Annual Poetry Contest

 

Young Writers Division:

 

Is currently accepting entries for their young writers poetry contest. If you are between the ages of 7-18 and wish to enter, please visit the poetryinstitute website for more information.

 

Deadline: November 29, 2013.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities - After School Zone Monitor

Hey everyone, it's that time of year again when we begin offering regular programs and we need your help! Here is an upcoming opportunity that you may be interested in:

What is After School Zone all about?

• a program to provide elementary school aged kids with something to do after school
• high school students will offer their time to assist kids in grades 1 to 3 with their homework, to read or play board games with the kids

Duties and Responsibilities

• clean-up and set-up of all materials
• general supervision of children
• ensure that all board games and supplies are complete when returned

For more information check out our website - teens/service hours

 

Leaving Paradise

When Caleb Becker gets convicted after drunk driving from a party and hit and running over Maggie Armstrong, he gets sent to juvenile detention for a year. Meanwhile, Maggie has to have painful months of physical therapy, but afterwards, she still has a limp. Her social life and her scholarship have both been destroyed.

Meanwhile, after a year in Juvie, Caleb is finally released, but he still needs to put up with the endless nagging of his transitional officer, and the eyes of the entire town. Coming home should have felt differently, but now, his family, ex-girlfriend, Kendra, and his friends all seem like strangers.

Together, Caleb and Maggie find strength and comfort from each other, relying on other to make each other stronger. Then the truth of the accident emerges, and then everything changes. After a prompting from his transitional officer, and changes of events in his life, Caleb decides to run away for good… (Continued in Return to Paradise)

 

 

Return to Paradise

 

 

 

Nothing lasts forever

Caleb Becker left Paradise Ohio 8 months ago, taking with him a promise that he promised he would take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong when Caleb left suddenly. He broke her heart and managed to convince herself that she had moved on. She was determined to start over and live a new life.

But Maggie and Caleb meet again at a rehabilitation program especially designed for drunk driving; there they share their experiences to young adolescents and Juvie prisoners. They try to deny the passion still between them but buried feelings resurface and Caleb finds himself to reveal the secret of the night of the accident or not their relationship will always be separated by the secret.

…not even good-bye   

Favorite Book of Summer 2013

Just Curious...

What books have you all read this summer that you think are the best?

Comment below!

Winner Week #7!

Each week the Richmond Public Library will be awarding prizes to teens who submit reviews. Each winner will receive a book of their choice and other fantastic prizes. This weeks winners are:

1.) Denise C
2.) Ye Nia  - Librarian's choice for a fantastic review of "The Great Gatsby"

Congratulations and we look forward to additional reviews throughout the summer!

END OF SUMMER BOOKMARK CONTEST!

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over! To get in the "back to school spirit,"and for a chance to win some additional prizes, get your creative and artistic juices flowing for this end of summer bookmark contest.

Contest: Design a bookmark using the theme "Teens Read Too!" Post your design to the blog, or bring in a paper entry to any branch of the Richmond Public Library no later than August 30th. Winners will be announced in early September.

Prizes: Your choice of passes to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, West Richmond Pitch and Putt or to the Richmond Go-Karts as well as copies of your bookmark design.

Legacy Series by Cayla Kluver

I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.
In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

PARTY TOMORROW - RSVP PLZ!!!

Hi Everyone!
So our party is tomorrow. The details are as follows:

Friday, August 16th
6:30 PM - closing (9:30 PM)
Brighouse Library - Children's Program Room

If you are coming (and your name is not Ashini) I NEED you to comment to say so and to say what your bringing in terms of food/drinks so we know how many people to expect. Other than Ashini, NO ONE has RSVPed! COME ON GUYS!!!

See you tomorrow (I hope)!

The World's Top Earning Authors of 2013

Hello Everyone!
Forbes Magazine has just published its list of the authors who made the most money this year. You may ask "This year? Not over their entire lifetime?" once you see the figures below, but, believe me, each author did indeed make all that money THIS YEAR (and this is ONLY the money they made off stuff relating to their books - not investments, etc.).
To the list:

1. E.L. James - $95 million
2. James Patterson - $91 million
3. Suzanne Collins - $55 million
4. Bill O'Reilly - $28 million
5. Danielle Steel - $26 million
6. Jeff Kinney - $24 million
7. Janet Evanovich - $24 million
8. Nora Roberts - $23 million
9. Dan Brown - $22 million
10. Stephen King - $20 million
11. Dean Koontz - $20 million
12. John Grisham - $18 million
13. David Baldacci - $15 million
14. Rick Riordan - $14 million
15. J.K. Rowling - $13 million
16. George R.R. Martin - $12 million

Never let it again be said that writing can't pay well. Regardless, something is seriously wrong in a society where disgusting books like Fifty Shades of Grey and terrible quality writing like there is in almost everything James Patterson writes make millions - just saying.

Check out the full article here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2013/08/12/the-worlds-top-earning-authors-with-50-shades-e-l-james-debuts-at-no-1/

Shadow and Bone Contest

Not normally something that I'd read, but all the rave reviews of it have me ready to give it a try...

So, to the questions:
To what extent is the culture of Ravka based on the culture of historical Russia? To what extent is it a culture all it's own?
To what extent is Shadow and Bone intended to be a novel of romance and to what extent is it purely a book in the fantasy genre? (this will, of course, help determine whether I read it)
What was the intended audience for Shadow and Bone?  (YA females? Teens in general? Everyone?)
How would you (the author) say that Shadow and Bone, and the Grisha trilogy in general, sets itself apart from the rest of the genre (which,  I daresay, includes some titans of literature - Narnia, LOTR, GoT, etc.)?
Is Shadow and Bone your first novel? Or just the first one to be published? If the former, how long did it take you to complete?
What advice do you have for aspiring fantasy writers, or aspiring writers in general?

Damascus Countdown by Joel C. Rosenberg

Amazon.com Summary:
All eyes are on the Middle East. Israel has successfully launched a first strike on Iran, taking out all of their nuclear sites and six of their nuclear warheads—and causing The Twelfth Imam to order a full-scale retaliation. U.S. President William Jackson threatens to support a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the Jewish State for unprovoked and unwarranted acts of aggression.
Meanwhile, CIA operative David Shirazi has infiltrated the Iranian regime and intercepted information indicating that two Iranian nuclear warheads survived the attack and have been moved to a secure and undisclosed location. In danger not only from the ongoing missile strikes on Iran but also from the increasingly hostile and suspicious governments of multiple countries, David and his team are in a race against time to find the remaining nuclear warheads before disaster strikes.
Review:
Having always enjoyed Rosenberg's books (both fictional and non) in the past and having enjoyed this series thus far, I naturally wanted to read this book as soon as I saw it was available (especially since book 2 - The Tehran Initiative ended with such a cliffhanger). So once it came in at the library, it went straight to the top of my to-read pile (second only to The Judgement Stone which was even more highly anticipated).
I was not disappointed. This book is AMAZING! It picks up right (and I mean right) where The Tehran Initiative left off, which is both good and not-so-good. It's good, well, great, because it thrusts us right into a blazing warzone, behind enemy lines, from the first page, and as if that wasn't intense enough, the tension does indeed build all the way to the climax, racing at a breakneck speed all the way. It's not so good because my memory of The Tehran Initiative isn't perfect so I'd forgotten a few plot points and as a result a couple of times I was like "Huh? What's up with that?" - this of course my bad and not a problem with the book really at all.
As I have already said, this book is uber-intense and moves at a blistering pace right from the get-go. It may be 430 pages, but you get so into it from the very beginning that you really can't put it down and so one will probably end up staying up late reading and end up finishing it in 4 sittings MAXIMUM. Part of this intensity comes from the book's realism. With the constant conflict in the Middle East these days it is not at all hard to see this happening.
An interesting plot element of note is that this book involves the Mossad and their operatives far more than the other books. I personally like this because the Mossad is more shadowy/secretive, more ruthless, and dare I say more effective than the CIA. The Mossad deserves series of thrillers all to themselves, and I'd say there are likely are some centred around their agents... in Israel. The book market around here is so America/Euro-centric that we never really hear about spy thrillers with protagonists in agencies other than the CIA, MI6, etc (this also likely the reason why so few of Jack Heath's books are available over here). ANYWAYS, moving on...
The characters were generally quite well developed, having of course been developed over the course of the series. Even so, there still were some times when a few acted out of character, and other times where there were moments that were downright cheesy. The one character that is underdeveloped is the US President (he's anti-Israel, wishy-washy at times, and a Democrat - big surprise (sarcasm)).
The only other issue here is the ending. It's one of those times where the author makes things so impossible for the protagonist that it has to be a bit deus ex machina in the end, though in this case you can kinda see it coming as you near the climax. And then the ending started to mimic Dead Heat (the finale of Rosenberg's last series) a little bit... but thankfully it got off that track pretty quickly. Had Rosenberg wanted to extend the series one more book, the ending could have been SO MUCH BETTER, but alas he decided not to go that route.
Regardless of said issues, this was a great, well written, intense, and action packed book. Very highly recommended to fans of Tom Clancy (personally I like Rosenberg better than Clancy), spy thrillers, global politics, what-if scenarios, or action/adventure, and to anyone who follows the news! (Note: please start from Book 1 - The Twelfth Imam)
4.5/5 stars

Sovereign by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

Amazon.com Summary:
Nine years after Rom Sebastian was thrust into the most unlikely of circumstances as hero and bearer of an unimaginable secret, the alliance of his followers is in disarray. An epic battle with The Order has left them scattered and deeply divided both in strategy and resolve in their struggle to become truly alive and free.
Only 36 truly alive followers remain loyal to Rom. This meagre band must fight for survival as The Order is focused on their total annihilation. Misunderstood and despised, their journey will be one of desperation against a new, more intensely evil Order.
As the hand of this evil is raised to strike and destroy them they must rely on their faith in the abiding power of love to overcome all and lead them to sovereignty.
Review:
I reviewed the second book in this trilogy last year, stating multiple times how frustrating it was that Dekker was retreading so much ground from The Circle series, etc. I had hoped that the authors, particularly Dekker, would redeem themselves in the final book.
They did... somewhat. The Circle retreading is still there and still frustrating, but thankfully Sovereign diverges a bit more from that script than Mortal did. The parallels, though, do take away from the story big time.
Also frustrating is the whole TH blood thing. It's something evokes either a knowing smile, or an peeved eye roll and subsequent groan from readers of The Circle. It's one of those things that just makes you think "Seriously?" and makes the whole premise seem that much more ridiculous.
I also didn't particularly like the ending - it was too much a "feel good" one, which seems pretty ridiculous given the circumstances at the start of the novel (geez, Dekker, your readers aren't 10 year olds who can't handle a bittersweet, bloody, or melodramatic finish) and there were far too many deus ex machina-like elements as well.
That said, the feel good ending was probably supposed to make up for the brutality of the authors in hurting and killing key characters throughout the rest of the book, but it also makes for another reason why the ending didn't quite work.
Beyond all that though, Sovereign made for good reading. The writing itself was of high quality and had heavy emotional punch to it while for the most part staying grounded in things that made relative sense - all of which is very much likely due to Tosca Lee's influence (get Dekker on his own and you have no idea where a story might go - which isn't always a bad thing, but isn't always good either). To Dekker's (the suspense author of the two) credit, the final 2/3 of the book are so intense and suspenseful (partly due to the authors' ruthlessness in doing away with characters) you literally cannot think of much else until you finish it. The pacing could have been a bit brisker, but it never really dragged, and the slightly slower pace increased that chomping-at-the-bit feeling one gets when one reads an uber-intense novel (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
The characters were also all very well developed (another thing I credit to Lee), which helped with the whole emotional-engagement thing.
I hope the authors leave this series as it is and don't add anything to it (knowing Dekker though, it won't and it'll get weird and turn into another Books of History Chronicles), but if the epilogue is any indication, that's not going to happen. All in all, a powerfully written finale to the trilogy. Recommended to all fans of dystopian novels who haven't read the Circle (since this trilogy is essentially the Circle for dystopian lovers).
4/5

Winner Week #6!

Each week the Richmond Public Library will be awarding prizes to teens who submit reviews. Each winner will receive a book of their choice and other fantastic prizes. This weeks winners are:

1.) Drizzy Fan
2.) Tiny Tina  - Librarian's choice for a fantastic review of "The Future of Us"

Congratulations and we look forward to additional reviews throughout the summer!

''The Great Gatsby'' by F.Scott Fitzgerald

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” 

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Rating:4,5/5

I've heard a lot about ''The Great Gatsby'' (well, who hasn't?), but I've always considered it just another boring classic. And you know what? I was totally mistaken.

So, I have this rule that I can't watch a movie without reading the book that it's based on and I always follow this rule. And when ''The Great Gatsby'' movie came out, I wanted to watch it very much. That's why I had to read the book. And now this book is my second favourite classic (the first one is ''Gone with the Wind'').

The story is told by 30-years old Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate, World War I veteran, who moved to New York from Midwest in after-war years to become a bond salesman, however, deep inside, he dreams of being a writer. The story starts with Nick telling that 2 years ago, he bought a small and desolate house in New York's suburbs, in a village called West Egg. The main hero of a story is Nick's neighbour, Jay Gatsby,  a mysterious and eccentric loner, who is an owner of a luxurious mansion with a marble pool, huge library and gigantic park.
It is set in a beautiful time. The after-war years, the age of jazz, the American Golden age or simply early 1920-s. Business, money, parties. Gatsby is a man who became a self-made billionaire, rose to glory, but fell because of his passion and  unfortunate accident. 
I'm not sure I fully understand this book yet, and I'm sure that when I re-read, my opinion on it will change, but right now I don't like any of the characters. Nick for just being the witness and not trying to stop the tragedy, Gatsby for being so obsessed with winning back Daisy and Daisy for being selfish.
What I like about this book is that it's really short, around 180 pages. It makes it much more fun to read. And it may be the key to success of the book.
Maybe it's because I didn't expect much of a book, it exceeded my expectations and turned out to be very good. The Great Gatsby is a book that I want to read and re-read again and again and I know this one thing for sure: ''The Great Gatsby'' is truly Great.

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

Summary: 
Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?


Review: Well this book started off a little slow, or at least how I saw it. I know a lot of people thought that this book started off with a bang. The bang being the main character dies right at the beginning. A lot of times when I read books like this, where they are ghosts involved I actually like when they start it off like that. Although this time I actually wanted to see how the main character was before she died. Yeah she was Alona Dare the most popular girl in the school, the girl that seems to have everything, and is envied by everyone, but we later on realized that's not true. The world is not sunshine and rainbows for Alone Dare. It was great that they didn't make her as annoying as most popular girls in books are, which is really why I actually liked her as a character. Same goes for her boy counterpart. The book might have started off a little closed off, but as I got deeper into the story line I got a bigger glimpse inside the characters and after that the pages just kept turning. It wasn't until the end of the book until I realized that there are two other books, and it's a trilogy, so yeah I was pretty excited about that haha. I'm not sure if I should recommend this exactly, but i'm not going to say you shouldn't read it because you should. if you're patient enough to get through the beginning then I think that you'll actually like this book.

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Summary: Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Review: Wow, just wow. this was an outstanding book. My review will definitely not do this book any sort of justice. It was so wonderfully well written, and I am still so surprised I picked it up. I usually don't go for books that give that depressing feel, but this was heart breaking and encouraging at the same time. I honestly don't know what to say it had to be one of the best books I read this year. It is a very character driven book, and the author amazingly ties in romance. It'd be really smart of you if you picked up this book.

SRCParty - ONE WEEK TO GO!!!

So, there is now one week left until our party, and so there are some things that need nailing down.
1. Who's coming? (a ballpark number is nice to have for those bringing food, setting up prizes, etc.)
2. Is everyone ok to start at 6:30? Should it be earlier? Later?
3. What's everyone bringing? (everyone should bring something to eat/drink (and everyone should bring something different))
4. In terms of activities, do we just follow last year's pattern (given in my previous post about the party) or do we want to do something different (if so, what?)?

So, the date, time and location we have set for it as of now are:
Friday, August 16th
6:30 PM - closing (9:30 PM)
Brighouse Library - Children's Program Room

See you then!

The Judgement Stone by Robert Liparulo

Amazon.com Summary:
Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with the Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals called the Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.
Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.
By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.
Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?
In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.
Review:
Now as those of you who were here last year know, Robert Liparulo is tied for first on my list of favourite thriller authors. If I'm honest though, his books can be a bit of an acquired taste, and with this series, it is becoming more 'acquired' in nature than ever.
That said, the real question is, does The Judgement Stone (yes, I am using the Canadian spelling of judgement - the Americans don't have the first e)) return to Liparulo's signature levels of suspense and intensity after the so-so The 13th Tribe (the first in this series) or does it descend to the levels of his nearly-dreadful Comes a Horseman (his first novel ever)?
Well, the good news is, in The Judgement Stone Liparulo returns to the stylings that made Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock so amazing. While The Judgement Stone isn't as good as the aforementioned three novels, it is definitely an improvement over The 13th Tribe and I quite enjoyed it. Just like in Germ, Liparulo's intensity and pacing go from 0-60 on the first page, and only increase from there. He absolutely burns rubber through the rest of the book, barely slowing down or letting off for more than a minute or two at any one point. This is where part of the "acquired taste" part comes in. The sheer blistering pace of the book means that it has a very compressed timeline - the entire plot takes place within a period of 2-3 days.
The incredibly fast pace of the novel also leads to an inherent weakness - it leaves little room for development. As a result, neither the characters nor the plot is particularly deep and/or heavy/thematic in nature, which can lead to some parts feeling slightly cheesy. That said, good effort is put into answering some of the difficult questions pertaining to the themes the book does contain, they are just not discussed to the depth that they would be in, say, a Steven James novel. With some effort, the character side of the issue could be resolved, for example, Liparulo developed John Hutchinson and co. quite well in Deadfall and Deadlock, but, unfortunately, in this case, it wasn't.
My only other problems are with plot elements within the series. Firstly, I find the premise of the trilogy a little hard to swallow at times, and there was a twist involving Jagger (man do I find that name cheesy) at the end of The 13th Tribe that left me mildly disgusted but which, of course, now has to be carried through the rest of the trilogy as well.
All in all, The Judgement Stone wasn't Liparulo's best piece of work, but it was still an very much enjoyable, if light, read. Highly recommended to fans of supernatural fiction, and any kind of action thriller (although you should read The 13th Tribe first, since it comes prior to this one in the series).
4.5/5 stars

The Serpent's Shadow by Rick Riordan

Goodreads' Summary:

He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent's shadow . . . or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld. Nothing less than the mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles.

Review:

After reading the second book of the "Kane Chronicles" series, it was so bad that I wasn't really interested in picking up another book of the same series. But after a while, I had my second thoughts, and decided to give this book a shot. I was hoping Rick Riordan would change up the unconvincing resolutions while keeping the same level of intensity and humor. And thankfully, this last book in the series did live up to my expectation.

The Serpent's Shadow might not be equally as good as the first book of the series, but it was undeniably better than the second. Number one: this book is humorous, definitely more than both the first and the second book combined. It made the plot and conflict off this book not as challenging as it should be, while making the book entertaining. Number two: the plot is interesting, with intense events, electrifying moments, one after another, and relatable as well as exciting characters, both new and old. And number three: a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying ending concludes the series (which I think is about time).

The humor in this book is what made it so different from the other two. The two characters, Sadie and Carter Kane, had told the story in a very brother-and-sister way, making every chapter amusing to read. I laugh my head off every so often (every two minutes). With all the humorous sentences, phrases and dialogues, the two main characters in this book seem to say something like "We just survived doomsday, you know. We saved the world. No big deal, really. Now we can have a nice laugh over it." I was never bored, because I was too busy laughing over the humorous details and events every page or so.

Though with the humor, it couldn't hide the true conflict and the plot. Humor did make it less troublesome, but it was still obvious that the conflict is dangerous and challenging. And in order to solve the problem, there must be action and intensity, and you can never get enough of those. This book is full of electrifying moments chasing one another like heartbeats, pages after pages, chapters after chapters. Endless battles between the gods and non-stop action from the characters are never enough in this book. The high level of intensity is kind of like when there is just too much air in a balloon, it exploded. The events are just too intense and breath-taking that they leave me standing on the tip of my toes, frantically flipping pages to find out what will happen next.

Rick Riordan is great at combining non-stop action and laughable events in just simple paragraphs and sentences, sometimes even small phrases. He had put them together so well, like mixing ice cream and coke together (not very appealing, I know), but he mix them so well that you can have a taste of both, in a perfect combination. Action and humor literally alternate, one after another, making laugh my head off and suddenly holding my breath and quickly flip the pages. I had kept my fingers crossed, hoping this book would be more Rick-Riordan-like, and thankfully, this book is just that.

5/5, no doubt what so ever.

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Goodreads Summery:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?




My Review:

The reason I started on this series was because it was meant to be like The Hunger Games, and since I was a huge fan of that series I thought giving this a try would be a good idea. It was probably the best idea I've ever had!!!Prodigy is by far the best book I've ever read!Second in the legend series, it is a perfect mix of romance, suspense, and action.

I've never been a big fan of books with lots of romance. I mean girl meet boy, they fall in love, then fight some evil guy that's trying to keep them apart....BORING! But this book was nothing like that. They weren't fighting for love but for change instead. For the most part it was action and suspense, making it so much more interesting. The main plot line of this book was June and Day trying to chose right from wrong and give the people a voice instead of them being forced because of the fear they had towards the military. However unlike other authors, the main characters were so conflicted towards there goals to the very end, which made them do stupid, amusing, and interesting thing, that led to me to reading the book up to 4 am trying to figure out what there next move would be with no luck. I love how she wrote them in both the main characters point of view, so you see the same story in two completely different perspectives. The writing was so well written that you could easily go into the heads of both the main characters and picture yourself living the lives of June and Day.Marie Lu took so many twists and turns in the plot that I never knew what was coming next! And she still managed to write one of the saddest and very unexpected ending that had me crying.
Even though this book tied up many lose ends I am so glad that Ms. Lu is releasing a third book on the series.(Champion) I'm convinced that, any book by her is bound to be a page turning perfection! From a scale of 1-5 I'd give this book a 15.:)

Privilege by Kate Brian

Summary: Ariana Osgood ruled exclusive Easton Academy -- until she was arrested for murdering Thomas Pearson. She's spent the past two years at the Brenda T. Trumbull Correctional Facility for Women plotting her escape and is determined to get a second chance at the glamorous life she left behind. And Ariana will do anything to get her way.... 

From the author of the bestselling Private novels comes a new series about the dark world of wealth, secrets, and Privilege

Review: I picked up this book because of the exceptional Private series. If you've never heard of the 'Private' series look it up, it's like a better version of 'Pretty Little Liars.' This book was highly recommended throughout the mystery lovers community. Honestly it took me a while to finally get to reading this, but I'm so glad I did now. Kate Brian succeeded in another gripping and intense novel. Read Privileged if you've read the Private series or read the Private series so you can read the Privileged series. Privileged takes you to a whole new world you didn't see in 'Private' and everything is a game. 

Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Summary: Micah will freely admit that she’s a compulsive liar, but that may be the one honest thing she’ll ever tell you. Over the years she’s duped her classmates, her teachers, and even her parents, and she’s always managed to stay one step ahead of her lies. That is, until her boyfriend dies under brutal circumstances and her dishonesty begins to catch up with her. But is it possible to tell the truth when lying comes as naturally as breathing? Taking readers deep into the psyche of a young woman who will say just about anything to convince them—and herself—that she’s finally come clean, Liar is a bone-chilling thriller that will have readers see-sawing between truths and lies right up to the end. Honestly.

Review: It's weird that some people loved this book, and others thought it was horrible. I wasn't really sure who to listen to, but I ended up just picking it because I thought it seemed different. Not exactly sure why I felt that, but I knew it wouldn't be quite the same as other YA fiction novels. The main character was strange, but strange in a good way. It's weird that its a mystery because usually in mysteries you follow the main character when trying to solve the mystery. Although in this one it as hard to tell whether or not the main character is you know...lying. Its hard to believe someone who lies that often or lies 24/7. You'll just have to read it and try and see how it works out!

The Future Of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Summary:
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbours their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

Summary from good reads


Review: (SPOILER ALERT)
When I first came across this book, hoping to find more good reads, I had high expectations because most people who have read this book, have been telling me how it was really good. With the addition of Jay Asher, the author of Thirteen Reasons Why, I looked forward to reading it. I wondered how the two authors would intertwine social networking and romance together.This book was without a question a page-turner. The plot was very intriguing, it made me ask myself questions like; What would I do if I could change the future? Would I be able to take the responsibility for the things I change? I subconsciously put myself in Emma's perspective and it really put me in deep thought about the actions I would do, to "help" the future become "brighter".

I knew Emma and Josh were going to be together, right from the start.(Main characters usually end up together.)But, when Emma surprised Josh with a kiss, I literally stayed on the floor for 5 minutes. (typical fan girling) The ending satisfied me unlike some other books I've read. Although it doesn't have and epilogue, the plot would of done well with or without one. With one, we'd learn about their futures. Without one, It'd be more mysterious leaving you wanting more. There wasn't any major problems, although I'd like to know more about what would happen to Sydney. Her future husband is gone!

Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who digs the romantic comedy genre. Warning, this isn't about time travel. I thought so at first, and I was wrong.
MY RATE: 4/5! * * * *

Winner Week #5!

Each week the Richmond Public Library will be awarding prizes to teens who submit reviews. Each winner will receive a book of their choice and other fantastic prizes. This weeks winners are:

1.) Mimi Bookworm
2.) Emily  - Librarian's choice for a fantastic review of Requiem

Congratulations and we look forward to additional reviews throughout the summer!
!

The Book of AWESOME by Neil Pasricha

*About the Book:

From neighbors with pools to ordering off the menu at fast-food restaurants tofixing electronics by smacking them, The Book of Awesome takes on life’s sweet feats with all the honest humor and winning enthusiasm that has earned Pasricha’s blog its millions of followers. But while powered along by Pasricha’s distinctive, fresh, and hilarious voice, The Book of Awesome isn’t about one man’s favorite things, but rather a catalog of the universal little pleasures we all share. With its focus on the many things that bring us together rather than the few things that split us apart, it’s a book that will appeal to people from all walks of life — housewives and college kids, children and senior citizens alike. Arising out of Pasricha’s riffs on popping bubble wrap and getting a trucker to blow his horn is an unexpected, genuine sort of inspiration, as The Book of Awesome offers up a hearty cheer for all the little things we take for granted.

Review (ish):

Life's tough at the moment. I think it's because I'm at that point of my high school career where everyone starts showing how they really feel. So a pick-me-up was definitely needed, and I found it.. in the library. The book reminds us of the free things in life that make us happy and just feel AWESOME. I smiled and chuckled a lot while reading this and I think I might have creeped a couple people out on the bus once, but s'all good. Pasricha does a good job of including every age group into each happiness which is quite considerate. The idea isn't original though since I've seen quite a few books that stated things we should be happy about. But it's the simple language, smart wit and some sarcasm, and great use of imagery that made this book a 5/5 for me!

*about the book taken from his site.

Me, My Elf, and I by Heather Swain

Summary: It's not often you see an elf in the middle of Brooklyn, let alone a tall, blond, gorgeous elf in the middle of one of the most prestigious performing arts high schools in the country. And yet, that's just where Zephyr Addler finds herself: smack dab in the middle of a bustling New York City school, worlds away from the secluded woodland community she knows so well. But Zephyr knows that she has to figure out how to live in the world. And dress in the world. Thanks to a little friendly advice from her new friend Mercedes, Zephyr starts to get the hang of Brooklyn. That is, until Zephyr snags a role in a commercial, beating out the most popular girl in school, Bella Dartagnan. Now with Bella and her friends out to get her, can Zephyr out-maneuver the mean girls (and catch the eye of a certain cute boy) without losing herself?

Review: This was like the cutest book ever. If you've read my reviews you know I rely on the main character, because for some reason when I read a book I try and put myself in the main characters shoes. That way it kind of makes me feel like I'm a part of the book. Its weird I know, but its easier for me to do that if the main character is relatable or really likable. In this book it would actually be physically impossible to hate the main character. Like you can't I mean, she's an elf. You cant hate an elf. I love how the main characters innocence is what gets her into so much trouble. She's out in New York, and well it would be pretty scary going from a small town to New York, especially when the small town you're coming from is an all elf, tiny community, no pun intended. Zephyr and her family can actually pass off as humans looks-wise, but as for acting like humans they've got it all wrong. All Zeyphr wants to do is fit in with her new school, and throughout the book I was really rooting for her. Although it was so funny watching her struggle, her being completely naive and whatnot. Even though this book is about elves, which yeah isn't pretty common, it still mixes in the mean girls cliche, giving it that typical teen girl book feel. I mean I'd prefer it to be a little more original, but it was still a pretty decently thought out book. If your looking for a little fluff to lighten up your day read this :)  

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Taken from Goodreads: 

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.
But we are still here.
And there are more of us every day.
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.
Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.
Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.
But we have chosen a different road.
And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.
We are even free to choose the wrong thing.
Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge

Spoilers included in review.

This last book of the trilogy was quite intense. The mystery of who was burning out the Invalids and homesteads kept the story going. The alternation between Hana and Lena's POVs connected the story together pretty well: what's happening inside and outside the walls. 

Alex came out of nowhere, unexpected and alive. I liked how throughout the book, Lena was struggling between choosing Alex, her first love who freed her from Zombieland, and Julian, who helped her when she thought Alex was gone forever. The way the tension between Alex, Lena, and Julian was written was realistic: the jealousy of Lena when she sees Alex and Coral together; how she wanted to push Julian away but was hesitant because she knew he was one of the only people she could rely on. The character development of Julian and how others treated him was quite interesting. From an outcast in the Wilds, to an eager volunteer wanting to fit in with the Invalids. 

Lena's mom's appearance was expected in this last book. The part where she sat down with her mom and poured all the feeling out to her was very emotional for me. The last two books showed how Lena felt toward her mom, and in this book, when they finally meet for real, it was obvious that Lena and her mom, although changed by the Wilds, have this strong relationship that time or hardship cannot take away. I thought it was interesting that although the characters are in different world than the one we live in, Lena is still behaves like a teenage girl. I felt a connection toward the way she didn't want to tell her mom about her relationship with Alex and Julian because I would probably do the same if I was in her situation. 

Surprises in the book: Lu and Raven. The irony of the line Raven said, "Lu can come with us. She's a walking good-luck charm." The good luck charm led them into a trap. I think this is also a way of showing that there is always someone who will betray the larger group. In Zombieland, the Invalids rebel against the cure, and in the Wilds, someone will also end up having a change of heart and rebelling against the Invalids. Now, Raven's death was devastating. I felt really bad for Tack because of all those years they spent together, surviving, taking care of each other. If she had not died, she could have lived happily with Tack after the walls came down. She took a bullet for Pippa who had the bombs. However, they all understand that sacrifice is needed to keep safe what is important to them .  

I liked the connection to the story of King Soloman. The revised version in the book was quite terrifying to imagine; cutting a baby in half. But the real version, where one of the mothers gave up her clam on the baby so her child would stay safe, I think it was a great influence on how the characters acted in the book. When Alex disappeared after his fight with Julian, I had to give it some thought to understand the note he left Lena. I think it could mean that he left so she doesn't have to be torn between him and Julian anymore. This already showed that Alex still loves her, despite how he acted. The other story, the story of Bluebeard and his room full of corpses of women. I think that story really impacted how Hana acted. She realized she was about to marry "Bluebeard". Fred, the major, was just like Bluebeard, killing innocent people and locking them up so the truth would not spread and any curious people would also be killed. 

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed about the ending. It was very vague. Alex and Lena found out they still love each other. Lena found Grace and together, they took down the walls, the barrier between the two worlds. There was no epilogue on what happened to Hana and Fred, nothing on the relationship between Lena and Julian (it was like Lena went straight back to Alex after his confession that he loved her and left Julian hanging). Maybe the author wanted to have a vague ending to give us room for imagination, but personally, I like straight forward conclusions to a story. Still, kinda sad that the story's over. 
4.5/5 for mostly of the book. 

The Wrecker by Clive Cussler

Goodreads.com Summary:
In The Chase, Clive Cussler introduced an electrifying new hero, the tall, lean, no-nonsense detective Isaac Bell, who, driven by his sense of justice, travels early-twentieth-century America pursuing thieves and killers . . . and sometimes criminals much worse.
It is 1907, a year of financial panic and labor unrest. Train wrecks, fires, and explosions sabotage the Southern Pacific Railroad's Cascades express line and, desperate, the railroad hires the fabled Van Dorn Detective Agency. Van Dorn sends in his best man, and Bell quickly discovers that a mysterious saboteur haunts the hobo jungles of the West, a man known as the Wrecker, who recruits accomplices from the down-and-out to attack the railroad, and then kills them afterward. The Wrecker traverses the vast spaces of the American West as if he had wings, striking wherever he pleases, causing untold damage and loss of human life. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a striker? An anarchist? A revolutionary determined to displace the privileged few? A criminal mastermind engineering some as yet unexplained scheme?
Whoever he is, whatever his motives, the Wrecker knows how to create maximum havoc, and Bell senses that he is far from done; that, in fact, the Wrecker is building up to a grand act unlike anything he has committed before. If Bell doesn't stop him in time, more than a railroad could be at risk; it could be the future of the entire country.
Filled with intricate plotting and dazzling set pieces, The Wrecker is one of the most entertaining thrillers in years.
Review:
I said in my review of The Chase that this series had alot of potential. Unfortunately, The Chase did not live up to it. However, knowing the series' potential I was willing to give it a second chance by reading The Wrecker. Would Cussler learn from his mistakes in The Chase? Would the addition of Justin Scott as coauthor add the twists, turns, and intensity that The Chase lacked? Would the Isaac Bell series finally live up to its potential? These are the questions I was asking myself coming into reading the The Wrecker...
...And it is my great pleasure to announce that the answer to every one of those questions was a resounding YES!!! I loved The Wrecker! Cussler (and Scott) kept everything that was good about The Chase and made sure the book didn't become derailed (pardon the excessive use of train analogies, but I can't help myself lol XD) by the issues of its predecessor. What was so good about it? Well...
First and foremost, the pacing and intensity (which, of course, go hand in hand) were both amazing. Once this book gets up to speed it flies faster than a speeding bullet train, and the intensity does nothing but build until it is so thick and heavy that one couldn't cut it with a tie-cutter's saw or break it with a rail-spiker's hammer. Once one reaches the two-thirds mark, the book locks you into a roller-coaster thrill ride that lasts right up to the finish. From that two-thirds point on, the book is literally impossible to put down (believe me - I ended up staying up WAAAYYY too late just so I could finish it). The endings to these rising actions were also substantially more satisfying in this book than in the previous one, and this book actually had some plot twists in it!
Secondly, the historical detail was once again spot on and made it so that one really felt like they were living in the time. It isn't completely romanticized as being a more the "innocent" time we seem to perceive the 1900s as. Rather, the authors put forward just the right mix of grit and glamour to be realistic without being overly vulgar or depressing, and to portray the time as one of industrial development and discovery, which it really was.
All that said, the book still has a few minor issues. The villain's identity is revealed to the reader far too early, for one. Thankfully though, Bell does not realize it himself until the climax, which keeps the book fairly intense (this of course, results in the reader wanting to scream at Bell multiple times when he doesn't figure it out at first (this all being, of course, due to dramatic irony)). Secondly, the book's exposition (beginning/opening/introduction) could have been done a lot better. Third, the victim in this case (pun not intended) is a railroad tycoon, and since those men were known as "Robber Barons" for a reason, it makes it a little hard to sympathize with him at times. Finally, the characters are, as always, larger-than-life and/or one dimensional, but that issue is hardly noticeable compared to how glaring it was in The Chase.
It is also worth mentioning that unlike books in other Cussler series, there are several carryover plot details from The Chase that show up in The Wrecker so it is indeed better for the former (despite it's sub-par nature) to be read first.
I also must say that I have found that these books do not fit the detective mystery novel genre as much as they do the crime thriller genre, but since I am a big fan of the extra suspense that comes with that shift, I do not mind in the slightest. The Chase tried to be the former, but suffered an identity crisis and ended up somewhere in an unhappy middle. The Wrecker on the other hand, lands on a solid foundation in the latter.
As I said before, I loved this book. I found it to be just as good as, if not the slightest bit better than, the books of the Fargo Adventures. Had the issues listed above been fixed in the slightest, I would've definitely given it a 5 star rating. Very highly recommended to fans of historical fiction, action/adventure, mystery, and suspense. There is a saying that the best suspense novels are like runaway freight trains - smashing through everything that blocks their path and making it so all you can do is hold on for dear life and hope it stays on the tracks. This is one heckuva freight train of a novel, so jump on and get ready for the ride of your life!
4.5/5 stars

THREE QUESTIONS By Leo Tolstoy

I do not know what is the cover for this short story because I read it online and am not sure if short stories do have a cover. The story was quite interesting and simple, not more than four pages long on my computer, and would not waste your time. I have a strange addiction to reading short stories lately and thought it would be quite neat to share it with all of you. The story first started off with the king asking everyone if they have an answer to his three questions, which are "How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?" because he believed that if those questions were answered, then he would not fail anything he attempts to undertake. Having said that, of course everyone is going to have different answers to his questions because everyone's perspective is different and so, he could not find a definite answer. The king is persistent and decides to find a hermit to ask these wise questions to, having no doubt that the hermit may not know the answers. I would recommend this story to anyone because it would not be a waste of your time since the story is so short and has a clever ending. It is always good to try something new! :)

Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen

Summary: It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Review: I always pick up a Sarah Dessen when I want to feel comforted, or just feel the need of relaxation. This book gave me calm, comforted feel, along with a different point of view on well, life. Anytime I read a Sarah Dessen book,  I come out with a different point of view on things, and always something to think about. I didn't like the story as much as the others, mainly because we didn't really get to know the characters that well. For example one of the main characters 'Eli' was going through some intense stuff, and we'd barely get a glimpse of his vulnerability. What I really liked about this book was the minor characters. I don't know how Dessen does it but she manages to make the minor characters incredibly likable. She writes them into the story flawlessly, actually giving them good dialogue, and some kind of character growth throughout the story. She doesn't just try and make the main characters relatable, but gives every character in the book some kind of quality making them able to relate to anyone reading the book. Whether you're very driven like Auden, or someone who is judge from first glance like Maggie. This book might not have been the best story line but it left one of the best messages for me. To try and not stress over whats going wrong in life,because life's a roller coaster and we should just well, go along for the ride. 

“The Help” by Kathyrn Stockett

Book Summary from the website:

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women–mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends–view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

MY REVIEW:

“The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett is a novel set in 1960’s Jackson, Mississippi, where racial segregation is normal. This book is narrated by three characters, Aibleen Clark, a middle aged Africa-American maid that helps raise seventeen white babies in her lifetime, Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan a twenty-three year-old college graduate that wants to reveal the inequality in Jackson, Mississippi through a book, and Minny Jackson, another African-American, who has a bad reputation among the white employers because of her “sass mouth.”

Skeeter’s character is pretty interesting to me, in the beginning of the book there’s conflict between her own set of values and what society wants her to be. She has to deal gender inequalities in order for her to reach her goal of a publisher.

The thing that attracted to me to this book was the setting of the book. We’ve all probably heard about civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, and Rosa Parks and what they all did. However I never actually understood how they might have felt living in the southern part of the USA during the 1960’s. This book is definitely a page turner, and before I knew it I was done. Honestly, this book gave me so many highs and lows, because I was laughing and crying ( One of the saddest parts are  where Mae Mobley was crying because Ablieen was leaving forever!) Long story short this is a pretty good book.

I give this book 4.5/5 because it wasn’t based on a true story!