New Books for January!

Check out these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library:


Deadly by Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars #14): In Rosewood, news vans lurk outside gated drives and FBI agents are knocking on every mansion door--and it's all because four very pretty liars simply don't know how to be good.  Spencer, Hanna, Emily, and Aria have been keeping killer secrets for an entire year--things that could land them in jail if A ever told.  And now A has.  One by one, the girls' worst deeds come out, and their worlds come crashing down around them.  Spencer gets kicked out of Princeton.  Hanna gets kicked out of her dad's campaign--and his heart.  Emily gets kicked to the curb.  And Aria may get kicked out of the country.  The girls are the lowest they've ever been. They've lost everything.  But A's not done yet.  If A's deadly plan succeeds, the liars will have told their last lie...  New Teen Fiction Shepard


The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson:  For the past five years, Hayley Kincaid and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq.  Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school.  Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, and even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.  Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him down? New Teen Fiction Anderson


Invasion by Walter Dean Myers: Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future: one white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever.  It's May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. I n small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear.  When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight.  New Teen Fiction Myers


Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #3):  In the final book of the Under the Never Sky trilogy, Aria and Perry struggle to reconcile their people, the Dwellers and Outsiders, united only in their hatred of their desperate situation. Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities.  Then Roar arrives in a grief-stricken fury, endangering all with his need for revenge.  Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble an unlikely team for an impossible rescue mission.  Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival--he's also their friend.  And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.  New Teen Fiction Rossi


The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente (Fairyland #3):  Now 14, September makes her way back to Fairyland and discovers a land so plagued by rules and regulations that she must receive an official profession--she’s named “royal scofflaw, professional revolutionary, and criminal of the realm”--prior to entering.  But before she can start adventuring, she’s tasked with delivering a package to the moon, which has begun to shudder and shake with moonquakes because a terrible yeti is trying to break it to pieces.  September and her friends travel the moon, meet their fates, encounter older and younger versions of themselves, and wonder what, exactly, makes them who they are—all while trying to find the speedy yeti and stop him from his destructive plans. New Teen Fiction Valente


Hollow City by Ransom Riggs: In this follow-up to bestseller Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, having narrowly escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world.  Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.  Complete with dozens of newly discovered (and thoroughly mesmerizing) vintage photographs. New Teen Fiction Riggs


Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz (Heart of Dread #1):  Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature--freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.  At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out.  Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.  But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? New Teen Fiction Cruz 
 

New York Times Best Young Adult Books of 2013

Check out these notable books of 2013!

Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang:  In these companion graphic novels, Yang, a Michael L. Printz Award winner, tackles the complicated history of China’s Boxer Rebellion, using characters with opposing perspectives to explore the era’s politics and religion.    New Teen Fiction Yang

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell:  A misfit girl from an abusive home and a Korean-American boy form a happy bond over music and comics on the school bus in this novel, which John Green said “reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”   New Teen Fiction Rowell    

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell:  In her second Y.A. novel published this year, Rowell cleverly weaves the story of an introverted girl’s freshman year in college--and first romance--with the “Harry Potter”-like fan-fiction she writes in her spare time.   New Teen Fiction Rowell

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey: Yancey’s wildly entertaining novel, in which aliens come to Earth, manages the trick of appealing to teens and adults alike.   New Teen Fiction Yancey

Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff:  Mila, a young Londoner with an uncanny gift for empathy, accompanies her father to upstate New York to search for his best friend. Questions of honesty and trust are central to this novel, a ­National Book Award finalist.  Coming soon!*

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson:  A boy longs to join a magical group defending humanity against merciless “chalklings” in this fantasy, set in an alternate version of ­America.   New Teen Fiction Sanderson

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein:   In this sequel to the highly-praised Code Name Verity, Rose, 18, an American transport pilot and aspiring poet, struggles to survive in a women’s concentration camp after her plane is grounded in World War II-era Germany.  Coming soon!*

*available through interlibraryloan

       

 

 

Banned Books Week--Celebrate Your Freedom to Read!

What is Banned Books Week? 

Throughout history (and continuing today), schools and libraries have banned or received requests to ban books from their shelves.  The American Library Association (ALA) promotes the freedom to express one's opinions, even if they might be considered unpopular.  Below are some of the classics that have been banned or challenged:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie--Teen Fiction Alexie

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher--Teen Fiction Asher

Are You There God?  It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume--Juvenile Fiction Blume

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky--Teen Fiction Chbosky

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins--Teen Fiction Collins

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney--Teen Fiction Cooney

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee--Adult Fiction Lee

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle--Juvenile Fiction L'Engle

The Giver by Lois Lowry--Juvenile Fiction Lowry

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer--Teen Fiction Meyer

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling--Juvenile Fiction Rowling

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger--Adult Fiction Salinger

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck--Adult Fiction Steinbeck

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain--Adult Fiction Twain

Celebrate your freedom to read by checking out a banned or challenged book!*  You can read more about Banned Books Week here. 

*Riverdale Public Library recognizes that not all books are appropriate for all ages or reading levels.  It is the library's recommendation that parents and guardians review books before permitting teens to read them. 

New Books for August!

Look for these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!

Going Vintage by Lindsay Leavitt:  When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her online, she swears off boys.  She also swears off modern technology.  Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and complete her grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous.  But the list is trickier than it looks.  And obviously finding a steady is out...no matter how handsome Jeremy's cousin, Oliver, is.  But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow.  New Fiction Leavitt



Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block:  The earth shakes, a wall of water comes, and everyone Penelope loves disappears, leaving her alone.  She can see nothing but ruins around her pink house by the sea in Los Angeles. Her family was swept away by the water.  Her father had warned of impending danger, and though her mother thought he was paranoid, his emergency provisions keep Pen alive.  Weeks later, men break into her house, but Pen escapes with their van.  She sets off on an Odyssey-like journey in search of her family.  On the way, she encounters giants, sirens, a witch, a girl who may be magical, and companions to aid her in her quest. Through flashbacks, she reveals that she had been struggling with feelings for one of her closest girlfriends. Now, as she, Hex, Ez, and Ash speed toward Las Vegas, Pen finds strength she's never known and love she didn't expect.  New Fiction Block


September Girls by Bennett Madison:  Sam is spending the summer in a beach town filled with beautiful blond girls who all seem inexplicably attracted to him.  But that’s not the only reason why he thinks the girls are strange.  They only wear flats because heels make their feet bleed.  They never go swimming in the water.  And they all want something from him.  Sam finds himself in an unexpected summer romance when he falls for one of the girls, DeeDee.  But as they get closer, she pulls away without explanation.  Sam knows that if he is going to win her back, he’ll have to learn the girls’ secret.  New Fiction Madison



The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick:  Edward picks up what he thinks is a rock. He doesn’t know it is a sleeping Time Fetch—and touching it will release its foragers too soon and alter the entire fabric of time and space. Soon the bell rings to end class just as it has begun. Buses race down streets, too far behind schedule to stop for passengers. Buildings and sidewalks begin to disappear as the whole fabric of the universe starts to unravel. To try to stop the foragers, Edward must depend on the help of his classmates Feenix, Danton, and Brigit—whether he likes it or not. They all have touched the Fetch, and it has drawn them together in a strange and thrilling adventure. The boundaries between worlds and dimensions are blurred, and places and creatures on the other side are much like the ones they’ve always known—but slightly twisted, a little darker, and much more dangerous.  New Fiction Herrick


Twerp by Mark Goldblatt: Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.  New Fiction Goldblatt



Unnatural Creatures: Stories Selected by Neil Gaiman: A collection of short stories about the fantastical things that exist only in our minds—collected and introduced by bestselling author Neil Gaiman. The sixteen stories gathered by Gaiman range from whimsical to terrifying, and the magical creatures range from werewolves to sunbirds to beings never before classified. E. Nesbit, Diana Wynne Jones, Gahan Wilson, and other literary luminaries contribute to the anthology. New Fiction Gaiman





The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore (The Lorien Legacies #4): In the fourth book of the Lorien saga, the Garde are finally reunited, but do they have what it takes to win the war against the Mogadorians?   John Smith—Number Four—thought that things would change once the Garde found one another. They would stop running. They would fight the Mogadorians. And they would win.  But he was wrong. After facing off with the Mogadorian ruler and almost being annihilated, the Garde know they are drastically unprepared and hopelessly outgunned. Now they're hiding out in Nine's Chicago penthouse, trying to figure out their next move.  The six of them are powerful, but they're not strong enough yet to take on an entire army—even with the return of an old ally. To defeat their enemy, the Garde must master their Legacies and learn to work together as a team. More important, they'll have to discover the truth about the Elders and their plan for the Loric survivors.  And when the Garde receive a sign from Number Five—a crop circle in the shape of a Loric symbol—they know they are so close to being reunited. But could it be a trap? Time is running out, and the only thing they know for certain is that they have to get to Five before it's too late.  The Garde may have lost battles, but they will not lose this war.  Lorien will rise again.  New Fiction Lore

July Teen Book Club/City of Ember

It's not too late to sign up for July's Teen Book Club!  This month we're reading City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.

There is no light in the City of Ember, but for 250 years, there has been plenty of everything in the vast storerooms.  But now there are more and more empty shelves--and more and more times when the lights flicker and go out, leaving them in terrifying blackness for long minutes.  What will happen when the generator finally fails?  Twelve-year-olds Doon and Lina seem to be the only ones who are worried, and they begin a frightening and dangerous trek to a city of light of which they have only dreamed.

Come enjoy a pizza party and a chance to discuss what you  liked (didn't like) about City of Ember on Wed. July 17 from 6-7 p.m.  Pick up your free copy of the book at the Circulation Desk.

Registration is required.  You can register in person, at 973-835-5044, at riverdalelibrarykids@nac.net, or online by clicking here. 

New Books for July!

Look for these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!


Starstruck by Rachel Shukert:  Every week they arrive in Los Angeles--beautiful and talented young hopefuls who dream of becoming stars.  It's all Margaret Frobisher has ever wanted—and when she's discovered by a powerful agent, she can barely believe her luck.  She's more than ready to escape her snobby private school and conservative family for a chance to light up the silver screen.  The competition is fierce at Olympus Studios and Margaret—now Margo—is chasing her Hollywood dreams alongside girls like Gabby Preston, who at 16 is already a grizzled show-biz veteran caught between the studio and the ravenous ambition of her ruthless mother, and sultry Amanda Farraday, who seems to have it all--ambition, glamour...and dirty secrets.  Missing from the pack is Diana Chesterfield, the beautiful actress who mysteriously disappeared, and there are whispers that Diana's boyfriend—Margo's new co-star—may have had something to do with it. Margo quickly learns that fame comes with a price, and that nothing is what it seems.   New Teen Fiction Shukert





 Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff:  Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about.  He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long.  Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes."  Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target.  But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change.  The mayor's daughter is unlike anyone he's ever met and the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching.  Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.  New Teen Fiction Zadoff


The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata:  Summer knows that kouun means “good luck” in Japanese, and this year her family has none of it. Just when she thinks nothing else can possibly go wrong, an emergency whisks her parents away to Japan—right before harvest season. Summer and her little brother, Jaz, are left in the care of their grandparents, who come out of retirement in order to harvest wheat and help pay the bills.  The thing about Obaachan and Jiichan is that they are old-fashioned and demanding, and between helping Obaachan cook for the workers, covering for her when her back pain worsens, and worrying about her lonely little brother, Summer just barely has time to notice the attentions of their boss’s cute son. But notice she does, and what begins as a welcome distraction from the hard work soon turns into a mess of its own. Having thoroughly disappointed her grandmother, Summer figures the bad luck must be finished—but then it gets worse. And when that happens, Summer has to figure out how to change it herself, even if it means further displeasing Obaachan. Because it might be the only way to save her family.  New Teen Fiction Kadohata


In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters:  In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?
Featuring haunting archival early-20th century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.  New Teen Fiction Winters


Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg:  Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls: the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys.  And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara--part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).  Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.  The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game--and she's in it to win it.  New Teen Fiction Eulberg 


Theodore Boone: The Activist by John Grisham (Theodore Boone series, #4):  Theodore Boone is back, and he’s facing his most dangerous case yet. As Strattenburg sits divided over a hot political and environmental issue, Theo finds himself in the middle of the battle. When he uncovers corruption beneath the surface, Theo will confront bigger risks than ever to himself and those he loves. But even face-to-face with danger, Theodore Boone will do whatever it takes to stand up for what’s right.   New Teen Fiction Grisham




 Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill by James Patterson (Middle School series #5): Rafe Khatchadorian is ready for a fun summer at camp--until he finds out it's a summer school camp! Luckily, Rafe easily makes friends with his troublemaking cabin mates and bunkmate, a boy nicknamed Booger-Eater, who puts up with endless teasing from the other kids. Rafe soon realizes there's more to a person than a nickname, though, and Booger-Eater might be the kind of friend you want on your side when the boys from the Cool Cabin attack.  New Teen Fiction Patterson

Awaken by Meg Cabot (Abandon series #3):  Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she'd be forced to live forever in the one place she's always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy  she loves.  But now her happiness--and safety--are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: he revived a human soul.  If the balance between life and death isn't fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce's home back on earth will be wiped away.  And there's only one way to restore order.  Someone has to die.  New Teen Fiction Cabot

June Teen Book Club/Gregor the Overlander

Need to read three books for required summer reading?  Why not read one with a group? 

In keeping with our summer theme "Beneath the Surface," this month we'll be reading Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.  One summer day, 11-year-old Gregor and his 2-year-old sister fall through a vent in their New York City home into an amazing underground world.  Among the giant humans who live there are scary and warlike bats, cockroaches, spiders, and rats.  Gregor just wants to go home, but a prophecy hints that he may be the "overlander" destined to save the humans from the vicious rodents.  He is reluctant until he learns that his father, who disappeared a few years before, is a prisoner of the rats.  Gregor the Overlander is the first in an exciting, adventure-filled series from the author of The Hunger Games!

Join us for pizza and a fun discussion on Wed. June 19 from 6-7 p.m.  Registration is required.  You can register in person, by phone at 973-835-5044, by email at riverdalelibrarykids@nac.net, or online by clicking here. 

New Books for June!

Check out these new books coming to Riverdale Public Library soon!



The More and More by Sarah Dessen:  During her last summer at home before leaving for college, Emaline begins a whirlwind romance with Theo, an assistant documentary filmmaker who is in town to make a movie.  New Teen Fiction Dessen




Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renee Russell:  In the sixth book of the popular series, middle-school drama queen Nikki Maxwell worries about asking a boy to her school's "sweetheart dance."  New Teen Fiction Russell







Doll Bones by Holly Black: Zach, Alice, and Poppy, friends from a Pennsylvania middle school who have long enjoyed acting out imaginary adventures with dolls and action figures, embark on a real-life quest to Ohio to bury a doll made from the ashes of a dead girl.  New Teen Fiction Black 




The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani:  Sophie knows she'll earn top marks at the School for Good and join the ranks of past students like Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Snow White.  Meanwhile, Agatha seems a natural fit for the villains in the School for Evil.  The two girls soon find their fortunes reversed—Sophie's dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School for Good, thrust among handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.  But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are...?  New Teen Fiction Chainani




The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson: As Wild Chalklings threaten the American Isles and Rithmatists are humanity's only defense, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students learn the magical art that he would do anything to practice.  New Teen Fiction Sanderson



Crushed by Sara Shepard: In the 13th installment of the Pretty Little Liars series, Hanna, Spencer, Emily, and Aria are on a different kind of hunt: they're looking for A...Hanna puts her campaign for prom queen on the back burner to volunteer at a burn clinic, where one of A's victims is recovering. Emily digs into Ali's past at the psychiatric hospital with some very crazy consequences. Spencer contacts an amateur private eye to help her stalk her stalker. But when their sessions get a little too private, they may forget to keep their eyes on A. And Aria's worried that A is even closer than she thought. When her dark secret from Iceland comes to light, she discovers that maybe, just maybe, the one person she's been trying to hide the truth from has known all along. New Teen Fiction Shepard



The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey:  In this best-seller, Cassie Sullivan, the survivor of an alien invasion, must rescue her young brother from the enemy with help from a boy who may be one of them.  New Teen Fiction Yancey

Garden State Book Awards

The winners of the 2013 Garden State Book Awards were recently announced.  Check them out this summer!


For Grades 6-8

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan:  In book one of the exciting Heroes of Olympus series, Jason, Piper, and Leo--three students from a school for "bad kids"--find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.  Teen Fiction Riordan




For Grades 9-12

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver:  After she dies in a car crash, teenage Samantha relives the day of her death over and over again until, on the seventh day, she finally discovers a way to save herself.  Teen Fiction Oliver 







Teen Non-Fiction

Smile by Raina Telgemeier:  From sixth grade through tenth, Raina copes with a variety of dental problems that affect her appearance and how she feels about herself.  A funny and heartfelt graphic novel/memoir.  Available through interlibraryloan

New Books for May!

Check out these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen (The Ascendance Trilogy #2):  Just weeks after Jaron takes the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation.  Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya.  Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again?  Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?  The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason, murder, and thrills!  New Teen Fiction Nielsen


The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr:  Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist.  The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.  And that was all before she turned 14.  Now at 16, it's over.  A death and a betrayal led her to walk away.  That leaves her talented 10-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the  weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations.  Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano--on her own terms.  But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play for just yourself?  National Book Award finalist Zarr takes readers inside one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself.  New Teen Fiction Zarr

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The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson:  In futuristic Brazil, the lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with technology.  In the midst of this vibrant metropilis, June Costas creates art that's sure to maker her legendary.  But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him, but June sees more to Enki--she sees a fellow artist.  Together June and Enki will stage explosive dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget.  They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government's strict limits on new technology, and June will fall deeply, unfortnately in love with Enki.  Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.  A heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic world, this fier ynovel will leave your eager for more.  New Teen Fiction Johnson

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Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan:  From two bestselling YA authors comes the magical story of a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him.  Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way.  Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you.  So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled.  It’s easy to blend in there.  Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him.  And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses.  Once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.  New Teen Fiction Cremer


I Represent Sean Rosen by Jeff Baron:  Sean Rosen knows what he wants.  A ten-million dollar  deal with a big Hollywood studio. The only problem is, he doesn't know a single person in show business.  He and his mom and his dad live far away from Los Angeles or New York.  Figuring it out as he goes and using only his laptop and phone, Sean makes amazing progress in his quest, which no one else has a clue about.  Funny, confident, and clever, Sean Rosen will win you over.  New Teen Fiction Baron



The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer (W.A.R.P. series #1): Riley, a teenage orphan in London is apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims' dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI's Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (W.A.R.P.).  Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern-day London, followed closely by Garrick.  In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a 19-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover operation. Together, Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole.  Garrick is now not only evil, but also possesses all of the scientist's knowledge.  He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie's possession to make his way back to Victorian London, where he can literally change the world. From the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl. 

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Peanut by Ayun Halliday & Paul Hoppe:  Sadie has the perfect plan to snag some friends when she transfers to Plainfield High—pretend to have a peanut allergy.  But what happens when you have to hand in that student health form your unsuspecting mom was supposed to fill out?  And what if your new friends want to come over and your mom serves them snacks?  (Peanut butter sandwich, anyone?)  And then there's the bake sale, when your teacher thinks you ate a brownie with peanuts. This acclaimed graphic novel shows the humor in trying to fit in.  New Teen Fiction Halliday

Top Ten Historical Fiction for Teens

Love reading about the past?  Here are the top ten historical fiction books for teens, from Booklist.

Sophia's War: A Tale of Revolution by Avi: In Avi's intriguing novel based closely on historical events, 12-year-old Sophia, who is living in British-occupied New York City in 1776, becomes a spy who helps alert American forces to Benedict Arnold's treachery.  Juvenile Fiction Avi
 
The Diviners by Libba Bray:  Bray dives into the Roaring Twenties and mixes a little bit of murder, a little bit of the occult, and a whole lot of fun in this novel that's focused on a 17-year-old New York City flapper.  New Teen Fiction Bray

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle: Told in multiple voices, Engle's richly metaphorical novel-in-verse is a fictionalized biography of the 19th-century Cuban abolitionst poet Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, known as Tula.  Available through interlibraryloan

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen: Debut author Gaughen offers an affecting take on an old tale in this rip-roaring adventure narrated by Scarlet, who has joined Robin Hood's gang disguised as a boy.  Available through interlibraryloan

The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman: When Jade Moon is born in 1906---the year of the Fire Horse, an ominous sign for Chinese girls--her father ships the stubborn teenager off to California where danger waits at every turn.  Available through interlibraryloan

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl: In Yorkshire, England, 17-year-old Althea Crawley is on a quest to marry rich so that she may secure the family's only inheritance, a dilapidated castle. This witty take on classic Regency offers frothy fun for Jane Austen fans.  Available through interlibraryloan
  
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano: When Evelyn's activist grandmother arrives from Puerto Rico in 1969, the 14-year-old is inspired to join the Young Lords, who are working closely with the Black Panthers. Manzano based this honest novel on real-life political events.  Available through interlibraryloan

Jump into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall: After young Levi travels to North Carolina to meet his father, an elite paratropper in WWII, he experiences Jim Crow-era racism for the first time, as well as poignant emotions as he gets to know his dad.  Available through interlibraryloan

Dodger by Terry Pratchett:  Rich language, sharp characters, and a well-realized Victorian setting combine this story of a trickster hero who expertly navigates the underbelly of London in search of justice and love.  New Teen Fiction Pratchett

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: In 1943, a British fighter plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France and the survivor tells a tale of friendship, war, espionage, and great courage as she relates what she must to survive while keeping secret all that she can.  Teen Fiction Wein

New Books for April!

Check out these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!

The Mapmaker's Sons by V. L. Burgess:  When a man with a wooden leg appears at the Lost Preparatory Academy for Boys, Thomas Hawkins must leave the life he knows or chance not reaching his next birthday, which is only days away.  After years of scaling the school's rooftops, engaging in swordplay, treasure hunts with his friends, and fighting off blood-thirsty pirates, this imaginary world suddenly becomes all too real.  And as if a close encounter witha pirate isn't enough, Thomas discoves a brother he never knew and a gift that will eventually save both their lives: he can make maps come alive.  New Teen Fiction Burgess


Obisidan Mirror by Catherine Fisher:  The obsidian mirror. Its power is great and terrible. Men have been lost in it, the dead brought back to life through it, and the future annihilated by it. Or this is what will happen unless the mirror is destroyed. Three people seek the mirror: the first has been sent from the future to shatter its power; the second will protect the mirror at all costs, and the third needs the mirror to find a murdered father and save his life. B ut only one can succeed. The mirror can send you to the past, but it will not bring you back.  New Teen Fiction Fisher


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell:  Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.  Eleanor is the new girl in town and her wild red hair and patchwork outfits are not helping her blend in.  She ends up sitting next to Park on the bus, whose tendencies towards comic books don’t jibe with the rest of his family’s love of sports. They sit in awkward silence every day until Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comics over his shoulder; he begins to slide them closer to her side of the seat and thus begins their love story. Their relationship grows gradually as they try to overcome any obstacle standing in the way of their happiness.  A New York Times bestseller!  New Teen Fiction Rowell


Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky series):  It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death, months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.  Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations.  And it's a moment that lives up to all of them.  At least, at first.  Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindly to former Dwellers like Aria.  And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue.  But does this haven truly exist?  Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?  Find out in this sequel to Under the Never Sky.  New Teen Fiction Rossi


Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys:  It's 1950 and the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie Moraine wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.  Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld.  New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.  New Teen Fiction Sepetys


Orleans by Sherri L. Smith: First came the storms.  Then came the Fever.  And the Wall.  After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been quarantined.  Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct...but in reality, a new primitive society has been born.  Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed.  Left with her tribe leader’s newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby to a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other’s last hope for survival.  New Teen Fiction Smith

Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls by Scott Snyder (graphic novel): After a series of brutal murders rocks Gotham City, Batman begins to realize that perhaps these crimes go far deeper than appearances suggest.  As the Caped Crusader begins to unravel this deadly mystery, he discovers a conspiracy going back to his youth and beyond to the origins of the city he's sworn to protect.  Could the Court of Owls, once thought to be nothing more than an urban legend, be behind the crime and corruption?  Or is Bruce Wayne losing his grip on sanity and falling prey to the pressures of his war on crime?  New Teen Fiction Snyder

 

 

 

The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls by Cara Familian Natterson:  This thoughtful advice book will guide you through the next steps of growing up. With illustrations and expert contributors, this book covers new questions about your growing body, peer pressure, personal care, and more! Written for girls 10 and up, The Care & Keeping of You 2 follows up the original bestseller with even more in-depth details about the physical and emotional changes you're going through.  A New York Times bestseller!  New Teen Non-Fiction 612.6 NAT

 

 

 

 

 

 

YALSA Teens' Top Ten

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) just announced their Teens' Top Ten, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year.  Nominators are members of teen book groups in sixteen school and public libraries around the country.



Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews:  Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia.  Available through interlibrary loan





The Diviners by Libba Bray:  Seventeen-year-old Evie O'Neill is thrilled when she is exiled from small-town Ohio to New York City in 1926, even when a rash of occult-based murders thrusts Evie and her uncle, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, into the thick of the investigation.  New Teen Fiction Bray





Seraphina by Rachel Hartman:  In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents. New Teen Fiction Hartman





Enchanted by Alethea Kontis:  When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.  Available through interlibrary loan






Every Day by David Levithan:  Every morning A wakes in a different person's body, in a different person's life, learning over the years to never get too attached, until he wakes up in the body of Justin and falls in love with Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon.  New Teen Fiction Levithan





Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick:  Cambodian child soldier Arn Chorn-Pond defied the odds and used all of his courage and wits to survive the murderous regime of the Khmer Rouge.  Available through interlibrary loan






Boy21 by Matthew Quick:  Finley, an unnaturally quiet boy who is the only white player on his high school's varsity basketball team, lives in a dismal Pennsylvania town that is ruled by the Irish mob, and when his coach asks him to mentor a troubled African-American student who has transferred there from an elite private school in California, he finds that they have a lot in common in spite of their apparent differences.  Teen Fiction Quick





Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz:  Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before.  Teen Fiction Saenz





The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater:  Though she is from a family of clairvoyants, Blue Sargent's only gift seems to be that she makes other people's talents stronger, and when she meets Gansey, one of the Raven Boys from the expensive Aglionby Academy, she discovers that he has talents of his own--and that together their talents are a dangerous mix.  New Teen Fiction Stiefvater





Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein:  In 1943, a British fighter plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France and the survivor tells a tale of friendship, war, espionage, and great courage as she relates what she must to survive while keeping secret all that she can.  Teen Fiction Wein