Teens@PPL

Google Tips and Tricks

2011-12-01T10:46:00.004-05:00

Everyone Googles, but do you really know how to get the best search results? Check out this link for tips and tricks that can help you find the information you really want.

Happy searching!

Homework Help!

2011-11-02T14:10:00.003-04:00

Finding Shakespeare a little tough to get into? CliffsNotes has a way to help - CliffsNotesFilms!

Check out the websites to find short animated films to help you out with A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Othello, Macbeth or Hamlet, and keep checking for more videos to come!

The Hunger Games are coming

2011-09-18T16:34:00.003-04:00

Make sure to register with The Capitol!

Haven't read The Hunger Games yet? What are you waiting for?

Looking for a good book?

2011-02-03T12:43:00.003-05:00

Really, who isn't?

Well, help is here! The American Library Association has recently published their lists of 2011's Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults.

I won't keep you waiting for the Top Ten List. Here we go:

Burger Wuss by M. T. Anderson
The Manga Cookbook by Yoko Ishihara
Other by Karen Kincy
The Manga University Cookbook
Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry For Your...Brains by Ryan Mecum
Shadoweyes by Campbell Ross
Unwind by Neil Shusterman
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Malice by Chris Wooding

Also, they have recommended lists of paperbacks broken down by subject:
Thrillers and Killers
What's Cooking?
What If...
Zombies, Werewolves, and Things With Wings

Those should keep you busy for a while! If you read one, let us know what you think! We'll post your review on the blog!

Read Beyond Reality!: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

2009-09-22T09:28:00.004-04:00

Monday, October 19. 2009
7:oo PM
PPL Bentley Room

Join us for a night devoted to Percy, his friends, their quests, and all the mythological mayhem they encounter along the way.

This program is open to Young Adults in grades 6-12. Registration begins 10/5/09.

Read this book.

2009-08-06T11:41:00.005-04:00

I'm very excited. The first book of one of my favorite series (why haven't I done a Series Spotlight on it yet??) is available for FREE!

Yes, for one month only, Scott Westerfeld's Uglies will be available for free download here while we all wait on the edge of our seats for his new book, Leviathan.

You haven't heard of Uglies? A quick summary from the publisher (which is better than anything I could have come up with on the spot):

"Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever."

Check out Uglies (for free!) here or in the library. You'll be glad you did.

Homework Help 24/7!

2009-07-31T14:42:00.001-04:00

The library's closed and you need help? No problem!

Check out either of our two new services for homework help - tutor.com and Live Librarian!

Both services connect you with a live tutor or librarian to answer any question you may have in a variety of subjects. All you need is your library card and a computer!

Make Your Own YA Cover

2009-07-28T14:04:00.006-04:00

Here's a fun idea I found on 100 Scope Notes. (Mine's on the left - not bad, huh?)

Here's how:

CREATE YOUR DEBUT YA COVER

1 – Go to “Fake Name Generator” or click http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/

The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to “Random Word Generator” or click http://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml

The word listed under “Random Verb” is your title.

3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php

Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.

4 – Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.

5 – Post it to your site along with this text, or e-mail it to us (pplhappenings AT gmail DOT com) and we'll post it on the blog!

Have fun!

New Wii Games!

2009-07-06T12:12:00.000-04:00

The library has added 6 new Wii games to our collection!

Escape The Museum
ExciteBots Trick Racing
Hannah Montana: The Movie
Monsters vs. Aliens
Order Up!
Pinball Hall of Fame

Come in and check them out.

Also - the library will be holding two gaming sessions over the summer - one in July and one in August.

Call the library for details and to register!

Are you up to date?

2009-06-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

Are you up to date with your favorite series? If not, summer's a great time to catch up! Here's the latest installments of some of our favorite teen series.

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
(Book Two of Airhead)
Studious, socially conscious Emerson Watts learns startling news about the family of Nikki Howard, the teen supermodel into whose body Emerson's brain was transplanted by the nefarious Stark corporation.

Hurricane Gold by Charles Higson
(Book Four of Young Bond)
Future spy James Bond, a teenager in the 1930s, travels from hurricane-damaged Mexico to Lagrimas Negras, a Caribbean island containing a deadly obstacle course, as he tries to rescue two American children abducted by criminals.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
(Book Five of Percy Jackson and the Olympians)
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

Paparazzi Princess by Jen Calonita
(Book Four in Secrets of My Hollywood Life)
Wanting only to mourn the end of her television series, seventeen-year-old Kaitlin, under pressure to choose her next acting project and study for her SATs, is drawn into the Hollywood nightlife by publicity-loving "It Girls," while her friendship with Liz founders.

The Soldiers of Halla by DJ MacHale
(Book Ten of Pendragon)
Each of the Travelers returns home to learn the truth about their origins before being reunited for a final, ineveitable confrontation with Saint Dane, whose efforts to control Halla are destroying its very foundations.

Sorceress by Michael Scott
(Book Three of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)
While armies of the Shadowrealms gather and Machiavelli goes to Alcatraz to kill Perenelle Flamel, fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman accompany the Alchemist to England to continue their search for the Codex.

Stargazer by Claudia Gray
(Book Two of Evernight)
Teenage vampire Bianca finds herself the target when evil wraiths attack her boarding school, Evernight Academy.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
(Book Two of Darkest Powers)
After fifteen-year-old Chloe starts seeing ghosts and is sent to Lyle House, a mysterious group home for mentally disturbed teenagers, she soon discovers that neither Lyle House nor its inhabitants are exactly what they seem, and that she and her new friends are in danger.

Books for the Beach

2009-06-22T15:22:00.000-04:00

Summer just got here - why not enjoy some new books while enjoying the outdoors?

Distant Waves by Susan Weyn
In the early twentieth century, four sisters and their widowed mother, a famed spiritualist, travel from New York to London, and as the Titanic conveys them and their acquaintances, journalist W.T. Stead, scientist Nikola Tesla, and industrialist John Jacob Astor, home, Tesla's inventions will either doom or save them all.

The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
High school student Charlie West awakens bloody and bruised in a concrete bunker, only to discover that he has lost a year of his life and remembers nothing about escaping from prison after being convicted of murdering his former best friend, or why he is being pursued by both the law and a group of terrorists trying to bring down the government of the United States.

The Season by Sarah MacLean
Showing no interest in the sumptuous balls, lavish dinner parties, and country weekends enjoyed by the rest of early nineteenth-century London society, seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Stafford seeks adventure as she investigates the puzzling murder of the Earl of Blackmoor, father of devilishly handsome Gavin.

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten
Two years after the disappearance of her older sister, sixteen-year-old Ellie goes on a quest to find her.

The Fun Kind of Summer Reading

2009-06-15T15:15:00.001-04:00

Here's some new books to read in between those other summer reading books on your list.

The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel In Nine Innings by Alan Gratz
Follows the fortunes of a German immigrant family through nine generations, beginning in 1845, as they experience American life and play baseball.

The King's Rose by Alisa Libby
Catharine Howard recounts the events in her life that led to her being groomed for marriage at the age of fifteen to King Henry VIII, her failure to produce an heir to the throne, and her quick execution.

Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
Fifteen-year-old Carly's summer volunteer experience makes her feel more real than her life of privilege in Atlanta ever did, but her younger sister starts high school pretending to be what she is not, and both find their relationships suffering.

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita
When the exceptionally people-pleasing Sam spends a summer as a counselor-in-training, she learns how to say no, to stand up for herself, and what it feels like to have a crush on a great guy.

You've Got Blackmail by Rachel Wright
When she discovers that her loathsome English teacher is being threatened by an unknown blackmailer, Loz gets caught up in the mystery, with consequences both comical and truly dangerous.

As promised...

2009-06-08T15:04:00.004-04:00

More new books!

Gone by Michael Grant
In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have "The Power" and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.

Lily Dale: Believing by Wendy Corsi Staub
After realizing that she shares her grandmother's psychic abilities, Calla decides to stay with her in Lily Dale, the spiritualist community where her mother grew up, even though her visions seem to be leading her toward danger.

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, sixteen-year-old Erin has spent half of her life in therapy and on drugs, but now must face the possibility of weird things in the real world, including shapeshifting friends and her "alter," a centuries-old vampire.

Shift by Charlotte Agell
In fifteen-year-old Adrian Havoc's world, HomeState rules every aspect of society and religious education is enforced but Adrian, refusing to believe that the Apocalypse is at hand, goes north through the Deadlands and joins a group of insurgents.

Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
Unhappy after his parents move to a weird subdivision and become workaholics, thirteen-year-old Travis returns to his old Salinas neighborhood and becomes actively involved in saving the John Steinbeck Library and, at the same time, begins seeing characters from Steinbeck's books who seem to have a message for him.

Stolen Car by Patrick Jones
Fifteen-year-old Danielle desperately wants to escape life with her mother and a series of "Dad-wannabes," so when best friends Ashley and Evan help her see that bad-boy Reid is lying and using her, Danny steals Reid's car and takes Ashley on a road trip.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
After losing her soul mate, Cameron, when they were nine, Jennifer, now seventeen, transformed herself from the unpopular fat girl into the beautiful and popular Jenna, but Cameron's unexpected return dredges up memories that cause both social and emotional turmoil.

Meet me back here next week!

Start reading!

2009-05-31T12:30:00.000-04:00

Because we just got a whole batch of new books in at the library! Come by and check 'em out!

The Big Game of Everything by Chris Lynch
Jock and his eccentric family spend the summer working at Grampus's golf complex, where they end up learning the rules of "The Big Game of Everything."

Diary of a Chav by Grace Dent
Fifteen-year-old Shiraz tries to imagine a life for herself beyond the limited expectations of family and peers in her working-class English neighborhood.

Freefall by Anna Levine
As war between Israel and Lebanon breaks out in 2006 and her compulsory service in the Israeli army draws near, teenaged Aggie considers joining an elite female combat unit.

The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus: The Cracked Mirror by Brian Keaney
Continues the struggles of Dante, Bea, and those both sworn to and pitted against the sinister Sigmundus, a creature that seeks to control the minds and wills of all fall under its dominion.

She's So Money by Cherry Chava
Maya, a high school senior bound for Stanford University, goes against her better judgement when she and a popular but somewhat disreputable boy start a profitable school-wide cheating ring in order to save her family's Thai restaurant, which she fears will be shut down due to her irresponsible actions.

Up All Night by a whole bunch of cool authors
Presents five short stories about teens who stay up all night, written by award-winning authors, including Libba Bray and Patricia McCormick.

Watch this space for more books soon!

More Books on CD

2009-05-10T14:04:00.002-04:00

Some new additions to our YA Books on CD collection!

Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants graduates from high school and spends their last summer before college learning about life and themselves.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Still moping months after being dumped by her Arizona boyfriend Leo, fifteen-year-old Stargirl, a home-schooled free spirit, writes "the world's longest letter" to Leo, describing her new life in Pennsylvania.

To find out which other YA Books on CD we own click here!

Reviews From You: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

2009-04-30T09:59:00.000-04:00

Here's one for all of you historical fiction lovers out there.

In Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, a slave named Isabel, after being sold to a cruel couple in New York City, spies for the rebels during the Revolutionary War.

Here's what our reviewers, Bascia and Kyle had to say about it!

"I liked this book because it really kept you on the edge of your seat. You always wanted to know what was going to happen next. You never wanted to put the book down. It was GREAT!" - Bascia, Grade 6

"I liked this book because it's interesting and I like the excitement and the secretive people." - Kyle, Grade 6

Bascia and Kyle gave Chains an average of 4 1/2 stars!

Come in and check it out - or if you've read this one already and liked it, you may like Laurie Halse Anderson's other great historical fiction novel Fever, 1793.

Reading Together

2009-04-21T16:22:00.005-04:00

Come join us for a new type of book discussion featuring The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Teens, ages 12-18, are invited to participate with an accompanying adult. See the details below:

Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 7:30 PM
Place: The Library

Refreshments will be served!

Reviews From You: The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker

2009-04-08T09:38:00.001-04:00

The Frog Princess
by E.D. Baker
Reviewed by Zoë, Age 13

"Princess Emma is not an ordinary princess. She spends her time in the swamp and has a laugh that sounds like a donkey's bray. But when she kisses a frog that says he is a prince, she turns into a frog too! Can Emma find a way to turn back?

I liked this book because it is funny and exciting. This book is very original."

Zoë rates this book 4 Stars!

PS - The Frog Princess is the first book in a series - if you've already read and liked this one you can go on and read the rest.

PPS - If you'd like to write your own review, come into the library and pick up a sheet or print one out here and drop it off the next time you visit!

The Reviews Are In: The Graveyard Book

2009-04-03T09:30:00.001-04:00

Here's what some of you had to say about this year's Newbery Winner, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.

First, a short summary:

"The Graveyard Book is a suspenseful book about a boy named Bod who is being raised by ghosts in a graveyard. He isn't allowed to leave the graveyard because a man named Jack has already murdered his family and is now looking for him. What will happen when Bod leaves the graveyard? Read the book to find out!"
Rebecca, Age 10

And now the reviews:

"If you like horror, suspense and mystery you will like this book."
Jason, Age 11

"You will love this book. It is interesting throughout the whole book. You will never want to stop reading it."
Jamie

"If you like scary books you will love this."
Anaya

"If you read this book, I bet you'll enjoy it just like I did!"
Rebecca, Age 10

Our reviewers gave The Graveyard Book an average of 4 1/2 stars out of 5!

Series Spotlight: The Mortal Instruments

2009-03-31T11:17:00.002-04:00

In this trilogy, Cassandra Clare reveals a dark side of New York City - one filled with underworld demons disguised as ordinary people just looking to have a little fun with NY's unwitting citizens.

Thankfully, there are people to protect us from them - the Shadowhunters. Mostly human with a touch of angel thrown in for good measure, these skillful warriors are protecting us from the demons, as well as keeping an uneasy peace with the Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries and Warlocks of the world. And, oh yeah, the most talented one? Is a teenager named Jace Wayland.

Clary meets Jace, and his "siblings" Alec and Isabelle Lightwood, at a teenclub but has no clue about this seedy underworld at work in her very own city until her artist mother Jocelyn goes missing and her mother's best friend Luke starts acting a bit, well, wolfy.

From there the adventure begins. If you loved Twilight, check this trilogy out. You won't be sorry you did.

Note: For some reason, in the picture above which was taken frome the author's website, the books are listed backwards. The actual order of the series is:

City of Bones
City of Ashes
City of Glass

Happy reading!

PS - If you like the books, or if you just like meeting authors, Cassandra Clare is doing a book signing at Books of Wonder in NYC on Sunday, April 5 at 1 PM. Other authors attending: Lisa McMann (author of Wake and Fade) and Elizabeth Scott!

Write Your Own Reviews!

2009-03-26T11:39:00.005-04:00

Read any good books lately? Why not let us know? We'd love to hear from you!

There's a couple of ways to do this:

If you're at the library, pick up a review sheet the next time you return books and fill it out for us. Hand it in to any librarian.

If you want to do it from home, print out the review sheet you can find here, and hand it in the next time you're in the library.

If you'd like to e-mail us, send your reviews to pplhappenings@gmail.com.

Remember, these reviews do not have to be about brand new books, or just about books you've read last week. We want to know about your all-time classics, as well as your newly found must-reads.

We'll feature the reviews weekly on our blog, so start letting us know about your favorite books ASAP!

Wiiiiiiiii!

2009-03-24T11:54:00.005-04:00

Wii've got new games!
(Sorry, I can't help it.)

Here's the list of our new Wii games - click here to find the other half of the list, and the loan rules and all that.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
Bolt
Boom Blox
Cars
Deal Or No Deal
Disney Princess Enchanted Journey
Endless Ocean
Littlest Pet Shop
Mario Strikers Charged
My Fitness Coach
My Word Coach
Rayman Raving Rabbids
SimAnimals
Smarty Pants: Trivia For Everyone
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Speed Racer
Think Fast
Ultimate I Spy
Wall-E

We're planning on having a few game nights this summer, so if you don't have a Wii, don't worry. You can come play with us!

New Audiobooks!

2009-03-23T18:46:00.003-04:00

We've just got in three new YA Books on CD.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Max: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson
Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney

Remember, you can also download audiobooks at any time using the Nassau Digital Doorway!

New Books on CD!

2009-02-19T09:29:00.000-05:00

We just recently got in some great books on CD!

Here's the list (all titles are unabridged):

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Paper Towns by John Green

You can find a list of all of our YA-specific books on CD here.

Also, new titles are always being added to our downloadable audiobook library. Make sure to check it out!

Books, books and more books!

2009-02-16T10:46:00.000-05:00

We just got a whole slew of new books in at the library - here's a list! Come in and check them out!

Series Continuations

Bras & Broomsticks
Parties and Potions by Sarah Mlynowski

The Clique
P.S. I Loathe You by Lisi Harrison

Lemonade
This Full House by Virginia Euwer Wolff

The Luxe
Envy by Anna Godberson

Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

Spartan Quest
The Fire Of Ares by Michael Ford
Birth of a Warrior by Michael Ford

Violet On The Runway
Violet By Design by Melissa Walker
Violet In Private by Melissa Walker

Wake
Wake by Lisa McMann
Fade by Lisa McMann

Series Starters
3 Willows by Ann Brashares
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Here Lies Arthur by Phillip Reeve
Zoe & Chloe On The Prowl by Sue Limb

Stand-alone Titles
Bliss by Lauren Myracle
Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
Can You Spell Revolution? by Matt Beam
Deadville by Ron Koertge
Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser
Getting the Girl by Susan Juby
Me, the Missing, and the Dead by Jenny Valentine
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger

Historical Fiction
Emperors of the Ice by Richard Farr
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
The Letter Writer by Ann Rinaldi
My Mother The Cheerleader by Rob Sharenow
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Wii've got games!

2009-02-12T09:33:00.004-05:00

Look, I'm punny!

On Monday, PPL added a new collection: video games! All the titles are compatible with the Nintendo Wii. We were able to purchase these games through a grant provided to us by Senator Dean Skelos.

Here are the rules:
They circulate for 7 days and cannot be renewed.
Each person can only take out 2 at a time.

I know this seems strict, but for right now, while the collection is not the largest, we want to make sure everyone can come in and find something sometime.

Now - the fun part! Here are the games:
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Brunswick Pro Bowling
Carnival Games
Carnival Games MiniGolf
Chicken Little: Ace In Action
Cooking Mama Cook-Off
Coraline
Dave Mirra BMX Challenge
Defendin' D' Penguin
Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Dragon Quest Swords
Ford Racing Off-Road
George of the Jungle and the Search for the Secret
Go Diego Go! Great Dinosaur Rescue
Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour
Hasbro Family Game Night
High School Musical 3 Senior Year Dance!
Lego Batman
Lego Indiana Jones
Lego Star Wars
M&M's Kart Racing
Mario Party 8
Mario & Sonic at the Olympics
Mario Super Sluggers
Monster Trux Arenas
My Sims Kingdom
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
We Cheer
Wii Music
WWII Aces

Come check 'em out!

The Hunger Games

2009-01-29T12:32:00.005-05:00

So, you've read Graceling, right? (Seriously, if not - what are you waiting for?) And now you're looking for another strong, fun, smart female character who kicks butt in the wild. And I've got one!

Katniss Everdeen has been chosen to participate in the Hunger Games, a yearly competition in her country of Panem (a post-apocalyptic US) that's passed off as an honorable tournament, but is really just an excuse for the government to punish their citizens for a long ago uprising.

And the Hunger Games are not quite the Olympics - 24 teenagers are chosen at random to participate in a Survivor-like tournament...to the death. It's televised and everything. Only one will win - will Katniss be able to prevail with her meager skills compared to those that have been preparing for the games all their lives?

Check out The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to find out. And if you want to know more, check out this website where you can witness the games for yourself!

Printz news!

2009-01-26T14:01:00.007-05:00

We've got Printz results, people!

First, here are the results of the Nassau County/Suffolk County Mock Printz:

The Winner:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Raised since he was a baby by ghosts, werewolves, and other residents of the cemetery in which he has always resided, Bod wonders how he will manage to survive amongst the living with only the lessons he has learned from the dead.

Honors:
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Now, here are the results from the actual Printz committee, announced just this morning in Denver, Colorado:

The Winner:
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Abandoned by her drug-addicted mother at the age of eleven, high school student Taylor Markham struggles with her identity and family history at a boarding school in Australia.

Honors:
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Volume 2 by M.T. Anderson
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Nation by Terry Pratchett
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

Now we know what the Long Island librarians and the Printz Award committee think - read one or all and tell us who you think should have won.

PS - No worries about The Graveyard Book - it picked up the Newbery!

Mock Printz!

2008-12-30T15:10:00.008-05:00

In about a week, YA librarians across Nassau and Suffolk County will be getting together to hold a Mock Printz conference - basically, we're going to play judge and decide which book we would choose as the winner of the 2008 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. (See past winners here.)

I was provided with a shortlist of titles that have been deemed to be worthy of the prize. I'll share that with you here, and you can play along!

Here's the list I was provided with a short summary of each book (in alphabetical order by title):

Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne

In the beach town of Neptune, New Jersey, Phoebe's life is changed irrevocably when her cousin moves into her house and soon goes missing.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
by E. Lockhart

Sophomore Frankie starts dating senior Matthew Livingston, but when he refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

A girl who has been brought up in near isolation is thrown into a twisted web of family secrets and religious fundamentalism when her mother dies and she goes to live with relatives she never knew she had.

Nation by Terry Pratchett

After a devastating tsunami destroys all that they have ever known, Mau, an island boy, and Daphne, an aristocratic English girl, together with a small band of refugees, set about rebuilding their community and all the things that are important in their lives.

Paper Towns by John Green

One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

We currently own most of these in the library, and if you're interested in the ones we don't have, come in and reserve them - or do that from home!

Let us know what you think of them!

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2008-12-26T11:21:00.004-05:00

Looking for a good book?

I just finished reading The Graceling by Kristin Cashore - if you're a Tamora Pierce or Shannon Hale fan this one is a must-read, but even if you're not so into fantasy novels, this book has something for you.

It takes place in a world where some people are "graced" with special abilities - our heroine, Katsa, has been blessed (or cursed, depending how you look at it) with what she believs to the ability to kill anyone and anything. Her Uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, has used Katsa as his go-to girl for punishing anyone who dares defy him. But she's kind of over that.

Katsa is ready to use her skill for more good than evil, and, along with the mysterious, and also graced, Po, sets off on an adventure to right some wrongs.

I don't want to give too much away, but there's adventure, romance, dangerous foes and quick-witted heroes, as well as some plain old hand-to-hand combat. Make sure you check it out - you'll be glad you did.

Since I've been gone..

2008-12-23T15:01:00.004-05:00

We've gotten a lot of new Books on CD for you guys! I'll post the list below.

Also, if you're more interested in downloading audiobooks from home and putting them on CDs or your MP3 players, check out the Nassau Digital Doorway. There are a whole bunch of teen titles on there, including books like the Twilight series and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. All you have to do is go here - download the software and you're ready to go! Make sure to call if you have any questions.

Here are some new books on CD you can find at the library:

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Inkdeath by Cornelia Fünke
Looking For Alaska by John Green
The Magician by Michael Scott
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson
Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson
Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever by James Patterson

See you sooner than later I hope!

Thank you!

2008-11-07T14:04:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Twilight program on Monday - we had a great time seeing all of you!

Remember, the Twilight movie comes out on November 21, 2008! Are you as excited for it as we are?

Back To School Reading?

2008-08-28T15:01:00.005-04:00

It's back to school time! I know, not always so exciting. But here are some new books to break up all that scholarly reading you'll have to be doing. Make sure to look up the ones you want in the catalog, and if they're out now, you can reserve them from home.

Happy reading!

Fantasy
The Magician by Michael Scott
Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools by Philip Caveney

General Fiction
Alfred Kropp: The Thirteenth Skull by Rick Yancey
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviours by E. Lockhart
The Fold by An Na
The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper
Moby Clique: a Bard Academy Novel by Cara Lockwood
Stop In The Name Of Pants! by Louis Rennison
Zombie Blondes by Brian James

Historical Fiction
I Am Rembrandt's Daughter by Lynn Cullen
In Mozart's Shadow by Carolyn Meyer
In Leonardo's Shadow, or, My Astonishing Life as Leonardo Da Vinci's Servant by Christopher Grey

Mystery
The Angel of Death: A Forensic Mystery by Alane Ferguson
The Christopher Killer: A Forensic Mystery by Alane Ferguson
The Circle of Blood: A Forensic Mystery by Alane Ferguson

Science Fiction
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Epic by Conor Kostick
Saga by Conor Kostick

YA DVD Monthly Round-Up

2008-07-31T11:36:00.004-04:00

All new YA DVDs, added to PPL's collection in the last month! Come in and check them out!

College Road Trip
Raven-Symone, Martin Lawrence

Melanie's really excited to go to college - Georgetown is her dream school. But her dad isn't so sure - he thinks the closer Northwestern would be a much better choice, then he can keep his eye on his little girl. But when Melanie's acceptance to Georgetown hinges only on an interview, she sets out on a road trip to chase her dream.

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold
Suzanne Marie Doyon

After her father loses his job and her family moves to a small, coastal Oregon town, fourteen-year-old Julie finds an ancient coin on the beach and spends her summer investigating a Native American legend about long-lost mountain treasure.

Picture This
Ashley Tisdale

A high school girl is invited to a party by the most popular boy in school -- only trouble is she's grounded.

Coming to a library near you...

2008-07-28T13:53:00.004-04:00

Worried about Bella and Edward, and let's not forget Jacob, Alice, Jasper or Charlie, shall we?

You don't have long to wait! Breaking Dawn, the fourth, and final, book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer is being released this weekend on August 2.

We'll be getting our copies then too, so make sure you reserve your copy soon!

YA Audiobooks!

2008-07-15T16:37:00.002-04:00

We recently ordered a whole bunch of YA books on CD! These are great to listen to while outside, in the car on your summer road trips, or just hanging out on the beach. Give 'em a try - there are more on the way!

Here's the ones we just added:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy:
A Great and Terrible Beauty
Rebel Angels
The Sweet Far Thing

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series:
The Sea Of Monsters (Book Two)
The Titan's Curse (Book Three)
The Battle Of The Labyrinth (Book Four)

Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse

Series Spotlight: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy

2008-07-07T14:04:00.009-04:00

So, you've read Twilight. You liked it a lot. You want a new series to sink your teeth into (pun kind of intended, I'm sorry). I have one!

No, it doesn't have vampires. But it does have romance and fantasy and historical aspects, and a strong female voice in one Gemma Doyle. And, most importantly, it's awesome (and a big fat series, for those of you who like your books loing and involved).

Check out A Great and Terrible Beauty first (because it's first). Then, Rebel Angels, then the, unfortunately, last The Sweet Far Thing. You won't regret it - and you'll learn some stuff too! It's like a Twilight meets Pride and Prejudice meets The Secret Garden. It sounds weird, but it all works itself out.

Also, once you've finished off those three, check out Maureen Johnson's interviews with the trilogy's author, Libba Bray, who is delightful and hilarious.

Interview One
Interview Two
Interview Three

(Oh, and you might just like Maureen Johnson's stuff too - try her new book, Suite Scarlett!)

Happy reading everyone! And don't blame me if you're hooked, I warned you.

Summer Reading

2008-06-05T11:17:00.003-04:00

Watch this space for updates on our new books perfect for reading on the beach, at camp, or during breaks from those summer jobs.

For now, we just wanted to take a minute to remind you about that summer reading you may not be as excited about: the school assignments.

We won't dwell on the subject, but we want to let you know that, as always, the library will do our best to have the books that you need for school when you're ready to read them. Keep in mind though, that everyone else needs these books too, so don't wait 'til the last minute!

Hope your school years are coming to a happy, successful close and we look forward to seeing you this summer!

New Books!

2008-04-05T09:37:00.003-04:00

Just in! Check 'em out!

California Dreaming: An A-List Novel
Zoey Dean

Eager to leave the dramas of LA behind her, Anna heads to the Big Apple for a summer of fun and relaxation, yet once settled in her Upper East Side pad, she meets a beautiful stranger who makes her quickly come to the conclusion that drama is destined to follow her wherever she goes!

(Fun Fact: Did you know that Zoey Dean is a pseudonym? The A-List books are actually written by married YA Authors Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld! Check out some of Cherie's other books here.)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
E. Lockhart

Sophomore Frankie starts dating senior Matthew Livingston, but when he refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

Cheated
Patrick Jones

When a normal night spent hanging out, drinking with his two best friends, ends in a deadly mistake, individual decisions suddenly seem more important than Mick Salisbury ever realized. And when he’s sitting in the police interrogation room, it will all come down to one choice. But once he heads down one road, will it ever be possible to turn back?

Saving Juliet
Suzanne Selfors

Mimi Wallingford's stage fright and fight with her mother on the closing night of Romeo and Juliet are nothing compared to the troubles she faces when she and her leading man are transported to Shakespeare's Verona, where she decides to give the real Juliet a happy ending.

(If you like this one, check out Polly Shulman's Enthusiasm.)

Steel Trapp: The Challenge
Ridley Pearson

While traveling with his mom on a train to Washington, D.C. for the National Science Competition, Steven ends up in the midst of an international kidnapping plot with terrorist links and must assist the FBI in gathering up the clues left behind using his strong scientific skills and amazing photographic memory.

The Luxe

2008-04-02T13:42:00.003-04:00

Just finished this. My kind of historical fiction: the rich and poor of old New York, circa 1900. It's kind of like Gossip Girl with a corset. Rich girls, clueless boys, jealous maids ready to sell them all out. I guess some things never change.

"In this deliciously soapy novel, privileged teens in Manhattan conduct forbidden romances, betray their so-called friends, and generally indulge in bad behavior."

Kiki strikes again!

2008-03-17T15:30:00.002-04:00

The new book is called "Kiki Strike: the Empress's Tomb." Cool as usual. And if you haven't looked at the website kikistrike.com from the last book, do it now, pleeese. Little things like this impress me.

"Ananka Fishbein, Kiki Strike, and the other Irregulars encounter a Chinese mummy, a ghost, trained squirrels, and old enemies as they try to stop an art forgery ring and safeguard the secret streets hidden beneath New York City."

Book Recommendation: The Year Of Secret Assignments

2008-03-04T10:39:00.005-05:00

Has your teacher ever given you one of those writing assignments where you have a pen pal in another school? And what if that school's students had a really, well, rough reputation? What would you write?

Best friends Lydia, Cassie and Emily find themselves in that exact situation. And while they never thought that they could gain anything at all from this experience, all of them gain something - and it's more than each of them bargained for.

Check out Jaclyn Moriarty's The Year Of Secret Assignments for the results of an English experiment gone haywire. You'll love what these friends get into, and will love reading how they get out of it.

Twilight: The Movie

2008-02-19T16:28:00.005-05:00

We've definitely talked about Stephenie Meyer's Twilight here before. Being that it's the first book of one of our favorite YA series of all time, how can we not have?

But now we're talking about the movie, set for release in December 2008. Stephenie Meyer recently posted the cast on her website - see the picture of the Cullens at left.

What do you think? Is Edward as dreamy as you pictured him to be? Is Rosalie as cold? Dr. Cullen as movie star handsome? Let us know - you can check out the rest of the pictures of the cast here.

Also, for all of you who like to plan, it has recently been announced that the next book in the series, Breaking Dawn, will hit the shelves on August 2, 2008. We aren't able to put any reserves in for it just yet, but we'll let you know when we can.

Books, books, and more books

2008-02-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

We just got these new books in. Come in and check them out! Or, if they're out already, click on the titles or pictures to reserve them from home. Then we'll call you when they come in.

Leap Day
Wendy Mass

Josie's pretty excited about her birthday - why shouldn't she be? It only comes once every 4 years. On this, her 4th birthday, Josie has a lot to do: taking her driver's test, school play auditions, and a night out with her friends. Along the way she learns that not everyone sees her the same way she sees herself.

Life As We Knew It
Susan Beth Pfeffer

When a meteor pushes the moon closer to the earth, setting into motion a series of destructive weather events that wipe out coasts, rock the continents, and block out the sun, Miranda and her family must find a way to survive in a desperate and unfamiliar world.

Life, Love and the Pursuit of Free Throws
Janette Rallison

Josie loves hottie Ethan Lancaster, the captain of the basketball team, but he seems much more interested . On the other hand, Cami dreams of winning her basketball team’s coveted MVP award, but her best friend, Josie, is a better player. Can these two friends get what they want without ruining their relationship with each other?

Scarlet Letterman
Cara Lockwood

In her second semester at a boarding school for delinquent students, Miranda is having a good time as the girlfriend of the school's basketball star but finds herself drawn to Heathcliff, a literary character come to life who may also be attacking teachers. Sound like a fun read? Check out the first in the series: Wuthering High.

The Luxe
Anna Godberson

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.

And the Printz Award goes to...

2008-01-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

White Darkness
Geraldine McCaughrean

Taken to Antarctica by the man she thinks of as her uncle for what she believes to be a vacation, Symone--a troubled fourteen year old--discovers that he is dangerously obsessed with seeking Symme's Hole, an opening that supposedly leads into the center of a hollow Earth.

The Michael L. Printz award is given out once a year to a book that geared toward teens and is literarily excellent (my twist on "literary excellence" - like it?). Check White Darkness out and see if you agree with Booklist's choice. You may also want to check out some of the past winners, listed below:

Looking For Alaska by John Green
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Postcard's From No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers
Step From Heaven by An Na
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond
Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Click on the titles to find the one you want in the library, or to reserve it from home. Let us know what you think of them!

Some more new titles...

2007-12-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

More of our brand new books! Click on the titles to found out if the book you're looking at is available now and to reserve it if it's not!

Edenville Owls
Robert B. Parker

Bobby, living in a small Massachusetts town just after World War II, finds himself facing many new challenges as he tries to pull together his coachless basketball team, cope with new feelings for his old friend Joanie, and discover the identity of the mysterious stranger who seems to be threatening his teacher.

The Hollow People
Brian Keaney

On an island that houses the asylum where law-breakers are imprisoned, two teenagers rebel against a rigidly controlled society where dreams are considered antisocial and all citizens over the age of 14 take a drug to control their behavior.

Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb
Kirsten Miller

Ananka, Kiki Strike, and the other Irregulars encounter a Chinese mummy, a ghost, trained squirrels, and old enemies as they try to stop an art forgery ring and safeguard the secret streets hidden beneath New York City. (If you haven't already, check out Kiki Strike: Inside The Shadow City - this is the sequel!)

Marked
P.C. Cast

Zoey Redbird's world is very much like our own, except in her world, vampires have always existed. In this first book of this new series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the "Change", she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through.

Thieves Till We Die
Stephen Cole

Teen geniuses Jonah, Motti, Con, Tye, and Patch, working for their mysterious benefactor, Coldhardt, are out to recover more stolen artefacts when one of their members is kidnapped, and they must add a rescue operation to the mission. (Also check out the first in this series: Thieves Like Us.)

Hot Off The Presses!

2007-12-10T18:04:00.000-05:00

Here are some more great new YA books that can be found on the PPL shelves. Make sure to reserve the one you want if it's not available now. Click on the pictures and titles to look these up in the catalog.

Evil Genius
Catherine Jinks

As a diligent student of criminal mastermind Dr. Phineas Darkkon, Cadel Piggott has grown into quite an intelligent thief and computer hacker, but he's only 14. Is he really ready to go all Super Villain?

The Marvelous Journey Home
John M. Simmons

This wonderful story is a fictional adaptation of the author's real-life experience with the Russian adoption process. Read it and gain unique insight into the perspectives of several players in the adoption process including the adoptive parents, the children and adoption officials and supervisors.

Peak
Roland Smith

After Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. When Peak joins his fathers he's in for a surprise: he wants Peak to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit--and his motives are selfish at best.

Secrets Of My Hollywood Life
Jen Calonita

Longing to experience the life of a "normal" teenager, sixteen-year-old actress Kaitlin Burke assumes a false identity to attend a local high school.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You
Peter Cameron

With his freshman year at Brown looming in the near future, eighteen-year-old James begins to plan his escape by saving the money from his summer job at his mother's art gallery in order to get a cabin on the prairie where he can finally find the sanctuary he needs.

Looking For New Books?

2007-12-07T14:19:00.000-05:00

You've come to the right place! PPL just got in a whole bunch of new YA books. I'm only putting some here now - watch this space for the rest over the next week or so.

Don't forget to click the books to find out if the one you want is in. If they're not, just add yourself to the reserve list from home!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school...where the only other "Indian" is the school mascot.

Freak
Marcella Pixley

While her sister blossoms into a beautiful being and makes new friends, 7th grader Miriam is left alone to deal with her "freak" status. She faces the harsh criticism and teasing of the popular clique whose merciless abuse pushes her to the breaking point.

How To Ruin A Summer Vacation
Simone Elkeles

When sixteen-year-old Amy, a spoiled American teenager, goes to Israel for a three-month summer vacation with a father she barely knows, she is not prepared for his Jewish family and the changes they bring about in her life.

Slam
Nick Hornby

At the age of fifteen, Sam Jones's relationship with his girlfriend gets complicated and Sam's life of skateboarding and daydreaming about Tony Hawk changes drastically. At a loss for what to do, Sam turns to Hawk's autobiography for answers.

Uprising
Margaret Peterson Haddix

In 1927, at the urging of twenty-one-year-old Harriet, Mrs. Livingston reluctantly recalls her experiences at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory, including miserable working conditions that led to a strike, then the fire that took the lives of her two best friends, when Harriet, the boss's daughter, was only five years old.

Series Spotlight: The Twilight Saga

2007-11-25T12:46:00.001-05:00

So, by now I'm sure most of you have at least heard of Stephenie Meyer's amazingly popular Twilight Saga. If not, here's the deal.

Bella Swan is new to Forks - a small town outside of Seattle, Washington. It's a far cry from sunny Phoenix, where she used to live before deciding to move in with her Dad. Once there, Bella catches the eye of Edward Cullen - and let's just say her life will never be the same.

Twilight, the first of the series, follows Bella and Edward as they try to figure out their relationship. Which proves not to be easy, for reasons you will immediately understand. But you'll have to check it out for yourself to figure it out. If's well worth the read.

New Moon and Eclipse continue Bella's story - and for those that have already gobbled those up - don't fret. Stephenie Meyer has promised there's more on the way.

Want more Twilight news? Check out Stephenie Meyer's website and the Twilight Lexicon. where you can find all kind's of fun stuff - even pictures of Bella's truck!

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

2007-11-13T12:06:00.001-05:00

Peeps is not your ordinary book about vampires.

In an alternate New York City, parasite-positives (called "peeps" for short) abound, exhibiting some strange behaviors. They don't care for sunlight, have lost all interest in checking themselves out in the mirror, and have developed a taste for rare meat.

Cal's been infected, but has hit the genetic lottery, as he is not affected by the usual vampirish side effects. Classified as a carrier, he works for the mysterious Night Watch, an organization older than NYC dedicated to rehabilitating Peeps and stopping the spread of the parasite. But does Cal know everything about his bosses? Something doesn't smell right - and it's not just the rats.

If you liked Scott Westerfeld's Uglies trilogy, or vampire stories, or just biology in general, you must give Peeps a try.

More new stuff

2007-11-06T13:10:00.000-05:00

Here's the last bit of the new books we just got in. Come in and get them, or reserve them from home! (Just click on the pictures or the titles to find the one your want in our catalog.)

Cross My Heart And Hope To Spy
Ally Carter

When the Gallagher Academy, a secret spy school for girls, hosts male guests from Knowlton-Hale, Cammie is blamed for a series of security breaches that forces her to clear her name while trying to deny her attraction to an incorrigible hottie named Zach. (Check out the first one, too: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You.)

How To Take The Ex Out Of Ex-Boyfriend
Janette Rallison

Giovanna rashly breaks up with her boyfriend Jesse when he refuses to help her twin brother with his campaign for Student Council president, but fixing her mistake may be more difficult for her than she realizes.

Jinx
Meg Cabot

Having had bad luck all of her life, Jinx feels inspired when she moves in with her aunt and uncle in New York City, but when her cousin turns out to be a real brat and a member of a coven, Jinx's bad luck seems to be just the thing needed to keep her cousin's bad magic in check.

Kissing The Bee
Kathe Koja

Senior year is flying by, the prom is approaching, and Dana, her best friend, Avra, and Avra’s boyfriend, Emil, are about to encounter the pains and pleasures of that intricate beehive called adult life.

Mistik Lake
Martha Brooks

As family secrets surrounding her aunt's tragic car accident suddenly come to light and tear her fragile family apart, Odella finds comfort in a new friend, Jimmy Tomasson, who provides her with the emotional support and personal confidence she needs to get to the bottom of what really happened so many years ago.

Spells & Sleeping Bags
Sarah Mlynowski

Finally certified as a witch, Rachel is thrilled to spend the summer at Camp Wood Lake with a new group of friends, but between the mosquitoes, a simple spell gone awry, and a backstabber of a roommate sharing her cabin, Rachel begins to wonder if this particular sleep-away camp is the best place for such a talented witch. (Also check out: Bras & Broomsticks and Frogs & French Kisses.)

And the new books just keep on coming...

2007-11-01T09:37:00.000-04:00

Check 'em out!

Extras
Scott Westerfeld

Fifteen-year-old Aya Fuse, an Extra, just wants to lay low, so when she discovers the secret lives of the Sly Girls, she wants to report their story, but she knows that would propel her into a celebrity status she's not prepared for. (Also check out: Uglies, Pretties, and Specials.)

Girl At Sea
Maureen Johnson

High-school junior Clio Ford reluctantly gives up her dream job and a potential first kiss to take a working vacation with her estranged father on a yacht in Italy.

Kat Got Your Tongue
Lee Weatherly

After a terrible car accident, Kat wakes up with no idea who she is, and no memory of anything before the crash. She doesn't even recognize her mum, much less her friends from school—Poppy, Jade, and the mysterious Tina. Only after she finds her old diary—written in a voice no longer her own—does Kat begin to discover the terrible secrets of her previous life.

Love Sick
Jake Coburn

Falling in love is never easy, but when Ted finds himself in a situation that could cost his college career, he struggles to keep control as everything around him spins into a nasty web of attraction, greed and betrayal.

Open Court
Carol Clippinger

Seeing her training partner have a breakdown at a tournament, Hollaway Braxton begins to rethink her ranking, her training, her goals, and her life upon being sent to a professional tennis academy where the balance between winning at all cost and being a normal teenager seems nearly impossible to maintain.

Repossessed
A. M. Jenkins

A fallen angel, tired of being unappreciated while doing his pointless, demeaning job, leaves Hell, enters the body of a seventeen-year-old boy, and tries to experience the full range of human feelings before being caught and punished, while the boy's family and friends puzzle over his changed behavior.

New Books Abound

2007-10-28T14:30:00.000-04:00

Remember those new books we were telling you about? Here's five more! If the one you want is not in, no sweat. Just call us and we'll reserve it for you, or you can do it yourself by clicking the links in the titles and pictures. Happy reading!

Boot Camp
Todd Strasser

Kidnapped and sent to live in a disciplinary boot camp, fifteen-year-old Garrett knows that he has been wrongly imprisoned and so feels there is no choice but to attempt a daring escape in order to save himself.

Hit and Run
Lurlene McDaniel

Determined that nothing will get in the way of his athletic and collegiate future, Quin makes a major decision one fateful evening that puts a string of events in motion--with love, ambition, and guilt overriding what is known to be right and just.

Love Is A Many Trousered Thing
Louise Rennison

Georgia thought her heartbreak-osity troubles were over when Masimo announced that he wanted to be her one and only. But just as she hits Swoon City, Robbie, the original Sex God, shows up. How in the world has Georgia accidentally acquired two Sex Gods?

Unforgettable: An It Girl Novel
Cecily von Ziegesar

Arriving at the elite Waverly Academy, determined to become a fabulous "It" girl, Jenny Humphrey finds her dreams coming true when she befriends the two most popular girls in school--until the notorious Tinsley Carmichael returns.

The Social Climber's Guide To High School
by Robyn Schneider

Filled with practical tips, celebrity-inspired advice, quizzes, and more, this guide provides lessons on surviving high school, maneuvering through the daily dramas, and becoming a member of the school's A-list through personal charm and determination.

Also, don't forget! ReaderGirlz wraps up its month long run of YA author discussions this week! Don't miss the rest of these great authors!

10/28: Holly Black
10/29: Cynthia Leitch Smith
10/30: Dia Calhoun
10/31: Stephenie Meyer (*SPECIAL TIME: MIDNIGHT EST*)

Breakfast At Bloomingdale's

2007-10-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s is a girlie book, I may as well state this right now. It’s also irresistible, and if you've seen the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's,you'll get it even more. Cat Zappe (not her real name) and her grandmother Nina live for fashion and make all of their own clothes. Their big dream is to live in Manhattan and have their clothing line sold in Bloomingdale’s department store. In their heads swim visions of Tiffany's,where “nothing can go wrong”. When something does go wrong big time, and even her boyfriend abandons her on the interstate, LBD-clad grief-stricken Cat must make her way to New York City alone, all while trying to avoid her crazy therapist mother. Some of her adventures could happen in real life; others you’ll just have to channel your inner Gwen Stefani and try to keep up with Cat’s caffeine-fueled soap-opera life.

The New Books Have Landed

2007-10-23T09:53:00.001-04:00

We've just gotten in a whole slew of new YA books. We don't want to overwhelm you with the entire list just yet, but here's a taste. Click the pictures or the titles to see if the book you're looking for is in. Don't fret if the one you want isn't in at this exact moment - request it from home!

Here are the first five:

All-In
Pete Hautman

Having won thousands of dollars playing high-stakes poker in Las Vegas, seventeen-year-old Denn Doyle hits a losing streak after falling in love with a young casino card dealer named Cattie Hart.

Diva
Alex Flinn

Despite her mother's objections, sixteen-year-old Caitlin determines to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer by attending a performing arts school in Miami.

Duchessina
Carolyn Meyer

Having lived her entire childhood locked away in a convent, Catherine, heiress to the entire fortune of the Medici family and one of France's most powerful queens, must muster the courage needed to find her voice and make her own opinions known in order to avoid a disastrous marriage and unhappy future.

First Shot
Walter Sorrells

David Crandall, haunted by his mother's murder two years ago, uncovers a dark family secret that leads him to believe that his father, headmaster of the military school in which David is currently a senior, is the killer.

Scrambled Eggs At Midnight
Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler

Calliope and Eliot, two fifteen-year-olds in Asheville, North Carolina, begin to acknowledge some unpleasant truths about their parents and form their own ideas about love.

Which Teen Novel Are You?

2007-10-21T14:25:00.001-04:00

You love to read, obviously. And your favorite flavor of reading is YA, is it not? Now, the real question - do you love quizzes?

Because if you do, this quiz is the one for you: YA-er E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List, has created a test to find out what teen novel YOU are! Check the quiz out here and let us know which one you turn out to be. (Which teen novel am I? John Green's Looking For Alaska!)

And remember ReaderGirz 31 Flavorite Authors For Teens extravaganza? E. Lockhart's on the list of chatters this week!

Here's this week's schedule:
10/22 - Lisa Yee
10/23 - Carolyn Mackler
10/24 - E. Lockhart
10/25 - Janet Lee Carey
10/26 - Gaby Triana
10/27 - Lauren Myracle
10/28 - Holly Black

An Abundance of Math Equations

2007-10-15T13:23:00.000-04:00

Imagine you knew who was going to be the dumper and the dumpee before your relationship even started - wouldn't that make life a whole lot easier? YA author John Green has devised a way to help you out with that.

In his An Abundance of Katherines, former child-prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend Hassan after being dumped by his 19th Katherine. While on this trip, among other things, Colin works out an equation to predict the rise and fall of romantic relationships.

Now you can chart out your very own destiny, as John Green has provided you, dear reader, a handy version of the equation on his website. You can check that out here.

Also, remember, you can chat with John Green as part of ReaderGirlz Teen Read Week celebration tonight!

The next week of guests includes YA authors Sara Zarr, Deb Caletti, Rachel Cohn, Kirsten Miller, Mitali Perkins, and Sonya Sones. Don't miss it!

Do you want to chat with your favorite authors?

2007-10-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

Come on, of course you do. You just didn't know how easy it could be...until now.

So, you've all heard of Teen Read Week, right? Right? (If you haven't, it's a weeklong celebration of YA literature and teens, well, reading it. Oh, and it's next week.)

In celebration of this wonderful week of reading goodness, ReaderGirlz is hosting chats with your favorite YA authors all month long! I don't want to overwhelm you with the entire amazing schedule, so I'll just post the next few.

10/11: Sarah Mlynowski ("Bras & Broomsticks")
10/12: Cecil Castellucci ("Boy Proof")
10/13: Kirby Larson ("Hattie Big Sky")
10/14: Tanya Lee Stone ("A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl")
10/15: John Green ("Looking For Alaska" and "An Abundance of Katherines")

Here's what you have to do to participate: click this - or the picture up there - and follow the directions listed under "Hanging Out With Your Favorite YA Authors". I mean, I can't do ALL the work for you.

Have fun! (Next week I'll post the rest of the schedule to keep you up to date!)

P.S. If you haven't read these authors' books yet, check 'em out. I provided links to where you can find them in our catalog and everything.

Welcome Back!

2007-10-10T15:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess you could say the YA blog went a little defunct for the last few months. We're sorry! Things get busy around here sometimes!

But don't worry - we'll be updating more frequently and adding all kinds of new stuff to the blog. Why not let us know what you want to see in the comments? Or, you can always e-mail us at yalibrarian@peninsulapublic.org.

So, as a welcome back present, why not check out the poll at the bottom of the page and let us know what you think?

The Golden Compass movie

2007-04-27T10:44:00.000-04:00

The book "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman is being made into a movie, coming out in December 2007. (Promises to be really, really good, like the books.) Someone sent this website to me, if you know anything about the book, the main character, Lyra has her own personal daemon (not a demon) a magical animal which is like her companion. This site matches you with your own daemon. It's cool, try it.

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com

Still reading...

2007-04-12T12:28:00.000-04:00

I promise that I'll put up some choice reviews-soon, but for the guys among us, here's another graphic-intensive link to chew on:

http://guysread.com

Jon Scieszka compiled a collection of short stories, cartoons, etc., written by male authors which we have here in the library called Guys Write for Guys Read (YA 810.8 G is the call number: come and get it!). The web site takes this one step further and gives lists of reviews and suggestions for books that will appeal to the boys.

hellooooo

2007-03-14T17:04:00.000-04:00

Sorry that I haven't been in awhile, busy reading, check out this website for good book suggestions.

http://www.readingrants.org

This should hold you for a little bit.

Love, Football, and other Contact Sports

2007-01-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Short stories about football at Argyle High. Football doesn't excite (Have any of you noticed all the things I don't like? And that I always seem to read books about things I don't like?). I don't even watch the Super Bowl. Go for this one, girls, to understand the obsession, and guys, even though it sounds like a chick book, you'll relate. It even has an explanation of football rules for those of us who are no-clue(me). My favorite was "Big Chicago".

Bomb Mars Now!!

2007-01-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

Another book that I picked solely for the cover, but I also love these person-peering-in-behind-the-scenes books, too. Korman knows how to take you into a scene. Now, I remember these punk rock bands of the eighties, but can't say I loved the music. Those who know me know I love my classic rock, the atmospheric, moody, serious-sounding epics, back when people made music for the music. Stuff to play air guitar by. But I'm old.

Need help with the ever-elusive homework research?

2007-01-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

Have any of you ever gone to our website? http://www.peninsulapublic.org (Okay, put your hands down) Go to Research Tools on the left, click "From Home" and you'll be overwhelmed with all the magazine articles, book criticism and you'll be so smart you won't know what to do with yourself. Just make sure you have your library card number to get access, otherwise you'll end up just looking smart.

"In the dream, there's always open ice...."

2007-01-03T18:26:00.001-05:00

I'm not a sports fan, but you don't have to be to read this. Have you ever wanted to do or be something so badly, but you couldn't or wouldn't ever be able to? Nick Taglio is feeling the emotional equivalent of punching his fist through a wall, and life is not normal anymore.

More New...

2006-12-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

Click on the books to reserve, or to see if they're in:

LeBron James: the rise of a star - Morgan Jr., David Lee. "An intimate look at James' life and incredible basketball career, following him to the moment when he became the number-one NBA draft pick. "

Ashton Kutcher - Dougherty, Terri. Biography of the hunk actor. Ashton Kutcher was born in a small farming town and ended up among the bright lights of Hollywood. The path he took to get there is one filled with challenge and uncertainty.

Jamie Foxx - also by Terri Dougherty. Describes the life and career of musician, comedian, and actor Jamie Foxx.

Tony Hawk: Professional Skateboarder - Hawk, Tony with Sean Mortimer. "Tony Hawk is a matter-of-fact book that includes all the details of Hawk's rise to fame, from the early days when skateboarding was uncool, through countless hours of practice, and finally to professional success."

New

2006-12-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

That word hooks you every time. Oh, BTW, new stuff just came in. Click on the pictures to reserve:

Ashton, Victoria. Confessions of a Teen Nanny, Volume 2, Rich Girls. "Two teen nannies learn the dangers of losing old boyfriends and gaining new ones in the glamorous but deceptive world of the rich and powerful."

Vail, Rachel. You, maybe: the profound asymmetry of love in high school. "Josie, a fifteen-year-old high school sophomore, is smart, funny, and very much her own person, but when popular senior Carson Gold starts wooing her, she cannot resist his attention."

Hughes, Pat. Open Ice. "Hockey has been Nick Taglio's life since he was five years old, so when a massive concussion benches him--possibly for good--everything seems to fall apart."

Na, Ann. Wait for Me. "As her senior year in high school approaches, Mina yearns to find her own path in life but working at the family business, taking care of her little sister, and dealing with her mother's impossible expectations are as stifling as the southern California heat, until she falls in love with a man who offers a way out."

Westerfeld, Scott. Specials. "When she is turned into a super-modelesque super-fighting machine, Tally, a former ugly, is ordered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid in a carefully engineered world of perfection where she refuses to play by the rules." The final installment of the Uglies trilogy.

Ritter, John.Under the Baseball Moon. "Andy and Glory, two fifteen-year-olds from Ocean Beach, California, pursue their respective dreams of becoming a famous musician and a professional softball player."

Meyer, Stephenie. New Moon."Having begun a most unlikely romance, Bella and Edward are together and on the run in the forest of Fork as dangerous wolves and the revenge of a female vampire track them down at every turn." Sequel to Twilight.

Rennison, Louise. Startled by His Furry Shorts. "Teenaged Georgia continues her diary entries as she searches for the perfect boyfriend among the sexy Italian Masimo, the fun-loving Dave, and her ex-love Robbie."

Love 'em, hate 'em, you know the drill.
yalibrarian@peninsulapublic.org

The dreaded assignment

2006-11-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

You know the one. "You must read a book, x amount of pages, it's due next week, blahblahblah." Well, this one is good, historical, supernatural, done with that.

"After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world."

Some changes...

2006-11-20T13:47:00.000-05:00

I was somehow switched to the beta Blogger, so my old blog is floating around somewhere in blog heaven. Click here for the old blog if you feel lonesome for it. Maybe it will come back someday, but until then...this is the new one. Same as the old one.