Looking for a a funny book?

I don't know about you, but I love a book that makes me laugh out loud. Don Calame's Swim the Fly is one of my go-to funny books. But what if you've read that already?

The Lawrence (Kansas) Public Library has created a humor flowchart to help you find your new favorite funny book.

Pretty genius if you ask me!  You might also want to check out the flowchart for The Hunger Games or their Paranormal Historical Fiction booklist.

What's your favorite funny book?

Creepy reads

It seems that without fail, every October my reading habits tend toward the creepy and spooky. The shorter days, chilly weather, and parade of pumpkins make me crave something that'll give me nightmares (or at least make me jump). Here are a few recent favorites:

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz: Once upon a tome fairy tales were awesome. As if Hansel and Gretel didn’t already have it tough in their original fairy tale, Gidwitz pops them into a handful of other obscure Grimm stories and casts the siblings as heroes. Over the course of the book the twins are beheaded (and reheaded), dismembered, hunted, killed, brought back to life, sent to hell, and a number of other terrible fates. Is there a happily-ever-after? I'm not telling. It's really good on audio and you can also watch the book trailer.

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann: This is still one of the creepiest books I've ever read. Missing boyfriend? Check. Creepy graffiti on your desk? Check. Strange whispers? Check. My advice, don't follow Kendall's lead and go looking for him alone in the woods.

Brains for Lunch: A Zombie Novel in Haiku by K.A. Holt: This isn't so much scary as it is funny and gross, but nothing says Halloween like zombies. Nearly 100 haiku's cover middle school life. Middle school is hard. It's even harder when you're a zombie.

What are your Halloween reads?

National Read a Book Day

Did you know that today is National Read a Book Day? I just learned that this morning. So my question to you is - what are you reading? Something just for fun? Something you've been assigned for school?

I'm currently reading (and thoroughly enjoying) The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge.

"In an alternate 1950s, mechanically gifted fifteen-year-old Aoife Grayson, whose family has a history of going mad at sixteen, must leave the totalitarian city of Lovecraft and venture into the world of magic to solve the mystery of her brother's disappearance and the mysteries surrounding her father and the Land of Thorn. "

I highly recommend it!

New Teen Books I'm Excited About (Part 1)

I've been on a bit of a reading roll recently. It didn't hurt that when I was at the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans last month I got to meet with some authors and hear about some new books (some which won't be released until late fall).



Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

This is the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy. If you haven't read the series, you should. It takes paranormal romance to a whole new level. The basic story: Girl meets wolf. Wolf turns into boy. Girl falls in love with boy. Boy turns back into wolf. Girl gives boy meningitis to stay human. Girl turns into wolf. In the third book, the wolves are being hunted. Sam, Cole, and Isabel are trying to find a cure and save Grace before the wolves are driven from Mercy Falls/

Red Glove by Holly Black

The sequel to last year's White Cat. Cassel comes from a family of curse workers and as it turns out his family has been working him for years. Cassel can't tell if his longtime crush Lila, the daughter of a gangster, truly loves him or if she's been "worked" to love him. His oldest brother has been murdered and the Feds have recruited him to help solve the case. The catch? The mob wants him to work for them too.




Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

This is the follow up to Carter's teen crime-caper Heist Society. The team of young thieves are back after last year's epic art heist. Cat, Hale, and the gang must steal Cleopatra's Emerald and return it to its rightful owner. If you like the show Leverage and the film Ocean's 11 you love this.





Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

What happens when a plane full of teen beauty queens crashes into a deserted tropical island that also inhabits an evil corporation and a band of sultry pirates? Libba Bray has created a story so original and hilarious, you will wonder why it wasn't written years ago and why it isn't a show on the CW. Don't be fooled, these beauty queens have brains and some serious survivor skills. It's Miss America meets Lost meets Survivor meets Pirates of the Carribean. The perfect summer read!

What do these titles have in common? I listened to all of them on audio. You can learn more about these and other upcoming releases at the Teen Book Brunch at the University Book Store in Mill Creek Town Center in Friday, August 19th at 11 a.m. Come share your favorite book (or what you have to read this summer) and enjoy Top Pot donuts and free books!

Teen Books Aren't All Depressing, Right?

If you follow Twitter or read the Wall Street Journal or pay any attention to book blogs, you might have noticed the web was all a flurry with #yasaves all weekend. So what gives?

On Saturday, June 4th, Megan Cox Gurdon, a writer for The Wall Street Journal wrote an article about how nearly all teen books were depressing and dark and about things like self-mutilation and hate crimes and kidnapping and that they might cause teens to self-destruct. You can read the whole article here.

I know what you're thinking- this is nuts, right? If you've been into a library or bookstore recently you'd know teen books aren't all about dark stuff and vampires. Sure there are books that reflect the harsh realities that we (and teens) face, but there are plenty of books out there that are funny or feel good books. Authors like Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, Don Calame, and Adam Rex.

What are your favorite funny or feel good books?

Review: I, Q

Have you ever had a friend you could trust to recommend books to you and never steer you wrong? I was visiting the Freeland Library last week, and both librarians working there recommended I,Q: Independence Hall by Roland Smith. I always like hearing what the other librarians have enjoyed reading, and these two have given me many good suggestions in the past. The book was on the shelf, so I took it home.

I sat down, started reading, and before I knew it I had read almost 100 pages! I love it when a book pulls me in like that.

It's a hard story to summarize without giving anything away - there are rock stars, spies, terrorists, evasive maneuvers, rogue agents, card tricks, and McDonald's hamburgers eaten on the sly. Definitely a page turner. Book two in the series is on its way and I can't wait to read it!

Check out the book trailer, then check out the book!

Fave Reads This Week

Need something to read? Here are two books I really enjoyed.

Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy) - Lauren DeStefano

Dystopian future? Check. Incurable virus? Check. Forced polygamy? Check. Accept my new life? Never.

In a dystopian future, sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is kidnapped by the Gatherers to become a bride. Against her will, she becomes part of a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape...

Intrigued? Click here to request this book.

Darkness Becomes Her - Kelly Keaton

Greek mythology enthusiasts, here's one for you!

Set in New 2 (post disaster New Orleans), this dystopian & paranormal novel is filled with a mix of gods and monsters. Born with teal eyes and silver hair, and having bounced around foster care, Ari is seeking an understanding of where she came from and who she is. Her search leads her to New 2, where she quickly makes friends with other misfits, becomes embroiled in local politics and is forced to fight for her survival (against a goddess!).

Sound awesome? Click here to request this book.

Review: Pink Boots and a Machete

Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey From NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer by Mireya Mayor is by far one of my favorite books of the year. I’ll confess, I have a weakness for memoirs and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. Like the title suggests, Mireya Mayor is a cheerleader turned Ph D scientist and National Geographic Explorer. Her journey from a tomboy in Miami to a female Indiana Jones in Madagascar is pretty remarkable especially since science was never her strong point in school.

Mayor is totally crazy. She nearly dies in the jungle, not once but twice. She's charged at by an angry gorilla. There are scorpions in her shoes. The male scientists give her a hard time for packing makeup for the jungle until they need tweezers for splinters. She even manages to discover the world's smallest primate:

We do own the book and the National Geographic film Mystery Gorillas where Mireya Mayor is at the heart of the jungle to explore the great apes' secret world. Even if you don't like monkeys (who doesn't?) you should check them out today. She proves that you don't have be a genius to succeed, you just need to have passion.

-Reviewed by Danielle, Adult Teen Librarian at the Mill Creek Library

A Book to Make You Choke on Your Breakfast

Today’s blogger is Marlene, Teen Contact at the Brier Library. She is currently reading The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex.

How many times have you read a book that makes you laugh so hard you choke on your breakfast? This is one of those books! You will stay up late at night reading and wake up early in the morning to read more. Each adventure with 12 year old Tip (Gratuity) and her unlikely friend J. Lo. (a Boov) keep you wanting more. Find out what happens to earth, now known as Smekland, when the orange wearing, dental floss eating aliens take over.

Check out our website www.sno-isle.org for other excellent books by Adam Rex!