BoTW: Graceling

Within the Seven Kingdoms, some people are born with the Grace of reading minds. Others possess the Grace of climbing tree. Still others have the Grace of counting numbers backwards flawlessly. Unique among them is the young girl Katsa, graced with the skill of killing.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore is a fantasy title with an usual premise: a young girl skilled in fighting and killing, the personal assassin for the king himself, who abhors the murder she commits and vows to do some good on the sly. But Gracelings stick out like a sore thumb. Not only do they possess their unique talents, they also have eyes of two different colors. People fear those disparate eyes because Gracelings can be meek and unassuming or powerful and terrible.

Katsa has yet to meet her match in battle. As she secretly performs missions of mercy, will she endanger her position as the king's most cherished assassin? Read Graceling and find out!

New Arrival!

Do you like reading about cataclysmic events, like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods? Then check out Emily Diamand's Raider's Ransom. The books takes place in the 22nd-century, where severe climate change has raised sea levels and flooded much of the United Kingdom. Brazen pirates kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter and thirteen-year old Lilly undertakes a dangerous quest to deliver an ancient jewel as ransom payment.

Library Tip of the Week

Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me won the 2010 John Newbery award. You can visit the American Library Association site to read more about the award, all the 2010 winners and runners-up, and past Newbery award winners.

BoTW: When You Reach Me

An event by itself often doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of a person's life. But when you string them together, can they divine a grander meaning? When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead takes a stab at answering that question within a suspenseful, mysterious novel.

Miranda, a twelve-year old of a single parent, witnesses a series of seemingly random events that eventually converge into a mission of life and death. Her mom is preparing as a contestent on the game show The $20,000 Pyramid. Miranda's best friend Sal is inexpicably punched by a new student. Miranda's apartment key goes missing. And then Miranda's received the first of many letters that says:

I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own.

I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming and very often describe events that haven't even happened yet, leading Miranda to the conclusion that only she can prevent someone's premature death.

When You Reach me is the 2010 John Newbery Award Winner and features prominately on the 2010 Lone Star list as well. The American Library Association describes the book as having a "brilliantly constructed plot." Stop by the library and check it out for yourself!

New Arrival!

Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez is about a seventeen-year old girl who investigates the murder of a teacher at her high school. When all clues point to a werewolf as the killer, Daisy finds herself in mortal, supernatural danger.

Library Tip of the Week

Since Peter and the Sword of Mercy was our Book of the Week this past Monday, why not revisit the series' website at http://www.peterandthestarcatchers.com/index.html? Not only can you read a summary of Peter and the Sword of Mercy, but you can also get caught up with the rest of the series, including character summaries, author interviews, and series news!

Click on over today!

BoTW: Peter and the Sword of Mercy

Last fall, I talked with you about one of my favorite young adult fantasy series, Peter and the Starcatchers. The fourth book in the series, Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, came out this past October and continues the thrilling adventures of our favorite flying boy who can't grow up.





















In this latest installment, Molly and George have married and have kids! Their eldest daughter, Wendy, is just as spunky and adventurous as her mother. When Molly mysteriously disappears and Wendy discovers a new plot by the evil shadow creature Ombra, Wendy embarks on a perilous adventure to rescue her mother. She must first enlist the aid of Peter. But Wendy lives in London England, Peter in Neverland Island! Wendy doesn't know where Neverland is! And even if she did, how can she cross miles and miles of open ocean quickly enough to save her mother and foil Ombra's evil plan?

Check out Peter and the Sword of Mercy to find answers to these questions and more!