Top Ten Tuesday-Like This? Try These!-9/29/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is all about read alikes for popular books and authors.

If you like John Green try these for all the feels:

If you like Ally Carter try these snarky, sassy heroines:

If you like James Dashner try these awesome science fiction books:

If you like John Flanagan try these:

If you miss Harry Potter try these magical books:

If you like Anna Dressed in Blood try these ghost stories:

If you like Cassandra Clare try these gorgeous fantasies:

 

If you like Cinder try these retellings:

If you like Sarah Dessen try these:

If you like The Hunger Games try these survival stories:

Happy Reading!

~Megan

 

 

 

 

Mondays with Megan-Celebrate Your Right to Read! 9/28/15

Happy Monday! It’s that time of year again, when we celebrate the right to read and reflect on the book that have been challenged and banned over the past year. According to the American Library Association’s Office For Intellectual Freedom the number one challenged book of 2014 was Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. You can find the rest of the Top Ten most frequently challenged books here. For even more information about why books are challenged be sure to check out these charts.

As a librarian I respect everyone’s right to choose what is best for themselves. If you are offended by something, that is fine because you don’t have to read it! That’s your right and that is awesome. But please don’t try to tell other people they can’t either. How about you just worry about you? Ok? Thanks! Now, let me step off my soapbox and tell you what I have been reading.

 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts. Be sure to stop by for more great reading suggestions.

Finished:

• A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis-♥♥♥♥. Grace Mae is banished to an insane asylum when her family discovers she is pregnant. The events that led to her being in this condition were unspeakable, and therefore, Grace stopped speaking. Her silence became her salvation and with the help of a doctor she escaped to Ohio. She and the doctor worked together to prove that the new idea of criminal psychology could help solve crimes. This haunting historical fiction has some great twists and turn. I loved the characters, especially the girls at the Ohio asylum. Watch for this new book from local Ohio author when it comes out October 6th!
• It’s a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt-♥♥♥♥. RJ wasn’t supposed to die that day, but when her soul is accidentally collected all hell breaks loose, so to speak, in the Afterlife. RJ demands to be sent back to life, but it’s not as simple as that. I will have a full review of this up soon! It’s a quick, fun read full of plenty of things to think about. Stay tuned. Or just trust me know, and add it to your reading list.

Current Audio:

I will be finished with both of these books in the next couple of days. I really like them both.

Currently Reading:

I am six books behind on my reading goal. I need to step up my games!

On Deck:

The Martian is “assigned” reading from a book club teen. I can’t wait to dig in to Stand Off and The Hero of Ages.

DNF:

I tried. I really tried.

TV binging:

…and this is why my reading is suffering! It’s time to grab a stack of graphic novels and binge on those!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Top Ten Tuesday-My Fall 2015 TBR List-9/22/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is our fall TBR list. I am notoriously bad at completing my seasonal TBR lists. I love making them, but then always seem to get distracted with other things. Such is life…

1. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray. I own this one and can’t believe I have not devoured it yet. I am saving it for a rainy afternoon in a coffee shop. The weather is just too nice for this book right now.

2. Winter by Marissa Meyer. There will be not delaying reading this when it is available. In fact, I will probably buy it.

3. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I am really excited to see how this book turned out. I loved the Simon Snow fan fiction in Fangirl!

4. Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. I love when we get a new series from Riordan!

5. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I have an ARC of this book, but I think I am actually going to wait for the audio book.

6. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. A patron has been telling me to read Terry Pratchett for ages. I am overwhelmed by Discworld, but he assures me that I can just jump in with this one. I am going to listen to the book on cd.

7. Fluke by Christopher Moore. This is more “assigned” reading by the very same person! I really love this part of my job. It’s a fun relationship I have with this patron. He agrees to take my recommendations if I agree to take his. I do love Christopher Moore, and this is one of the very few of his that I haven’t read.

8. Tournament at Gorlan by John Flanagan. HALT AND CROWLEY BECOMING RANGERS YES I WANT THIS RIGHT NOW I AM SO EXCITED.

9. Stand-Off by Andrew Smith. I am waiting until I have a day to read this is one sitting, like I read Winger a few years ago. LOVE.

10. Graphic Novels Galore! I can’t wait to get caught up on some of my favorite series!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays with Megan-Teen Think Tank #2 9/20/15

Last week I had the great privilege of attending my second Teen Think Tank conference. This is an amazing group of Ohio Teen Librarians who get together twice a year to talk about teen services. It’s a day of learning, connecting, sharing, and crafting and it is such a valuable resource. I am really excited to try some of the Gross Games I learned about with my teens. I was inspired to add some technology activities to my after school repertoire and I picked up a couple of great craft ideas. One of the most informative presentations was about serving LGBTQ+ teens. I think I have a pretty solid collection of materials but I learned of a few more that I need to add. I myself presented a segment on feed teens on a budget. Basically a griddle and instant pancake mix will turn you into a hero among the teens. I add mini chocolate chips, eliminating the need for syrup and silverware! I have also made cheese quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches on my griddle, all at a fraction of the cost of bags of chips and bottles of pop. In fact, I have completely eliminated sugary beverages from all my programs. It’s all water, all the time and NO ONE has complained! Try it; it can’t hurt!

 It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Teach Mentor Texts. Be sure to stop over for more great reading suggestions!

Finished:

• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh-♥♥♥♥♥. The land of Khorasan is ruled by a monster. The young king takes a new bride each night and each morning a silk rope is wrapped around her neck. Sharhzad, who lost her best friend to this man, is out for revenge. She volunteers to be his next wife with the intention of killing him herself. In order to exact her revenge she needs to survive past dawn, so she begins to tell him a story, always leaving the next part for another night. I loved this one! Lovely storytelling, a gorgeous setting, and diverse characters. I am looking forward to listening to the second book.
• Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore-♥♥♥♥♥. In this sequel to A Dirty Job, Moore picks up where he left off. The souls of San Fransisco are not being collected. The old crew is back in action with the help of a Golden Gate Bridge painter, who may be the key to figuring out who is stealing souls. Lewd, crude, and ridiculously funny. Not for the young reader, but I did just recommend the duology to one of my high school readers.
• You’re Never Weird on the Internet (almost) by Felicia Day-♥♥♥♥♥. Felicia Day is known in many circles at the Queen of the Nerds. In her memoir she talks at length about her love of gaming, her internet show The Guild, and her health issues. She reads the audiobook and it is truly delightful. This is a must read for fan, but people not familiar with her work can still appreciate her insight.

Current Audio:

• Player of Games by Iain M. Banks. Occasionally I like to get recommendations from my teen readers. I have my book club kids write down two titles they think I should read and then I randomly select 1-2. This was my most recent pick. It’s super weird and the person who recommended it hasn’t read it himself. He just thought it would be something I like. At first I was teeny bit miffed (I thought you wanted me to read it so we could talk about it!) but then I realize I do that to them ALL THE TIME. Turnabout is fair play.
• Lockwood & Co. 3: The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud. This series is great on audio and it is almost the perfect time of year for them! Teenage ghost hunters!

Currently Reading: I have been in a MAJOR reading slump.

• A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis. I have been reading this one forever. It’s really good and I am enjoying it, I just have no time for digital ARCs right now. I should stop requesting them for a while!
• Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Leila Sales. I love this author, so I hope this book with help me with my reading mojo!

On Deck:

What an awesome way to start a Monday! This lovely book arrived in the mail for me! The cover blurb is by Mike Mullin, author of the Ashfall Trilogy (LOVED that series!) and he says it is “A snarky joyride of a book with a deep moral core; long after you’ve finished laughing you’ll still be thinking about RJ’s journey and perhaps asking yourself: what defines a life well lived?”

Um, yes, please!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday-Top Ten Adult Books With Teen Appeal-9/15/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish is a Freebie topic. Blogger’s choice. This year I made a conscious decision to read more of the American Library Association’s Alex Award winners for 2015. The Alex Award is given to adult books with strong teen appeal. I haven’t read the entire list yet and probably won’t. Some of them really do not appeal to me. But I digress.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I have finished the first two books of this series and think it is the perfect series for readers not quite ready for Game of Thrones. It’s like a PG rated GoT, in fact. Magic, political intrigue, betrayals, murder…all the good stuff without all the sexy sex and brutality.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. Ok, admittedly private investigator Isabel Spellman is a TERRIBLE role model, but she comes to realize this because of her teenaged sister. For the teen looking for something funny and a little bit dysfunctional.

Lock In by John Scalzi. This is on the Alex list for 2015 and one of my favorites this year. Science fiction, murder mystery, robots. It’s awesome.

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence. This is a past Alex winner. It’s a comical and heartbreaking coming of age story. I can’t really do it justice. Just read it. Be prepared to laugh and cry and love it.

Ready Player One and Armada by Ernest Cline. These two books are perfect for your science fiction fans. One is all about virtual reality and 80’s video games (Ready Player One) and the other is about a gamers chosen to save the world because of their video game skill. Tons of fun!

Uprooted by Naomi Novik. This is epic fantasy. A powerful sorcerer known as the Dragon protects a village from the dark magic of the woods. In return the village sacrifices a young woman to him every ten years. These women never return home. That is, until The Dragon takes Agnieszka. A little romance, a lot of creepy evil forest and plenty of sass and magic.

So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. This nonfiction book about the phenomenon of public shaming in the age of social media should be required reading for high school students! A chilling look at how social media has the potential to run people.

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. This is another nonfiction title and it reads like fiction. It is a terrify look at the origin of the Ebola virus. Super scary and a bit timely.

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh. In this graphic novel blogger Allie Brosh lets readers into her life. She chronicles her struggles with depression as well as her hilarious struggles with a really stupid dog.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays With Megan 9/14/15

Hi All! It’s a little late in the day and I have some Netflix to binge, so this will be a quick check-in.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.

Finished:

    

• The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson-♥♥♥♥♥. I am hooked on this series. I can’t wait to start book 3.
• In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware-♥♥♥♥♥. A fast-paced psychological thriller. Solid debut.
• Con Academy by Joe Schreiber-♥♥♥♥. One of many new YA books with con artists. The summer trend?
• Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne-♥♥♥♥♥. Another amazing suspense/thriller. Creepy twins for the win.
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson-♥♥♥♥. Classic horror. I am ready for Halloween!

Current Audio:

 

Currently Reading:

 

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Waiting on Wednesday-The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan-9/9/15

It’s been ages since I have posted a Waiting on Wednesday post! This weekly meme is hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming new releases that we just can’t wait to get our hands on!

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard #1) by Rick Riordan
October 6, 2015

From Goodreads.com

“Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god.

The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . . ”

Fall is always better with a new Rick Riordan book! I am so excited to get to know a new set of demigods.

 

After Alice by Gregory Maguire
October 27, 2015

From Goodreads.com

“From the multi-million-copy bestselling author of Wicked comes a magical new twist on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis’s Carroll’s beloved classic

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice’s disappearance?

In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll’s enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice’s mentioned briefly in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is After Alice.”

I love retellings and reimaginings and I have been on a Wonderland kick for a while now. Can’t wait!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Top Ten Tuesday-Ten Series I Have Yet to Finish! 9/8/15

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, has me once again reviewing my TBR list. I thought I was pretty much caught up on all my series, but oh, how wrong I was!

1. Raging Star, (The Dust Lands #3) by Moira Young. I am not sure why I haven’t finished this series.

2. The World Forgot (The Ever-Expanding Universe #3) by Martin Leicht. I really want to finish this series. I should grab it; I could use a good laugh.

3. The Eye of Zoltar (The Chronicles of Kazam #3) by Jasper Fforde. The only reason I have not finished this series is because I really, really want to listen to book three and it’s just not available. Sigh.

4. The Invaders (The Brotherband Chronicles #2) by John Flanagan. I don’t think I ever fully recovered from finishing The Ranger’s Apprentice series.

5. Rivals in the City (The Agency #4) by Y.S. Lee. I suppose I just haven’t been in the mood for this one. I am have been eye-ball deep in fantasy.

6. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare. I am not sure I have it in me to finish this series. I was already super annoyed that she stretched a trilogy into six books. This last book is enormous and I just don’t know if I even care. Also, I can’t really remember what happened in book five.

7. The Dying of the Light (Skulduggery Pleasant #9) by Derek Landy. I haven’t finished this series BECAUSE NO LIBRARY IN THE STATE OF OHIO OWNS THIS IRISH IMPORT. IT IS DRIVING ME INSANE AND I AM GETTING READY TO BUY THE WHOLE DARNED SERIES FOR MYSELF. I am sorry to yell. I am just a bit worked up about this situation.

8. Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard. This is another one that I want to listen to, but it’s not available.

9. Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson. Ok, this one is really just to complete the list. I am plowing through this series. I have two audiobooks checked out right now that have holds, so I will listen to them before diving back into this series. I love it.

10. In a Handful of Dust (Not a Drop to Drink #2) by Mindy McGinnis. This one has fallen victim to I-own-it-so-it-is-not-a-priority-syndrome.

I have some work to do!

Happy Reading!

~Megan

 

Mondays with Megan-School is in Session and I am Back on the Blog! 8/31/15

Hello and Happy Monday! As you may have noticed my two weeks of vacation turned into three weeks of not blogging. Now that school has started again and I have packed my weekly schedule with tons of after school programs this seems like the *perfect* time to turn some attention to my neglected blog. *Sigh*

I am super excited about all the new after school programs we are offering this year. On Tuesdays I will be hosting an open lab in our state of the art computer training center. The large screen computers are perfect for playing games and Minecraft! This Wednesday will be the first meeting of the Library Literati, a new group for fans of all things bookish. Thursdays will be the Teen Scene. I’ll be flipping pancakes and have a casual activity available each week. This week’s activity will be Lego building challenges. No need to register, just stop in after school!

I had an amazing trip out west to visit my sister and her family (including my adorable new nephew). I woke up every morning to mama cows yelling outside the windows. We camped in Custer National Forest, did a day trip to Yellowstone, and spend many hot afternoons sitting in the creek on the farm. It was so relaxing and busy at the same time. I hardly did any reading, which was fine, but it turned into a slump when I returned home. In three weeks I have only finished six books and three of them were audiobooks!

Finished:

• Unhinged by A.G. Howard- ♥♥♥. This second book in the Splintered trilogy has Alyssa trying to deal with Morpheus on her own turf. Wonderland is in trouble, but if Alyssa returns she will be in danger. If she stays Jeb and her family will be in danger. I am enjoying this series, but was disappointed to find that the last book is not available on audio. I suppose I will have to use my eyes to find out how things end!
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling-♥♥♥♥♥. Three of my nephews are finally old enough to be reading Harry Potter for the first time! I am loving revisiting these beloved books.
• Among the Ten Thousand Things by Julia Pierpont-♥♥♥♥. This debut novel tells the story of a family falling apart. Jack and Deb’s marriage is already rocky when an anonymous package arrives detailing all of Jack’s dirty little secrets. To make matters worse, his children were the first to discover the box. The cover quote saying it’s the funniest book ever is totally misleading. This one is not for the young reader.
• Rocket Girl by Brandon Monclare-♥♥♥. This is the first volume of a new graphic novel series featuring a teen cop from the future who is sent back in time to 1986 to prevent a future disaster. The time line is a little wonky and hard to get used to, but the gadgets are cool and the characters are interesting. I will watching for more!
• Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson-♥♥♥♥♥. I finally took the plunge and started a new fantasy series. In a world covered with ash and ruled by an immortal god known as the Lord Ruler, one man has made it his life’s mission to destroy the final empire. At his side is a band of rebels and a street urchin who is unaware of the powers she possesses. This is an exciting opener to the series. Strong world building, well-developed characters, political intrigue, and a unique take on magic. In the world of the final empire magic is derived from metals. I dove into book two this morning!

Current Audio:

• The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson. I decided to dive right into book two of The Final Empire series.
• The Diviners by Libba Bray. I am rereading (first time listening) in preparation for Lair of Dreams.

Currently Reading:

• Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud.
• A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

DNF:

• The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I don’t know why I didn’t click with this one. I gave up when it took a turn towards The Selection.

Happy Reading!

~Megan

Mondays with Megan-The End of Summer Reading-8/3/15

Hi All! Today was the drawing for the last summer reading basket. I can’t believe how fast that went! I had a record number of participants-207 teens. They read a combined 399 books and magazines. Now the back-to-school countdown begins. I am actually pretty excited about all the things I have planned for fall. You can find out all the plans at the library’s Back to School Breakfast Bar. We’ll have pancakes and waffles and all sorts of toppings. We’ll play games and talk about all the fun upcoming library programs.

I got a lot of reading/listening in last week, which is good because this week I am busy with G.I.S.H.W.E.S and next week I am on vacation! Check out what I’ve read:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.

Finished:

• A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman-♥♥♥♥♥. Ove (pronounces Oova) is a gruff and grouchy man, but behind his curmudgeonly exterior is a sweet and sad story. His story slowly unfolds when new neighbors move in next door and disrupt is strict and orderly routine. I loved this book so, so, much. It’s sweet and quirky and sad. I laughed, I cried, and then started recommending it to anyone who would listen.
• The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black-♥♥♥♥. In the town of Fairfold humans and fairies coexist, making the town a tourist stop. The main attraction is the horned boy locked in endless sleep in a glass coffin. Hazel and her brother Ben have always loved the boy. When he disappears, a strange and deadly chain of events is set into motion. I am not usually a fan of fae stories, but Holly Black is a master.
• Fables vol. 21, Happily Ever After by Bill Willingham-♥♥♥♥. This is the penultimate volume of the series and story lines are getting wrapped up. Don’t worry, things aren’t wrapping up in a nice tidy manner! Things are pretty brutal and grim and the stage is set for one last epic battle.
• These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly-♥♥♥♥. It’s the Gilded Age in New York City and Josephine Montford is a young aristocrat destined to make a good match for marriage, when her father dies from an accidental gunshot. With his death, Jo’s world begins to crumble. With the help of a dashing reporter and a medical student who works at the morgue, Jo sets out on a dangerous path to discover the truth behind her father’s death. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book, which is due out in October. I really enjoyed the ending, but my one complaint is that fact that this book is really long. Unnecessarily long. It kind of dragged in the middle.
• Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson-♥♥♥♥. Another totally weird graphic novel! Five best friends at camp keep stumbling upon strange things in the woods-strange three-eyed foxes, yetis guarding a tower, and a weird neighboring boys camp. Will the Lumberjane scouts figure out what in the world is going on? You won’t find out in this first volume, but you’ll want to know!

Current Audio:

Currently Reading:

Happy Reading!

~Megan