Westview Library

Scholastic Book Fair!!! :)

2011-11-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon! This year’s fair will include a variety of products appropriate for grades K through 12^th, with prices starting as low as fifty cents. We will have A LOT more high school stuff than last year. This is actually the first year they are offering actual "high school" titles. What a great chance to get a head start on Christmas gifts, especially those tricky stocking stuffers! The library will also be promoting a special program along with the book fair to benefit local teens. To participate in the program, anyone may come and purchase a book to donate to the Crossroads Teen Center, located at 406 Jackson St., in Martin, which serves students in grades 6^th-12^th. Donation stickers will be available at the time of purchase to complete and place inside the book, naming the donor. The public may also donate loose change and dollar bills to go toward purchasing books for the Center through Scholastic’s “One for Books” program. All books donated to the Center through this program will be matched and donated by Scholastic to national non-profit organizations dedicated to families in need, including the Marine Toys for Tots, Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc., and Kids in Need Foundation. The book fair will be open to the public on November 16^th, 18^th, 21^st, and 22^nd, from 8 A.M.-3 P.M., with extended hours on November 17^th from 8 A.M.-6 P.M. The library asks that anyone visiting the book fair please sign in at the office to receive a visitor’s pass before coming to the library. If you can’t shop in school, you may visit our online fair at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/westviewbookfair. This is a fabulous opportunity to support a wonderful, local organization and the school library, while also getting awesome products! Hope to see you there!

We will also be holding a class coin collection competition to raise money to purchase books for the teen center. The winning class will receive popcorn and coke to enjoy during class one day.

Book Club Meeting!

2011-11-09T11:40:00.001-08:00

Monday, November 14th is our next book club meeting. Make sure to sign up if you want to attend!

News Note!

2011-11-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, guys. I've gotten so many new books that I just really can't list them all here! If you want first pick for the new books, make sure and come to our monthly book club meetings, where they will be laid out on the tables. Our next meeting is Monday, November 14th. Make sure to sign up if you want to attend. This month's meeting will be a little different, as we will be getting ready for the Book Fair. Hopefully, we'll still have some time to recommend books! Also, I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to update the website in awhile. I've been a little busy, but I hope to get back on the ball soon and keep it updated regularly. Keep checking it often! :)

New Books--Coming Soon!

2011-09-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Afterlife by Claudia Gray
All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Awakening by L.J. Smith
Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown
The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin
Bronxwood by Coe Booth
Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Chew, Vol. 1 by John Layman
Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
Dark by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith
Dark Souls by Paula Morris
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
Death and Taxes: The Sons of Liberty 2 by Alexander Lagos/Steve Walker
Deep Zone by Tim Green
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan
Everfound by Neal Shusterman
Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
First Kill by Heather Brewer
Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Frenzy by Robert Liparulo
Fruits Basket, Vols. 2, 3, and 4 by Natsuki Takaya
Fury by L.J. Smith
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
Halt's Peril by John Flanagan
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
Hunted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
I Love Him to Pieces by Evonne Tsang
Icebound Land by John Flanagan
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
Indigo series (Kimani Tru)
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey
Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan
Like a Broken Doll by Anne Schraff
Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughan
Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Red Glove by Holly Black
Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
Saturn Apartments, Vol. 1 by Hisae Iwaoka
Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan
Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw
Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Struggle by L.J. Smith
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Tilt by Alan Cumin
To Be a Man by Anne Schraff
Trapped: How the World Rescued 33 Miners From 2,000 Feet Below the Chilean Desert by Marc Aronson
Untamed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel by Leigh Dragoon
Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy by Leonard S. Marcus
Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo
White Cat by Holly Black
Wildefire by Karsten Knight

New Books!

2011-09-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

These books are ready to be checked out now.

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip M. Hoose
Cold as Ice by L. Divine
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Culture Clash by L. Divine
Everlasting by Allyson Noel
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Glass by Ellen Hopkins
The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
The Great Wide Sea by Madaline Herlong
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Holidaze by L. Divine
How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt
Hunger by Michael Grant
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain by Josh Sundquist
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Leadership by Rudolph Guiliani
Lies by Michael Grant
Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith
Meltdown by L. Divine
The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization by Daniel Pinkwater
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Passion by Lauren Kate
Plague by Michael Grant
Possessed by Kate Cann
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Pox Party by M. T. Anderson
Pushin' by L. Divine
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock
So, So, Hood by L. Divine
Super Human by Michael Owen Carroll
The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
Vanishing Girl by Shane Peacock
Wanted by Sara Shepard
Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Book Review!

2011-09-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan (Novel) (2005)
Genre(s): Fantasy

Rating:

*Received multiple awards for being among the best books of 2005.

A boy named Percy Jackson has come to find out he is a demigod. His mother is a mortal while his father, who he has never met, is a Greek god. Now, to stop a war between the gods, Percy and his demigod friends he picked up at Camp Half-Blood must go on an epic journey. This book was amazing from the very beginning and never got boring all through the story. One of the best parts was when Percy fights the Minotaur.

I think this book is a must read and is all-in-all an awesome story.

-Reviewed by Kaine G. (09/2011)

Book Review!

2011-09-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins (Novel) (2008)

Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian Fiction

Rating:

*Multiple "Best Books of the Year" awards; National Bestseller

       Several years into the future, what we used to know as North America is now known as Panem. There are 12 districts that are being punished due to a revolt against the capitol. To show how they are more powerful than the districts, they punish the districts to have a boy and girl go to what is known as the Hunger Games to battle to the death. The last one standing wins. Katniss, the narrator, is one of the ones that gets picked and so is Peeta, "the one with the bread." Katniss just cannot seem to keep owing him favors. This is an all out survival/war book that you cannot put away!
       My favorite part of the book would have to be when Katniss first enters the Arena. It is full of detail--I feel like I am in the book! I love this book--it is absolutely amazing!
                                                                  -Reviewed by Kaine G. (09/2011)

Book Review!

2011-09-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins (Novel) (2009)

Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian Fiction

Rating:

This is the sequel to The Hunger Games. In this book, Katniss has to go back into the Hunger Games and fight for her life again, against everybody else who has been in the Hunger Games. She has to fight the Arena, and the people in it, because this year the Arena is fighting against all the visitors. The Arena is a clock and every hour a new catastrophe attempts to kill the people.

My favorite part of the book was that we were introduced to a lot of new characters. What I didn't like was that it didn't have a lot of action.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes science fiction. You will like this book!

-Reviewed by Mason L. (09/2011)

Book Review!

2011-09-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins (Novel) (2008)

Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian Fiction

Rating:

*Multiple "Best Books of the Year" awards; National Bestseller

The Hunger Games is about a girl named Katniss Everdeen. She lives in the future North America called Panem. She has to fight on a television show called The Hunger Games. She has to fight to the death. She is entered with a boy named Peeta Mellark, and she has a crush on him. But, she also likes a boy named Gale.

I loved this book, because it has a lot of action and has a great story. I have read it three times, just because it's so good! I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like science fiction, fantasy, or action books, because it has all three!

-Reviewed by Mason L. (09/2011)

Book Review!

2011-09-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Title: Just Don’t Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain

Author: Josh Sundquist (Non-fiction) (2010)

Genre: autobiography

Rating:

*National Bestseller

This book is the autobiography of motivational speaker, paralympic skier, and Youtube videomaker Josh Sundquist. When Josh was nine, he found out he had cancer in his left leg. He had to have his leg amputated. He started skiing the same year and was a natural. In 2006, he skied in the winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy. Since the Paralympics, Josh has starting making Youtube videos and has become quite popular. He is an inspiration and a great person. His book is great. I would recommend it highly, especially to someone who is either sad or likes inspirational stories.

My favorite thing about the book is that Josh tells us exactly how he feels and doesn't hold back any information.

-Reviewed by Mason L. (09/2011)

Book Club Meeting!

2011-09-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Our next book club meeting will be Thursday, October 13th, during Activity period in the library. Make sure to sign up on the library door, including a book you'd like to recommend. Remember--I won't make you speak if you don't want to! :) We had an AWESOME turnout at our first Book Club meeting of the year. Around 40 students came and lots of students recommended great books to others. I hope to see that many (or more!) at our October meeting. Make plans to attend and be sure to tell your friends!

Books Recommended at our September 2011 Book Club Meeting!

2011-09-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

Books Recommended at our September 2011 Book Club Meeting!

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Torment by Lauren Kate

Passion by Lauren Kate

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Just Don’t Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made it Down the Mountain by Josh Sundquist

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

History of the U.S. Navy by James Morris

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

*All books are available in our library (or will be very soon! J)*

New Books--Coming Soon!

2011-08-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! The previous list of new books has arrived--BUT, they aren't ready to be checked out just yet. They should be by the end of this week, so check in often. The following books should arrive within the next two weeks. Enjoy!

Adventures of a Cat-Whiskered Girl by Daniel Pinkwater/Calef Brown
Athena, Grey Eyed Goddess: Olympians by George O'Connor
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld/Keith Thompson
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Demonglass: A Hex Hall Novel by Rachel Hawkins
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Fire Will Fall by Carol Plum-Ucci
Foiled by Jane Yolen/Mike Cavallaro
Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy by Leonard S. Marcus
Hold Still by Nina LaCour/Mia Nolting
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor/Jim di Bartolo
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Patridge
Mercury by Hope Larson
Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
Payback Time by Carl Deuker
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Raven Summer by David Almond
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher (sequel to Incarceron)
The Ask and the Answer: Chaos Walking, Book 2 by Patrick Ness
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves by M. T. Anderson
The Carbon Diaries 2017 by Saci Lloyd
The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking, Book 1 by Patrick Ness
The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith
The Roar by Emma Clayton
The Smart Aleck's Guide to American History by Adam Selzer
The Sons of Liberty by Alexander Lagos/Steve Walker
The View From the Top by Hillary Frank
Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
We Were Here by Matt de la Pena
Wolven by Di Toft
Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor

Book Club News!

2011-08-12T08:51:00.001-07:00

Stay tuned for news regarding our first Book Club meeting. I'll let you know as soon as possible! Also, if you have suggestions for our book club, come tell me. I'm always up for great ideas!

New Books--Coming Soon!

2011-08-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

The following books are scheduled to arrive within the next few weeks. Check in often to make sure you get to read the book you want first!

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
A World Without Heroes: Beyonders by Brandon Mull
Addie on the Inside by James Howe/Illustrations by Laura Hanifin
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
All Shook Up by Shelley Pearsall
All The Broken Pieces: A Novel in Verse by Ann Burg
Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Blank Confession by Pete Hautman
Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones
Chasing AllieCat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
Chime by Franny Billingsley
Clean by Amy Reed
Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer
Consumed by Kate Cann
Death in the Air: The Boy Sherlock Homes, His 2nd Case by Shane Peacock
Death Sentence: Escape from Furnace 3 by Alexander Gordon Smith
Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication by Ann Downer
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World by Penny Colman
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Eona by Alison Goodman
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case by Shane Peacock
Firebirds Soaring: An Anthology of Original Speculative Fiction by Sharyn November/Illustrations by Mike Dringenberg
Flip by Martyn Bedford
For Keeps by Natasha Friend
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd by Holly Black
Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
I Will Save You by Matt de la Peña
Level Up by Gene Luen Yang/Illustrations by Thien Pham
Lunch Box Dream by Tony Abbott
Matched by Ally Condie
Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
Monsters of Men: Chaos Walking, Book Three by Patrick Ness
Morning in a Different Place by Mary Ann McGuigan
Mr. Sam: How Sam Walton Built Wal-Mart and Became America's Richest Man by Karen Blumenthal
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing by Gary Soto
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright
Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
Rip Tide by Kat Falls
Robert Cormier: Daring to Disturb the Universe by Patty Campbell
Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone: The Odyssey of Flight 33 by Mark Kneece/Illustrations by Robert Grabe
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Scat by Carl Hiassen
Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd
Solitary: Escape from Furnace, Book 2 by Alexander Gordon Smith
Stay by Deb Caletti
Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The Ascension: A Super Human Clash by Michael Carroll
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
The Brain Finds a Leg by Martin Chatterton
The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd
The Dark City: Relic Master, Book 1 by Catherine Fisher
The Darlings are Forever by Melissa Kantor
The Fires Beneath the Sea by Lydia Millet
The Hidden Coronet: Relic Master, Book 3 by Catherine Fisher
The Lost Heiress: Relic Master, Book 2 by Catherine Fisher
The Margrave: Relic Master, Book 4 by Catherine Fisher
The Queen of Water by Laura Resau
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
The Savage by David Almond/Illustrations by Dave McKean
The Yggyssey: How Iggy Wondered What Happened to All the Ghosts, Found Out Where They Went, and Went There by Daniel Pinkwater
Thirteenth Child: Frontier Magic, Book 1 by Patricia C. Wrede
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel
Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino
Torn: The Missing, Book 4 by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Unfriended: A Top 8 Novel by Katie Finn
War and Watermelon by Rich Wallace
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
White Crow by Marcus Sedgwick
Worldshaker by Richard Harland
You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

Welcome back students and faculty!

2011-08-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

It is the start of a new school year and the excitement fills the air! :) I hope everyone had a great summer and I believe we are off to a great start this year.

We are expecting 84 new books (mostly fiction/some nonfiction) to arrive by the end of August. You can get a sneak peek of some of them on our back to school bulletin board outside the library. I am also going to post a list under 'New Books' very soon, so check back to see what titles we are getting.

If you have a book request, please see me and I'll do my best to get the book for you. Of course, you'll be the first one that gets to read it! :) Perhaps you will feel led to write a short book review when you are finished....;) I will provide you with an easy to use template if you wish to do this. (I would REALLY appreciate it!--and so would ALL the students who are looking for a great book to check out!)

If you have any suggestions on how to improve our library (in any way), please let me know. I am always on the lookout for great ideas, but I can't always come up with them myself. :)

I hope everyone has a GREAT school year and I look forward to seeing all of you in the library!

Books Recommended at our April 2011 Book Club Meeting

2011-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

All books with an asterik are available in our library.

April 2011

Beastly by Alex Flinn*

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

If I Stay by Gayle Forman*

Where She Went (sequel to If I Stay) by Gayle Forman

Dork Diaries: Tales from a not so fabulous life by Rachel Renee Russell*

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger*

Fallen by Lauren Kate*

Stop Pretending: What happened when my big sister went crazy by Sonya Sones*

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull*

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman*

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead*

Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan*

Heat Wave by ?

Books Recommended at March 2011 Book Club Meeting!

2011-04-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks*

Ruined by Paula Morris*

If I Stay by Gayle Forman*

Polgara the Sorceress by David and Leigh Eddings

House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Wake by Lisa McMann*

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Barnes

11^th Grade Burns (Chronicles of Vladimir Todd series) by Heather Brewer*

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater*

Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins*

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau*

The Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith*

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan*

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein*

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Maybe a Miracle by Brian Strause

7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando*

*Books with an asterisk are available in our library.*

Coming Soon--New Books!

2011-04-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
Dark and Hollow Places   (Forest of Hands and Teeth Book #3) by Carrie Ryan
Specials (Uglies Book #3) by Scott Westerfeld
Extras   (Uglies Book #4) by Scott Westerfeld
Trapped by Michael Northrop
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia
Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Deeper   (Tunnels Book #2) by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Check often over the next two weeks for the arrival of these exciting new books!

Did you know?--Magazines

2011-03-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Did you know the library has subscriptions to at least 20 magazines? These are always available to you! You may come in anytime (schedule permitting) to flip through one. I have also been known to lend one or two to responsible students for the day. All you have to do is ask! I have included a list of the magazines we currently get below. If you have a suggestion or request for a specific magazine you think we should get for next year, please stop by and tell me sometime.

Woman's Day
Seventeen
Teen Vogue
Ebony
Better Homes & Gardens
Bon Appetit
Women's Health
Conde Nast Traveler
Discover
Science Illustrated
Newsweek
Wired
GamePro
Motor Trend
ESPN
Time
National Geographic
Real Simple
The New Yorker
Sporting News

Book Review!

2011-03-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Title: Fablehaven

Author: Brandon Mull (Novel) (2006)

Genre: fantasy

Rating:

*This is the first book in a 5 part series. The last book was published in March of 2010.*

The book begins with Kendra and Seth, teenage siblings, on their way to stay with their grandparents for several weeks, who they barely know. Needless to say, they are not thrilled with the prospect. They are even less excited when they hear the rules regarding where they are allowed to go on the huge, fenced-in estate. They are only allowed in the yard and are NOT to be in the woods or the enormous barn. Kendra is fine with this, but Seth, a natural rule-breaker, can't seem to follow the rules. After some rule-breaking and puzzle-solving on both parts, Kendra and Seth are stunned to find out that their grandparents are actually the caretakers of a secret preserve full of magical creatures. They are fascinated by this, but are also warned by their grandfather that no magical creature is harmless (many are deadly) and to be very careful about where they go. After an unfortunate incident on Midsummer's Eve, the most dangerous night of the year for humans on the preserve, Kendra and Seth find themselves in a race to save their grandparents and the preserve from destruction. With no where else to turn, will they have the knowledge and courage to do what is necessary?

Where do I begin with this book (and series as a whole)? It is BY FAR one of my favorite series of all time! I've actually read the whole series twice and I am NOT someone who reads books more than once, typically. The only other books I've read twice are the last two Harry Potter books. So, that gives you an idea of just how much I love these books! One of the reasons I love this book so much is how it satisfies my natural curiosity about "the unknown." Who wouldn't want to find a hidden world full of magical creatures? The idea that magical creatures are hidden among us in "plainsight" is just so exciting. Mull pulls off this series so well that you find yourself wanting to actually live in that world, much the way I felt when reading Harry Potter. Each book builds perfectly on the ones before and he gives you plenty of information without answering all of your questions, which keeps you wanting to read more and more! I absolutely love the evolutions of the characters in this series. The ones you love at first may end up disappointing you, and the ones that annoy you at first you may come to love! There are also plenty of twists and jaw-dropping revelations that are sure to make you sit and think for AWHILE before being able to keep reading. I still can't get over one of the twists....

I HIGHLY recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys a little fantasy in their lives. I am one of those people who loves to get carried away into a world different than our own and this series is sure to please!

Book Review!

2011-03-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

Title: 7 Souls
Authors: Barnabas Miller & Jordan Orlando (2010) (Novel)
Genre: Supernatural mystery or suspense

Rating:

This book revolves around the life of Mary Shayne, a senior at a prestigious school in New York City. Mary has always been very popular, mostly due to her extremely good looks. Usually, Mary's birthday is a cause for extreme celebration among her friends and the "in crowd." However, her 17th birthday doesn't turn out quite as she expected. First, she wakes up in a display bed in the middle of Crate & Barrell, but can't remember how she got there. If fact, she can't remember much about the night before at all. Shrugging this off, she is determined to arrive at school in her typical fashion. Expecting everyone to wish her a happy birthday, she is puzzled to find that no one, including her best friends, even acknowledge this important occasion. To make matters worse, her gorgeous boyfriend, Patrick, breaks up with her without any explanation as soon as she arrives. She realizes that this day is really strange, but tries to brush it off each time she gets this weird feeling. At the end of the night, Mary ends up being murdered, which is when the real adventure begins. Mary finds herself living through 7 different souls, finding out their true feelings for her along the way. But, why is she reliving the day that she died? Can she save herself? Should she even try?

The reason I really liked this book is because it completely kept me on the edge of my seat. As soon as I thought I had everything figured out...BAM! they hit me with a curveball. It was definitely one of those books I could see myself staying up to read. While some things that happened seemed far-fetched, it totally made sense within the context of the story. I also really enjoyed watching Mary evolve as a person over the course of the novel.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good suspense novel with a supernatural twist. I think most anyone would enjoy it, unless you just like boring books! :)

Did you know?--Graphic Novels

2011-03-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

Did you know the library has a sizable collection of graphic novels that were added this year? Even if you don't typically like "comics," you are sure to find something you can relate to. We have some on serious topics, some autobiographies, funny ones, and even really girly ones. I did not think I would enjoy reading a graphic novel, but I actually enjoy it very much! I think you would, too, if you gave it a try. I recommend American Born Chinese, by Gene Yang. VERY GOOD! I challenge you to think outside the box and pick up something you wouldn't normally try!

Did You Know?--Audio Books

2011-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know the library has 25 audio books that were added to the collection this year? If you don't have time to read, maybe you can listen to a book while driving (or while relaxing at home). We have a great selection that covers several genre types. Come in some time and see what we have!