Love is the Higher Law September 1, 2009

Title: Love is the Higher Law

Author: David Levithan

Summary: In Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, co-author David Levithan created a light-hearted love letter to New York City. In his latest, he tackles the city’s darkest day: September 11, 2001. Three young people each respond to the attacks in different ways: high school junior Claire races to her little brothers side and worries for her mom, her classmate Peter sees the attack first-hand, and college student Jasper sleeps through the whole thing.

As a year goes by, each of the three describe their shifting feelings to the attack as their lives intertwine: Peter and Jasper go on the date they had originally scheduled for that fateful day. Insomniacs Claire and Jasper meet randomly as they both are drawn to Ground Zero. Peter and Claire, formerly just acquaintances, form a deep and lasting friendship. This moving book tells a simple story that neatly evokes the events of 9/11 without ever taking the focus off these three remarkable young people who are just beginning to understand their place in the greater world around them.

Who will like this book?: Mature readers who like nuanced, emotional books. Like all of Levithan’s work, this is a great read for GLBTQ teens.

If you like this, try this: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Levithan and Rachel Cohn. For more on a teen discovering themselves after 9/11, try Shine Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian

Getting the Girl July 22, 2009

Title: Getting the Girl: A Guide to Private Investigation, Surveillance, and Cookery

Author: Susan Juby

Summary: At Harewood Technical High School, the worst thing that could happen to a girl is to get ’defiled,’ or ‘D-Listed.’ When your picture goes up in the bathroom with a D written over it, you instantly become a non-entity: No one will associate with you, or even talk to you at all, ever again. When Sherman Mack, a slightly short culinary student and all-around nice guy, begins to fear that the new girl he has a crush on might get D-listed, he decides to find out who exactly is doing the ‘defiling,’ even if it means crossing the social boundaries of his school and asking questions no one really wants to have answered.

This mystery will keep you guessing, and gives both guys and girls a great hero to root for in Sherman. Even though like most young people, he has a lot on his plate (both literally and figuratively), he goes out of his way to help his friends and the Defiled. You’ll finish this book wishing Sherman was your next-door neighbor - a guy who stands up for what he believes in and a terrific cook!

Who will like this book?: People who like funny mysteries that aren’t intense or gory. Readers who like stories with heroic teens who aren’t afraid to stand up for what is right.

If you like this, try this: The Alice books, also by Susan Juby. 13 by Jason Robert Brown. Little Brother by Cory Doctrow. Paper Towns by John Green.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian

The Last Olympian May 6, 2009

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5: The Last Olympian

Author: Rick Riordan

Summary: In the final installment of this outstanding series, Percy and company must defend the island of Manhattan from the evil Kronos and the monster Typhon. The Last Olympian has the usual plot twists and turns, but the stakes are incredibly high: If Percy, Annabeth, Grover and the other demigods from Camp Half Blood lose the battle, civilization as they (and we) know it will unravel as the evil Titans take control.

If you haven’t read Percy yet, by gods, what are you waiting for! Begin with The Lightning Thief before the movie hits theatres.

Who will like this book?: Everybody! A great adventure series for guys and girls who don’t love to read, mythology buffs and everyone in between. This is also an outstanding series for teens and parents to share.

If you like this, try this: The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix. The Mark of Solomon series by Elizabeth E. Wein. And it looks like there will be another Camp Half Blood series, featuring new campers, so keep an eye out for that as well.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie April 16, 2009

Title: Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie

Author: Jordan Sonnenblick

Summary:  Eighth-grader Steven Alper is a rock star drummer, at least according to his annoyingly cute five-year-old brother.  The same cute brother that is the star of Steven’s English class journal entry exploring  the topic “The Most Annoying Thing in the World.”   Add the annoying brother with a crush on an unattainable girl, an occasionally irritating best friend,  a love of drums, and the regular school drama and you have Steven’s life. 

That is until the day Steven’s brother falls from a bar stool while Steven is making him breakfast and develops a nose bleed that just won’t stop.  The reason behind that non-stop nose bleed will change the lives of everyone in the Alper family and will lead to the most difficult year of their lives.  Steven struggles with the lack of parental attention and rebels against school, but through it all he maintains his quirky sense of humor and a pretty good heart. 

Who will like this book ?:  Those who like drama but can also appreciate a clever character who handles that drama with a bit of humor.

If you like this, try this: Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick,  Deadline by Chris Crutcher, or Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass.

Recommended by: Jen, Branch Teen Librarian

Paper Towns December 18, 2008

Title: Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Summary:Every once in a while you read a story that becomes an instant favorite. One so good you can’t stop telling everyone about it. This  is one of those books, which shouldn’t be a surprise, since author John Green’s previous books Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines were also outstanding.

In Paper Towns we meet Q, a smart, nice kid drifting through his last days of high school, and his neighbor, childhood friend, and longstanding crush Margo Roth Spiegelman. When the enigmatic Margo appears at his window on a school night, Q has no idea that he is in store for quite an adventure. And when Margo doesn’t show up at school the next day, he realizes that the story is just beginning. Following clues she left behind, Q and his friends piece together the mystery that is Margo Roth Spiegelman as they also move towards the unknown future. Will their lives be merely paper? Or something more substantial? This is a funny, intelligent, and unforgettable book.

Who will like this book: Anyone. Everyone. If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh almost as much as it makes you think – this is what you’ve been waiting for.

If you like this, try this: Looking for Alaska by John Green. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Getting the Girl by Susan Juby.

Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb October 30, 2008

Title: Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb

Author: Kirsten Miller

Summary: Kiki Strike and the Irregulars can never get a good night’s sleep: They’re too busy protecting the Shadow City they discovered the previous year and keeping safe from the various hitmen who want them dead. Much to everyones surprise, Oona is finally revealing some of her secrets – Lester Liu, leader of the Fu Tsang is her dad! And even more surprising, he’s suddenly opened his arms to welcome her back as his daughter.

The Irregulars are suspicious, but Oona willingly goes with him, casting doubt on her loyalty. To make matters worse, Anaka’s parents are fed up with her late night adventures and are going to send to her a border school out west. With squirrels attacking strangers in the park, stolen Thai prodigies popping up in the Shadow City, and Oona getting drawn further and further into her father’s grasp, what can the Irregulars do to save New York when they can barely keep their own group together?

Who will like this book?: It’s definitely aimed at the younger female audience who likes a good adventure story with some mystery, plot twists, and a cute guy who can command squirrels to do his bidding. Another great book in the series.

If you like this, you should try: The first adventure in the series, Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, the Artemis Fowl series, Ella Enchanted, Cross my Heart and Hope to Spy, and H.I.V.E series.

Recommended by: ZZ, Fairfield resident and avid reader