Monday, August 30, 2010

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!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

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.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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

Monday, August 23, 2010

Vote Now for YALSA's Teens' Top Ten

Now is your chance to vote for your favorites! But you can only choose three.

Here is the whole list:

Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Fire by Kristin Cashore
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
The Roar by Emma Clayton
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Dragonfly by Julia Golding
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
By the Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
City of Fire by Laurence Yep

Which ones did you choose?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

When the future sucks.

You've probably either read of have heard of the Hunger Games Trilogy. You may have also read The Giver, The City of Ember, or maybe Fahrenheit 451. The one thing all of those books have in common is a view of a potential future - one that is far from the glory of jet packs and flying cars. They are all part of a subset of Science Fiction called Dystopian Literature. Typical features in dystopias are a totalitarian government, futuristic technology, and the restriction of freedom.

  • After by Francine Prose: "In the aftermath of a nearby school shooting, a grief and crisis counselor takes over Central High School and enacts increasingly harsh measures to control students, while those who do not comply disappear".


  • Battle Royal by Koushun Takami: This is the closest to The Hunger Games that you'll find - but it's shelved in the adult section for a reason. As bloody and brutal as The Hunger Games is, Battle Royal ups the ante in both novel and graphic novel format.
  • 94315776

  • Candor by Pam Bachorz: Oscar's dad has created the ideal community full of perfect people. Of course, they're only perfect because of the subliminal messages Oscar's dad plants in all of music piped in across the community. Oscar knows things he shouldn't, and if his dad finds out, well, he just can't let that happen...


  • The Declaration by Gemma Malley and its sequel, The Resistance: When people can live forever, why would anyone have children? In a futurist England, children are illegal. Those that do exist, are called "Surplus" are sent to training houses to become servants. Most are resigned to their fate, but when obediant Anna finds out her parents are trying to find her, everything changes.


  • Feed by MT Anderson: "We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck." You don't really need computers when everyone has the Feed implanted in their brains, but when Titus meets Violet, who grew up without the Feed, he starts to see that the barrage of messages planted in his head might not be the whole truth about the world.


  • The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer: "In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El PatrĂ³n, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States."


  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner: Thomas wakes up in an elevator. The only thing he can remember about before is his name. Unfortunately, that's not his only problem. The elevator has delivered him to The Glade, where 60 other boys have been trying to escape for as long as they can remember and trying to escape sometimes means death - or worse.


  • Rash by Pete Hautman: "In a future society that has decided it would "rather be safe than free," sixteen-year-old Bo's anger control problems land him in a tundra jail where he survives with the help of his running skills and an artificial intelligence program named Bork."


  • Truancy by Isamu Fukui: "In the City, where an iron-fisted Mayor's goal is perfect control through education, fifteen-year-old Tack is torn between a growing sympathy for the Truancy, an underground movement determined to bring down the system at any cost, and the desire to avenge a death caused by a Truant.'


  • The Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld: "In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever."


Tell us which one of the books mentioned above make you want to read it - or share your favorite dystopian book in the comments and your comment will enter you in to win a hardcover copy of The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen.*

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen: When Mason rescues a frightened girl, he finds himself on the wrong side of the people behind the greenhouse and find his life in danger because they will stop at nothing to get her back.

Want more? Check out our list of Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction.

You have until midnight on Thursday, August 26th to share your comment, and we'll post the winner shortly thereafter. I can't wait to see your favorites! Good luck!

*you must be a teen between the ages 12-18 and able to pick up your prize at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Queen of Secrets Winner!

In our random drawing, Ashley Cline is the winner of Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff. The librarian at her home branch will let her know when her free book arrives.

Ashley shared her favorite book trailer:



Place a hold on Fire by Kristin Cashore!

Emily Joy also shared a couple of her favorite book trailers:



Place a hold on If I Stay by Gayle Forman!



Place hold on A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray!

Keep your eye on this blog for more great giveaways!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The Chronicles of Nick Winner!

Is Ashley Cline, who had this to say about the upcoming release of Mockingjay:

"Let's see I'm so stoked for Mockingjay I preordered it and CAN'T wait.

I personally think (and hope) that she ends up with Gale. Nothing against Peeta but he's really kind of annoying.
And I really hope that Peeta's alive, because he survived with Katniss in the first book so he has to survive them all, though I really don't like him much.

Also I'm betting that Katniss and everyone else with her go to District 13 and she has a big face off with the Capitol and President Snow.

That's what I think, at least. I really can't wait to read it."


Ashley, please email me jparker [at] sno-isle [dot] org with which Sno-Isle Library you'd like to pick up your copy of Infinity: The Chronicles of Nick! I hope it keeps you entertained while you wait for Mockingjay!

Everyone else, don't forget you can still comment on the Lots of Secrets post to win a free book!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Harry Potter in Seattle!

zomg. Maybe I won't need to go to Orlando after all!

Harry Potter: The Exhibition is coming to Seattle. It will be at the Pacific Science Center October 23, 2010-January 30, 2011




From the Pacific Science Center:

"Experience the amazing craftsmanship of more than 200 authentic costumes and props from the Harry Potter films displayed in settings inspired by the films sets - including the Great Hall, Hagrid's hut and the Gryffindor™ common room. While touring through the exhibition space, discover iconic items such as Harry's original wand and eyeglasses, the Marauder's Map, Gryffindor school uniforms as well as costumes worn at the Yule Ball. Enter the Quidditch™ area and toss a Quaffle, pull your own Mandrake in the Herbology vignette, encounter Buckbeak™ the Hippogriff and even a giant Acromantula spider."

Tickets are a little pricey at $26 a pop, but I'm still so there.

via Seattle Times

Hey, let's watch the trailer again!

That IS a good trailer.

So, who's going to go see the exhibition at Pacific Science Center? Who's going to see the movie?

I'm in for both. If you hadn't figured that out... ;)

Monday, August 9, 2010

LOTS of SECRETS!



Looks good, doesn't it? The author will be at Lynnwood Library (!!) on Tuesday, August 17 at 4pm leading a writing workshop: Keeping Secrets: Creating Characters Who Turn the Page

Official Blurb: "Join author Holly Cupala (Tell Me a Secret) as she shares her secrets about creating realistic characters who have depth, flaws and something they aren't telling."

We will be giving away TWO free signed copies (one from Ms. Cupala, one from Lynnwood Friends of the Library) of TELL ME A SECRET to workshop attendees!

If you can't make it to the workshop for a chance at one of the free books, place a hold on Tell Me a Secret!

In my humble opinion, the above book trailer is one of the best I've ever seen. Share a link, in the comments, to one of YOUR favorite book trailers and be entered into a drawing to win a copy of:

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff
"Fifteen-year-old Essie Green, an orphan who has been raised by her secular Jewish grandparents in Michigan, experiences conflicting loyalties and confusing emotions when her aunt, uncle, and cousin move back from New York, and her very religious cousin tries to fit in with the other football players at Essie's high school, one of whom is Essie's popular new boyfriend."

The winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 17th, so you have until midnight on the 16th to share your favorite book trailer!

(And don't forget to enter The Chronicles of Nick giveaway! Deadline is Thursday!)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

MOCKINGJAY Trailer!

I can't believe we haven't posted this!!!



Place your hold on Mockingjay now! The book is released on August 24th, and I'm hoping I'll be able to find it in the airport bookstore - 'cause I CANNOT wait until after my vacation to read it!

In the meantime, what do you think will happen in Mockingjay? Will Katniss prevail against the Capitol? Is Peeta alive? If he is, will Katniss end up with Gale or Peeta?

Tell us what you think will happen in the comments, and we'll choose one random winner who will receive a hardcover copy of The Chronicles of Nick: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon (which currently has 64 holds!).

The Chronicles of Nick: Infinity
"Streetwise, tough, and savvy, Nick and his quick sarcasm are the stuff of legend... until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. With his fellow students turning into flesh-eating zombies, how can he stop them... without getting grounded by his mom?"

The lucky winner will be announced on Friday, August 13th, so you have until midnight on Thusday, August 12th to share your predictions!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Living Evergreen Essay Contest

Have some opinions about the environment and sustainability?

More specifically, if you can write 700-1,000 words on one of the following topics:

  1. What steps can you take in your everyday life to enhance and maintain the environment and
    improve sustainability?

  2. What current technology and green-living practices do you and your family use today that helps
    improve the environment and what impacts do you think this makes on the environment?

  3. What future technical advancements can you imagine for solving current environmental and
    sustainability challenges?


You should enter the Living Evergreen Essay Contest.

Winners will be awarded up to $200 in savings bonds (this is a good thing), among other things.

Turn around is short, though, all entries must be received by August 16, 2010.

For full rules and information.

The contest is open to all students in Washington State who are entering grades 7-12.

Good luck!