Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Korgi

Korgi. Book One. by Christian Slade
Youth Graphic Novels – Lower Level - KOR

Korgi is a sparkling graphic novel, wordless except for the introduction, nicely all ages. Hidden in the forest live the small magical people called the Mollies, with their helpful fox-like Korgis. One day, a little girl named Ivy gets lost, and she and her Korgi must outwit the monsters who are trying to trap them in order to get back home. The pen and ink illustrations are beautiful and expressive. The cover made me wonder about it being too girly of a book for my gender-conscious boy, but not to worry – there was quite enough straight-up adventure to hold his attention, as well as the occasional touch of humor. This has been added to our personal library and we’re now giving it as kid birthday presents. There are two more books in the series now available.



Thursday, June 23, 2011

I'd Know You Anywhere



I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Adult New Book Display - Main Level - Mystery Lippman


I picked up a Laura Lippman book because it was on the “new” shelf at the library (and because it’s on my summer reading list). I liked the cover and I liked the title, and I remembered reading some reviews of it in the review journals. I had never read a book by her before, but I most definitely will read more of them now!

I’d Know You Anywhere is about the 1985 kidnapping of Elizabeth Lerner. It’s also about Eliza Bennett, the only person kidnapped by Walter Bowman to live to tell. Elizabeth and Eliza are the same person – she changed her name to Eliza so that she could start over and not live under the drama and the “story” of Elizabeth Lerner the rest of her life. All these years later, Eliza is married with children. She is perfectly content with her life and her anonymity. Her husband knows what happened and her parents and sister know what happened to her, but her children and her neighbors and friends have no idea.

That’s why her world is turned upside down when Walter contacts her out of the blue. He is scheduled to be executed in two weeks, and wants to talk to her before that.

There is so much going on in this book – I don’t want to write a four page review or summary of the whole plot, so I’ll just say this: pick up this book and do not stop reading until you have finished! Find out what Walter really wants. Find out if Eliza will agree to see him. Find out if he is executed.

Read this book!


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Safe Haven

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Adult New Fiction Sparks


There is a new waitress at Ivan’s Restaurant and she has a secret. A big one.

When Katie arrives in Southport, North Carolina, she knows no one and no one knows her. She is there to start over, period. Despite her ever-present anxiety over the life she left behind, she finds herself falling in love with Alex, a local store owner and widowed father of two small children. Her next door neighbor, Jo, in whom she reluctantly confides her past, encourages the relationship. Katie’s past, however, holds her back as it rears its ugly head in her mind and eventually, her new life.

This story is darker than most of Sparks’ novels and gives us frightening insight into the mind of the antagonist that Katie so desperately fears. It is also a study in true courage. The way Sparks plays out the story is fascinating. It’s a great summer read.



Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Not That Kind of Girl



Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Teen Zone New Fiction- Main Level– VIVIAN


Natalie has worked hard all through high school and it is finally senior year. Everything is going to be perfect: she was elected (in a harsh battle) student council president, has earned the respect of a well admired teacher, and her best friend Autumn has stuck by her side. She has lived out her high school days by not going to parties, ignoring guys and not having many close friends. She is determined to be a successful powerful woman who is independent and always in control. Things start to change when she takes Spencer under her wings. Natalie used to babysit Spencer once upon a time and now she wants to make sure Spencer goes through high school making the right decisions. Spencer has another plan; she wants the help of Natalie but she does not want to sacrifice who she is. Spencer is a freshman who is very confident in herself and her sexuality. Natalie and Spencer disagree on how to be a strong woman without acting or looking overly sexual. Natalie is determined to change Spencer but realizes that she would have to go it alone because her faithful friend Autumn has decided to actually enjoy her senior year and socialize with other classmates. Natalie’s own strength is being tested when the unthinkable happens: she starts falling for the “bad boy”, who really is not that bad. Natalie goes through a lot of emotions and hurdles to realize that you can still be a strong woman with beliefs but still have time carved out for friends, boyfriends and fun.



Monday, June 13, 2011

Polly and the Pirates

Polly and the Pirates by Ted Naifeh
Teen Manga – Main Level - POL

Our story opens with the young Polly Pringle at boarding school. She is regarded by her peers as sweet but much too willing to abide by the rules. That very night, her bed is hoisted out of her bedroom onto a pirate ship. She refuses to believe the awful truth at first: she is the only daughter of the famous Pirate Queen, taken as her crew’s last chance to find the Pirate Queen’s Hoard. The Pirate Prince, a handsome and untrustworthy-looking young man, is also after the treasure, and the Navy is after the lot of them. Polly rises to the occasion in a glorious way, proving in a manner quite unsettling to herself that she has inherited large amounts of her mother’s talent at nefarious business. Naifeh’s whimsical art, where the ships look like buildings, suits the story perfectly and is quite different from the moody shaded work he produced for Holly Black’s The Good Neighbors. This is rated for 7 and up, and I think it could go even younger if the child in question can sit still for an exciting story (we have it in teen because it predates our youth graphic novel collection.) The book says “Volume 1”, but I regret to say that my visit to Ted Naifeh’s web site failed to turn up any signs of a sequel in the works. Still, there’s a lot to be said for a one-shot story, and this one is highly entertaining.



Friday, June 10, 2011

Among the Hidden



Among the Hidden
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Youth CD Books--Lower Level--Haddix


This was the first time that I have experienced this book. I have always wanted to read, or hear it, and was not disappointed. It is a great dystopian novel that is well written and tragic. Most of the characters have some depth and there were some twists and turns that kept even an adult reader interested. I definitely want to continue the series to experience more adventures with Luke Garner, the protagonist.

Children will enjoy this book because they will be able to relate to the feeling of being ignored, or less important, than siblings and peers. Tweens also enjoy reading about unusual or extraordinary experiences. The captive life of Luke Garner will keep most young readers intrigued. This would also be a good recommendation for young readers who enjoy other dystopian novels, like the very popular Hunger Games Series. The presence of likeable and strong male and female characters will make this book appeal to both male and female readers.