Wildcard by Marie Lu

Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems--and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

In this explosive sequel to the New York Times bestselling Warcross, Marie Lu delivers an addictive finale that will hold you captive till the very last page.

 Why you should read this book:

• I finished Wildcard in two days.  If you know me, you know I am a slow reader.  Two days means I was enthralled (and also on winter break!)
• The ending surprised me.
• If you haven't read Warcross (Book 1) yet, read that first!
• I never thought I'd enjoy a book about gaming.  This series proved me wrong.
• This series would make a great movie.  I hope they decide to make them into one, or two!

Coming soon in our winter book order!
Find Wildcard in our library at: SCI-FI F LU

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away.

Why you should read this book:

• A magical, mysterious, fantasy with romance and adventure thrown in.
• Caraval is a best-seller and on a pick on the Teens Top Ten list this year.
• I stayed up late to finish this book.  It's one of my favorite new series of this year.
• It kept me guessing until the end.  And then...it still kept me guessing because it's a trilogy.  Book 2, Legendary, is on the way in our winter order and Book 3, Finale, comes out in May.

Find Caraval in our library at: FANTASY F GAR 

Warcross by Marie Lu

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.

Why you should read this book:

• If you are a gamer, you will find this book very interesting.
• It's on the YALSA Teen Top Ten List for this year- teens voted for Warcross to be on this list.
• Even though it is Sci-Fi/Dystopian, it seems like it could be a realistic future as gaming and virtual reality evolve.
• Warcross is the first of a two book series.  I am looking forward to reading the next one, Wildcard.  I hope it ends how I want it to. (No spoilers please! 😀)
• For me (not being a gamer) it was a slow start, but Warcross really hooked me in after a few chapter. Stick with it and you'll love it.

Find Warcross in our library at: SCI-FI F LU

Denton Little's Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin

This is the sequel to Denton Little's Deathdate.  Read my review for the first book here.

You only live once—unless you’re Denton Little!

Denton Little lives in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die. The good news: Denton has lived through his deathdate. Yay! The bad news: He’s being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die anytime. Huh. Cheating death isn’t quite as awesome as Denton would have thought. . . .

Lance Rubin’s debut novel, Denton Little’s Deathdate, showed readers just how funny and poignant imminent death could be. Now in this sequel, he takes on the big questions about life. How do we cope, knowing we could die at any time? Would you save someone from dying even if they were a horrible person? Is it wrong to kiss the girl your best friend is crushing on if she’s really into you instead? What if she’s wearing bacon lip gloss?

Why you should read this book:

• It is laugh-out-loud funny.
• Made me think (when I wasn't laughing) about what it would be like to know your death date.
• This is a YA book with high school boy situations and humor.
• The author, Lance Rubin, is an actor and also writes sketch comedy.  You can watch some video clips at his website: http://www.lancerubin.com/videos/

Find Denton Little's Still Not Dead in our library at: SCI-FI F RUB

Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling

Amazon.com

Drew grows up on a small farm, which I learned from Mr. Jobling was based off a fantasy version of the US.  (Previously, I had a European map in my mind!)
One evening he and his mother are attacked by a werecreature and for the first time, Drew changes and becomes a werewolf.  After running from home when his father returns and mistakenly believes he killed his mother, the first book in the series follows Drew's adventure through the kingdom as he discovers how to use his ability to transform and learns his rightful place as king of the werelords.  There are six books in the Wereworld series.  A great read!

Find the entire Wereworld series in our library at: FANTASY F JOB

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald

(Amazon.com)

Both my son and I recently finished Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald.  It was actually read several times in our house.  Once by my son, once by me after great reviews from him, and once as a read-aloud together.  This book left us both laughing about life in middle school as Charlie Joe Jackson tries to figure out how not to read anything...ever.  My son, who loves to read, liked the funny ideas on how to trick your parents into thinking you are reading.  He was concerned over the price of the bribe for getting Charlie's friend to read the book for him being raised to two ice creams.  My son read this book in a day and is now on to the second in the series.  I liked that this book was funny, easy to read, and high interest.  I will be recommending this book to other boys (and girls too!) in Grades 4-7.

Find Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading in our library at: HUMOR F GRE

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

(Amazon.com)

I've been walking by Dumplin' on the library shelf for awhile wondering if I should read it.  Then, I pre-ordered the upcoming sequel, Puddin', and wondered some more.  Finally, someone returned it to me in the library and I took the book home with me.
I am glad I did!  This book made me laugh and it made me cry.  I stayed up extra-late just to finish it.

A teaser from the Amazon.com blurb:

"Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin...With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . .  until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.  Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant"

Find Dumplin' in our library at: REALISTIC F MUR

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Image from: Amazon.com

The Heist Society series, which the first book is also titled, has been on my reading list since I read the Embassy Row trilogy also by Ally Carter.  I enjoyed the writing of that series and at the time, Embassy Row felt a bit like my expat life.

Heist Society, being about thieves, doesn't feel like my life (thank goodness!) but I still very much enjoyed the book.

Katerina has been a thief for a long as she can remember.  The book begins with the story of how she conned her way into a fancy private school in hopes of leaving the thieving life of her family behind.

But alas, that was not to be as her father is being accused of taking paintings from a dangerous mobster.  In order to save her father, she must assemble a team to find the paintings and steal them back from whoever stole them.

Part mystery and part crime with a little bit of a love interest thrown in, this was a fun read!

Find Heist Society in our library under the call number: MYSTERY F CAR

Classics in Graphic Novel Form

Check out these classic books rewritten in graphic novel format!  My son loves these books. They are great for students who are not yet ready to read the original work in its entirety, reluctant readers, or those students who shy away from "the classics."  We have these three in the library.  Find them in our graphic novel section.

741.5 HAL

741.5 EVE

741.5 MIL

(Image credits: Amazon.com)

The Totally Gross History of Ancient Egypt by Tracey Baptiste

(Image from: Amazon.com)

I love learning about ancient Egypt. The Totally Gross History of Ancient Egypt is a fun and easy read that taught me some new things:

1.  Did you know that bread used to wear down the teeth of ancient Egyptians because grinding wheat on stone meant bits of sand and stone got into the bread?

2.  Did you know if you had a tapeworm you could drink strained pomegranate root to paralyze the worm and pass it out in your poo?

We have a whole series of Totally Gross History books about many different ancient civilizations. Check them out and gross yourself out!

Find The Totally Gross History of Ancient Egypt in our library at: 932 BAP.

Beat the Band by Don Calame

(Image from Amazon.com)

Beat the Band is the second book in the Don Calame's series that began with Swim the Fly.

Another hilarious book by Don Calame that made me laugh out loud!  It's the beginning of tenth grade and Coop gets a semester-long project in health class about safe sex.

He's paired with "Hot Dog" Helen for the project and decides the only way to win back his reputation is to win the Battle of the Bands contest at school.

Unfortunately, none of his band members actually play an instrument.  "Will Coop regain his “cool” before it’s too late? Or will the forced one-on-one time with Helen teach him a lesson about social status he never saw coming?" (Amazon.com)

A very funny book that is great for middle and high school boys!  Find Beat the Band, and the rest of this series, in our library at: HUMOR F CAL.

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

(Image from Amazon.com)

This is my new favorite series!

Think a YA version of the Da Vinci Code...

I read all three books in the series this summer.  The third and final book was released in July and I went to Barnes and Nobel on release day and made them go find it in the back; it hadn't even been unpacked yet.  I have never done that before!

After years of moving from place to place with her mother Avery's remaining family has found her.  "It turns out her newfound family can shut down Prada when they want to shop in peace, and can just as easily order a bombing when they want to start a war." (Amazon.com). They are part of a worldwide secret society called the Circle, and believe Avery is the key to an ancient prophecy.


To unravel the mystery , Avery must follow a trail of clues around the world with two "keepers" who work for the Circle, Stellan and Jack. Can they keep the most powerful families in the world from starting World War 3?

Find all three books in the The Conspiracy of Us series in our library at: MYSTERY F HAL

The Selection by Kiera Cass

(Image from Amazon.com)

Over the summer, I read the first three books in The Selection series by Kiera Cass.

In this dystopian romance, thirty-five girls are chosen to enter The Selection for the opportunity to escape the caste system in what was formerly the United States. The girls live in a palace and compete in a reality show for the heart of Prince Maxon. 

America Singer did not want to be Selected because she's not interested in being a queen and it means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her.

And as the Amazon summary says so elequently: 

"Then America meets Prince Maxon—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."

If you liked The Hunger Games series, I think you'll like The Selection series.   Find the whole series in our library at: ROMANCE F CAS

There are five books in The Selection series.  I have only read the first three so far.  The last two in the series take place 20 years later.

Welcome back!

Welcome back to a new school year! 

What did you read this summer?  I read all three books in the The Conspiracy of Us trilogy by Maggie Hall and it is my new favorite!  More on this exciting trilogy soon... 

All three books are available in the library.  

Call Number: MYSTERY F HAL

Embassy Row Series by Ally Carter

(Image from: Amazon.com)

Image from: (Amazon.com)

Image from: (Amazon.com)

Embassy Row is Ally Carter's newest series.  I was drawn to the first book, All Fall Down, while living in Moscow.  Two embassy kids (one Russian, one American) in a fictional European town; the setting sounded a bit like the lives of our students, minus the murder mystery!

Grace lives with her Grandfather, a US Ambassador, on Embassy Row.  She is convinced her mother was murdered.  Her family is trying to convince her she's crazy.  Grace is convinced she will find her mother's killer and make him pay.

The first two books in this series follow Grace as she uncovers secret after secret.  The plot kept me guessing and is full of unexpected twists and turns. The third book?  I can't wait to read the conclusion to the Embassy Row series when it arrives to our library in August. This series will appeal to lovers of mystery and suspense with a little bit of glamour and social politics thrown into the mix.  Embassy Row makes for great summer reading!

Find the first two books, All Fall Down and See How They Run,  in our library: MYSTERY F CAR

Look for Book 3, Take the Key and Lock Her Up in August!

"Airhead" Series by Meg Cabot

I just finished reading the last two books in the Airhead series by Meg Cabot.  (See my post about the first book, Airhead, here.)

                 (Image from: Amazon.com)                                     (Image from: Amazon.com)

I loved this series!  I thought is was a perfect mix of sci-fi, mystery and romance.  Being Nikki continues the series about what life is like for Em Watts now that her brain has been transplanted into the body of a supermodel.  The mystery of her operation gets even more mysterious when she finds out Nikki's mother is missing.  Runaway concludes the series....all the mysteries will be solved and you know how I love happily every after endings!

A highly recommended trilogy.  Find the first two books, Airhead and Being Nikki in our library.  Runaway, the third book, will be coming to our library soon. I purchased it for myself in eBook format because I couldn't wait to see how the series ended!

Call number:  ROMANCE F CAB

"Secrets of My Hollywood Life" by Jen Calonita

(Image from: Amazon.com)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life was my other spring break read about the lives of famous people.  This is a great middle grade read and the author gives away many "secrets" about famous people throughout the book.  Jen Calonita would know as she used to be the editor of Teen People and a journalist for many other entertainment magazines.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life is about the glamorous life of teen star Kaitlin Burke.  However, Kaitlin is exhausted and wants to see what it would be like to be normal.  So she devises a top secret plan to blend in, but will it ruin her career?  Find out in the first of six books in this series!

Find Secrets of My Hollywood Life in our library: 

REALISTIC F CAL 

"Airhead" by Meg Cabot

(Image from: Amazon.com)

We just returned from April break and my reading list consisted of books about being famous.  I've had a few students ask for these types of books and I wanted to be able to recommend a few.  Plus, who doesn't like to read about the trials and fun of famous people?!

I picked up Airhead by Meg Cabot based on a Goodreads list for this topic and became hooked enough that I plan to read the next two in the series. Em Watts is your average tomboy.  One day, after a strange accident she ends up in the body of famous supermodel Nikki Howard.  How did this happen and what will Em do?  Can a former tomboy be a supermodel?  Read and find out!

Airhead is a bit sci-fi, a bit mystery and a bit romance.  It is classified under our romance fiction section, but I may move it once  I see how this series turns out because I think it appeals to a broader audience than just romance lovers!

Find Airhead in our library: ROMANCE F CAB

"Swim the Fly" by Don Calame

(Image from Amazon)

The adventures of Matt, Coop and Sean had me laughing out loud!  Their summer goal?  To see a real live naked girl.  This is a big challenge since none of them have even been on a date before. Matt's other goal?  Swim the 100-yard butterfly to impress a girl on the swim team.  Mr. D read this book in a weekend and thought it was as funny as I did.  A must read if you like hilarious books!

Find Swim the Fly in our library: HUMOR F CAL

"Heart of the Storm" by Michael Buckley

(Amazon.com)

I began reading the Undertow Trilogy by Michael Buckley when it was first released and was hooked.  I put myself on the wait list at my library back home for the final installment, Heart of the Storm, before it was even released.  Undertow is a dystopian trilogy about a teenager named Lyric Walker who observes the arrival of a race of sea creatures, the Alpha, on the beach near her home in Coney Island, NY.  Though the Alpha are initially considered the enemy and ostracized by society, it turns out there is something much worse in the water.  I loved this trilogy!  There is non-stop action, suspense, a bit of romance, and great parallels to be drawn between the storyline and current/past world events; an all around good read!

The entire Undertow Trilogy is coming to your library soon.  You can bet it will be on Mrs. Doyle's "Books I Loved" shelf!