Book Review Form

Showing posts with label Dystopian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dystopian. Show all posts

Friday, January 10, 2014

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 RiggsIn 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 
 

Friday, November 22, 2013

National Book Award

The National Book Foundation recently announced it's 2013 winner and finalists for achievement in Young People's Literature.  Check them out here!
 
 
WINNER
 
The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata: Summer and her little brother, Jaz, are left with their grandparents, who must come out of retirement to take care of them.  New Teen Fiction Kadohata
 
 
SHORTLIST FINALISTS
 
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt:  Raccoon brothers Bingo and J'miah must protect their swamp when a world-class alligator wrestler wants to turn it into an alligator wrestling arena.  New Juvenile Fiction Appelt
 
Far Far Away by Tom McNeal: A dark, contemporary fairy tale about a boy who's watched over by the ghost of Jacob Grimm.  Coming soon to teen fiction!
 
Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff:  When a teenage girl's father's best friend goes missing, she tries to piece together the clues to the puzzle.  Coming soon to teen fiction!
 
Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang: A graphic novel featuring parallel stories about young men during China's Boxer Rebellion.  New Teen Fiction Yang
 
 
LONGLIST
 
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo:  After a squirrel has an accidental run-in with a vacuum cleaner, he acquires superhero powers.  New Juvenile Fiction DiCamillo
 
A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff:  An orphan with a talent for baking cakes is led on a journey that may reconnect her to her long-lost parents.  Juvenile Fiction Graff
 
The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson:  A teenage girl faces danger when she falls in love with the leader of a futuristic society in Brazil.  Teen Fiction Johnson
 
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan: The story of two gay teenagers who stage a protest in honor of a hate crime committed against their friend.  Based on a true story.  Available through interlibrary loan
 
The Real Boy by Anne Ursu:  A boy who works for a the most powerful magician in the village realizes even magic may not be enough to save the townspeople for something sinister in the woods.  Coming soon to juvenile fiction!
 
 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

New Books for November!

Look for these new books coming soon to Riverdale Public Library!
 
The Beginning of Everything by Robin Schneider: Ezra Faulkner believes that everyone has a tragedy waiting to happen that will be their life-changing moment. In the summer before 7th grade, his best friend, Toby, had his moment when he inadvertently caught the head of a boy who was decapitated on a ride in Disneyland. Ezra ended his friendship with Toby after that. Now 17, Ezra encounters his own tragic event: he finds his girlfriend cheating on him and then has a car accident that ends his tennis career. He returns to school for his last year a broken boy who has shunned his jock friends and just wants to make it through life unnoticed. By reconnecting with Toby and developing a relationship with Cassidy, a new girl who has a secretive past and home life, Ezra gets the chance to remake himself into someone who lives rather than just exists.  A funny, smart novel about growing up.  New Teen Fiction Schneider


Fallout by Todd Strasser:  In the summer of 1962, the possibility of nuclear war is all anyone talks about. But Scott’s dad is the only one in the neighborhood who actually prepares for the worst. As the neighbors laugh, he builds a bomb shelter to hold his family and stocks it with just enough supplies to keep the four of them alive for two weeks. In the middle of the night in late October, when the unthinkable happens, those same neighbors force their way into the shelter before Scott’s dad can shut the door. With not enough room, not enough food, and not enough air, life inside the shelter is filthy and physically and emotionally draining. But even worse is the question of what will--and won’t--remain when the door is opened again.  New Teen Fiction Strasser


Hostage Three by Nick Lake:  From the author of the Michael L. Printz award–winning In Darkness comes a critically-acclaimed, fast-paced thriller that’s as dangerous as the seas on which it’s set.  The last thing Amy planned to do this summer was sail around the world trapped on a yacht with her father and her stepmother. All she wanted was to fast-forward to October when she’ll turn 18 and take control of her own life.  Aboard the Daisy May, Amy spends time sunbathing, dolphin watching and forgetting the past as everything floats by...until one day in the Gulf of Aden another boat appears.  A boat with guns and pirates..the kind that kill.  Immediately, the pirates seize the boat and its human cargo.  Hostage One is Amy’s father--the most valuable.  Hostage Two: her stepmother.  And Hostage Three is Amy, who can’t believe what’s happening. As the ransom brokering plays out, Amy finds herself becoming less afraid, and even stranger still, drawn to one of her captors, a teenage boy who wants desperately to be more than who he has become. Suddenly it becomes brutally clear that the price of life and its value are two very different things...  New Teen Fiction Lake


Full Ride by Margaret Peterson Haddix:  Becca’s claim to fame is one she’s been hiding from for the past three years: her father is a notorious embezzler, and when he was caught, his excuse was, “How else is a guy like me supposed to put his kid through college?”  Three years after the trial and imprisonment that destroyed Becca’s life, she and her mother have started over again and are living in a town where no one knows their secret. But as college—and its cost—looms large, Becca begins to wonder how they’ll afford it.  And how she can apply for financial aid without revealing her secret? A local scholarship opportunity seems like a dream come true, but as the application process begins, Becca uncovers a chain of secrets that could destroy everything she’s worked so hard to build. But the truth could also lead her toward the future she’s always dreamed of…  New Teen Fiction Haddix


This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales:  Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.  Laugh-out-loud funny voice, this is a novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.  New Teen Fiction Sales
 

Champion by Marie Lu:  June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.  New Teen Fiction Lu

Teardrop by Lauren Kate:  Never, ever cry...Eureka Boudreaux's mother drilled that rule into her daughter years ago. But now her mother is gone, and everywhere Eureka goes he is there: Ander, the tall, pale blond boy who seems to know things he shouldn't, who tells Eureka she is in grave danger, who comes closer to making her cry than anyone has before.  But Ander doesn't know Eureka's darkest secret: ever since her mother drowned in a freak accident, Eureka wishes she were dead, too. She has little left that she cares about, just her oldest friend, Brooks, and a strange inheritance—a locket, a letter, a mysterious stone, and an ancient book no one understands. The book contains a haunting tale about a girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea. Eureka is about to discover that the ancient tale is more than a story, that Ander might be telling the truth... and that her life has far darker undercurrents than she ever imagined.  The first in a new trilogy.  New Teen Fiction Kate


Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger:  Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy--won't Mumsy be surprised?  Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.  Now, as she sneaks around, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making secret climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first.  A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot--and survive the London Season with a full dance card.  The second in the bestselling Finishing School series.  New Teen Fiction Carriger

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang:  In two volumes, Boxers & Saints tells two parallel stories. The first is of Little Bao, a Chinese peasant boy whose village is abused and plundered by Westerners claiming the role of missionaries. Little Bao, inspired by visions of the Chinese gods, joins a violent uprising against the Westerners. Against all odds, their grass-roots rebellion is successful.  But in the second volume, Yang lays out the opposite side of the conflict. A girl whose village has no place for her is taken in by Christian missionaries and finds, for the first time, a home with them. As the Boxer Rebellion gains momentum, Vibiana must decide whether to abandon her Christian friends or to commit herself fully to Christianity.  This ambitious graphic novel is garnering reviews as one of the best of the year. 
New Teen Fiction Yang

 
Demigods and Monsters: Your Favorite Authors on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series:  Filling in the background of the Percy Jackson novels, 15 writers weigh in on such diverse topics as how to recognize monsters. the ins and outs of being one of Artemis’ huntresses. parent issues, and why hero/monster tales are so important in our lives.  A must for fans of the series.  New Teen Non-Fiction 813.54 RIO




Kennedy's Last Days: The Assassination that Defined a Generation by Bill O'Reilly:  A gripping account of the events leading up to the most notorious crime of the 20th century.  Bill O’Reilly vividly describes Kennedy's family life in the public eye, the crises facing the president around the world and at home, the nation’s growing fascination with their vigorous, youthful president, and finally, the shocking events leading up to his assassination.   New Teen Non-Fiction 973.922 ORE


And look for these new books on CD:

I Even Funnier by James Patterson

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Teen Reads Week

It's Teen Reads Week!  Celebrate with a title off this week's New York Times list of Young Adult Bestsellers:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green:  A 16-year-old heroine faces the medical realities of cancer.  Soon to be a movie!  Teen Fiction Green

Divergent by Veronica Roth: A girl must prove her mettle in a faction-ridden dystopia.  Also soon to be a movie!  Teen Fiction Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth:  In this Divergent follow-up, a faction war looms.  Teen Fiction Roth

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: A girl saves books from Nazi burning.  Another movie coming soon!  Teen Fiction Zusak

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefavater: Ronen, on of the Raven boys, tries to understand his supernatural power in part two of the Raven Boys cycle.  New Teen Fiction Stiefvater

Looking for Alaska by John Green: A boy seeking excitement finds that and more in a girl named Alaska.  Teen Fiction Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: What it's like to grow up, from the perspective of a high school boy.  Teen Fiction Chbosky

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: From the author of the bestselling Eleanor & Park, meet Cath, a writer of popular fan fiction, who struggles her freshman year at college.  New Teen Fiction Rowell

Paper Towns by John Green: After a night of mischief, the girl Quentin loves disappears.  Teen Fiction Green

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs: An island, an abandoned orphanage, and a collection of curious photographs.  Teen Fiction Riggs

Sunday, September 22, 2013

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. 





Monday, September 16, 2013

New Books for September!

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


The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black:  When 17-year-old Tana wakes up following a party in the aftermath of a violent vampire attack, she travels to Coldtown, a quarantined Massachusetts city full of vampires, with her ex-boyfriend and a mysterious vampire boy in tow.  New Fiction Black




Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington:  Twelve-year-old Sarah writes letters to her hero, To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch, for help understanding her mentally ill mother, her first real crush, and life in her small Texas town, all in the course of one momentous summer.  New Fiction Harrington




The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer:  In the fourth Life as We Knew It book, it's been more than two years since a meteor knocked the moon off its orbit and the world changed forever.  Jon Evans and his family have left Pennsylvania, hoping to find a safe place to live, yet Jon remains haunted by the deaths of those he loved. His prowess on a soccer field has guaranteed him a home in a well-protected enclave, but Jon is painfully aware that a missed goal, a careless word, even falling in love, can put his life and the lives of his mother, his sister, Miranda, and her husband, Alex, in jeopardy. Can Jon risk doing what is right in a world gone so terribly wrong?  New Fiction Pfeffer




Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell:  Feeling cast off when her best friend outgrows their shared love for a favorite celebrity, Cath, a dedicated fan-fiction writer, struggles to survive on her own in her first year of college while avoiding a surly roommate, bonding with a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words, and worrying about her fragile father.  New Fiction Rowell





The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater:  In book two of the Raven Boys series, magic is swirling around the Raven boys and Ronan Lynch's ability to pull objects from his dreams is almost out of control.  Worst of all, the mysterious Gray Man is stalking the Lynch family and looking for something called the Greywaren.   New Fiction Stiefvater





 
 


Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson:  At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers.  Now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners--the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny.  New Fiction Sanderson





Risked by Margaret Haddix Peterson:  In the book six of the Missing series, Jonah and Katherine travel back in time to 1918 Russia just as Alexei, Anastasia, and the rest of Czar Nicholas II's family is about to be executed.  Includes fascinating facts about the Romanovs and the mystery surrounding their deaths.  New Fiction Peterson





Friday, August 16, 2013

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

Thursday, July 11, 2013

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


Friday, June 14, 2013

Top 10 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books for Youth

Aliens!  Shape-shifters!  Deadly diseases!  Check out the best science fiction and fantasy books for middle and high schoolers.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey:  This heartfelt, violent survivalist series debut is set in the aftermath of a an alien invasion in which the aliens never appear.  New Teen Fiction Yancey

The Diviners by Libba Bray:  In Prohibition-era New York, 17-year-old flapper Evie is under the wing of an uncle who runs the Museum of the Creepy Crawlies.  Business is slow until the arrival of what the papers dub the Pentacle Killer.  New Teen Fiction Bray

Every Day by David Levithan: A teenager called A wakes up in a different body every day, trying not to interfere with daily routines and to steer clear of romantic attachments.  That works until A meets Rhiannon and falls in love.  New Teen Fiction Levithan

The Future We Left Behind by Mike Lancaster: The events of Human.4 are thousands of years in the past, so distant that Kyle Straker's account of humanity being "upgraded" by alien forces is considered superstition except by true believers.  Now it's time for a teen named Peter to upload his story into the worldwide shared space of the Link.  Available through interlibrary loan

The Girl with Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti: Frenenqer--a name meaning restraint--was born inside her father's imagination and sculpted into his vision of the perfect daughter.  But when she meets a shape-shifter, the world opens up before her in this stunningly imagined paranormal romance.  New Teen Fiction Rossetti

Railsea by China Mieville:  In this inventive fantasy that draws from Moby Dick, the crew of the diesel train Medes hunts moldywarpes--enormous, man-eating, molelike creatures who burrow in the  earth beneath a tangled ocean of train tracks.  Available through interlibrary loan

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman: After 40 years of peace between human and dragon kingdoms, their much-maligned treaty is on the verge of collapse.  Serpahina's secret--that she's a human-dragon half-breed--must be protected in this richly drawn fantasy.  Teen Fiction Hartman

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin:  This mesmerizing companion to Newbery Honor-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon weaves Chinese folklore with the main narrative, as a runaway named Rendi attempts to figure out why the moon is missing from the sky.  Available through interlibrary loan

Quarantine by Lex Thomas:  A gritty, apocalyptic thriller about a sick teen who infects a Colorado high school with a disease so deadly that half the building is blown up the by the military and the rest is sealed inside a giant dome.  Available through interlibrary loan

Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta: The brilliant final volume in the Lumatere Chronicles sees Froi setting out to find and protect pregnant Quintana, his strange and savage love; raise an army against an enemy; and prevent war.  Available through interlibrary loan

Thursday, May 2, 2013

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

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

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


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




Wednesday, April 3, 2013

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 SkyNew 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
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

New Books for March

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

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices series) by Cassandra Clare:  If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?  The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.   Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.    New Teen Fiction Clare

True Legend by Mike Lupica: There's a reason his teammates call him "True." For basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It's the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks--and with problems.  Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy's head grounded--and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing.  New Teen Fiction Lupica

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles series) by Marissa Meyer:  Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing.  It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.  When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her.  As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder.  Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, and her prisoner.  New Teen Fiction Meyer

The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb:  What if there was a 13th zodiac sign?  You're no longer Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus, the healer, the 13th sign.  Your personality has changed, and so has your mom's and your best friend's.  But what about the rest of the world?  What if you were the one who accidentally unlocked the 13th sign, causing this world-altering change, and infuriating the other 12 signs?  Jalen did it, and now she must use every ounce of her strength and cunning to send the signs back where they belong.  Lives, including her own, depend upon it.  New Teen Fiction Tubb
Just One Day by Gayle Forman:  When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark.  After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left.  Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.  New Teen Fiction Forman

Panic by Sharon M. Draper:  Diamond knows not to get into a car with a stranger. But what if the stranger is well-dressed and handsome? On his way to meet his wife and daughter? And casting a movie that very night—a movie in need of a star dancer? What then?   Then Diamond might make the wrong decision. It’s a nightmare come true: Diamond Landers has been kidnapped. She was at the mall with a friend, alone for only a few brief minutes—and now she’s being held captive, forced to endure horrors beyond what she ever could have dreamed, while her family and friends experience their own torments and wait desperately for any bit of news.   New Teen Fiction Draper
 
Requiem (Delirium series) by Lauren Oliver:  In this exciting finale to the Delirum trilogy, Lena, now an active member of the resistance, has transformed.  The nascent rebellion that was underway in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution, and Lena is at the center of the fight.  After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds.  But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven.  Pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids.  Regulators infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels.  As Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain of the Wilds, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancĂ©e of the young mayor.  Requiem is told from both Lena and Hana's points of view. They live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.  New Teen Fiction Oliver