Libraries & Flash Mobs

Flash mobs fascinate me. I've never participated in one (although I had a chance a few weekends ago; I was too cold and tired to make the effort), but it seems like a surprising amount of them happen in libraries.

For instance:





and, closer to home:





While this one isn't in a library, it is the first I ever saw, and still my favorite:



What do you guys think about flash mobs? Have you participated in one? Would you? If you were to put together a flash mob, what would you have people do? Where would you do it?

Give me insight and one of you'll win an ADVANCE copy of PINK by Lili Wilkinson, which hasn't even come out yet! Regular readers won't be able to get it until FEBRUARY!

You've got until midnight on January 6th to enter!

Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

(and I'm still looking for Sarah R to contact me from this post!)

Favorite Teen Holiday and Winter Books

I just started reading Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. This is their third book they have written together, after the wonderful Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (which was made into an also great movie) and Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List. All of their collaborative books are delightful romps through New York City, that alternate between his and her viewpoint. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares just happens to also take place over the Christmas break.

This makes me think of some of my favorite holiday and winter books.

I adore Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching books, so naturally Wintersmith, where Winter falls in love with a teenage girl is a must read. (Though it is the third in the series, so you will probably want to order Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky and the upcoming I Shall Wear Midnight, too!)

Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott is one of my favorite Christmas teen fiction books, in which a holiday lover finds his cheer sorely tested.

If you want a good laugh, I highly recommend David Sedaris's Holidays on Ice, the hilarious story of the author getting a temporary job as an elf in a department store. Even better, download the audio to here him tell the story in his own voice!

But if you are sick of all this holiday stuff and want a book that captures the harsh reality of winter, the cold, the dark, the DANGER...they you should totally read The Trap by John Smelcer. It is a totally awesome survival story taking place during the short days and long nights of deepest Alaska! Great stuff.

What are your favorites? Do you know of any good holiday books for teens who don't care about or do Christmas? I couldn't find any Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Years Eve books for teens. Should there be? Or does no one care?

Hope you have a lovely winter break, with plenty of time for reading!

Video Contests for Teens

March may seem pretty far away, and summer seems like it will never get here. But librarians like to plan ahead, so we are already thinking about Teen Tech Month and Summer Reading! If you like making videos, here are two contest to be looking forward to:

1) 2011 Teen Video Challenge

"Go viral" and reach teens all across America! Create a video promoting Summer Reading at the Library and you could win $250!
A little bit of imagination in a short public service announcement could make you the Teen Video Challenge Winner! The video produced by a Washington student or group of students that best encourages use of their local public libraries and promotes reading all summer long will take away the contest prize. The top video will be featured throughout 2011 as the official commercial for Washington’s Summer Reading Program. The deadline is March 7, 2011.

2) And of course, Sno-Isle Libraries will be having its own Teen Video Contest in March, as part of our Teen Tech Month celebration.

For ours, you will create a video promoting the library or your favorite book. Video should be 30 seconds to 3 minutes long (including credits). Libraries featured should be a Sno-Isle library. Books featured should be written for teens and owned by Sno-Isle. You must be between the ages of 12-18, and reside and/or attend school in Island or Snohomish Counties, to enter. Videos may not contain content that is inappropriate. Prizes provided by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation. Deadline will be March 31, 2011.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Book Winners!

On the scary snake video, the Random winner of THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY: Birth of a Killer is:

Sarah R said...
my worst fear is deffinetly cows. one attacked me when i was little and i have been scared ever since.

For the awesomely awesome Hunger Games video post the random winner of HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler is:

zackery said...
I think they both would be great at the parts. I can't wait to see more.

I'm still waiting to hear from the Immortal Beloved winner, Macey who said this:

Macey said...
I want to go to one of the teen gamings or advisory meetings...they sound entertaining and fun!

If the three of you would email me at jparker [at] sno-isle [dot] org with your full name, phone number, and the Sno-Isle Library branch you'd like to pick up your prize, that'd be peachy!

Neat Looking Website for Teen Reader/Writers

Do you love books and creative writing? Have you heard about Figment?

According to the New York Times, this new website is "an experiment in online literature, a free platform for young people to read and write fiction, both on their computers and on their cellphones. Users are invited to write novels, short stories and poems, collaborate with other writers and give and receive feedback on the work posted on the site".

Looks cool to me. What do you think?

Hunger Games Audition Video

According to the description on YouTube, this is an audition video for the girls playing Katniss & Rue. It's pretty awesome.

Note, this is the Hunger Games, so it's violent. There's even some spurting blood, so if you're averse to such things, skip the video.



via The View From Above

Let me know what you think in comments! Should Danielle Churchran play Katniss? If not, who do you think should?

You have until midnight on December 12th to enter!

Random comment will win a copy of HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler.

Tagline: "Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine...one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."


Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

**Don't forget to enter the Darren Shan giveaway, too!

Mea Culpa and Immortal Beloved Winner

So... yeah. I forgot to post the winner of Immortal Beloved. I can only think that I was caught up in planning the Halloween Party here at the Lynnwood Library and all of the skulls and cobwebs hid it from my consious mind.

Or SOMETHING.

Anyway...

Random drawing says that Macey is the winner with this comment:

Macey said...
I want to go to one of the teen gamings or advisory meetings...they sound entertaining and fun!
OCTOBER 12, 2010 4:45 PM

Macey, please email me jparker [at] sno-isle [dot] org and let me know which library you'd like me to send your prize to!

If you are jealous of Macey, remember, you can still comment to win Darren Shan's new book here. Or you can just place Immortal Beloved on hold here.

I'd avoid this if you don't like snakes (or prizes)

'Cause it will totally freak you out.



via Bookshelves of Doom

And, while this snake, and others like it are primarily found in Asia, if you are of hearty stock, you can find books about snakes in every Sno-Isle library.

Meanwhile, now that I've probably scared the boots off of many of you (including myself...), what scares you? Share your fear in the comments, and one answer will be randomly drawn to win a hardcover copy of Darren Shan's new THE SAGA OF LARTEN CREPSLEY: Birth of a Killer.

You have until December 7th at midnight to enter! Good luck!

Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

Great Readers Wanted

Every year the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA, part of the American Libraries Association or ALA)releases the The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Or as I like to explain it to folks, it is like the Newbery Award, but for teen books. Librarians love to speculate what will win, and it is always fun to see what makes it.

The last few years the staff of Sno-Isle Libraries took part in a Mock Printz discussion where we get together and talk about some of the books we felt had the best chance. This is always great fun, but we decided this year we want to open it up to teens and other community members who love teen books as much as we do.

So, if you love teen books, I'm formally inviting you to take part in our Mock Printz Discussion Thursday January 6th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Mukilteo Library. We have 10 books we will be discussion and participants are expected to have read at least eight of the ten books. Think you can get through them by then? Here is what we will be talking about:


1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
2. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
3. Happyface by Stephen Emond
4. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
5. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
6. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
7. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
8. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American
Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
9. White Cat by Holly Black

10. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

This should be a ton of fun for teen book lovers.

Hope to see you there!

Teen Read Month Winners

Here is our final round of winners:

Teen Art Contest Winners

Michelle D. - Arlington Library

Chelcie E. - Mill Creek Library

Jenna L. - Mukilteo Library

Lily A. - Snohomish Library

Honorable Mentions
Melissa B. - Arlington Library
Julia N. - Oak Harbor Library
Angeline M. - Mill Creek Library
Michael R. - Mill Creek Library
Garret M. - - Monroe Library

Thank you to everyone who submitted their wonderful art! There were over 100 entries, and so many of them were fabulous. Our judges had a difficult time deciding.

Ceremonies will be held for the four winners in their home libraries later this month, where they will receive copies of their art as posters, Sno-Isle Teens t-shirts, and gift cards as prizes.

Honorable Mentions will receive a Sno-Isle Teens flash drive.

And to completely wrap up Teen Read Month, here are a few more book review drawing winners:

iTunes Gift Cards
Jaskiran G. - Mill Creek Library
Ashley C. - Marysville Library

Starbucks Gift Cards
Kyanna S. - Snohomish Library
Oceana A. - Marysville Library


Thanks to everyone who attended programs, submitted reviews, shared their creative talents, or just checked out teen books for fun this month! We love celebrating the joys of teen reading with you.

Scott Westerfeld Online TODAY

This afternoon, Scott Westerfeld will be chatting, answering questions and talking about Leviathan. You can check it out here. If you are on Twitter, you can submit questions for him using the tag #chatss

If, like the Westerfan I spoke with yesterday, you've completely missed out on the fact that your favorite scifi author has a new series, you can check out Leviathan(look for it on the Explore shelf, too!) and Behemoth from your local Sno-Isle library.

The chat starts at 3pm, so get ready!

Teen Read Month - Surprise Gift Card Winners

Thanks to a generous surprise donation, we have bonus gift card prizes for some of our Teen Read Month book reviewers!

Congratulations to our iTunes gift card winners:

Heather L. - Mukilteo
Victoria E. - Edmonds
Alina B. - Mukilteo
Jamey D. - Mountlake Terrace
Elizabeth S. - Mukilteo
Kendall S. - Coupeville
Emily C. - Coupeville

And to our winners of Starbucks gift cards:

Sadie J. - Lynnwood
Selena Q. - Marysville
Timothy V. - Lynnwood
McKenzie W. - Arlington
Macey M. - Monroe
Megan B. - Marysville
Mercedes V. - Edmonds

Your teen librarian will be in touch with you soon to let you know when you can pick it up.

And don't worry...there is still time to win. Enter book reviews before the end of the month for your chance at a gift card, or a 2g flash drive!

This also means there are only three more days to get your Teen Read Month Art Contest entry in. The four winners will get $25 Amazon gift cards PLUS the iTunes and Starbucks cards too!

Great Volunteer Opportunites for Teens

Youth United has partnered with Sno-Isle Libraries to create some great volunteer opportunities for teens this fall. Together we have been offering Gadget Coaching sessions at many of our libraries. During these sessions teens help senior citizens with their cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronic gadgets.

Gadget Coaching – Help teach seniors how to use all those “gadgets” you’re an expert at, like iPods and iPhones!
When: Saturday, November 6 from 2 - 4 pm
Where: Snohomish
Click here to find out more or register!

Gadget Coaching – Last chance to gadget coach this year with Youth United!
When: Saturday, November 13 from 1 - 3 pm
Where: Mountlake Terrace
Click here to find out more or register!

Marysville Library also has a session on November 17.

Do You Love Zombies?

Are you obsessed with zombies? Do you actively plan what you would do during a zombie attack? Or do you like to dress up and pretend to be one? Or do you just like the way they dance?

Whatever your reason for loving zombies, this weekend we invite you to come to the Mountlake Terrace Library to celebrate zombies in all their undead glory! How do we plan to do this? With a Zombie Thriller Party!

• Zombie costume contest - with prizes!

• Play zombie games:
• Last Night On Earth - The Zombie Game
• Zombie Fluxx
• Zombies!!!

• Talk about your favorite zombie books and movies

• Learn the moves to the Thriller dance, loved by zombies everywhere.

• At 4pm, take part in Thrill the World, a WORLDWIDE celebration and simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's Thriller!

This Saturday, October 23rd from 1-4:30pm at the Mountlake Terrace Library!

Beautiful Darkness Winner

Emily H is the winner for the copy of Beautiful Darkness with this comment:

"Emily H said...
I voted for Need by: Carrie Jones. The book trailer really grabbed me. I also thought that the book Dead girls don't write letters seemed interesting.
October 6, 2010 7:01 AM"

Emily, if you email me at jparker [at] sno-isle.org ASAP with which Sno-Isle Library Branch you would like to pick your prize up at, I'll send it out right away.

For the rest of you, there's still time to enter to win Immortal Beloved. And LOTS of time to participate in the Review contest and the Art Contest!

Author Jennifer Donnelly in Lynnwood Tomorrow!

Jennifer Donnelly, award-winning author of A Northern Light, will be appearing at the Alderwood Barnes and Noble tomorrow night (Wednesday October 13, 2010) at 7:00pm. She will be discussing "her newest novel, Revolution -- an unforgettable story of two girls, two centuries apart, timeless adventure and enduring love. Signing to follow."

Sno-Isle doesn't have her newest book in quite yet, but we do have some of her previous ones ready to check out:

A Northern Light
In 1906, sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and fiance, takes a job at a summer inn where she discovers the truth about the death of a guest. Based on a true story.

The Winter Rose (adult)
When India Selwyn Jones, a young woman from a noble family, graduates from the London School of Medicine for Women in 1900, her professors advise her to set up her practice in London's esteemed Harley Street. Driven and idealistic, India chooses to work in the city's East End instead, serving the desperately poor. In these grim streets, India meets--and saves the life of--London's most notorious gangster, Sid Malone. A hard, wounded man, Malone is the opposite of India's aristocratic fiance, Freddie Lytton, a rising star in the House of Commons. Though Malone represents all she despises, India finds herself unwillingly drawn ever closer to him, intrigued by his hidden, mysterious past.

Don't forget to enter!

There are lots of ways to win free stuff this month, so don't forget to enter:

1. The Art Contest


2. Teen Review Drawings


3. The Trailies Comment Contest (ends midnight 10/9)


4. The Events Contest (ends midnight 10/13)

AND keep checking back for more chances to win free books!

October is Teen Read Month!

Which is like the best ever! It's a big deal for us teen librarians, so we've planned (often with your help!) lots of FREE events this month all over Snohomish and Island Counties. Check out the teen events calendar. From jam sessions, to movies, board games, authors and Halloween parties, we've got you covered this month.

Which event (or events!) will you attend? Tell us in the comments, and you'll be entered to win the first in a new fantasy series, a book with a little heartbeat: IMMORTAL BELOVED by Cate Tiernan.

Publisher summary:
"After seeing her best friend, a Dark Immortal called Incy, torture a human with magick, Nastasya, a spoiled party girl, enters a home for wayword immortals and finally begins to deal with life, even as she learns that someone wants her dead."

You'll have until midnight on October 13th to enter!

Only students in grades 6-12 who can pick their winnings up at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

Teen Read Month = Two Ways to Win

Happy Teen Read Month, everyone!

This year the theme is Books With Beat. We want to celebrate those teen books that make your heart beat faster. What makes your heart be faster? Action? Music? Romance? Winning prizes?

There are two ways you (teens 12-18, or in 6th-12th grade living in Island or Snohomish Counties) can win with Sno-Isle Teens throughout October 2010:

• Write reviews about books you read for the chance to win a snazzy orange and red Sno-Isle Teens 2GB clip flash drive.

• Enter our 7th Annual Teen Read Month Art Contest by creating a 2-D art piece that celebrates Books With Beat. You could be one of four teens to win a $25 gift card for Amazon.com.

Both of these prizes are generously funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

Also, keep an eye here on the Infamous for Information blog for chances to win free books!

Vote for the Trailies! Win!

"The School Library Journal announced the first annual Trailie Award for the best book trailers. The finalists are in and the public is invited to vote for their favorites."

Watch the videos. Vote Here (scroll to the bottom).

Go take a look. Tell us in the comments below one of the trailers you voted for, or one of the books trailered (makin' up the words, I am) you now want to read because of it's awesome trailer and you'll be entered into win (drumroll, please):

A copy of the BRAND NEW (not even out until Oct. 12!) BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, the sequel to Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Who's trailer you can see below.



You have until midnight on October 9th to comment!

Only students currently in grades 6-12 who are able to pick up a book in one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries are eligible to win.

Banned Books Week Winner!

We asked you how you'd participate in Banned Books week and Kasey R said...

"For Banned Book week, I am definitely going to the scavenger hunt with my team I recruited to win some book money. I'm a shopaholic when it comes to books. I'll also go to Borders and get some banned books with the change I've saved. And I'll get some of those cute bookmarks at the library."

Kasey, just email me at jparker [at] sno-isle.org and tell me which Sno-Isle Library branch you'd like to pick your copy of Dark Song up at!

We picked Kasey randomly from the comments submitted. Keep your eyes here for more opportunities to win!

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week starts on SATURDAY. This Saturday. It goes (this is where the week part comes in) until Saturday, October 2nd.

"What's banned books week?" I hear you saying.

Banned Books Week is a national event that celebrates your freedom to read whatever you want to read. The freedom to choose NOT to read, and the rights granted all Americans by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Many people think that no one prohibits books anymore, but every year hundreds of books are challenged, restricted or removed from libraries nation-wide.

To see a list of all books (well, those that were reported) challenged in the last year click here.

Recently, several books have come to wide attention as people attempt, and in some cases, succeed, in removing books mostly from schools. You've probably heard of some of them:

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (find out more)


• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (find out more)


• Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (find out more)

Books can be challenged for seemingly frivolous things like they "Encourage children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them" (A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein). The original version of Where's Waldo had a small topless sunbather on one of their pages, so that created quite a fuss back in the early 90's (article) .

They can also be challenged with much more serious accusations, such as the above Speak being accused of being "soft pornography" because the main character was raped.

What are you going to do to support the freedom to read during Banned Books Week? Will you read one of the challenged books? Will you participate in the Lynnwood Library Banned Books Week Scavenger Hunt for a chance at the $20 to B&N? *end shameless plug* Will you wear a t-shirt (I'll be sporting this one). Will you send a letter to one of people who are challenging a book?

Comment with what you'll do to celebrate your freedom to read by midnight on October 2nd, and one commenter will win the oft-challenged Gail Giles's new book Dark Song.*

*Winner must be in grades 6-12 and able to pick up their winnings at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries.

Librarian's Choice Winner

We have a winner! Michael D. from the Clinton Library for his excellent review of Neverland:

Describe the book: A gruesome tale of a normal family vacation/reunion gone to the madhouse. It begins with two cousins, Beau and Sumter. Sumter has christened an old shack Neverland. There, they worship a “god” that Sumter calls Lucy. Neverland becomes their drug, their escape. Until things spiral out of control, and truths reveal themselves. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell do not dwell in this Neverland.

What did you think: This book, this horrifying book, gripped my interest until the very end. It made me visualize Beau’s fears like they were my own. Douglas Clegg has now become, just from this one book, my second favorite horror author, comparable to Stephen King. I never have nightmares about books, no matter how terrifying a book is. This book was the first. It invaded my dreams.

Who would you recommend it to: Adult horror buffs & brave teens would enjoy this.

- M.D. (age 16) from Clinton Library


Michael's review was selected from over 4000, narrowed down by librarians at each library nominating their favorites, then voted on by teen librarians. This process took longer than we anticipated, so I apologize for keeping you all in suspense for so long!

Michael will be presented with the iPod Touch at his local library soon.

This contest was generously funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

Write an Essay and Win Money for College

Have you ever been inspired by an elected official who demonstrated political courage? Write an essay about them, and you could win up to $10,000 towards college!

Check out the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest page to see how to enter your 1000 word or less essay.

For inspiration, check out JFK's book Profiles in Courage to see who inspired him!

Based on the Book

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini


Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen


Legend of the Guardians (many of you probably grew up reading the series this is based on, Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky):


While It's Kind of a Funny Story looks, um, funny, I think I'm more excited about Flipped. It's a sweet book and one of my favorites. I'm not quite sure what to think about Guardians, though. What do you think?

Can you believe it’s September?

That is what every other person has been asking this morning. They say time is relative...so I’ve decided that today is actually August 7th. That being said, if it was August 7th I wouldn’t have read my favorite books of the summer yet: Mockingjay, Kings of Clonmel, and Linger.

Ann won Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers for her comments on her favorite summer books. Ann said... “My favorite book of the summer was North of Beautiful! It was the last book I read before the summer ended (September 1) but Mockingjay would probably be my favorite if I had read it...which will be soon!”

Congrats Ann, please email me jbixby [at] sno-isle [dot] org with which Sno-Isle Library you'd like to pick up your copy of Some Girls Are!

And the Grand Prize Winner is...

Congratulations to Timothy Gunter of Monroe who is the winner of the grand prize in our Teen Summer Reading Contest! His review of Sleeper Code by Tom Sniegoski was lucky review number 1130 (as selected by the handy dandy Random Number Generator). Timothy will receive his VAIO W Series mini notebook computer in a ceremony at the Monroe Library later this month.

The Librarian's Choice Award winner of the iPod Touch will be announced here on Friday, September 10th, 2010.

Much thanks to the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation for donating our wonderful prizes and making this contest possible

The Gardener Winner!

In our random drawing, Kelsey Harvill is the winner of The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen. Kelsey wrote;
“My favorite is the Uglies series. They are extremely captivating and really scary to think about if our world truly was that way.”

Kelsey, please email me jbixby [at] sno-isle [dot] org with which Sno-Isle Library you'd like to pick up your copy of The Gardener!

Harry Potter Theme Park

Even though we'll get a taste of Harry Potter here in Seattle, my devotion to Harry Potter is such that I don't really even feel ashamed at how much I want to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Florida.



Reading this article, just makes me want to go even more.



What do you want to visit most there? Ollivander's sounds pretty awesome, but based on that hall of portraits picture, the wand shop might have a run for it's money.

Revisit your love of Harry Potter before the first part of the last movie comes out this November. Try them in a new way - I love the audio versions.

The Last Week of Summer Reading

Wow. And just like that the summer is over. Did this one seem faster than usual?

You've got through Tuesday, August 31st to get your last reviews turned in and to hope for that laptop or iPod Touch.

In light of the end of summer, I'm wondering what your favorite book of the summer was? Tell us in the comments, and your comment will enter you in to win one of the hottest books among the teens at Lynnwood Library, Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers.* You've got until midnight on August 31st to share your favorite! We'll announce the randomly chosen winner shortly thereafter.

Perhaps later I'll share a few of MY favorite reads from this summer.

*You must be between the ages of 12-18 and able to pick up your free book at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries.

Where is Mockingjay?

If you are like me, you are anxiously awaiting Mockingjay which came out today in bookstores everywhere. But if you go into the library, unfortunately you won't see it on the shelf. Right now we have 462 folks waiting for the book, so it will need to go out to all of them before it even comes close to seeing an actual teen area book shelf. But we have 82 copies going out this week, so we should be seeing it soon!

Haven't heard of this book at all? You are totally missing out! It is the finale in a teen science-fiction about a world in which teens are forced to battle to the death on network tv filled with adventure, romance, betrayal and high fashion. They are SO good. Start with Hunger Games, and follow it up with Catching Fire before you read Mockingjay. This is one series you definitely can not read out of order!

And while you wait, here are some of my favorite series to tide you over:

The Uglies series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials and Extras by Scott Westerfeld

The Tiffany Aching books: Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith and (soon to be out) I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

The Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem's Eye, Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud