The Carnival at Bray, by Jessie Ann Foley

It's 1993, and Maggie Lynch, 16, couldn't feel more lost.

Her emotionally unstable mom has just married her latest fling, a guy she barely knew four months, and uprooted the entire family, forcing a move from the familiar Chicago neighborhood to a dreary small town on the coast of Ireland. Unlike her outgoing younger sister, Maggie has trouble making friends her own age and fitting in at her strict Catholic school. She misses her old home, her friends, her grandmother. But she misses her rocker Uncle Kevin the most of all. Despite that her family thought Kevin was a horrible influence, there was no one Maggie related to better. Despite their 10 year age difference, Uncle Kevin was the only person in Maggie's life who treated her like an equal, like a person, and not like a child. He was her best friend, and the only person she fully trusted.

And now he's an ocean away. 

As the winter rain falls outside, Maggie spends hours shut in her room, listening to the bands Uncle Kevin introduced her to: Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, and especially, especially Nirvana. This music is the only thing that makes sense to Maggie. It's the only thing that makes her feel connected to anything resembling a normal life.

Then comes two very important turning points: Maggie falls deeply in love with a local boy and a sudden tragedy strikes her family.

Spurred into action by these events, and armed with a pair of concert tickets Uncle Kevin sent in his last care package, Maggie runs away from home to make a forbidden trip to Rome where she will finally see the band whose music kept her company during those lonely hours. But it's more than just a road trip. More than just a concert. It's the beginning of everything. And, in some ways, the end.

The Carnival at Bray, by Julie Ann Foley, initially sparked my interest because it is set in the time period when I was a teen--so I suppose one could call it historical fiction. But despite the dated pop culture references, mentions of bands now considered "classic rock," lack of modern technology (no cell phones), and absence of social media, it's still a story that's relatable to teens of today. Family drama, first love, music, unexpected changes, and finding one's place in the world...these are still very important and relevant issues, and The Carnival at Bray handles them beautifully. Maggie is a very "real" character, and Eoin is positively crush-worthy! 

The Carnival at Bray was up for several awards this year, and, having read it, it's easy to see why. This one is definitely recommended. --AJB

p.s. On a side note, I'd like to mention that this book would me more appropriate for older teen readers. 

Let's Get Lost, by Adi Alsaid

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid was touted by some as "The Next Paper Towns" and others as "The Road Trip Book of 2014." Since Paper Towns is my #1 favorite John Green novel and since I love me a good road trip story (especially during the summer months), I was excited to read it and anxiously awaited the day when it would arrive in my hands. That said, the book had some pretty huge expectations to meet. Upon receiving it, I thought for sure, "THIS will be a book I'm going to want to hug when I finish it!"

Did any of that happen?

Um... Not quite. 

While I didn't dislike the story, I didn't absolutely love it either. My reaction was lukewarm at best. The premise is this: Leila is a teen on a mission to cross seeing the Northern Lights off her bucket list. So she road trips it across the country (in her obnoxiously red car) to do just that. Along the way she meets people and they have adventures and misadventures together. Leila has sort of a Stargirlesque quality about her in that she's kind of quirky-mysterious and has an uncanny knack for influencing (or, in most cases, totally derailing) the lives of everyone she encounters. 

For Example:

Hudson: An auto mechanic with big plans to go to med school. Leila "helps" him by making him miss his big interview with the dean, meaning he loses his one and only chance of getting the scholarship he so desperately needs to attend his college of choice and fulfill his dreams. 

Bree: A teenage runaway whom Leila gets arrested...and later reunites with her estranged older sister (there's LOTS of family drama here, but I'm not giving away any spoilers). 

Elliot: His encounter with Leila begins with Leila almost running him over with her car. She then proceeds to "help" him try to win the girl of his dreams. A girl who, just hours before, rejected him on the premise that she didn't want to ruin their friendship. Awkward!

Sonia: Still grieving over the death of her boyfriend, Sonia feels guilty over the fact she's falling for a new guy. Luckily, Leila is there to swoop in and save (?) the day.

Lastly, Leila tells her story. And, again, no spoilers. But, honestly, by the time I got to this point, I was kind of burnt out on the story. And that made it difficult for me to suspend my belief enough to buy it.

These five chapters read more like separate short stories rather than inter-connected parts of a full-on novel. Not unlike Marcus Sedgwick's Midwinterblood, Let's Get Lost has a choppy and disjointed feel. The reader doesn't get to stay with the characters long enough to become invested in them or their problems. The only character with any staying power was, of course, Leila... And I have to admit I didn't like her very much. I found her to be meddling, nosy, and creating more trouble than she did help (What gives her the right to decide what's in the best interest of someone they just met...and then proceed to screw up their lives? Annoying!). Also, like Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl, there was something not quite real about her (except I liked Stargirl's character). 

The final word: I liked the concept of the book, the idea of it. I was just expecting something different.

Not sure I can recommend this one. --AJB

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Ever since that family reunion 10 years ago when she and her cousin, Lindsay, were inseparable, Raina has wanted a sister. Someone to have fun with, someone to share adventures and secrets with, someone who would be a built-in best friend. So naturally she is thrilled when her parents finally, finally bring home baby Amara.

But having a sister isn't at all like Raina imagined. From the start, Amara is grouchy, argumentative, and prone to tantrums when she doesn't get her way. And she doesn't share any of Raina's interests. Except art. And, worse, Amara is the better artist. Naturally, none of this sits well with Raina. Or Amara, for that matter. And when a brother is introduced into the equation, things at the Telgemeier household go from bad to worse. And the years don't improve the situation any.

Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier, is an autobiographical graphic novel that illustrates Raina's summer before high school when she, her mother, Amara, and brother Will road trip it from California to Colorado for a family reunion. As the story (told partly in present day and partly in flashbacks) unfolds, the reader gets a better picture of Raina and Amara's stormy relationship and also of the drama that's going on within their family. Sure, the sisters fight and annoy each other. All. The. Time. But when life throws an unexpected curve ball their way, they're also are willing to be there for each other. Not that that'll admit to that, though. 

Over the years, I've become a big fan of Telgemeier's books. Smile, where we first meet Raina and her family, was (and still is) my favorite of the author's. And Drama was a cute and fun departure from the autobiographical books. Sisters is being promoted as a sequel/companion book to Smile, but you don't have to read one to fully enjoy the other.

Highly recommended! --AJB

Unreliable Narrators

For many, trust (or the ability to trust) is a very important factor when it comes to interacting with both strangers and the people they know. So why should it be any different with characters in books? Particularly when it comes to first-person narrators.

Because the alternative makes for a more interesting story. Thus, the popularity of the Unreliable Narrator.

Sometimes these narrators are being intentionally dishonest and the truth is revealed as the story unfolds. Other times, the narrator themself is in the dark about what's going on around them and must uncover the mystery along with the reader. Either way, such narrators make for real page-turners that often come paired with jaw-droppingly shocking endings!

Because these sort of books are so awesome, we've set up a whole display to spotlight them. This can be found along the top of the "New" book shelf.

Some of MY personal favorite books with Unreliable Narrators are:

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray: Cameron is diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease, a fatal sickness that will eat away at his mind and body until he eventually bites it. While languishing in the hospital, he is approached by a pink-haired angel who assigns him the task of saving the universe. Accompanied by a neurotic dwarf and cursed Norse god, Cameron embarks on this grand quest.

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart: Two years ago, Cady was in some sort of accident that caused amnesia and terrible migraines.  All she knows is her friends, the Liars, were somehow involved. No one will tell Cady what happened. Not her family, not the Liars, not her own mother. They all say the same thing, that she must remember on her own. When she finally does remember, nothing is the same.

Chime, by Franny Billingsley: Briony is a witch. Her step mother told her as much just before she died. This is why her sister is the way she is, why her father's home was almost swept away in a flood--and then half destroyed by a fire. Briony must hide the truth about herself or else be hanged. It is only when a handsome stranger comes to stay with her family does Briony start to question her step mother's claim. Because witches can't cry. Or love. 

The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary Pierson: Jenna can't remember anything about her life before the accident that claimed the lives of her two best friends. All she has is a box of old home movie videos. As Jenna watches, she learns about her life. But it isn't until she views the last movie, the one that her mother hid from her, that she learns who--or what--she really is.

--AJB

Hit the Road!

Road Trip Books--the next best thing to actually going!

The weather is (finally) warming up--just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend. What better time of the year to hop in your car (or your friend's car) and drive wherever the road takes you?

Ok, so maybe taking an impromptu road trip isn't within the realm of possibility. Many of you are, likely, still in school, gas is expensive, and most parents wouldn't be cool with turning their teen loose on the open road (I know mine would have freaked out at the mere thought!). So why not do the next best thing: Stop by the library and check out one of our Road Trip books! We've got a display featuring several titles, which is set up on top of our Fiction Shelf. Be sure to stop by the Teen Area and check it out.

What's there, you ask?

For example:

Reunited, by Hilary Graham: Alice hasn't spoken to her two best friends since that BIG falling out years earlier. But when the girls' favorite band announces a one-time-only reunion concert, Alice takes a chance and buys three tickets. Soon, she and her ex-BFFs are hitting the road to catch the show. But not without drama.

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray: Terminally ill Cameron has received a divine mission: To find a missing scientist, close a deadly wormhole, and save the world. Accompanied by a paranoid dwarf and a Norse god trapped in the body of a yard gnome, he accepts this challenge. He dodges fire giants, has a run-in with a smoothie-chugging Happiness Cult, and meets the greatest band who ever lived. But can he accomplish his mission before time runs out.

Safekeeping, by Karen Hesse: Radley returns home from overseas to find a country immersed in civil war. Now a fugitive on the run, Radley must make it across the Canadian border if she hopes to find safety--or locate her missing family.

Wanderlove, by Kirsten Hubbard: Following a bad breakup, Bria hopes to escape her life--and reinvent herself--by going on a Central American tour. Once there, she finds the tour populated by senior citizens. After a chance meeting with a mysterious backpacker boy in the marketplace, Bria leaves the tour and blazes her own trail. There may even be a chance for romance! But first Bria must learn to trust herself again if she's to truly trust anyone else.

--AJB 

Picture Me Gone

Mila has an extraordinary gift - she can read the emotions of those around her.  This becomes a blessing and maybe a curse when she and her father travel to New York from England to visit an old friend, Matt.  Just before they arrive in New York, Matt goes missing.  Mila and her father begin a quest to find him.  As Mila senses the emotions of those who knew Matt best, including her father, the mystery of his disappearance deepens.  What Mila eventually finds may test her understanding of love and family. 

In Picture Me Gone, author Meg Rosoff once again produces an unforgettable novel about the relationship between parents and children, love and loss.  Mila is a likable and realistic character you will want to get to know better.  If you are unfamiliar with Rosoff's work you should also read her first novel, How I Live Now.      KR

Teen Reviewer: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Teen Reviewer Kate, 13, read an advance reader copy of Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith. She'd heard about this suspense novel on Goodreads, and was entertained by it. Here is her review:

"Wild Awake is not a typical teen book, but I liked it. The author developed her main character, Kiri, at the very start. Through this book, I slowly saw the perfect Kiri fade. I just don't think she was the same by the end of the book, which is why I liked it so much. The plot of the book, I think, is what really stands out. There is never a slow moment. The end of the book was rushed. The author didn't take much time on ending the book. It just ended. Although I didn't think the ending was great, the rest of the book was pretty good. I felt the details and characters really shined. The author knew what she wanted to do with these characters, and they turned out great. I really think this book is worth reading"

Wild Awake was released May 28. 2013. Kate would not hesitate to recommend it.

Great Summer Road Trip Book: The Disenchantments

School's out for Summer! And even though it's been several years (not specifying a number) since I graduated, I still experience that excitement that goes along with the first day of summer vacation. That feeling that anything could happen over the next couple months! There's so much potential!

That said, my reading tastes this time of year often gravitate toward adventure stories. Not so much the ones featuring dragons, wizards, and unicorns (oh my!), but real life-type adventures. Involving real(istic) characters. And I just finished an awesome one: The Disenchantments, by Nina LaCour. 

Colby has just graduated from high school and, rather than go to college, he plans to backpack through Europe with his best friend, Bev, with whom he's secretly madly in love. This plan is four years in the making, and, for Colby, everything hinges on it. Everything. But first things first: Colby will accompany Bev on her garage band, The Disenchantments', final tour from San Francisco to Portland. Along the way, they will play gigs at questionable places, stay in run-down motels, eat greasy food, meet interesting people, and have exciting adventures. And maybe, just maybe, Colby and Bev will finally become something more than just friends. This is Colby's fantasy. But only a few miles into the trip, Bev drops a bomb that threatens to destroy everything: She won't be accompanying Colby to Europe like they had planned. Rather, she'll be attending college on the other side of the country. This is apparently something she'd been planning for nearly a year. Colby feels angry and betrayed: Firstly, because Bev, his supposed BFF, had kept such an important secret from him and, secondly, because he'd failed to make any plans for himself other than going to Europe with Bev (she left him hanging). 

Over the next few days and several hundred miles, Colby is forced to ponder a future without Bev constantly by his side. Painful secrets are revealed, old wounds are reopened, and drama is stirred up. There's also healing. And dreams realized. And the mystery involving the origin of a tattoo that was created before any of them were born. Everything works out in the end, but not in a way any of the characters could have expected.  

The Disenchantments is one of those ultimate summer road trip books that you're glad to have read. I highly recommend it! --AJB

The Ex Factor

When it comes to girlfriends, self-proclaimed child prodigy Colin Singleton definitely has a type. And that type has nothing to do with hair color, height/weight ratio, interest (or lack thereof) in sports, or the usual things that might attract people to each other. No. Colin is attracted to girls named Katherine (not Katie, not Kathy, not Kat, not Catherine-spelled-with-a-C). He's dated 19 of them to date, and each one has dumped him. Reeling from the crushing heartbreak of his most recent dumping, Colin decides he needs to get away from it all: From his hometown, from his over-protective and success-obsessed parents, AND from Katherines. Joined by his quirky friend Hassan, Colin embarks on a cross-country road trip, on which he hopes to complete a mathematical formula that will predict the outcome of any relationship. The guys end up in Gut Shot, Tennessee, the apparent burial place of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a historical figure who has much significance to Colin. Here, in this unlikely rural town, Colin and Hassan find jobs, friends, and life lessons. There might even be an opportunity for Colin to break his lifelong Katherine streak.

Although not quite as good as John Green's other books (in my opinion), An Abundance of Katherines is not without its charms. There's well-developed and likable characters, there's a fun plot, and there's the author's trademark humor. A warning for those clueless about math: There's quite a bit of math in here, so it's easy for to get sidetracked (and then lost) due to the complex formulas. On the other hand, you math nerds will love this! Overall, this book was entertaining and I'd recommend it. --AJB 

Reunion Tour

Back in middle school, Alice, Summer, and Tiernan were inseperable BFFs, united by their obsession with the band Level13. But when the band broke up their freshman year, the girls had a falling out and went their separate ways. Now, as they're about to graduate, Level13 announces a one-night-only reunion show--2,000 miles away. The girls decide to go. Together. But having barely spoken to each other for the past four years, the former friends are practically strangers. And the question is raised: Was their shared love for this band the only glue that held their friendship together? Or can they rediscover their friendship on a deeper level? Either way, this could be the most awkward road trip ever!

Reunited is for anyone who obsessively obsesses about a favorite band. And for anyone who ever did. Not exactly a deep read, but there's a lot of humor and heart here. If you're looking for some light chick lit, try Reunited. --AJB