This book had one of the most powerful and lovable heroines. She is not the 'ideal' woman which makes her all the more wonderful. The book's struggle represents humans need for push into greatness. Throughout the book our heroine goes through politics, kicks butt, and deals with emotional turmoil.
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Yup, Elisa is a great heroine. Thanks to Dillon for this review. Click here to check our catalog to see if Girl of Fire and Thorns is on our shelves.
Showing posts with label patron review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patron review. Show all posts
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (reviewed by Deserae RoseKing)
This book was very well-written and had a lot of really good character interaction, but it was a bit slow at times. Overall, though, super good. I hope there's a second. (4 stars)
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Boy, I loved Masque of the Red Death! It was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's classic short story of the same name. Don't you love it when books do that? Want to try Bethany Griffin's take on the story? Click here to check our catalog to see if Masque of the Red Death is on our shelves.
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Boy, I loved Masque of the Red Death! It was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's classic short story of the same name. Don't you love it when books do that? Want to try Bethany Griffin's take on the story? Click here to check our catalog to see if Masque of the Red Death is on our shelves.
The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant (reviewed by Kaela Jacobson)
It is a good story about some really sweet dogs. I just don't like animal cruelty or dog fighting or anything like that. And some of it was badly written. (4.5 stars)
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Kaela is reviewing an adult non-fiction book. Here on this blog we love reviews of ANY kind of book, movie, video game, or CD that the library owns. This book is about the rehabilitation of Michael Vick's dogs. Sound interesting? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Lost Dogs is on our shelves.
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Kaela is reviewing an adult non-fiction book. Here on this blog we love reviews of ANY kind of book, movie, video game, or CD that the library owns. This book is about the rehabilitation of Michael Vick's dogs. Sound interesting? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Lost Dogs is on our shelves.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (reviewed by Bear Schacht)
Mon-strum-ol-o-gy n.
1: the study of life forms generally malevolent to humans and not recognized by science as actual organisms, specifically those considered products of myth and folklore
2: the act of hunting such creatures
It was a spring night in 1888 when Will Henry, orphaned assistant to Dr. Pellinore Warthrop, was called out of bed by the arrival of a grave robber who had found something more gruesome and terrifying than anything the twelve year old boy had yet experienced in his year of working for the doctor. The find launches them into a case of nightmarish monsters, some human, and some very much not.
There were so many things I loved about this book; I almost don’t know where to start. The cast of the story included some really interesting characters, characters that not only stayed interesting, but got more interesting as the story went on. Doctor Warthrop struck me as being similar to Sherlock Holmes in many ways, if Holmes hunted monsters instead of criminal masterminds. You also get the sense that there is something more to Will Henry than meets the eye, though I can’t really put my finger on what it is. Of course, Dr. Kearns (if that is his real name) is the scariest character I have encountered in a long time. He definitely knows about monsters, and you know how they say it takes one to know one…..
Then there was the gore, something that you can’t ignore with this book. I have the habit of eating while I read, but if you are at all weak of stomach I would not recommend doing so with this book. I am not usually the biggest fan of gore and horror, but this was different. The way the story was told had the perfect blend of emotion-capturing horror as well as the slightly detached journalistic reporting of facts. With these two flavors of storytelling working together, even the most over the top grotesque parts of the book seemed more believable and less gratuitous than other horror I have read.
I could go on about this book some more, but I would much rather go read the sequel now. I guess that means you will just have to go get the book and read it for yourself, but remember that “Yes my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.”
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Ah, Bear. An amazing review of one of my favorite series ever. Think you can handle it? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Monstrumologist is on our shelves.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Misfit by Jon Skovron (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)
Misfit by Jon Skovron is a book about a teenager named Jael who is a half demon, and what takes place after she has embraced her demon side. When she learns that Belial (One of the Grand Dukes of Hell) is after her because of what she is, Jael has two choices. Keep running, or stand and fight. Of course she is tired of running and chooses to fight. With the help of her demon uncle Dagon and her father, she may just get the hang of being a demon.
What I really like about this book is that it incorporates elements of the Bible, and other cultures gods. It also shows what happen in the past between Paul and Astarte. How they met and why they had to keep running from Belial.
Misfit uses the past and the present to create a story about survival and standing up to your fears. Though the help of the demon uncle does make things more manageable; I really like this book. The fight against Grand Dukes of Hell isn’t an easy one. Throughout the book Jael learns to influence the elements water, air, earth, spirit, and fire. Not control but influence, this is the first time I have read a book where you couldn’t control the elements. They have to be influenced, or persuaded, to do what you want. Which I thought is another cool way to view the elements.
I hope there will be another book coming out, as I have enjoyed this one immensely. It looks like Jael will have much more to achieve if she is to fight off the Grand Dukes of Hell that want a go against her. Luckily she has her dad and her uncle to back her up!
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Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Nightspell by Leah Cypess (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)
This is an intriguing new installment by Leah Cypess that, while showing her ability and style in writing, manages to create an entirely different story in a world previously created. I love the way she took something often used in fiction stories – ghosts – and made them entirely her own. Only people who were murdered stay as ghosts, and they only stay until they avenge themselves. Also, they have weaknesses such as silver and sunlight, can eat food and fool people into thinking they’re alive, and their whole reason for existence comes from a spell. Cool, no? And while romance was practically nonexistent, there is a lot of love in this story.
One of my favorite lines goes something like: “I don’t like my sister, but I love her.” I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling, even if it’s only at moments. The basic plotline is a girl going to save her sister from a forced marriage to bind two kingdoms together. In case you haven’t guessed, things don’t go quite according to plan. I enjoyed the time I spent reading Nightspell, and there were several instances where I would be so drawn into the book that I would gasp out loud. Would I recommend it? Well, though I liked Mistwood better, Nightspell is definitely a story well worth reading.
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Thanks Amethyst for this great review. Amethyst reviewed Nightspell from an Advance Reading Copy, but I saved this review until the today because today is Nightspell's release day, hoorah! \o/ Happy book birthday to Nightspell!
While you wait for the library's copy of Nightspell to arrive, you can click here to see if the companion novel, Mistwood, is on our shelves!
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Paper Towns by John Green (reviewed by Emily TenCate)
If you're anything like me, if I told you that the novel Paper Towns by John Green detailed the lives of a gamer and a popular girl in their last month of high school, you would be bored (or at least pretty skeptical) already. If I told you the novel also included romance, beer, and mischief, you'd groan and mutter, "Typical," and you'd probably cross the book off of your list without a second thought. Paper Towns is, indeed, about all of these things. But it's also about something more, and, in fact, that's the whole point of Paper Towns: it's impossible to sum something up if you only look at its components. To understand something, you really need to have seen the whole.
Paper Towns points out in excruciating detail that we (especially as high schoolers) only see people by parts. Take Margo Roth Spiegelmann, for example, the enigmatic sort-of-protagonist who is usually summed up (incompletely) as queen bee of the high school. When you get to know her, though, she's actually a marvelous prankster, with a head full of plans and stories and metaphysical theories about life. Take Quentin (also known as Q), an avid gamer and the boy-next-door, whose undiscovered inner hero only surfaces when Margo goes missing. Take "Bloody Ben", another obsessive gamer, whose whole life is defined by one embarrassing incident.
Throughout the book, these people discover that everyone has three dimensions. (Well, mostly everyone; the drunk jocks in this novel are as senseless and two-dimensional as ever.) They learn that you have to read people the way you read poetry: you can't understand the meaning if you only read and understand a couple of lines. You have to understand the poem as a whole before you can really say what it's all about.
And if you think philosophy is too boring and you'll never read this book, never fear, because Paper Towns is also deliciously, unexpectedly hilarious! And when I say hilarious, it's not just funny, it's laugh-out-loud ridiculous. It's intense, engaging, and (though this is coming from a senior in her last couple months of high school), completely understandable... well, maybe all except the part about naked graduation. Read it; you won't regret (or forget!) it.
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OH EMILY, WHAT A GREAT REVIEW OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. I can only express my feelings about Paper Towns as such - <3 <3 <3
If you haven't read anything by John Green, you need to fix that ASAP, so click here to see if Paper Towns (or anything else by John Green) is on our shelves.
Paper Towns points out in excruciating detail that we (especially as high schoolers) only see people by parts. Take Margo Roth Spiegelmann, for example, the enigmatic sort-of-protagonist who is usually summed up (incompletely) as queen bee of the high school. When you get to know her, though, she's actually a marvelous prankster, with a head full of plans and stories and metaphysical theories about life. Take Quentin (also known as Q), an avid gamer and the boy-next-door, whose undiscovered inner hero only surfaces when Margo goes missing. Take "Bloody Ben", another obsessive gamer, whose whole life is defined by one embarrassing incident.
Throughout the book, these people discover that everyone has three dimensions. (Well, mostly everyone; the drunk jocks in this novel are as senseless and two-dimensional as ever.) They learn that you have to read people the way you read poetry: you can't understand the meaning if you only read and understand a couple of lines. You have to understand the poem as a whole before you can really say what it's all about.
And if you think philosophy is too boring and you'll never read this book, never fear, because Paper Towns is also deliciously, unexpectedly hilarious! And when I say hilarious, it's not just funny, it's laugh-out-loud ridiculous. It's intense, engaging, and (though this is coming from a senior in her last couple months of high school), completely understandable... well, maybe all except the part about naked graduation. Read it; you won't regret (or forget!) it.
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OH EMILY, WHAT A GREAT REVIEW OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME. I can only express my feelings about Paper Towns as such - <3 <3 <3
If you haven't read anything by John Green, you need to fix that ASAP, so click here to see if Paper Towns (or anything else by John Green) is on our shelves.
Eon: Dragon Reborn by Alison Goodman (reviewed by Carolyn Adkins)
Eon: Dragon Reborn takes place in a world where one of twelve dragons makes a pack with a dragoneye. Together, they fight for peace, but that peace is about to be destroyed. Eon is a new dragoneye fighting to protect the peace, but Eon is not as he seems, because Eon is a girl and girls are not allowed to be dragoneyes.
Eon is a book that is hard to put down and jammed-packed with actions that both teens and adults will find thrilling. Eon takes you to a world with vibrant description and you know exactly what is happening and there's never a dull moment. I love this book and can't wait for the second!
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I love this book too, Carolyn! Soooo good. It reminded me of Tamora Pierce and who doesn't love Tamora Pierce, right?! Click here to see if Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is on our shelves.
Carolyn reviewed Eon: Dragoneye Reborn so she could have a chance to read an advance review copy of Eona BEFORE it came out. How did Carolyn find out about this awesome opportunity? She's signed up for the library's teen e-mail list, so she gets to hear about all the latest news, promotions, programs, and events first. Want to be on the list? Send us an e-mail at ysweb @ lacnm dot us to get added! You can also hear about what's happening by visiting the library's teen website!
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARCs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!
Eon is a book that is hard to put down and jammed-packed with actions that both teens and adults will find thrilling. Eon takes you to a world with vibrant description and you know exactly what is happening and there's never a dull moment. I love this book and can't wait for the second!
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I love this book too, Carolyn! Soooo good. It reminded me of Tamora Pierce and who doesn't love Tamora Pierce, right?! Click here to see if Eon: Dragoneye Reborn is on our shelves.
Carolyn reviewed Eon: Dragoneye Reborn so she could have a chance to read an advance review copy of Eona BEFORE it came out. How did Carolyn find out about this awesome opportunity? She's signed up for the library's teen e-mail list, so she gets to hear about all the latest news, promotions, programs, and events first. Want to be on the list? Send us an e-mail at ysweb @ lacnm dot us to get added! You can also hear about what's happening by visiting the library's teen website!
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer. We have lots of ARCs waiting for your reviews, so ask today!
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Host by Stephenie Meyer (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)
Do you love science-fiction? Aliens? Romance? World apocalypse, peaceful style? Intense conflict and personal enlightenment? If you answered yes (or maybe) to any of those, then The Host is the book for you.
As a reader, I first liked The Host because of its size. I want a book I can lose myself in, and that doesn’t usually happen in the 200 pagers. At over 600 pages (hardback copy), I was definitely drawn toward this novel.
Told almost entirely in first person, this story is unique in being able to tell the story from two points of view – without actually switching point of view. How is this possible, you ask? Well, you see, the most main character, Wanda, is a parasite, an alien, who has been inserted into a human body, Melanie, and taken complete control. Or at least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. This particular human is not going down without a fight, and even though she has lost her body, Melanie is not giving up her mind.
This is where the romance kicks in. Since Melanie is still present in Wanda’s head, Melanie’s thoughts and desires are a major distraction. And one person is thought of a lot. That would be Jared, Melanie’s partner before her capture. Wanda’s tie to Melanie’s body is complete, and Melanie wants Jared, so isn’t it natural that Wanda would want Jared, too? But Jared is still free, still part of the resistance, and he no longer trusts Melanie – or whatever it is that is inside her.
Wanda was supposed to receive the joys of Earth – the sights, the emotions, the experiences – without a pesky human interrupting her attempt at a normal (for them) invasion. Their species, of which the individual is called a “soul,” has taken over many, many planets in the galaxy. They have technology far advancing the human race – there is no disease, no hunger, no pain – and when they take over a planet it is peaceful. One could rightly argue they make that world a better place. On Earth they cured cancer, eliminated conflict and murder. They truly improve everything around them; but the cost is each individual’s presence in the world. Is it really worth that?
I don’t want to spoil any more of it for you, but by the time you finish this book you will see some things differently (and you will find at least one male character that you love; unless of course you yourself are a male, and then you will just enjoy the violence of the resisting humans and the intricate plot design).
And for anyone who is put-off because this is by the same author who wrote Twilight? Don’t be so ridiculous. Whatever your judgment of Twilight is, put it aside for just a moment. You don’t want to miss out on this because of negative bias.
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OMG Amethyst, I totttttalllly agrreeeee. There's nothing worse than judging a book by comparing it to another book. And this book is a crazy-good-sci-fic romp! I hope she writes another one soon! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Host is on our shelves.
As a reader, I first liked The Host because of its size. I want a book I can lose myself in, and that doesn’t usually happen in the 200 pagers. At over 600 pages (hardback copy), I was definitely drawn toward this novel.
Told almost entirely in first person, this story is unique in being able to tell the story from two points of view – without actually switching point of view. How is this possible, you ask? Well, you see, the most main character, Wanda, is a parasite, an alien, who has been inserted into a human body, Melanie, and taken complete control. Or at least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. This particular human is not going down without a fight, and even though she has lost her body, Melanie is not giving up her mind.
This is where the romance kicks in. Since Melanie is still present in Wanda’s head, Melanie’s thoughts and desires are a major distraction. And one person is thought of a lot. That would be Jared, Melanie’s partner before her capture. Wanda’s tie to Melanie’s body is complete, and Melanie wants Jared, so isn’t it natural that Wanda would want Jared, too? But Jared is still free, still part of the resistance, and he no longer trusts Melanie – or whatever it is that is inside her.
Wanda was supposed to receive the joys of Earth – the sights, the emotions, the experiences – without a pesky human interrupting her attempt at a normal (for them) invasion. Their species, of which the individual is called a “soul,” has taken over many, many planets in the galaxy. They have technology far advancing the human race – there is no disease, no hunger, no pain – and when they take over a planet it is peaceful. One could rightly argue they make that world a better place. On Earth they cured cancer, eliminated conflict and murder. They truly improve everything around them; but the cost is each individual’s presence in the world. Is it really worth that?
I don’t want to spoil any more of it for you, but by the time you finish this book you will see some things differently (and you will find at least one male character that you love; unless of course you yourself are a male, and then you will just enjoy the violence of the resisting humans and the intricate plot design).
And for anyone who is put-off because this is by the same author who wrote Twilight? Don’t be so ridiculous. Whatever your judgment of Twilight is, put it aside for just a moment. You don’t want to miss out on this because of negative bias.
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OMG Amethyst, I totttttalllly agrreeeee. There's nothing worse than judging a book by comparing it to another book. And this book is a crazy-good-sci-fic romp! I hope she writes another one soon! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Host is on our shelves.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (reviewed by Bear Schacht)
When browsing for a book at the library the title The Thief Lord caught my eye. I recognized the author's name, Funke, from another book I enjoyed, Dragon Rider. The Thief Lord takes place in Venice, Italy and follows a small band of thief children. The story focuses on Prosper and Bo, two runaway brothers, and Scipio, the group's leader, a boy who wants to be grown-up. When the guardians of Prosper and Bo send a detective after them the band of thieves's way of living is shaken up and Scipio gets the biggest job he ever has to do. The friendshop between the children, especially the brothers, and how they use their wits to get by, combined with some very amusing bits and some mystery as well, made it very enjoyable to read. Unlike most of my other favorite books, The Thief Lord is not part of a series. It is a very solid, self-sufficient story that is about 350 pages long. I would recommend this book to just about anyone.
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I love Cornelia Funke! This one had an ending I did not see coming, which was a real surprise for once. Click here to check our catalog to see if The Thief Lord is on our shelves.
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I love Cornelia Funke! This one had an ending I did not see coming, which was a real surprise for once. Click here to check our catalog to see if The Thief Lord is on our shelves.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)
The Iron Queen by Julia Kagawa, is about a soon to be seventeen Meghan Chase, an exiled winter prince, a comical fey, a war against the Iron Fey, and her return to the Nevernever.
When sixteen year old Meghan Chase is summoned by her fey father Oberon to come and help fight the war against the Iron fey, she doesn’t have a choice. Along with the winter prince, a childhood friend and a cait sith must fight a war with the Iron fey. A war that could destroy the Nevernever, and everyone Meghan cares about.
I couldn’t put this book down! I read the previous books, The Iron King and The Iron Daughter. Now there is The Iron Queen!
This book has suspense, mystery, romance, action, and adventure. All the characteristics that make the series exciting! There are riddles and the mysteries characters, secrets and sacrifices. This book is one of my favorites, it’s something I’ll read over and over again.
There is nothing that I didn’t like in this book. All the elements that make a book exciting are here. This kind of book combines the nature of the Fey, with modern time alternate universe aspect. It is a world that could be very real...it’s there, we just don’t see it.
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Since Xian was such a huge fan of this series and she writes such great reviews for us and she tells EVERYONE to read Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, I contacted the publisher to see if they could send us a review copy. A BIG THANKS to HarlequinTeen for sending a review copy for our teen ARC reviewers to take a look at! YAY!! ^___^
Xian reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published and then she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not. Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an ARC reviewer.
Click here to check our catalog to see if other books in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series are checked in or to pre-reserve the The Iron Queen today!
When sixteen year old Meghan Chase is summoned by her fey father Oberon to come and help fight the war against the Iron fey, she doesn’t have a choice. Along with the winter prince, a childhood friend and a cait sith must fight a war with the Iron fey. A war that could destroy the Nevernever, and everyone Meghan cares about.
I couldn’t put this book down! I read the previous books, The Iron King and The Iron Daughter. Now there is The Iron Queen!
This book has suspense, mystery, romance, action, and adventure. All the characteristics that make the series exciting! There are riddles and the mysteries characters, secrets and sacrifices. This book is one of my favorites, it’s something I’ll read over and over again.
There is nothing that I didn’t like in this book. All the elements that make a book exciting are here. This kind of book combines the nature of the Fey, with modern time alternate universe aspect. It is a world that could be very real...it’s there, we just don’t see it.
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Since Xian was such a huge fan of this series and she writes such great reviews for us and she tells EVERYONE to read Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series, I contacted the publisher to see if they could send us a review copy. A BIG THANKS to HarlequinTeen for sending a review copy for our teen ARC reviewers to take a look at! YAY!! ^___^
Xian reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published and then she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not. Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an ARC reviewer.
Click here to check our catalog to see if other books in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series are checked in or to pre-reserve the The Iron Queen today!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (reviewed by Emily TenCate)
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is the factual tale of an extremely isolated tribal mountain people, the Hmong, who are driven from their homes in the Laotian mountains and eventually are relocated to America, where they are confronted with Western ideas, values, and science. The novel details the case of Lia Lee, an epileptic Hmong child. Hmong tradition believes that epilepsy is a condition where "the spirit catches you and you fall down," which refers to the spirit temporarily leaving the body to commune with other spirits. The Hmong regard this as a gift from the gods, and the afflicted are treated as royalty. When Lia's parents immigrate to California, though, and she has a severe grand mal seizure, her parents decide to take her to nearby Merced Medical Center.
The doctors on call instantly sedate the seizing child according to protocol, taking the parents' terrified silence as consent. The parents, frightened and confused, watch as their child is hooked up to foreign machines and injected with strange, colorful substances. They fear that these strange procedures might scare Lia's spirit and drive it away permanently. The hospital staff provides instructions for medications, but Lia's parents cannot understand them and turn to their own traditional methods of animal sacrifice and prayer. This goes on for a very long time because of the unrecognized communication gap, and Lia's condition deteriorates.
Finally, one social worker does recognize the real problem. She makes a concerted effort to teach Hmong young adults how to speak English and pursue higher learning which they can then bring back to their own community. It's a long and arduous process, but she's successful in coaching several young Hmong so that they are able to gain admission and successfully graduate medical school. They are finally able to explain Western science to their parents, relatives, and the entire Hmong community in a way that is compatible with their traditional beliefs.
Through the efforts of this lone woman, the growing Hmong refugee community in Southern California was able to integrate itself positively into Western society without losing its cultural identity.
I REALLY recommend this book; it's a fascinating window into a completely different culture and how its people overcame huge adversity and stereotyping.
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Yay, Emily, our first ever review of an adult non-fiction title! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down is on our shelves.
This book was selected by YALSA for their 2009 Outstanding Books for the College Bound lists. These lists cover a wide array of subjects and genres and the books on them are AMAZING. If you're feeling like reading some different, interesting, challenging, and great books (like this one!) try some selections off these lists!
The doctors on call instantly sedate the seizing child according to protocol, taking the parents' terrified silence as consent. The parents, frightened and confused, watch as their child is hooked up to foreign machines and injected with strange, colorful substances. They fear that these strange procedures might scare Lia's spirit and drive it away permanently. The hospital staff provides instructions for medications, but Lia's parents cannot understand them and turn to their own traditional methods of animal sacrifice and prayer. This goes on for a very long time because of the unrecognized communication gap, and Lia's condition deteriorates.
Finally, one social worker does recognize the real problem. She makes a concerted effort to teach Hmong young adults how to speak English and pursue higher learning which they can then bring back to their own community. It's a long and arduous process, but she's successful in coaching several young Hmong so that they are able to gain admission and successfully graduate medical school. They are finally able to explain Western science to their parents, relatives, and the entire Hmong community in a way that is compatible with their traditional beliefs.
Through the efforts of this lone woman, the growing Hmong refugee community in Southern California was able to integrate itself positively into Western society without losing its cultural identity.
I REALLY recommend this book; it's a fascinating window into a completely different culture and how its people overcame huge adversity and stereotyping.
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Yay, Emily, our first ever review of an adult non-fiction title! Click here to check our catalog to see if The Spirit Catches You and you Fall Down is on our shelves.
This book was selected by YALSA for their 2009 Outstanding Books for the College Bound lists. These lists cover a wide array of subjects and genres and the books on them are AMAZING. If you're feeling like reading some different, interesting, challenging, and great books (like this one!) try some selections off these lists!
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (reviewed by Bear Schacht)
Journey to the Center of the Earth is one of those classic pieces of fiction that has survived for many years and it is still a gripping and exciting story about mans desire to explore the unknown. It is slightly difficult to read and the more scientific bits are sometimes hard to get through, but otherwise it is a fantastic adventure story that makes you wish it was actually possible to descend through a volcano down to an underground ocean and prehistoric monsters. I think Journey to the Center of the Earth is a book that anybody could enjoy reading.
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Ah, Bear! A true classic! Who doesn't love some Jules Verne?! ^___^ This is also a good reminder you can review ANYTHING for this blog (as long as the library has a copy or you're writing as an advance reviewer/pre-reviewer) it doesn't have to be a brand new.
Click here to check our catalog to see if Journey to the Center of the Earth is on the shelves.
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Ah, Bear! A true classic! Who doesn't love some Jules Verne?! ^___^ This is also a good reminder you can review ANYTHING for this blog (as long as the library has a copy or you're writing as an advance reviewer/pre-reviewer) it doesn't have to be a brand new.
Click here to check our catalog to see if Journey to the Center of the Earth is on the shelves.
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)
Every adult in the world is dying, and quickly. The human race is going to disappear. Is there anything that can be done?
This book takes place many years in the future, another apocalyptic story. A comet passed by the Earth, too close for comfort but far enough away that scientists believed we were safe. They were wrong. Once you turn 18 you become infected with a disease that will kill you. Some more quickly than others, but everyone is guaranteed an early demise. So what do we do? Well, in Testa’s world, we create a ship that will transport the smartest, healthiest, and most able teenagers to a planet in another galaxy, a planet that has the same basic design as Earth and the greatest chance for their survival.
This story is great because it goes back and forth between the teens flying in the ship and the background to how they got there. It ties past and present together, so the explanation parts do not slow down the events occurring. And it has mystery as someone tries to sabotage the ship and most likely bring the complete end to the human race.
I like this story because I like apocalyptic type stories, and I like science-fiction type stories. There is a hint of romance, great character development, an invented sport, and the most hilarious narrator you will ever read. His name is Roc, and he is a computer.
It’s one of the shorter stories, which means I finished it in one night and then stayed up for another hour and a half thinking about it. I love it when that happens… except when I have school the next day. So maybe you should wait until a weekend to check it out, because this is a story you will not want to have to put down.
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The Comet's Curse was the one of the recent book selection of our Teen Book Group. Our group discussion involved a live, online chat with the fantastic (and funny!) author, Dom Testa, who answered all our questions about the book and how he wrote it! Want to make sure you get to participate in the next book group and author chat? Ask for more info at the youth services desk about how you can join the next conversation.
Super-special-extra thanks to Amethyst for not just the review but also for being part of the book group!
Click here to check our catalog to see if The Comet's Curse or other titles in Dom's Galahad series are on the shelves.
This book takes place many years in the future, another apocalyptic story. A comet passed by the Earth, too close for comfort but far enough away that scientists believed we were safe. They were wrong. Once you turn 18 you become infected with a disease that will kill you. Some more quickly than others, but everyone is guaranteed an early demise. So what do we do? Well, in Testa’s world, we create a ship that will transport the smartest, healthiest, and most able teenagers to a planet in another galaxy, a planet that has the same basic design as Earth and the greatest chance for their survival.
This story is great because it goes back and forth between the teens flying in the ship and the background to how they got there. It ties past and present together, so the explanation parts do not slow down the events occurring. And it has mystery as someone tries to sabotage the ship and most likely bring the complete end to the human race.
I like this story because I like apocalyptic type stories, and I like science-fiction type stories. There is a hint of romance, great character development, an invented sport, and the most hilarious narrator you will ever read. His name is Roc, and he is a computer.
It’s one of the shorter stories, which means I finished it in one night and then stayed up for another hour and a half thinking about it. I love it when that happens… except when I have school the next day. So maybe you should wait until a weekend to check it out, because this is a story you will not want to have to put down.
--
The Comet's Curse was the one of the recent book selection of our Teen Book Group. Our group discussion involved a live, online chat with the fantastic (and funny!) author, Dom Testa, who answered all our questions about the book and how he wrote it! Want to make sure you get to participate in the next book group and author chat? Ask for more info at the youth services desk about how you can join the next conversation.
Super-special-extra thanks to Amethyst for not just the review but also for being part of the book group!
Click here to check our catalog to see if The Comet's Curse or other titles in Dom's Galahad series are on the shelves.
The Julian Game by Adele Griffin (reviewed by Emily TenCate)
According to its cover, The Julian Game was supposed to be an intriguing tale about high school and modern-day life in the form of misrepresentation through the Internet. Yet the book itself was sorely misrepresented by the cover-summary.
Hence my main complaint: the author was trying REALLY HARD to make her characters relatable and interesting and, most of all, MODERN (aka, good at technology), but it's clearly been a while since the author was a teenager.
It's as if, having forgotten what it was like to be in high school, the author emphasized every awful thing she read about in other teen romances. Everything is taken to ridiculous extremes, particularly the characters.
The in-crowd (cleverly titled "the Group") includes a fashion model and four other psychopaths who refer to each other as "Loozer" (I can only assume the spelling is meant to reflect the mental capacities of the Group?), "Lardass," (self-explanatory) and "Nerbit" (which is supposed to mean something like "nerd" but instead sounds like a rather charming combination of "gerbil" and "armpit"). They also drink lots of Irish Whiskey, invent fake Facebook profiles in attempts to get guys (is this a common custom among high school girls? I wouldn't know...) and go to way too many parties. There is a significant lack of schoolwork involved.
The antagonist, naturally one of the in-crowd, is so obnoxious that she's actually unreal: her routine revenge scheme typically involves something along the lines of causing an entire family to go bankrupt. Oh, and of course she draws on body fat with gel pens at sleepovers and creates slanderous blogs demolishing others' reputations - but as Queen Bee of high school, those are in the job description.
On the other side of the equation, you have the main character, who is a nerd. Fairly typical: nerdy characters are in vogue for teen fiction these days! But the author, once again, decides she wants her hero to really stand out, so she emphasizes the nerdiness like none other and inadvertently creates a cliche that is more cliched than I have ever seen before. As a result, our main character, who is named after some freakishly obscure painter, is into Star Trek, Star Wars, video gaming, and Mandarin Chinese tutoring (I will admit that this is cool, while perhaps a bit unrealistic). She's unathletic and scrawny, and to complete the image, she wears XL hoodies and baggy pants all the time. (Naturally, though, when she dresses up, she's drop-dead gorgeous - how else would she attend a million parties?)
Speaking of character development: the novel includes numerous demented, forced character quirks that are JUST TOO WEIRD to be real. For example, the antagonist rehearses her password (out loud, in normal conversation) 94 times - precisely- the month before she changes it. It's not only ridiculous - it's also just bad computer-use policy in general. I never knew that there was such a thing as "too unique," but this book has convinced me that there is.
While the characters are definitely pushing the far bounds of believable with their quirkiness, the plot does anything but. As per usual, our nerdling hero pines after the in-crowd. Violently so. She'd do anything to talk to them - even offer to tutor antagonist master in Mandarin Chinese! She simply yearns to be addressed by those offensive, derogatory, but somehow oh-so-wonderful nicknames!
So she invents this fake online profile and then shares it with Evil Antagonist from the in-crowd so that they can talk to gorgeous, unattainable, athletic, bit-of-a-player, most-popular-guy-at-the-nearby-boy's-school Julian. Well, except evil antagonist doesn't want to talk... she wants to get back at hot-jock! With her typical overblown MO, she invites hot-jock, through an incredibly convoluted scheme, to a party where he gets both beaten up AND arrested! Because that totally happens all the time in high school!
Through yet another convolution (after all the directions it's been twisted in, the plot looks like a balloon animal!) hot-jock and main character nerd make out!
And then decide they don't like each other.
Thank goodness, the end.
--
Thanks for the total honesty, Emily! We appreciate it when people tell us how they REALLY feel in their reviews.
Want to check out The Julian Game and decide for yourself? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Julian Game is on the shelves.
Hence my main complaint: the author was trying REALLY HARD to make her characters relatable and interesting and, most of all, MODERN (aka, good at technology), but it's clearly been a while since the author was a teenager.
It's as if, having forgotten what it was like to be in high school, the author emphasized every awful thing she read about in other teen romances. Everything is taken to ridiculous extremes, particularly the characters.
The in-crowd (cleverly titled "the Group") includes a fashion model and four other psychopaths who refer to each other as "Loozer" (I can only assume the spelling is meant to reflect the mental capacities of the Group?), "Lardass," (self-explanatory) and "Nerbit" (which is supposed to mean something like "nerd" but instead sounds like a rather charming combination of "gerbil" and "armpit"). They also drink lots of Irish Whiskey, invent fake Facebook profiles in attempts to get guys (is this a common custom among high school girls? I wouldn't know...) and go to way too many parties. There is a significant lack of schoolwork involved.
The antagonist, naturally one of the in-crowd, is so obnoxious that she's actually unreal: her routine revenge scheme typically involves something along the lines of causing an entire family to go bankrupt. Oh, and of course she draws on body fat with gel pens at sleepovers and creates slanderous blogs demolishing others' reputations - but as Queen Bee of high school, those are in the job description.
On the other side of the equation, you have the main character, who is a nerd. Fairly typical: nerdy characters are in vogue for teen fiction these days! But the author, once again, decides she wants her hero to really stand out, so she emphasizes the nerdiness like none other and inadvertently creates a cliche that is more cliched than I have ever seen before. As a result, our main character, who is named after some freakishly obscure painter, is into Star Trek, Star Wars, video gaming, and Mandarin Chinese tutoring (I will admit that this is cool, while perhaps a bit unrealistic). She's unathletic and scrawny, and to complete the image, she wears XL hoodies and baggy pants all the time. (Naturally, though, when she dresses up, she's drop-dead gorgeous - how else would she attend a million parties?)
Speaking of character development: the novel includes numerous demented, forced character quirks that are JUST TOO WEIRD to be real. For example, the antagonist rehearses her password (out loud, in normal conversation) 94 times - precisely- the month before she changes it. It's not only ridiculous - it's also just bad computer-use policy in general. I never knew that there was such a thing as "too unique," but this book has convinced me that there is.
While the characters are definitely pushing the far bounds of believable with their quirkiness, the plot does anything but. As per usual, our nerdling hero pines after the in-crowd. Violently so. She'd do anything to talk to them - even offer to tutor antagonist master in Mandarin Chinese! She simply yearns to be addressed by those offensive, derogatory, but somehow oh-so-wonderful nicknames!
So she invents this fake online profile and then shares it with Evil Antagonist from the in-crowd so that they can talk to gorgeous, unattainable, athletic, bit-of-a-player, most-popular-guy-at-the-nearby-boy's-school Julian. Well, except evil antagonist doesn't want to talk... she wants to get back at hot-jock! With her typical overblown MO, she invites hot-jock, through an incredibly convoluted scheme, to a party where he gets both beaten up AND arrested! Because that totally happens all the time in high school!
Through yet another convolution (after all the directions it's been twisted in, the plot looks like a balloon animal!) hot-jock and main character nerd make out!
And then decide they don't like each other.
Thank goodness, the end.
--
Thanks for the total honesty, Emily! We appreciate it when people tell us how they REALLY feel in their reviews.
Want to check out The Julian Game and decide for yourself? Click here to check our catalog to see if The Julian Game is on the shelves.
The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Birth of A Killer by Darren Shan (reviewed by Zach Fields)
An interesting mixture of action and suspense. it lives up to the rest of the Cirque du Freak series. There should be more to the story though, in my opinion. This book has a great opening line which keeps the reader wanting to find out how the it happens. And it just keeps you interested. Truly a hard book to put down. Shan did an excellent job with this book. I hope to read more!
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Zach reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning he got a chance to read it before it was published and then he had a chance to let the library know if it he thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.
--
Zach reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning he got a chance to read it before it was published and then he had a chance to let the library know if it he thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.
Worldshaker by Richard Harland (reviewed by Bear Schacht)
Yay Steampunk!
Length: 3,956.9 meters (12,982 feet)
Width: 1,170.4 meters (3,840 feet)
Weight: 3,110,776.4 metric tons (3,429,044 tons)
Upper decks population: 10,040 approx.
Filthies: 2,130 approx.
Worldshaker is a steam powered juggernaut as big as a city. Col Porpentine is the grand son of the supreme commander of Worldshaker, destined to take over the position. He has known nothing but the easy life, and as he is a member of the most important family, he has the best of everything. Then he meets riff, a Filthy girl from below decks, and his world is turned upside down.
I enjoyed reading this book. The world/ship and the politics between families were detailed and interesting. I also enjoyed the development of the main character, his gradual realization that what he had been brought up to believe was wrong and the people around him, people he trusted, were living lies.
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YAY, STEAMPUNK! I couldn't have said it better myself, Bear. Who doesn't love a good dirigible every now and then? ^___^
Click here to check our catalog to see if Worldshaker is on our shelves.
Length: 3,956.9 meters (12,982 feet)
Width: 1,170.4 meters (3,840 feet)
Weight: 3,110,776.4 metric tons (3,429,044 tons)
Upper decks population: 10,040 approx.
Filthies: 2,130 approx.
Worldshaker is a steam powered juggernaut as big as a city. Col Porpentine is the grand son of the supreme commander of Worldshaker, destined to take over the position. He has known nothing but the easy life, and as he is a member of the most important family, he has the best of everything. Then he meets riff, a Filthy girl from below decks, and his world is turned upside down.
I enjoyed reading this book. The world/ship and the politics between families were detailed and interesting. I also enjoyed the development of the main character, his gradual realization that what he had been brought up to believe was wrong and the people around him, people he trusted, were living lies.
--
YAY, STEAMPUNK! I couldn't have said it better myself, Bear. Who doesn't love a good dirigible every now and then? ^___^
Click here to check our catalog to see if Worldshaker is on our shelves.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Huntress by Malinda Lo (reviewed by SoYoung Choi)
With the winters prolonged, the whole nation is greatly disturbed; no one knows when the winters will cease. The people are starving and begging on the streets for food. Many have deserted their beloved homelands and have sought refuge.
Huntress by Malinda Lo is an epic tale about true love and self-battles. The book centers around Kaede and Taisin who are destined to go on a journey that will not only change the fate of their kingdom, but will also bring about a transformation within themselves.
Kaede who is valiant and strong is at the academy to become a sage, but to her dismay, she can ever be one for she lacks the talents. Taisin is quiet and calculating; as a Farmer’s daughter she has been offered a great opportunity to attend the academy. She is one of the academy’s greatest pupils.
Kaede and Taisin are both pulled in by the oracle stones. In the King’s stead, they are to journey to the Fairy Queen in Taninli where sunshine and evergreen are undisturbed. Their journey will be harsh and seemingly endless. Will Kaede and Taisin prevail? Or will they fall into the very depths of despair?
Not only are they destined to go on this quest, but they are also having conflicts of their own. Taisin has had a vision and is struggling with its true meaning: will she eventually love this Kaede? Or will she obey the law of abstinence and become a sage? Kaede’s father, the King’s chancellor has made an engagement for her to marry a lord from the South in order to end a war; will she do what is best for her country? Or will she engrave her own path? They both struggle to find their true selves.
Only one huntress is needed for this mission. Is Taisin or Kaede willing to part with one another forever?
This incredible tale of love and suspense will put you on your toes till the end. The bond between Taisin and Kaede will make your heart thump for more. I really enjoyed this novel because it showed me that true love could be displayed in many ways: through sacrifice, through glances, through smiles. Not only that but the novel made my heart jump at times because Taisin and Kaede’s bond is so intertwining that nothing can pass through between them. I really hope you enjoy this novel. Because I sure did!
--
YAY, another first-time reviewer! Thanks for submitting and joining the ranks of the amazingly super-cool people who review things, SoYoung!!! Huntress won't be released until April 2011 but you can click here to check our catalog to see if Ash, the companion novel to Huntress, is on our shelves.
SoYoung reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published (five months before it was published!!) and then she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.
Huntress by Malinda Lo is an epic tale about true love and self-battles. The book centers around Kaede and Taisin who are destined to go on a journey that will not only change the fate of their kingdom, but will also bring about a transformation within themselves.
Kaede who is valiant and strong is at the academy to become a sage, but to her dismay, she can ever be one for she lacks the talents. Taisin is quiet and calculating; as a Farmer’s daughter she has been offered a great opportunity to attend the academy. She is one of the academy’s greatest pupils.
Kaede and Taisin are both pulled in by the oracle stones. In the King’s stead, they are to journey to the Fairy Queen in Taninli where sunshine and evergreen are undisturbed. Their journey will be harsh and seemingly endless. Will Kaede and Taisin prevail? Or will they fall into the very depths of despair?
Not only are they destined to go on this quest, but they are also having conflicts of their own. Taisin has had a vision and is struggling with its true meaning: will she eventually love this Kaede? Or will she obey the law of abstinence and become a sage? Kaede’s father, the King’s chancellor has made an engagement for her to marry a lord from the South in order to end a war; will she do what is best for her country? Or will she engrave her own path? They both struggle to find their true selves.
Only one huntress is needed for this mission. Is Taisin or Kaede willing to part with one another forever?
This incredible tale of love and suspense will put you on your toes till the end. The bond between Taisin and Kaede will make your heart thump for more. I really enjoyed this novel because it showed me that true love could be displayed in many ways: through sacrifice, through glances, through smiles. Not only that but the novel made my heart jump at times because Taisin and Kaede’s bond is so intertwining that nothing can pass through between them. I really hope you enjoy this novel. Because I sure did!
--
YAY, another first-time reviewer! Thanks for submitting and joining the ranks of the amazingly super-cool people who review things, SoYoung!!! Huntress won't be released until April 2011 but you can click here to check our catalog to see if Ash, the companion novel to Huntress, is on our shelves.
SoYoung reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published (five months before it was published!!) and then she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.
Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith (reviewed by Amethyst Collins)
Katie used to be a normal girl. That is, until her mother died. Now she has a secret, a secret that comes out through her drawings; she sees ghosts. And until she meets Law, everyone just thinks she’s crazy, including herself. But one person can make a difference.
This story is very intriguing. From the very first line the reader starts to get sucked in, “The man is hanging from the stairs again, which means it’s going to be another bad day.” And the vivid detail does not stop there. Smith does not hold back in her descriptions, both bad and good.
Smith also does an awesome job at a history lesson. This may seem weird when describing a book, but it’s true. Nerdy Law is a black boy, and his chapters are filled with info and arguments about slavery. He talks a lot about “reparations,” a lesson passed along from his father, who is also black. (I mention that because his mother is white, which adds another facet to Law’s character; his personal dilemma of not belonging to either race.)
At first the reader may be lost, because switching between Katie’s point of view to Law’s is quite a change, but it quickly sorts out, which shows the skill of the author. Each character has a very distinct personality, and since the book is written in present tense, the reader will feel as if he/she is experiencing it right along with the character. There is mystery, too, especially when Law’s knowledge and Katie’s ability combine to reveal a HIDDEN TREASURE! This treasure isn’t exactly gold and jewels (though there is some of that), but it IS within a house that many people want to tear down, destroying the mystery within. And since when do adults listen to teenagers?
For those of you who like romance, this book has that, too.
The romance here is very real. There is confusion, there is angst, and there is conflict. Nothing is simple, and Smith doesn’t try to make it that way. What else are you going to get when a black boy likes a white girl who everyone thinks is crazy? And disapproving parents makes it much worse. (Yes, his father is very hypocritical at first.)
Unfortunately, I was forced to put the book down several times due to school and lack of time, but if I had had the opportunity I would have read it all in one go – it’s that good. I definitely recommend this book to everyone ages 13 and up (some of the ghosts are rather… disturbing).
--
YES, a first-time reviewer (whoo, Amethyst!) and a great review too. I know we are going to be seeing many more reviews from Amethyst ^___^ so I can't wait! You, too, can review for this blog. Send us your reviews via e-mail or drop them off at the library today and next thing you know, they'll be up here on the blog.
Amethyst reviewed a book that wasn't yet added to the library's collection to let us know if she thought it was worth adding to the shelves. Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy or add books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be a pre-reviewer for certain titles! (and yes, we're definitely adding this title, so keep your eyes on the shelves for your chance to check it out!)
This story is very intriguing. From the very first line the reader starts to get sucked in, “The man is hanging from the stairs again, which means it’s going to be another bad day.” And the vivid detail does not stop there. Smith does not hold back in her descriptions, both bad and good.
Smith also does an awesome job at a history lesson. This may seem weird when describing a book, but it’s true. Nerdy Law is a black boy, and his chapters are filled with info and arguments about slavery. He talks a lot about “reparations,” a lesson passed along from his father, who is also black. (I mention that because his mother is white, which adds another facet to Law’s character; his personal dilemma of not belonging to either race.)
At first the reader may be lost, because switching between Katie’s point of view to Law’s is quite a change, but it quickly sorts out, which shows the skill of the author. Each character has a very distinct personality, and since the book is written in present tense, the reader will feel as if he/she is experiencing it right along with the character. There is mystery, too, especially when Law’s knowledge and Katie’s ability combine to reveal a HIDDEN TREASURE! This treasure isn’t exactly gold and jewels (though there is some of that), but it IS within a house that many people want to tear down, destroying the mystery within. And since when do adults listen to teenagers?
For those of you who like romance, this book has that, too.
The romance here is very real. There is confusion, there is angst, and there is conflict. Nothing is simple, and Smith doesn’t try to make it that way. What else are you going to get when a black boy likes a white girl who everyone thinks is crazy? And disapproving parents makes it much worse. (Yes, his father is very hypocritical at first.)
Unfortunately, I was forced to put the book down several times due to school and lack of time, but if I had had the opportunity I would have read it all in one go – it’s that good. I definitely recommend this book to everyone ages 13 and up (some of the ghosts are rather… disturbing).
--
YES, a first-time reviewer (whoo, Amethyst!) and a great review too. I know we are going to be seeing many more reviews from Amethyst ^___^ so I can't wait! You, too, can review for this blog. Send us your reviews via e-mail or drop them off at the library today and next thing you know, they'll be up here on the blog.
Amethyst reviewed a book that wasn't yet added to the library's collection to let us know if she thought it was worth adding to the shelves. Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy or add books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be a pre-reviewer for certain titles! (and yes, we're definitely adding this title, so keep your eyes on the shelves for your chance to check it out!)
For the Win by Cory Doctorow (reviewed by Bear Schacht)
For The Win is an extremely powerful and moving story about the capacity that the younger generation has to change the world.
The world in this book is not much different from our own, the biggest difference is the games. These video games are so big and so popular that they contain several of the worlds largest economies.
They are virtual economies, but that doesn't make them any less real.
you can but stocks in items like you can in companies, and if you are good at it you can sell game things for real money (it is kind of interesting, there bits of economics lessons sprinkled throughout the book. Don't worry though, they are very interesting). There are black markets where you can buy everything from pre-leveled characters to gold to items.
I won't try to give a summary of the plot, that would take too long, but the story is basically about a group of young people who use their talent with the games to fight the government that is oppressing them.
It is a story about courage and sacrifice and standing up for what is right. You won't want to put it down.
--
YES, this book itself is totally FOR! THE! WIN! Thanks, Bear! Click here to check our catalog to see if For the Win is on our shelves.
Bear reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S copy of this book through a give-away at Cory Doctorow's website. (it is my shame-face fault that this has not been posted before. Boo, me!) Do you want to know about cool give-aways (and so much more?) like this? All you have to do is get on the library's teen e-mail list, so you'll gets to hear about all the latest news, promotions, programs, and events first. You get a chance to participate in give-aways like this and are reminded to write reviews for the blog! ^____^ Want to be on the list? Send us an e-mail at ysweb @ lacnm dot us to get added!
The world in this book is not much different from our own, the biggest difference is the games. These video games are so big and so popular that they contain several of the worlds largest economies.
They are virtual economies, but that doesn't make them any less real.
you can but stocks in items like you can in companies, and if you are good at it you can sell game things for real money (it is kind of interesting, there bits of economics lessons sprinkled throughout the book. Don't worry though, they are very interesting). There are black markets where you can buy everything from pre-leveled characters to gold to items.
I won't try to give a summary of the plot, that would take too long, but the story is basically about a group of young people who use their talent with the games to fight the government that is oppressing them.
It is a story about courage and sacrifice and standing up for what is right. You won't want to put it down.
--
YES, this book itself is totally FOR! THE! WIN! Thanks, Bear! Click here to check our catalog to see if For the Win is on our shelves.
Bear reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S copy of this book through a give-away at Cory Doctorow's website. (it is my shame-face fault that this has not been posted before. Boo, me!) Do you want to know about cool give-aways (and so much more?) like this? All you have to do is get on the library's teen e-mail list, so you'll gets to hear about all the latest news, promotions, programs, and events first. You get a chance to participate in give-aways like this and are reminded to write reviews for the blog! ^____^ Want to be on the list? Send us an e-mail at ysweb @ lacnm dot us to get added!
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