New graphic novel

Daniel X: Alien Hunter by James Patterson
This was cool, a good story matched with great artwork. The storyline goes something like this - Daniel has inherited a list of Alien outlaws and some cool superpowers to fight them with. As Daniel works his way down the list of aliens, he learns more about his father's list but has he met his match with #7. And will his new friend betray him to #7.

Here's a couple panels from the book.

Poison Ivy by Amy Koss

Poison Ivy: 3 bullies, 2 points of view, 1 trial by Amy Koss

The premise for this book is terrific, unfortunately it doesn't quite deliver, for the most part I thought it was okay, the characters a little underdeveloped and even the plot and theme get a fuzzy around the edges.

From the back cover:
When three popular girls go on trial in Government class for their ruthless bullying of a girl named Ivy, it seems like the misfit will finally get her revenge. Eight first-person narrators give different versions of the event: Ivy- the victim doesn't want revenge, she just wants to be left alone; Ann - she's the beautiful, bu infamously cruel, leader of the bullies; Marco- he may be the only person involved who has any morals, but he's also the target of Ann's persuasive affections; Daria- Ivy's painfully shy lawyer doesn't stand a chance; Bryce- the goofy court reporter knows all the real dirt, even if he doesn't care; Cameron- he sleeps through the proceedings but might wake up just in time to make a difference; Wayne- a true devotee of the legal process, too bad he's on the sidelines; and Faith- as the only witness for the prosecution, it all comes down to her. But where do her loyalties lie?

From Booklist - " The message is clear: beauty, popularity, and fear are the trinity by which girls rule, and although most teenagers aren't cruel, many are indifferent to the suffering of their peers and are thankful they aren't the ones in the spotlight"

From Publishers weekly: "The interaction among the students in and out of courtroom' offer readers intriguing and often disturbing perspectives on popularity, peer pressure, bullying and fairness"

So even though I didn't think this the strongest book of it's kind, I do think it stands the possibility of furthering discussion on what our roles are, how do we see ourselves and can we stand up for what we know is right at least occasionally.

Deeper

Deeper by Roderick Gordon

In Tunnels, boy archaeologist Will Burrows went in search of his missing father - and discovered a sinister subterranean world.
Now, wandering the dark , burnt bowels beneath the Bolony, Will stunbles across the Styx's diabolical palan to exterminate all Topsoilers. Slowly he begins to piece together the plot. But how can Will save all those above from annihilation when his own life is at risk down below - and when his killer sister is still at large?
(From the cover)

Hey did you know that they're making a movie of Tunnels, should be good, but not as good as the book. Be sure to try and read it before the movie comes out.

The Lab

The Lab by Jack Heath

I loved this write up by Karin Van Heerwaarden.

"Prepare yourself for an adrenalin-filled read because The Lab pulls no punches from beginning to end. First-time novelist Jack Heath tells the story of Agent Six of Hearts, a teenage genetically engineered superhuman secret agent. The Lab is aimed at boys aged 12 and over and Heath will no doubt find an avid fan base in this market. But being a 30-something female didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book. It is sophisticated enough to appeal to an adult audience, even if only the parents of its teen readers.

In the not-too-distant future the City is controlled by ChaoSonic, a power and money hungry organisation. Six of Hearts works for the Deck, one of the few remaining resistance groups, which exists to uphold moral and social values in the City and protect its residents. Six’s perfect mission success rate is at risk when he starts to investigate the Lab, a division of ChaoSonic, of which he is a product.

The Lab is an edgy Artemis Fowl mixed with the parental guidance of Matthew Reilly and the essence of any major sci-fi action movie from the last couple of decades. With the delicacy of a far more seasoned storyteller, Heath manages to address some important social and adolescent issues without being patronising or hitting the reader over the head with his message. And first and foremost this is an action novel; Heath never lets his protagonist linger in reflection for too long before another life and death situation ensues.

Whilst the action scenes are edge-of-your-seat exciting and the plot twists sophisticated The Lab’s greatest strength is its characters. Heath has created an intriguing and complex character in Six but he hasn’t stopped there; the supporting cast has a depth that is surprising for a young adult novel. There’s Kyntak, a boy who shares the same DNA as Six and whose allegiance is uncertain; King, Six’s surrogate father and boss; and Harry, a super-intelligent bot. The many unanswered questions that surround these and other characters suggest that a sequel, if not a series, is planned. Surely Heath isn’t going to stop at just one book and leave his readers hanging.

Heath’s writing is refreshing and his talent for creating interesting and genuine characters will ensure his success in any genre. Whilst The Lab is written for young adults it will appeal to a much wider audience. So if you have a teenage son, nephew or brother, use them as an excuse to get your hands on a copy of The Lab."

If that doesn't make you want to pick it up, I don't know what will.

The Stowawy

The Stowaway by R.A. Salvatore and Gene Salvatore

Twelve years old and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life. Maimun is marked for death. With a demon called Asbeel tracking his every move through Baldur's Gate, the orphaned boy flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unliely ally: the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. As the ship careens throught the Sea of Swords, fighting priates and agents of Asbeel, Maimun must come to terms with the secret he carries and find out what family really means.(From the cover)

Last year I had more than one fan of Salvatore, I'm sorry that these great readers have moved on to LCI, when I finally have another great series to introduce to them.
Read On

Well Witched

Well Witched by Frances hardinge

Ryan and his friends don't think twice about stealing some money from a wishing well. After all, who's really going to miss a few tarnished coins?

The well witch does.

And she demands payback: Now Ryan, Josh, and Chelle must serve her . . . and the wishes that lie rotting at the bottom of her well. Each takes on powers they didn't ask for and don't want. Ryan grows strange bumps—are they eyes?—between his knuckles; Chelle starts speaking the secrets of strangers, no matter how awful and bloody; and Josh can suddenly—inexplicably—grant even the darkest of wishes, the kind of wishes that should never come true.

Darkly witty, wholly unexpected, and exquisitely sinister, Frances Hardinge's Well Witched is one well-cast tale that readers didn't know they were wishing for.

Read On

3 Willows

Polly has an idea that she can't stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She's setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it's going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won't have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.

Jo is spending the summer at her family's beach house, working as a bus girl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she'll see at high school come September. She didn't count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn't count on her family at all. . .

Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A's. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.



Enjoy the book trailer ;-)

More fun from the author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

Extreme animals

Extreme Animals: the toughest creatures on Earth by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Neal Layton

Who will winning the title, be crowned champion of the world's toughest, most extreme creature?

Well you'll have to read this gem of a book to find out, - could it be the hummingbird, the emperor penguin, the polar bear or camel, but don't leave out the frogs, fish and reptiles, oh wait it hear insects and bacteria are also in the running. Each of these incredible creatures have adapted to their environments and do extraordinary feats just to stay alive.

The playful and funny comic like illustrations provide just the right humor to compliment all the facts given about various creatures.

I'd love for teachers to use this rather than boring textbooks when teaching about adaptation.

And the winner of The Toughest Creature on Earth, well it was a surprise to me, and until you read the book you'll have to just keep guessing.

Read On

Dead is the new black

Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

(from the back cover) - Everyone in the Giodano family is psychic - except for Daisy. When her mother, who uses her power to solve crimes, enlists Daisy's older sister to investigate a teenage girl's mysterious death, Daisy feels utterly useless. But she takes matters into her own hands when she learns the victim has losts of company - teenage girls are being attacked all over town, including at Nightshade High School, where Daisy is a junior. And when she discovers a vampire may be the culprit, Daisy suspects head cheerleader Samantha Devereaux, who returned from summer break with a new "look". She looks a little... well, dead.

Is looking dead just another fashion trend for pretty, popular Samantha, or is there something more sinister afoot? Daisy will stop at nothing to find out - she even joins the cheerleading squad. And with a little sleuthing help from Ryan, an old friend (who may be turning into something more), Daisy not only reveals the identity of the vamp, she also discovers powers that she never knew she had.

This one is a little like cotton candy for me, it's sweet and likeable when your reading it, and then when it's over you hardly remember having it. There are more titles available in this series - Dead is a State of Mind and Dead is so Last Year.

More about The Graveyard Book

I promoted The Graveyard Book this week to most of our library classes. If you'd like to hear the chapters read by Mr. Gaiman, check out his website - http://www.mousecircus.com/ , go to the link "video tour" and press play and start listening to the book.

Hope you enjoy this one.

Read On

Newbery Winner

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Well your looking at this years Newbery Award Winner,

I forgot I had an advanced reader copy of this one, so I picked it up again and read it this weekend. I have to say it wouldn't have been my pick, my pick would have been Savvy (which did end up being a honour book for 2009).

I love a good first sentence, followed by a good first paragraph, followed by a good first page and well The Graveyard Book does have this. Here's that first sentence.

There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.If that doesn't grab your attention I don't know what will.

The story follows a young child Nobody Owens (orphaned on that first page) also known as Bod, the only living inhabitant of the graveyard, where ghosts, ghouls, werewolves and witches are his new family and friends. he undergoes a unique education and will have to use his graveyard skills to survive the monsters of the human world.

Like I said not my choice for the big best of children's lit but I'm sure it will be one that I can promote for it dark humour and adventure.

Graceling

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

From the cover:

In a world where people born with an extreme skill-called a Grace- are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she depises: the Grace of killing. She lives under the command of her uncle Randa, King of the Middluns, and is expected to execute his dirty work, punishing and torturing anyone who displeases him.

When she first meets Prince Po, who is Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po's friend.

She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace - or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away... a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

I wasn't sure that I would like this book, it's kind of fantasy, kind of historical fiction- not my favourite choices but my guru Terri Lesesne wrote very favourably of it so I put it on my list to read and was not disappointed. I loved the notion of Graced people and how it is a blessing and a curse. One of the better books I've read so far this 2009.

Read On