Just in time for Christmas holidays!

Snakehead -Alex Rider #7 (Anthony Horowitz)
What goes up must come down, and when we last saw Alex Rider, he was as up as can be--in outer space. When he crash lands off the coast of Australia, the Australian Secret Service recruits him to infiltrate one of the ruthless gangs operating across South East Asia. Known as snakeheads, the gangs smuggle drugs, weapons, and worst of all, people. Alex accepts the assignment, in part for the chance to work with his godfather and learn more about his parents. What he uncovers, however, is a secret that will make this his darkest and most dangerous mission yet . . . and that his old nemesis, Scorpia, is anything but out of his life.
From the slums of Bangkok to the Australian Outback to the middle of the Timor Sea, Snakehead is Alex Rider's most action-packed adventure yet.


Nightrise -Gatekeepers #3 (Anthony Horowitz)
The world is in great danger - and only five kids can save it. But to do that, they must face off against some of the most powerful people in the world.
Two of the five, Scott and Jamie, have always known they were different. Twins whose birth is shrouded in mystery, they've always been able to communicate with each other telepathically. Their supernatural talent has landed them no farther than a gig in a Z-grade sideshow in Reno, Nevada...until they garner the attention of a very scary clientele. Soon their lives are in jeopardy, with one of them trapped and one of them on the run.
In Nightrise, Anthony Horowitz ups the stakes in his most thrilling, intense novel yet.

Beautiful Stranger - A-list #9 (Zoey Dean)
Anna decides to take an end-of-summer getaway—to get away from her drama-filled LA life. So she packs her Louis Vuitton, grabs her close friend Sam, and heads to the Big Apple. Between trips to the Met and shopping at Bendel's, the girls are living the A-List life on Anna's home turf. But their trip isn't exactly a vacation. Sam is here to spy on Eduardo and decode his recent strange ­behavior. Will what she discovers send her hopping on the next private jet back to Beverly Hills? And who is the ­beautiful stranger who appears on Anna’s Upper East Side doorstep? Anna begins to wonder whether she wants to head back west again—especially since Ben seems to have moved on . . . with someone who isn't a stranger at all. When it comes to the A-List, there's drama coast to coast.

Lucky - The It Girl #5 (Cecily von Ziegesar)
Jenny Humphrey has attended some crazy parties at Waverly Academy, but none as hot as the bash at Miller farm, where the antique red barn went up in flames. Literally. So when Dean Marymount announces that someone is going to be held responsible and expelled from Waverly, it's every owl for himself—and herself.
Tensions are rising, rumors are flying, and pretty soon everyone is a suspect. Jenny is ­worried about her ­adorable, shaggy-haired new crush, Julian, whose silver engraved Tiffany lighter was found at the scene of the crime. Callie is petrified she and Easy both will get kicked out, because they were in the barn—together—when the blaze began. And ­Tinsley knows she’ll take the heat for organizing the wild soiree in the first place. ­Luckily she’s come up with a crafty way to keep from getting in trouble: by blaming Jenny. Of course.
After all, Waverly's girls always fight fire with fire. But watch out, ladies—in a battle like this, someone's bound to get burned.

Size 14 is Not Fat Either -Heather Wells #2 (Meg Cabot)
Former pop star Heather Wells has settled nicely into her new life as assistant dorm director at New York College—a career that does not require her to drape her size 12 body in embarrassingly skimpy outfits. She can even cope (sort of) with her rocker ex-boyfriend's upcoming nuptials, which the press has dubbed The Celebrity Wedding of the Decade. But she's definitely having a hard time dealing with the situation in the dormitory kitchen—where a cheerleader has lost her head on the first day of the semester. (Actually, her head is accounted for—it's her torso that's AWOL.)
Surrounded by hysterical students—with her ex-con father on her doorstep and her ex-love bombarding her with unwanted phone calls—Heather welcomes the opportunity to play detective . . . again. If it gets her mind off her personal problems—and teams her up again with the gorgeous P.I. who owns the brownstone where she lives—it's all good. But the murder trail is leading the average-sized amateur investigator into a shadowy world. And if she doesn't watch her step, Heather will soon be singing her swan song!


No Accidents - Little Secrets #2 (Emily Blake)
Hidden Pasts. Unexpected Betrayals. Twisted Friendships. Sweet Revenge.
Kelly let a secret slip, and now she's being blackmailed. Will she pay up...or strike back? Tom must decide where his loyalties lie. How much will he risk to get what he wants? Alison is caught in a dangerous game. When will she make her next move? Zoey just earned herself a new best enemy. Is she up for the fight? Chad knows that appearance is everything. How far will he go to mask the truth?
Let the drama begin....


Wild Roses (Deb Caletti)
Seventeen-year-old Cassie Morgan has a secret: she's living with a time bomb (A.K.A., her stepfather, Dino Cavalli). To the public, Dino is a world-renowned violin player and composer. To Cassie, he's an erratic, self-centered bully. Dino has always been difficult, but as he prepares for his comeback concert, something in him begins to shift. He seems more high-strung than ever, set off by any little thing. He stops sleeping, starts chain-smoking. And he grows increasingly paranoid, saying things that Cassie is desperate to make sense of, but can't. So she does what she thinks she must: she tries to hide his behavior from the outside world. Before, she was angry. Now, she is afraid.
Enter Ian Waters: A brilliant young violinist, and Dino's first-ever student. The minute Cassie lays eyes on Ian she knows she's doomed. She tries everything to keep away from him, but is drawn to him in a way she's never felt before. It should be easy. It should be beautiful. It is not. Cassie thought she understood that love could bring pain. But this union will have consequences she could not have imagined.
As the novel crashes through two irreparable events and speeds toward its powerful end, one thing becomes clear: in the world of insanity, nothing is sacred. Not talent, not spirit, not love.


Does my Head look Big in This? (Randa Abdel-Fattah)
Sixteen-year-old Amal makes the decision to start wearing the hijab full- time and everyone has a reaction. Her parents, her teachers, her friends, people on the street. But she stands by her decision to embrace her faith and all that it is, even if it does make her a little different from everyone else.Can she handle the taunts of "towel head," the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school? Brilliantly funny and poignant, Randa Abdel-Fattah's debut novel will strike a chord in all teenage readers, no matter what their beliefs.


Lily B. on the Brink of Love - Lily B. #2 (Elizabeth Cody Kimmel)
Lily B. is back... and she's on the Brink of Love! Twenty feet may not seem that high to you. But go outside, find a big rock, measure twenty feet up, then picture The Boy Who Is The Center if Your Universe climbing to that place, looking resplendent in climbing shoes. Then you'll know what I mean. "He's on belay," Bonnia said. "If he falls, he'll just hang there until he can get himself back on the rock again." IF ONLY LOVE COULD BE THAT RISK FREE!

New Teen Fiction @ the Library

Hi!

I'm breaking in here to let you know about some titles that we've just added.

Contact the Library (613-269-3326 or merrickville_library@bellnet.ca), if you want to have one (or more) of these titles put on hold for you!

Hot New Titles
Masquerade (new Blue Bloods novel by Melissa de la Cruz)

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks, and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

The thrilling sequel in Melissa de la Cruz's vampire mythology has all the glamour, attitude, and vampire lore that made the first book a hit.

Heart of Glass (A-List novel #8 by Zoey Dean)

High school is officially over and that means one thing for the A-List: time to party! But the celebration is cut short when unlikely pair Anna and Cammie find themselves in an even more unlikely situation--caught trespassing on a celeb''s beach estate--and are forced to don steel handcuffs along with their Tiffany tennis bracelets.Luckily, the girls are spared a summer stuck in tacky orange jumpsuits when their hotshot lawyer lands them a cushy community service gig: helping plan a fabulous charity fashion show! But while it may seem like a plush job, Anna and Cammie are in for a challenge. Can the girls handle the pressure of the vicious fashion world? Or will they fall to pieces faster than a cheap Louis Vuitton knockoff?

Coming soon #9 - Beautiful Stranger

more in "The It Girl" series by Cecily von Zeigesar

Reckless (#3)

Popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey is making a splash at Waverly Academy, an elite boarding school in New York horse country where glamorous rich kids don't let the rules get in the way of an excellent time. It's less than a semester into school, but Jenny's already become notorious, just like Tinsley Carmichael - who won't give up her Waverly "it girl" crown without a fight.

Unforgettable (#4)

Having a roommate at elite Waverly Academy means nightly sleepovers and double the designer wardrobe. But Callie Vernon never really liked late-night girl talk or swapping cashmere sweaters with her younger, rosy-cheeked roomie, Jenny Humphrey. So when Jenny stole her longtime boyfriend, Easy Walsh, Callie didn't feel that guilty about turning right around and kissing him behind Jenny's back. Okay, maybe a little guilty, but it certainly didn't stop her from enjoying it. Now, if only Easy would stop being so irritatingly indecisive and dump Jenny already!While the two roommates are sharing a boyfriend, the rest of Dumbarton's residents are sharing their feelings at the newly founded Women of Waverly club - aka, WOW! Everyone is totally bonding, revealing their most personal secrets, and hugging out their past rivalries. But despite the sharing-is-caring vibe, there are some things these girls aren't spilling - like who's making special late-night trips to the crater . . . and with whom.

Now it's only a matter of time before all the newfound girl power explodes into a massive girl fight. But this battle goes well beyond the ivy colored brick walls of Dumberton -it's about who will be Waverly's next It Girl.

Coming soon #5 - Lucky

Life on the Refrigerator Door: notes between a mother and daughter

(by Alice Kuipers)

A poignant and deeply moving first novel about the bonds of love and frustration that tie mothers and daughters together. Told entirely in a series of notes left on the kitchen fridge—some casual, some intimate, some funny, some angry—it is the story of nine months in the life of 15-year-old Claire and her single mother. Preoccupied with their busy separate lives, rarely in the same room at the same time, they talk to each other in a series of short snippets that reflect the daily drama of school, boyfriends, work and chores that make up their days. Yet the mundane soon becomes extraordinary when a crisis overtakes their lives—a momentous change that will redefine their relationship and unfold in their exchanges on the refrigerator door.

New Stars Wars titles

The Rise & Fall of Darth Vader

The full story of Anakin Skywalker, from his birth in slavery to his death as the powerful Darth Vader, is told for the first time in its entirety by a "New York Times" bestselling author. Spanning all six films and including the pieces of the story that fill in the gaps, this novel will be a must-have for every fan.

The Courtship of Princess Leia

Seeking rich, powerful allies to bring into the Rebel Alliance and a new home planet for the refugees of her native Alderaan, Princess Leia considers a proposal that could tip the balance of power against the evil Empire. The Hapes Consortium of 63 worlds is ruled by the Queen Mother, who wants Leia to marry her son, the dashing and wealthy Prince Isolder. Han Solo has always dreamed of marrying Leia himself, and now he makes a desperate last gamble to win her back. Soon he, Isolder, Luke Skywalker and Artoo will be at the center of an adventure leading to an awesome treasure, a group of Force-trained "witches," and a showdown with an invincible foe.

Romance, etc.!

The Ruling Class (Francine Pascal)

Twyla Gay hates the mean girls at school who gossip and date the hottest guys. The members of the Ruling Class have tortured Twyla ever since she moved to town. But Twyla has a plan--and bringing down the RC could mean gaining alpha status herself.

Next Summer (Hailey Abbott) - a Summer Boys novel)

Can soul mates Beth and George maintain their long-distance love affair, even while another boy is catching Beth's eye? Will reformed bad girl Ella REALLY be able to change her wild ways? And can shy, smart Kelsi open herself up to love again after she's had her heart broken? And what's happening with Jamie on her summer writing program? Find out all this--and much more.

Razzle (Ellen Wittlinger)

One summer can change everything...
Kenyon Baker is not happy about moving to Cape Cod halfway through high school, but his parents have decided to retire there to run a summer cottage colony. At least they''ll let him have his own darkroom, provided he helps prepare the colony for guests. The early hours and hard work compound Ken''s unhappiness, but just when he thinks he''ll never make it through the summer, he meets Razzle Penney.
Skinny, buzz-cut Razzle isn't afraid to act differently from everyone else, and she simultaneously becomes Ken's friend and his muse, as he takes a series of inspiring photos of her. However, Razzle also introduces Ken to beautiful, aggressive Harley, causing a rift in their friendship. Just when it seems things can''t get more complicated, Razzle's mother breezes into town, and Razzle learns more about her past than she wants to know....

Major Crush (Jennifer Echols)

Tired of the beauty-pagean circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles -- drum major of the high school marching band.
Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...
But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything -- including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.

Playing it Cool (Joaquin Dorfman)

"I always know what I’m doing.”So says 18-year-old Sebastian Montero, who is famous around town as a problem solver of the subtlest kind. Want a date with the girl of your dreams? Bastian can make it happen. Have a friend threatening suicide? Baz can talk him off the ledge. But as popular as Sebastian is, no one really knows him. Thanks to his intricate network of favors and debts Sebastian controls the world, manipulates it—and hides from it. It isn’t until his best friend asks him to track down his long-missing father that Sebastian is forced to face the most challenging problem of all, the solution to which will change his life forever.

The Dating Diaries (Kristen Kemp)

Katie James has been dating Paul for the past five years, since seventh grade. Then, as the prom approaches, he dumps her. The last time she was on her own, she was wearing a training bra. Now she's about to see what life is like without Paul -- and what it's like to date. She makes a resolution -- she will date twelve guys in twelve weeks, making up for all the time she wasted with Paul. But nothing quite goes the way she plans. Dating is difficult -- and difficult can be both fraught and fun. Katie's about to find out what she's been missing . . . and how to be herself without a guy.

Life as a Poser (Beth Killian)

A new cell with the right area code. A sky's-the-limit credit card. A chance at becoming a Hollywood It Girl. What else could Eva possibly want?
Caught in the middle of senior year''s juiciest scandal, Eva Cordes graduates early and moves to L.A. to live with her aunt -- the top talent agent for teens -- who plans to make her a star.
Eva has another reason for heading to Hollywood: it's time for her to get to know her mother -- a once-famous model who left Eva to be raised by her grandparents.
But when she gets stuck rooming with a bunch of outrageous teen starlets, and her mom doesn't want to admit she even has a daughter, Eva''s life is one big tabloid story after another.
Smoking-hot Hollywood insider Danny wants to be her leading man, but he's officially off-limits. With all these complications, how can Eva ever make it down the red carpet without falling flat on her face?

My Perfect Life (Dyan Sheldon)

Dyan Sheldon brings back the winning cast of characters from CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN in a new tale of suburban high school woe - told through the eyes of an endearingly unassuming heroine.With perfect parents, perfect friends, and perfect poise, it seems like Ella Gerard has it all. But when Ella’s new best friend (and resident drama queen), Lola Cep, nominates Ella to run for school president against her ex-best friend, the wickedly popular Carla Santini, many of the less-than-perfect aspects of Ella’s life — and of her family’s — begin to make themselves more than obvious. When the election votes are tallied, can Ella come out a winner without losing face? In this witty, poignant sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, Dyan Sheldon brings back her winning cast of characters to tell another tale of suburban high school woe, this time through Ella's eyes.

Alice Alone (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor)

Breaking up is hard to do.
Alice is starting high school, and everything is new. But it's the new girl, Penny, who's making ninth grade a real challenge for Alice. Penny is tiny and perky and a real flirt, and she seems to be focusing her attention Patrick. Even worse, Patrick seems to be enjoying it.
Alice and Patrick have been a couple so long Alice can't imagine life without him. Suddenly she feels lost and unattractive and scared -- not quite whole. How can Alice get back her confidence in herself, when she's not even sure who she is?

Drama

The Torn Skirt (Rebecca Godfrey)

At Mt. Douglas (a.k.a. Mt. Drug) High, all the girls have feathered hair, and the sweet scent of Love''s Baby Soft can't hide the musk of raw teenage anger, apathy, and desire. Sara Shaw is a girl full of fever and longing, a girl looking for something risky, something real. Her only possible salvation comes in the willowy form of the mysterious Justine, the outlaw girl in the torn skirt. The search for Justine will lead Sara on a daring odyssey into an underworld of hookers and johns, junkies and thieves, runaway girls and skater boys, and, ultimately, into a violent tragedy.

Rock my world (Liza Conrad)

Livy James's father was the lead singer of a popular band, so she had no choice but to grow up fast. Now at 17, Livy is finally close to having a normal life--until she lands an internship at a music magazine. Her first assignment? Follow her dad's now-sober, more mature band across the globe on their reunion tour.

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Crashing (Chris Wooding)

A party Jay throws to celebrate the start of summer turns into a night of growth and realizations.

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Suspense & Paranormal

Blood & Chocolate (Annette Curtis Klause)

Vivian Gandillon relishes the change, the sweet, fierce ache that carries her from girl to wolf. At sixteen, she is beautiful and strong, and all the young wolves are on her tail. But Vivian still grieves for her dead father; her pack remains leaderless and in disarray, and she feels lost in the suburbs of Maryland. She longs for a normal life. But what is normal for a werewolf?

Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. Aiden is kind and gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack. He's fascinated by magic, and Vivian longs to reveal herself to him. Surely he would understand her and delight in the wonder of her dual nature, not fear her as an ordinary human would.

Vivian's divided loyalties are strained further when a brutal murder threatens to expose the pack. Moving between two worlds, she does not seem to belong in either. What is she really--human or beast? Which tastes sweeter--blood or chocolate?

Freak II: Visions (Carol Matas)

Jade is having nightmares. It's been a few months since the episode at the synagogue-a few months since she discovered her strange new "powers" - and she's pretty sure that a dream is no longer just a dream. Especially these dreams. How else do you explain seeing someone in your sleep who ends up on the front page of the morning paper-the victim of a murder? And what happens when one of the intended victims turns out to be someone a little too close to home? This time, Jade is more than willing to use her abilities to solve the murder. But will she figure it out in time?

The Chosen (Nine Lives of Chloe King series by Celia Thompson)

CHLOE KING MAY BE THE ONE.
Despite a rocky few weeks, Chloe King is starting to get it. She''s figured out who she is (a girl with catlike superpowers), where she belongs (at home with Mom), and what she wants to do (chill with her friends).
Yes, she's got funky superpowers, and yes, two rival groups think she's some "chosen" leader. But no, she's not buying all that ancient-warrior crap. And she's definitely not developing a superhero alter ego like in those old comic books. For Chloe, being the One means she can have whatever she wants -- i.e., more goof-off time and fewer "cat people" conventions.
Then she finds her friend bleeding in an alley. All at once Chloe realizes that the years of bloodshed are not over. In fact, they never will be. The Mai and the Tenth Blade are going to persist in their dangerous rivalry. Unless Chloe accepts her destiny -- and takes control.

Acceleration (Graham McNamee)

It's a hot, hot summer, and in the depths of the Toronto Transit Authority's Lost and Found, 17-year-old Duncan is cataloging lost things and sifting through accumulated junk. And between Jacob, the cranky old man who runs the place, and the endless dusty boxes overflowing with stuff no one will ever claim, Duncan's just about had enough. Then he finds a little leather book. It''s a diary filled with the dark and dirty secrets of a twisted mind, a serial killer stalking his prey in the subway. And Duncan can't make himself stop reading. What would you do with a book like that? How far would you go to catch a madman? And what if time was running out. . . .

Trials of Death & Vampire Prince (Saga of Darren Shan)

The Trials: seventeen ways to die unless the luck of the vampire is with you. Darren Shan, the Vampire’s Assistant, must prove himself to the vampire clan or breathe his last in the world of the undead. But extermination comes in many guises. Sinister and potent forces are gathering in the darkness – bloodshed and betrayal will rule the night. Let the battle commence…

Branded a traitor, betrayed by a friend, hunted by the vampire clan - Darren Shan, the Vampire''s Assistant, faces certain death. Can Darren reverse the odds and outwit a Vampire Prince, or is this the end of thousands of years of vampire rule? The Vampire Mountain trilogy draws to a stunning, bloody conclusion - but the Saga continues...

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Hit & Run (Norah McClintlock)

15-year-old Mike McGill has been living with his Uncle Billy since his mother's death. Only ten years older than Mike, Billy loves to party, and doesn't pay much attention when Mike starts getting in trouble. But Mike's history teacher, an ex-cop named Riel, does pay attention. Especially when long hidden information starts coming to light that makes it seem that the death of Mike' mother might not have been an accident at all!

and of course,
Eclipse - the latest in Stephanie Meyer's vampire series

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer''s riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

Comments by Maggie B.

I'd seen this book in the library MANY times and didn't take it out because of the blurb in the back. No reason you should do the same. Anyways, This novel is about Bella. She moves to Forks while her mom is in Florida with her husband Phil. In the mean time, Bella's with her dad, Charlie. In Forks, Bella encounters the Cullens, a family of vampires, and falls for the youngest - Edward.

The ending is amazing. There is one other part that left me awestruck, but the end will leave you hungry for the sequel.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

What I'm reading now: New Moon (it's the sequel!)

Impossible Odds by Dave Duncan

Comments by - Edward M.

The book Impossible Odds is part of the group of books by Dave Duncan called "The King's Blades". It is a stand-alone novel about some of the king's blades who, although not properly trained, are bound to follow a duke who has lost his kingdom. Worth reading but makes a little more sense if you have read one of the other King's Blades books.

My rating is: - Good read, but could have been better

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

Comments by - Edward M.

The Deed of Paksenarrion is a story about a girl (she is 18 at the start of the book) who joins a mercenary company. The story was originaly published as 3 volumes but I would strongly reccomend reading this book, as I think it might be difficult to read as a trilogy. Although this is a fairly long book (1024 pages of quite small type), it is an excellent book with a masterfully written plot and complex, interesting, believable, well-written characters. Highest of praise. I highly reccommend this book.

The best thing about this book was the portrayal and development of the main character. Paksenarrion is a believable character who is fun to read about and is surprisingly human. The worst thing about this book is taht there are several parts in the middle of the book where Paksenarrion is not like herself or is hurt badly that are difficult to read. One of the best books I have read.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

Darksword Trilogy (Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman)

Comments by - Edward M.



This trilogy tells the story of a man without magic living in a world where magic is life and science is a forbidden art. The first book is "Forging the Darksword". If you have read other books by these authors, this book is typical of their work.


I did not like that in the first part of this trilogy it was hard to tell who the "good" people were.

My rating is: - Enjoyable, but nothing special

Cally's War (John Ringo & Julie Cochrane)

Comments by Edward M.



This story takes place in a world where Earth has recently been part of a large scale inter-stellar war with several alien races involved. The main character is an agent for a secret organization that is trying to free humanity from the control of the alien races. Strangely weapons technology is about the same as it is now while medical science and space travel are extreemely advanced. This book combines complex characters with good plot development. If you like science fiction you should read this book.



I was expecting this book to have more action, combat etc. but was disappointed to discover that it actually had very little of that sort of thing.


My rating is: - Good read, but could have been better

How to rule the school (Kathryn Lay)

Comments by - Edward M.

This book is an interesting story about a class that, in the interests of education, becomes a monarchy for two weeks. The main character learns all about the trials of being a leader and has fun doing it. A good book for younger readers and grade school teachers alike!

I enjoyed the conflict between the King and Queen as well as the conflict between the King and his Knight.

My rating is: - Enjoyable, but nothing special

Tithe (Holly Black)

Comments by: Maggie

Tithe is about Kaye, a faerie. I actually thought it really could've been better -- There were alot of hard-to-understand parts. I'd give an example, but it'd spoil the book. :-) You'll have to read it and see.

My rating is: Good read, but could have been better.

What are you reading now: Help! Recommend a book for me!

Twilight (Stephanie Meyer)

Comments by: Stacey Bonfield

Twilight is not a mystery but you are always wondering what is going to happen next. I for one had never been interested into the vampire type of books. but this book i completly fell for. A adverge teen goes to a town called forks and everybody there thinks shes beautiful and perfect but back in phonix she had no friends and never had a boy friend. She goes through many adventures until she gets one. His name is Edward Cullen , she knows something is different about him and doesn't fgiure it all out. when she does they date. and she falls madly for him. they go through many things and he is always there for her no matter what. Makes sure to read this, the second one new moon, and eclipse the third.


The way she writes, it just makes you never to want the book to end. it is most definatly one of the best books i have read.


My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

My new/next book is: Eclipse-stephanie meyer

gossip girl (Cecily Von Ziegesar)

Comments by: Briar Flem

A lot of my friends had been talking about the gossip girl series. It sounded very interesting so i decied to read the first book. It had a lot of drama and gossip! At the beginning of the book it was really confusing but when you got into it, it really turned out to be a great book. Although I thought it would be better because of the way my friends talked about it, i was impressed.


I think the best thing about the book is that it is very easy to relate to the situations of the characters. But the worst thing about it, is that it is very predictable, overall i think this is worth reading :)

My rating is: - Good read, but could have been better

My new/next book is: Gossip Girl 2ing

A certain slant of light (Laura Whitcomb)

Comments by: Maggie

Although this book isn't availible in the MPL, I encourage you ask for it through inter-library-loan. It's a fantastic novel - quite the page turner. It's the tale of Miss Helen. Not quite young - she passed away 100 years ago, and is trapped between heaven and hell. She survives by finding herself hosts - humans she stays very close to in order to protect herself from being trapped in an icy prison. When we begin her story, her host is Mr.Brown, who cannot see her - none of her host have been able to see her. - Mr. Brown is an English teacher at a local school. Miss Helen is most surprised when a boy spots her. She hides, she is embarassed. But they become friends, very good friends. This book is about how they find a way to be together, and how Helen tries to free herself from the clutches of hell.

The ending will surprise you, and although you may need to re read the last few pages to proporly understand them, it's worth the trouble. This was an amazing book. But I don't suggest it for young readers. Ask your parents before taking it out.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

My new/next book is: Twilight - By Meg Cabot. (Please recommend a book anyways...)

A certain slant of light (Laura Whitcomb)

Comments by: Maggie

Although this book isn't available in the MPL, I encourage you ask for it through inter-library-loan. It's a fantastic novel - quite the page turner. It's the tale of Miss Helen. Not quite young - she passed away 100 years ago, and is trapped between heaven and hell. She survives by finding herself hosts - humans she stays very close to in order to protect herself from being trapped in an icy prison. When we begin her story, her host is Mr.Brown, who cannot see her - none of her host have been able to see her. - Mr. Brown is an English teacher at a local school. Miss Helen is most surprised when a boy spots her. She hides, she is embarrassed. But they become friends, very good friends. This book is about how they find a way to be together, and how Helen tries to free herself from the clutches of hell.

The ending will surprise you, and although you may need to re read the last few pages to properly understand them, it's worth the trouble. This was an amazing book. But I don't suggest it for young readers. Ask your parents before taking it out.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

My new/next book is: Twilight - By Meg Cabot. (Please recommend a book anyways...)

First Rider's Call (Kristen Britain)

Comments by: Edward M.


This was an excellent book. It continues the story started in "Green Rider". If you haven't read "Green Rider" already you will have trouble understanding this book.

This book has some of the best written characters of any book I have ever read! If you enjoy fantasy I would strongly reccomend reading both "Green Rider" and "First Rider's Call".

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (J. K. Rowling)

Comments by: Edward M.


The final Harry Potter book was definately a page turner. It started off fast with lots of suspense throughout the book. There were a few slow parts but on the whole it kept a good pace. A great deal of questions raised in previous books were answered.

The Epilogue was unsatisfying. I felt it did not adequately explain what happened to most of the characters: a bit to much was left to the reader's imagination.

My rating is: - Good read, but could have been better.

Shane (Jack Schaefer)

Comments By: Anne A


This book is about Shane, a man with a troubled past. While helping a town out of trouble, he is able to let go of his past.

The best part of the book was when Shane and Joe Starrett, the father of the family Shane was
staying with, let out their frustration on a huge stump by chopping the roots and removing the stump from the ground. The incident that occurred at the same time with Mrs. Starrett's pie is quite humorous.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

My next book is: "The Robe" by Lloyd C. Douglas

Love's Long Journey (Janette Oke)

Comments By: Beth A

This book tells of the journey West of Willie and Missie LaHaye. Throughout their journey West, they encounter many hardships, such as rain storms, and swollen rivers. When Willie has to go on to the ranch to prepare for the winter and Missie is left in the town of Tetsford Junction, she misses Willie greatly. Upon Willie's unexpected visit, Missie has a surprise for him. I absolutely loved this book. It was my favourite book of the "Love Comes Softly" series.

The best thing about this book was that it was totally believable. Nothing occurred that you wouldn't expect to find in real life at that time period. I also enjoyed the humour that was added through the character of Mrs. Taylorson on occasion. Her "Twelve Rules" for boarders was her best humourous addition. Overall, the whole book was good, and there weren't any parts that were boring; the story drags you in so that you almost think you're really there!

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

My new: "The Matchmakers" by Janette Oke

Uglies (Stan Westerfeld)

Comments by: Colleen W

This book is based in the future and in the future when you turn 16 you have to go and get a surgery done to make you pretty. Tally is very excited about the surgery until she meets Shay who doesn't want to have the surgery done. The week before Shay's 16 birthday Shay runs away to a place called the Smoke, where everyone is "ugly". Tally has to either betray her friend and bring her back or Tally has to stay ugly forever.

This book is kind of confusing in the beginning but if you continue on this book is very good. The best part about this book is the description and the originality of the plot. I didn't want it to end! I also didn't have to because this is a trilogy. (1st-Uglies, 2nd-Pretties, 3rd-Specials) I have read the first 2 books and want to read the last one very badly!

Scribbler of dreams (Mary E. Pearson)

comments by: Maggie B.


This is an amazing novel in which a young girl named Kaitlyn - an artist,keeping to herself and confiding in her journal after her father is accused of murdering another man who is part of the Crutchfield family, who the Malones have had a feud with for as long as young Kait can remember. But what shocks the heroine is that even after tradgedy, she can still learn to love and trust some one she does not know well, and what shocks her is that the young man she has fallen for is Bram Crutchfield - son of the man that was believed to be killed by Mr.Malone. This story is one of Love, Hate, Forgiving, Forgetting and most importantly, one of trust. It is a modern "Romeo and Juliet". The outcome of this novel will not shock you, but you will be left feeling joyful and satisfied. I didn't want it to end.


The best part of this book for me was the end, when the two main characters learn the true meaning of love, and how it means that even despite what has happened between their parents, they have the power to change everything, and end this ridiculous arguement.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!

I'm reading now/next?: Help! Recommend a book for me!

When Calls The Heart (Janette Oke)

Comments by Tia L:

This novel is part of a six book series. It is about a beautiful, young school teacher, who is going to go to western Canada, in the year 1873, to teach school. The book is very romantic and is a extremely good book to read for all of the people that like romance, I suretanly did.

Throughout the entire novel there are so many enjoyable parts, that it is hard for me to name just one.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!


My new/next book is: Shane

Good Omens (Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett)

Comments by Mark S.

It was a great book. The antichrist was a well-written character.

The antichrist's hell hound was the best thing about this book.

My rating is: - I didn't want it to end!