2014 Reading Challenge

Photo by Anne M.

Happy New Year!

2014 promises all kinds of great books.  How many do you plan to read?  How do you track your reading?

I like using Goodreads to track my books.  Last year I used took part in the Goodreads reading challenge.  My goal was 213 books (I have no idea why I picked that number), and I passed it!  However, I'm not sure how many of those were picture books, which I don't really think should count ;)

If we were to do a Sno-Isle Teens reading challenge group, where we all encourage each other to read more, where would you want that to live?  Facebook?  Goodreads?  On this blog?  Someplace else?  I'd love to get a community together of teen book lovers
from all over Snohomish and Island county talking together about books.

Who's in?

2013 YALSA Teens' Top Ten

The nominations for YALSA's Teens' Top Ten have been announced!

This is really the list to watch because teen readers like you nominate and choose their favorite books from the previous year!

The list is sponsored by YALSA, which is an organization you should definitely check out for the latest in young adult literature. You can visit their blog here!

And at Sno-Isle Libraries, you'll find the Teens' Top Ten list all linked up to our catalog. So catch up on the ones you missed, put them on hold, and read all summer long!

Voting will take place Aug. 15 – Sept. 15 on YALSA’s brand new Teens’ Top Ten site for teens at www.ala.org/yalsa/reads4teens. 

The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week in October.

It will be hard to choose a favorite... 

Featured Teen Book Review of the Week: Crank

 I love the enthusiasm AL brings to this review, and that she is willing to give the novel-in-verse "poem-type writing" a chance.

Crank
4 stars.

Describe the book: Crank is about a girl named Kristina who is taken over by a 'monster' that controls her life. This monster is the drug meth. As Kristina develops her relationship with the monster, she turns more and more to her alternate self "Bree". This story is told in poem from and is spectacular!

What did you think: I loved this book. At first it really creeped me out (in a good way)and the writing confused me a little, but once I got the hang of it I totally fell in love with her poem-type writing!

Who would you recommend it to: People who like psychological thrillers and poetry

A.L. (Grade 11) from Snohomish Library

Featured Teen Book Review of the Week: Can I See Your I.D.?

I love it when teens tell me about an exciting book I've never heard of before!  I bet I'll be bringing this one out to the schools on my next booktalk.

Can I See Your I.D.?

4 stars.

Describe the book: Ten imposters pass themselves off as people they aren't. A high school dropout spends days as a high-ranked navy surgeon. A poor woman pretends to be a foreign princess. A white man takes a few pill and then instantly explores the world as an African American.

What did you think: These stories were mind-blowing. I thought Mary was quite clever when she used other people's tales to create her own royal life story, and I was impressed when John figured out how to live life disguised as an African American. I was also awed at Solomon's courage. I think it would be so difficult to pose as someone you're not just to stay alive.

Who would you recommend it to: People who want to read shocking yet true stories

- R.B. (Grade 8) from Granite Falls Library

Thanks for the tip R.B.!  Unfortunately, I can only send prizes to our local libraries, and while you put down Granite Falls, your home address is in Virginia.  Let me know if you've moved :)

Featured Teen Book Review of the Week: Struck

If there is anything I love, it is an honest book review. And M.B. from Marysville is NOT afraid to pan a book when she doesn't like it:

Struck
0 stars.

Describe the book: Mia Price is addicted to getting struck by lightning. After having to relocate because of her dangerous ability, she thinks she has finally started to escape her addiction, but when a massive quake strikes San Francisco and a giant lightning storm threatens to take out the survivors, it's up to Mia to save the world.  

What did you think: This was terrible. I thought I was getting a book about a girl addicted to lighting trying to get over her issues in the face of a deadly earthquake, but instead I got random religious cults warring, dumb plot twists, and obnoxiously unlikeable characters who don't really make me like them any better by the end of the book.  

Who would you recommend it to: Don't read it. Seriously. It's weird.

- M.B. (Grade 11) from Marysville Library

Ok...M.B. I'm sending you another book, hopefully one you enjoy a whole lot more.   Happy Teen Read Month!

Teen Read Month Special: Our Favorites - The Knife of Never Letting Go

Today's Teen Read Month favorite is from Chuck at the Monroe Library.

"Have you ever wondered what it might be like if every other male could hear your thoughts, non-stop, all day long?  What if you could hear all of their thoughts?  What if you could hear the thoughts of all male animals, too, including your dog?  Now imagine that, besides dealing with all of the “Noise” from hearing everyone’s thoughts, you live in a world where all females have completely disappeared and you have no idea how or why. And it all takes place on another planet.  If that sounds like the kind of mystery you could sink your teeth into, then you should read The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness."

Pursued by power-hungry Prentiss and mad minister Aaron, young Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's true past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World. 

If this sounds like your sort of thing, you might also enjoy the books on our Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction booklist!

Featured Teen Book Review of the Week: Way to Go

During Teen Read Month, we are going to feature (and reward) teen reviews of books you might not have heard of before, but deserve some recognition.  For the first week of the month, we have this 2012 titles, with 4 copies waiting to be checked out right now! 

Way to Go by Tom Ryan

4 stars.

Describe the book: Danny starts his first job at a reopened restaurant one summer in his small hometown of Deep Cove. He's almost positive he's gay, but is afraid of the backlash he would get around town, so he befriends a super cool girl at the restaurant named Lisa, hoping that their friendship will wash away the rumors of his schoolmates, despite that they're true

What did you think: I liked it a lot to the point where I finished in less than 24 hours; I really liked a lot of the characters. One of Danny's friends, Kierce, was really annoying, though; but annoying in a way that will make you keep reading to see what happens. Lisa was also a really great character, and I liked seeing Danny discover what he wants to do in life.

Who would you recommend it to: gr7+, lgbtq, friendship, relationships, realistic

- A.K. (Grade 10) from Mill Creek Library

A.K. will receive a surprise book, sent to the Mill Creek Library in a few days.

Book Trailer Tuesday: A.S. King

Last year A.S. King won a Printz Award Honor. Her latest book Everybody Sees the Ants has just been released. I read it, and it's really staying with me. I think it's for anyone who has ever seen, witnessed, or perpetrated bullying. While Lucky Linderman's voice was in a far lower register in my head, here's the trailer:



The trailer for her Printz Honor-winning Please Ignore Vera Dietz:



And the trailer for her first title, a Cybils finalist for Teen Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Dust of 100 Dogs:



I have to say that while the trailers are rather sedate, the books really aren't. Listen to the plot, and amp it all up a few watts, and then you've got a good idea of what to expect. What do you think? Have you read any of these books? Are the trailers good representations? If you haven't read them, do they make you want to?

Book Trailer Tuesday: Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

I'll admit that I'm totally obsessed with diseases - to the point where people have told me I should have gone to medical school. Knowing that, you probably shouldn't be surprised when I say that Typhoid Mary is fascinating. Needless to say, after seeing the trailer for Deadly by Julie Chibbaro, I immediately placed the book on hold.

Book Trailer Tuesday: The Trailee Award

The second annual Trailee Awards are under way! They seek to identify the best of the best in book trailers that really make you want to read.

For all of the categories and videos, head here, where you can also submit your votes.

Voting ends 12 PM CST, December 16, 2011.

For just a taste of some of the trailers up for the awards:

Category: Publisher/Author created for secondary readers (7-12)

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes, by Brandon Mull (trailer by Escape Goat Pictures)


Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann (trailer by Vand Media)


The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making by Catherynne M. Valente illus. by Ana Juan (trailer by David Taylor Design)


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (trailer by Quirk Books)




Category: Student created for secondary readers (7-12 grade)

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer (trailer by Josie Baker, Ivy Kerr, and Xavi Stevens, from Denton, Texas)


Sleepless by Thomas Richard Fahy (trailer by Rachel Coleman, a student at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas)


Teen Idol by Meg Cabot (trailer by Anna Milius, a student at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas)


Tenderness by Robert Cormier (trailer by Daniel Neal, a student at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas)


Go vote!

Book Trailer Tuesday: Iron Fey Series

You'll find some of this hit fantasy series by Julie Kagawa on the Teen Explore shelf:


Or place a hold by following the links:

Iron King
Iron Daughter
Iron Queen



Released today, and eventually showing up on your library shelves:
Iron Knight

Book Trailer Tuesday: The Scorpio Races

Maggie Stiefvater exploded onto the scene with Lament, and furthered her name with The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Next up is The Scorpio Races, out today. I'm fairly interested in giving it a go, since I'm pretty worn out on faeries and werewolves. Here's a very interesting trailer, that tells you almost nothing about the book, but is still cool because of the stop motion art:




Publisher description:
Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn't given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition - the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.

Nota bene: Her stop motion trailer for Linger is pretty awesome, too. As are the two different versions of the trailer for Forever.

Teens' Top Ten Revealed

The 2011 Teen's Top Ten list has been announced!
Every year teens vote on their top ten favorite books of the previous year, and the winners are announced during the month of October. Nominees are selected by sixteen book groups from all over the United States - including the Mukilteo Library's very own Teen Advisory Group! Then during the months of August and September, teens vote online for their favorites.
Without further ado - this year's winners:

• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
• The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
• Matched by Ally Condie
• Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
• Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
• Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
• Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Have you read any of these books? Are there any books you think should have been included on the list that didn't make it? You can order them from Sno-Isle Libraries here.
Learn more about the Teens' Top Ten and see a list of all titles nominated here.

Book Trailer Tuesday: Where Things Come Back

I'm not going to lie, Where Things Come Back is a bit of an odd duck. But it's also one of my absolute favorites of the year. No question.

Here's the trailer:

WHERE THINGS COME BACK by JOHN COREY WHALEY Official Book Trailer from Corey Whaley on Vimeo.

Before Gabrielle disappeared, Cullen Witter held onto the hope that he wouldn't end up trapped in tiny Lily, Arkansas. He bides his time by coming up with book titles and imagining the zombie apocalypse. Without Gabrielle, Cullen does his best to maintain normal amid pain and absurdity when the town forgets one of their own has gone missing and instead becomes obsessed with the reappearance of a supposedly extinct woodpecker. But if a bird can reappear after 60 years of assumed extinction, surely a little brother can come back, too.

Place a hold on Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.

Book Trailer Tuesday: The Perfect Chemistry Trilogy by Simone Elkeles

These books are REALLY popular. And I suspect it might have something to do with the trailers:

The first one is oddly a rap video trailer, which is new to me...


Place Perfect Chemistry on hold.



Place Rules of Attraction on hold.



Place Chain Reaction on hold.

Check out all of the books by Simone Elkeles.

Book Trailer Tuesday: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

The first time I watched this it freaked me out. It becomes less creepy with repeat viewings, but I still totally want to read this book.



Place a hold on Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (is that an awesome author's name, or what?)

Maureen Johnson's new book

has a trailer:



And it looks like she's going to join the tumblr craze, based on where this was found... The new book is called The Name of the Star and is about an American girl spending the summer in London as a rash of Jack the Ripper-style murders start to occur...

You can place it on hold here!

All good things must come to an end

I love a good book. I love a good book in a good series even more. I could read some series forever (yes, that’s you, Harry Potter), but a good ending can be satisfying, too, so I’m looking forward to some soon-to-be-published last books. Top on my list is Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, last in the Leviathan series, coming out in September. Also coming up are the last books in the Private series by Kate Brian, the Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey, the Hollow series by Jessica Verday, and the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick. Summer is a great time to start reading these popular series—and you could enter reviews of them online to win prizes. Enjoy!

Fun Non-Fiction for Summer Reading

From Kathleen at the Mukilteo Library:

Summer is a great time to read books for fun. For most readers, that means fiction, but there’s some great nonfiction out there, too. These new nonfiction books have been popular at Mukilteo:

1. Kiss: a girl’s guide to puckering up by Erin Conley —Tips, techniques and factoids about kissing. Really!

2. This is why you’re fat by Jessica Amason —That’s a hamburger made with doughnuts on the cover, but the gravy pizza is even more revolting.

3. How to survive anything by Rachel Bucholz —Because you never know when a shark will attack.

4. The Twilight Saga: the official illustrated guide by Stephenie Meyer—Need I say more?

5. Tom Thumb: the remarkable true story of a man in miniature by George Sullivan—The story of the most famous little person in American history is interesting, but the pictures are amazing.

Do you have others that you would recommend?

Today is Paranormal Day...Celebrate With a Book

From Kathleen at the Mukilteo Library.

Strange, but true…May 3 is Paranormal Day, a day for lovers of the paranormal to share their enthusiasm with others. The readers at my library love books about the paranormal, especially if they have a little touch of romance. Or a really big touch of romance. And humor doesn’t hurt, either.

So we’re excited that the nominees for this year’s Teens’ Top Ten books include the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. Hex Hall and Demonglass follow Sophie, a young witch whose first spells have gone horribly wrong, landing her at Hex Hall, the paranormal version of juvie. Vampire roommate, hot gardener, ghostly relatives—these books have it all!

Reserve your copies today and, while you’re waiting, let us know what paranormal books you’d recommend.