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Mullen, Mike. ASHFALL New York : Tanglewood, 2011 IL YA ISBN 1933718552 The first of a series, Ashfall is a post apocalyptic tale set in present times. A super volcano under Yellowstone Park erupts, and the catastrophic explosions are felt for hundreds of miles. Alex, left on his own for the weekend in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is almost killed in the decimation of his house, and he quickly realizes that life as he knew it is gone forever. In the midst of the panic and chaos surrounding him, he decides to head to Illinois to reunite with his family. As he struggles cross-country through heavy, drifting ash, he faces starvation, abandoned homesteads, violent strangers, and unexpected love. What will he find at the end of his journey? How can he keep going amid the death and destruction surrounding him? You will not be able to put down this gripping, sometimes grim, page-turner of a novel. Winnie Host, Penncrest High School (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Today's podcast 04/27/2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Today's podcast 04/23/2014
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Meyer, Marissa. CINDER Feiwel and Friends, 2012 Cinder is a sixteen-year-old cyborg; human, but she’s been reconfigured with some mechanical parts. It’s a hard life. Cyborgs are considered second class citizens in society and Cinder is also mistreated at home. She lives with her nasty step-mother and step-sisters. Taking her name into account, I bet you’re sensing a familiar story here. And you’re right. This is a science fiction mash-up of the classic Cinderella tale, but it’s unique; set in futuristic China with some exciting added action. Of course, like the original, there’s romance with an uber-charming prince. But this isn’t a flat retelling. The connection between Cinder and Prince Kai is more than love at first sight and it’s fun watching it develop. The characters aren’t stereotypes. Cinder’s a good mix: feisty, mechanical and tough. There are no mice or fairy godmothers to help out. Cinder’s a take charge gal determined to solve her own problems, although she does get a bit of help from a droid and the prince. Anyone could use help since the problems facing Cinder, and all of New Beijing for that matter, are monumental. There’s a deadly plague, and the threat of an invasion from a civilization hell bent on taking over Earth. This is a fresh look at a timeless tale. There’s only one drawback; it’s part of a trilogy so you’ll need to keep reading for the final resolution. Patricia McClune, Conestoga Valley High School (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Today's podcast 04/22/2014
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Levithan, David. EVERY DAY New York : Knopf, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0375971114 “Every day I am someone else … It has always been like this.” Every morning, A wakes up in a different body: a boy or girl, rich or poor, healthy or sick. He can access facts about the person’s life to guide him through the day, but every night he leaves it all behind to start over again the next morning. After 16 years he’s gotten used to this existence, and he’s learned not to get too attached to anyone or anything. But on Day 5994, everything changes. A wakes up in the body of a boy named Justin, and he spends the day with Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. Suddenly, letting go at the end of the day isn’t so easy. A wants to be with Rhiannon the next day, and the next, and every day after that. He starts taking risks to see Rhiannon again, though every time he looks like a stranger to her. He wants to explain everything, but would she ever believe him, or be able to love him back? Is A the only one in the world who lives this way? If he could change his life, would he … or should he? Open Every Day and you will get caught up in this one-of-a-kind novel by David Levithan from the very first page! Amy V. Pickett, Ridley High School (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Monday, April 21, 2014
Today's podcast 04/21/2014
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Laban, Elizabeth. THE TRAGEDY PAPER
Laban, Elizabeth. THE TRAGEDY PAPER New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0375970401 The Tragedy Paper is the title of the book and also the name of a huge assignment that every student at the prestigious Irving School must write in order to pass senior English. They all know the assignment is coming and it’s stressful. Like the tragedy paper, there are other traditions at the Irving School. It’s a boarding school steeped in traditions, including one that involves graduating seniors leaving a “treasure” for the next student to get his or her room. On the first day of fall semester the new seniors are excited to see what was left for them. Was it a favorite book with a list of tips for passing English, a check for $500 (someone actually got that one year!) or something generic like a bag of M&Ms? Duncan finds a note and a stack of CDs narrated by and left for him by Tim MacBeth. Tim was a loner who only came to Irving for the last semester of his senior year. Duncan already knows what happened to Tim last year and it wasn’t good. But he doesn’t know the whole story. It’s important for Tim to recount it and for Duncan to hear it. This is an interwoven story of friendship and first love, and of peer pressure and the magnitude of certain choices. Patricia McClune, Conestoga Valley High School (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)