NEW BOOKS ADDED TO THE DISPLAY

GIRL IN THE ARENA by Lisa Haines

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena
Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.  Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator.  Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

 CRYPTUM: HALO (Forerunner Saga #1) by Greg Bear

100,000 years ago, the galaxy was populated by a great variety of beings.
But one species--eons beyond all others in both technology and knowledge--achieved dominance. 
They ruled in peace but met opposition with quick and brutal effectiveness.
They were the Forerunners--the keepers of the Mantle, the next stage of life in the Universe’s Living Time.
And then they vanished.
This is their story.

Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting is a young rebellious Forerunner. He is a Manipular, untried--yet to become part of the adult Forerunner society, where vast knowledge and duty waits. He comes from a family of Builders, the Forerunners’ highest and most politically powerful rate. It is the Builders who create the grand technology that facilitates Forerunner dominance over the known universe.  It is the Builders who believe they must shoulder the greatest burden of the Mantle--as shepherds and guardians of all life.
Bornstellar is marked to become a great Builder just like his father.
But this Manipular has other plans.

LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.



 RAIDER'S RANSOM by Emily Diamand

Because of climate change, much of 23rd-century England is underwater. Poor Lilly is out fishing with her trusty first mate, Cat, when greedy raiders pillage the town--and kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter. Her village blamed, Lilly decides to find the girl. Off she sails, in secret. And with a ransom: a mysterious talking jewel. Along the way she forms a wary friendship with Zeph, a punky raider boy. "If I save the Prime Minister's daughter," Lilly reasons, "he's sure to reward me." Little does Lilly know that it will take more than grit to outwit the tricky, treacherous piratical tribes!

We also have the sequel, Flood and Fire, in the library.



ASHES by Ilsa J. Bick

Alex has run away and is hiking through the wilderness with her dead parents' ashes, about to say goodbye to the life she no longer wants to live. But then the world suddenly changes. An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky zapping every electronic device and killing the vast majority of adults. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who has changed... Everyone still alive has turned - some for the better (those who acquired a superhuman sense) while others for the worse (those who acquired a taste for human flesh). Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the zombies that are on the hunt, Alex meets up with Tom - an Army veteran who escaped one war only to find something worse at home - and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse. This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to find food, shelter, while fighting off the 'Changed' and those desperate to stay alive. A tense and involving adventure with shocks and sudden plot twists that will keep teen and adult readers gripped.

 THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: CAMPUS APOCALYPSE by Mingming

Dark Horse is proud to present the second manga series in its Neon Genesis Evangelion line, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse!

Shinji Ikari's parents are gone, and he lives with his legal guardian, Ryoji Kaji, while attending the private NERV Academy. But no one ever told Shinji about its secrets... or that he'd find his fellow students Kaworu, Rei, and Asuka ouDark Horse is proud to present the second manga series in its Neon Genesis Evangelion line, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse!

Shinji Ikari's parents are gone, and he lives with his legal guardian, Ryoji Kaji, while attending the private NERV Academy. But no one ever told Shinji about its secrets... or that he'd find his fellow students Kaworu, Rei, and Asuka out on the streets late at night - fighting with sword, spear, and whip against an enemy that looks very human, but who Kaworu insists are beings called the Angels...

We have all four books in the series! 


WHERE SHE WENT (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Foreman

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. 

BLACK SWAN RISING by Lee Carroll

When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can't believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. . . .

 

YOUR BOOK REVIEWS

Several students have expressed an interest in writing and publishing book reviews on this blog.  I'd be delighted to post reviews because there is no better way to choose a great book than through word of mouth recommendations. Unless anyone strenuously objects, I'd like the review policy to be that only thoughtful, specific and generally positive reviews will be found here. Every book has its weaknesses and you are welcome to point those out, but the real purpose of the reviews is to help your fellow students find good books to read. Besides, a book that one student dislikes might be another's favorite, yet one scathing review might prevent anyone else from ever picking up that book again.

Your reviews do not have to be lengthy. You should begin with an introduction to the main characters, the setting and the plot. Set the scene and hint at future twists, but no spoilers please. If you know the genre or type of literature (paranormal, fantasy, romance, mystery, thriller, science fiction, humour, survival, dystopian, steampunk, relationship issues etc.) make mention of it.

Next, explain what you most liked about the novel. Try to be specific and provide examples where you can. If you simply say the story was interesting, you're not telling us much. But if you describe the characters as multi-dimensional, realistic and compelling and the plot as original, suspenseful and surprising, we have a much more clear impression. You can mention some weaknesses at this point, but they should not overshadow the novel's strengths.

Finish with a recommendation. What kind of reader would be most drawn to this story? Is the novel appropriate for a certain age group or for anyone? Does the novel put forward an important theme or lesson about life? Is this a series book that will have readers looking for the sequels? Is this a book that will change a reader's life?

Once you have written your review, email it to me at Christine.Schmor@mpsd.ca. I will edit it for spelling and punctuation (not content) and post it on the Review Page.

Every day I have students come in to tell me about the amazing books they just finished. Other students listen in and then pounce on the returned books to discover the magic for themselves. The Review Page could open up this inspiring experience for all of the students at HPSS. Can you think of a book you could recommend? Write a review!

AWESOME OCTOBER!

I love the golden days of October filled with the fragrance of burning leaves and the cold prickle of approaching winter.  The clear, glassy light throws everything into a sharper, more vivid focus. People's eyes brighten and their skin becomes more luminous. It is also a great season for cuddling up with a terrific story, a cup of something hot and sweet, and a purring cat (if one is handy.)

There are a number of great books being released this month. The second book in Rick Riordan's new series, The Heroes of Olympus, should be in the library next week. It's called The Son of Neptune and promises to be every bit the adventure of the first book.

Also, coming soon to your favorite library is Destined, the sixth and last novel in the wickedly popular paranormal House of Night series by P. C. Cast.

Last year, James Dashner published  two amazing books, The Maze Runner and  its sequel The Scorch Trials. Now comes the final book in this prison dystopian trilogy, The Death Cure. Read it if you dare!

For those who love fantasy romance (and there are many of you), be sure to look out for the final book in Becca Fitzpatrick's series beginning with Hush, Hush. Silence starts where Crescendo left off. You won't be able to put it down!

Beautiful Chaos is the newest book in Kami Garcia's southern gothic series, The Caster Chronicles.   Romance and mystery, who could ask for more?

 I am pleased that virtually all of the books mentioned in earlier posts are now out on loan. Many of them are already out for the third and fourth time this year. Don't worry that there will be nothing left for you as I'm still processing and ordering wonderful books. The new books display is seriously out of control, and it's about to get even bigger. Come down and peruse the books or ask for a recommendation. I solemnly promise to find you a book you will love.

Hope you're reading this blog...

For the student who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the latest book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, Death Bringer, IT'S HERE! I should have it processed and ready to be borrowed by lunch on Tuesday.

MORE NEW BOOKS!!!

If you are a fan of the weird, wonderful, and truly unbelievable, you'll be first in line to snap up the 2012 Guinness World Book of Records or Ripley's Believe It or Not 2012 which will be available Monday at lunch.

Here are some other great reads...

PERFECT by Ellen Hopkins

Many of you have already discovered the amazing emotional intensity of Hopkin's unusual prose verse in earlier novels like Crank, Glass, and Identical.  

 Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?

SIDEKICKS by Jack D. Ferraiolo

Batman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be...moreBatman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be, Scott begins to question his role. With the help of a fellow sidekick, once his nemesis, Scott must decide if growing up means being loyal or stepping boldly to the center of things.



THE WEDNESDAY WARS by Gary D. Schmidt

While all his classmates are enjoying (?) religious instruction, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood shares Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker, his Camillo Junior High teacher. Not surprisingly, Holling lacks enthusiasm for mid-week appointments with an instructor who assigns him Shakespeare as out-of-class reading. Holling has other things on his mind besides English While all his classmates are enjoying (?) religious instruction, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood shares Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker, his Camillo Junior High teacher. Not surprisingly, Holling lacks enthusiasm for mid-week appointments with an instructor who assigns him Shakespeare as out-of-class reading. Holling has other things on his mind besides English Renaissance drama. For his dad's sake, he's trying hard to stay out of trouble, but with hovering bullies and other impinging crises, that seems to be a full-time job. Fortunately, help arrives from an unexpected source. Another funny yet gripping novel from the author of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy.

THE HUNCHBACK ASSIGNMENTS by Arthur Slade

This is a new steampunk fantasy series by the Canadian author of Dust. We have the next two books in the series, The Dark Deeps and The Empire of Ruins. Enjoy!

GAME OF THRONES (#1 in The Song of Ice and Fire series) by George R. R. Martin.
There has been a tremendous resurgence of interest in this epic fantasy series since the televised version came out on HBO and the fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, was released this summer. Here is a synopsis:

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom's protective wall. To the south, the King's powers are failing, and his enemies are emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the King's new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but also the kingdom itself. A heroic fantasy of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and evildoers who come together in a time of grim omens. 

We have all five books.


MONSTER HIGH (#1 Monster High series) by Lisi Harrison

On the heels of her popular Alphas and The Clique series, comes a brand new series from Lisi Harrison. We will soon have the next two books in the series.

They prefer to call themselves RAD (Regular Attribute Dodgers), but some call them monsters. So far, the "monster" community has kept a low profile in Salem, but this year two new girls enroll at Master High School, and the town will never be the same.
 
Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and cheerleading. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters who might be stalking the halls, Frankie finds that life in the "normi" world can be rough for a chic freak like her.
 
She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver--but can a normi be trusted with her big secret? 


TIME RIDERS by Alex Scarrow

This first book in the series is an adrenaline pumping ride through time. I hope to have the next three books in very soon.


VIOLA IN REEL LIFE by Adriana Trigiani

When fourteen-year-old Viola is sent from her beloved Brooklyn to boarding school in Indiana for ninth grade, she overcomes her initial reservations as she makes friends with her roommates, goes on a real date, and uses the unsettling ghost she keeps seeing as the subject of her first short film.








THE DEMON KING (#1 Seven Realms series) by Cinda Williams Chima

This novel marks the first giant step in a momentous fantasy journey orchestrated by Cinda Williams Chima, the author of the popular Warrior Heir series. Its two chief protagonists are ex-thief Han Alister, an impoverished commoner, and Raisa ana'Marianna, the headstrong Princess Heir of the Fells. The Demon King brings them together, creating part of a volatile mix of action, magic, and danger. 

We have the second book, The Exiled Queen, in the library. 


PASSING STRANGE (#3 Generation Dead series) by Daniel Waters

Karen DeSonne is used to pretending to be something she’s not. All her life, she’s passed as a normal all-American teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing this time, as alive.

Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of anti-zombie regulations that have forced nearly all of Oakvale’s undead into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: betraying her love by becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is because the consequences would be even worse than death.  

BOOK  LOVE

  

 

Ramblings of a librarian...

Last week was a perfect week in the library. Admittedly, it was very busy - I think I saw more than half the students in the school as they came down in their Humanities/English classes for booktalks. Virtually everyone checked out a book or two and I'm hoping that books and readers are well -matched. If your first choice doesn't work for you, come down during lunch when there's time to chat with me about other books you will love - I'm pretty good at suggesting great reads. Some books have already been read, returned and borrowed by other students. I can see that some of you readers who simply inhale books will keep me racing to provide you with more and more titles, but I'm up for the challenge.

It was particularly fun to meet our brand new students in grades seven and eight.  I'm still working on building our collection of books for middle school, so all of your suggestions are very welcome - keep them coming!

Lots of students showed interest in the Library Club; some even started work in the library last week. My thanks go out to all of you for helping out and giving the library a true sense of community. If you wish to join the Library Club, just come in and talk to me at lunch or after school. Everyone is welcome!

Several boxes of crisp new books arrived last week and I'm trying to process them into our system as quickly as possible. Students have already been hanging over the front counter, paging through them and begging me to "Do this one next." Patience - there are enough amazing stories in the library to keep everyone thoroughly entertained. I'll post a list of new books in a few days.

Human beings have always been fascinated by stories, using them to understand and define themselves, their relationships with others and the world around them. Originally the story experience was communal: tales told aloud by the fire at night or represented visually by drawings in caves or carvings on totem poles. With the development of written language, people were able to experience a more personal, more profound connection with stories. Just compare the reading of a book to the watching of a movie based on the book and you know that reading is almost always the more rewarding activity.

Our lives are full of stories; they are found in films, television shows, sporting events, video games, song lyrics, newspapers, and history textbooks.  We post our own stories on social media sites and seek out the stories of others in their tweets and blogs. Never underestimate the power of stories to unite us, inspire us, motivate and enlighten us.

While talking to classes this week, I was reminded that there are people who  resist the magic of the written word. Either they have never found a book they liked or they have been forced to read books they hated or they struggle with reading. I believe that every single person can find enough terrific books to fill a lifetime; they just need help to find them.  I also believe that reading difficulties will sometimes fade away if the reader is captured by a wickedly good story. Anyone who has never been carried away while reading a book is missing one of the most wonderful and rewarding of all human experiences. So, if you have a friend who simply refuses to read, start talking up the stories you've loved. Make them curious about this pastime of reading. I once had a student who started reading for pleasure because whenever I talked about books I made it sound as though she was missing something in her life because she wasn't reading. She was missing something - and then she wasn't. It's as simple as turning to the first page.

Have a great week!

WEEK TWO

Well, we made it through the first week! It was a terrific week for me as I got to see last year's members of the library club, along with some of the library's most loyal patrons.( If you're interested in joining the library club, just check out the Library Club page on this blog for more information. ) Since last year was my first at HPSS, it was wonderful this year to see all the familiar faces come through the door.

This week, the library is open regular hours (see the About the Library page). Beginning with grade seven and eight students, Humanities/English classes will be invited down starting Tuesday for book talks. I know students are anxious to find great books for silent reading in their classes.

If you can't wait for a book talk, check out this blog for new titles in the library or come down during lunch to ask me for suggestions. I love to match readers to the perfect books!