Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

I thought I would mention a few last books of 2009 before moving on to things to look forward to in 2010!

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julia Halpern

This is a laugh out loud look at losing friends, finding friends, fitting in, and being cool in high school. I am so happy to have found this gem and I highly recommend it!

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

This is another book about fitting in and friendship, but not as humorous as Into the Wild Nerd Yonder. I was drawn to the book by the funky cover and title. The characters are quirky and the story is kind of sad. I will definitely recommend this to teen readers.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Again, the cool cover made me pick this book up, expecting a light, fun, summer read. Boy was I surprised! Talk about heartbreaking! If you can handle a sad story I highly recommend this one, but don’t worry, it was a happy ending.

Two of those last three favorites of 2009 are real downers, but now I will cheer you up with a few things to look forward to in 2010 (I’m nice that way)!

The list of books that I am looking forward to next year is very long, but the list of books being made into movies is much shorter and I am just as excited about them. Here are the first 3 on that list:

Youth in Revolt starring Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Justin Long, and Ray Liotta is based on the book Youth in Revolt: the Journals of Nick Twisp by C.D. Payne, opens in theaters January 8, 2010. If you have read the book, you know this movie has to be hilarious!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: the Lightning Thief starring Logan Lerman, Uma Thurman, and Pierce Brosnan is based on the novel with the same title by Rick Riordan. This action packed movie opens February 12th, 2010 and I for one, plan to be there!

Alice in Wonderland starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, and Anne Hathaway is based on the classic Lewis Carroll book. Director Tim Burton will no doubt deliver a visually stunning and magical film to theaters March 5, 2010.

April-July will bring more books to the movies, but I am not ready to tell about them yet! Check back later.

Happy New Year!

˜Megan

More Favorites of 2009

With 10 days left in 2009 I think I will add a few more books to my favorites list.

Gone by Michael Grant
What happens when everyone over the age of 15 suddenly disappears? What happens when some of the kids who remain develop unusual superpowers? Find out in this action-packed thriller. I could  not put this book down! The story continues in Hunger and I am anxiously awaiting the release of book three, Lies in May 2010 and Plague in April 2011. Fans of the Gone series will be happy to know that there are a proposed 7 books in the series.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This book has been around since 2005, but it was only this year that I finally got around to finishing it. I attempted to read it a few times, but just could not get into it. Finally, I got it on CD and listened to it in my car. I am so happy that I gave the book a chance, it was amazing! It is the story of a young girl living through World War II. It is both horrifying and uplifting, disturbing and sweet. For anyone who has tried to read this and given up, I recommend listening to the book on cd; it is totally worth it.

Evermore by Alyson Noel
Ok, I realized as I looked back over the books I have read this year that I read a ton of science fiction and paranormal romances. What can I say, I like them! Evermore is another romance with a paranormal twist, but it is VAMPIRE-FREE, which I found refreshing after the slew of vampire books that followed Twilight. Ever is the sole survivor of an accident that killed her family. Since the accident she can see people’s auras and hear their thoughts. Because of this ability she goes out of her way to avoid people, until Damen shows up at school. If you want to know more about tall, dark, and handsome you’ll have to read this book! The story continues in Blue Moon and Shadowland.

That’s all for today, but stay tuned, I may have more.

˜Megan

ALA Youth Awards

Every January at their Midwinter Conference the American Library Association announces the winners of their youth media awards. In addition to the well-know Caldecott and Newbery Awards, there will be a new award given this year. 2010 will mark the first year of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. The five finalists for this new award were announced this week. So, without further ado, I present to you the shortlist.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone

In the 1960’s NASA doctors decided to find out if women were capable of passing the grueling tests required to become an astronaut. Their work on the Mercury 13 project paved the way for female pilots and space commanders. You can find this book in the Children’s nonfiction collection.

Charles and Emma: the Darwin’s Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

Using a very scientific approach, Charles Darwin weighs the pros and cons of marriage to his strictly religious cousin. This biography examines how Darwin’s personal life affected his scientific work and how his scientific beliefs affected his marriage. This book can be found in Teen Biography.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose

Claudette Colvin was arrested and jailed at the age of 15 for refusing to giver her seat on the bus to a white woman. Colvin was a little-known player in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and a plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case against the bus company, Browder v. Gayle. You can find this book in Children’s Biography.

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous and Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum by Candace Fleming

The title says it all! This is illustrated biography gives readers and inside look at the exciting life of P.T Baranum, who joined the circus at the age of 60! This book will be coming soon to the Teen collection. You can place a hold on it now though.

And finally…

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker

Forensic archeologists excavate human remains from colonial sites and use their findings to learn more about life in colonial time. This book is available in Children’s Nonfiction.

The winner will be announce next month. Check out these fantastic nonfiction books soon and decide for yourself which deserves to win. I will let you know in January if you picked a winner.

˜Megan

Favorites of 2009 Continued

There were so many books from this year that I loved that this is just going to be an ongoing list for the remaining weeks of the year. So without further ado, I give you a few more of my favorite books of 2009.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  I loved the way Greek mythology comes alive, literally, in this series. There is plenty of action and humor. Read the series before the movie comes out in February 2010.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series. If someone forced me to choose only one favorite book of the year (thank goodness that’s not happening!) I think it would be this one. The entire series is full of edge-of-your-seat action, nasty villains, gorgeous heroes, a touch of romance, a hint of mystery, and even a bit of humor. Something for everyone!

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter is the first in a series featuring the girls of the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, aka, a spy school for girls! I enjoyed taking a break from the monster filled science fiction for some good old demon-free tough girl fun. This series is a lot of fun and I hope there are more to come in the new year.

Ok, that’s 3 more series for you to check out. See how nice I am? I tell you about a favorite book and you find a whole series to read! Stay tuned for more.

˜Megan

Favorites of 2009

Boy this time of year is busy! As the new year rapidly approaches it is time to reflect back on the year that is ending. Everyone is publishing their year in review articles and the best of the year lists. So, in the spirit of the season, I too will look back on the books I read in 2009 and pick my favorites.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia is a Southern Gothic ghost story and romance all in one. One of the things I loved about this story is that it is told from the point of view of a teenaged boy. This book has been nominated for an award given to first time authors. Good Luck!

Wake by Lisa McMann is the first in a three book series. The story is about a girl who gets drawn into other people’s dreams. At first she is helpless and trapped in these dreams, but gradually learns that she can control and manipulate the situation. These books are so exciting! The last book is coming out in early 2010.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I loved the first book and was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the second. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the sequel was even better than the first.

Ok, that was just a little taste of my favorites list. Stay tuned for more! I would love to hear which books made it onto your list.

˜Megan