Getting close to Christmas...

Not much news to post, so I'll get that out of the way first.

• One more chance for gaming this month! Thursday, 12/16, 6-7:30 p.m. As always, drinks and snacks provided. I may even try to have a special snack for Christmas.
• The book club discussion for Hunger Games is on Monday, 12/20 at 6 p.m. Hopefully those of you who got the book have been reading! And hopefully you loved it, because it's an awesome book...lol.
  
• Reminder: if Clark Co. schools are closed on any particular day, the library's programs are also cancelled that day. So if you don't have school the day of either of the above programs, they will be cancelled as well.
  
• The library will be closed on the following days: 12/24 through 12/26, 12/31, and 1/1. So if you need books to read over the holiday, come in and get them before then!

On that note, here's Amazon links to some new books we just got in!

The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jen Bryant - Based on the opera Carmen, but set in modern times. A young West Point cadet becomes obsessed with an exotic girl he meets at a convenience store.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker - A reporter for a high school newspaper is a bit disappointed with his assignment to cover sports, but that changes when he believes he has uncovered a cheating scandal involving a senior transfer student who no one seems to know much about.

Entice by Carrie Jones - Third in a series that began with Need and Captivate, this book describes Zara's quest to rescue her boyfriend Nick from Valhalla, a mythic place where warriors get taken. Complications ensue when Zara gets pixie-kissed.

Blood Ninja II: The Revenge of Lord Oda by Nick Lake - sequel to Blood Ninja. Sorry, no description on Amazon. But check out the first book to get an idea!

Unidentified by Rae Mariz - In this futuristic story, kids go to school at "Game Centers," where learning is less important than setting fashion trends and getting high scores in games, and the most popular kids get corporate sponsors. Check this out if you liked Hunger Games and Maze Runner.

Dark Water by Laura McNeal - Set during the wildfires in southern California in 2007, this book describes the romance between a 15 yr old girl and a teenage migrant farm worker who can barely speak. This romance causes Pearl to make choices that lead to tragedy when the fires break out. This book was just named a finalist for the National Book Award.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler - All of Delilah's relationships seem to be falling apart. Then one summer, some unexpected people come into her life, and she is forced to deal with painful truths from her family's past.

Last Sacrifice: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead - This is the sixth and last book in the very popular Vampire Academy series. Again, no description on Amazon, but check out the earlier books in the series if you haven't already read them! If the newest one is checked out when you come in, make sure to place a hold request for it at the front desk!

If that's not enough for you, we should have even more coming in soon! Come in and stock up for Christmas break!

Sarah

Ok, I know it's been a while since we've posted anything on here - sorry! So as penance, I'll tell you about some great new books we've gotten in recently! Titles are linked to their Amazon pages.

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard - A teenager's life gets a little crazy when on her 16th birthday, all her birthday wishes from previous years start coming true, including a life-sized My Little Pony!

Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde - Eight different versions of Little Red Riding Hood told from the perspective of several different characters. I'm halfway through it right now and loving it! If you like fractured fairy tales, check this one out.

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams - Love story about a boy named John Lennon (not the John Lennon, just a John Lennon) and a girl named Destiny McCartney. Sounds like a perfect match, but of course the circumstances are complicated, as these things always are.

Trash by Andy Mulligan - While digging through a dump looking for valuables, three teen boys one day find a mysterious bag. This discovery marks the beginning of an adventure that will test their characters and ultimately change their lives.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry - Benny gets a job as an apprentice zombie hunter with his older brother. The job is not what he expected, and he ultimately learns more about his brother and about what it means to be human.

Virgin Territory by James Lecesne - When teenage Dylan moves with his father to Florida after his mother's death, he meets the members of the Virgin Club. Not what it sounds like - this club is made up of kids whose parents drag them across the country following sightings of the Virgin Mary. Adventures and coming-of-age ensue.

Night Star by Alyson Noel - Book 5 in the Immortals series that begins with Evermore. Continues the story of Ever and Damen as they go through new trials. Sets up for the sixth and last book in the series.

A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes - Mary (nicknamed Mister) is a successful high school student until one mistake ends with her becoming pregnant. Abandoned by her boyfriend, Mary struggles with her situation and with her faith, and finds comfort in the story of the Virgin Mary.

How to Be a Zombie: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Craves Brains by Serena Valentino. This book is written like a self-help manual for someone who has recently been turned into a zombie. Includes makeup tips, recipes, and fashion tips. Also includes lists of zombie books, movies, video games, music, etc.

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler - This is a fantasy book, but it addresses a serious issue. The main character, Lisabeth, is anorexic. She is also Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As she performs her duty in this role, she is forced to examine the effects of starvation around the world while she battles her own personal demons.

This is just a small sample - we've got tons of new books available. Come out and look at the new books display. Also there are a few events for teens in December - two chances for gaming, and a teen advisory board meeting. Pick up a December calendar at the children's desk, or download it from our website: www.clarkbooks.org. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sarah

Question Time!

Teen Read Week is over and everyone has hopefully finished reading their books (you did read during Teen Read Week, right???) .
So here is question #1: What is one of your favorite teen books, graphic novel, etc?

Question #2: What teen book would you most like to see be made into a movie?

And since Halloween is coming up next weekend...

Question #3: What is one your favorite scary books or stories?

Hope that everyone enjoyed Teen Read Week! We can't wait for next year!

JH

Teen Read Week

Teen Read Week is almost here! It runs from 10/17-10/23. We will have events throughout the week.

• Monday, 10/18 is Gourd Decorating at 6 p.m. We have a special presenter coming in to teach and help you paint your own Halloween design. We provide the gourds and paint, you just have to show up!
  
• Tuesday, 10/19 is CD Creations and Heart Healthy Pizza Making at 6 p.m. You will be making your own individual pizzas, and decorating donated CD's.
  
• Thursday, 10/21 we will have our regular Teen Gaming program from 6-7:30 p.m. Snacks are provided, as usual! If you've never been before, you must bring a signed permission slip to participate, which can be picked up anytime at the youth desk.
  
• Saturday, 10/23 we will be showing a movie at 1 p.m. The movie: Paul Blart, Mall Cop (recommended by the Teen Advisory Board)! Woohoo! Again, snacks and drinks will be provided. So come on out and join us for a whole week of events just for teens!

Sarah

Coming up...

This will be a pretty short and sweet post. Teen events this week:

• Teen Advisory Board meeting - Monday, 10/4 at 6 p.m. We will be discussing Teen Read Week and other upcoming events.
• Teen Gaming - Thursday, 10/7 from 6-7:30 p.m. Permission slip required, snacks and drinks provided!
  

That's it for now - more later on Teen Read Week coming up!

Sarah

Banned Books Week

It's here! Banned Books Week runs from Sep. 25-Oct. 2. It's sponsored by the American Library Association to celebrate everyone's right to read what they want to read. Intellectual freedom is one of the most important principles of all libraries, so to help support that, we're going to have a banned books display set up in the teen section of our library. Where that section's new books usually are, we'll have a bunch of books set up that have been banned at one point or another in schools or libraries around the country. These books get banned for a variety of reasons, whether it's language, violence, or they're considered "unsuited for the age group." With the display, we'll also have some information about Banned Books Week, and where you can find books on censorship in our library. Some come out and check them out, and stand up for your right to read!

Also, next week we have a teen event: Teen Recycled Chip Bag Pencil Cases. I know that's a long name, but they turn out really cool. It's Monday night, the 27th, at 6 p.m. And you don't just have to use them for pencils. You could keep anything in them - and they'd look much cooler than anything your friends will have at school. :)

Sarah

What is going on CLP!

Hey Guys,

So we have a couple of things coming up that you may be interested in!

First, on Monday Sept 13 at 6:00 pm there is a Teen Advisory Board meeting. If you have any ideas about teen activities or just want to be a part of what is going on, then be sure to join us!! Second, there is a teen activity on Sept 27th at 6:00 pm. The teens will make pencil cases out of recycled chip bags and duck tape! And trust me, they look awesome! Third, Teen Read Week is coming up in October. We have a ton of awesome ideas planned for our BOOKS WITH A BEAT theme this year! There will be movies, CD decorating and FOOD!

Now that The Hunger Games series has come to an end, you might be thinking to yourself: "Hey, what should I read now?!"
Have no fear! We have a list of some books that may interest you if you enjoyed The Hunger Games.

1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
3. Gone series by Michael Grant
4. Going Bovine by Libby Bray
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
6. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
7. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Hope you enjoy!!

JH

Countdown over!

Mockingjay is officially here! Seriously, you all need to read this book. I got it from a bookstore the day it came out and read it all in one day because I could not put it down. It was so good...a perfect end to the trilogy. I won't give anything away, but if you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed! And if you're not a fan yet, what are you waiting for?!?!? Once you're done reading Mockingjay, you might be wondering what to do now that it's over, but don't worry, we've been getting lots of new books in! Come check out our new teen books display, and I'm sure you'll walk away with something interesting!

Ok, now that I've gotten the most important business out of the way, let's move on to other things...lol. Teen Read Week is coming up in October, and we have some ideas, but we would really love to hear from you if you have any suggestions. The theme is Books With Beat. Now naturally that includes books that have anything to do with music, or poetry, but it can also be sports (you BEAT someone at a football game), health (heartBEAT), etc. So if there's anything you'd like to see happen during that week, please let us know as soon as possible! Email ideas to teens.clarkbooks@gmail.com. And don't forget to follow ccplteens on Twitter!

Sarah

Ok, I know I've missed a few days here, but.......MOCKINGJAY TOMORROW!!!!!!!! (I'm just a tad excited...lol). There is a waiting list for this book, so if you are wanting to read it anytime soon, come put your name on the list! Remember, this is the third book in a trilogy, so if you haven't read the first two, you really need to read those first. #1 - Hunger Games; #2 - Catching Fire.

Also, there will be no teen gaming the first Thursday in September, because the reference dept. will be using our room for their Local History Week programs. But don't worry, we'll be back the third week in Sep.

One more way to find out what's going on: follow us on Twitter! It's under ccplteens.

Hope the school year has started off well for everyone!

Sarah

Short and Sweet

Only three things to say today:

1. Happy Friday the 13th!!! Hope nothing too crazy happens to you, but if it does, email teens.clarkbooks@gmail.com! I'd love to hear about it!

2. Teen Advisory Board meeting this Monday, 8/16 at 6 pm. Come be a part of what's going on at your library! We'll hopefully be discussing some ideas for Teen Read Week!

3. Countdown to Mockingjay: 11 days!!!!!! We're almost in single digits, people!!!!!!

Sarah

SRP is over!

As I'm sure you all know, our Summer Reading Program is officially over. THANK YOU to everyone who participated! We had some great teen programs this year! We are now starting to look ahead to Teen Read Week, which will be October 17-23. More information will coming about that in the next month or so. The theme this year is Books With Beat. This can include anything from poetry or books about music, to murder mysteries (crime beat). If you have any suggestions about programs you might like to see happen during Teen Read Week, please email them to teens.clarkbooks@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your suggestions!

We will be taking a short break for the next couple of weeks, which means that we won't have any programs until the third week of August. But we start again on Monday, 8/16 with a Teen Advisory Board meeting at 6 p.m. If you'd like to be a part of what goes on at your library, please come out! We also have Teen Gaming that week on Thursday, 8/19 at 6 p.m. You must have your own library card and a signed permission slip to participate!

And now, today's Mockingjay countdown....drum roll please....19 days!!!!!!!

SH

Summer is coming to a close...

Can you believe that summer is nearly over with!? And since summer is over with, make sure that you are getting ready to go back to school. If you are in Clark Middle, we have reading lists available with the books that need to be read before the new school year starts!

This is also the LAST week for our Summer Reading Program. We have four store times left, so try to get those reading cards in! There are some great books for you to take home. And next Saturday is our ALL DAY STORE!! So if you haven't made it out be sure you come before SRP is over!

We will also be taking a short break from our programming following the end of SRP. But we will pick back up on August 16th and kick it off with a Teen Advisory Board meeting that night and Teen Gaming that Thursday on August 19th.

I'm going to follow up Sarah's countdown: MOCKINGJAY in 30 days!!!!!!!!!! If you haven't read the Hunger Games yet, there is still time before MockingJay comes out on August 24th.
For those who have read it, any predictions for the third book???? Feel free to leave a comment with what you think will happen!

JH

Last chance for teen events during Summer Reading Program:

• Teen Pottery - Monday, 7/19, 6 p.m. You don't want to miss this opportunity to basically play in the mud! Come learn how to make cool clay creations.
• Teen Creative Writing - Thursdays, 7/22 and 7/29, 1 p.m. Like to write? Make up stories? Imagine cool characters? If this sounds like you, come out to our last two writing classes and get some tips!
• Don't forget to bring in your completed reading card packets during store hours (check your calendar if you don't know when these are) to enter prize drawings and get free books!
  

Also, for fans of Hunger Games and Catching Fire - Countdown to Mockingjay release: 38 days!!! (I'll be updating this countdown regularly - I'm just so excited about this book!!!)

SH

Come get involved!

Ok, guys, just a reminder about our teen creative writing class. It's every Thursday in July at 1 p.m. The class is taught by one of the wonderful people who works at the front desk of the library, and she really knows her stuff. So come take advantage of it and learn to write some great stories! Or if you're already a writer, this is a good chance to practice!

Don't forget about Water Fun with the CCPL Teens on Wednesday, 7/14 at 10 a.m.! This is a program for teens to host for the younger kids, and it should be a blast. Come prepared to get a little wet!

You have one more chance for teen gaming in July - it's on Thursday the 15th from 6-7:30 p.m. You must have a signed permission slip to participate, so if you've never been before, please don't forget that. You can pick them up at the children's desk, or print them from our website at www.clarkpublib.org/teens. We have snacks and drinks too!

Also in July: Teen Pottery. This is on Monday, 7/19 at 6 p.m. Albert Bauman will be coming and bringing all the materials! So just bring yourself and have some fun!

One more thing. I know I'm getting on the bandwagon kind of late for this, since it's not a very new series, but I just recently read the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. If you've never read them, I highly recommend them. It's about a society where everyone gets an operation when they turn 16 to turn them "pretty." The idea is to make everyone equal so that there's no rivalries or prejudices based on appearances, but as you might imagine, things aren't always as they seem. Very good series.

Hope to see you for some of our upcoming events!

SH

July is Almost Here!

July is almost here, which means that we will have some really awesome things planned for the CCPL teens! Look on your calendars for:

Teen Creative Writing on Thursday afternoons - Come ready to be imaginative and creative!

Teen Gaming on Thursday Nights - Hang out, eat and play some awesome games!

Water Fun with the CCPL Teens on July 14th - Teens will host some fantastic water fun for younger kids!

Teen Pottery on July 19th - Make some great clay objects!

Also, this Monday is our Book Club discussion of Stargirl. If you've read the book, then come out ready to discuss it with everyone and have a great time! Be sure to remember our SRP store hours and check out all the new books we have in the library!

JH

Upcoming events

Hey everyone! Just a quick reminder about what all we have coming up in the next couple of weeks:

• Teen Sizzling Shakespeare - Monday, 6/21, 6 p.m. There will be people here from the KY Shakespeare Festival group to teach basics of stage dancing and stage combat. For those of you who think Shakespeare is boring, come out and let us prove you wrong! It's going to be very cool.
• Teen Quilting - This Thursday, 6/24, 1 p.m., is the last quilting we will be having, so if you haven't made it to this program yet, don't miss your last chance! Experienced quilters will be here teaching you all they know, and they know a lot!
• Book Club - For those of you reading Stargirl for the book club, come to the second meeting on Monday, 6/28, 6 p.m., to discuss it. If you couldn't make it to the last meeting, but you have read Stargirl, come to the second meeting anyway!
• Gaming - The next gaming is Thursday, 7/1, 6-7:30 p.m. You need to have a signed permission slip to participate, so if you're coming for the first time, don't forget to bring it with you! As always, we'll have food and drinks here.
  
• Coming up in July - Creative writing class every Thursday at 1 p.m.; Water Fun with the CCPL teens (you'll be putting on the program for our younger kids) on 7/14; Pottery workshop on 7/19.
  
• Don't forget about your reading cards! Keep up with the reading, any reading, and keep track of your time on the reading cards! Turn in completed packets during store hours (which are on your calendar), and enter the drawings for prizes. In case you haven't seen them yet, here's a sample of the awesome prizes we have this year: Walmart/Target gift cards, camping set, iPod, iTunes gift card, UK gift basket, portable DVD player, etc. Also, don't forget everyone gets a free book for each of the first five packets they turn in!
  

We've got lots of cool stuff going on, so come be a part of it!

SH

Book Lists!

Hey Out there!! Have you been in the YA section lately?!?! Check out some of our new book lists that we have posted! We have lists for Young Adult teen girls and boys, as well as on popular topics like fantasy, science fiction and vampire novels. We will be putting out some more lists soon, so be on the look-out! If there is a particular list you would like to see us create, feel free to ask!

Also be sure to sign up for Teen Gaming! It's next Thursday (June 17th) at 6:00 here at the Library! We have tons of games (and fun)!

JH

Book Club, Quilting and other cool stuff!!

This summer we have a super busy schedule! Remember that tonight is our first book club for teens, so make sure that you come out and get involved! Also this week, we have teen quilting again at 1:oo pm on Thursday. It should be interesting so make sure that you come out for that!

If you haven't signed up for the summer reading program yet, make sure that you! We have some GREAT books and prizes for the teens to win, but you have to sign up to get them! We have our store on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays!

We have some new books in library so make sure that you check the "New Books" shelf in the Young Adult section! We also have some new book lists, so if you are looking for something to read this summer, make sure that you check those out!

Follow us on Twitter too!!!

Teen Book Club!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the first meeting for the summer teen book club! We'll be reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. The first meeting is to get a copy of the book, and to talk about other stuff we've been reading. Then we'll meet again on June 28th to discuss Stargirl. So Monday night, 6 p.m., book club!

The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

I recently got the opportunity to read The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (the author who wrote the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series). I won't give away too much, but I really enjoyed the book! It was a great start to the series. At times, there was a lot of information and it could get pretty complicated, but Riordan does a great job explaining everything. The story focuses on who siblings, Sadie and Carter Kane. The two seem like just regular kids, but little do they realize that they have an secret and ancient connection to Egypt. They begin to travel all over the world facing ancient gods, monsters and battling a secret organization! It's a fantastic start to a very interesting series. The book not only alludes to the Percy Jackson series, but maybe even another possible series involving Mayan or Aztec histories. Could this mean some sort of cross-over between the Kane Chronicles and future Percy Jackson books?!?! I guess we will just have to wait and see what Rick Riordan does in the future. Until then, make sure that you catch up on the Percy Jackson series and start reading The Kane Chronicles! It'll not only be a fantastic story, but a great way to kick off your Summer Reading Program book list!!! Hope you enjoy!
JH

Summer Reading Program!

Summer Reading Program 2010 is about to start and you all can help us get it started! On Sat, May 15, we are having a Teen Volunteer Day from 10am-12:30pm. All you have to do is show up at 10am, help us prepare bags that we give out to SRP participants, and then, we'll serve you pizza for lunch as our thanks for helping! So please, come and volunteer!

Also, remember that teens can participate in SRP as well! We already have a digital camera and portable DVD player to give away as prizes and we have loads of books to give away. Sign up, keep up with your reading on the reading cards and bring the cards in to our SRP Store to win some books and enter to win the prizes!

Manga Manga Everywhere!

So I just put in a giant order of manga for the teen section. Not to mention the stuff that we have recently received (some of which finishes series we have had for a while). Below is the list of all the new manga that we have or are about to have on our shelves. Exciting!

Bleach
Fruits Basket
D. Gray Man
XxxHolic
Shinobi Life
Ouran High School Host Club
Megatokyo
Black Cat
High School Debut
Shaman King
Vampire Knight

If there are other manga titles that you are interested in us buying for the library just add a comment below or send us an email at teens.clarkbooks@gmail.com. No promises, but we'll see what we can do. Thanks! - MM

Darkest Powers Series

I started reading the Darkest Powers books not long ago (The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning) and quickly barreled through the first two books. The newest book in the series, The Reckoning, has just been released and will soon be gracing our shelves here at CCPL. In honor of its recent release I just wanted to drop by and tell you all that I highly recommend this series by Kelley Armstrong. The story is quick and exciting, the characters are interesting, and the supernatural twist is a nice break from your average storyline (meaning that it's not about vampires or fairies). Stop by and check them out. I hope you enjoy them!

My Vacation Reading List

As most of you are going to be starting your spring break the minute the bell rings today, I am going on vacation this upcoming week as well! I thought I would share with you all some of the titles I plan on reading while I am away (not sure how much time I will actually have, but I can at least read on the plane...).

1. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
In full disclosure, I have already started reading this and will probably finish it this evening, before I even leave this town. However, I wanted to include it because the story (so far anyway) is crazy good and I would like to spark your interest!

Here's what School Library Journal had to say about it:
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up—Mary knows little about the past and why the world now contains two types of people: those in her village and the undead outside the fence, who prey upon the flesh of the living. The Sisters protect their village and provide for the continuance of the human race. After her mother is bitten and joins the Unconsecrated, Mary is sent to the Sisters to be prepared for marriage to her friend Harry. But then the fences are breached and the life she has known is gone forever. Mary; Harry; Travis, whom Mary loves but who is betrothed to her best friend; her brother and his wife; and an orphaned boy set out into the unknown to search for safety, answers to their questions, and a reason to go on living. In this sci-fi/horror novel, the suspense that Ryan has created from the very first page on entices and tempts readers so that putting the book down is not an option. The author skillfully conceals and reveals just enough information to pique curiosity while also maintaining an atmosphere of creepiness that is expected in a zombie story. Some of the descriptions of death and mutilation of both the Unconsecrated and the living are graphic. The story is riveting, even though it leaves a lot of questions to be explained in the sequel.—Debra Banna, Sharon Public Library, MA

2. The Season by Sarah MacLean
Once again, full disclosure, I'm a sucker for a romance story. This one sounds like it has promise. It got good reviews from some reputable review magazines and, more importantly, many positive reviews from Amazon readers. This is not exactly a challenging read here, but who cares, it's my vacation!

Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about it:
In Regency London, Alexandra is about to embark on her first season of balls and dinners, and while nothing would steer her mother from the course of marrying off her only daughter, 17-year-old Alex is put off by men's seeming lack of interest in women with any amount of intelligence (Evidently, it scares eligible gentlemen off). Her opinions about romance change when she develops feelings for her brothers' friend Gavin, who is mourning the sudden death of his father (making Gavin the new earl of Blackmoor). MacLean's debut is well paced, and as readers fill up on descriptions of dresses and society's rules, another plot line develops: Alex overhears a conversation proving that Gavin's father was murdered, and she puts her relationship, reputation and life in danger to help him. Readers will appreciate the clique lit/historical romance hybrid: headstrong Alex rolls her eyes and gossips with friends, but still knows the steps to the quadrille. Clever conversation in the spirit of Jane Austen makes this quite a page turner. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

3. Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
I have been meaning to read this for ages now and hopefully I will be able to cross this one off my list by the end of the week. This collection of short stories came out in late 2008 to excellent reviews. Also, I really dig the cover. Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about it: Starred Review. Readers as yet unfamiliar with Link (Magic for Beginners) will be excited to discover her singular voice in this collection of nine short stories, her first book for young adults. The first entry, The Wrong Grave, immediately demonstrates her rare talents: a deadpan narration that conceals the author's metafictional sleight-of-hand (Miles had always been impulsive. I think you should know that right up front); subjects that range from absurd to mundane, all observed with equidistant irony. Miles, hoping to recover the poems he's buried with his dead girlfriend, digs up what appears to be the wrong corpse (It's a mistake anyone could make, interjects the narrator), who regains life and visits her mother, a lapsed Buddhist (Mrs. Baldwin had taken her Buddhism very seriously, once, before substitute teaching had knocked it out of her'). Other stories have more overtly magical or intertextual themes; in each, Link's peppering of her prose with random associations dislocates readers from the ordinary. With a quirky, fairytale style evocative of Neil Gaiman, the author mingles the grotesque and the ethereal to make magic on the page. Ages 12–up.

4. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Lastly, my audio book selection. My vacation (with my sister) will involve quite a bit of driving. My sister, Molly, says that audio books put her to sleep but I figure an entire week spent together might be saved by my driving/listening to an audio book and her sleeping soundly in the passenger seat - we'll see. Anyway, my audio book selection is the companion novel to the Forest of Hands and Teeth. I am excited to read/listen to this story because I am currently enjoying the first book so much! Also, what an excellent cover. I won't put a review on this one, because I hope you will read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and move on over to this one. Also, this post is getting way too long!

I hope you all have a fantastic spring break! I'll see you in a week or so!

Maggie's March Picks

A Conspiracy of Kings comes out this month, and so, in honor of that, I am choosing the Queen's Thief series, by Megan Whalen Turner, as my March picks (sorry that you are getting them towards the end of March - I have been trying to post this for like ever now and am having a bear of a time with the layout/font/publishing issues. I, of course, blame blogger entirely. And now, back to talking books...)

For those of you who have read Graceling/Fire and loved them, this has a similar feel to it but with even more intrigue. The first book, The Thief, has a pretty hideous cover and so that might have scared you away (I understand, it is really hard to overlook an ugly cover) but do not let it! Rarely does a series improve with every book but I can tell you that, in my opinion, The King of Attolia (the last one in the series so far) is even better than the first two. I know, right?! Also, there are only a handful of books I have read multiple times, and these are on the list. So, if you haven't read them, give them a try! -Maggie

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
(See what I mean about the cover?)

Publisher Weekly Review of The Thief: The bragging thief Gen is sprung from prison by the king in order to carry out a mission-steal the precious stone Hamiathes's Gift from an impossible hiding place. If he succeeds, he'll be rewarded. If he fails, he will be killed. If he runs away, he will be hunted down. Half prisoner, half outlaw legend, Gen goes along with the king's assistant in the risky plan. Set in a semi-Mediterranean realm of old and new gods and goddesses, this compelling adventure propels readers along through the enemy lands of Sounis, Eddis and Attolia. Gen, a beguiling narrator, is afraid of horses but not of entering a locked labyrinth; he comes from a long line of thieves but puts honor first. Turner's (Instead of Three Wishes) device of having Gen and others tell god and goddess stories around the campfire bumpily draws the reader away from the main story, yet the plot is strong enough to survive the wanderings. In addition to its charismatic hero, this story possesses one of the most valuable treasures of all-a twinkling jewel of a surprise ending.

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
(This cover is slightly better but still not great. The paperback covers of both The Thief and The Queen are WAY better but alas, I would rather spend my book budget on new books instead of replacing ones we already have so just get over the covers and try them!)
I'm not going to put a book review up here for this one because it will ruin The Thief's fantastic ending. You'll just have to read it!


The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
(Finally, they start to get the covers right - all of the paperbacks match this one.)

As I mentioned earlier, this one is my favorite so far and it still amazes me that that is the case. With the exception of Harry Potter, no series of books that I have read get better and so that is one of the many reasons I truly love this series. Also, as I said above, I can't tell you anything about this story either because it will give away what happens in the two previous books.


A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
(Released Tues, March 23)

I don't know if you all care about book reviews from nationally trusted and respected magazines, but in case that does matter to you, this book has gotten a starred review from almost all of them: Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Horn Book.


“Megan Whalen Turner is one of my all-time favorite writers. A Conspiracy of Kings is impossible to put down.” (Holly Black, author of the Modern Faerie Tales Series)

“The world Turner creates is so tangible that not only do I believe in its characters, I almost believe in its gods.” (Kristin Cashore, author of Graceling)

Happy Reading! -Maggie

Reviews

A reminder to all you teens checking out this blog - we would love to have you all submit reviews for us to post. You can review books, movies, music, games and concerts and we may post them here! I promise to post some myself (can't wait to read/review Conspiracy of Kings and I am about to start reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth) but, I must admit, March Madness has kind of taken over my life and so the time for reading is slim...but never fear! I will pick up with the reading ASAP and will put up some reviews soon. However, I cannot keep up to date alone. I would really like your help here! Please submit reviews to teens.clarkbooks@gmail.com. If you want your name included in the review, you have to fill out a permission slip (available at the library and online) but still feel free to submit reviews without a permission slip - they will just be anonymous. Thanks! Maggie

New Books!

New Books have arrived at the Clark County Public Library! Here are a few that might interest you:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Amazon Product Description:
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (Sequel to Forest of Hands and Teeth - description may contain spoilers)
Amazon Product Description:
Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Hourglass (Evernight Novels) by Claudia Gray (This is book three in the series - description may contain spoilers)
Amazon Product Description:
Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what's to come?

Teen Tech Week: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Discussion

Hey you all. We are having a book discussion about our favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy books (starting at 4pm ending at 5pm) today at the library. Maybe you can share some of your favorite titles and hopefully you'll hear about some new books to read in the future. Of course, there will be drinks and snacks available. Hope to see you!

Teen Tech Week: Gaming

Teen Gaming tonight from 6-7:30 here at CCPL. This is a special offer (we usually don't offer it on the second Thurs of the month) but thanks to Teen Tech Week we are doing an extra one this month! Stop by and play some games! Permission slip required and available at: http://clarkpublib.org/teens.htm

Hope to see you there!

Some of our Favorite Books at CCPL

Fantasy
Graceling - Kristin Cashore
Fire - Kristin Cashore
Inheritance cycle - Christopher Paolini
Warriors series - Erin Hunter
Prydain Chronicles - Lloyd Alexander
Queen's Thief series - Megan Whalen Turner
Alfred Kropp seriers - Rick Yancey
Percy Jackson series - Rick Riordan
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Indian in the Cupboard series - Banks
Coraline - Neil Gaiman
Midnighters series - Scott Westerfeld
Dark is Rising Chronicles - Susan Cooper
Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
Gemma Doyle Trilogy - Libba Bray

Sci-Fi
Uglies series - Scott Westerfeld
Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Maze Runner - James Dashner
Feed - M.T. Anderson
Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
The Giver - Lois Lowry
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer
Supernaturalists - Eoin Colfer
Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld
Skinned - Robin Wasserman
Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan

Horror
Cirque du Freak - Darren Shan
Monstrumologist - Rick Yancey
Demonata - Darren Shan
Malice - Chris Wooding
The Mist - Stephen King
Pet Cemetary - Stephen King
Last Apprentice series - Joseph Delaney
Blue Bloods series - Melissa de la Cruz
Ghosts I Have Been - Richard Peck

Contemporary Fiction
Looking For Alaska - John Green
Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson
Musician's Daughter - Susanne Dunlap
Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
Rules - Cynthia Lord
Holes - Louis Sachar
If I Stay - Gayle Forman
Going Bovine - Libba Bray

Romance
When It Happens - Susane Colasanti
Along for the Ride - Sarah Dessen
Princess Diaries series - Meg Cabot
Twilight Saga - Stephenie Meyer
Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
The Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause
Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
Evermore - Alyson Noel
Need - Carrie Jones

Action/Adventure
Hatchet series - Gary Paulsen
Julie of the Wolves - Jean George
Alex Rider series - Anthony Horowitz
Maximum Ride series - James Patterson
Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell
Diamond Willow - Helen Frost
Nation - Terry Pratchett

Mystery
Half-Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer
Paper Towns - John Green
Hoot/Scat/Flush - Carl Hiaasen
The Face on the Milk Carton - Caroline Cooney
I Know what you Did Last Summer - Lois Duncan

Historical Fiction
The Boy Who Dared - Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Out of the Dust - Karen Hesse
Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing (Vol. 1 & 2) - M.T. Anderson
A Northern Light - Jennifer Donnelly
Hattie Big Sky - Kirby Larson
Crispin: At the Edge of the World - Avi
Loving Will Shakespeare - Carolyn Meyer
The Wednesday Wars - Gary Schmidt
The Luxe series - Anna Godbersen

Graphic Novels/Manga
Circle trilogy - Ted Dekker
Death Note - Tsugumi Ohba
Naruto - Masashi Kishimoto
Fullmetal Alchemist - Hiromu Arakawa
Shoulder-A-Coffin - Kuro - Satoko Kiyuduki
Bleach - Tite Kubo
Fruits Basket - Natsuki Takaya

Thanks to all the teens that helped create this list at our blog meeting during TTW!

Teen Tech Week: Helloooooo Blog!

Welcome to the first post for the Clark County Public Library Teen Blog! We are here to blog book, music, movie, concert and video game reviews. We also plan to keep you up to date on new books, new DVDs, books we are reading, and staff/teen picks. Also, we will remind you about upcoming library activities to help get more teens here!