chinglish: Speaking in Tongues

More Chinglish: Speaking in Tongues

By: Oliver Lutz Radtke
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Oliver is free to makes happy fun of bad English translations in China. Tasteless or delicious? You decide too! Emotional free to visit his blog site: http://www.chinglish.de/


Recommended to: everyone!

A Practical Guide to Vampires

A Practical Guide to Vampires

By: Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


ave you wondered whether or not you should make eye contact with a vampire when you first meet? So have I.

Ever searching for the best vampire guide out there, I had hopes that this one would deliver. While it was fun and informative (and took the subject matter as serious as it is) the book is a largish shape that makes it difficult for teen collections. Not sure who the audience would end up being for this book.


Recommended to: seventh graders who are obsessed with vampires

In Ecstasy

In Ecstasy

By: Kate McCaffrey
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


What starts as simply trying ecstasy in order in enjoy the party ends in a quick and scary spiral downward.

While this sounds like a highly moralistic story (and it is) the plot really works and the alternating viewpoints from two best friends makes it a really quick and enjoyable read.


Recommended to: reluctant readers

Emily the Strange: The Lost Days

Emily the Strange: The Lost Days

By: Rob Reger, Jessica Gruner, and Buzz Parker
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Humor


Emily wakes up with a nasty case of amnesia. She finds herself in a mistaken life where she likes ponies and dresses and is the most popular girl at school. She feels in her gut that something is very wrong about this picture but as she unravels the mystery she realizes that she actually has amnesia for a very good reason.


Recommended to: anyone wearing Emily the Strange socks

Strange Angels

Strange Angels

By: Lili St. Crow
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: The Undead, Vampires, Horror, Series


Dru has grown up knowing that there is another world out there that most of us think is only found on tv and in books. When her dad shows up as a zombie (things went wrong when he was out hunting down someone) she is left to carry on the Buffy efforts on her own.

With clever writing and a compelling plot, this is really a good choice for horror fans.


Recommended to: horror fans

The Girl's Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess

The Girl's Book of Glamour: A Guide to Being a Goddess

By: Sally Jeffrey
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Honestly, it's really hard to feel classy when you are hailing a taxi for the first time so having a book give you the lowdown is a perfect idea. From how to make your own lipgloss to how to tactfully save your friend from an embarrassing situation, this book really cover a lot of ground.


Recommended to: girls

Hew Screw + Glue : How Stuff is Made

Hew Screw + Glue : How Stuff is Made

By: James Innes-Smith
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Everyone is dying to know how a bowling ball is made. Or how a paperclip is made. And what about hot dogs? Well, maybe the answer to that one is a little too scary.

This was a fun book but it had way too much text.


Recommended to: scientist types

Drama High: Keep It Movin'

Drama High: Keep It Movin'

By: L. Divine
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Series, Street Lit


This is another tame version of street lit. However, one of the things that I like about street lit is the compelling plot and this book actually lacked an entire plot. Pretty much is was about how the main character was trying to get money to keep her car running. There was more to it than that, and the writing was clever at times but it really was hard to plow through.


Recommended to: street lit fans who are young

Zombie Tales, Vol. 2

Zombie Tales, Vol. 2

By: Gerald Hausman
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Graphic Novels, Horror, Humor, The Undead


At last! A graphic novel you can sink your teeth into…that will sink ITS teeth into YOU!

Collection of stories featuring: a Lansdale story of handicapped vets in a hospital surrounded by zombies, an Oriental zaambi saga of a young man who sacrifices his humanity to fight the undead, a black-comedy look at a zombie-based society, and a woman who would fight her way through any number of zombies to find a red-blooded male. Odd artwork is spattered between the stories.

Gross, disgusting, and lots of fun.


Recommended to: Zombie lovers, really-graphic novel fans

Time Swimmer

Time Swimmer

By: Gerald Hausman
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fantasy


Caribbean mishmash of gods from ancient Greek to voudou and modern culture, with a depressed boy riding through time on a sea turtle who is really Odysseus of the Odyssey. Has some wonderful moments, but the dialect and the repetitiveness makes it bog down.


Recommended to: Mythology buffs

The Complete Terry and the Pirates

The Complete Terry and the Pirates

By: Milton Caniff
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Before there were graphic novels, there were serialized comic strips. Milton Caniff’s “Terry and the Pirates” is one of the reasons I go by “Terrance.” Fantastic artwork (he was one of the first cartoonists to get gallery showings of his work), some horrible racial and ethnic stereotypes (it was 70 years ago), and amazing female characters, including the alluring Dragon Lady (a pirate who became a fighter for Chinese independence when she saw profit in it) and the enigmatically hypnotic Sanjak (Caniff claimed she was named for an island near Lesbos). Terry and the Pirates was great storytelling, and the 1939-40 period included some of its strongest storylines.


Recommended to: Graphic Novel fans; this is how it all got started.

Running the Risk

Running the Risk

By: Lesley Choyce
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Sean calmly dealt with masked robbers at work, but he becomes a rush-junkie, seeking that adrenalin high by crossing highways, walking the city’s meanest streets, and joyriding. Will this thrillseeking take him too far?

Does a close shave make you timid or reckless? This book offers a chance to think about our responses to the events of our lives.


Recommended to: People on the edge of a choice

If the Witness Lied

If the Witness Lied

By: Caroline B. Cooney
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Mystery and Suspense


Tris Fountain killed his mother, and then he killed his father. Soon he will be three years old.

Mrs. Fountain refused chemotherapy before Tris was born, and Mr. Fountain was crushed by the SUV that was taken out of Park as Tris played inside it. A semi-relative runs the house, and the sisters have moved out. Jack is the first to discover that Aunt Cheryl is negotiating for a TV miniseries about the family. As the children try to stop this invasion of their lives, questions and answers change the way they look at their family and their lives.

A riveting book by the author of “The Face on the Milk Carton.”


Recommended to: everybody!

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

By: edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Gamers and Gaming, Humor, Queer Lit, Real Life, Romance


I never knew how many varieties of geekness there might be! Trek geeks, Star Wars geeks, baton geeks, live-action role-playing geeks, theater geeks, quiz-bowl geeks, Rocky Horror geeks, SF geeks, astronomy geeks, cosplay geeks, and more! Seventeen YA writers combined to present fifteen stories in this volume. Some are amazing, some are so-so. Don’t look at the author bios before you read the stories. You’ll be surprised by some of the well-known authors in this collection.


Recommended to: Geeks, nerds, dweebs, or people who know any of them

Shift

Shift

By: Jennifer Bradbury
Read by: Emma, Mendota
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Mystery and Suspense


After high school graduation, Chris and Win head out to bike cross-country to get away from it all and see America before they have to return to college in the fall and resume the rest of their lives. Everything is going well until Win abruptly leaves his friend behind and Chris is forced to finish the trip on his own. Upset with his friend, and assuming he has also finished the trip on his own, Chris returns to his life and college without trying to contact him. The only thing is that Win never made it back and now Chris has the FBI asking him questions. Looking back on their trip, Chris tries to find clues and answers as to what might have happened to his oldest friend.

A travelogue mystery which takes the reader through a cross-country trip while setting up the mystery of what could have happened to Win. In it's ability to keep the reader interested in the outcome, this was a decent enough story but the final answer is not that much of a surprise since foreshadowing and symbol are pretty easy to read in this tale.


Recommended to: Readers new to mysteries, would-be travelers.

Nothing but Ghosts

Nothing but Ghosts

By: Beth Kephart
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Mystery and Suspense

Kephart fills her writing with haunting images like a room filled with kaleidoscopic color, but empty of the woman who created it, a house oddly barren in the middle of verdant gardens, and a mysterious painting filled with symbols of darkness and regret.

Katie falls into a mystery as she works in the gardens of an eccentric heiress. At the same time she is dealing with grief over her mother's death and trying to reconnect with her father.

The author's writing creates a dreamlike atmosphere with descriptions which pull the reader into Katie's world.

Gorgeous,lush descriptive writing.

Recommended to: dreamers, mystery readers

Touch

Touch

By: Francine Prose
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Maisie comes back from a year away with an new,unfamiliar, curvy body. Suddenly, everything's different. The worst thing is the way that her three best friends, Shakes, Chris, and Kevin look at her. Even though they're guys, they've been her best friends since they were all babies. Ho can they treat her this way?

After an incident on the bus that everyone finds out about; students, the principal, even her step-mom, Maisie has to speak up about what happened. When lawyers get involved, everything becomes horribly confusing, and Maisie must figure out how to deal with the slurs of her classmates, and the hurt caused by her friends' betrayal.


Recommended to: teens who love drama

Wintergirls

Wintergirls

By: Laurie Halse Anderson
Read by: Eric, Clovis
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Real Life


Laurie Halse Anderson is an author unafraid to tackle tough topics. Her novels have the potential to be dragged down into the inept world of Saturday morning specials, but she is too talented of an artist to throw her characters away to such cliched moral lessons. Anorexia is not easy topic to discuss but the author pulls into the mind of Lia a girl who weighs less then 100 pounds and is looking to lose more. Lia has just lost her friend Cassie who was also anorexic, who died in hotel room alone.

Lia is someone you want to somehow be able to shake reason into her, but as the stream of consciousness narrative provides getting someone with an eating disorder to except "the yellow bubbles of fat" isn't so easy.


Recommended to:

Almost Murder and Other Stories

Almost Murder and Other Stories

By: Theresa Saldana
Read by: Eric, Clovis
Rating: Hated it!
Category: Latino Life


Easily the worst book I read this summer. It took me three times longer to read this book then any other I read this summer. Theresa Saldana an actress by trade has decided to give teen fiction a try. Bad idea. Honestly, I never read such horrendous plotting in book form before Almost Muderer and Other Stories. Some of the stories lacked any form of plot conflicts in order to even have a reason for existing. Her writing style felt like plot checklists going from one event to the next with virtually any description of what is going on. The characters were static and lacking of any originality and I could care less to what happened to them (which yes is harsh considering what terrible events happen to these characters.


Recommended to: Nobody

The Street Art Book: 60 Artists in Their Own Words

The Street Art Book: 60 Artists in Their Own Words

By: Ric Blackshaw & Liz Farrelly
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book features the work of street artists who work in very different mediums and styles. It includes personal interviews with artists, discussing their methods and inspirations, and tries to define and understand the term "street art."
Lots of photos and interesting viewpoints.


Recommended to: artists

Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know

Show Me How: 500 Instructions You Should Know

By: Derek Fagerstrom, Lauren Smith and The Show Me Team
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Show Me How is jam-packed with "instructions for life from the everyday to the exotic."

The authors admit to monthly gatherings where they get together with friends and show each other how to do cool stuff. This eclectic collection uses clever illustrations and clear instructions to teach the reader an amazing range of skills and knowledge. Need to know how to carve a hollow book? see # 14. How about how to create a chain mail bikini? #25 (I already knew how to do chain mail, but learning new styles is always fun.) My favorite was #406-learn how to mount a camel. Not so often needed, but still an immensely useful bit of knowledge.

Go ahead, flip through this book,learn something new-you'll enjoy it!


Recommended to: fact collecters, creative sorts

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

By: edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Real Life


"geektastic: adj. marked by fantastic geek qualities: a complement of the highest regard."

Are you a geek, a nerd, a fanfiction writer, a Klingon, a computer fanatic, a role player, or anyone who is uncommon? If you are, I'm sure that you will find that the characters in these stories are very familiar. Take heart, you are not alone, and you are fabulous!

I really enjoyed this book, and yes, I am a geek and proud of it, so there! Doom to the normals...May you languish in boredom.


Recommended to: geeks and geek lovers

Just Another Hero

Just Another Hero

By: Sharon M. Draper
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life

Just Another Hero explores the complexities of high school life and the relationships found there. November's pregnant, Arielle's new stepfather is crazy, Kofi can't get past the injury that has shattered his hope of a career in sports, and Jack, well, he's disintegrating before their eyes. As the tension mounts, the story switches between students' viewpoints. The author builds suspense really well, and keeps the story moving.

Thrilling read!


Recommended to: drama lovers, older teens

You are Here

You are Here

By: Jennifer E. Smith
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


I loved this story.

Emma is the odd girl out in her family of brilliant distracted academics. Her neighbor, Peter Finnegan fits right in however, showing up for breakfast and gliding easily into the esoteric discussions of mourning rituals and poetry that are common occurrences in her household. His place in his own family is somewhat harder to define...

After Emma discovers something that shakes the foundations of her understanding of her family's dynamic. The two teens and a dog they pick up along the way embark on an road trip which turns out to be a journey of self-discovery for both of them.


Recommended to: romance lovers, people interested in Civil War history

Secret Subway

Secret Subway

By: Martin W.Sandler
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


A fascinating account of Alfred Ely Beach and his dream of creating New York City's first subway. The subway system in New York is taken for granted now, but in Beach's day traffic congestion threatened the well being of the city. This is the story of his innovations. He managed to implement the plans he made to tunnel underground and build a pneumatic subway which would whisk passengers along at amazing speeds with great elegance and security. It is also the story of the failure of his dream through political corruption.

An interesting read for inventors and builders.

Recommended to: Inventors, history buffs

My Big Nose

My Big Nose

By: Sydney Salter
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Romance


Jory's nose is huge, ginormous,mountainous!(so she thinks, anyway)and if she could only get it fixed, maybe, finally, her life would get on track. Without "the Schnozz," she could find a boyfriend, get her act together, and win her mom's approval. She has all of summer vacation to change her life and join the "nice nose club," and she plans to devote all her energy to the task.
Instead, she learns self-acceptance and finds out that her mom and her man love her; imposing nose, quirky ways and all.


Recommended to: girls struggling with self-image, romance lovers

I Know It’s Over

I Know It’s Over

By: C.K. Kelly Martin
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Teen Parenting, Real Life


16-year-old Nick Severson needs a vacation from the effects of his parents' divorce and some other stuff going on, but what he finds is a whole lotta drama. He meets Sasha and it suddenly gets serious and then ends just as suddenly. He’s still reeling from the breakup when Sasha returns to tell him that she’s pregnant. A beautiful story about love, loss, and sacrifice.


Recommended to:

Mary Tudor: Courageous Queen or Bloody Mary?

Mary Tudor: Courageous Queen or Bloody Mary?

By: Jane Buchanan
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios and Memoirs


They’ve finally written bios that teens can get into! This book is about Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII, who burned over 300 religious dissenters at the stake during her reign as Queen of England. Reads like a novel, broken up by gorgeous illustrations, maps and photos. Includes a glossary, timeline, bibliography and index at the back. From the brilliant A Wicked History series.


Recommended to:

Leopold II: Butcher of the Congo

Leopold II: Butcher of the Congo

By: Tod Olson
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios and Memoirs


From the brilliant A Wicked History series. This one covers the Belgian king and brutal ruler of Africa’s Congo region during the late 1800’s. His reign in the Congo finally ended with the arrests and punishments of white officials, after thousands of murders of Africans. All of this without even having stepped foot in the Congo! An awesome bio.


Recommended to:

Ivan the Terrible: Tsar of Death

Ivan the Terrible: Tsar of Death

By: Sean Price
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios and Memoirs


From the awesome A Wicked History series. This one is about Russia’s first tsar, one of the most feared and powerful leaders in history. One time, Ivan’s men spent six weeks looting the city of Novgorod and torturing and killing its residents, all because of a piece of misinformation. His death was supposedly prophesied ahead of time. Cool stuff.


Recommended to:

Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan: 13th-Century Mongolian Tyrant

By: Enid A. Goldberg & Norman Itzkowitz
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios and Memoirs


Did you know that Genghis Khan’s father was a falconer? Or that his title means “Universal Ruler”? This is the story of Genghis Khan’s ruthless reign over the largest empire in history. From the fabulous A Wicked History series.


Recommended to:

Robespierre: Master of the Guillotine

Robespierre: Master of the Guillotine

By: John DiConsiglio
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic, Bios and Memoirs


Robespierre started out as a lawyer who believed in freedom for all people regardless of social class. He played a huge role in the French Revolution and was highly respected throughout France. But something went terribly wrong. He became paranoid and began spouting off conspiracy theories, and sent thousands of people to die on the guillotine in order to protect his revolution. At the end of his life, the very same people who respected and revered him fought for a place in the crowd in order to witness his own execution on the guillotine. From the A Wicked History series.


Recommended to:

Seventeen Presents...Mega Traumarama!

Seventeen Presents...Mega Traumarama!

By: Editors of Seventeen Magazine
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Another compilation of delightfully mortifying confessions from real teens. Prepare to cringe!


Recommended to:

Last Exit to Normal

Last Exit to Normal

By: Michael Harmon
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Queer Lit, Real Life


When Ben Campbell was fourteen, his father came out of the closet, his mom left, and his Dad’s boyfriend Edward moved in. Three years, one arrest and several drinks and bong hits later, Ben is moved to the small town of Rough Butte, Montana [insert joke here] to live with his two dads. As if life wasn’t hard enough, Ben thinks that the kid next door is being abused. Harmon artfully manages to take a complex situation and make it funny, moving, authentic.


Recommended to:

Be Strong and Curvaceous

Be Strong and Curvaceous

By: Shelley Adina
Reviewed by: Sue, Reedley
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Christian Fiction


Carolina Isabella Aragon Velasquez (or, Carly) is looking forward to finishing up the school year at the prestigious Spencer Academy. One setback is her new roommate at the boarding school, Mac, who is Scottish royalty AND a royal pain, but when her life, as well as the lives of the students are in danger, Carly steps up and puts all of her faith into doing the right thing. The story is inspired by true events, when a teenage girl stopped a bomb plot at De Anza College in Cupertino, California in 2001. The beauty of this book is Carly's courage, but the situations are too unrealistic despite the story's real-life inspiration (Mac's about to get killed, and Carly, the rescue party, is worried about having a spare lip gloss in her purse?!). You can easily skip the book and find the story of the girl who saved her school.


Recommended to: readers with Bay Area ties, especially Latinas

If the Witness Lied

If the Witness Lied

By: Caroline B. Cooney
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Real Life


The Fountain siblings, Jack, Madison and Smithy, must put aside their hostilities toward one another in order to protect their 3-year-old brother Tris from media exploitation of their family. When their Aunt Cheryl shamelessly sells their story to a reality show, the horrors of the past several years resurface with a vengeance. You see, it could be argued that little Tris is the very reason the Fountain parents are no longer alive.

An interesting, captivating read with a Christian theme.


Recommended to: Cooney fans

The Year We Disappeared

The Year We Disappeared: a Father-Daughter Memoir

By: John Busby and Cylin Busby
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Bios and Memoirs


This is the true story about the Busby’s, a family torn apart when the father, John, was shot on his shift as a police officer. With the shooter still on the loose, it seemed likely that the shooter would come back to finish the job, so the family was under guard 24/7. Desperate for a sense of normalcy during a situation that was anything but, the family up and disappeared, leaving everything they’d ever known. Heartbreaking and raw.


Recommended to: true geeks

Venomous

Venomous

By: Christopher Krovatin
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Real Life


A disturbing and frightening novel for older teens. Locke Vinetti has a sinking feeling in his gut—that the “venom”, the uncontrollable rage that is hibernating within him, will rear its ugly head soon. And the venom is no joke—the first time it happened, Locke was 8 and he tackled the school bully and bit off the tip of his nose. In order to cope, Lcoke has created an alter-ego for his venomous self. But he finds, as he begins to develop real relationships with people, that he needs to accept that he and the venom are one and the same. With smoking, drinking, violence, excessive swearing, save this for the older teens.


Recommended to:

Gamer Girl

Gamer Girl

By: Marianne Mancusi
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Gamers and Gaming, Romance


“Grandma’s house was a study of crystal and glass and contained 1,153 unicorns.” With a first line like that, how could I put this book down? :)

Maddy, her mom and her sister move to Grandma’s after the divorce and Maddy is the new freak at a new school in the ‘burbs. When she gets to join the online gaming community Fields of Fantasy as a birthday present, she finds a place she belongs, and even manages to find love. But is SirLeo someone she knows IRL (in real life)? Will she out herself or remain an anonymous Gamer Girl?


Recommended to:

Switch

Switch

By: Carol Snow
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fantasy, Romance


On the surface, Claire is a normal 15-year-old—except she talks with her dead grandma and occasionally wakes up in other people’s bodies. During one “switch” something goes terribly, wonderfully wrong and Claire gets “stuck” as a hot blonde that every guy, including Claire’s crush, wants to date. Will she ever get back to—er, will she ever want to get back to her old self?


Recommended to:

Sweethearts

Sweethearts

By: Sara Zarr
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Real Life, Romance


From 3rd to 5th grade, Cameron Quick was the only kid who thought lispy, chubby, smelly, dirt-poor, picked-on Jennifer was worth knowing. But he moved suddenly away in the 5th grade without saying goodbye. Now she is 17 and has reinvented herself as Jenna, a pretty and confident young woman with tons of friends and a kind boyfriend, Ethan. She’s almost completely erased her painful past, except for once in awhile, when flashes from her crappy childhood and memories of sweet, physically abused Cameron enter her head. And then it happens. Cameron has reentered her life in the form of the new kid at school and as they reconnect, the wall Jenna has built up around her past threatens to crumble around her and her feelings for her childhood love come flooding back.


Recommended to: everyone

Smiles to Go

Smiles to Go

By: Jerry Spinelli
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Real Life


When Will Tuppence was 5, he learned about the proton—how this teeny bit of matter, millions of times smaller than an atom was unsmashable, indestructible, that it is the one thing every piece of matter, including him, have in common, and the only thing that lives forever.

Now, as a teen, he hears the news on the radio—scientists have discovered that protons are, in fact, destructible, that nothing is forever. As if this news isn’t enough, his five-year-old sister is driving him nuts, plus, Will finds that he has growing feelings for his friend Mi-Su, and that their mutual friend BT does too. A lovely book with wonderful girl characters. Classic Spinelli.


Recommended to: everyone, Stargirl fans

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty

By: Jody Gehrman
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Real Life


Geena should be the happiest girl on earth—it’s her sixteenth summer and she’s about to spend it with her two best girls, her cousin Hero and her BFF Amber. Except Hero, being a future Rhodes-Scholar, and Amber, being an uninhibited trailer-trash goddess, well, despise each other. And they’re all working at Triple Shot Betty, a teeny drive-thru coffee stand where they will be in close quarters for the summer. So grab a half-soy, half-milk, half-caf and enjoy the summer!


Recommended to:

Poison Ink

Poison Ink

By: Christopher Golden
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating:
Category: Mystery and Suspense, Fantasy, Horror


Sammi, TQ, Caryn, Letty and Katsuko are their own group at school, not exactly BFF’s, but not really fitting in anywhere else. When the girls decide to get matching tattoos, Sammi backs out at the last minute, afraid of her parents’ reaction. Plus, the tattoo artist is creep-ay! Suddenly her tattooed friends are not themselves at all, getting into all sorts of trouble with drugs and fighting. After her friends physically attack her, Sammi investigates the tattoo shop and finds links to the occult---plus, the tattoos are changing...
Dark, paranormal story.


Recommended to: older teens due to language and violence

Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film About the Grapes of Wrath

Two Parties, One Tux, and a Very Short Film About the Grapes of Wrath

By: Steven Goldman
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life, Queer Lit, Humor


Eleventh grade has been tough on Mitchell. How is it that he’s been friends with David for the past eight months without knowing that David’s gay? Mitchell’s cool with it, but since David’s not totally out of the closet yet, the guys agree to be set up with prom dates. Then the most popular chick in school decides she wants to go to prom with Mitchell and he suddenly is faced with where to put his hands during a make-out sesh. Plus, his English grade may suffer because of an almost pornographic claymation film that he turned in. Hilarious, LOL action to be had for all.


Recommended to:

Outsmart Math

Outsmart Math

By: Mark Shulman
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


From lines and angles to number properties to graphs, this book makes math fun, even for librarianettes like me. On each page, the reader is presented with two questions like “What are the first 10 numbers of the Fibonacci string or sequence?” or “What is infinity?” and brief, succinct answers follow on the next page. I would get this for anyone struggling with math.


Recommended to:

Indie Girl

Indie Girl

By: Arne Johnson and Karen Macklin
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


In the forward, Macklin says “We can’t accomplish our dreams by spending all of our free time getting our hair done, obsessing over our silhouettes, or crying over guys. And we certainly can’t get anywhere by competing with each other.” The authors give nine suggestions for girls to get creative together with tips and tricks on publishing a zine to creating an art exhibit and more. This book is visually appealing, fun to read, and empowering. The best part is that it encourages girls to bond and work together rather than be adversaries and compete, as is the social norm.


Recommended to: all girls

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing

By: Gary Soto
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Poetry


Poet Gary Soto groups his book of poetry into two parts, a “Girl’s Tears, Her Songs” and “A Boy’s Body, His Words”. Soto does an excellent job of capturing younger teens’ voices as they tenderly explore love and its heartbreaks.


Recommended to: Gary Soto fans, tweens, poetry lovers

Outsmart History

Outsmart History

By: Mark Shulman
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


250 history concepts that everyone should know. On each page, the reader is presented with two questions like “What was the importance of trade and merchants in medieval Islamic culture?” or “What exactly did the U.S. win in the Mexican-American war?” and brief, succinct answers follow on the next page. Covers ancient history to medieval history to modern history. This would be an ideal starting point to get ideas for research papers.


Recommended to: students of history, trivia buffs

How to be Bad

How to be Bad

By: E. Lockhart et al
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Three different authors give voice to three different characters in this fun and entertaining read. Vicks, Jesse and Mel are three very different coworkers who, for reasons unique to each of them, decide to head out together on a three-day road trip to Miami. Through ups and downs, detours, and even a hurricane, find yourself in each of the girls. Heartwarming and funny. See if you can guess which author wrote which girl before the end of the book! I couldn’t!


Recommended to:

No Choirboy : Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

No Choirboy : Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

By: Susan Kuklin
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Delve into stories from young people sentenced to death row as teenagers and their families and the victims they’ve left in their wake. With short, captivating sections and plenty of photographs, this book is a sobering page-turner that will cause you to think about the justice system, victims’ rights, and prisons in our country.


Recommended to:

The Color of Water

The Color of Water

By: Kim Dong Hwa
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Graphic Novels, Many Cultures (in the USA)

The second graphic novel, or manhwa, as they are called in Korea, in the Colors trilogy. As Ehwa grows older and becomes involved with Duksam, a wrestler she meets at a town festival, her feelings about love change and deepen. But Master Cho challenges their relationship by sending Duksam away and asking for Ehwa’s hand in marriage, and that’s when Ehwa learns about heartbreak as well. A lovely book!


Recommended to:

The Color of Earth

The Color of Earth

By: Kim Dong Hwa
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Graphic Novels, Many Cultures (in the USA)


The first book in the Colors trilogy, translated from the Korean. This poignant graphic novel set in rural Korea follows Ehwa on her journey through adolescence as she begins to notice boys and learn about love. Definitely going to read the next ones--The Color of Water and The Color of Heaven.


Recommended to: mothers and daughters

Once Dead, Twice Shy

Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery Book 1)

By: Kim Harrison
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fantasy


On her prom night, a dark reaper targeted Madison for death, except she was able to grab his mysterious, glowing amulet, interrupting the death mission. Now she is stuck-—dead on earth, with a light reaper and a guardian angel to protect her, plus there are timekeepers, dark wings, and seraphs to muddy up the story even further. It’s a confusing world that Kim Harrison has created so this one’s only for the truly dedicated urban fantasy lovers.


Recommended to:

Killer Lipstick and Other Spy Gadgets

Killer Lipstick and Other Spy Gadgets

By: Don Rauf
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book will make you paranoid. Learn about secret spy gadgets and hidden cameras, famous spies, code cracking and all things espionage in this fascinating book. From the fabulous 24/7 Science Behind the Scenes Spy Files series.


Recommended to:

Cute Furry, and Deadly

Cute Furry, and Deadly: Diseases You Can Catch From Your Pet!

By: Christen Brownlee
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


From the awesome 24/7 Science Behind the Scenes Medical Files series of books comes this little number about all of the awful things that cute little animals can pass on to humans. Zoonotic disease specialists tell all about rabies, cat scratch fever, hantavirus and more. Meet the little creatures living on your little creatures. Makes the bubonic plague seem quaint!


Recommended to:

The Teen Girl’s Gotta-Have-It Guide to Money

The Teen Girl’s Gotta-Have-It Guide to Money

By: Jessica Blatt
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


A cute and colorful book about making, saving, spending and investing money. Includes fun activities and a list of additional resources. I would buy this book for any tween girl.


Recommended to:

Astonishing Fantasy Worlds

Astonishing Fantasy Worlds: the Ultimate Guide to Drawing Adventure Fantasy Art

By: Christopher Hart
Reviewed by: Gina, Woodward Park
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Learn to draw all that is fantasy—-barbarians, man-beasts, faeries, gothic creatures and medieval royalty, with simple step-by-step instructions. With tips on the use of shadows, how to make realistic fabric folds, and how to illustrate movement, this book makes people like me think they can draw!


Recommended to: aspiring artistes

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

By: Carrie Ryan
Reviewed by: Sue, Reedley
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Zombies!


If you want nightmares for the rest of your life, then read this book. A creepy settlement is surrounded by a huge fence that keeps out the flesh-crazed Unconsecrated. Suddenly the fence is breached and the Unconsecrated descend, and Mary and the few other survivors must escape through the strange, fenced paths in the forest, but to where, and how long can she and her companions possibly remain alive? Our heroine Mary kicks some serious zombie butt, and even finds time for a little romance, and this is with putrid zombies being less than a few yards away at any given moment. Don't let the title or the pretty girl on the cover fool you, this is REAL DEAL frightening stuff, and honestly, few movies can recreate the kind of fear you'll feel reading this. That is, if you even DARE pick it up!


Recommended to: anyone who NEVER wants to sleep peacefully again

Playing with Matches

Playing with Matches

By: Brian Katcher
Reviewed by: Sue, Reedley
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Humor


Probably the most surprisingly hilarious novel EVER, Katcher has written a story that is sure to make you laugh and move you like no other. 17 year old Leon falls in love with Melody, the girl at school who is not known for turning heads (unless it's to stare at her disfigured face, scarred from an accident when she was a little girl), and after discovering that they are soul mates, a relationship blossoms. Leon himself isn't the biggest catch (being a massive nerd and all), but his caring nature soon attracts the attention of his ex-crush, drop-dead-gorgeous Amy. Will he abandon his sweet soul mate Melody for the girl of his and every other guy's dreams? What's a guy to do?? Half the jokes are about farts or along that line, but trust me, Playing with Matches is a classy and enjoyable read.


Recommended to: Those who love seeing relationship drama unfold and practical jokers. Must like knock knock jokes, too.

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go

By: Patrick Ness
Reviewed by: Sue, Reedley
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Science Fiction


Todd lives in the only colony (or IS it??) of an earth-like planet in a distant galaxy. That's not the weird part. There are no females in the colony or on the rest of the planet (or ARE there??) and everyone, even the animals, hear each others thoughts ALL THE TIME no thanks to the planet's alien species that unleashed this strange "illness" (or DID they??). His loved ones force Todd and his dog Manchee to leave the colony because of a potentially deadly secret and is sent out to fend for himself beyond the town and into locales and situations that are either strange or terrifying, or both. This is a dark and frustrating novel that is not for those who like happy endings. A sequel is being released very soon for anyone who dares to find out the fate of Todd and the rest of the planet.


Recommended to: anyone seriously into scifi, but NOT dog lovers

High Voltage Tattoo

High Voltage Tattoo

By: Kat Von D
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


"If AC-DC opened up a beauty parlor, it would be High Voltage."

Kat Von D, star of L.A. Ink, has more tattoos than just about anyone I've ever seen, and plans to get more until someday she has a full body suit.

Her book describes her life on the edge, her TV show, her art, and the people who influenced her. Lots of photos and descriptions of the tattoos of both Kat and her many customers make this a fascinating read.


Recommended to: teens who like tattoos

Somebody

Somebody

By: Nancy Springer
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Mystery and Suspense


Her name and her hair color changes every time her family moves. Her dad's story of why they're on the run changes too.

Every time her name changes, her loneliness and uncertainty grows, making Sherica feel emptier inside.

She's afraid of the truth, but Sherica finds a way to unravel the mystery of her existence.

Quick, exciting read.


Recommended to: reluctant readers

Perpetual Check

Perpetual Check

By: Rich Wallace
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Before reading this book, I never realized how cutthroat tournament chess could be. The competition was intense.

Beyond the fight for the championship, though, was the story of Zeke, natural athlete, and all-around winner, and his little brother Randy, equally as gifted, but much more laid back.

Switching from the viewpoint of one brother to the other, we watch as they battle to win victory and gain understanding of each other.


Recommended to: chess players-reluctant readers

Nine Doors

Nine Doors

By: Vicki Grant
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Nikky Nikky Nine Doors, Ding Dong Ditch, Ring and Run, they're all names for an innocent game, ringing someone's doorbell and disappearing before they open the door. It is really so innocent, though? Emery and Richard learn how much hurt the game can cause, but is it too late?

The ending really surprised me!


Recommended to: reluctant readers

Evermore

Evermore

By: Alyson Noel
Read by: Jamie, Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: The Undead


Ever has survived the unthinkable. She is the lone survivor of the automobile accident that took the lives of every member of her family – including the family pet. Since her “near death” experience, she hasn’t been the same. Not only is she battling with feelings of guilt for being alive, she now has psychic abilities. She can read minds and nothing is secret anymore. In order to block out the noise that constantly surrounds her, she keeps her iPod cranked to dangerous levels, hoping to distract herself.


Recommended to: Anyone

Dead is the New Black

Dead is the New Black

By: Marlene Perez
Read by: Jamie, Politi
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Vampires


The story centers around Daisy Giordano, a girl who is the only “norm” in a household of witches. Her old best friend is now the stereotypical cheerleader and has decided that dressing in black and doing the goth "thing" is the new “in” style. As cheerleaders start dying, our little norm finds out there is a vampire in their midst. Once Daisy begins to investigate the murders, she finds out that her town is not what it seems. Nightshade is filled with supernatural creatures and is governed by a secret committee headed by werewolves, vampires, and witches. They are attempting to find the killer as well. There is a fun quality to this story, but if you’re looking for real horror, it’s lacking.


Recommended to:

A Curse Dark As Gold

A Curse Dark As Gold

By: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Read by: Jamie, Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fairy Tales


This book is a retelling of Rumplestiltzken, though I found it much more attractive than I ever found the fairy tale that as a child, sort of scared me. It's about Charlotte Miller, the oldest daughter of the recently deceased owner of Stirwaters Woolen Mill. If she and her sister are unable to keep the mill running, to turn a profit, than the mill -- which has been in the family for five generations -- will die. If the mill dies, so will the town.

This was pretty cool.


Recommended to: All YA (adult) fairy tale fans!!!

Pure

Pure

By: Terra Elan McVoy
Read by: Jamie, Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Christian Fiction


Tabitha and her group of friends all wear purity rings that symbolize their pledge to remain virgins until they are married. When one of the girls, Cara, admits to having sex with her boyfriend, loyalties are tested and Tabitha must reexamine her friendships.

So, I really like that the subject of purity rings (and faith in general) is dealt with earnestly and in a way that I can see hitting home with many teens. It’s something that has the potential to generate a healthy discussion about values, being true to yourself, and respecting your body. But as provocative as this book is in places, it can also be pretty bland. I did, however, really enjoy this one and am recommending it to every teen girl I know.


Recommended to: YA girls

Drawing Vampires: Gothic Creatures of the Night

Drawing Vampires: Gothic Creatures of the Night

By: Chris Hart
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Ok,everyone! Grab your paper and pencil, and prepare to capture the creatures of the night... Chris Hart's book makes it easy to draw any vampire that you might visualize, from the Modern Victorian to the Vampire Bride.

Starting with a circle, some ovals,and some spikey accent lines, Hart explains how to sketch the elements of a vampire's face, clothing, and surroundings.

I'm not much of an artist, but I sharpened my pencil really, really well(you never know when you'll need a good stake) and produced a recognizable glam-vamp.


Recommended to: budding artists, Twilight readers,vampire lovers

Hollywoof: Celebrity Dogs Bite Back

HollywoofHollywoof: Celebrity Dogs Bite Back

By: Nasim Mawji
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


I have to admit, I struggled a bit at first with this book, but once I got someone to identify all the celebs for me it was pretty amusing. I mean, who hasn't dressed up their doggy once in a while? Actually, after going through this book, I'm seriously considering throwing out all my Chihuahua's pink outfits. (not the leather though...)

The captions are bitingly funny, the dogs are adorable, if a bit cynical, and as for the dog's owners? Shame, shame, shame.


Recommended to: celebrity watchers

Dark Wraith of Shannara

Dark Wraith of Shannara

By: Terry Brooks
Read by: Eric, Clovis
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fantasy


For Terry Brooks fans of the Shannara series, Dark Wraith of the Shannara is the first graphic novel by Terry Books. The graphic novel follows Jairs Ohmsford in a new adventure from the previous Wishsong novel.

Not a particularly great fantasy story, but I nice little experiment to mix sword-n-sorcery fantasy and graphic novels.


Recommended to:

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

By: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Read by: Eric, Clovis
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Books to Screen, Romance,


For those who seen the movie don't expect to see the exact same plot from the book or even the exact the same personalities in the characters. Michael Cera is a great young actor but he is no Nick. The filmmakers wanted to make a teen comedy when in fact they should have been gearing the film towards an older teen romance. I personally am not a fan of teen romance stories, but the romance in this novel works and works great.

The two leads Nick and Norah take turns giving stream of consciousness narratives throughout giving the reader an exciting sense of the joy and awkwardness of a budding new love.

Read the book, watch the film but don't compare the two.


Recommended to:

Fuck the World

Fuck the World

By: Bodhi Oser
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book shows the F-word added to signage across the world. It's as juvenile as it sounds but some of the placement is really clever and the book is tons of fun to paw through. It comes with stickers even for local efforts.


Recommended to: teens who look bored

The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World

The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World

By: Lonely Planet
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book offers 4 pages on every country in the world. For a country you've never heard of this is just about right but for countries that are a popular travel destination this format doesn't quite work. It's fun to browse though and picture how it would be to become a world traveler.


Recommended to: free spirits

I Lick My Cheese

I Lick My Cheese and Other Real Notes from the Roommate Frontlines

By: Oonagh O'Hagan
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book is pretty fun but the handwriting is hard to read at times but that's because the notes are real. From requests to help clean up after a party, to explanations for odd items expected in the mail, this book is pretty funny. The authors inserts with the notes are hit and miss though.


Recommended to: high school graduates going away for college

America's Next Top Model: Eye Candy

America's Next Top Model: Eye Candy

By: Taryn Bell
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Series


The adventure to find out who will be America's Next Top Model continues in book 2. This one demonstrates integrity in many ways without being too moralistic or boring. The name dropping continues as well.


Recommended to: ANTM fans

I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun

I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun

By: Professor Happycat
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


If you'd like to know the history of monorail cat, ceiling cat or even the cheezburger joke itself, this LOLCat colleckshun is the book for you. It's full of cute cat pictures with funny captions and all things considered the humor gets rather sophisticated.


Recommended to: Internet humor junkies, cat lovers

Gentlemen

Gentlemen

By: Michael Northrop
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Real Life


This is a really creepy book about a group of who friends who are trying to figure out what happened to their friend who is missing and they conclude that their teacher must have killed him. The teacher continues to act suspicious and what happens when they confront him is entirely alarming.

This book is pretty good but I didn't really get hooked until a ways in so this makes it hard for me to recommend.


Recommended to: teen readers who like creepy

Goners

Goners: The Final Hours of the Notable and Notorious

By: Gordon Kerr
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This is a fun book with 2-3 page entries about how different people died. From Billy the Kid to Ghandi this book has entry for everyone except Michael Jackson. Perhaps that will be added in a later edition. :)


Recommended to: teens who look bored

Denim Diaries: 16 Going on 21

Denim Diaries: 16 Going on 21

By: Darrien Lee
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Series


Denim sneaks out to a party where there ends up being a shooting. Her new boyfriend isn't trusted by her parents and when they find out she was at the party this fact is crystalized. This is a moralistic story. Too much so. The plot isn't bad but the writing is horrible. I didn't enjoy it but can picture an audience for it still.


Recommended to: middle school girls who want a quick read

Robert Pattinson Fated for Fame

Robert Pattinson Fated for fame

By: Mel Williams
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Didn't like it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book skips over some of the more interesting parts of Pattinson's film history and it manages to make him sound like pure fluff instead of being intense and interesting. It's got a lot of pictures though, which is why I didn't hate it.


Recommended to: Die hard Twihards who need a fix

The Robert Pattinson Album

The Robert Pattinson Album

By: Paul Stenning
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Robert Pattinson facts you'll discover in this book: he played in a gay love scene just prior to his Twilight part, he is pretty jaded by the film industry, he hadn't read Twilight when he got the part of Edward but fully immersed himself in the character afterward, he wouldn't stop using an American accent while filming Twilight because he didn't want to risk falling into his British accent.

This is great bio for Twihards. It really delivers and has plenty of pictures as well.


Recommended to: Twilight fans

Baby Stuff

Baby Stuff

By: Aranzi Aronzo and Jessica Hatakeda
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This is cute little craft book that is full of stuff to make for a baby. It has great translations that help you know what the baby will find most cute. It's fun to read and would be even more fun to try making some of the cute things like dolls, bibs, diapers and more. Too cute.


Recommended to: fans of all things Japan

Subway Art : 25th Anniversary Edition

Subway Art : 25th Anniversary Edition

By: Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This is a new edition of the historic book that first put graffiti art on the radar of many and a book that helped spread the art form beyond urban cities and thus created a worldwide sensation.


Recommended to: taggers

30 Days to Finding & Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs.

30 Days to Finding & Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs

By: Clea Hantman
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


this is a fun little number for middle school age girls. From how to deal with a fried who can't keep a secret to how to be supportive this book is an informative and fun read.


Recommended to: girls nervous about middle school

Pain & Wastings

Pain & Wastings

By: Carrie Mac
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Real Life, Made Us Cry


Ethan bounced around foster care and group homes, and now he’s landed in an ambulance, and he rides it again as a condition of release, with a driver who knew his mother. How much did she know?

Written by a paramedic, the stories sound real, and some of them are hard to take. Stay with it. You’ll be glad you did.


Recommended to: Future paramedics and people who need a second chance…or a first one.

Seventeen Presents...Mega Traumarama!

Seventeen Presents...mega traumarama!

By: Editors of Seventeen Magazine
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Humor, Fun Non-Fic, Real Life


Things you will learn from this book:
Never pinch your crush on the butt; it will be your history teacher in the same jacket.
Never say bad words offstage; your microphone will still be on.
Never make fun of somebody in a program; their parents will be sitting in front of you.
Never do anything at that-time-of-the-month; something will happen that will embarrass you.
The most important thing you will learn from this book:
You will think you will die. You won’t.
Taken from a popular feature of Seventeen Magazine, a few of these at a time can be fun reading. When you go through nearly 200 of these things, you start wondering if anybody in this world thinks about anybody but themselves.


Recommended to: people who think snot, farts, pee, and vomit are funny

Back

Back

By: Norah McClintock
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life, Teen Parenting, Street Lit,


JoJo is back, and Ardell isn’t happy. Ardell’s brother Eden is in a coma because of JoJo. Ardell doesn’t want JoJo there. Lots of people don’t want JoJo there. What will they do about it?

Taut little book talks about vengeance, forgiveness, responsibility, and growing up.


Recommended to: People who need to forgive

Children of the Sea

Children of the Sea

By: Daisuke Igarashi
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: It was amazing!
Category: Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy


Umi and Sora were raised by sea mammals, manatees. Ruka saw strange lights in the city aquarium where her father works. Amazing meteorites have been seen in the sky. Fish are vanishing. Whales are gathering, singing new songs. It’s all very strange, and this is just the beginning.
The artwork has a denseness and a luminosity you don’t usually find in Japanese comics…and not a chibi in sight! Get started on this one, and you’ll want to follow the series.


Recommended to: lovers of the sea, manga fans looking for something different

First Time

First Time

By: Meg Tilly
Reviewed by: Terrance M., Cedar-Clinton/Politi
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life


Haley’s mom has a boyfriend, a big-time lawyer, but he’s started to say and do things that make her uncomfortable. Her best friend has a car and a boy she really likes. Which situation will end up being the worst?
Oscar-nominee (Agnes of God) Tilly tells a tale of what people do to each other that holds you.


Recommended to: People faced with a choice

The Laugh Out Loud Cats Sell Out

The Laugh Out Loud Cats Sell Out

By: Adam Koford
Reviewed by: Lisa L., Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


Comics with lots of nerdy Internet jokes mixed with cute kitties. This book got me to get out my wikipedia and look up pawned. :) Fun for gamers and the like.


Recommended to: Gamers

Evil?

Evil?

By: Timothy Carter
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Horror


"And the townspeople rose up against him and all Onaners, calling upon one another to tear the youthful sinners from limb to limb. And there was much pants wetting."

As you might have guessed, Stuart is in big trouble. He has sinned, and everyone, from his parents to his teachers think that he must pay for his sin. But where is all this hostility coming from? It used to be such a nice tolerant town...

I learned a bunch of slang terms that I probably didn't need to know, as I laughed my way through this book, following Stuart as he tries to uncover the darkness behind the town's sudden craziness.

Definitely funny-mature themes


Recommended to: older teens

Prism

Prism

By: Faye Kellerman & Aliza Kellerman
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Mystery and Suspense, Science Fiction,


Imagine a world with no health care. Illness is taboo, and sick people just...disappear.

Fay Kellerman joins with her daughter Aliza in writing about a terrifying parallel universe.

A group of teens make their way through a passage into a world where even aspirin is forbidden. They must find their way back to their own reality before it is too late.


Recommended to: suspense readers

Something, Maybe

Something, Maybe

By: Elizabeth Scott
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Romance


Hannah is quiet, reserved, and just trying to stay out of the spotlight, unlike her dad, a Hugh Hefner-type celebrity, and her mom who hosts a web-cam show in her underwear.

Her main concerns are keeping her mom's life together and getting her co-worker Josh to notice her.(sigh) She's a lovely, thoughtful character, trying to survive a really different sort of family dynamic.


Recommended to: older teens

The Demon's Lexicon

The Demon's Lexicon

By: Sarah Rees Brennan
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fantasy


This was a really good read! It explores dark emotions, love, loyalty, and family ties. It had a twist that totally surprised me.

Sometimes it's hard to tell who the real monsters are in life.


Recommended to: fantasy lovers

Itty Bitty Kitty Ditties

Itty Bitty Kitty Ditties

By: Tim Hodapp
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Poetry

I enjoyed this A-Z compilation of tiny poems about cats. The author covers the whole gamut of feline rhyhme; from fat cats to scaredy cats, you'll find one to love. The illustrations are fun too.

I was inspired to write my own itty bitty kitty ditty.

Large Moo lies on the grass,
belly turned up to the sun.
She's a hairy solar battery.


Recommended to: cat lovers

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

By: Mark Kneece
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Graphic Novels


I remember reading this story long ago, then later watching the Twilight Zone episode. It made a huge impact on me. I enjoyed its latest incarnation as a graphic novel.

Imagine yourself in a quiet suburban neighborhood, the laughter of children playing rings through the streets. Women chat and men mow their lawns; a typical lazy Sunday. Suddenly a burst of light, the power goes out, and Tommy, a neighborhood kid, announces that the monsters are coming.

Suspicions escalate as trust disappears, and a lovely neighborhood disintegrates; victim of fear and prejudice...In the Twilight Zone.


Recommended to: graphic novel readers-fans of Rod Serling

Shrinking Violet

Shrinking Violet

By: Danielle Joseph
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life, Romance


Tere is painfully shy, to the point where it has limited her entire life. She says, "When I was little, I used to think that I was Shy Adams. People would ask my name and my mother would immediately answer for me, "She's shy."

As Sweet-T, anonymous disk jockey at SLAM FM, she gets a chance to find her voice.

A sweet and romantic read.


Recommended to: shy girls

Fat Cat

Fat Cat

By: Robin Brande
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Real Life, Romance


"Proposal: Over the course of seven months(207 days), researcher will act as own test subject and attempt to duplicate as closely as possible the living conditions of early hominins."

I liked this character. Cat is smart, insightful, and brave. She decides to transform herself and win the science contest at the same time, using herself as the subject. Eating like a caveman, oh yeah!

"Cat Before: Smart, Funny, Fat--Cat After: Smart, Funny, Hot!!"


Recommended to: girls

The Laugh Out Loud Cats Sell Out

The Laugh Out Loud Cats Sell Out

By: Adam Koford
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: It was alright...
Category: Fun Non-Fic


1920's style cartoons with LOL Cats captions. Lots of puns and jokes about hobos, and a sense of history, but without a background in the cartoons of that era, I'm afraid that most of it went right over my head.

I enjoyed some of the cartoons though.


Recommended to: cartoon lovers, history buffs

Shadowed Summer

Shadowed Summer

By: Saundra Mitchel
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Mystery and Suspense


Quick read. Great ghost story. Very spooky

The author uses just the right touch of danger and uncertainty in this story about Iris' quest to solve the decades-old mystery of the disappearance of a local boy.


Recommended to: younger suspense readers

I Lick My Cheese

I Lick My Cheese and Other Real Notes from the Roommate Frontlines

By: Oonagh O'Hagan
Reviewed by: Roberta, Sunnyside
Rating: Really liked it
Category: Fun Non-Fic


This book would be great for the college-bound.I swear, I've had some of these roommates. I've written similar threatening notes...

This was a fun read-

If just one person learns to stop stealing the goodies in the fridge, and maybe start washing the crusty dishes, it will have fulfilled its destiny.


Recommended to: older teens

Bloodhound