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2007.11.23 14.27 New Blog! So, I have been complaining, for quite some time, that there is no search feature in Blurty... That means that anyone who wants to read my blog has to manually scroll through the posts to see if I might possibly have a review on a book they are interested in. Not cool! So, I finally decided that enough is enough. I am moving to WordPress -- http://librarina.wordpress.com/. Hope to see you there! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau New Moon by Stephanie Meyer Book List: the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Touching Snow by Sindy M. Felin The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 9/11, Emergency Relief by Jeff Mason [Graphic Novel] Déogratias, a Tale of Rwanda by Jean-Philippe Stassen [Graphic Novel] Garage Band by Gipi [Graphic Novel] The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci [Graphic Novel] The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert [Graphic Novel] Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here by Kevin Rubio [Graphic Novel] Vampire Loves by Joann Sfar [Graphic Novel] Salmon Doubts by Adam Sacks [Graphic Novel] Mood:  excited
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2007.11.14 09.54 Thirsty TEEN So, it seems that I must have been obsessed with vampires last month, but I am really glad I decided to read both books. While Stephanie Meyer's book is more of a light romance, M.T. Anderson's book is a creepy, adventurous, thrill ride. There aren't any long soliloquies in which a character professes her undying love for her undead boyfriend, and there aren't any secret rendezvous during which the characters sit around pondering their forbidden love. There IS, nevertheless, a secret rendezvous in the woods where a teenager meets up with a celestial being named "Chet" to discuss how they can possibly prevent the end of the world. If you're anything like me, you're reading this and going, "Huh?" This book really defies description. If I told you much more about the book, I would have to give huge explanations that would spoil a lot of the plot. So, let me leave you with a couple of questions to see if this is the book for you... Want a book where vampires have potluck dinner where they serve casseroles containing human flesh? Want a book where vampires are so feared and hated that their executions are televised and performed in front of blood-thirsty crowds? Want a book where a teenage boy has to hide his vampirism from his family because he knows that his own mother would not think twice before turning him in to the authorities?!? If you answered "yes" to any (or all) of these questions, you should definitely pick up a copy of Thirsty! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall New Moon by Stephanie Meyer Book List: the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Touching Snow by Sindy M. Felin The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 9/11, Emergency Relief by Jeff Mason [Graphic Novel] Déogratias, a Tale of Rwanda by Jean-Philippe Stassen [Graphic Novel] Garage Band by Gipi [Graphic Novel] The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci [Graphic Novel] The Professor's Daughter by Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert [Graphic Novel] Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here by Kevin Rubio [Graphic Novel] Vampire Loves by Joann Sfar [Graphic Novel] Salmon Doubts by Adam Sacks [Graphic Novel] Mood:  shocked
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2007.11.12 15.41 Twilight TWEEN/TEEN I am almost ashamed to admit that I knew nothing about Stephanie Meyer's vampire books until the third book (Eclipse) was slated for release. I figured they must not be that good if I had never heard of them before, but then I started to hear about them everywhere. I decided I better see what all the fuss was about, and now I am hooked! Just in case there are any Buffy fans out there who have not yet read this book, let me tell you -- Buffy fans will love this book! I guess you could say that Bella is the new Buffy and Edward is the new Angel. I mean, Bella is not exactly a vampire slayer or anything, but she is a "normal" (i.e. not vampire) teen girl who is obsessed with a hot vampire guy... One who is a "good vampire" (hence the Angel reference). I will not go into too much detail, so as to not spoil the ending, but I will give you the quick character summaries I gave my husband -- told in the style of an internal dialog:
Yeah... I can't wait until the second book gets to the library. I think I may start to twitch if I don't get it soon! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall New Moon by Stephanie Meyer Book List: Thirsty by M.T. Anderson the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Touching Snow by Sindy M. Felin The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt 9/11, Emergency Relief by Jeff Mason [Graphic Novel] Déogratias, a Tale of Rwanda by Jean-Philippe Stassen [Graphic Novel] Garage Band by Gipi [Graphic Novel] The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci [Graphic Novel] Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here by Kevin Rubio [Graphic Novel] Vampire Loves by Joann Sfar [Graphic Novel] Salmon Doubts by Adam Sacks [Graphic Novel] Mood:  impressed
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2007.11.09 11.47 Right Behind You TEEN Gail Giles first caught my interest with What Happened to Cass McBride, and she certainly kept it with this latest book. Right Behind You was so full of suspense and [literally] crazy characters that I had a hard time putting it down. When Bobby dies, the townspeople want justice. But how do you properly execute justice when the murderer is a nine-year-old? After being rehabilitated in a juvenile facility, Kip McFarland is released with a new identity and moves across the country to get a fresh start. Will his past predict his future? Can he ever escape what he has done? How do you move on with life when you did something so terrible that you cannot even forgive yourself? An amazing story with no clear-cut answers. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Thirsty by M.T. Anderson the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood:  thoughtful
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2007.11.09 11.34 Love is a Many Trousered Thing TEEN Louise Rennison is one author whose books always jump to the top of my reading pile. Her Georgia Nicholson books, which began with Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, are always a laugh-out-loud treat! In this latest installment, Georgia is back on the rack of lurve. She jumps suddenly from no Sex Gods to two who are vying for her affection. What's a girl to do? Should she go out with Robbie, the original Sex God, who has come back from his trip to Kiwi-a-gogo Land? Or should she agree to be exclusive with Masimo, who is on his way to Pizza-a-gogo Land? And why does Dave the Laugh keep finding his way into her thought process when she is trying to make such an important decision?!? Those who are familiar with the series will probably remember the general gradations of the snogging scale and the members of the Ace Gang. For people who can't keep things straight, or for those to whom all these things are new, there are some handy appendices in the back -- which even include dance steps for the disco dances performed by Georgia and friends. And, of course, there is still the requisite glossary of British slang at the very end of the book for people not confused by the dialect spoken in Billy Shakespeare country. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood:  giggly
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2007.11.09 11.22 Life As We Knew It TEEN Susan Beth Pfeffer's story is both inspiring and terrifying at the same time. Emily Bauer's voice talents, nevertheless, bring the story to a whole new level. This post-catastrophe story is scary, and realistic, enough to make you think twice about life as you know it. Happy Reading! P.S. LAWKI's follow-up/parallel story, the dead & the gone, is coming soon -- and I am lucky enough to have an Advance Reader Copy (ARC)! I will be sure to let you know how it is! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer (ARC) Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood:  anxious
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2007.11.08 20.26 Big Slick TEEN While I do not actually play Texas Hold 'Em, I have certainly heard a lot about it. I have heard of a lot of teens getting into playing poker, lately, because of all the TV coverage of poker championships and such. I have also heard of a lot of teens getting into trouble because of the gambling addiction they develop. Andrew is one such teen. He is 17 years old, a budding poker player, and a thief. He stole a lot of money -- $600 to be exact -- from his dad's dry cleaning business so that he could keep playing poker at a secret poker room run by a guy named Shushie, and time is about to run out on his little secret. So, how does he get out of this mess? Does he just tell his dad everything? Does he steal even more money to try and win back what he's lost? Does he just run away from home? Well... I'm certainly not going to tell you! Go out and get the book! And when you're done reading this book -- or even when you just come in to pick it up -- make sure you sign up to come to our author visit. That's right: Eric Luper will be at the East Greenbush Community Library on Thursday, December 13th @ 3pm!!! Hope to see you then! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood:  giddy
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2007.11.08 20.07 Nineteen Minutes TEEN/ADULT My introduction to Jodi Picoult was her book My Sister's Keeper -- when I was pregnant... Needless to say, my pregnancy kicked that tear-jerker up a notch to almost impossible to finish. Reading (or listening to) this book, as a parent, was nearly as difficult. You see, this book is about a kid named Peter who "goes Columbine" on his high school after years of being bullied by his peers and ignored by the adults who were supposed to help. It begs the question, "How do I know I won't make the same mistakes?" The obvious answer is that you can't be sure -- you just need to do the best you can and pray it all works out. Parental nervousness aside, though, it was an intriguing glimpse into the world of a school shooter. What does it take to actually push someone that far? What could they possibly be thinking while they are shooting up a school? What do they feel afterward? The story alternates between characters: Peter, his mother, her one-time friend Alex (who becomes a judge and presides over Peter's case), and Alex's daughter Josie (one of Peter's only friends who becomes popular and abandons him). The story also alternates through time -- ranging from when Peter was a baby, to his elementary school days, to high school, to the time of the shooting, and on to the time of Peter's trial. What might seem like a confusing arrangement actually works well to juxtapose the "causes" of the rampage and the devastation it leaves in its wake. There is not a happy ending, but it certainly leaves you with plenty of food for thought. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood:  scared
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2007.10.25 13.51 Sandpiper TEEN I first heard of this book because it was featured on the ASIF! blog. I already knew of, and enjoyed, Ellen Wittlinger's book Hard Love, so I figured I would give this book a try. While I understand that some people object to any mention of sex in a book for people under 18, I think that it is a bit crazy to suggest banning a book in which the character realizes that her early entry into sexual relationships was a huge mistake. Sandpiper, who later takes to calling herself Piper, now knows that she made a mistake when she started having casual oral sex, and she wants to figure out a way to get rid of her bad reputation. Who wouldn't want young people (male or female) to see that this kind of a mistake can cause long-lasting social and emotional damage? When one of Piper's "ex-boyfriends" gets angry and starts to threaten Piper, and her family, she doesn't know what to do. Her mom is about to get remarried and is, therefore, so stressed that Piper doesn't want to bother her with her own problems. Her father is a womanizer who doesn't know how to deal with Piper's newly "developed" physique, and so she doesn't know how to approach him with this problem either. Her younger sister's own reputation has been tainted by Piper's behavior, so she is not exactly sympathetic to Piper's plight and refuses to believe that the boy in question is really dangerous. Talk about drama! While "real life" may not always be as dramatic as this book, it certainly goes to show that casual sex cannot be simply played off as "no big deal." Before I get off my soap box, just let me make one final comment to the teens who are likely to say, "Well, that isn't what's gonna happen to me!" ... I realize that this exact scenario may not play out for you, but (to paraphrase Piper's friend Walker): "You're worth more than that." Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Eggs by Jerry Spinelli Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham Mood: contemplative
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2007.10.25 13.37 Half Moon Investigations TWEEN I really like Eoin Colfer's sense of humor. He is just so goofy and silly that I can't help but laugh out loud -- much to my embarrassment when I started this book while waiting to meet someone at the local Target! But, seriously... If you like funny stories, Eoin Colfer is a great author to try. And if you like mystery stories, Half Moon Investigations is an awesome book to read. It all starts when 12-year-old Fletcher Moon poses as his father (he's named Fletcher, too) to study for and graduate from an online detective course. Even though detectives are supposed to stay undetected, Fletcher (a.k.a. "Half Moon") gets found out -- and gets hired to solve a case for one of the popular girls at school. Will the thief just be one of the "usual suspects," or will he really need to use all of the detective skills he garnered online? Find out for yourself when you read the book! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood:  curious
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2007.10.25 13.19 Heat TWEEN I kept on hearing that Mike Lupica's books were so amazing, but I don't really like sports books, so I kept putting them off. To be a good librarian, nevertheless, I realize (deep down inside) that I need to make an effort to go outside my own "comfort zone" every now and then. After all, I am constantly helping kids who don't want to do their book reports and summer reading assignments, so I can better relate to them if I bite the bullet every now and again too. Well, wasn't I shocked when I realized that I loved this book?!? I mean, I LOVED it! Michael Arroyo is a 13-year-old Cuban American. He and his brother came over on a boat with their father and now live in New York City; right near Yankee Stadium. Just like many other boys his age, Michael enjoys playing baseball and is on a Little League team. The problem is that he's too good. So good, in fact, that a lot of other teams' coaches think he may not be only 13 years old. And after Danny Almonte was just recently proven to be 14 (too old for Little League), people are not likely to back down. With Michael's father "out of town," and no one in Cuba cooperating in the search for a valid birth certificate, Michael is not sure whether he will be able to help his team in their quest for the Little League World Cup. Curious what happens? Yeah, I thought you might be! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood: nervous
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2007.10.25 13.09 Before I Die TEEN Warning: The character in this book has a terminal diagnosis. DO NOT recommend this book to people who want an inspirational/positive book about someone who overcomes their cancer diagnosis! I received this ARC along with a letter praising Jenny Downham for her amazing story and exclaiming that this manuscript was "fast-tracked" to publication because it was so great. I thought to myself, "Isn't that what all the publishers want you to believe?" Well, after reading the book, I have to admit that I was a little hasty in my judgment. This book WAS amazing in so many different ways. I like Tessa's "honesty" and raw emotion. She has leukemia and knows she has very little time left -- so she compiles a "to do" list. Number one is, quite obviously, sex. What teenager doesn't constantly think about sex in then first place, let alone if they know they will die soon? But to think that this is just a book about a "to do" list would be completely missing the point. Just imagine if you were told that you had only months left to live. What range of emotions would you have to deal with on a daily basis? Would you be able to focus on fun things in the time you have left, or would you be too crushed to even try and get anything more from life? I think anyone who reads this book will come out feeling a little depressed but also a little more alive. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood: thoughtful
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2007.10.25 13.03 The First Part Last TEEN Angela Johnson's book about an unintended teen pregnancy is probably the most poignant I've ever read. Alternating between "then" and "now," she takes us through Bobby's transformation from typical teenager to struggling, though devoted, father. While it may be slightly confusing to hear "Bobby then" talking about deciding on adoption and "Bobby now" talking about raising his daughter, the ending will make it clear why he changed his mind. A great story, but definitely one for which you will need a box of tissues handy. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood:  determined
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2007.10.25 12.57 Apology... So, it seems a ton of time has gone by and I still have not updated with a lot of the reviews I need to write... I am going to try to get at least a few done this afternoon. Sorry! I promise I will try to get a better balance going soon. To avoid some of the confusion, I will just be listing the books and audiobooks I have coming up -- no more "current" selection, since that is not exactly accurate with my delays in updating. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Audiobook List: The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall Book List: Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Right Behind You by Gail Giles Thirsty by M.T. Anderson Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood:  working
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2007.10.01 16.09 The Black Tattoo TEEN OK. I am about to give my first ever "bad" review. I liked this book enough to keep listening to it. Don't get me wrong. But, well... Sam Enthoven's writing struck me as very Blue's Clues. There were just way too many parts where I felt like the author was beating us over the head with clues -- just repeating things so much and not getting to the point quickly enough. I literally found myself saying, aloud, what I knew was going to happen next -- in some sort of vain attempt to get the narrator to move on with the story. And the reason I say it was "very Blue's Clues" is because the host on that TV show (for those who have never seen it) will pause and "play dumb" long enough to give kids the chance to figure it out for themselves. There are actually voices of little kids that will shout things like, "A clue, a clue!" or "It's right there!" And, I'm not kidding when I tell you that I nearly expected that to start happening with this book. Maybe I would have had a different reaction if I had been reading the book instead of listening to it, but I cannot say for sure. For anyone who is willing to give this book a chance, despite my rant, this is the general summary: A boy named Charlie is mad at his dad for leaving him and his mom. Luckily, his best friend Jack is willing to put up with a lot of whining. Even when Charlie's chance encounter with a secret society leaves him with a strange, moving black tattoo -- and makes him host to a parasitic/invincible demon -- Jack is determined to be a good friend. To this end, he follows Charlie to Hell. That's right... Hell! Intriguing, sometimes gross, often humorous, but redundant to a fault. Read this story if you like your fantasy with a hint of the impending apocalypse. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Audiobook Waiting List: Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult [is it ever gonna be my turn?!?] Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood:  annoyed
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2007.10.01 15.56 What Happened by Peter Johnson TEEN High school kids make mistakes... Lots of mistakes. But have you ever made a mistake that caused someone to die? In this story, our (unnamed) narrator tells us how he, his brother Kyle, and two other boys made the mistake of a lifetime. As they were driving around in a snow storm -- after a party during which they got drunk and high -- they hit a pedestrian. Sure they called 911, and two of them stayed with the guy until the ambulance came, but none of them waited to talk to the police. Now, they are stuck between two very different choices -- (1) just keep pretending that nothing happened or (2) turn themselves in and face the consequences. What would you do? A haunting and compelling read. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven Audiobook Waiting List: The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult [is it ever gonna be my turn?!?] Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood: shocked
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2007.10.01 15.41 Horns and Wrinkles TWEEN I had never heard of Joseph Helgerson, but this book got awesome reviews. So, I ordered it for the library and forgot about it. Then, I was randomly searching the juvenile audiobooks for something to listen to and saw it on the shelf. Boy, am I glad it was there! Claire and her cousin, Duke, don't get along very well. You see, Duke is a bit of a bully. And when Duke decides to dangle Claire off the side of a bridge, he's the one who ends up in the river. But this isn't any old river... It's a magical river. And Duke's nose suddenly starts to transform into a magical horn (think rhino). Claire does her best to steer him toward completing a genuine act of kindness, which she believes to be the cure for his horn, but Duke seems more interested in hanging out with his new-found troll friends. After Duke's family mysteriously turns to stone, though, things start to get even weirder for these cousins. Soon, more people get turned to stone and Claire seems to be the only one who cares about setting things right. Will Claire ever convince Duke to change his ways? Will Duke's family remain statues forever? Find out when you read (or listen to!) this story for yourself. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven Audiobook Waiting List: The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult [is it ever gonna be my turn?!?] Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: What Happened by Peter Johnson Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood:  pleased
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2007.10.01 15.34 ERIC LUPER IS COMING TO EAST GREENBUSH!!! That's right! The author of Big Slick will be coming to the East Greenbush Community Library on Thursday, December 13th @ 3pm. Come in to hear him read an excerpt from the book, followed by some Q&A. Want to know how he got started writing? Have specific questions about this book? Join us on December 13th @ your East Greenbush Library! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Audiobook Waiting List: The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult [is it ever gonna be my turn?!?] Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: What Happened by Peter Johnson Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison Big Slick by Eric Luper Mood: bouncy
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2007.09.15 11.28 Big Slick Contest!!!  Eric Luper fans will be happy to know that: 1. He has a new book coming out! & 2. You have a chance to win a FREE, autographed copy! (plus some poker chips) All you need to do is go here -- http://eluper.livejournal.com/34819.html and submit a funny caption for the picture of squirrels playing poker. So, what are you still doing reading my blog?!? Get over there and win a book! Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Audiobook Waiting List: The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven The First Part Last by Angela Johnson Heat by Mike Lupica Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult [is it ever gonna be my turn?!?] Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: What Happened by Peter Johnson Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Sandpiper by Ellen Wittlinger Love is a Many Trousered Thing by Louise Rennison The Assist: Hoops, Hope, and the Game of Their Lives by Neil Swidey (ARC) Mood: chipper
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2007.09.07 12.14 The Book Thief TEEN/ADULT Markus Zusak is brilliant. This book is not about the Holocaust, per se, but it takes place in Nazi Germany during WWII. Death is our (often humorous) narrator, and Liesel Meminger is the main character whose life Death is recounting. The story begins with Liesel, her brother, and her mother traveling by train -- to bring the children to a foster home. When Liesel's brother dies, en route to the foster home, they have to stop and bury him. In the graveyard, Liesel notices a small black book [The Gravediggers Handbook] in the snow and she steals it. She does not yet know how to read, but will eventually use this book to learn how to read (with the assistance of her foster father, Hans Hubermann). Through the years, Liesel continues to steal things, including more books (obviously). But it is not the thievery I find so interesting. It is the unique perspective of this girl -- who both hates the fuhrer and must publicly obey/worship him; whose daring actions save the lives of several people she loves; who continues to live, thrive, and survive, despite her many brushes with Death and the people dying all around her. Her status as a fictional character notwithstanding, she inspired me -- challenging me to be more positive about my own life circumstances. Now, I'm not gonna lie... This book is sad. I'm talking, showing up at work with red, teary eyes and worrying people that something is wrong in "real life" sad. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read (or listen to) this story; it just means to have a hanky or a box of tissues handy when you start getting near the end. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Audiobook Waiting List: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: What Happened by Peter Johnson Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) The Assist: Hoops, Hope, and the Game of Their Lives by Neil Swidey (ARC) Mood: thoughtful
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2007.09.04 15.03 The Burn Journals TEEN Brent Runyon is amazingly candid in this memoir about the time he spent in hospitals and a physical rehabilitation center -- after a suicide attempt during which he covered himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire. It's practically unbelievable that he lived through this attempt in the first place, and simply amazing that the experience finally put an end to his attempts at suicide. I think this book would be an interesting, albeit sad, read for anyone. I would definitely recommend this book to a teenager (or anyone, actually) who is depressed and considering suicide. It shows that there is help, and hope, if you seek it. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Audiobook Waiting List: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: What Happened by Peter Johnson Book Waiting List: Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Before I Die by Jenny Downham (ARC) Mood: optimistic
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2007.08.16 19.29 MySpace Do you ever use MySpace to discuss homework assignments? According to an article in School Library Journal, "almost 60 percent of students who use social networking sites such as Friendster, Facebook, and even Webkins and Nick.com... say they talk about educational topics... more than 50 percent specifically talk about schoolwork..." I would love to receive comments from any of my Tweens and Teens who want to weigh in on this topic. I am a long-time supporter of Tweens & Teens having access to MySpace, and this article makes me feel even better about the fact that our library's Teens have a MySpace of their own! Check it out here: http://www.myspace.com/eglibraryteens. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Audiobook Waiting List: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon Book Waiting List: What Happened by Peter Johnson Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Mood: happy
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2007.08.16 16.42 Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree TWEEN I don't know about anyone else, but I'm definitely getting some "Newbery vibes" from Lauren Tarshis' debut novel. Emma Jean is not your typical middle schooler, and that's more than fine with her! Most notably, she tells it like it is and she cares more about helping other people than trying to be liked or to become popular. Even though she has a higher than average IQ, nevertheless, she seems to lack some common sense (which makes her more real to me, I suppose, based on some of the people I knew growing up!). I won't get into too much detail about whom she is trying to help, or how she thinks she is helping, but let's just say that some of the ways she "helps" may cause more trouble than intended. A funny story with an uplifting ending. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Audiobook Waiting List: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon Book Waiting List: What Happened by Peter Johnson Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer Mood: good
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2007.08.16 16.33 Sea of Monsters TWEEN In this installment of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Camp Halfblood is in grave danger. Someone has poisoned Thalia's tree, and the protection it provided the camp is wearing thin. Grover is off trying to locate Pan, but Percy keeps having dreams that lead him to believe Grover is in grave danger -- as the captive of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Will Percy be granted a second quest to go and rescue Grover? Will there be anything capable of saving Thalia's tree (and Camp Halfblood)? Find out for yourself when you read (or listen to!) this book. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Audiobook Waiting List: Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis Book Waiting List: The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon Mood: enthralled
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2007.08.16 16.11 They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan TWEEN/TEEN Alphonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak are three of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Judy A. Bernstein is a woman they met up with once they came to the United States of America. Between the four of them, they put together a book about the amazing lengths these boys went to just to survive (and escape) the civil war in Sudan. When these boys were less than 7 years old, their villages were attacked. In order to survive, they had to literally walk away from everything and everyone they ever knew and trek across the African wilderness -- often with no food or water. War followed them wherever they went, and wild animals, like lions and crocodiles, were a constant threat. Many boys died or were killed, and the boys who were fortunate enough to live through the ordeal are probably traumatized for life. If you are quick to complain about the things that go wrong in your life, this book may help put things into better perspective. It's also a great eye-opener for those who do not know about this often under-reported war. For more information on the Lost Boys of Sudan, check out these websites: http://www.allianceforthelostboys.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Boys_o Or check out the award-winning documentary http://www.lostboysfilm.com/. Happy Reading! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Audiobook: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Audiobook Waiting List: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Horns and Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer Current Book: Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis Book Waiting List: The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon Mood:  touched
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[ East Greenbush Community Library -- Tweens' Page ]