Friday, May 30, 2014

New and Noteworthy: Bonus Teen Pick

"Guardianthe sequel to Proxy, [Alex] London's first nail-biting science fiction thriller, is here...  [and it] begins with a pyre of dead bodies belonging to those who succumbed to an uncontrollable decease with no apparent cure" (Anita Lock for Teenreads.com).
Guardian
by Alex London

In the new world led by the Rebooters, former Proxy Syd is the figurehead of the Revolution, beloved by some and hated by others. Liam, a seventeen-year-old Rebooter, is Syd’s bodyguard and must protect him with his life. But armed Machinists aren’t the only danger.

People are falling ill—their veins show through their skin, they find it hard to speak, and sores erupt all over their bodies. Guardians, the violent enforcers of the old system, are hit first, and the government does nothing to help. The old elites fall next, and in the face of an indifferent government, Syd decides it’s up to him to find a cure... and what he discovers leaves him stunned.

"Truly action-packed yet filled with flashes of tenderness and compassion, Guardian is well written, with enough flashbacks that one could understand the story line without having to read the first novel in this set. But readers would be remiss if they didn't start from the very beginning" (Anita Lock for Teenreads.com).

Inspired by The Whipping Boy and Feed, this adrenaline-fueled thriller will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.  Likewise, fans of Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series, James Dashner's Maze Runner, Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking series, and Marie Lu's Legend trilogy will be swept away by this story. 

Interested? Read the first three chapters here! Then come back here and click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Small Fry Pick of the Week: Shimmer & Splash



[Cover]

Shimmer & Splash by Jim Arnosky

What's that lurking in the water?  A dolphin? A manta ray?  A shark?  You'll know once you've come up close and personal with the incredible ocean dwellers in this book, with their long dorsal fins, paddle-like flippers, rudder-shaped tails, and vice-like jaws.  Open the giant fold-out pages to see nearly 200 sea creatures, from a tiny fiddler crab to an enormous killer whale.  Many of them are painted life-size, showing every incredible detail.

Bring the ocean right into your room-or use this book as a guide for your next expedition!

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Teen Pick of the Week: Breakfast Served Anytime

A coming-of-age debut evokes the bittersweet joys and pangs of finding independence in one unforgettable summer away at "geek camp." 

Breakfast Served
Anytime by
Sarah Combs
When Gloria sets out to spend the summer before her senior year at a camp for gifted and talented students, she doesn’t know quite what to expect. Fresh from the heartache of losing her grandmother and missing her best friend, Gloria resolves to make the best of her new circumstances. But some things are proving to be more challenging than she expected. Like the series of mysterious clues left by a certain Professor X before he even shows up to teach his class, Secrets of the Written Word. Or the very sweet, but very conservative, roommate whose coal-industry family champions mountaintop removal. Not to mention the obnoxious Mason, who dresses like the Mad Hatter and immediately gets on Gloria’s nerves — but somehow won’t escape her thoughts.

Beautifully told by debut author Sarah Combs, this honest and touching story of growing up is imbued with the serene atmosphere of Kentucky’s natural landscape.

Recommended especially for fans of Joan Bauer, Elizabeth Scott, and Sara Zarr.

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Small Fry Pick of the Week: Dawn of the Clans

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Warriors Dawn of the Clans: The First Battle

Since fleeing from Clear Sky's camp in the forest, Thunder has safely returned to settle on the moor with Gray Wing. But the rivalries that have plagued the cats for moons are growing stronger.  Gray Wing still believes there is a way for both groups to live in peace, while Clear Sky insists that harsh rules and divided territories are the only hope for the future.

What started as a misunderstanding between two brothers has spread far and wide--and now every mountain cat, rogue, and kittypet who settles in the forest will be forced to pick a side.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

New and Noteworthy: Bonus Teen Pick

Half Bad
by Sally Green
Half Bad by Sally Green is a breathtaking debut novel about one boy's struggle for survival in a hidden society of witches.

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and sixteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his seventeenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?

In the tradition of Patrick Ness and Markus Zusak, Half Bad is a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive, a story that will grab hold of you and not let go until the very last page.


Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Teen Pick of the Week: Life by Committee

Life by Committee
by Corey Ann Haydu
Some secrets are too good to keep.
Tabitha might be the only girl in the history of the world who actually gets less popular when she gets hot. But her so-called friends say she's changed, and they've dropped her flat.
Now Tab has no one to tell about the best and worst thing that has ever happened to her: Joe, who spills his most intimate secrets to her in their nightly online chats. Joe, whose touch is so electric, it makes Tab wonder if she could survive an actual kiss. Joe, who has Tabitha brimming with the restless energy of falling in love. Joe, who is someone else's boyfriend.
Just when Tab is afraid she'll burst from keeping the secret of Joe inside, she finds Life by Committee. The rules of LBC are simple: tell a secret, receive an assignment. Complete the assignment to keep your secret safe.
Tab likes it that the assignments push her to her limits, empowering her to live boldly and go further than she'd ever go on her own.
But in the name of truth and bravery, how far is too far to go?
Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Jennifer E. Smith, Life by Committee is a fresh, vibrant novel about the power of wanting, the messiness of friendship, and the truths we hide and share.
Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Small Fry Non-Fic Pic of the Week: ChopChop


[Cover]

Chop Chop: The Kid's guide To Cooking Real Food With Your Family by Sally Sampson

Simple, healthy, delicious dishes for children and parents to make together.  Cooking at home helps kids stay healthy, builds family relationships, and teaches math, science, and cultural and financial literacy. That's why ChopChop is your family's best friend--and it's jam-packed with kitchen basics, ingenious tips, and meals that taste great and are fun to make.

Every recipe has been approved by the Academy of American Pediatrics and by real kids cooking at home.  These dishes are nutritious, ethnically diverse, inexpensive, and a joy to prepare.  From French toast to fajitas, and from burgers to brownies, ChopChop entertains and inspires cooks all ages.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

New and Noteworthy: Bonus Teen Pick

Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. 

Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. 

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge. 



Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Teen Pick of the Week: Elusion

Elusion by Claudia Gabel
& Cheryl Klam
Soon, Elusion will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, a visor, and a wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father's unexpected death, Regan can't bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it's addictive and dangerous—Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty . . . a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.


Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Small Fry Non-Fic Pick of the Week: Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design

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Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd 

Everything that is NOT made by nature is designed by someone.

Stop. Look. Design is all around you.  And whether you realize it or not, you are already a designer.

Learn about the elements of graphic design, including form, function, color, typography--and much more!

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Teen Pick of the Week: Proxy

Proxy by Alex London
“Put down what you’re doing and read this book. Right now. The complex characters, intricate world, and blistering pace are off-the-charts amazing.” — Marie Lu, author of the Legend trilogy
Syd’s life is not his own. As a proxy he must to pay for someone else's crimes. When his patron Knox crashes a car and kills someone, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. The boys realize the only way to beat the system is to save each other so they flee. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test the boys' resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay.
This fast-paced thrill ride of a novel is full of breakneck action, shocking twists and heart-hammering suspense that will have readers gasping until the very last page.
“Looking for an awesome YA summer read? Look no further than Alex London’s Proxy.” — EW.com

[A] smart, stylish science-fiction thriller that deftly weaves big issues like guilt, accidents of birth, redemption and commerce into a page-turning read… Whipping Boy + Blade Runner with a sprinkling of The Hunger Games (plus, of course, a dash of A Tale of Two Cities) = a treat for teen SF fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

"Not only is "Proxy" an edge-of-your-seat literary thrill ride, it's an important and groundbreaking novel as well. Knox and Syd redefine the concept of loyalty and friendship. London has crafted a true tour de force." Matt de la Pena, author of "Mexican White Boy"

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library (Better hurry! The sequel, Guardian, is coming in May.)

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Curious to see what other new and hot titles we've added to our collection? Check out the NEW YA Fiction boards on the Ventress Memorial Library Pinterest page

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Small Fry Pick of the Week: Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?


[Cover]


Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?

The mourning dove coos.
The starling sings,
whistle-ee-wee-tree
The sparrow makes a simple jingle.

But have you heard the nesting bird?

No, not one peep.  The robin sits quiet and still--nesting--not a single tweet or trill!

Why is this mama bird so silent while all the other yard birds are busy with their songs?  This gorgeously illustrated book celebrates the importance of quiet in the natural world and brings budding naturalists up to the treetops to learn about one of nature's secrets.


Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

Small Fry Pick of the Week: Wildwood

[Cover]
Wildwood by Colin Meloy

Ages 9+--Especially recommended ( though not exclusively) for preteen guy readers!

Prue McKeel's life is ordinary.  At least until her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows.  And then things get really weird.

You see on every map of Portland, oregon, there is a big splotch of green on the edge of the city labeled "I.W."  This stands for "Impassable Wilderness." No one's ever gone in--or at least returned to tell of it.

And this is where the crows take her brother.  So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend Curtis deep into the Impassable Wilderness.  There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions.  And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much bigger as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness.  A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!

Small Fry Pick of the Week: Alphaprints: ABC

[Cover]


We have new Board Books! Age: 0+

Alphaprints: ABC

This unique alphabet book will delight children with textured pages, rhymes to read, and wonderful fingerprint creatures.

Read a great book lately? Want to recommend it as Pick of the Week? Email me!

Click on the title to place it on hold at the Ventress Memorial Library!