August 5th, 2009 by fjacksonem
As I sat in the movie theatre waiting for the long anticipated sixth Harry Potter movie, I watched the coming attractions including the picture books, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Where the Wild Things Are. Although I knew those books, it was a young adult novel that caught my attentions. Several years back a Harry Potter expert spoke at an End of Summer Program and highly recommended
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS. I made a mental note to read it, but like many suggestions they remain on a list, however, the movie trailer for
THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan reminded to read it.
Percy Jackson, 12 -year-old, is dyslexic and has ADHD. He has never spent more than one year at any school,because there are always strange things happening to him. At his current school, Yancy Academy, Percy is on a class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to visit the Greek and Roman stuff. While sitting on the Museum steps eating lunch, Percy finds himself in the middle of a fight and is forced to follow Mrs. Dodds, the math teacher back into the museum.
Back in the Greek and Roman exhibit Mrs. Dodds reminds Percy she is not a fool and begins to change form. “Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. Her jacket melted into large, leathery wings. She wasn’t human.” ( The Lightning Thief, p. 12) To save his life Percy must defeat his math teacher or whatever she was. After returning to the museum steps, Percy discovers there is no teacher named Mrs. Dodds.
As summer vacation begins Percy and his mother try to spend a few days on eastern Long Island away from his stepfather. The trip is cut short, because forces beyond Percy’s control takes over. He discovers his best friend is a satyr (half-man, half-goat), and his mother must get him to the summer camp for the children of the Greek Gods. As they try to reach camp Percy must fight a minotaur, and that is only the beginning of the adventure. Who could his Dad be, Zeus, Hades or Posiden? As Percy learns the ins and outs of being a hero, he also learns that heroes must embark on quests; what an adventure for a 12-year-old boy a quest to save Western civilization from the warring Greek gods.
THE LIGHTNING THIEF is just the beginning of Percy’s adventures. The other titles are THE SEA OF MONSTERS, THE TITAN’S CURSE, THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH, and THE LAST OLYMPIANS. Just a tease THE SEA OF MONSTERS has the Cyclops, actually two of them.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS LOVE GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND LOVES ADVENTURES ABOUT FRIENDSHIP.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
June 2nd, 2009 by fjacksonem
The
2009 NEWBERY AWARD WINNER is a great read.
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman starts off with a gruesome murder. At 18 months of age Nobody Owens is the sole survivor of his family. Let’s just say Nobody, known by his friends as Bod, has a bizarre upbringing. Adopted by the dead and almost-dead residents of a graveyard, Bod learns unusual skills of survival. His surrogate parents and teachers are ghosts, ghouls and vampires. Under their protection and guidance Bod grows up to solve the mystery of his family’s death. He is also faced with the decision of having to choose to continue to live his life amongst the dead or the living.
Critics have compared
The Graveyard Book to Rudyard Kipling’s
The Jungle Book and once that was brought to my attention it was fun to see how the characters line up. At times this book is dark and scary and at other times heart warming and fun. I found this book hard to put down and a must read. An added surprise of this novel is that it is skillful and eerily illustrated giving the start to each chapter a graveyard feel.
I WOULD RECOMMEND IT FOR GRADES 6 AND UP.
Mrs. Sayan
Young Adult Services
East Meadow Public Library
April 1st, 2009 by fjacksonem
BRISINGR is the third book in the ERAGON series by Christopher Paolini and picks up following the epic battle against the empire and Murtagh, Eragon’s half brother, on the burning plains. Eragon is troubled by the promises and oaths he has made to the Vardan, the elves and the dwarfs. He feels he may not be able to keep them. He discovers why and how Galbatorix, the ruler of the Empire, has become so strong over the years and may have discovered a way to defeat him. Eragon also learns who his true father is and why the truth was hidden from him for so long. Eragon and his cousin Roran journey to Helgrind to save their friend Katrina from Ra’zac and the Lethrblaka.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR TEENS IN GRADES 8 TO 12.
Sherrod Falls
Grade 7
Woodland Middle School
March 18th, 2009 by fjacksonem
Anthony Horowitz, known for teen super spy, Alex Rider, has written a new tale of young teenage boys swapping bodies in
THE SWITCH. Thomas Arnold David Spencer, aka Tad, returns home from a year at Beton Academy. He is the only child of the fabulously wealthy, charitable and knighted by the Queen, Sir Hubert Spencer. Tad is also overweight, very bright, spoiled, and not taken seriously by his parents. When he expresses an interest to visit the new theme park, his parents don’t want him on “those rides.”
Off in his room Tad murmurs, “It’s not fair.” He wonders why he can not do what he wants, and just before he falls asleep he wishes he was someone else.
Before he is fully awake, Tad knows something is different. He finds himself in the camper of two carnival workers. He is now Bob Snarby, uneducated, thin and very poor. Bob is also an accomplice to a petty thief. Tad’s first criminal attempt results in a murder, and Tad is now a felon wandering the streets of London. Maybe, his life was not so bad.
As always with classic trading places stories there is a reason for switch. For Tad this reason will change his life forever, be careful what you wish for.
I RECOMMEND THIS STORY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN GRADES 6-8, WHO ENJOY A GOOD TALE.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
March 6th, 2009 by fjacksonem
NEPTUNE’S CHILDREN by Bonnie Dobkin is a chilling story of a society of children.
The Virus was developed, so its victims would have no time to respond. Canisters were hidden in building ventilation systems on airplanes, and inside water towers. Each one had a programmed time to open. The creators had vaccinated their own populations, but when the virus was released, it spread so quickly and mutated so frequently no one was safe, EXCEPT THE CHILDREN.
It was a magical place, Isles of Wonder. There were five islands – Atlantis is the home of King Neptune; Inspiration has everything for the creative mind; Nightmare where things are dark and scary; Timescape is an isle for all eras; and Enchanted is a fairy land. Famlies flocked to this wonderful place, as did Josh, his sisters, Maddie and Caitlyn and their parents, but it turned into a nightmare. The virus spread and Josh and Maddie lost their parents and older sister. Only children and tweens were left. What could they do? How would they live?
With no other choice the children must create their own society, which barricades them from the outside world and its possible dangers. Led my Milo, the son of an Isles of Wonder engineer, and other tweens with Isles of Wonder ties, a society is formed with a simple government. All is happy, until there is the possibility of others living beyond the Park. When some want to leave to find out what is outside, this perfect world begins to shatter. Is the danger from the outside world or from within?
I RECOMMEND NEPTUNE’S CHILDREN FOR GRADES 7 AND UP. IT MAY APPEAL TO THOSE WHO LIKE THE KINGDOM KEEPERS SERIES BY RIDLEY PEARSON, BUT THIS BOOK IS DARKER AND HAS SOME VIOLENCE.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
March 3rd, 2009 by fjacksonem
For those of you who loved ERAGON, here is a review of the sequel,
ELDEST by Christopher Paolini.
Eragon has taken the legendary position as a Rider and has left the Varden in Surda with his companions to journey to Ellesmera in Du Weldenvarden, the homeland of the Elves. His quest there is to seek out the Elf Queen to ask for her assistance in the oncoming war against the mighty empire of the Dragon King Galbatorix and his Black Dragon Shruiken. While there he will further his studies in magic and in swordplay and learn what it means to be a Rider and somehow find a way to save all Alagaesia from the evil dragon king Galbatorix and his black dragon shruiken.
ELDEST is an action packed book with each page described in great detail making it feel as if you’re in this magical fantasy world of Dragons, Elves, Dwarfs and much more….will Eragon finally learn his linage?
Sherrod Falls
Grade 7
Woodland Middle School
February 27th, 2009 by fjacksonem
After the death of her stepfather, Zara is sent to live with her grandmother in cold and snowy Maine. Her mother hopes the change of scenery will bring Zara out of her depression. Zara loves her spunky grandmother, but she hates the cold and misses her mom. But even worse than the weather and her homesickness is the mysterious man she sees everywhere she goes. Not only does he follow her everywhere and call out to her, but he leaves a strange trail of gold dust behind him. Zara is convinced he’s connected to the disappearance of some missing boys in town and is determined to find out what he wants with her. On her quest to find the truth, Zara finds out that her new town has many secrets and everyone, including those closest to her, may not be who or what they seem.
Fans of Twilight, Wicked Lovely and other paranormal romances will love
Need.
I recommend this book to teens in grades 8-12.
Ms. Cea
Young Adult Librarian
December 16th, 2008 by fjacksonem
Have you ever thought you could live forever? Has science created a way for ever-lasting life by creating synthetic body parts and even brains? Mary E. Pearson explores the concept of bioengineering in the book,
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX.
Jenna Fox awakes from an 18 month coma after a car accident. Her father, the owner of a medical technology company, is heart-broken and uses his resources to save her, so Jenna has neither her old body nor a complete memory. To add to the confusion her parents have moved her from Boston to California, and requested she not tell anyone the reasons for their move. What are her parents hiding from her and why is her grandmother so distant?
With the assistance of home videos about her previous life Jenna tries to piece together her past. Along the way a reclusive neighbor, new classmates at school, and a school project help her understand her present.
If you are looking for science fiction story of the 21st century kind, try
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX. I RECOMMEND THIS TITLE FOR GRADES 8 AND UP.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
East Meadow Public Library
November 10th, 2008 by fjacksonem
If you love vampire novels like I do, you might want to check out The Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine and the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith
The Morganville Vampires
In Glass Houses the first book in the series, we meet Claire Danvers, an exceptionally smart 16 year-old who lives on her college campus in the strange town of Morganville, Texas. All Claire wants to do is study, but when the taunting and bullying from the older students becomes too much, she is forced to move off campus.
Responding to an ad in the local paper, Claire meets up with Eve, Shane, and Michael, and they invite her to live at the Glass house, owned by resident Michael Glass.
Within twenty-four hours of moving in, Claire learns why the town seems so odd: It’s run by vampires. Humans who are under Protection from a vampire wear bracelets identifying them as such, but anyone without a bracelet, such as Claire, is fresh blood. The Glass House contains powerful protection wards, but Claire and her roommates can’t hide forever and must face the creatures that wait for them in the night.
The Vampire Diaries
The Awakening begins the story of 2 rival vampires who happen to be brothers and the girl who is caught in the middle.
Elena Gilbert is the most beautiful and popular girl in Fell’s Church, Virginia and she can have any guy she wants. Enter Stefan Salvatore the suave, mysterious, new guy to whom Elena is immediately drawn to. Elena vows to make him hers and does everything in her power to have him. What she doesn’t know is that Stefan is a vampire who is haunted by his tragic past. Despite being a vampire, Stefan has a good heart and feels that he doesn’t deserve Elena’s love because of what he is.
When Stefan’s older brother Damon shows up in town, things get even more complicated. Damon is dark, seductive, and handsome and he decides he wants Elena too. What’s a girl with two vampire loves to do?
I recommend both of these great vampire stories to teens in grades 8 and up.
Ms. Cea
Young Adult Librarian
October 25th, 2008 by fjacksonem
Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, one of the poorest districts in Panem, what was once known as North America. Every year, the Capitol of Panem forces each district to send one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in The Hunger Games. The 24 teens, chosen by lottery, will fight to the death on live TV. Only one contestant will survive to be showered with gifts and fame. The winner’s district will also be provided with extra food and provisions for the next year.
When Katniss’ little sister Prim is selected for the Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place without a second thought. Prim is only twelve years old and so small and fragile that she would not last long. Katniss is whisked away to the Capitol with the other contestant from District 12, Peeta, the son of the local bread maker. After a few days of training and parading around for the cameras, the contestants are dropped into the arena and the Games begin. Alliances are quickly formed and Katniss is not sure who she can trust and if she has the strength to kill another person just to stay alive.
The Hunger Games is an exciting, fast paced story of survival. I recommend it to high school students.
Ms. Cea
Young Adult Librarian