If you like...The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

On display in the Teen Hub @ The Lancaster Public Library you will find an assortment of books that are similar stories to the survival science fiction in The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Try one of these teen novels and see how they compare:

1 Exodus Julie Bertagna. 2008. In the year 2100, as the island of Wing is about to be covered by water, fifteen-year-old Mara discovers the existence of New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters, and convinces her people to travel to one of these cities in order to save themselves.

2 The supernaturalist Eoin Colfer. c2004. In futuristic Satellite City, fourteen-year-old Cosmo Hill escapes from his abusive orphanage and teams up with three other people who share his unusual ability to see supernatural creatures, and together they determine the nature and purpose of the swarming blue Parasites that are invisible to most humans.

3 Catching fire Suzanne Collins. 2009. (sequel to The Hunger Games--reserve it!) By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

4 Surviving Antarctica : reality TV 2083 Andrea White. c2005. In the year 2083, five fourteen-year-olds who were deprived by chance of the opportunity to continue their educations reenact Scott's 1910-1913 expedition to the South Pole as contestants on a reality television show, secretly aided by a Department of Entertainment employee.

5 Unwind Neal Shusterman. c2007. In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs--and, perhaps, save their own lives.

6 The kindling Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher. c2002. In 2007, a small band of children have joined together in a Florida town, trying to survive in a world where it seems that all the adults have been killed off by a catastrophic virus.

7 The house of the scorpion Nancy Farmer. c2002. In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States.

8 Epic Conor Kostick. 2007. On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik pursuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.

9 The declaration Gemma Malley. 2007. In 2140 England, where drugs enable people to live forever and children are illegal, teenaged Anna, an obedient "Surplus" training to become a house servant, discovers that her birth parents are trying to find her.

10 The secret under my skin Janet McNaughton. 2006. In the year 2368, humans exist under dire environmental conditions and one young woman, rescued from a workcamp and chosen for a special duty, uses her love of learning to discover the truth about the planet's future and her own dark past.

11 The knife of never letting go Patrick Ness. 2008. 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.

12 Mortal engines : a novel by Philip Reeve. 2003. In the distant future, when cities move about and consume smaller towns, a fifteen-year-old apprentice is pushed out of London by the man he most admires and must seek answers in the perilous Out-Country, aided by one girl and the memory of another.

13 Uglies Scott Westerfeld. 2005. Just before their sixteenth birthdays, when they will will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all.

First Friday Recap

Lancaster Public Library's First Friday Music & Poetry Jam was a complete success. Four local teens participated by reading their original poetry between music sets performed by Jeepster. Angelique, Patricia, and Kathy attend La Academia Partnership Charter School and read from their compiled works in the soon-to-be-famous Red Notebook. The girls take turns possessing the notebook and writing their poetry in its spiral bound pages. Gabby is home-schooled and read from her meticulously written loose-leaf pages. Gabby is also a prolific artist, with work on display at the Lancaster Museum of Art. The poets got to meet Helaine Crawford, who specializes in sequential illustration and animation. Helaine suggested reading books written by animation studios on their productions to learn more about the kind of work that she does. Her work will be on display at the library until July 1st. To watch some of the poetry reading and Jeepster, please visit our YouTube account.

2010 Teens' Top Ten Nominations!

About the Teens' Top Ten:

Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country. Nominations are posted on Support Teen Literature Day during National Library Week, and teens across the country vote on their favorite titles each year. Readers ages twelve to eighteen will vote online between Aug. 23 and Sept. 17; the winners will be announced in a webcast featuring WWE Superstars and Divas during Teen Read Week.

Stay tuned for a link to voting in August!

Click on a title to reserve the book and pick it up at the library!

1 Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott. c2009

Abisina is born into a colony of religious fanatics, where she is persecuted for her appearance, kept alive only because her mother is the healer. But when a new leader arrives, he rids the colony of the outcasts. Abisina escapes and is rescued by some dwarves, who help her journey to Watersmeet to find her father.

2 Wintergirls Laurie Halse Anderson. 2009

Lia sees her eating disorder as a way to avoid so much: her stepmother’s pressure to be a role model for her new stepsister, her parents’ divorce, her mother constantly hounding over her daughter’s eating habits whenever she finds the time in the rest of her life. But most importantly, she sees it as a means to escape the death of her best friend, the one she ignored the day she died.

3 Hate list Jennifer Brown. 2009

Valerie and her boyfriend Nick are constantly picked on by other kids at Garvin High. They write a Hate List, and Nick participates in a Columbine type killing. Valerie survives and has to live with the consequences.

4 Heist society Ally Carter. c2010

Katarina is trying to get out of the family thievery business. When her father is suspected of stealing a priceless art collection from an Italian mobster, she has to steal them back to save his life—and she has no idea where they are.

5 Fire Kristin Cashore. c2009

Fire is a monster, quite literally. She is extraordinarily beautiful and can control the minds of humans. Soon she gets sucked into the kingdom’s political turmoil and encounters everything from cold princes to brightly colored bunny rabbits.

6 City of Glass Cassandra Clare. c2009

Clary must dig deep within herself to complete the journey into the unfamiliar in the name of family and love. Clary goes to the City of Glass to try to save her mother — even though it may mean her own death.

7 The roar Emma Clayton. 2009

Mika's world appears to be based purely on mystery and lies, though he seems to be the only one who senses it. After his sister vanishes and a new government program that targets children rises, Mika decides that the only hope of finding his sister may be in beating the government at their own game.

8 Catching fire Suzanne Collins. 2009

In the sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss is faced with the challenges of being a victor of the Games, from keeping up the image of a romantic relationship with Peeta to trying to prevent any rioting in the other districts. But when the Capitol announces a twist that will affect Katniss forever, will she be able to survive re-entering the world of the Games?

9 Along for the ride : a novel by Sarah Dessen. 2009

College-bound Auden lets academics drive her entire life until she moves to a beach town for the summer to live with her father, stepmother, and newborn half-sister. Slowly she learns to break out of her shell as she makes friends with the locals and falls for a trick bike rider.

10 Incarceron Catherine Fisher. 2010

In a distant future, all the world's criminals are dumped in a vast, living prison called Incarceron, with live forests and mechanical animals, climate-controlled weather, and everlasting dark walls that stretch to nowhere. Seventeen-year-old Finn believes he should not be there and must rely on help from the outside to escape.

11 Hush, hush Becca Fitzpatrick. c2009

Nora ends up sitting next to Patch in biology. Patch is a scary guy, a fallen angel, and he is shrouded in mystery. But he has a knack for getting under Nora’s skin. Many people seem to be out to get her and she is slowly starting to realize she is falling for Patch, even if he is trying to kill her.

12 If I Stay Gayle Forman. 2010

After a drive with her family, Mia wakes up to find the car in pieces and the bodies of her family by the side of the road. She is in a coma, but she can see everything happening around her, almost as if she was a ghost. With her family gone, Mia has to decide if she should stay among the living or if she should pass on.

13 Beautiful creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl. 2009

Lena isn't like the other girls in Gatlin, South Carolina. She's as different from them as a person can get. She is a Caster. Ethan wants to be different. He hates life in Gatlin. So when he runs into Lena, almost literally, something just clicks. Can an ancient curse, a shut-in uncle, and certain doom keep them apart?

14 Geektastic : stories from the nerd herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci. 2009

Anyone who has ever been labeled or proclaimed themselves to be "geeks" will fall to the floor laughing and fall in love with the many different short stories and illustrations by some of the top young adult authors.

15 Dragonfly Julia Golding. 2009

A princess from a country formed on rules is being forced to marry a prince from a different country who just likes to live life. They dislike each other on sight— and then they are kidnapped. Can they travel back home, through enemy territory, without strangling each other?

16 The reformed vampire support group Catherine Jinks. 2009

Grumpy vampire Nina is in a support group so that she doesn't prey on humans. But things start to look grimmer than ever when one of the vampires in the support group shows up dead. Will Nina be able to get to the bottom of this crime before another vampire is attacked?

17 I am a genius of unspeakable evil and I want to be your cla Josh Lieb. c2009

A young boy (who happens to be an evil genius) wants to be student body president to attract his father/arch-nemesis’ attention. After using his almost unlimited resources, he thinks he has the election in the bag, when suddenly everything goes wrong that no amount of money can fix.

18 Twenty boy summer by Sarah Ockler. 2009

Anna joins her best friend Frankie’s family for a beach vacation in California. Frankie and Anna make a bet to attract 20 boys in 20 days. Anna struggles with a painful secret and falls in love with Sam — and isn’t sure she can finish their bet.

19 Witch & wizard James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. 2009

Siblings Whit and Wisty are suddenly pronounced a witch and a wizard by their oppressive government. They are sent to prison, where they learn to use their powers with hopes to escape.

20 By the time you read this, I'll be dead Julie Anne Peters. c2010

Daelyn Rice is determined to succeed in killing herself this time. Using a website for "completers," she reveals a history of bullying and torment that started in kindergarten. One day, though, a boy sits with her as she is waiting to be picked up from school. While she makes it known that she wants to be alone, he won't give up on her.

21 Bloodhound Tamora Pierce. c2009

Beka has grown and needs to take on new assignments. When her old partner gets hurt, she is sent out on a new type of mission. Finding love and a culprit can be complicated in a big city—but nothing is too hard for the Terrier!

22 Strange angels by Lili St. Crow. c2009

Dru’s family kills mythical creatures. After a catastrophe befalls her parents, she wants revenge. To find out what happened to her family, she’ll need to learn to trust others.

23 Shiver Maggie Stiefvater. 2009

Ever since being saved by a wolf as a child, Grace has been fascinated with the wolves around her Minnesota home. But the wolves are becoming restless and need Grace's help to save them. One of the wolves takes human form and falls in love with Grace — but as the weather grows colder, he’ll turn back into a wolf, likely forever. Soon, he must make a life or death decision to stay with the one he loves.

24 The melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya original story, Nagaru Tanigawa ; manga, Gaku Tsugano ; cha 2008-

Haruhi Suzumia is a high-school student who is bored by normal humans. She wants something supernatural to happen, so she starts a club with a boy named Kyon. Little does she know that everyone that signs up from her club is either a Time Traveler, Alien, or Esper.

25 Leviathan written by Scott Westerfeld ; illustrated by Keith Thompson 2009

The prince of Austria-Hungary is on the run, his parents murdered. Deryn Sharp is a girl who pretends to be a boy to live out her dream. One chooses to go on an adventure; the other is forced into it. The pair are on opposite sides but must work together to escape from German troops.

26 City of fire Laurence Yep. 2009

Twelve-year-old Scirye vows to avenge her sister’s death and reclaim a stolen treasure for her people by taking on the villainous dragon Badik and the strange Dr. Roland. She and her companions travel to a Hawaiian island created by magic, where a goddess helps them in their quest to stop Dr. Roland from achieving a great power.

Asian American Heritage

May is Asian American heritage month

—check out these great library books:

Children of the river Linda Crew. c1989

Sundara fled Cambodia with her aunt's family to escape the Khmer Rouge army when she was thirteen, leaving behind her parents, her brother and sister, and the boy she had loved since she was a child. Now, four years later, she struggles to fit in at her Oregon high school and to be "a good Cambodian girl" at home. A good Cambodian girl never dates; she waits for her family to arrange her marriage to a Cambodian boy. Yet Sundara and Jonathan, an extraordinary American boy, are powerfully drawn to each other.

Chinese Cinderella : the true story of an unwanted daughter Adeline Yen Mah. c1999

A riveting memoir of a girl's painful coming-of-age in a wealthy Chinese family during the 1940s. A Chinese proverb says, "Falling leaves return to their roots." In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair.

The dragon's child : a story of Angel Island Laurence Yep ; with Kathleen S. Yep. c2008

In 1922, ten-year-old Gim Lew reluctantly leaves his village in China to accompany his father to America, but before they go he must prepare for a grueling test that he must pass--without stuttering--at California's Angel Island, where strict officials strive to keep out unwanted immigrants. Includes facts about immigration from China and the experiences of the author's family.

Farewell to Manzanar : a true story of Japanese American ex Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston. c2002

During World War II a community called Manzanar was hastily created in the high mountain desert country of California, east of the Sierras. Its purpose was to house thousands of Japanese American internees. One of the first families to arrive was the Wakatsukis, who were ordered to leave their fishing business in Long Beach and take with them only the belongings they could carry.

Haveli by Suzanne Fisher Staples. c1993

Having relented to the ways of her people in Pakistan and married the rich older man to whom she was pledged against her will, Shabanu is now the victim of his family's blood feud and the malice of his other wives. Sequel to "Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind."

I am an American : a true story of Japanese internment by Jerry Stanley. c1994

Young Shi Nomura was among the 120,000 American citizens who lost everything when he was sent by the U.S. government to Manzanar, an interment camp in the California desert, simply because he was of Japanese ancestry. "In clear and fascinating prose, Stanley has set forth the compelling story of one of America's darkest times--the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

An ocean apart, a world away : a novel by Lensey Namioka. c2002

Despite the odds facing her decision to become a doctor in 1920's Nanking, China, teenaged Yanyan leaves her family to study at Cornell University where, along with hard work, she finds prejudice and loneliness as well as friendship and a new sense of accomplishment.

Shabanu : daughter of the wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples. c2003
When eleven-year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in the Cholistan Desert of present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying her father's wishes.

A single shard Linda Sue Park. 2003
Tree-ear, a thirteen-year-old orphan in medieval Korea, lives under a bridge in a potters' village, and longs to learn how to throw the delicate celadon ceramics himself.

Under the blood-red sun Graham Salisbury. c1994

Tomikazu Nakaji's biggest concerns are baseball, homework, and a local bully, until life with his Japanese family in Hawaii changes drastically after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

China's son : growing up in the Cultural Revolution Da Chen. c2001

A candid memoir about growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution...

Sword : a novel by Da Chen. c2008

When Miu Miu turns fifteen, she learns the truth about her father's violent death and discovers that she must avenge his murder before she can marry the man to whom she is betrothed. Based on a story told to the author by a former prisoner during China's Cultural Revolution.

Wandering warrior Da Chen. c2003

Eleven-year-old Luka, destined to become the future emperor of China, is trained in the ways of the kung fu wandering warriors by the wise monk Atami.

Young Fu of the upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis ; reillustrated by Ed Young c1973
Young Fu is bound for seven years to be an apprentice to Tang the coppersmith, and his new life in the Chinese city Chungking is both exciting and terrifying. Young Fu endures the taunts of his coworkers, and must live by his wits on the streets, where restless soldiers will shoot a man if he does not carry a load for them, and beggars steal from those who pass them by. Yet for Young Fu, the pleasures of the bustling Chungking of the 1920s far outweigh its dangers. Little by little he learns the ways of the big city and plunges into adventure after adventure.

Deep in the mountains : an encounter with Zhu Qizhan Terrence Cheng. c2007

A haunting story about growing up and accepting life's challenges—and its joys The great Chinese artist Zhu Qizhan was born in 1892 and lived to be 105 years old. During his life, he witnessed the Boxer Rebellion, the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the civil war between the Nationalists and the Communists, the Sino-Japanese War, Japan's occupation of China during World War II, the Cultural Revolution...a full lifetime indeed, packed with struggle, love, conflict, and always, art.

Falling leaves : a true story of an unwanted Chinese daught Adeline Yen Mah. c1997

Although Adeline Yen Mah was born into a wealthy family in Tianjin, China in 1937, her childhood was an unhappy one. Born female in a culture that often devalues women, her situation was made worse by the fact that her family blamed Yen Mah for her mother's death, which occurred just after she was born.

The golden rat Don Wulffson. 2007

When sixteen-year-old Baoliu is wrongfully accused of murdering his stepmother, his father pays someone else to die in his place, leaving Baoliu to fend for himself on the streets of twelth-century China.

Sisters of the sword Maya Snow. c2008

Two aristocratic sisters in ancient Japan disguise themselves as samurai warriors to take revenge on the uncle who betrayed their family.

Nothing but the truth : and a few white lies Justina Chen Headley. 2006

Fifteen-year-old Patty Ho, half Taiwanese and half white, feels she never fits in, but when her overly-strict mother ships her off to math camp at Stanford, instead being miserable, Patty starts to become comfortable with her true self.

The fold An Na. c2008

Korean American high school student Joyce Kim feels like a nonentity compared to her beautiful older sister, and when her aunt offers to pay for plastic surgery on her eyes, she jumps at the chance, thinking it will change her life for the better.

The children of Topaz : the story of a Japanese-American in by Michael O. Tunnell and George W. Chilcoat. c1996

The diary of a third-grade class of Japanese-American children being held with their families in an internment camp during World War II.

The four immigrants manga : a Japanese experience in San Fr Henry (Yoshitaka) Kiyama ; translated with an introduction c1999

Kiyama visually chronicles his immigrant experience in the United States. Drawn in a classic gag-strip style, this heartfelt tale is a fascinating, entertaining depiction of early Asian-American struggles.

Hiroshima dreams Kelly Easton. c2007

Lin O'Neil, a talented but shy girl growing up in Providence, Rhode Island, develops a close relationship with her Japanese grandmother, who shares Lin's gift of precognition.

Kira-Kira Cynthia Kadohata. c2004

Chronicles the close friendship between two Japanese-American sisters growing up in rural Georgia during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and the despair when one sister becomes terminally ill.

Spies Like Us

(Title suggestions from Core Collection: Spy Kids.
Engberg, Gillian (author).FEATURE. First published May 1, 2010 (Booklist).)
Not only do they have to solve the case; they have to pretend that they are not spying!

Alibi Junior High Greg Logsted. 2009. After thirteen-year-old Cody and his father, an undercover agent, are nearly killed, Cody moves in with his aunt in Connecticut, where he is helped with his adjustment to the trials of attending public school for the first time and investigating a threat in nearby woods by a wounded Iraq War veteran. (grades 6-9)

Steel Trapp : the challenge Ridley Pearson. 2008. On a two-day train trip to enter his invention in the National Science Competition in Washington, D.C., fourteen-year-old Steven "Steel" Trapp, possessor of a remarkable photographic memory, becomes embroiled in an international plot of kidnapping and bribery that may have links to terrorists. (grades 5-8)

Death by denim Linda Gerber. 2009. Sixteen-year-old Aphra and her mother, a CIA agent, are hiding in France under new identities, but they must go on the run again when their location is discovered by a dangerous criminal. (grades 7-10)

Heist society Ally Carter. 2010. A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop's father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector. (Audrey's note: Why does the girl on the cover look like Audrey Hepburn?) (grades 6-10)

I, Q. (Book one, Independence Hall) / Roland Smith. 2008. "Step-siblings Q (Quest) and Angela are thrust into the work of the U.S. Secret Service and the Israeli Mossad when Angela realizes she's being followed, and Q learns the secret about Angela's real mother--a former Secret Service agent who was supposedly killed by a terrorist group. But who are the good guys and who are the bad guys"--Cover, P. [4]. (grades 5-8)

STORM : the Infinity Code by E.L. Young. 2008. In London, the teenaged geniuses of STORM, a secret organization dedicated to eliminating the world's misery through science and technology, uncover plans for a deadly weapon and race to find and dismantle it, then confront the corrupt scientist behind the scheme. (grades 5-8)

The lab Jack Heath. 2008. "Meet a sixteen-year-old superhuman: Agent Six of Hearts. He's the strongest, most effective agent in the Deck, a team of special agents fighting to uphold justice in a completely corrupt world. Six would be invincible...if not for a deadly secret. He is the product of an illegal experiment by the Lab--a ruthless division of the corporation that controls his world. When the Deck begins to investigate the Lab, Six walks a tightrope between his two worlds, trying to keep his origin secret. But then he meets Kyntak, a boy whose past equals his own."--dust cover flap. (grades 5-8)

Live and let shop Michael P. Spradlin. 2005. Beverly Hills teenager Rachel Buchanan gets in trouble with the law and winds up at mysterious Blackthorn Academy in Pennsylvania, where she uncovers secrets about the school and becomes entangled in a case of international espionage. (grades 6-9)

{N.E.R.D.S. [National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society [sound recording] : by Michael Buckley. 2009.
N.E.R.D.S. [National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society [sound recording] : by Michael Buckley. 2009.
NERDS National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society [electronic resource] : Michael Buckley.
2009. (A copy of the book is on oder!)} While running a spy network from their elementary school, five unpopular misfits combine their talents and use cutting-edge gadgetry to fight evil around the world. (grades 4-7)

Remote man Elizabeth Honey. 2000. Thirteen-year-old Ned and his depressed mother leave Australia for a rest in America, but he is soon on the trail of international smugglers of exotic animals, with help from his Internet friends. (grades 6-8)

The secret science alliance and the copycat crook [created, written & drawn by] Eleanor Davis.
2009. Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes. (grades 4-6)

The Shadow Project Herbie Brennan. 2010. A young English thief stumbles on, and subsequently is recruited for, a super-secret operation that trains teenagers in remote viewing and astral projection techniques in order to engage in spying. (grades 6-9)

{Alex Rider Operation Stormbreaker [videorecording] : The Weinstein Company ; Isle of Man Film. 2006.
Alex Rider Operation Stormbreaker [videorecording] : the Weinstein Company ; Isle of Man Film. 2006.} Alex Rider has been trained since birth for a career as a spy. It's not until his beloved uncle, Ian Rider, dies that Alex learns of his intended purpose in life. At just 14, Alex is not sure he can do all that is required of a super spy. Without much choice he is taken under the wing of Britain's secret intelligence service. The Special Operations Division of the MI6 sends Alex on a mission which could save or cost millions their lives. As Alex embarks on his greatest challenge yet, he learns all is not as it seems. Equipped with super spy training, Alex is prepared to deal with whatever comes his way. (rated PG) (grades 6-9)

Point blank : [the graphic novel] Anthony Horowitz ; adapted by Antony Johnston ; illustrated. 2007. Alex Rider, teenage superspy, infiltrates the mysterious Point Blanc Academy, armed with only a false ID and a set of disguised gadgets. Can he alert the world to what he finds out before it's too late? (grades 6-9)

{Stormbreaker Anthony Horowitz. 2001.
Stormbreaker [sound recording] / Anthony Horowitz. 2001.
Stormbreaker Anthony Horowitz. 2006.
Stormbreaker [sound recording] / Anthony Horowitz. 2001.
Stormbreaker : [the graphic novel] Anthony Horowitz ; adapted by Antony Johnston ; illustrated 2006.} After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous work for Britain's intelligence agency, MI6. (grades 6-9)

{Sure fire Jack Higgins with Justin Richards. 2007.
Sure fire Jack Higgins with Justin Richards. 2008.} Resentful of having to go and live with their estranged father after the death of their mother, fifteen-year-old twins, Rich and Jade, soon find they have more complicated problems when their father is kidnapped and their attempts to rescue him involve them in an extremely dangerous international plot to control the world's oil. (grades 6-9)

Booklist's Top Crime Fiction for Youth

(Title suggestions from Booklist, May 1st; descriptions from Lancaster Public Library's OPAC)
The case of the stinky socks by Lewis B. Montgomery ; illustrated by Amy Wummer. 2009. (grades 2-4) Detectives-in-training Milo and Jazz join forces to tackle their first big case--finding out who stole the lucky socks from the high school baseball team's star pitcher.

Cat burglar black Richard Sala. 2009. (grades 7-10) K.'s aunt, who works at the Bellsong Academy for Girls, has invited K. to attend the school. But as soon as she arrives, K. notices some strange goings-on: her aunt has suddenly taken ill; there are only three other students and no regular classes; and a statue speaks to K. when no one else is around.

The Dunderheads Paul Fleischman ; illustrated by David Roberts. 2009. (grades 3-5) When Miss Breakbone confiscates Junkyard's crucial find, Wheels, Pencil, Spider, and the rest of the Dunderheads plot to teach her a lesson.

Gentlemen Michael Northrop. 2009. (grades 10-12) When three teenaged boys suspect that their English teacher is responsible for their friend's disappearance, they must navigate a maze of assorted clues, fraying friendships, violence, and Dostoevsky's "Crime and punishment" before learning the truth.

The knife that killed me Anthony McGowan. 2010. (grades 10-12) Paul Varderman, a secondary student in an English Catholic School, is a loner until, just as he is becoming friends with "the freaks," the school bully encourages Paul to join his gang and gives him a knife to carry as an incentive.

Murder at midnight Avi. 2009. (grades 5-8) Falsely accused of plotting to overthrow King Claudio, scholarly Mangus the magician, along with his street-smart servant boy, Fabrizio, face deadly consequences unless they can track down the real traitor by the stroke of midnight.

The secret science alliance and the copycat crook [created, written & drawn by] Eleanor Davis. 2009. (grades 4-6) Eleven-year-old Julian Calendar thought changing schools would mean leaving his "nerdy" persona behind, but instead he forms an alliance with fellow inventors Greta and Ben and works with them to prevent an adult from using one of their gadgets for nefarious purposes.

What really happened to Humpty? : from the files of a hard- by Joe Dumpty ; as told to Jeanie Franz Ransom ; illustrated. 2009. (grades 1-4) Detective Joe Dumpty rushes to investigate the mysterious circumstances under which his older brother, Humpty, fell from a wall on his first day as captain of the new Neighborhood Watch program.

When you reach me Rebecca Stead. 2009.
When you reach me [sound recording] / Rebecca Stead. (grades 4-7) As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1980s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

Iron Man keeps kids reading!

exerpt from: Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 4/19/2010 2:53:00 PM

"Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 (PG-13), a live-action movie from Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures based on the Marvel Comics character, jet-boots into theaters on May 7, 2010. This sequel to the box-office hit Iron Man (2008) is also directed by Jon Favreau, with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark—billionaire industrialist, brilliant inventor, consummate playboy, and the eponymous superhero. This time around, the world knows that Stark is Iron Man, and the pressure is mounting—from the press, the public, and the government—for him to share his technology with the military.

However, Stark, who is worried that the information will fall into the wrong hands, is determined to keep his armor suit secrets to himself. Pepper Potts (once again played by Gwyneth Paltrow), newly promoted to a leadership role in Stark Industries, remains his staunch supporter, but a conflict is brewing with his old friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), whose position in the Air Force has him advocating for Stark to give up the goods. Scarlett Johansson takes on the part of Natasha

Romanoff (a.k.a. Black Widow), Stark’s new assistant who may or may not be a spy, while Mickey Rourke plays Ivan Vanko (Whiplash), a frightening villain with a knack for engineering cutting-edge technology and a years-old beef against Iron Man. With Whiplash and other powerful forces unleashed, Stark will need all of the allies he can find to keep the world safe from evil.

Kids can visit the official Web site to get the specs on the characters and access videos, downloads, and photos. An “Extras” option links viewers to the “Stark Expo 2010” homepage, an international exhibition (originally launched by Stark’s father in the 1950s) designed to highlight “the technological wonders that will enhance lives everywhere.” Included are an introductory letter from Stark, a promo about the 1974 Expo (complete with old-timey footage of Stark’s father), a slick-looking clip spotlighting the 2010 event, and a rotatable map of the grounds. Send readers interested in exploring Iron Man’s history, the bios and back stories of other comic-book personas, and the entire Marvel Comics Universe to their Web site."

Book Tie-ins
"Several Iron Man and Iron Man 2 titles" are available at the Lancaster Public Library. "The punch-packing covers—adorned with colorful artwork and photos from the film—are sure to entice movie fans." Click on the links below to see where the item is available.

1 The rise of Iron Man written by Michael Teitelbaum. 2010. Early Reader Level 4

2 Iron Man springs into action! 2010. Board Book, ages 0-3

3 Iron Man : the junior novel written by Stephen Sullivan ; based on the screenplay by Ma...c2008. chapter book

4 Iron Man : I am Iron Man adapted by Lisa Rao ; pictures by Guido Guidi ; based on th...c2008. Early Reader Level 2

5 Iron Man. Armored avenger / writers, Fred van Lente ... [et al.] ; ar...c2008. Juvenile Graphic Novel, all ages

6 Marvel adventures Iron Man writer, Fred Van Lente; pencilers, James Cordeiro & Ronan C...2007. Juvenile Graphic Novel series

7 Friends and enemies written by Michael Teitelbaum. 2010. Early Reader Level 3

8 Deep freeze by Frank Berrios ; illustrated by Michael Borkowski. c2009. Picture Book

9 The creeping doom Fred Van Lente, writer ; Ronan Cliquet, penciler ; Amilton...2009. Juvenile Graphic Novel

10 Enter the dragon Fred Van Lente, writer ; James Cordeiro, penciler ; Scott K...2009. Juvenile Graphic Novel

11 Heart of steel Fred Van Lente, writer ; James Cordeiro, penciler ; Scott K...2009. Juvenile Graphic Novel

12 Hostile takeover Fred Van Lente, writer ; James Cordeiro, penciler ; Gary Er...2009. Juvenile Graphic Novel.

13 The Crimson Dynamo returns! adapted by D.R. Shealy ; illustrated by Patrick Spaziante. c2009. Early Reader Level 3

14 Next avengers. Heroes of tomorrow [videorecording] / Lionsgate presents a...c2008. DVD format. Rated PG

Teens & Body Image

Body Image is a tough issue for teens growing up in the United States. The following are a few recent fiction titles at the library to get you started on the topic.


Robin Brande’s Fat Cat. 2009, Gr 8 Up.
Overweight teenage Catherine embarks on a high school science project in which she must emulate the ways of hominims, the earliest ancestors of human beings, by eating an all-natural diet and foregoing technology.



Allen Zadoff’s Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can’t Have. 2009, Gr 9-10.
Fifteen-year-old Andrew Zansky, the second fattest student at his high school, joins the varsity football team to get the attention of a new girl on whom he has a crush.

Erica S. Perl’s Vintage Veronica. 2010, Gr 9 Up.
After getting a job at a vintage clothing shop and quickly bonding with two older girls, fifteen-year-old Veronica finds herself making bad decisions in order to keep their friendship.

Laurie Halse Anderson’s Wintergirls. 2009, Gr 8 Up.
"a devastating portrait of the extremes of self-deception in this brutal and poetic deconstruction of how one girl stealthily vanishes into the depths of anorexia (Booklist)" Audrey K.'s favorite!

Lesley Fairfield’s graphic novel Tyranny. 2009, Gr 6 Up.
Anna’s journey as she falls prey to the eating disorder, personified as her tormentor, Tyranny.

Justina Chen Headley’s North of Beautiful. 2009, Gr 7 Up.
Terra, a sensitive, artistic high school senior born with a facial port-wine stain, struggles with issues of inner and outer beauty with the help of her Goth classmate Jacob.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted’s Crazy Beautiful. 2009, Gr 7 Up.
In this contemporary retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," a teenaged boy whose hands were amputated in an explosion and a gorgeous girl whose mother has recently died form an instant connection when they meet on their first day as new students.

Need a book list? Find more booklists here, or stop by for assistance from the Youth Services Staff.

Poetry for the Classroom

Recommended reading from Classroom Connections: Teaching Word Choice with Poetry—a Six Traits Mini-Lesson.
Suen, Anastasia (author).FEATURE. First published April 2010 (Book Links).

*

Bibliography

*Younger Readers*

Almost Late to School: And More School Poems. By Carol Diggory Shields. Illus. by Paul Meisel. 2003. 48p. Gr. 1–3.

The Bug in Teacher’s Coffee and Other School Poems. By Kalli Dakos. Illus. by Mike Reed. 1999. 48p. K–Gr. 2.

Come and Play: Children of Our World Having Fun. Edited by Ayana Lowe. 2008. 64p. illus. K–Gr. 3.

Hamsters, Shells, and Spelling Bees: School Poems. Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. 2008. 48p. Preschool–Gr. 3.

Mrs. Brown on Exhibit: And Other Museum Poems. By Susan Katz. Illus. by R. W. Alley. 2002. 40p. Gr. 2–4.

*Older Readers*

Behind the Wheel: Poems about Driving. By Janet S. Wong. 1999. 48p. Gr. 7–up.

Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems. By John Grandits. 2007. 48p. Gr. 6–up.

Swimming Upstream: Middle School Poems. By Kristine O’Connell George. Illus. by Debbie Tilley. 2002. 80p. Gr. 5–8.

Tough Boy Sonatas. By Curtis L. Crisler. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. 2007. 88p. Gr. 7–up.

The Way a Door Closes. By Hope Anita Smith. Illus. by Shane W. Evans. 2003. 64p. Gr. 5–8.

Anastasia Suen is a former K–1 teacher who has written dozens of children’s books and is the author of the Picture Book of the Day blog, devoted to the Six Traits of Writing.

Amelia Bloomer List: 2010.

In honor of Women's History Month; Feminist Books for young Readers:

Here are the books that we have in the Lancaster County Public Library System (descriptions from the OPAC):

Younger Readers
Fiction

A Book, by Mordicai Gerstein. Illus. by the author. (K–Gr. 3).
"Once in a book by Mordecai Gerstein ... there lived a family of characters." This is the tale of one little girl's search for her own story.

Imogene’s Last Stand, by Candace Fleming. Illus. by Nancy Carpenter. (K–Gr. 2).
Enamored of history, young Imogene Tripp tries to save her town's historical society from being demolished in order to build a shoelace factory. Includes notes about historical figures quoted in the story.

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken, by Kate DiCamillo. Illus. by Harry Bliss. (PreS–Gr. 2).
Longing for adventure, intrepid Louise leaves her comfortable nest and goes to sea.

Sparrow Girl, by Sara Pennypacker. Illus. by Yoko Tanaka. (K–Gr. 3).
When China's leader declares a war on sparrows, Ming-Li cannot think of the sky without birds in it, and while her countrymen are killing the birds, she and her brother try to save as many as they can.

Tough Chicks. By Cece Meng. Illus. by Melissa Suber. (PreS–Gr. 2).
Three independent chicks who dare to be different are reprimanded by the other barnyard residents for not being quiet and docile, until the smart, fearless trio takes on a runaway tractor.

Nonfiction
Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator, by Shelley Tanaka. Illus. by David Craig. (Gr. 1–4).
On July 2, 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart mysteriously vanished. This biography follows Earhart from her first sight of an airplane at the age of 10 to the last radio transmission she made before she disappeared. Illustrated with original artworks and contemporary photos.

Eleanor, Quiet No More, by Doreen Rappaport. Illus. by Gary Kelley. (Gr. 2–5).
A biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, the most socially and politically active -- and controversial -- First Lady America had ever seen. Ambassador, activist, and champion of civil rights, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the soul of America forever. Includes selected quotes from Eleanor's own writings.

Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, and Swimsuit History, by Shana Corey. Illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. (Gr. 2–5). As a child growing up in Australia, AnnetteKellerman was a frail ugly duckling who dreamedof becoming a graceful ballerina. With pluck andcourage, she confronted a crippling illness andcountless naysayers to become an internationallyknown record-setting athlete who revolutionizedthe sport of swimming for women, a moviestar who invented water ballet, and a fashionrevolutionary who modernized the swimsuit. Wow,thanks, Annette!

Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan, by Jeanette Winter. Illus. by the author. (Gr. 2–4).
Based on a true story. After her parents are taken away by the Taliban, young Nasreen stops speaking. But as she spends time in a secret school, she slowly breaks out of her shell.

Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee, by Marissa Moss. Illus. by Carl Angel. (Gr. 1–4).
Acclaimed author Moss tells the story of Maggie Gee, from her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area to becoming one of only two Chinese American Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to serve during World War II. Full color.

Middle Readers
Fiction
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, by Nancy Springer. (Gr. 4–7).
In late nineteenth-century London, fourteen-year-old Enola Holmes, much younger sister of detective Sherlock Holmes, turns to Florence Nightingale for help when her investigation into the disappearance of a Crimean War widow grows cold.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly. (Gr. 4–7). In central Texas in 1899, eleven-year-old Callie Vee Tate is instructed to be a lady by her mother, learns about love from the older three of her six brothers, and studies the natural world with her grandfather, the latter of which leads to an important discovery.

The Girl Who Threw Butterflies, by Mick Cochrane. (Gr. 5–8).
Eighth-grader Molly's ability to throw a knuckleball earns her a spot on the baseball team, which not only helps her feel connected to her recently deceased father, who loved baseball, it helps in other aspects of her life, as well.

Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. Illus. by Nathan Hale. (Gr. 5–8).
Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.

The Shepherd’s Granddaughter, by Anne Laurel Carter. (Gr. 5–8).
Amani longs to be a shepherd like her grandfather, Seedo. Like many Palestinians, her family has grazed sheep above the olive groves of the family homestead for generations, and she has been steeped in Seedo's stories, especially one about a secret meadow called the Firdoos--and the wolf that once showed him the path there.

Nonfiction
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream, by Tanya Lee Stone. illus. (Gr. 5–8).
Presents the story of the thirteen women connected with NASA's Mercury 13 space mission, who braved prejudice and jealousy to make their mark and open the door for the female pilots and space commanders that would soon follow.

Bylines: A Photobiography of Nellie Bly, by Sue Macy. illus. (Gr. 5–8).
The life story of this daring news reporter, globetrotter, and advocate for women's rights is presented chronologically from birth to death.

Claudette Colvin: Twice toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose. illus. (Gr. 6–up). Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history.

I’ll Pass for Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War, by Anita Silvey. (Gr. 5–8).
Sarah Emma Edmonds enlisted because she believed in the Union cause; Melverina Peppercorn joined to stay near her twin brother. Although women were not allowed to enlist as soldiers in the Civil War, many disguised themselves as men and fought anyway.

Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World, by Marilyn Nelson. Illus. by Jerry Pinkney. (Gr. 4–up).
A look at a 1940's all-female jazz band, that originated from a boarding school in Mississippi and found its way to the most famous ballrooms in the country, offering solace during the hard years of the war.

Young Adult
Fiction
Because I Am Furniture, by Thalia Chaltas. (Gr. 9–12). The youngest of three siblings, fourteen-year-old Anke feels both relieved and neglected that her father abuses her brother and sister but ignores her, but when she catches him with one of her friends, she finally becomes angry enough to take action.

Bloodhound, by Tamora Pierce. (Gr. 7–up).
Having been promoted from "Puppy" to "Dog," Beka, now a full-fledged member of the Provost's Guard, and her former partner head to a neighboring port city to investigate a case of counterfeit coins.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, v.3: Wolves at the Gate. By Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon. Illus. by Georges Jeanty and Jo Chen. (Gr. 9–up).
Vampires that, at will, can transform into wolves, panthers, insects, or fog invade the Slayer base of operations in northern Scotland, and not only walk away unscathed, but in possession of Buffy's scythe, the symbol of Slayer power worldwide. Buffy and the Slayer-legion travel to Tokyo in order to learn more about their dangerous new foes, as Xander journeys to Transylvania to solicit the only person they've ever known to possess such power - Dracula!

The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams. (Gr. 8–up). In a polygamous cult in the desert, Kyra, not yet fourteen, sees being chosen to be the seventh wife of her uncle as just punishment for having read books and kissed a boy, in violation of Prophet Childs' teachings, and is torn between facing her fate and running away from all that she knows and loves.

Crossing Stones, by Helen Frost. (Gr. 6–10).
In their own voices, four young people, Muriel, Frank, Emma, and Ollie, tell of their experiences during the first World War, as the boys enlist and are sent overseas, Emma finishes school, and Muriel fights for peace and women's suffrage.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, by Alison Goodman. (Gr. 8–up). Sixteen-year-old Eon hopes to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and learn to be its main interpreter, but to do so will require much, including keeping secret that she is a girl.

Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith. (Gr. 6–10). During World War II, a light-skinned African American girl "passes" for white in order to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. (Adult). Limited and persecuted by racial divides in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, three women, including an African-American maid, her sassy and chronically unemployed friend, and a recently graduated white woman, team up for a clandestine project.

In a Gilded Cage, by Rhys Bowen. (Adult) Irish-born detective and Vasser graduate Molly Murphy is hired to find out the truth about her friend's missionary parents' deaths and her loss of inheritance. Another Vasser grad has a philandering husband to track. Set in early 20th-century New York City.

Mare’s War, by Tanita S. Davis. (Gr. 7–10). Teens Octavia and Tali learn about strength, independence, and courage when they are forced to take a car trip with their grandmother, who tells about growing up Black in 1940s Alabama and serving in Europe during World War II as a member of the Women's Army Corps.

The Orange Houses, by Paul Griffin. (Gr. 10–12).
Tamika, a fifteen-year-old hearing-impaired girl, Jimmi, an eighteen-year-old veteran who stopped taking his anti-psychotic medication, and sixteen-year-old Fatima, an illegal immigrant from Africa, meet and connect in their Bronx, New York, neighborhood, with devastating results.

Secret Keeper, by Mitali Perkins. (Gr. 7–10).
In 1974 when her father leaves New Delhi, India, to seek a job in New York, Ashi, a tomboy at the advanced age of sixteen, feels thwarted in the home of her extended family in Calcutta where she, her mother, and sister must stay, and when her father dies before he can send for them, they must remain with their relatives and observe the old-fashioned traditions that Ashi hates.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley. (Adult) Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is propelled into a mystery when a man is found murdered on the grounds of her family's decaying English mansion and Flavia's father becomes the main suspect.

This Full House, by Virginia Euwer Wolff. (Gr. 8–12).
High-school-senior LaVaughn's perceptions and expectations of her life begin to change as she learns about the many unexpected connections between the people she loves best.

Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson. (Gr. 9–12). Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from bulemia as she struggles with anorexia.

Zoe’s Tale, by John Scalzi. (Adult)
Zoë Boutin-Perry travels to the fledgling colony world of Roanoke with her adoptive parents, John Perry and Jane Sagan, who have accepted positions as administrators. When her biological father develops the technology to give the Obin consciousness and self-awareness, she suddenly becomes the center of a critical but endangered treaty between the Obin and the Colonial Union.

Nonfiction
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. illus.
Two Pulitzer Prize winners issue a call to arms against our era's most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women in the developing world.

The Road of Lost Innocence, by Somaly Mam. (Adult) A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking—rape, torture, deprivation—until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid...

Women Making America, by Heidi Hemming and Julie Hemming Savage. illus. This hefty volume surveys the role of women in American history from 1770 to the present, focusing primarily on health issues, paid work, home, education, beauty, amusements, and the arts. Each chapter includes a brief summary of historical events and then examines the common threads.

For more information, please visit the Amelia Bloomer Web site.

Iron Hill Give 20 event on Sunday, April 18th

5:00-10:00 PM

Iron Hill Brewery will donate 20% of the dinner check to the library for anyone who brings in the attached coupon on April 18th. Why not savor a great meal while funding your favorite place to find books, internet computers (we have free WiFi too!), audiobooks, movies, and events!

Best Lists for 2010

If you're looking for something to read and you're not sure what to choose, try one of the Best lists for help!

Alex Awards, 2010

Best Books for Young Adults, 2010

Quick Picks, 2010

Rainbow List, 2010

Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2010

Notable Children's Books, 2010

Notable Children's Videos, 2010

Notable Children's Recordings, 2010

Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults, 2010

Sisters of Isis, Book 1, The Summoning

Sudi finds a strange invitation to the Terrace Restaurant in her locker while talking to her friend Carter. She thinks it's from Scott, a boy that she has liked for a very long time. So, she's hoping that he's trying to secretly ask her out. She just broke up with Brian and he keeps saying mean things to her when he sees her at school, at parties, and at Dulce & Deluca. It turns out that the invitation is not from Scott at all. In fact, the invitation is much more serious than that. She learns that she and two other girls are decendants of Egyptian pharoahs and only they three can fight against the evil powers of Seth to prevent chaos from returning. The boy who she does meet at the restaurant has many gifts to give her...and she has alot to learn about fighting evil. The plot moves very fast and I found myself holding my breath, with quick resolution, many times. You will be happy to know that we have four books in the series, because when you finish Book 1, you won't want to wait to read Book 2! Recommended for grades 7 and up.

--Audrey Kantner, Teen Services Librarian

Hate List, by Jennifer Brown

Hey Peeps!

I just wanted to rave a little bit about Jennifer Brown's new book called Hate List. Valerie wrote a list of people that she, well, hates and shares this list with her boyfriend, Nick. Valerie never thought that anything would happen because of the list. It just made her feel a little better about the nasty things that the kids at school did to her... but Nick took the list too far, with a gun. Hate List takes you into Valerie's mind. You will learn how she suffered from bullying at school, how her parents were constantly at each other's throats fighting, and how she felt really alone without Nick. Constantly reminded of the shooting by the gunshot wound in her leg, Valerie slowly reveals the truth about what happened at school that day and the extent to which she was involved. Hate List has the drama of an after-school special with the dynamics of a psychological thriller. I was amazed. I couldn't put it down...and I got a little teary too! Don't miss this book! Recommended for grade 9 and up.

Please email me with any questions at akantner@lancaster.lib.pa.us.

--Audrey, Teen Services Librarian

Booklist's Top Ten Black History Books for Youth

1. I and I : Bob Marley
2. Marching for Freedom : Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary
3. Claudette Colvin : Twice toward Justice
4. Our Children Can Soar : A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change
5. Traveling the Freedom Road : From Slavery and the Civil War through Reconstruction
6. The Rock and the River
7. Riot
8. We Troubled the Waters
9. Liberty or Death : The Surprising Story of Runaway Slaves Who Sided with the British during the American Revolution
10. Sweethearts of Rhythm : The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World

Check Out The New Young Adult Books!

You Can click on a cover and see if the book is available!
Enjoy!

NewYAJan2010Show

Do You Love Your Librarian?

Nominate Your Librarian

Librarians in our nation’s 123,000 libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans every day. Now is your chance to tell us why we should shine the spotlight on a librarian at your public, school, college, community college or university library. Nominate your librarian for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!

Up to ten librarians will be honored. Each will receive $5,000 and be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by The New York Times at TheTimesCenter in December 2009.

Nominate a librarian in one of three categories:

public librarians

school library media specialists

college, community college, or university librarians.

Nominations close Oct. 9, 2009.
All winners will be announced in early November.

Teen Book Club Highlights

Now Read This!

Comments from the Lancaster Public Library's Teen Book Club:

"I know three people who have it. The book was rather freaky because I could pin some of Ted's behaviors on people I know."

"I don't know anyone who has it, but she writes in a way that helps me understand how they think."

"I was really impressed with the book; I had not idea what what going to happen. That doesn't happen alot with juvenile novels."


Now Watch the Trailer!









The September Teen Book Club choices are Kitchen Princess, Flavor of the Week, and Hot Lunch. A limited supply of Free copies are available. Please stop by the Lancaster Public Library, find me on Facebook, or e-mail me at akantner@lancaster.lib.pa.us for more information!

Teen End of Summer Party 09 - Pictures and Video!

Check Out this Playlist of Video from the Teen End of Summer Party 09

Pictures Too!