The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Hey readers! Have I got a great book for you! The Scorpio Races is a fantastic book by Maggie Stiefvater all about an island community whose existance revolves around the carnivorous water horses that populate the seas around them. These horses are very like the land horses we all know and love, except that they have an innate love of the sea and they like to drink the blood of mammals. Would you want to ride a horse like that? Not many would, but once a year the horses are paired with riders in a race that rivals chariot races from ancient Greek days. We meet Sean, the island born water horse trainer. We meet Puck, a girl who lost both her parents to the violent water horses.

All I want to do right now is read this book. It is amazing. Try it out!

House of Night: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast

So I read Marked, the first book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast because a friend recommended it to me and I have to say it was an enjoyable and fast read. We meet Zoey who becomes marked to be a vampyre (their spelling) early on in the book and she has to go to a special boarding school for vampyres. And guess what? She discovers that she is a particularly powerful vampyre. She gains loyal friends right away who are great characters in their own right. I know, I know...it's very Harry Potter. She has teachers who she is not completely sure she can trust and of course a powerfuly enemy vampyre girl who is blond and beautiful about as likeable as Draco Malfoy. And, it is about magic, but there the similarities end.

These books are definately more grown up than the Harry Potter books with sexual situations, very adult language, and lots of mystical vampyre ceremonies. Zoey is kind of ditzy, but becomes more grounded when she thinks of her Native American roots, which is a nice touch from the authors.

So, if you are looking for a Harry Potter-ish book for older teenagers, look no further! You might like the House of Night books!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

All I have to say is step aside Twilight. You got nothing on Shiver.

Shiver is what Twilight should have been; a supernatural teen romance about a girl and a mythical creature, in this book a werewolf, falling irrevocably and hopelessly in love. Only this book is written concisely, without any of the mistakes and jarringly bad writing that haunted the insanely popular aforementioned title...you know...the one with the apple on the cover. This book can be ingested easily in a day and that's a good thing. Nothing will distract you from Grace's predicament...her feeling that she's not exactly of this world, but not completely connected with the wolves that have obsessed her since she was bitten by them when she was a child. The narrative switches back and forth between Grace and Sam, the wolf who haunts the woods near Grace's house...watching over her in case she turns into a creature like him and slowly falling in love with her over 6 years of waiting.

The non-conventional werewolves in this book are all believable characters along with all the other characters in the book. The adults are of course predictably absent (like pretty much all of children's literature) and Grace and her two best friends are refreshingly not stereotypical teenagers. Sam's habit of thinking in poetry is not as saccharine as it sounds due to the fact that he tries endearingly to add guitar chords and write songs (when he's in human form) and Grace's cooking makes perfect sense when you learn how absent her parents really are.

Don't peak at the last page. I didn't quite cry, but it was close.

Really. Don't peak.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Do you see the gold seal on the cover of this book? That means it won an award. So you should read it. Okay, okay, I can hear you all groaning in terror. Just because a book won an award doesn't necessarily mean that you yourself will like it at all! I mean look at me! I still haven't been able to get through James Joyce's Ulysses and it's won all kinds of awards! But I digress. You will like Looking For Alaska if you like books that are smart, take place in boarding schools, involve elaborate pranks, have relationships, and have a mystery centered at the core of the book. Meet Miles Halter. He transfers to a new school (a boarding school) and gets thrown immediately (and literally) into the strange politics of boarding school life. Things are not looking up when he finds himself duct-taped up like a mummy and thrown into a lake. However, he meets Alaska (a girl, not a United State of America) and things start looking up. But she has a boyfriend. And then he has a girlfriend. And then halfway through the book, everything changes. John Green is a smart, funny author well deserving of awards. Now go read this book!

The Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price

The Sterkarm Handshake by Susan Price is one heck of an action-packed book. The premise is very cool. A scientific lab in the future has discovered a way to build basically a time portal. The portal takes you back in time in the exact place you are located. Their portal was located in England so they go from a busy urban area in England in the 21st century to a pristine landscape during early 16th century. The scientists are very excited to bring back the natural resources that were still around during the 16th century because they discover that you CAN transport items from the 16th side to the 21st century side. Of course all this is well and good and things seem to be going fine until they encounter a clan of warriors who live in the 16th century who don't take too kindly to being invaded by people of the future. They can't even really conceive of the people from the future and call them Elves. The Sterkarms are often placated by the simple and cheap (yet magic to them) small white pill called aspirin but this doesn't change the fact that they realize they are being taken advantage of by the "elves." Add to the drama the character of Andrea, a 21st century anthropologist who lives with the clan for the purposes of translating their Old English, and her relationship with Per Sterkarm, a violent yet innocent son of the Sterkarms and you've got one action packed, somewhat bloody, science fiction novel. Enjoy! - Suzanne

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

This summer I read Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork. This book is about a young man named Marcelo who has some form of Asperger's Syndrome. While the book certainly focuses on this aspect of Marcelo, somehow Marcelo himself is the star here, and not the fact that he has Asperger's. The novel takes us through Marcelo's summer working at his father's law firm instead of working at the school where he has spent years alongside other students with similar learning disabilities. At the law firm Marcelo meets a beautiful young girl, a spoiled young man, and gets involved in a contraversial case at the law firm. He works through the summer learning more about himself, his father, and the world outside his shelterd experience. I REALLY enjoyed this book!

Slam by Nick Hornby

I love pretty much all of Nick Horby's books. If you haven't read him before try High Fidelity, About a Boy, How to be Good and this one, Slam. Set in England this this book is about Sam. Sam loves skating (skateboarding) and is into girls, particularly this girl Alicia. As is apparent from the cover of the paperback, Sam and Alicia have sex and Alicia gets pregnant. That's where the whole "this is a book about teen pregnancy" goes out the window because Sam sort of gets whisked into the future. He has no idea what is going on which makes his forays into fatherhood that much more hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. Despite the sci-fi aspects of the time-travel, this book is always realistic especially the dialogue, the gravity of the situation that Alicia and Sam find themselves in and the fights they have. Nothing is simple, including the relationship A and S have with their families. So, a book about relationship, true to life, with sex, love, and skating. And an occasional appearance from Tony Hawk.

Tweak by Nic Sheff

So I just finished this one last night. If you've ever felt the temptation to try drugs read this book. It will totally turn you off the idea. Nic Sheff went through solid hell with his meth addiction and he tells us all about it in his memoir Tweak. From homelessness to starvation to much worse things he tells a brutally honest tale of hitting the bottom more than once. His father wrote a companion book called Beautiful Boy which I haven't read but which presumably tells his side of the story.

Nic's story is inspirational but very graphic in many ways...violence, sex, drug use (duh) and it is a nonfiction memoir so this is true stuff. Just something to be aware of when you pick it up.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hey all! Are you looking for a book that will keep you guessing all through the night? Look no further! This book takes place in a technologically advanced though dark and dreary future. The world has been devestated due to war and natural disasters leaving only Panem, a "country" located in North America that is lead by a cruel dictator-ish entity known as The Capitol. The Capitol keeps all 12 of its districts in line by forcing them each to send two "tributes," a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18, to participate in The Hunger Games.

It could also be called the Killing Games because the whole point of the games is to survive. There is only one winner. Everyone else has to die. This is the first book in a planned series and I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK.

I'm back to posting! Thanks for being patient!

Song of the Lioness Series by Tamora Pierce

I admit, I was slightly skeptical about reading these books, but man was I wrong! The Song of the Lioness Quartet is an awesome adventure series about a girl named Alanna who dresses up like a boy so she can become a knight and become a knight she does. They are fast moving and include adventure, fighting, magic, romance, politics and intrigue and all in a great little package instead of the fat books popular lately.

Try it out! I promise you won't regret it!

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Want something to look forward to? Try reading the first two books in this trilogy and then just wait with baited breath until December when the third one will come out! Libba Bray's books are set in England and are about Gemma Doyle, an English girl raised in India who has discovered an ancient group of women called The Order who possess magical powers that come from a magical place called The Realms. In book one, Gemma discovers who she really is (a member of The Order) after the murder of her mother. This in addition to being sent away to a finishing school and having a hot Indian boy chasing her makes for some wild times. Add in a beautiful friend named Pippa, a loyal friend named Ann, and a strong willed and beautiful friend named Felicity and you have drama, drama, drama! Not to mention the fact that the girls can actually bring magic back from the realms to wreck havoc on Spence, their stuffy boarding school! I've read one and two and I can't wait to see what happens in three. Romance, rich historical detail, and the trials of corsets abound in these action packed historical fantasies. Till next time! -Suzanne

East by Edith Pattou

This book was recommended to me by a wonderful teenager who loved the book. She read some of it to us at a lock-in and I've been meaning to read it ever since. I finally got around to reading it and it was well worth it.

This is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. However, you don't need to know that at all to appreciate the craft and creativity that Edith Pattou has poured into this book. Told from multiple viewpoints the author has given us a gem that is fantasy but reads like historical fiction or even fairy tale. Magic and beauty abounds and mature readers of Harry Potter books will love this one.

Away Laughing on a Fast Camel by Louise Rennison

Note: You must read this post with a British Accent.
Hello girls! Are you ready for some mad marvy fun? Read the Georgia Nicolson books and immerse yourself in some brilliant literature all about the situations that Geogia Nicolson gets herself into while attending her girls' school and prowling for gorgy blokes over in England-land. Learn what Boy Entrancers are and how to use them, learn how to build a shrine to a lost lurve and learn how to make any idiot boy want to spend some major snoggilicious time with you. As an added plus, these books are written as a tell-all diary! So curl up with a spot of tea and let Georgia take you away to the land of tea, scones, and full frontal snogging! - Till next time! Suzanne

Feed by M. T. Anderson

I just finished listening to this book on CD. What an experience! Feed takes place in the future in an America that is amazingly and troublingly like the America we all know. Even though people live in pods hovering just over the surface of the earth and fly around in mini air planes called up-cars they still talk like Americans, dress like Americans, and act like Americans: slang is rampant (think unit instead of dude...you know like "Unit, that girl is hot!"), fads in clothing and hair are strange and based on popularity (remember the 80's? Yeah...I don't want to either.), and no one can miss their favorite programs on the feed (TV anyone?). And what is the feed? It is a chip. A computer installed in the user's brain and hardwired to the body. It interacts with all systems in the body regulating temperature (no fevers!) breathing (no asthma!) and constantly providing the user with images, music, information, news, programs, and advertisements for products tailored to the user's preferences. This is basically like being constantly hooked up to the Internet, television, TiVo, satellite, radio, and your local newspaper all at once. How great would that be? Awesome unless you think of the cost. Our bodies relying on the feed for our health? Americans all hooked up to the feed while poor countries are cut off from the prosperity we enjoy? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Add a serving of young love and you've got a recipe for an awesome read. Anderson's languange is spot on with teens in the future sounding surprisingly similar to teens today. A GREAT book. Try it out! Till next time! -Suzanne

Crackback by John Coy

Read Crackback! This exciting novel tells the story of Miles Manning and his struggle to play football (something he's always loved) under the direction of a new coach who is demanding to say the least. His friends and teammates start taking steriods...will Miles? Will Miles get the girl he has a crush on? Will Miles parents stop being so wierd? Looking for something to read while you're waiting for the Super Bowl? Let Crackback be your choice! Till next time! Suzanne

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

I don't know how many of you are on board about "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books. It took me a very long time to read these books but now that I have I'm SO EXCITED about book four coming out! These books are about a group of four girlfriends who are all very different. Lena is an artist who is introspective, Greek, and very beautiful. Tibby is into making films, is kind of opinionated, and was an only child for years until her parents decided to have two more children when she was already a teenager! Carmen is a shopoholic, likes to write, is Puerto Rican, and has to deal with four parents on a regular basis. And Bridget, who is generally known as being "hot" is a soccer fiend whose mother died right before the very first book. They are such good books! Girls who like girly (but good girly books) will love these books! This is one of those series of books that might appeal to both the Inspirational Readers as well as Gossip Girl fans!!! Till next time! - Suzanne

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

You probably don't remember this at all, but when the movie Forrest Gump came out it was hyped up to be the best movie basically of all time. I didn't see it in the movie theatres. I assumed that it couldn't be as good as all that and I wasn't going to waste my money. I let all my friends and my entire family go see it before I did because I've got a stubborn streak. I knew it couldn't be that good and guess what? It was! I cried the first time I saw it and I wasted no time jumping on the "I can quote every line in Forrest Gump" bandwagon. It is seldom that such a treat happens. This book is one of those treats. Believe the hype. Check this book out. Set aside some time. Get an apple and a glass of milk and dive in. You will love this book. It's about Nazi Germany during World War II. It's narrated by Death and it tells the story of Liesel Meminger...the one and only Book Thief. -Till next time! Suzanne

Between Mom and Jo

Nick Tyler has what he consideres to be a very normal life. He loves aquariums, paint ball, and cooking, and...by the way...he has two moms. Well he did. This book takes the reader on a journey through Nick's flashbacks and gives us a very clear picture of the events leading up to Nick's life changing decision at the end of the book (which I'm not going to tell you!). Living with two lesbian parents is hard enough but when one of them comes down with breast cancer and the other one is an alcoholic things get a little bit shaky to say the least. I loved this book. I had to deal with a divorce when I was twelve. I have a friend whose mom is a recovering alcoholic. My best friend had to deal with both her parents having different kinds of cancer at the same time (they both recovered). I know you all have similar issues you deal with every day. Reading Nick's experiences gave me another picture of a complex life that it was very easy to sympathize with. Read it! -Till next time! Suzanne

Open Ice by Pat Hughes

Nicky Taglio has been a hockey star most of his life, but a slew of serious injuries has caused his doctors and his parents to insist that Nicky never play hockey again. Nicky has other plans...after all, his entire life is hockey! There is no way he's going to give up hockey. But. The headaches don't stop. Confusion sets in. Nicky can't seem to get through a day without an asprin and an ice pack even weeks after his concussion. Then there's Devin...Nicky's girlfriend. Why is she being so distant? Could it be that she was only dating him because he was a hockey star? Could she be that shallow? Could he? This is a great book for anyone who likes sports or books about relationships. I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone! -Till next time! Suzanne

Historical Fiction: Books about Colonial Times - A List

The birth of our country was fraught with drama...in the early years we had the Salam Witch Trials, the Thirteen Colonies, and all kinds of drama resulting from our precarious situation of belonging to England but not wanting to belong to England...except for those people who thought we should remain loyal to the king, leading, of course, to the Revolutionary War. If you're interested in this time in history, try one of these! -Till next time! Suzanne

Cast Two Shadows by Ann Rinaldi

Finishing Becca: a story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold by Ann Rinaldi

The Secret of Sarah Revere by Ann Rinaldi

Or Give Me Death: a novel of Patrick Henry's Family by Ann Rinaldi

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell

The Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi

The Color of Fire by Ann Rinaldi

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney

Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Keir, Keir, Keir...what are we going to do with you? Your mother died when you were a baby leaving you with two fantastic sisters and a father who just doesn't cope that well and so turns to alcohol, but you don't see it, do you? It's totally normal for you to get drunk with your dad even though you are only 18. You just see your great family who is always supportive of you even when the media is making you out to be some kind of monster. And that monster thing? It really wasn't your fault that you had an "unfortunately magnificent" moment on the football field and hit a reciever so hard that you crippled him, possibly for life. It was bad, sure...but acceptance letters from colleges started rolling in, and that's life. Right? But then there's Gigi. Beautiful Gigi. Your Gigi. What is she saying? You did what to her? You couldn't have done that to her. That would be inexcusable. And Keir Sarafian NEVER does anyting inexcusable.

This is a powerful and thought-provoking book. Try it out! -Till next time! Suzanne

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Have you ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have? Your brother's girlfriend? Your best friend's significant other? Someone older? Younger? More popular? Someone's who's a vegetarian, while you are a meat and potatos kind of person? Meet Bella, who is irrevocably in love with Edward...a vampire. Not only are they quite literally two different species, but Edward likes drinking human blood...he doesn't do it much anymore, but still! What's a girl to do? You can't help who you love, right? You can't help how you feel, right? And how do you tell a vampire that you're in love with them? What do you do when they push you away to further hide the secrets of their race? What do you do when your love for the unallowable pushes you too far and puts you and the people you love in danger? What will Bella do? Will she keep secrets? Will she hurt the people she loves? Will she sacrifice her self, her life, and the very essence of what makes her human? The final question remains: What would you do for love? Would you lose it all for the rewards of love alone? What does Bella do?

Find out in Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. -Till next time! Suzanne

Martyn Pig by Kenin Brooks

Martyn Pig hates his name. Not only does his first name have a "unique" spelling that he is constantly having to explain, his last name is a farm animal that goes oink. But really, Martyn's name is the least of his troubles. Martyn's dad is a violent alcoholic who spends as much time as possible doing one of two things:

a. TV
b. beating up Martyn.

The week before Christmas Martyn accidentally kills his dad. Yup. You read right. And things get really compicated when Martyn finds out about $60,000 that his dad was hiding from him. Throw in a hot young actress with a scary biker boyfriend who helps Martyn get rid of the body and you've got one gripping story that will keep you hanging on till the very last page. Did I mention there's an Aunty Jean? There's an Aunty Jean. Till next time...Suzanne

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

How many of you out there have seen the new Pirates movie? Dead Man's Chest was rollicking good fun, eh me harty? If you've got the sea sickness (like my husband does...all he does nowadays is listen to pirate songs on internet radio and dream of sailing off in a full-sailed vessel) try this book about a boy who gets stranded on a small island or cay with only one old black man and a tattered cat to keep him company. This is a historical ficiton novel set during World War II with none of the fantasy that the Pirates movies have (no sea-creature people or crews inhabited by skeletons). But it is a story of survival and ingenuity as Phillip has to come to terms with the fact that he may never get off the little island that is his new home. Follow Phillip's journey as he learns about survival, the equality of races, perception, and the true meaning of home. Till next time! -Suzanne

Books like Cut by Patricia McCormick - A List

We had a book discussion the other day on Cut by Patricia McCormick. This book is about Callie and how she has to go to a hospital to get treated for cutting, which is a form of self-injury used as a coping mechanism by about 1% of the population. Self-injury is often misunderstood by people who think that the cutter does it to get attention. Actually, cutting is a sickness a lot like anorexia or bulimia. It is usually tied to deeper issues. We had a great discussion on the book. Here are some other books with similar themes you might enjoy if you liked Cut and are interested in reading something else:

OTHER BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH SELF-INJURY (cutting):
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
Crosses (coming soon to the YA department)by Shelley Stoehr

OTHER BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH SELECTIVE MUTISM (not speaking):
The Sledding Hill by Chris Crutcher
Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konsgsburg
Blood Secret by Kathryn Lasky
I Can’t Tell You by Hillary Frank
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

OTHER BOOKS THAT DEAL WITH STAYING IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL:
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot

Mia is such a riot. If you're looking for some light summer reads full of pop culture references (Princess in Training talks about both the O.C. and Sailor Moon) then you will LOVE the Princess Diaries Series. I just finished listening to number VII on CD and was gripped by Mia's snail issue, the issue of her boyfriend wanting to DO IT, and the fact that her best friend constantly calls her a "baby-licker." Speaking from one baby-licker to another (you absolutely don't know how cute my niece is...I LOVE HER!), You Rock, Mia! Until next time - Suzanne

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Oh, ladies. We all go through times in our lives when we DO NOT want to look in a mirror. We have Fat Days. We have Fat Pants. And the funny thing is, it doesn't matter if we are Super Models or just your average Joe, or in this case, Josephine. EVERY WOMAN I KNOW HAS SELF ESTEEM ISSUES AT LEAST ONCE IN A WHILE! But this book is about so much more than that. Virginia lives in NYC, in a Penthouse and her parents and both her siblings are highly successful (so if you like the Gossip Girl books, you might like this one too!). But, because her best friend moved away for a year, Virginia feels lonely, fat, and ugly. You may just cry for her when she overhears the skinny "Bri-Girls" talking about her in the bathroom. She also makes out occasionally with a guy named Froggy. And there's more. Oh, so much more. This is a FABULOUS BOOK. Try it! -Till next time! Suzanne

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Pattyn feels like the only things she does right are changing diapers and burping babies. Pattyn is named after the WWII General Patton. Her father wanted a son so badly that he named each of his six daughters after male generals. This book, written in verse, tells the story of Pattyn and her struggle growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive, religious home. Her mother is beaten. Her father is an alcoholic and she herself has no real friends. After getting caught in a compromising situation, shall we say, with a boy (!!!) she is shipped off to her Aunt J's house in Arizona where she experiences real freedom for the first time. However, the rosy glow of first love is shattered when her father decides to drag her back home. What will Pattyn do when her life is destroyed? What would you do in her shoes? By the author of Crank, Burned will be available for you to check out soon! Let me know if you want to place a hold on it! -Till next time! Suzanne

Books of Ember Series by Jeanne Duprau

When I was about 12 I was at a family reunion on my cousin's farm and I disappeared. My ENTIRE family, including 2 grandparents, 2 parents, 2 sisters, 22 cousins, and 10 aunts and uncles spent the better part of 2 hours searching for me. They checked the house, the barn, inside all the cars, under the tractor, in the apple orchard, and down by the creek, but I was never found. It wasn't until my baby sister called my name near the tree where I was comfortably nestled that I even knew they had missed me. What was I doing that I hadn't noticed my frantic family finely combing the farm for my face? I was reading. Specifically, I was reading The Witches by Roald Dahl (a FANTASTIC book...much better than the movie).

See, I used to get in trouble ALL THE TIME for reading when I was supposed to be doing something else (like being kissed by my aunts at a family reunion). I manage much better nowadays, but, I have to admit that yesterday morning I told my husband that I would have the kitchen cleaned up before he got home from work and I just didn't do it. Instead, I read The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne Duprau. This is the third book in her Books of Ember Series which tells the ever enfolding tale of our world some years from now when war and politics have taken their toll on our fair earth. In Ember, we see the great City of Ember, built in an effort to save the human race from complete devestation. In Sparks we see the village of Sparks and how they handle the arrival of the strange, backward yet technological, citizens of Ember and in Yonwood we find out how it all started. You will be hooked by the sparky, courageous characters that inhabit these books, as well as by the intriguing ideas that these books bring into your head. You might even forget to visit your family, do your dishes, or remember that your own world even exists at all. I know I did! Til next time! -Suzanne

Inside Out by Terry Trueman

Have you ever read anything by Terry Trueman? He's a great writer, especially if you like to read books with a strong protagonist. This books is about Zach, a 16 year old who has Schizophrenia. He's hanging out in a coffee shop one day when two other teenagers with guns come in and hold up the place. Things start to go wrong when the police arrive and the gun-wielding teens take the customers hostage in the back room. Things go from bad to worse. Zach needs his medicine or his Schizophrenia could start acting up...and you don't want to be Zach when that starts to happen. You will read this book so fast! -Till next time! Suzanne

Theories of Relativity by Barbara Haworth-Attard

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be homeless? How would you survive? How would you eat? Would you sleep? Would you keep to yourself or try to meet other people like you...street people? Would you beg? Dylan was thrown out of his house by his mother who thought that he got in the way of her new boyfriend. All of a sudden his hectic life with his mom and his two brothers is a haven that he cannot turn to. He's living on the streets. Every second of every day and every night he is making decisions...big decisions like where to go for his next meal and whether or not he should try to sleep. The author has written a fast-paced and very believable novel full of memorable characters: Dylan; Jenna, the homeless girl he's in love with; Amber, the prostitute who becomes his friend; and Vulture, who preys on everyone who lives on the street. You won't regret reading this book! Till next time! -Suzanne

Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas

This book is SOOOOOOOOOOO good. It's all about Steve York, a Senior who might not graduate because he's short one Engish credit (and also smoking a lot of pot). His guidance counselor throws him a line, in the form of a 100 page written assignment on the topic of His Life. If he writes the paper, he gets the credit. Steve chooses to write about how he went from a stellar, all-A's student his first years of high school to a pot-smoking, class-cutting Senior. Steve experiences his first love and his first sexual experience. The twist that is thrown in at the end is so perfectly veiled throughout the book that you won't see it coming and so I'm not going to tell you what it is. READ IT! IT IS AWESOME! Till next time! -Suzanne

Gansta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah

I read this book on a recommendation from a fellow reader (like I so often do) and I wasn't disappointed. Gansta Rap tells the story of Ray (a.k.a. X-Ray-X). He's having trouble at school and trouble at home. He and his two best friends, Prem and Tyrone, end up getting kicked out of school permanently. Luckily, they are given the option to attend a special vocational type school that gives them an outlet for their musical talents and ultimately launches them into stardom. Set in England, music lovers and British fiction lovers alike will enjoy Gangsta Rap. Till next time! -Suzanne

World War II - A List

Has there ever been a more dramatic time in history than World War II? Based on the amount of fiction that's been generated about this war (not to mention the movies!) I happen to think not. But when you think about the variety of events that happened; the Nazis, the concentration camps, the American internment camps, the dropping of the nuclear bombs, the exportation of English children to the safety of America and on and on and on - it makes sense that there's a LOT of fiction written about that horrendous war. Complicated as that war was, I find it much easier to understand when I read stories about it, rather than nonfiction books (although some of them are VERY good). Try a few of these if you're interested at all in history, drama, and very, very good stories.

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes

Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

Night by Elie Wiesel

Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse

I had seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant

Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury

The Power of One by Bryce Cortenay

Yossel, April 19, 1943 by Joe Kubert (Graphic Novel)

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman (Graphic Novels)

Good Night, Maman by Norma Fox Mazer

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

Sisterland by Linda Newbery

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

This book was recommended to me by a dear reader who just knew it would keep me page turning to the extent that I committed the sin I have sworn to never commit which is the sin of reading on the job. I mean, I know I'm a librarian and all and it is okay for us to occasionally read on the job, but come on! I have a lot of other things I need to be doing! Like updating this Blog for one! Anyway, Sonnenblick (the author) has written a hilarious book about...oh. I can't tell you. I mean, I didn't know what it was about when I read it. I thought it would be like the movie Drumline or the movie American Pie (yup...that'd constitute Dangerous Pie for sure). But I had no idea what it was actually going to be about, and that made it that much better. Well. I'll tell you this much. It's about a guy, named Steven who is a very good drum player. He has a crush on this girl Renee and is friends with another girl named Annette. He has parents. His dad is an accountant. And he has to watch out for Dangerous Pie. And that's all I'm gonna tell ya! Till next time! -Suzanne

My Summer Vacation - Pirates and Oceans

I am 28 years old and yet I still go on vacation every year with my father (and his wife and her two children and their children and their spouses and my sisters and their spouses and their children and my own husband...you get the picture). Every year we pack up several vehicles with everything we'd possibly need for a week at the beach. We always end up forgetting a ton of stuff and always go to the store for that ever important beach toy or sun block. It's a huge hassle. But, I go year after year because I LOVE THE OCEAN! (I love my family too.) Do you have a love of the sea? Can you smell that salty air? Do you love the feeling of sand running between your toes? Does the wind on the coast make you feel alive? Here's a list of books for all you ocean lovers out there. Maybe they'll tide you over until you get to row yoursel out to sea! (Get it? Tide? Oh, I'm so bad). Ahoy there Matey! Till next time! -Suzanne

The Voyage of the Arctic Tern by Hugh Montgomery

Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer

Under the Jolly Roger by L. A. Meyer

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Pirates! by Celia Rees

The Angel's Command by Brian Jacques

The Pirate's Son by Geraldine McCaughrean

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Revenge of the Whale by Nathaniel Philbrick

SOS Titanic by Eve Bunting

Life of Pi by Yan Martel

Voyage on the Great Titanic by Ellen Emerson While

Chuck Dugan is AWOL by Eric Chase Anderson

Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Breathless by Pam Withers

Poetry, Novels, and You

I would like to one day write one of these...a novel written in poems. If you've never tried one, you really should because they draw you in and make you believe in life. They are quicker reads than your traditional novel, and don't let the fact that they are actually a form of poetry put you off. The fact that a story is being told at the same time really helps the reader along. Every one of these is worth the read. Till next time!

Girl Coming in for a Landing by April Halprin Wayland

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

The Brimston Journals by Ronald Koertge

True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff

Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff

The Trial by Jen Bryant

Love that Dog by Sharon Creech

Granny Torelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech

Learning to Swim by Ann Warren Turner

One of those Hideous Books where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

Stop Pretending: what happened when My Big Sister went Crazy by Sonya Sones

What my Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Something About America by Maia Testa

The Poet Slave of Cuba by Juan Francisco Manzano

Big List of Sports Books

Hey there, sports fans! Read on for a fabulous list of books, all centered around SPORTS and all owned by your very own public library! Till next time! -Suzanne

BASKETBALL
The Perfect Shot by Elaine Marie Alphin

Cruise Control by Terry Trueman

Travel Team by Mike Lupica

Rebound! by Yuriko Nishiyama (Manga)

Slam! by Walter Dean Myers

The Squared Circle by James Bennett

On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker

Outside Shooter by Thomas Dygard

BASEBALL
High Heat by Carl Deuker

The Journal of Biddy Owens, the Negro Leagues by Walter Dean Myers

Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker

Ruby Tuesday by Jennifer Ann Kogler

SOCCER
Bend it Like Beckham by Narinder Dhami

Home of the Braves by David Klass

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

FOOTBALL
Three Clams and an Oyster by Randy Powell

Damage by A.M. Jenkins

SWIMMING
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

SHORT STORIES ABOUT SPORTS
Losing is Not an Option by Rich Wallace

Spotlight - Ancient Greece: a list

Did you love the movie Troy? Try the book! And while you're at it, try one of these books also inspired by Ancient Greece!

Quiver by Stephanie Spinner

Aphrodite's Blessings by Clemence McLaren

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Singer to the Sea God by Vivien Alcock

Ithika by Adele Geras (also wrote Troy)

Waiting for Odysseus by Clemence McLaren

Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney

The Iliad by Homer

The Odessy by Homer

To find out more about gods and goddesses try: Gods and Goddesses in Greek Mythology by Michelle M. Houle.

A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin

Summer...ah...a perfect time to read this book. I started reading Ann M. Martin way back when the Babysitter's Club books first came out. I snuck into my big sister's room and would read her books on the sly. She eventually found out and wasn't quite as mad as I thought she might be. But after a while, the Babysitter's Club books became a little...stale. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was growing up. But maybe it was the fact that those girls (and Logan) never, ever aged. There was something so...disturbing about that. A Corner of the Universe is not like the Babysitter's Club books. A Corner of the Universe is a summer story with special attraction for girls. The book is set in a little town in the 1950's, not unlike our own Lebanon and tells the story of Hattie Owen and her quiet discoveries the summer she turns 12. Oh, it's such a sweet story. Read it. Cry. Laugh. Learn. Till next time! -Suzanne

Watership Down - Richard Adams

This is one of my all time favorite books. It's all about a band of rabbits who, on the advice of Fiver, a small, jittery, and clairvoyent rabbit, leave their doomed warren for someplace new. Someplace safe. Someplace where they can start over and rule themselves. They almost join a couple of other warrens, due to the fact that they don't have any does (females) along with them, but in the end, they decide their freedom is worth more than the security of other warrens. They devise other plans to get their does and mayhem ensues. This is a great read for science fiction fans and people who like reading about different kinds of worlds and governments. Even fans of folklore will find this dense book a truly wonderful read. Till next time! -Suzanne

PS: They also made an animated movie based on this book in the 70's. It actually reminds me a little of the Anime style that is so popular today. :)

Girl, 15, Charming but Insane by Sue Limb

For fans of British humor, this book is a riot. If you liked Bridget Jones Diary, you will definitely fall for Jess who is definitely charming and totally insane. Also try the sequel: Girl, Nearly 16, Absolute Torture. There is only one other person I know who could get herself into the situations that Jess gets herself into...and that would be me. Have you heard about that time that I froze myself to a door knocker? It wasn't pretty. Till next time! -Suzanne

Historical Fiction: Spotlight on the Civil War - List

I am really digging on this blogging thing. I know...I'm a dork. I know some of you love reading about history. When I was about 11 I watched a mini series about the Civil War called "The Blue and the Gray." If you haven't seen it, it is really good (although I'm well aware how OLD it is now). Anyway, after I watched it I actually felt like I understood how complicated the Civil War really was. Having Jean drag my sisters and I (kicking and screaming) to Gettysburg for Spring Break one year solidified it. Gettysburg is one creepy little town. But hey, aren't most wars creepy? Anyway, here's a list of Civil War-type books. Till next time! -Suzanne

FICTION
How I Fought the Strong by Margaret McMullan

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi

Annie Between the States by Laura Elliot

The Land by Mildred T. Taylor

Gurilla Season by Pat Hughes

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Heart Calls Home by Joyce Hansen

Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen

A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse

Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story by Andrea Davis Pinkney

NONFICTION
The Civil War at Sea by George Sullivan

Billy Yank and Johnny Reb by Susan Provost Beller

Those Courageous Women of the Civil War by Karen Zienert

GLBT Books for Teens - List

Did you like the book Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez? You might want to try one of these!

Rainbow High by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Name Me Nobody by Lois-Ann Yamanaka

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle

Talk by Kathe Joja

Weetzie Bat by Lia Block

Alt Ed by Catherine Atkins

M or F? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbetts

The Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

Between Mom and Jo by Julie Anne Peters