Identical October 2, 2008

Title: Identical

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Summary:Once there was a happy family with a loving Mom and Dad and two perfect identical twin daughters, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. Their perfect home was filled with love and laughter. Then the accident happened. Now only anger, fear, perversion, and self-destruction reside in that perfect house. The loving mom has become a politician who prefers the campaign trail to home. And the loving father, a tough, but respected district-court judge, becomes another man at home.  He’s a lonely man who seeks comfort from the bottle and in controlling his most pliant daughter Kaeleigh with perverse attention.  

While Kaeleigh silently struggles with her father’s abuse and the efforts to maintain her prim outer facade at school; Raeanne loudly bristles at the way her Dad ignores her and plays ‘favorites,’ rebelling against the loneliness by turning to drugs, alcohol, and sex.  Both girls are sprialing toward self-destruction, but it isn’t until the end of the story that everyone discovers the toll keeping such secrets has on a family. 

Who will like this book:  With its’ themes of sexual abuse, drug and alcohol use, cutting, and promiscuity this is definitely a book for mature teen audiences.  That being said, this is a well written book that will take the reader into the minds of its’ troubled characters in a way that few books do.  If you like a gritty, raw, emotional story, this is the book for you.   

If you like this, try this: Anything by Ellen Hopkins, Cut by Patricia McCormick, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Go Ask Alice by Anonymous,  Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Recommended by: Jen, Fairfield Woods Teen Librarian

Ella Enchanted September 25, 2008

Title: Ella Enchanted

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Summary: At birth, the fairy Lucinda “gifted” Ella  with obedience. Whenever ordered to do something, Ella can’t help but to comply. At an early age her mother dies and at the funeral she meets Prince Char, her first best friend.  A few years pass before her father starts being courted by the awful Dame Olga, who has two monsters for daughters–Hattie and Olive. To make matters worse, Hattie soon discovers that Ella will do anything she says.  The story follows Ella as she learns to deal with these new step-devils, some ugly–and rather old–suitors, trolls, and of course her curse. Only Lucinda can remove the curse, but the problem is Lucinda never takes back a gift. Can Ella save her life before it all falls apart?

Who will like this book?: If you want a classic fairy tale, this is the book for you. A charming Prince, a witty female lead, evil humans and creatures, and some unexpected magical friends add up to the essentials of this fairy tale. It has more dialogue than action, but it’s fast-paced and hilarious. And apart from the characters and basic plot outline, it’s not anything like the movie.

If you like this, you should try: Anything else by Gail Carson Levine–she has a series of fairy books, as well as The Wish. Other good fairy-tale books are Tithe by Holly Black, Artemis Fowlby Eoin Colfer, almost anything by Dianna Wynne Jone or Shannon Hale, and the Wolf Tower series (Wolf Tower is the name of the first one) by Tanith Lee.

Recommended by: ZZ, resident of Fairfield and avid reader.

Saving Juliet September 12, 2008

Title: Saving Juliet

Author: Suzanne Selfors

Summary: Mimi Wallingford is sick of Shakespeare theater, and even more sick of being recognized solely by the prestige of her last name.  Unlike her ancestors, Mimi has an extreme case of stage fright whenever she’s about to go on. In her current play of Romeo and Juliet, she’s stuck with superstar Troy Summers playing Romeo: He seems to do all he can to put her down.  Right before her final performance as Juliet, she is transported by magic to Shakespeare’s Verona. There she meets Juliet Capulet as well as the entire ‘cast’ of the play that she’s rehearsed for.

But the play Mimi thought she knew takes an unexpected twist when Romeo and Juliet don’t meet at the dance and Juliet is engaged to marry the Paris within a week’s time! Though Mimi’s regarded as a ‘relative Capulet,’ Benvolio’s got his eyes on her, Tybalt’s out for her neck, Lady Capulet wants her dead, and is that a superstar actor/Romeo sneaking along the streets? It’s going to take more than just some good acting for Mimi to save Juliet and find her way back home.

Who will like this book?: Anyone into the historical fiction genre, or the story of Romeo and Juliet.  It’s aimed more at a female audience with plenty of romance and faults of love, but it’s got plenty of action scenes. It’s an interesting twist on the original tale without the havoc of trying to understand what the words mean.

If you like this, you should try: The Shakespeare Stealerseries by Gary Blackwood. Some other time travel books are Lost in Time by Hans Magnus Enzensberger and The Door to Time by Ulysses Moore. For those who are into the classics, thenA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain is definitely along the right path.

Recommended by: ZZ, resident of Fairfield and avid reader.

ghostgirl August 14, 2008

Title: ghostgirl

Author: Tonya Hurley

Summary: Charlotte Usher’s made a vow - this is going to be her year.  She’s going to tryout for cheerleading and get the guy of her dreams.  Her plan can’t fail, after all she’s been laboring over it all summer.  Gone with invisible Charlotte– “Hello” to popular Charlotte.  Unfortunately for Charlotte, all her effort is wasted when she chokes on a gummy bear and dies the first day back to school.  However, Charlotte is not a quitter and she’s not about to let a little thing like death keep her from getting her dream guy to fall in love with her and her first kiss.  And, if being dead weren’t bad enough, poor Charlotte still has to finish high school.  Only now her classmates consist of other kids who have died before her and graduation will take a team effort. 

Who will like this book?:  Fans of dark satirical writing, humorous ghost stories, and those who see the humor in high school popularity “contests.”  For those who are attracted to books with amazing covers, I have to say that this is one of the best cover designs I have ever seen.  It’s worth taking a look at this book just for the cover. 

If you like this, try this: Generation Dead by Daniel Waters.  Zombie Blondes by Brian James.

Recommended by: Jen, Woods Teen Librarian

Keturah and Lord Death August 4, 2008

Title: Keturah and Lord Death

Author: Martine Leavitt

Summary: This is a great book for all of you readers currently (or soon to be) in Twilight withdrawal. When Keturah, the village storyteller of Tide-by-Root, wanders into the woods, she meets Death, who decides to claim Keturah as his bride. While there is something irresistible about the dark Lord,  Keturah has unfinished business in the village, and is able to use her storytelling abilities to spins a tale of a love so beautiful and enduring that it persuades Lord Death to give her another day.

With this gift of time, Keturah knows that in order to save herself, she must find the love she has described to Lord Death, even though she has never felt it herself.  While it sounds like a standard fairy tale, this book is full of suprises, including a breathtaking end that will haunt you long after you’ve closed the final pages.

Who will like this book?: Fans of impossible love stories, and readers who enjoy fantasies set in kingdoms or medieval villages.

If you like this, try this: The Twilight saga and The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier. For mature readers, 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian

Airhead July 18, 2008

Title: Airhead

Author: Meg Cabot

Summary: Em Watts is your typical tomboy - she’d rather play Journeyquest online with her best friend (and secret crush) Christopher than spend time perfecting her hair and makeup like the popular girls at her school. She and Christopher have a nickname for the mean girls and the boys that drool after them: ‘The Walking Dead.’ When she takes her Walking Dead-wannabe little sister to a grand opening of the new Stark superstore, Em’s life is turned outside-in. Through a freak accident, she now has the body - and face - of the hottest teen supermodel on the planet, Nikki Howard.

Em is the now queen of the Walking Dead. Can she learn how to model, dodge the paparazzi, and juggle multiple love interests, not to mention figure out a way to finish high school and reconnect with Christopher, who doesn’t even know she is still alive? This is a fun, fast read, with a great fantasy twist. I can’t believe this is the first Meg Cabot book I’ve read - I’ll be sure to check out more of them, including the upcoming sequel to this book, called Being Nikki.

Who will like this book?: Celebrity-obsessed teens. Fans of the Clique books or other rich girl series who are ready for something a little deeper.

If you like this, try this: Jinx by Meg Cabot. Better Off Famous? by Jane Mendle. Secrets of my Hollywood Lifeby Jen Calonita.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian