House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

Think of all those horror movies you’ve seen. Blood, chainsaws, screams, horrors hidden around dark corners. Welcome to House. The rules are simple.
1. God came to my house and I killed Him. 2. I will kill anyone who comes to my house like I killed God. 3. Give me one dead body and I might let Rule #2 slide. You have until dawn.
You may have stumbled upon the House by no choice of your own but once you enter, you can’t leave. Those are the rules set by White, the man in the tin mask, the man of the House.

This is the selection for the January Teen Book Club.

Emily's Review: The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2007 edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link, and Gavin J Grant

Although it was the genre that inspired me to write, the popular fantasy of most teenagers today is a tired ol' beast. That's what I think, at least, when I see the books my friends are reading. They're all tales of bravery and elves and dragons and impulsive teenagers who do stupid things without thinking of the consequences (and they're all thought of as Extremely Heroic and Noble, for some reason). I hate it! I'm sorry, I do. But I don't think this signals the end of the SF/F genres. To assume that would make me a pretty stupid person. There's plenty of beautiful, wonderful stories out there, and plenty of people reading those beautiful, wonderful stories. Just not the kids I know.

It makes me sad.

Here's a hint, guys. Pick up this book. Maybe you'll realize how much you've been spoiling yourselves, and maybe I'll stop glaring at you whenever I see you with a copy of Eragon.

This edition of the Year's Best-- the twentieth-- is, like the others in the collection, pretty dang big. If you only glanced at it in a bookstore, you might mistake it for one of those bloated, overripe tomes I just ranted about, but what's inside is much better: "more than 250,000 words of the finest fantasy and horror," the front cover says, almost five hundred pages of poetry and short stories that glint like finely-cut jewels, by a wide range of authors.

I highly recommend this, along with all the other volumes.
Rating: 4Q, 3P
**NCPL does NOT currently own this edition, but has the 2000 (13th) edition**

Jessica's Review: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard

This is a play based on the lesser characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Shakespeare's Hamlet. It is Stoppard's best known work. In Hamlet, the two characters are ill known, summoned by King Claudius to discover what ails Hamlet. Unfortunately Hamlet hardly recognizes them upon their first meeting and immediately knows that they were sent for, not coming of their own free will. In Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead the play is focused entirely on them and shows in a comic way their view on the entire situation, what they think about Hamlet, Claudius, and the well known play of the Murder of Gonzago. Everything throughout this play is based upon probability and chance, from the chance summoning to Elsinore to the chance misunderstanding of death in the end. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are confused, they know not where they are nor what they are looking for. Most importantly they do not know the true meaning behind any of the events in Elsinore including the order for them both to be put to death. I would suggest this play only to those who often read plays or else those who have recently read Hamlet. I would also suggest seeing it performed although I have yet to do so.

Rating: 3.5Q, 2P

**This title and the DVD of the same name are available through InterLibrary Loan**

Dane's Review: The Manhattan Project by Cynthia C Kelly

Wowzerz, and I know that the all intensive Non-Fiction section is towering over you like a horrible malignant tumor, but have faith because I impugn that thought saying and crying "NO!" Don't fear truth, Non-Fiction owns brazier. This book is well, to me; and TANGENT, we all know my opinion is wonk and wrong, but I like this!
Its about da World War Dos and it is a dose of wicked sweek. Not so much WWII as the construction of the A-Bomb IN AMERICA. For those of you who like history, GASP, physics, GASP, or crazy government secrets, in my case all 3 of the post mentioned reasons, this book will have like Level 20 appeal, second edition of course. The Manhattan Project was devoted to nuclear arms and the development of nuclear power.
Have you heard of a man named Einstein? or Szilard? Maybe Groves? Like come-on, you all need to broaden your horizons and read the NON-FICTION! Also Hiroshima is a pretty good book about the aftermath of the bomb. Good read, but caution NON-FICTION! Wogga!
Rating: 3.5Q, 3P

2007 Teens' Top Ten Announced

The 2007 Teens' Top Ten were announced today. After votes from teens nationwide during last week's Teen Read Week celebration, the winners are...

1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
2. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
3. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
4. Maximum Ride: School’s Out – Forever by James Patterson
5. Firegirl by Tony Abbott
6. All Hallows Eve (13 Stories)by Vivian Vande Velde
7. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
8. River Secrets by Shannon Hale
9. Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe
10. Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks

How many have you read? We own all, except How to Ruin a Summer Vacation and All Hallows Eve (13 Stories), which I have ordered!

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

What happens to you when you die? Where do you go? What do you do? That is the million dollar question. Fifteen-year-old Liz awakens one morning to find herself aboard the SS Nile. She assumes she is dreaming but soon learns that she has died and Elsewhere is her “final destination”. Liz is greeted at the dock by her namesake, Grandma Betty, who died at age 50 from breast cancer, but is now a beautiful woman in her 30s. You see, in Elsewhere you age backwards, growing younger, until you eventually return to Earth as a baby to begin a new life. Instead of having a job, you choose an avocation and spend your time doing something that makes your soul complete. And while you can observe life on Earth, contact is prohibited. These new twists on life only make Liz depressed and mournful of the milestones she’ll miss out on: driver’s license, prom, wedding, and having children. Will Liz be able to accept her death and what is to come? Welcome to Elsewhere.

This book is a Soaring Eagle Nominee for 2007-2008.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Imagine at the age of 12, you left school and started working at a job that you chose out of a hat on Assignment Day. The city where you live and work has no sun, no moon, no stars, and the only light is produced by large floodlights that are turned on in the morning and turned off at night. In this world all the food comes from a storage area under the city and the supply is running dangerously low as are other goods that are necessary for living. Unexplained power outages begin occurring frequently during the day lasting for longer and longer periods of time, leaving citizens frightened and the mayor seems to have no answers. Now, imagine making a miraculous discovery that no one seems willing to believe, a discovery that could save your town. This is The City of Ember.

Teen Top Ten

It's Teen Read Week so vote for your favorite books of the year. Vote @ http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/teenstopten.cfm

Ana's Story: a Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush

You might recognize Jenna Bush as the President’s daughter, but did you know she is an author, educator, and humanitarian? In 2006, Jenna volunteered for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and found herself in Latin America and the Caribbean working with children and teens, many of whom are infected with HIV/AIDS. One 17-year-old teen mother, Ana, touched Jenna and this is her story; a story of secrets, abuse, and death; a story of love, hope, and survival. Ana’s Story is filled with color photographs by Mia Baxter and is written in short, easy to read chapters.

Creepy Halloween Non-Fiction

Monsterology



Villainology

Love Harry Potter? Try this...

The Mysterious Ticking Noise - Potter Puppet Pals

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

What would you do if you found out that you had less than a year left to live? Would you make changes, do something you never dreamed you’d experience, live every moment for what it’s worth? Would you tell the people you love so they could prepare to lose you? Or would you keep it a secret?
Ben just found out his life has a deadline. He has a terminal blood disease and has less than a year to live. HE has decided to LIVE and forgo the treatments that will only extend his short time here on earth. HE has decided to go out for football and see if he can capture the glory that others find on the field. HE has decided to talk to Dallas Suzuki, the girl that makes his heart pound; on the off chance she might like him. HE has also decided to tell no one. Not his parents, his brother, Coach Banks, Dallas, NO ONE. Doc doesn’t agree, but since Ben is 18, he has to keep it confidential. How will this decision affect the choices and experiences Ben has planned for his senior year, for his life? What would you do if you had a deadline like this?

Ironman by Chris Crutcher

Ever had an adult in your life that wouldn’t give you a break? Who would push you to the limit and then delight in your downfall? Someone who saw you as a quitter and one in need of discipline? Maybe a parent, coach, or teacher? Bo Brewster has both a father and a coach who seem too eager to watch him fail and when Coach Redmond pushes him one step too far, Bo blows up and drops the A-bomb, right in the middle of class. He’d gladly take the suspension and never return but in spite of everything, he also has a Journalism teacher, Mr. S, who’ll gladly stand up for him. Bo is faced with a choice, home schooling with Ms. Conroy (ugh!) or enroll in the Anger Management class. He chooses Anger Management but realizes right away that he’s probably the only normal one in the bunch. Between training for Yukon Jack’s Ironman triathlon, school, and family, Bo has the quite the year ahead of him. While others may try to tear him down, Bo finds strength in unlikely places and may actually become an Ironman.

Chris Crutcher reads from new book

October's Teen Book Club selection is Ironman by Chris Crutcher. Click on the video below to hear a selection from his new book Deadline.

Mary's Review: Yoko Matsushita's "Descendants of Darkness (Yami No Matsuei)

Descendants of Darkness (hereafter referred to by its better known Japanese title) is a big hit with the fangirls: beautiful art; dark, gloomy visuals; an abundance of gorgeous male characters and an almost equal abundance of subtext. The fangirl factor has probably turned away many a fan, even if it shouldn't need to be a factor (though it is an unfortunate fact that the smaller a fandom, the more... dedicated it tends to be). YnM's story is an interesting one: in the afterlife there's a kind of parallel government system where the Ministry of Hades judges the dead and sends them to their eternal Fate. However, some people don't (for whatever reason) die when they're supposed to. At this point Shinigami (Guardians of Death), souls with regrets and attachments preventing them from moving on, are sent in to solve the problem. The protagonist is Tsuzuki, a slacker Shinigami who is, of course, more than he seems to be. His young partner is Hisoka, dead at only 16 and hoping to find his murderer. And then there's Murhki, the insane doctor with a disturbing fascination with Tsuzuki, who tends to pop up in the longer story arcs. He's reason enough to give the series allure: the perfect villian that at once fascinates the reader and makes them exquisitely uncomfortable. The downside of his character is that stories without him can seem slightly drab, though they often strive to make up for this in other ways. The series' biggest fault is not its own fault: it's that the author chose to cease-and-desist after eleven volumes, leaving the reader not so conveniently in the lurch. To make up for this, there is the somewhat rare 13 episode anime, which at least tries for a coherent finale. Even alone the manga is worthwhile good for repeat readings even if only to stare at the lovely pictures (never mind that pesky philosophy, fangirls).
Final Verdict: 4Q, 2P

Emily's Review: Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope

This is for everyone, like me, sick of the mindset that we all ought to go to UW, or schools in surrounding states, or the smart kids who think they'll be invalidated if they don't get into some Ivy League or whatever. Here's a hint: these colleges are where the real cool people are, the kind that don't actually care whether they're cool or not, but actually enjoy learning. Gasp. (Note: I'm not trying to diss those schools at the beginning of the paragraph. No, seriously. I'm not.)

Colleges That Change Lives bills itself as a book with the "40 schools you should know about even if you're not a straight-A student." That fits me pretty well. I'm still cringing over the results of my first round of applications. This book has helped me with my college search immensely--after compiling a list of 20+ schools that might accommodate me as a transfer student, I managed to narrow my sights down to three; they're all in this book, even though it was hardly my primary resource. Colleges That Change Lives talks about experiences, environments, everything, and in the words of students. That's a hechuva lot nicer than, say, a list of statistics.

This library's copy is, unfortunately, a little dated. One of the listed colleges, Antioch, closed recently due to lack of funds. I recommend checking out the website, too: http://www.ctcl.com/
Hey, Reed! Marlboro! Saint Olaf! You had better watch out. Thanks, Loren Pope.
Rating: 4Q, 4P

Dane's Review: R.A. Salvatore's "The Dark Elf Trilogy [Homeland/Exile/Sojourn]

Once again, my avid followers of my said "book reviews", if you're reading this one I rate this PG-13. Hazzah! Like I even read teen lit! I mean I have but still...

We all know I love magic & fantasy, and that you, the reader, love kittens & daisies. So I choose R.A. Salvatore, (Ya!); sci-fi. I'd dot my "eyes" with hearts if i could, and speaking of hearts KHII is something on my agenda. However, this story has depth, meaning, and plot, unlike my facade of a "life".

Basically there's this world, right, of magic, RIGHT!, and there's these evil elves that live in tunnels and caves called Drow. This trilogy follows one Drow, or "Dark Elf", through his mismatched adventures as his family tries to seek him out and kill him. This Drow, Drizzt, that's his name you know, flee's to the outskirts of caves trying to avoid being sucked into normal Drow society, Emo YES. The one thing about this book that doesn't kick tail, is the writing style. Bland but good material! EXCLAMATORY. Clams. Yea but basically I would say to any lover of magic and fantasy, "Look into this." IT'S GOOD!

Rating: 4Q, 3P

Jessica's Review: Lemony Snicket's "Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid"

Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid by Lemony Snicket is not anything even remotely similar to The Series of Unfortunate Events except in voice. This is a book of quotes, sayings, and other quirky facts about the mysteries of life, family, and employment in the eyes of Lemony Snicket. It is filled with bitter advice about how to properly say "I Love You", and tips about not putting cats in your mouth, why we shouldn't follow tradition, and when it is best to be honest.
I would suggest anyone with a mild sense of humor or more to read this. Not only will you thoroughly enjoy it as a read in itself, but you may just learn something about yourself, or at the very least your somewhat suspicious coworkers.
Rating: 5Q, 3P

Mary's Review: Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Grady is an average guy: he helps his dad set up Christmas decorations, gets by in school, has a crush on a girl at school. The only catch is that Grady has been trapped in a girl's body since birth. Its actually very refreshing to see a transgendered story from the boy's side for once, and Ms. Wittlinger has handled things exquisitely. Grady's habit of playing more "honest" (read: blunt) versions of conversations in his mind keeps the tone from moving into the cliched realms of teen drama. The story itself feels like a slice of life: there were incidents prior that the reader was not privy to, and there shall be similar moments after. Finally, Parrotfish strives toward an honest tone. Life is not always perfect: even when old friends put aside their differences and reconcile, things are not always easy, and the nice guy doesn't always get the girl in the end. It's more than an acceptance story, less than an opus. It's just life.
Final Verdict: 4Q, 3P

Phineas Gage: The Gruesome But True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman

Meet Phineas Gage. Right now he is a skull on display at Harvard but in 1848 he was the foreman of a railroad construction crew. He used a tool called a “tamping iron”, which looks a lot like a spear, and it was his job to blast the rocks into small pieces that could be removed. In order to do this, a hole would have to be drilled into the rock. The hole would be “charged” by filling the bottom with gun powder. Phineas would use the pointy end of his tamping iron to press a fuse into the powder and someone else would fill the rest of the hole with loose sand that would act as a plug. Phineas would then use the round end of the iron to tamp the sand in tight before lighting the fuse.
This day, however, something went awry. The sand was not poured into the hole and when Phineas’ tamping iron slid into the hole it hit the explosive, sparking, and the tamping iron turned into an oversize bullet that traveled right through Phineas’ left cheek and burst straight out the top of his head. Miraculously, Phineas did NOT die until the year 1860 but he was never the same. Phineas survived his brain injury but his personality was never the same. Phineas Gage’s horrible accident unknowing taught scientist volumes about how the brain functions.
What do you know about the brain and how it works? What would happen to you if had a brain or if a piece of your brain was missing? What if a piece of iron shot right through your head? Would it be a miracle if you lived? Would you be a different person afterward?