this lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen books are very popular in the LBHS library so I was excited to finally read a Dessen novel to see what all the buzz is about.  Dessen writes a mean romantic novel!  I just finished this lullaby.

Remy and her brother Chris are preparing for their mother's fourth, and fifth if you count the nonbinding marriage to their father, wedding the summer after Remy graduated from High School.  Remy never even met her real father, who is famous for writing the song This Lullaby when she was born.

This lullaby is only a few words
A simple run of chords
Quiet here in this spare room
But you can hear it, hear it
Wherever you may go
I will let you down
But this lullaby plays on....

 This background of multiple stepfathers and no relationship with her real father, who died when she was very young, has made Remy more than a little skeptical about love.  Following her mother's example, Remy goes through boyfriends on a regular basis-- but she differs from her mom by trying to never get too close and actually give her heart away.  Until Dexter....

Dexter is everything that Remy is not-- sloppy, unorganized, and a musician to boot, when she swore she would definitely not date musicians.  But what starts as a simple summer romance turns out to be different.  This fast paced coming of age novel is a must read.

Check out the author's website:

http://www.sarahdessen.com/

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

What a great book!!   I can't wait to see this movie-- which will be released on February 18th.  I look forward to the next book in this series and I predict this will be a popular book and series in my school's library.  I need to catalog this and get it out asap.  (I read this title before I even cataloged which is a fun librarian perk but also speaks to how interesting the book looked!)

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books-but we are real.
 
Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.
 
But they know.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.
 
I am Number Four.

I am next.

Check out this extended preview from the movie:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

 

 

I read the first book in the Pretty Little Liars Series yesterday while I was home with a sick child and I can't wait to get back to school to get the next book.  This book was just an easy fun read and I am hooked with wanting to know who "A" is!! 

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.


Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.
But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.
How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling.


Check out the author interview where Sara Shepard discusses how she feels about the Pretty Little Liars Series being made into a TV show for ABC.

The Hate List By Jennifer Brown

Have you every said that you hate someone?  Have you every casually said that you could just kill someone for something they did?  You probably didn't mean for anyone to take these comments literally did you?  What would you do if one of your friends did take you seriously and actually killed the people you had mentioned.  That's what happens to Valerie... 

This is a great book that deals with some very important issues. 

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Here is a book trailer from You Tube for Hate List.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

As a new librarian I am really enjoying reading other librarian's blogs. Today I came across a neat challenge called the Debut Author Challenge and I decided to take the challenge! I have to read a minimum of 12 debut Young Adult or Middle School novels in the coming year. I love to read and I am enjoying reading YA titles I can recommend to my students so this shouls be fun! If any of you out there are interested in doing this check out the following for information:

http://www.thestorysiren.com/2010/11/sign-up-for-2011-debut-author-challenge.html

Debut books I have read:
1. The Trouble with Half a Moon

Debut books in my to read pile:
1. Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
2. Havan by Kristi Cook
3. Leaverage by Joshua C. Cohen
4. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
5. Head Games by Keri Mikulski
6. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

“It amazes me how easy it is for things to change,” Samantha thinks. “how easy it is to start off down the same road you always take and wind up somewhere new”.



Synopsis from Barnes and Noble

"You'll have no choice but to tear through this book!" Jay Asher, author of the New York Times bestseller Thirteen Reasons Why What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance.

Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death-and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

I did tear through this book and enjoyed seeing the ramifications of the different ways that Samantha spends her last day over and over again.  I expected this to be a sad book and it really wasn't-- instead it made me think about how important the choices we make in life are.