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McBride, Lish. HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER
McBride, Lish. HOLD ME CLOSER, NECROMANCER New York : Henry Holt, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0805090983Sam is just an average guy - happily living a slacker life, working at Plumpy's as a fry cook, and hanging out with his friends. His philosophy is that he may be a drop-out loser, but he's going to be the BEST dropout loser he can be. One afternoon after a game of potato hockey in the back parking lot, a strange man comes in. He grabs Sam, lifts him up by his shirt sending a bolt of cold electricity through Sam, and demands to know what he's is doing in Seattle without permission of the Council. Sam has no idea what he's talking about. Later that night on his way out of the restaurant, yet another man grabs him, sniffs him and says "you smell like the grave...and blood." When Sam's friend tries to run the creepy guy over with his car, creepy guy tears the bumper off! The next day a unexpected package is delivered to Sam's apartment. Inside is the disembodied head of his best friend, Brooke. That would be scary enough, but Brooke's head begins to TALK! But it's all good because she's kept her sassy personality even without her body. That's when things get really interesting!In another part of town, the hot daughter of the leader of Seattle's werewolf pack has been kidnapped and is being held in an iron cage. And Douglas, her captor, has Sam in his sights. You see, Sam's mother is a witch and Sam is a necromancer - someone with the ability to raise the dead. Sam is unaware of his powers, but once he is trained, he will be a threat to Douglas' powers. Douglas is out to eliminate the competition before it get out of hand.Sam's adventure on the dark side is a real roller coaster ride. Who knew that Seattle is inhabited all manner of paranormal creatures? The story of Sam and his friends (both human and not) is a funny, scary story (or a scary, funny) first novel by a young, quirky Seattle author. Be ready to laugh one minute and cringe the next. (booktalk Diane Ferbrache by Hazen High School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2013)
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Today's podcast 04/30/2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Today's podcast 04/29/2013
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Clare, Cassandra. CLOCKWORK ANGEL
Clare, Cassandra. CLOCKWORK ANGEL New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010 IL YA ISBN 1416975861 A chill is not all that awaits sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray in the damp fog of Victorian England as she arrives from New York City to look for her brother. Terrifying creatures lurk in the darkness of London's Downworld. Tessa is kidnapped and tormented by the sinister Dark Sisters until she unlocks her power to transform into other people. This ability, previously unknown to Tessa, makes her a coveted prize for their leader, the Magister. But, London and all its inhabitants do not go unprotected. Shadowhunters, including beautiful but angry Will and kind-hearted but doomed Jem, are duty bound to keep order. When Tessa's path crosses with the Shadowhunters she is saved, at least for the moment, and is allowed refuge at the Institute. There she struggles to figure out what she is, where her brother has gone and, perhaps most unsettling, why she is irresistibly drawn to both Will and Jem. These questions lead her down a dangerous path where the fate of the world and her heart are at stake. (booktalk by Kirsten Gunn Highline High School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Today's podcast 04/28/2013
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Bacigalupi, Paolo. SHIP BREAKER
Bacigalupi, Paolo. SHIP BREAKER Nailer works as part of a disassembly crew for abandoned oil tankers on the US gulf coast, stripping out recyclable materials like copper wiring. If the dangerous conditions and low pay made him think of quitting, there are hundreds of kids begging for the same job. When he lucks out and discovers a windblown luxury yacht that has washed up on the shore with a "swanky" girl on board, it could be the biggest thing ever to happen to him, or it could cause his quick death. The other crews will want to control the yacht, as will his abusive, addicted father, who wouldn't hesitate to hurt Nailer to get what he needs. Soon Nailer and the girl are on the run, with only a beefy, nearly-indestructible, genetically engineered, dog-man named Tool for their companion. Nailer and his new crew must get to safety in the drowned city of New Orleans, or the brutal crews will catch up with them. (booktalk by Michael Fleming Pacific Cascade Middle School Library for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, 2013)
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Today's podcast 04/27/2013
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Avasthi, Swati. SPLIT New York : Knopf, 2010 IL YA ISBN 0375863400 Sixteen year old Jace has less than $4.00 in his pocket, a busted face, and not much else, unless you count a long list of memories he'd really rather forget. After a marathon drive from Chicago to New Mexico, Jace has finally arrived at the only place he could think of to go, the only place where he might be safe: his brother's house. The only problem is, Jace hasn't seen his brother in five years, much less talked to him, so he doesn't know if Christian will even take him in. He'll definitely be turned away if Christian finds out what happened to make Jace leave town, which means it's time to start lying...Split is a compelling look at a family ruined by domestic violence, but it is also a rewarding book about trust, healing, and how two brothers learn to live life for themselves.(booktalk adapted from a review by Summer Hayes, King County Library System, for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, 2013)
Friday, April 26, 2013
Today's podcast 04/26/2013
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Garcia, Kami. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES
Garcia, Kami. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES Little, Brown, 2009 Ethan Wate has lived in Gatlin his whole life. His father has lived there his whole life. His Grandfather lived there his whole life… Get the idea. People live in Gatlin their whole lives and never leave, except that is exactly what Ethan wants to do. He hates the whole life in Gatlin, the families of popularity that keep the other families out, the same lessons taught in school, the same life as the Civil War. Ethan plans to leave as fast as possible after graduation and never look back.Then, Lena Duchannes arrives. She comes to live with the town’s Boo Radly, Old Man Ravenwood. Lena is a breath of fresh air and Ethan is drawn to her. Suddenly, Lena and Ethan are more than just attracted to each other, they are able to communicate with each other even miles away through telepathy. Ethan and Lena also share the same dark dreams of death and sadness. Through their journey to discover a way around the Duchannes curse and to solve the riddle of the dreams, Ethan discovers that Gatlin isn’t the town he thought he knew- and that there are many mysterious powers that live there. As Lena and Ethan travel down their road to discovery, danger lies in every direction and they discover it is hard to know who to trust when everyone has a secret.... (Tobye Ertelt for the Colorado Blue Spruce Award, 2014)
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Bacigalupi, Paolo. THE DROWNED CITIES
Bacigalupi, Paolo. THE DROWNED CITIES Boston : Little, Brown, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0316056243 A companion novel to Shipbreaker, here we meet Mahlia and Mouse. In a future America filled with violence and terror, the two children try to make their way to safety. Mahlia is the daughter of a Chinese diplomat but has been left behind when the peacekeepers gave up on Drowned Cities and went back to their homes. Mouse is a product of the violence and was living on his own until he met Mahlia. Actually, he saved her from the soldiers. She lost one hand in the confrontation but at least she is alive. The two team up with a half-man to find their way to safety. Will that road lead back into the Drowned Cities?