|
|
"We are all of us, gods and mortals, made up of many pieces, some of them broken, some of them scarred, but none of them the total sum of who we are." ~ from Robin LaFevers' Mortal Heart
|
|
|
Greetings! Hello, I'm Caroline Peterson, and I am the editor of the Teen Scene E-Newsletter. I am also the Teen Librarian at the Southwest Library. As an avid reader of young adult literature, I hope you enjoy these recommendations! Please email me at cbpeterson@dconc.gov if you have any thoughts or questions! I just finished reading As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes. The man in black himself tells behind-the-scenes stories about how the special effects were created, the long hours of learning swordplay, and other hilarious shenanigans on set. This charming book is a must-read for anyone who grew up with The Princess Bride. Also, the audio book is narrated by many members of the cast and crew! If you'd like to read this book, you can find it in the Adult Nonfiction section, under call number: 791.437 Elwes.
|
New and Recently Released |
|
| Stranger by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood SmithScience Fiction. In ancient times, before the destruction and mutations caused by the solar storm, the city was known as Los Angeles. Now it's Las Anclas, a walled frontier town that's home to all sorts of people, including awkward engineer Mia; aspiring politician Felicité; protective Ranger Jennie; Yuki, who longs for the ocean; and Ross, a prospector whose arrival in Las Anclas sparks a violent conflict between the human "Norms" and the mutated, super-powered "Changed." If you love dystopian series like the The Hunger Games or Divergent, you don't want to miss the pulse-pounding action, romantic entanglements, and diverse characters in Stranger, the first book in the Change series. |
|
| The Fall by Bethany GriffinHorror. Madeline Usher is trapped inside her family's decaying, haunted mansion. As her desperation to save herself (and her beloved twin brother, Roderick) increases, so does her strange illness...could it be that the house would rather let her die than let her leave? The Fall's intensifying pace immerses readers in a "thick, murky atmosphere" (Kirkus Reviews) of dread, building toward a dramatic, disturbing finale. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, this twisted tale will hold special appeal for Poe fans, as well as fans of Bethany Griffin's earlier Poe adaptations, Masque of the Red Death and Dance of the Red Death. |
|
| Mortal Heart by Robin LaFeversHistorical Fantasy. Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph introduced Ismae and Sybelle, trained killers from the convent of St. Mortain; this conclusion to the popular His Fair Assassin trilogy focuses on another of Death's handmaidens, Annith, who runs away from her grim destiny at the convent. Though she longs to control her own future, Annith is drawn toward a brooding lost soul named Balthazaar and caught up in the struggle between 15th-century Brittany and France. Rich with historical detail and simmering with murder, secrets, politics, and romance, Mortal Heart will captivate readers who appreciate complex, powerful heroines. |
|
| Even in Paradise by Chelsey PhilpotMystery. Like everyone at St. Anne's, scholarship student Charlotte has heard of Julia Buchanan -- Julia's powerful family and wild habits are notorious. However, it's not until Charlotte forms an intensely close friendship with Julia (and falls for Julia's brother, Sebastian) that she glimpses the painful secrets hidden beneath the Buchanans' glamourous image. Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and combining the wrenching family drama of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars with the boarding-school relationships of John Green's Looking for Alaska, this debut novel offers both "modern romance and classic tragedy" (School Library Journal). |
|
| The Accidental Highwayman: Being the Tale of Kit Bristol, His Horse Midnight... by Ben TrippFantasy Adventure. Though 16-year-old Kit is certainly surprised to learn that his boss, Master Rattle, was really Whistling Jack, an infamous highway bandit, it's nothing compared to Kit's shock when he discovers that fairies are real. Rattle's dying request was for Kit to complete his final mission: to rescue the fairy Princess Morgana from an unwanted marriage. Kit manages to find the feisty princess, but he's mistaken for Whistling Jack in the process and pursued by humans and fairies alike. Sprinkled with whimsical illustrations and sly humor, this fast-paced series opener is perfect for those seeking old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure. |
|
| Burning Blue by Paul GriffinMystery. Popular, privileged Nicole Castro is one of the most beautiful girls at school -- until someone throws acid on her face in a crowded hallway and disappears. Now half of Nicole's face is permanently scarred, and the police haven't been able to determine her attacker's identity. But after Nicole and loner Jay Nazarro meet in the school psychologist's office, Jay, a talented hacker, resolves to find the culprit no matter what it takes. Told through narrative as well as through bits of evidence that Jay unearths, excerpts from Nicole's journal, and notes from her sessions with psychiatrists, this is a riveting read that, like Peter Abrahams' similarly gripping Reality Check, blends a dangerous investigation with romance. |
|
| Green Witch by Alice HoffmanFiction. A year ago, the city near Green's village was destroyed -- while her parents and sister were there selling produce from the family's garden. The previous novel Green Angel tells how Green picked up the pieces and moved on with her life, thanks in part to fellow survivor Diamond, whom she came to love. But now, in Green Witch, she is alone again: Diamond has gone missing and Green must venture out from her lush garden to ask for help from four solitary women who are rumored to be witches. Hailed by critics as "trancelike and infused with magical realism" (Kirkus Reviews), this poetically written story of loss and longing is heartrending and memorable. |
|
| Yellow Flag by Robert LipsyteFiction. More at home behind a music stand than behind the wheel, talented trumpet player Kyle Hildebrand has, so far, avoided being part of the family business of stock-car racing. But when Kyle's older brother, Kris, is forced to sit out a race due to an injury, Kyle has to take his place...and discovers that he likes it. Now he's torn between pursuing a NASCAR career and continuing to study music, and to make things more complicated, he's got a potential girlfriend in each of these worlds. With "heart-pounding action" (VOYA) and plenty of NASCAR details, Yellow Flag is a must-read novel for racing fans. |
|
| Red Glass by Laura ResauFiction. Shy Arizona teen Sophie is afraid of almost everything, especially things that are unfamiliar or uncertain. But because she loves Pedro, the 6-year-old Mexican orphan who has been staying with her family, Sophie agrees to travel with him to Mexico so that he can see his relatives. Their journey, and the people they meet along the way -- including Guatemalan teen refugee Angel -- shakes up Sophie's perspective and ignites the courage she never realized she had. Red Glass is an unflinching yet "vibrant, large-hearted story" (Publishers Weekly) that celebrates determination, bravery, and love. |
|
| White Crow by Marcus SedgwickGothic Horror. When Rebecca moves with her father from London to the tiny seaside village of Winterfold, she's bitter about leaving her home and friends behind. Then she meets Ferelith, a twisted and rebellious girl who goads Rebecca into playing increasingly spooky and dangerous "games" with her. As the present-day storyline progresses, a chilling -- and ominously related -- mystery unfolds in excerpts from a long-dead priest's diary. Building suspense and divulging tantalizing secrets bit by bit, this "wickedly macabre" (Kirkus Reviews) tale is sure to give you shivers. |
|
|
Battle of the Books Club
Tuesday, January 6, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
Southwest Children's Program Room
Are you on a Battle of the Books Team at your middle school? Do you just like reading really good books? Join us at the library on the first Tuesday of every month to discuss a different book. Snacks will be served! Please register. In January, we will be discussing The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.
|
|
|
Teen Book Club: Mystery Edition
Saturday, January 10, 2:00 pm
South Regional Study Room 1
Talk books and nosh pizza at the teen book club. (Some copies of each monthÂ’s book are available at the South Regional Information desk.) We will be reading Jackaby by William Ritter. Registration required.
|
|
|
Teen Book Club & Pizza
Monday, January 12, 4:30 pm
East Regional Meeting Room - Full Room
Join our book club and discuss your favorite books. This month we are discussing Divergent by Veronica Roth. Ask Archie for extra copies!
|
|
|
Teen LGBT Book Club
Monday, January 26, 6:00 pm
Southwest Tutor Room 1/Room 125
This book club is a safe place where LGBT teens and their supporters can read novels that feature LGBT characters and meet other teens with the same interests. The book club meets on the second Monday of every month. Snacks will be provided.This month we will be discussing Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block.
|
|
|
Snacks + Stories
Tuesday, January 27, 6:00 pm-7:00pm
Southwest Children's Program Room
Join us for the monthly teen book club meeting. We will discuss different genres, favorite authors, and fandoms. Tasty treats will be provided. In January, we will be discussing Paper Towns by John Green.
|
|
|
Young Adult Book Club
Friday, January 16, 7:00 pm
The Regulator Bookshop
Do you love YA? Are you interested in discussing or starting to read YA? Then we'd love to have you!This is a book club for all ages, the only requirement is that you are interested in the young adult genre! This club is hosted by blogger, Isabel, of Tween2TeenBooks. In January, the club will discuss The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg.
|
|
Need More Recommendations? |
|
|
For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should read.
|
|
|
NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
|
|
|
Links to newsletters from the past year:
|
|
|
If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27702
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
|
|
|