This is your new YA Librarian here, Dan.  Want to tell you about some new books we just got.

I.Q. – Roland Smith – YA FIC Smith

A suspenseful, fast-paced thriller, I think you’d like it…check it out!

Antsy Does Time – Neal Shusterman -YA FIC Shusterman

A funny book that is magically thoughtful.

Blackbox - Julie Schumacher – YA FIC Schumacher

A book about family crisis and wit.

Out of the Pocket – Bill Konigsberg – YA FIC Konigsberg

A book about a Quarterback who is struggling with his identity.

On Beale Street – Ronald Kidd – YA FIC Kidd

A book about a kid struggling with the world of music and the beginnings of Rock n’ Roll.

Paper Towns - John Green – YA FIC Green

A love story and about towns that don’t exist.

Top 8 - Katie Finn – YA FIC Finn

It’s a girl’s life in Top 8. See how she deals with crisis.

Spud – The Madness Continues… – John Van de Ruit – YA FIC

New book about Spud and his adventures in a boarding school.

http://kotaku.com/5048888/the-first-sarah-palin-game

Cracks me up.

Bleach – Tite Kubo – YA G FIC Kubo (Volumes 21, 22, 23)

Fruits Basket - Natsuki Takaya – YA G FIC Takaya (Volume 18)

Love Hina - Ken Akamatsu – YA G FIC Akamatsu (Volumes 7, 8, 9, 10)

Naruto – Massashi Kishimoto – YA G FIC Kishimoto (Volumes 28, 29, 30)

Recast – Seung Hui Kye – YA G FIC Kye (Volume 5)

Saver – Eun-Young Lee – YA G FIC Lee (Volumes 4, 5, 6)

Trinity Blood - Sunao Yoshida – YA G FIC Yoshida (Volume 7)

The Manga is now located on a separate shelf – it’s where the Large Type Biographies used to be.   The regular Graphic Novels are still in the regular shelving.

NonFic

Model – Cheryl Diamond – YA B Diamond

This is an autobiography of a high-fashion model, who by the age of twenty-years-old, has walked in NYC Fashion Week, modeled for L’Oreal, Clairol, and Armani.  The writing is honest and poignant, glamorous and exciting, and quite funny at times.  But Diamond also shows the harsher side of modeling — waiting for her paycheck, the situations her co-workers got themselves into, the drug use around her — but Diamond seems to stay true and not succomb to the temptations of a reckless and excessive lifestyle.  Fans of Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model will devour this book.  It’s a real insider’s look into the goings-on of the modeling world.   

Blogs – Current Controversies – YA 006.7876 B

This is a neat little reference book about the nature of blogging — what it is, the impact of blogging on American culture, society, and politics, and legal issues related to the information presented in blogs.  The book is laid out in debate form – both sides of each topic are offered.  Includes an index and bibliography.     

Fiction

All We Know of Love – Nora Raleigh Baskin – YA FIC Baskin

Natalie Gordon is on a quest to find the mother who walked out on her many years ago.  She travels to Florida to find not only her mother, but also herself — and to find out a thing or two about love.  As we follow Natalie in her travels, we meet new and different people, people who have their own stories to tell, and their own reasons for searching for acceptance and just wanting to be wanted.  Written with delicacy and compassion, this is a beautiful and adventurous coming-of-age tale.

Take me There – Susane Colasanti – YA FIC Colasanti

“If you take a chance, you just might find true love waiting.”  This is a delightful novel that delves into the lives of three teenagers, Rhiannon, Nicole, and James.  The whole story takes place over the course of one turbulent week — Rhiannon copes with the devestation of the breakup with her boyfriend, Nicole’s  is still hanging around, but she has her eye on someone new.  And James.  James and Rhiannon are just friends.  For now.  The three teens concoct a plan to bring down a vicious and mean girl, but will doing so give them what they want?  Ups and downs, and ins and outs of friendship, love, and karma.

Footfree and Fancyloose – Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain – YA FIC Craft

From the author who brought us Bass Ackwards and Belly Up, comes an endearing tale about best friends, dreams, and self-actualization.  Harper, Sophie, and Kate all agree on one thing — to ditch college plans and live out their dreams.  Their other friend Becca stays the traditional course, but she has dreams of her own as well.  Harper is committed to writing her Great American Novel.  Sophie wants to be an actress.  Kate is doing humanitarian work out in Ethiopia, where she encounters the handsome Darby, the guy who went to Princeton and thinks she’s a ditz.  And Becca soon discovers that her relationship with Stuart isn’t quite as cozy as she thought.  What other mishaps could get in the way of their dreams?  What changes along the way when we pursue our dreams?  And it is all worth it?    

Twice Upon a Marigold – Jean Ferris – YA FIC Ferris

The sequel to Once Upon a Marigold.  This magical book picks up where the first left off.  Find out what is happening with Christian and Marigold.  And is the evil Queen Olympia really gone?  Get back to the castle in Beaurivage and see what all the fuss is about! 

Braless in Wonderaland – Debbie Reed Fischer – YA Fischer

Talk about Chick Lit… this one look slike so much fun.  More modeling stories!  Allee Rosen is a high school senior, an overachiever, incredibly smart, and she’s a feminist to boot.  She always sort of turned up her nose at the thought of modeling.  Modeling was something for her sister, the pretty one, to do…not for Allee.  But much to her shock, Allee is spotted at the mall and signed by a modeling agency.  Can Allee stick to her morals and presdispositions about the limelight and “the pretty people,’  now that she’s one of them?  Allee tells herself that she’s just doing it for the money.  But what happens when the quiet braniac goes from geek-to-chic?  Follow Allee around and get caught up in the world of glamour, backstabbing, go-sees, and photo shoots.  Fischer provides a witty and forthright look at the inside world of the modeling industry.

 Gone – Michael Grant – YA FIC Grant

“In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears.”  If you liked Bonnie Dobkin’s Neptune’s Children, you’ll probably love this one too!  Sci-fi and mystery fans alike will flock to this one.  Things are changing dramatically in Sam’s Perdido Beach world.  It all started while sitting in history class, mind adrift, as usual, and then poof!  The teacher disappeared!  And so it goes in this gripping tale, as everyone mysteriously staarts disappearing.  Everyone but the kids, that is.  Teens, middle-schoolers, and toddlers remain.  But no adults.  Where are they?  And then the phones go out.  And the internet.  And the television.  Groups of kids start to emerge, the strong, the weak, the bullies, the timid.  And there is more.  The animals are changing too.  And some of the teens are changing too.  Some have strange new powers, that can prove to be very dangerous.  Time is running out.  The older you get, the less time you have.  On your birthday, you’ll disappear too.  This looks so good!  I can’t wait to read it. 

Evernight – Claudia Gray – YA FIC Gray

Bianca had to leave home, and is now enrolled at Evernight Academy.  Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in with the crowd there – the students are sly and sleek, smart, and a bit ravenous and marauding.  Until she meets Lucas, he doesn’t fit in with them either.  Bianca and Lucas form a connection, but dark secrets creep up and threaten to separate them.  Is anything what it seems at Evernight?

Ten Mile River – Paul Griffin – YA FIC Griffin

Ray and Jose are friends.  They came through a lot together — surviving juvenile detention and foster care.  They refuse to fall back into that system, and are determined to hide out.  They find their refuge in New York City’s Ten Mile River Park.  They stopped going to school.  For good.  They steal things to get by, and work on ocassion.  They try to stay under the radar.  They vow that nothing can come between them, they have each others’ backs.  But an twist of fate takes them to the freezing waters off Ten Mile River.  How secure is their friendship?  What is in store for two homeless boys who have only each other to count on?  And what happens when the soft and righteous Trini shows up?  Gritty, complex, and authentic to the last, the story of Ray and J. will stay with you after the last page is read.

Snakehead – Ann Halam – YA FIC Halam

Halam weaves a world that combines ancient mythology with modern life.  Perseus, son of Zeus, has it easy living on the island of Serifos, although he is living in hard times.  When the beautiful Andromeda arrives on the island, Perseus is at once smitten.  But is Andromeda all she seems?  And then there’s Medusa, the woman with snakes for hair, who can freeze people with a look.  Gods and Goddesses from mythology come alive, as well as new characters.  Halam retells an age-old story of love, beauty, and cruelty with a laugh-out-loud voice, and with plenty of Mediterranean detail.

 And we’ve got lots more…come down and take a look!  I can write about them all, there are too many!

Just a quick runthrough… Ghostgirl is in… the second Skulduggery Pleasant book is here… an extra copy of New Moon, we got Book Three of the Noble Warriors series, Double or Die: A James Bond Adventure… and for our devoted fans or horror and all things gore, try The Demon Queen by Richard Lewis.

Come and and get ‘em while they’re hot!  Hope you all had a great summer and are enjoying your new classes!

Find it on the Chick Lit carousel, with the other Clique books.

Also…the last day to report on books for summer reading is August 20!  If you think you can read 3 books in 2 weeks, you can still sign up!  Our Grand Prize is a Flip digital video camera.  We will also be awarding some giftcards and other prizes.  Those who complete the summer reading club (read at least 3 books before August 20) receive an invitation to the End of Summer Party on Augutst 27th!

Come down and read, for the fun of it.

Got another contest to tell you about.  Many of you may not know that Nassau County has its very own Poet Laureate.  What does that mean, you ask?  According to Merriam-Webster, in the U.S., a poet laureate is someone (a poet) who is appointed by the Library of Congress, for about a year, to serve as a consultant and to promote poetry; a poet who is seen as representative and worthy of honor for his/her achievements. 

So, we have one of those.  His name is Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr.

Also check out this link about his First Annual Report. 

The contest is open to all students in the Nassau County School System.  There are three categories:

Grades K-5 (Elementary)

Grades 6-8 (Secondary)

Grades 9-12 (High School)

Rules:

One poem per student

Must include: student’s name; age; grade; address; phone number; email address (if you have one); and school name and your school’s address.  This information MUST be noted somewhere on your poem.

Poem should be typewritten, in English, and be one page (12 point font, Times New Roman)

Poem can be on any subject

Previously published pieces are okay, but you must state the publication name and the date it was published

There is NO FEE to enter

All poems must be postmarked (mailed) by January 15, 2009.

Mail your poems to:

NCPL School Poetry Contest

c/o J. TUREK

PO BOX 611

East Meadow, NY 11554

There will be an awards ceremony and readings of winning poems on:

 Sunday, April 26th, 2009, at 2:00 pm

Freeport Memorial Library

144 West Merrick Road

Freeport, NY 11520

Further details are mailed to applicants later on.

So if you are a budding poet why not give it a try!  Share your art with others! 

Cleopatra – Miller, Ron and Browning, Susan – YA B Cleopatra M

A nice little informative book about the life of Cleopatra, from Chelsea House’s Ancient World Leaders collection.  Color illustrations with descriptions break up the text and give more information.  Keep this in mind when reports on Ancient Egypt come around again!   

Myspace / Our Planet: Change is Possible - MySpace Community with Jeca Taudte, and a Foreword by Tom Anderson (yes, that’s THE Tom, everybody’s ‘friend,’ omnipotent ruler of MySpace-dom)

This is a great little hip book about our ever-changing climate, our planet, and how we can save it.  Filled with all sorts of info. about making a difference and living ‘green’: taking care of yourself, social responsibility, driving and car maintenance, school, work, streching your dollar, and extra resources in the back.  There’s even a glossary of ‘Eco-Speak,’ a neat feature I think.  Really cool.  As a MySpace user, I dig the fact that Tom is getting involved and using his influence for good.

Fiction   

Upper Class – Brown, Hobson; Materne, Taylor; Says, Caroline – YA FIC Brown [CAROUSEL]

Another Chick Lit series, on the Carousel.  Read about the lives of Laine, Nikki, the new girls at Wellington, an elite boarding school.  Laine lives the Connecticut country club life, plays field hockey, and turns heads with her turquoise eyes and blond hair.  She is Wellington material.  Her new roommate Nikki comes from new money, but the two girls couldn’t be more different.  Nikki is a Long Island girl (yeah, give props): loud, a tease, and just doesn’t belong, but she’s an asolute sweetheart.  But both girls must learn to get along in their new world and discover a little something about themselves in the process.

Shift – Bradbury, Jennifer – YA FIC Bradbury

“When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.”  A mystery that is believable and realistic – an engrossing story about loyalty and friendship.  It looks to be a real page turner!

Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs – Calonita, Jen – YA FIC Calonita

This is the third book in a series (Secrets of My Hollywood Life; Secrets…On Location).  In this third installment, Kaitlin Burke is on the set of a television show, Family Affairs, and after ten seasons of the show, she thinks she’s got everything figured out.  Until Alexis, the new diva, shows up.  Tensions mount as Kaitlin struggles to balance her relationship and her crazy job while trying to keep cool in the presence of this new star power on the set. 

The Patron Saint of Butterflies - Galante, Cecilia – YA FIC Galante

Agnes and Honey were both born in Mount Blessing, a religious commune.  Mount Blessing has lot of secrets and lots of strict rules.  The two girls grow up and grow different from each other.  While Agnes wants to become a saint, Honey wants to get far from Mount Blessing, as far as she can.  Agnes’ grandmother, Nana Pete, visits, and discovers something that makes her fear for the girls’ safety.  She removes them from Mount Blessing, and they each must undergo a journey.  Agnes struggles to hold on to a life that isn’t there anymore, while Honey is eager to find a normal life.  This is a great debut novel about friendship, faith and healing.

Write Naked – Gould, Peter – YA FIC Gould

Quirky sixteen-year-old Victor is a writer.  Victor has heard that ‘you have to be naked to write.’  He doesn’t know whether this means being physically naked, or metaphorically naked, as in letting go of preconcieved notions and connecting with your true self.  Victor decides to embark on a journey to write.  Naked.  He stays in a log cabin in the woods of Vermont, seemingly alone.  Enter Rose Anna, a free-spirit who is home-schooled, writes with a fountain pen, and wants to save the planet.  This book looks fantastic – raw, authentic, just two souls getting to know each other, connecting with their creativity… an awakening.  And here’s something…Victor, as the narrator, never capitalizes the letter i when he’s referring to himself, but Rose Anna does.  Hmmm… what does it mean?  Anything?  Read the book and tell me.   If I don’t check it out first!

Angel - McNish, Cliff – YA FIC McNish

This one doesn’t have much of a blurb to skim through, but here’s what the inside jacket says: “Two girls linked by destiny…Stephanie believes in angels.  Freya is turning into one.  Will they have the courage to face their fears of the unknown?”  This is a thought-provoking fantasy about a girl who is obsessed with angels…and a girl who is an angel.  This book is labeled as ‘Exceptional Reading and Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades.’ 

Rogelia’s House of Magic - Martinez Wood, Jamie - YA FIC Martinez Wood

Rogelia Garcia is a wise old crone who knows the magic of her ancestors.  Marina is a sweet but spoiled Latina princess who can hear dead people, and one of them is speaking in Spanish, but she doesn’t speak the language.  Fern is fiesty and free-spirited and can see auras around people.  Xochitl (So-chee) is a wallflower, but can turn invisible when she doesn’t want to deal with things anymore.  And since her twin sister just died, she’s probably invisible a lot.  When Rogelia gets a job as a maid in Marina’s house, she agrees to teach the girls the ways of the curandera (spiritual healer).  Marina and Fern are excited to learn but Xochitl is hesitant…magic has let her down before.  But at Rogelia’s House of Magic…anything is possible…

The Viper Within - Mills, Sam – YA FIC Mills

Jon has been looking for a way to restore his faith in things; to find a sense of purpose.  Jeremiah introduces him to the Brotherhood.  The Brotherhood of the Religion of Hebetheus has a mission.  They are to kidnap a terrorist known by the codename of SNAKE.  By kidnapping this terrorist, the Brotherhood plans to stop an explosion at St. Sebastian’s Secondary School.  Jeremiah overheard conversations, followed the terrorist, and orchestrated her capture.  Now it’s just a matter of time until the Brotherhood pounces on their terrorist and brings her into their custody.  This is an intense novel, with a thought-provoking look at the power of faith and belief in a reality where nothing is what it seems.     

All We Know of Heaven – Mitchard, Jacquelyn – YA FIC Mitchard

Bridget Flannery and Maureen O’Malley are best friends.  One moment on an icy road leaves one girl dead, and the other injured and in a coma.  Families and friends mourn the loss of heir loved one, only to discover that the girl they are mourning is the one that lived.  A case of mistaken identity causes one family to reclaim their daughter as a survivor, while another family must let go when they thought their daughter had been the one who lived.  Echoing real life events, similar to the case of Laura VanWyn and Whitney Cerak, this novel is a powerful and moving one; a story about tragedy, loss, healing, hope and love.

Child of Dandelions – Nanji, Shenaaz – YA FIC Nanji

Set in 1972, Uganda, when President Idi Amin ordered all foreign Indians out of their homes.  A countdown commences as updates are televised and more and more people are forced to leave.  Fifteen-year-old Sabine worries that her family will ahve to leave, too.  Her father, a businessman, thinks they will be safe because they are Ugandan citizens.  As time goes by, ALL INDIANS are ordered to leave Uganda.  Sabine and her family must decide whether to stay and defend their rights or to leave.  And what would it be like to have to start over in a new place, a new land?

Artichoke’s Heart – Supplee, Suzanne – YA FIC Supplee

Rosemary Goode is smart, funny and good at what she does.  But she is overweight.  Her ‘secret lovers’ are chocolates stashed under her bed.  Her mother and her aunt try to encourage her to lose weight.  Soon the whole Southern town in Tennessee is gossiping about Rosemary and her ‘problem.’  Rosemary vows to lose the weight and embarks on a journey that isn’t just about her pants size.  Her transformation has less to do with weight and more to do with other valuable insights.  “A life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with honesty and humor – topped with an extra-large helping of Southern charm – in this enchanting debut by Suzanne Supplee.” (-from inside flap)

Confessions of a Serial Kisser – Van Draanen, Wendelin – YA FIC Van Draanen

“After reading her mother’s secret collection of romance novels during her parent’s difficult separation, seventeen-year-old Evangeline Logan begins a quest for the perfect kiss.”  Fans of Flipped will love this one.  Evangeline is obsessed with lips, and with kissing!  Imagining the perfect kiss, as explained with such color in her mother’s romance novels, she embarks on a quest.  Evangeline’s journey prove to be filled with ups and downs, and just as much drama as the novels she reads!  This looks like a great beach read; fun, light, and full of smooches.

Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans - Volponi, Paul – YA FIC Volponi 

“Twelve-year-old Miles Shaw goes to live with his father, a jazz musician, in New Orleans, and together they survive the horrors of Hurricane Katrina in the Superdome, learning about each other and growing closer through their painful experiences.”  Music, hope, and faith collaborate in this novel as the human spirit learns to triumph, even in the face of tragedy.

The Disappeared – Whelan, Gloria – YA FIC Whelan

“Silvia tries to save her brother, Eduardo, after he is captured by the military government in 1970s Argentina.”  This novel alters its voice between Eduardo’s and Sylvia’s perspectives as a brother and sister come to terms with what is happening in their war-torn country, under the regime of a power-hungry General.

That’s it for now…and don’t forget about Summer Reading Club!  Sign up starts June 30th!  More on that later.

Cornell has offered to extend the reach of their efforts, inviting schools and libraries throughout New York State to become involved with the project.

We have a total of 5 copies of Lincoln at Gettysburg now, and copies of Cornell’s Study Questions.

To participate in this encompassing project, and learn more about Lincoln and his dynamic politics, come down to the library to check out your own copy and get your study questions!

 For more information about the reading project: http://reading.cornell.edu

 P.S. Lincoln at Gettysburg is also on the Grades 10-12 Summer Reading List for Oyster Bay High School.

Bell, Ted – Nick of Time: An Adventure Through Time - YA FIC Bell

This book looks like it has it all!  In the tradition of grand epics like Treasure Island, it is filled with rollicking adventure, mystery, pirates, secret weapons, and time travel!   What?  Something to read while Lost is off the air.    This is a first YA book for this NY Times Bestselling author.  It looks so good, I can’t wait to read it! 

Morden, Simon – The Lost Art – YA FIC Morden

Sci Fi!  Set in the future, 1,000 years after devastating wars left our planet changed, we’re about to enter another Dark Age.  Technology, interstellar enemies, and church conspiracies should keep readers on their toes.

O Guilin, Peadar - The Inferior - YA FIC O’Guilin

“There is but one law: eat or be eaten.”  Just that line draws me in!  Stopmouth lives in a world where his main priority is the battle to survive.  Hunting, rivalries, deceptions, blood, flesh-trading (yes, human, yikes!), and desperation.  Stopmouth is betrayed by his brother, and crosses paths with a beautiful woman.  “It is a moment that will change his destiny, and that of all humanity, forever.”  Looks pretty good to me!

Thompson, Kate - The Last of the High Kings - YA FIC Thompson

J.J. Liddy and his family are on a journey, a dangerous journey, to find the answers to some very important questions.   Why does J.J.’s daughter, Jenny, talk to the wandering ghost on the top of the mountain?  Why is she found roaming, when she should be in school?  And what is J.J.’s son, Donal, doing?  What is his secret project?  And the weird white goat stalking the hills.  The Liddy’s must find their answers, and in doing so, have the knowledge to defeat the powerful forces that threaten to destroy mankind.

It’s for vocal talent, i.e. singers.  For soloists or vocal groups.  The final event, at the Harry Chapin Theater in Eisenhower Park,  will be hosted by American Idol finalists Kevin Kovias and Amanda Coluccio.  We have the application forms here, and all are due by JULY 1, 2008.  Also check out the webpage:

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/parks/NewsRelease/2008/06-03-08.html

“120 contestants will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.”

“Applicants must be at least 13 but no older than 19 years of age on August 8, 2008.”

“All applications must be accompanied by copies of proof of age and Nassau County Residency, and photo ID.”

“No open call – audition by appointment only.”

Brought to you by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums

For more information about the contest, call (516) 572-0396 or see the webpage:

http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/parks/NewsRelease/2008/06-03-08.html

Best of luck to all who enter!