BoTW: The Dead and the Gone

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Pfeffer is a book about a Puerto Rican family trying to survive a devastated planet Earth. The story begins when a meteor slams into the moon, knocking it out of its typical orbit. The collision brings about catastrophic climate changes to Earth, plunging the world into a sudden Ice Age. As the temperature drops worldwide, crops fail, hunger ensues, and people starve and die by the millions.

Alex Morales, all of sixteen years old, must protect and provide for his two sisters. The entire books takes place in the middle of a New York City in the midst anarchy and destruction. Be forewarned, this book is stark and serious and not for the faint of heart. It deals liberally with a variety of moral issues, including the bleak choices that come with hard survival.

The Dead and the Gone is a 2009 Lone Star award winner. It can be found on the new release shelf with the other Lone Star winners.

New Arrival!

The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood just arrived at the library. Destiny says:

"Fifteen-year-old Miss Penelope Lumley, a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is hired as governess to three young children who have been raised by wolves and must teach them to behave in a civilized manner quickly, in preparation for a Christmas ball."

If you're a fan of the Lemony Snicket books, this series might be right up your alley!

Book Trailer for Antsy Does Time

Here's a great book trailer for Neil Shusterman's Antsy Does Time.

BoTW: Suck It Up

Suck it Up by Brian Meehl is yet another vampire book in the crowded vampire sub-genre of fantasy and realistic fiction books. The story focuses on Morning McCobb, a teenage vampire who guzzles a blood soy-substitute rather than sink his fangs into real people. He belongs to the IVLeague, an organization of vampires who preach a message of tolerance and inclusion between vampire and humankind. Morning isn't interested in being a "traditional" vampire. He doesn't dress and in black and red, doesn't sport a massive cape, nor does he spring from a coffin at dusk and declare, "Good evening" or "Blah, blah, blah!"

Instead, Morning wants to bring vampires into the social mainstream. He wants slobbering, pointy-fanged blood-suckers to hang out with average Joe's, their mothers, their grandmas. Opposing Morning's social dream is a Loner by the name of DeThanatos. Loners are rogue vampires who almost always live apart from their fellow vampires and view humans as bipedal grazing cattle. DeThanatos hates the IVLeague and all its vampire members and does everything in his power to bring it down and prevent vampire integration into human society. While Morning sees a future of social harmony and goodwill, DeThanatos still enjoys biting people and thinks vampires evolutionarily superior to humans.

To make matters worse, Morning really likes a girl he just met, Portia Dredful. She's human, but brings out the Loner in Morning. Does Morning manage to defeat DeThanatos and bring vampires and humans together? Can Morning control his vampire heritage and win Portia as his girlfriend? Read Suck It Up and find out!

New Arrival!

The Fizzy Whiz Kid by Maiya Williams is our latest and greatest book here at Smith. Destiny says:

"Moving to Hollywood with his academic parents, eleven-year-old Mitch feels like an outsider in his school where everyone has connections to the powerful and famous in the entertainment industry, until he is cast in a soda commercial that launches a popular catchphrase."

Want to read more? Swing by the library and pick up The Fizzy Whiz Kid today!

BoTW: Antsy Does Time

If you look at the cover for Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman, you might think the book is about some goofy cartoon characters. It's not. The book begins with a group of boys witnessing a man plunge to his death in a bizarre hot-air balloon accident. Pretty heavy stuff.

In fact, the entire book is about death, though from a teenage boy's perspective. Even so, the book is funny. Antsy is a clever, witty young fellow. He has to handle the issue of life and death with a stranger, a friend, and eventually his own father. The book is a big departure from Shusterman's other famous book, Unwind, so if you've read the latter, adjust your expectations accordingly.

New Arrival!

Urchin and the Rage Tide by M.I. McAllister is book five in the Mistmantle Chronicles. Destiny summarizes the book as:

"The peace and prosperity enjoyed by the animals of Misthaven under the guidance of King Crispin comes to an end when a series of tidal waves threatens the island, and efforts to get everyone to safety on higher ground are hindered by Mossberry, a squirrel whose ambition to rise to power puts everyone in danger."

Library Pizza Party Rescheduled!

I had to cancel the library pizza party last week because of inclement weather. The party is rescheduled for this Thursday, February 10th. If you received an invitation last week, I will see you there!

BoTW: Killer Pizza

When I first saw Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor, I jumped to the conclusion that it was about a monster pizza roaming the city streets eating hapless citizens. I was admittedly disappointed to discover I was wrong. Not completely though. Killer Pizza may not feature a gigantic, carnivorous pepperoni pizza, but it is about monsters. And a team of teenagers recruited to track them down and fight them.

The book opens with a horrific roar. Something huge and slobbering chases Chelsea Travers through darkened woods. She stumbles in the end and the thing catches up with her. What happens to Chelsea? The book cuts to the next chapter before we find out, leaving Chelsea's fate to the reader's fertile imagination.

We next meet Toby Maghill, a teenage boy who has vainly spent the summer looking for any part-time job. His hunt ends when Steve Rogers from Killer Pizza calls offering him a position. But Killer Pizza isn't just any run-of-the-mill food chain. It turns out its employees double as MCOs, Monster Combat Officers, girls and boys trained to hunt and fight monsters. Killer Pizza doubles as their headquarters and front.

Toby eventually accepts the MCO position and finds himself tracking down the very monster that surely must have eaten poor Chelsea Travers at the beginning of the book. How does it all turn out? Stop by the library and check out Killer Pizza to find out!

New Arrival!

Scumble by Ingrid Law is the companion to the beloved Savvy, and is newly arrived at the library. Destiny says:

"Mibs's cousin Ledge is disappointed to discover that his "savvy"--the magical power unique to each member of their family--is to make things fall apart, which endangers his uncle Autry's ranch and reveals the family secret to future reporter Sarah."

Intrigued? Swing by the library and check it out!

Pizza Party Tomorrow!

For those of you invited, don't forget about the Library Pizza Party tomorrow, February 3rd, after school in the library from 2:30 to 3:30!