What's On Your Ideal Bookshelf?

What's on YOUR Ideal Bookshelf? Out of all the books you've ever read, which ones are your favorites? Which ones can you read again and again without ever tiring of them? Which ones made the biggest impact on you? If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have a few books, which ones would you take with you? Now's your chance to tell us--and maybe win a prize for doing so! 

Stop by the Adult Services Desk and fill out a "My Ideal Bookshelf" form for a chance to win a copy of the Thessaly La Force's book of the same name.  

Teen Reviewer: Annie White

Teen Reviewer Annie, 14, read an advanced reader copy of In the After, by Demitria Lunetta (due to be published June 25, 2013), and she loved it! Here is her review:

"In the After is told from Amy Ham's point of view. She is a 16-year-old girl who has survived an alien invasion on her own. After a month with no one to keep her company, she finds a toddler while out on a food run. She names her Baby. Together they survive nearly three years. They create their own language (a modified version of American Sign Language), they learn to be quiet, and they learn to survive. After a few years, they are rescued and taken to New Hope, a city full of people. Amy discovers many secrets about the city and the invasion. This book was a fantastic read. The writing style is very entertaining and the plot takes many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. My only complaint would be the ending. Other than that, In the After is a thrilling, heart-pounding novel I could hardly bring myself to put down."

Annie suggests this dystopian novel might be best for older teens, age 16-18. But she wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone she thinks would enjoy it.

Teen Reviewer

Teen Reviewer Tori Spring, 14, read and enjoyed The Hallowed Ones, by Laura Bickle. She picked the book because of its cover, but ended up being drawn into the story within its pages. Here is her review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was extremely well-written and, though somewhat graphic, it was still really fun to read. At no point did I feel not connected to the book. And the main character, Katie, was really easy to relate to. She had a rebellious streak that most teenagers also have, and the author described her romance with Alex, the outsider she helped against the other Amish people's wishes. I felt as though I was falling for Alex with Katie. I do wish there was a little more character development, but I LOVE the way that he knew a lot of the Greek and Egyptian myths.This added a lot of depth to Alex and made him very interesting. I also loved how the author made the romance slow and across a long time, not 3 days. It also summarized the Amish life. It would have been boring if they weren't Amish, so it was great. Overall, this was an amazing book.

Tori suggests this book for other teens ages 13-15. And she would definitely recommend it to someone else.

Teen Reviewer:

Teen reviewer Clare, 13, read an advanced reader copy of SYLO, by D.J. MacHale (to be published July 2, 2013). Clare read this book because a friend suggested it to her. Here is her review:

The science fiction novel SYLO by D.J. MacHale was well-written with an interesting writing style and a plot that, while done before, was still exciting to read. The story centers around Tucker Pierce, who, after a series of unexpected deaths, finds his island town is being taken over by a government branch called SYLO. The rest of the novel shows Tucker and his newfound friends discovering the true motives behind SYLO. New discoveries and the book's mystery keep it fresh, but they are too few for the book's length. Major events are separated by pages of slow-moving chapters that make SYLO difficult to push through. Combined with a cast of characters that are mostly dull, unlikable, or stereotypical, SYLO seems to rely heavily on its plot, which doesn't always work. But for most of the book it does. While not a book everyone would find interesting, I would recommend it to a fan of science fiction or someone looking for a book of decent length to pass the time with.

Clare recommends this book for teens age 13-15. 

Teen Reviewer:

Teen reviewer Olivia, 14, recently read The Warrior's Heart: Becoming a Man of Conpassion and Courage, by Eric Grietens and loved it. Here is her review:

In this book, Eric shares his life and the courage needed to become a Navy Seal. He writes with just the right amount of detail to where you feel you are actually with him. Through his hardships and battles, Eric encourages the reader to become their own person and live to be someone you're proud of. He really paints a picture of how important and influential volunteering is. Putting yourself before others is a great attribute to have, and Eric displayed that perfectly. Throughout the book, Eric becomes an amatuer boxer, visits refugee camps, and endures the world's most difficult military training to become a Navy Seal. This book has been adapted for teens, which I think was an excellent choice. Just because a memoir may seem too crude or violent doesn't mean we shouldn't know the truth. There were countless lessons in this book, which teens need to learn. Bravery, commitment, honesty, humility, integrity, just to name a few. Upon returning home from war, many soldiers cannot express their experience. It took an immense amount of courage for Eric to write about some very difficult experiences, and I thank him for doing so.

Olivia feels this books is most appropriate for teens age 13-15. She picked it up because of other reviews she read, and would not hesitate to recommend it to someone else.

Wanderlove

Ever want to do something drastic to escape your life? After nearly a year, Bria's mentally abusive boyfriend dumps her (without warning) to attend art school on the other side of the country, leaving Bria broken-hearted, mentally wounded, and with her own college plans in ruins. Desperate for a change of scene, Bria spontaneously signs up for a Central American tour group--only to discover it's not nearly as much of an escape as she'd hoped. Then Bria encounters the handsome and mysterious Rowan. Throwing caution to the wind for the first time in her sheltered, good-girl life, Bria leaves the tour group to travel with this fascinating, free-spirited boy, who seems to embody everything Bria wishes she could be. Their destination is the famed Laughing Bird Island, where Rowan supposedly has a job set up to teach scuba. As they travel across Central America, Bria heals from past wounds and begins to get her head together. She and Rowan (who also has his dark secrets) begin to trust each other and become friends...and maybe there's a possibility of romance. Or maybe not. Whatever happens next, it will be Bria's adventure of a lifetime. Something she'll always remember.

Wanderlove is one of those coming-of-age books that's so well done, you can't help but rave about it again and again. Bria's character does a tremendous amount of growing up throughout the story, transforming from a sheltered and mopey teen into a young woman who's got it together--or at least well on her way to getting it together. Her relationship with Rowan is interesting in that it's REAL. None of that insta-love stuff that so often crops up in books. That's very refreshing. Also, there are no vampires, werewolves, zombies, faries, trolls, wizards, or angels anywhere to be seen. Also very refreshing. Just a girl's journey of self-discovery and healing set against an exotic, tropical backdrop. So if you're looking for a beach book with a bit more depth than your typical chick lit, Wanderlove is for you. Awesome and highly recommended! --AJB

TSRP: Double Feature Wednesday

Teen Summer Reading Programming (TSRP) will officially kick off Wednesday June 19 with the first of four What Do You Dig Double Feature Movie Marathons. This week we will be showcasing Recent Release Adventure movies, Rise of the Guardians (PG) and The Hobbit (PG-13). Movies begin at 3 p.m. All who attend will receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing that will be held at the end of the program. But remember: You must be present at the end of the second movie to win! You must also be signed up for the TSRP to be eligible for the drawing.

For a complete list of TSRP events or to inquire about a program, visit the Teen Desk. --AJB