Books and Reading

Enjoy this trailer for "Legend of the Guardians," the animated movie covering the first three books in Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga'Hoole series!  The movie will be in theaters September 24th! 

Five Scenes from David Small's "Stitches" from Stitches: A Memoir... on Vimeo.

As if David Small's graphic autobiography Stitches:--A Memoir wasn't powerful enough on its own, five scenes have been turned into eleven minutes of heart-wrenching video.  If you've read the novel, is it worth it?  Absolutely.  Hearing 'mama's little cough," slamming of cupboards and moving her "fork a half inch to the right" further enhances the viewers understanding of David Small's traumatic, childhood home.  If you haven't read this book, which was nominated for the 2009 Young People's Literature Award by the National Book Foundation, place a hold today!  It's worth enjoying in all formats! 

Drew Cafe Book had one of their best year's ever! Sixty students voted on their favorites of the year. Here are the books they feel every seventh and eighth grader should read. 

The Top Picks:

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

Sixteen-year-old Eon hopes to become an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune and learn to be its main interpreter, but to do so will require much, including keeping secret that she is a girl.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Other Favorites:

The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

The votes are in! Cafe  Book teens at Walker Grant Middle School have picked their favorites books from a list of 20 books.

The Top Pick: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control
through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people
from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old
Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her
younger sister's place.

Other Favorites:

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Messed Up by Janet Nichols Lynch

Scat by Carl Hiassen

Somebody by Nancy Springer

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen

"What books did you talk about yesterday at Lit Bistro".....glad you asked.  Here are some of the latest titles causing a buzz and some spirited discussion...

Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson...the true story of a 19 year old GI...".totally awesome "said one teen

Devils Kiss by Sarwat Chadda...."really creepy but good."

Eon Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman...."it's got to have a sequel"...it does!!!

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer....this is one that everybody agreed on ...they all loved it!!!

That is just a sampling of what goes on at Lit Bistro...so if you are looking for a book group...or just want to meet some teens who like to read and love to talk about it...join us for the next gathering on February 9th @4pm at the Porter Branch.  

Going Bovine by Libba Bray received the Michael L. Printz Award this morning at the American Library Association's midwinter conference in Boston. (That means some of the country's top librarians think this is the best young adult book published in 2009!)

Going Bovine  is about Cameron Smith, a disaffected sixteen year-old who, after being diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob's (aka mad cow) disease, sets off on a road trip with a death-obsessed video gaming dwarf he meets in the hospital, in an attempt to find a cure. Better yet, let Libba tell you about the book in her own words: