Ouachita Parish Public Library YA Blog

Waiting On...

2012-02-01T09:00:00.005-06:00

With so many great books coming out, how are you to know what to even be on the look out for? Have no fear! Your faithful Young Adult librarians have been searching ahead to make sure you stay on top of the great teen literature that's out there! So, make note if you like what you see, because soon these fantastic books will be appearing in a library branch near you!

Today we are waiting on...

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Expected Publication: February 28th 2012 by HarperTeen

From Goodreads:

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

YA Programs This Week!

2012-01-29T13:00:00.003-06:00

Jan. 30, Monday @ 3:30 pm - Winter Blahs? Keep colorful by making bright polymer beads with Polly Coleman, jewelry artist. Call 327-1365 for a slot. Light snack provided.

Jan. 31, Tuesday @ 3:30 pm - JR Searcy It's Wii Time! After school with the Wii.

Jan. 31, Tuesday @ 3:30 pm - West Monroe Second Polymer Bead Day

Starters Trailer

2012-01-26T10:00:00.006-06:00

Book Trailer Thursday will be showing you an inside scoop into your favorite books and some upcoming books! Take a look at the awesome book we are featuring today:

Starters by Lissa Price

Can't wait for March for this book to come around! Be sure to add Starters to your "to-be-read" pile, and check your library branch in March for a copy to read!

This Just In...

2012-01-25T12:00:00.027-06:00

First Day on Earth

Cecil Castellucci

Find at the Library / Goodreads

Eternal Starling

Angela Corbett

Emblem of Eternity, Book 1

Find at the Library / Goodreads

Kiss Crush Collide

Christina Meredith

Find at the Library / Goodreads

The Storyteller

Antonia Michaelis

Find at the Library / Goodreads

Magic of the Moonlight

Ellen Schreiber

Full Moon, Book 2

Find at the Library / Goodreads

Love & Leftovers

Sarah Tregay

Find at the Library / Goodreads

The Secret Sisterhood of the Heartbreakers

Lynn Weingarten

Find at the Library / Goodreads

The Watch that Ends the Night

Allan Wolf

Find at the Library / Goodreads

Waiting On...

2012-01-25T10:00:00.006-06:00

Today we are waiting on...

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Expected publication: March 1st 2012 by Abrams, Harry N., Inc.

From Goodreads:

Up until senior year, Greg has maintained total social invisibility. He only has one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time—when not playing video games and avoiding Earl’s terrifying brothers— making movies, their own versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics. Greg would be the first one to tell you his movies are f*@$ing terrible, but he and Earl don’t make them for other people. Until Rachel.

Rachel has leukemia, and Greg’s mom gets the genius idea that Greg should befriend her. Against his better judgment and despite his extreme awkwardness, he does. When Rachel decides to stop treatment, Greg and Earl make her a movie, and Greg must abandon invisibility and make a stand. It’s a hilarious, outrageous, and truthful look at death and high school by a prodigiously talented debut author.

YA Programs This Week!

2012-01-24T13:00:00.002-06:00

Jan. 23, Monday @ 5:30 pm - West Ouachita Hardware Jewelry and Accessories Workshop. Reg @ 327-5414

Jan. 24, Tuesday @ 3:30 pm - JR Searcy Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides. Popcorn and cokes will be served.

Jan. 26, Thursday @ 3:30 pm - Sterlington Junk Food Quick Fire

Shatter Me Book Trailer

2012-01-19T11:00:00.040-06:00

Book Trailer Thursday will be showing you an inside scoop into your favorite books and some upcoming books! Take a look at the awesome book we are featuring today:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Looks awesome, right? Be sure to check it out from your library today!

Waiting On...

2012-01-18T10:00:00.021-06:00

Today we are waiting on...

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Expected publication: February 7th 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

From Goodreads:

A Great and Terrible Beauty meets Cassandra Clare in this spellbinding fantasy.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

YA Programs This Week!

2012-01-15T13:00:00.006-06:00

Jan. 16, Monday @ 5:30 pm - Main Shelf Discovery: Come discuss our book club pick Dear Bully

Jan. 17, Tuesday @ 3:30 pm - JR Searcy New @ Searcy: Searcy Memorial Teen Bookclub. Pick the book of your choice. Every 3rd Tuesday.

Jan. 19, Thursday @ 3 pm - Carver-McDonald Anime/Drawing Workshop

Jan. 19, Thursday @ 3:30 pm - Sterlington Key Chain Craft

Jan. 19, Thursday @ 4 pm - Ouachita Valley Wii Gaming: Just Dance 3

Jan. 19, Thursday @ 4:30 pm - Main Bored? Come play The Hunger Games: Training Days and see if you have skills like Katniss and Peeta!

Bloodlines

2012-01-14T08:00:00.006-06:00

Title: Bloodlines

Author: Richelle Mead
Publication: August 23rd 2011 by Razorbill
Goodreads

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

Once I finished reading Bloodlines I could only think one thing: When does the next book arrive! Honestly, it was that good. I have only one caveat: to be able to comprehend this new series, one must read the Vampire Academy series because this book is a part of that same world but focuses on a different group of people.

Bloodlines reveal a bigger picture of the Alchemists and their mindset and history. Sydney is an Alchemists that Rose Hathaway meet in her travels in Europe. Sydney becomes indebted to Rose through her connections to Abe Mazur. Rose has been charged with treason, but with help from Sydney, she is eventually cleared. However, at the end of the Vampire Academy series the books do not elaborate on what happens to Sydney and other minor important characters. Bloodlines tells their story. Sydney must protect Jill Dragomir even though Sydney has been raised to consider all vampires as unnatural creatures of the night. But what happens when she starts to sympathize and even befriend these unholy monsters? A fantastic literary work is born.

* Reviewed by Shundrika, 16 @ OV

The Son of Neptune Review

2012-01-12T12:00:00.013-06:00

Title: The Son of Neptune

Author: Rick Riordan
Publication Date: October 4th 2011 by Hyperion Book
Goodreads

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially infront of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

In the second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series readers are reunited with Percy Jackson. In the first book, readers learn that Percy Jackson has gone missing and that a mysterious new camper has arrived at Camp Half-Blood. At the end of the first book in this series the readers realized both camps for demigods, Greek and Roman, have somehow switched their best fighters. In The Son of Neptune, Percy has to prevail against forces which have clouded his judgement and quickly adapt to the strict regiment known as the Roman legion.

The Son of Neptune is a really original series. I do recommend reading all of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series to be able to fully grasp the situations that the characters live. I really appreciate how Riordan blends all of the mythologies together in the modern world. It is a history lesson without the lifeless lecture. I read this book for enjoyment but was pleasantly surprised I was able to recognize most myths in the tale and the clear parallel between the actual myths and Riordan's adaptations.

* Reviewed by Shundrika, 16 @ OV

Waiting On...

2012-01-11T09:00:00.033-06:00

With so many great book coming out, how are you to know what to even be on the look out for? Have no fear! Your faithful Young Adult librarians have been searching ahead to make sure you stay on top of the great teen literature that's out there! So, make note if you like what you see, becase soon these fantastic books will be appearing in a library branch near you!

Today we are waiting on...

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Expected publication: February 21st 2012 by Penguin Young Readers Group

From Goodreads:

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

YA Programs This Week!

2012-01-08T13:00:00.003-06:00

Jan. 9, Monday @ 5:30 pm - West Ouachita Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover. Call 327-5414 for more info.

Jan. 10, Tuesday @ 3:30 pm - JR. Searcy Creative Teen Craft Time. Duct tape Wallets.

Jan. 11, Wednesday @ 4 pm - Ollie Burns "I Have a Dream" Speech Contest

Jan. 12, Thursday @ 3 pm - Carver-McDonald Sewing Workshop/Jewelry Workshop

Jan. 12, Thursday @ 3:30 pm - Sterlington Warm up with inside games.

Jan. 12, Thursday @ 4 pm - Ollie Burns Teen Movie Matinee

Jan. 13, Friday @ 3:30 pm - West Monroe Frightful weather, delightful games! Wii Game and Snack inside to start your weekend.

Harbinger Book Trailer

2012-01-05T12:00:00.002-06:00

Harbinger

Sara Wilson Etienne

Publication Date: February 2, 2012.

Check out this book trailer for the upcoming book. And I thought the cover was awesome!

Programs Today!!

2012-01-05T09:24:00.000-06:00

Jan. 5, Thursday @ 3 pm - Carver-McDonald Games/Grooming

Jan. 5, Thursday @ 3:30 pm - Sterlington Hot Cocoa, S'mores and a Movie!

Jan. 5, Thursday @ 4 pm - Ollie Burns Wii Wars

Jan. 5, Thursday @ 4 pm - Ouachita Valley Hot Chocolate & S'mores with Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

Jan. 5, Thursday @ 4:30 pm - Main Hot Cocoa and Wii Winter Games in the Teen Area

City of Lost Souls Cover Reveal!

2012-01-05T08:38:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the big cover reveal for City of Lost Souls, book five in Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instuments series. Check it out:

Pretty awesome, right?! I think so!

Check out the article at USA Today where for the exclusive prologue for City of Lost Souls, just if you are interested...I read it...it was good...go on, you know you want to!

Give the Gift of Books!

2011-12-27T15:01:00.001-06:00

Every Christmas I give my friends gifts that match their personalities and interests. My best friend, Kiara, loves to read books. I have known her for five years and she is just the best friend anyone can have. She makes everything better because she truly cares. During these five years, we have probably shared and read over 100 books. These books range from The Da Vinci Code to Twilight and everything in between. I would give Kiara Inheritance by Christopher Paloni because earlier this year I introduced her to Eragon and his adventures with Saphira. She read all three books in two weeks. (She's a bookaholic like me!) I think that this book would just make her Christmas really special because afterwards we can just sit around and discuss what happened. These conversations can last hours. Last month I answered the question because I had my best friend in mind. I just hope that she won't come across this response until after the holidays.

*Shundrika, 16 @ OV

Wishing A...

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Winter Wonderland 2011

2011-12-22T09:40:00.000-06:00

Just a little holiday message from some of your Young Adult authors...who are crazy!!!

I love Maggie Stiefvater with the bagpipes!!

YA Programs This Week

2011-12-05T11:40:00.000-06:00

Dec. 5, Monday - 5:30 pm @ West Ouachita Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover & Settlers of Catan board game. Call 327-5414 for more info.

Dec. 6, Tuesday - 3:30 pm @ JR Searcy Movie Night! How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Rated PG. Watch and get your laugh on. Refreshments will be served.

Dec. 8, Thursday - 3 pm @ Carver-McDonald Kool-Aid Workshop/Sewing

Dec. 8, Thursday - 3:30 pm @ Sterlington Movie & Munchies

Dec. 8, Thursday - 4 pm @ Ollie Burns Hot Chocolate Delight

Gobble Gobble!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.014-06:00

Hope you all are having a great Thanksgiving holiday! All we really all we can ask on this wonderful holiday is to eat some great food, spends some time with with our family, maybe sneak in some quality time with a book (okay, that one may just be me), and just enjoy our day off. I just love days like this, don't you?

YA Programs This Week

2011-11-20T09:00:00.002-06:00

Nov. 21, Monday, 3:30 pm @ West Monroe - Just in time for Holiday giving ... T-Shirt Tote Sewing Craft

Nov. 22, Tuesday, 2 pm @ Louise Williams - Thanksgiving Movie Matinee: Enjoy an afternoon movie with popcorn and drinks!

Shelf Discovery: The Book Club for ANYONE who reads teen books!

2011-11-17T14:57:00.012-06:00

Join us December 12 at the Main Branch at 5:30 to discuss our December Book Club book: Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher. This is a book club for anyone, ages 12 to 112 who read teen books!

Check out a copy of the book today and join us for a discussion soon!

Until then, check out a trailer for the book:

Favorite Author

2011-11-15T09:30:00.001-06:00

Question: Who is your favorite author of young adult fiction and why?

Answer: My favorite fiction young adult author is Darren Shan. The reason why Darren Shan is my favorite young adult author is because I like books with horror and suspense. Darren Shan provides me with thees in the two series and one book I have read by him. The two series are Cirque de Freak and the Demonta series, and the book I read was The Thin Executioner. All 23 books were very suspenseful and terrifying.

* Dayton, 13 @ Ouachita Valley

Hunger Games Movie Trailer

2011-11-14T19:30:00.000-06:00

Just a little more to tide you over until March 23rd. I don't know about you, but I love this trailer for The Hunger Games, the costumes, the music, the characters finally coming to life! March 23rd can't come soon enough for I almost feel like reading the book over again so I can get back in the feel of the game and Katniss. What about you? Are you ready for the movie? Have you read the book?

Favorite Author

2011-11-14T11:35:00.001-06:00

Question: Who is your favorite author of young adult fiction and why?

Answer: My favorite teen fiction author is Scott Westerfeld. Why? Because his book's have great characters, great plots, hilarious and awesome dialog and great endings! My favorite book by Scott would have to be Peeps, Cal had my heart! Over the last summer reader's program I read 17,776 pages (yikes) and I guess I'd like to win because I enjoy reading and adding book's to my collection! Thanks!

* Sandy, 16, @ Sterlington Memorial

YA Programs This Week

2011-11-13T09:00:00.003-06:00

Nov. 14 Monday 3:30 pm @ West Monroe - Read it and Eat! Foods and words from Divergent by Veronica Roth

Nov. 14 Monday 5:30 pm @ Main - Shelf Discovery: The Book Club for ANYONE who reads YA. Call 327-1490 ex.3024 for details.

Nov. 15, Tuesday, 4 pm @ Louise Williams - Homework Louisiana: The lowdown on FREE tutoring for you! FREE tutoring for ANY subject, at ANY grade level, Sunday through Thursday from 3pm-9pm. If you want to know how it works come to this workshop and find out.

Nov. 17, Thursday, 3 pm @ Carver-McDonald - Thanksgiving Party

Nov. 17, Thursday, 4 pm @ Ouachita Valley - Movie & Popcorn: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2

Nov. 17, Thursday, 4:30 pm @ Main Book - Cafe: Holiday Reads! Need something to read over the holidays? Check out our newest books and get personalized recommendations!

This Just In...

2011-11-12T08:00:00.003-06:00

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she'd change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily-not the four March sisters-who undergoes the most surprising change of all. Lauren Baratz-Logsted's winning confection will appeal to fans of Little Women as well as anyone who enjoys a modern twist on an old favorite.

The Hunger Games Companion by Lois Gresh

The ultimate companion guide to the blockbuster Hunger Games trilogy

For all those who adore Katniss and Peeta, and can't get enough, this companion guide to the wildly popular Hunger Games series is a must-read and a terrific gift.

Go deeper into the post-apocalyptic world created by Suzanne Collins than you ever thought possible—an alternative future where boys and girls are chosen from twelve districts to compete in “The Hunger Games,” a televised fight-to-the-death. When sixteen-year-old Katniss learns that her little sister has been chosen, Kat steps up to fight in her place—and the games begin. This unauthorized guide takes the reader behind the stage.

The Hunger Games Companion includes fascinating background facts about the action in all three books, a revealing biography of the author, and amazing insights into the series’ main themes and features--from the nature of evil, to weaponry and rebellions, to surviving the end of the world. It’s everything fans have been hungering for since the very first book!

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win. (Book #2)

How to Rock Braces and Glasses by Meg Haston

Gorgeous, uber-harsh, and uber-stylish, Kacey Simon is the undisputed social dictator of Marquette Middle School. That is, until an eye infection and a visit to the dentist leave her with coke-bottle glasses, a mouth full of metal, and... a littttthsp! Dissed and dismissed by her popular friends, Kacey is forced to hang out with a boy who wears skinny jeans and jams in his own band. But as she adjusts to life as a loser, she's surprised to find that Skinny Jeans is kind of hot and his band is pretty cool. Suddenly, hitting rock-bottom feels oddly uplifting. Could rocking braces and glasses be the best thing to ever happen to her?

In this hilarious reversal of the cool crowd versus the nerd herd, a popular girl finds herself in Loserville and realizes it's about time she paid back all the bad karma she built up as Queen Bee.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

My name- my True Name- is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court.

And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl...

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing gentler feelings the Winter Prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase- a half-human, half-fey slip of a girl- smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer faery can survive,

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through its end- a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way, Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice. (Book #4)

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost? (Book #4)

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole? (Book #2)

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell

Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at The Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.

YA Programs This Week

2011-11-11T09:14:00.001-06:00

Nov. 11, Friday, 3:30 pm @ West Monroe - B.G.E.: Big Game Event. Wii Eat and Play

Nov. 12, Saturday, 1 pm @ Louise Williams - OPPL's Coach Robert Bird Research Collection: LW welcomes Coach Robert Bird from Ouachita Parish Junior and High schools to open the collection of books he donated to the library. Join us to cut the ribbon and cut the cake!

Favorite Author

2011-11-07T11:34:00.001-06:00

Question: Who is your favorite author of young adult fiction and why?

Answer: Over the past years young adult authors have been simply amazing and awe-inspiring with their abilities to tell truly captivating stories. A few really well written authors are: Stephenie Meyer, C.C Hunt, P.C Cast and Kristen Cast, Suzzane Collins, Ally Condie, Tessa Gratton and so many others. I love to read all of their books, but J.K Rowling is an absolute genius with her ability to make one boy's journey through life such a phenomenon. The Harry Potter series introduced me to a completely different world. J.K Rowling will always be my favorite author because she inspired my addiction to reading.

* Shundrika, 16 @ OV

Teen Book Giveaway

2011-11-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Question for November 2011

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Question: Who is your favorite author of young adult fiction and why?

The Rules:
*You must be 12-18 years old (and not in college)
*Answer the question in 150-200 words

*Email your answer to oplib.org@gmail.com
*Include your name, age, phone number, Ouachita Parish Public Library branch you use the most

*Include 1 book from the six shown you would like to win

*See you submissions on this blog
*3 winners will be notified by email at the end of the month and will be able to pick up their book at the branch they listed on their email.

Crossed by Ally Condie

OPPL / Goodreads

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

OPPL / Goodreads

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

OPPL / Goodreads

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

OPPL / Goodreads

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

OPPL / Goodreads

Legend by Marie Lu

OPPL / Goodreads

YA Programs This Week

2011-10-31T14:43:00.000-05:00

Nov. 1st Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. @ Searcy Memorial - Pocket Notebooks: Make your own mini notebook!

Nov. 3, Thursday, 3 p.m. @ Carver-McDonald - Game Day

Nov. 3, Thursday, 3:30 p.m. @ Sterlington Memorial- National Sandwich Day! We will have a variety of sandwiches and play a variey of games!

Nov. 3, Thursday, 4 p.m. @ Ouachita Valley - Nachos & Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

Nov. 3, Thursday, 4:30 p.m. @ Ollie Burns - Duct Tape Art

eBooks at OPPL!

2011-10-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Did you know your library offered ebooks to read on Nooks, iPads, iPhones, Kindles, other devices or even your home computer? Well, we do! All you need to do is go to our website, http://www.oplib.org/, and find this picture:

Click on it, read the helpful information, and then you will be on to downloading an ebook to your computer and transferring it to the device you choose! Awesome, right! I know I love it. One added bonus - it's free! Yep, you can have two books checked out from three weeks for free!

If you have any questions, or if you run in to any problems with it, feel free to call 327-1490 or 327-1470 and ask for the Reference desk.

Some of the teen ebooks available to you:

Hunger Games Movie Posters Debuts!

2011-10-27T12:37:00.003-05:00

Hunger Games movie poster released today for your viewing pleasure. The movie is not due out until March 2012, but that does not mean I can't be excited for any little bit of news I can get about this movie!

Katniss

Peeta

Gale

Rue

Effie

Cinna

Haymitch

Cato

Thanks to the following websites for having the posters: Katniss at Yahoo! Movies, Peeta at MTV, Gale at Moviefone, Rue at Teen.com, Effie at EW.com, Cinna at Fandango, Haymitch at IGN, and Cato at MSN Movies.

Looking Ahead...

2011-10-25T12:00:00.006-05:00

Yes, I know it's only the end of October. Does it mean I can't look ahead to next year and some great teen books coming out then? I didn't think so! I have to be prepared. So now, because I know, you know. Check the library's catalog in January to see which branches have purchased these books.

Check out some of the awesome books coming out in early 2012:

A Million Suns by Beth Revis.

Publication Date: January 10, 2012 by Razorbill

*This is book 2 in the Across the Universe series. If you haven't read the first one, get on it! From Goodreads:

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

Harbinger by Sara Etienne

Publication Date: February 2, 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

*This book, with its awesome cover, is being compared to a mix of Beautiful Creatures and Girl, Interrupted. Intrigued yet? From Goodreads:

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn’t expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she’s going crazy. Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she’s come home. She’s even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she’s the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can’t trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her — and the rest of the world too.

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Publication Date: February 21, 2012 by Penguin Young Readers Group

*Something about this book...I don't know exactly what it is yet, but just imagine dying from a broken heart! From Goodreads:

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

Brie's life ends at sixteen. Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Do you judge a book by its cover?

2011-10-24T14:00:00.001-05:00

To judge or not to judge? Don't lie. You know you do it. I do it. We librarians here at OPPL are trying to encourage you to look beyond the cover to see what is written inside is what is important, but I will admit, yes, I can get drawn into a well developed book cover! No shame in admitting it. That's what it is there for! Then, there are the times when the title alone will secure the read/check out/purchase of a book. No questions asked. Just give it to me, thank you very much.

So, today's list consists of some of the

Books Whose Titles Or Covers Made Me Check Them Out.

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth. Cover and Title. (Does this count for 2?) I saw this book, loved the cover, the title, and actually bought it the day it came out. Thankfully, the book lived up the all build-up, at least for me. :) I l-o-v-e it. No, really. This is my favorite YA book of the year (so far).

2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Cover. Oh, my. Seriously. This cover is insane. And, did you know on the inside there is another cover? I know!! Genius! One cover to appeal to the girls, and one cover to appeal to the guys. Pretty smart thinking...

3. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey. Cover. Love the cover. I just checked this one out, and haven't read it yet. I really like what the cover artist did with the title letters.

4. The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith. Cover. Something about this cover drew me in. I saw it on the shelf one day, and just grabbed it and added it to my checkout pile! I like the steampunkish quality to it. I like how there are two different images in the two different lenses.

5. I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. Cover and Title. I hadn't heard anything about this book before a friend showed it to me and said, "You have to read this!" I looked at it, and thought to myself, "Okay." That was it. That was all it took. I love this series.

6. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon. Cover and Title. I just checked this book out this week. I'm intrigued by both the title and the cover. I want to know why she floating like this, and what mark is she carrying? I can't wait to read this one!

7. Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr and others. Cover and Title. Oh, this book grabbed my attention from on the shelf. It was a combination of the cover, the title, and the authors. This one book has stories from Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Claudia Gray, Carrie Ryan, Kami Garcia, Ally Condie, Rachel Vincent, and more. What more could you ask for in one book?

8. Flawless by Lara Chapman. Cover. This cover intrigued me. The tag line reads, "Gorgeous friend. Shared crush. Big problem." After you read this, you think about the drama that is going to happen in this book, and you think you know what is going to be the "big problem," but you have no idea!

9. Stolen by Lucy Christopher. Cover and Title. With this book, I will admit to knowing something beforehand. I knew this book came out in 2010 and was awesome, and I had been putting it out on display for awhile hoping a teen would see it and pick it up. Sometimes, I have to force myself to not pick up the YA books and leave some for the teens to checkout! Then, I heard this book was chosen as one of four 2011 Printz Honor Books, which means it is a pretty awesome book. So, I broke my rule and checked out this book. I've met Lucy Christopher in person, and she is a really sweet YA author who didn't mind talking to an overexcited librarian about her book. Let me tell you guys something: this book lives up to the honor.

10. Stork by Wendy Delsol. Cover. Such a beautiful cover with its wintry ice. Check out the tag line here: Family secrets. Lost memories. And the arrival of an ancient magical ability that will reveal everything. I'm hooked!

YA Programs This Week

2011-10-23T16:30:00.005-05:00

Oct. 24, Monday 4 p.m. @ West Monroe United Nations Food Day: Make your own sushi!

Oct. 24, Monday 6 p.m. @ JR Searcy - It's all in the family: Enjoy a spaghetti dinner while you learn about the library's genealogy database. Pre-register at khebert@oplib.org or 327-1240

Oct. 25, Tuesday 3:30 p.m. @ JR Searcy- Picture It @ Your Library. Create a movie poster of your favorite book-to-movie. Materials provided. Prizes awarded.

Oct. 27, Thursday 1:30 p.m. @ Ollie Burns - Let's Play Horseshoes

Oct. 27, Thursday 3 p.m. @ Carver-McDonald - Fear Factor

Oct. 27, Thursday 3:30 p.m. @ Sterlington - Horror Movie & Ghoulish Snacks. We will set the mood for Halloween fun!

Zombie Prom this Saturday!

2011-10-19T08:00:00.003-05:00

Zombie Prom is this Saturday!Don't forget to pick up your Zombie Prom tickets today. Any of the OPPL branches can provide you with them. For more information, contact your closest library branch and talk to your young adult librarian today.

Title Revealed!

2011-10-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

Monday the title for the third book in the Lorien Legacies series was revealed to one and all by none other than the author himself, Pittacus Lore:

The Rise of Nine is expected to be published in August of 2012, so we have a long wait ahead of us, guys! But, if you haven't read I am Number Four or The Power of Six, this is your chance to get caught up.

YA Programs This Week

2011-10-16T12:00:00.041-05:00

Oct. 17, Monday @ 4 p.m. West Monroe - Read It and Eat: Zombies vs. Unicorns. Light refreshments served.

Oct. 17, Monday 5:30 p.m. @ Main - Join us for more information about our newest book club, Shelf Talkers. This is a book club for teens AND adults who read YA books. Bring a parent or a friend. Invite a teacher. Call 327-1490 ex.3024 for more information

Oct. 17, Monday 5:30 p.m. @ West Ouachita - Teen Movie Night. Snacks provided. Call 327-5414 for more info.

Oct. 18, Tuesday 3:30 p.m. @ JR Searcy - Halloween Cupcake Decorating Contest: Cutest, scaries, weirdest, and ugliest cupcakes get prizes.

Oct. 20, Thursday 3 p.m. @ Carver-McDonald - Teen Read Week: Picture It @ Your Library/Crafts

Oct. 20, Thursday 3:30 p.m. @ Sterlington - Horror Movie & Ghoulish Snacks: Just to get you in the mood for Halloween

Oct. 20, Thursday 4 p.m. @ Ouachita Valley - In honor of Teen Read Week: Design Your Own Book. Show inagination, artistic flair, and hidden talent to design a new cover for a book you've read.

Oct. 20, Thursday 4:30 p.m. @ Main - Teen Read Week: Picture It @ Your Library! Have a favorite pic of you and your friends? Email it to oplib.org@gmail.com BEFORE the program and make a quilted pillow with your photo printed on fabric. Reg required. Call 327-1490 ex. 3024 to register. Limited seating.

Oct. 20, Thursday 4:30 p.m. @ Ollie Burns - Groovy Movie

Oct. 22, Saturday 7-10 p.m. @ Main - Join us for the 2nd Annual Zombie Prom! You must have a ticket to attend. See your branch for more details or call 327-1490 ex. 3024 for more information.

Don't forget to get your tickets for the 2nd Annual Zombie Prom!!!

2011-10-12T14:35:00.002-05:00

You MUST be registered to attend and you MUST have a ticket to get in the door! Pick up your tickets at any branch or call 327-1490 ext. 3024 for details!!!

Author Spotlight: Simone Elkeles

2011-10-12T12:30:00.001-05:00

Author Bio:

Simone Elkeles writes about teens because she was a teen in the 80’s (when spiked hair and blue eye shadow were “rad”) and she loves writing about those exciting teen relationships and romances. Check out her website: http://www.simoneelkeles.net/

PERFECT CHEMISTRY SERIES

Title: Perfect Chemistry

Publication Date: December 23, 2008 by Walker Books for Young Readers

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers. When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Title: Rules of Attraction

Publication Date: April 13, 2010 by Walker Books for Young Readers

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Title: Chain Reaction

Publication Date: August 16, 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?

LEAVING PARADISE SERIES

Title: Leaving Paradise

Publication Date: April 1, 2007 by Flux

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Title: Return to Paradise

Publication Date: September 1, 2010 by Flux

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.
Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She's dermined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie's accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

HOW TO RUIN SERIES

Title: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation Publication Date: October 1, 2006 by Flux

Moshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home.

Unfortunately for 16-year-old Amy Nelson, “moshav” is not Hebrew for “shopping mall.” Not even close. Think goats, not Gucci.

Going to Israel with her estranged Israeli father is the last thing Amy wants to do this summer. She’s got a serious grudge against her dad, a.k.a. “Sperm Donor,” for showing up so rarely in her life. Now he’s dragging her to a war zone to meet a family she’s never known, where she’ll probably be drafted into the army. At the very least, she’ll be stuck in a house with no AC and only one bathroom for seven people all summer—no best friend, no boyfriend, no shopping, no cell phone…

Goodbye pride—hello Israel.

Title: How to Ruin My Teenage Life

Publication Date: June 1, 2007 by Flux

EVERYTHING in sixteen-year-old Amy Nelson Barak's life is going wrong! Her mom got married and moved to the suburbs, and now they are going to have a baby. Amy moves in with her dad in Chicago and signs him up for an online dating service. His first four dates are that night . . .

What else? Her dog Mutt impregnated her grumpy neighbor's prized poodle, so Amy will actually have to get a part-time job to pay for half the veterinary bill. And there's this totally annoying boy, Nathan Rubin, who just moved into her apartment building. Luckily, Amy has a cute boyfriend named Avi. Only he's more like a non-boyfriend considering Avi is in the Israeli army for the next three years.

What's a girl to do when everyone is conspiring to ruin her life?

Title: How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation

Publication Date: November 1, 2009 by Flux

Guess who's jetting to the Holy Land this summer!

Remember me, Amy Barak-Nelson—a.k.a the queen of disaster? In case you forgot, my boyfriend Avi is in the Israeli army. A visit is definitely in order.

Somehow my grandmother convinced me to sign up for two weeks of pure hell in a military training base. Getting up before dawn, peeing in a hole, and playing war games in the desert isn't my idea of fun. But what's worse? Our team leader turns out to be Avi!

Upcoming Books for Guys

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

I know out there in the real world there are guys who like to read. You may not admit it to everyone, but you do. It's okay. I'm here for you, and I've got some info on some guy books about to come out soon:

Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.

Will anyone survive the Death Cure? (Book 3)

Battle Fatigue by Mark Kurlansky
Growing up in the years following World War II, Joel Bloom and his friends dreamed of either fighting in the military or leading the Dodgers to the World Series. But when Joel turns eighteen, the Vietnam War is in full swing, and the sides of war he learned about as a child are not nearly as clear. Old enough to be drafted, Joel loves his country but knows he cannot fight in an unjust war. After trying and failing to be a Conscientious Objector, he must decide whether to serve in Vietnam or leave for Canada-a decision that would help him avoid the violence of war but force him to leave behind those he loves and turn his back on everything he was brought up to believe. In an insightful and compelling novel from bestselling nonfiction writer Mark Kurlansky comes an exploration of one teen's struggle to understand himself amid the harsh realities of life during wartime.

Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher

Bobby Steele and his pals, Marcus and Big Poobs, all public school kids from working class backgrounds, are waiting for tenth grade to start when they come across an application form for Whitestone Academy, a prestigious and posh private school. Just for giggles, they decide that a nonexistent kid should apply—and so Rowan Pohi is born. (Named for their favorite hangout, Pohi is IHOP spelled backwards.) Amazingly enough, the phantom Rowan is accepted at Whitestone. Eager to escape the boredom of public school and his unhappiness at home,

Bobby shows up at Whitestone’s new student orientation, reinventing himself as Rowan. He begins a suspenseful career as an impostor, hoping that the two worlds he’s living in will stay separate forever. For a short, exhilarating time, they do. Ralph Fletcher’s signature light touch in addressing serious issues in young people’s lives is evident in this story of identity lost and found.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
Not so very long ago, Eragon Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider, was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.
Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost? (Book 4)

This Just In...

2011-10-09T14:15:00.002-05:00

Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

On the night of Skye’s seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites—like fire and ice—Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye’s life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move—only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can’t help falling for, and Devin, who she can’t stay away from, the consequences of Skye’s choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

Ranger's Apprentice: The Lost Stories by John Flanagan

Inspired by questions and letters his loyal readers have sent over the years, John Flanagan offers a gift in response: a collection of "lost" tales that fill in the gaps between Ranger's Apprentice novels. For the first time, readers can learn the truth behind how Will came to be orphaned and what his real relationship to Halt is, or watch Alyss in action as the young Araluen diplomat disguises herself and becomes the perfect spy. (Book 11)

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

In The Lost Hero, three demigods named Jason, Piper, and Leo made their first visit to Camp Half-Blood, where they inherited a quest:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Who are the other four mentioned in the prophesy? The answer may lie in another camp miles away, where a new camper has shown up and appears to be the son of Neptune, god of the sea. . . . (Book 2)

Palace of the Damned by Darren Shan

Before Madame Octa...
Before the Cirque...
Before Darren Shan...
Larten Crepsley was a young man.

After failing his mentor and killing the entire crew of a ship in a bout of revenge for the death of his assistant, Larten is bereft with guilt. He no longer has the drive to live the vampiric life, and hides out in Paris, masquerading as a human. There, he finds some happiness, even falling in love with a girl. But the darkness inside him is too great for humanity, and he is forced to make a choice: hide in the shadows of the human world, or take his place among the vampire clan and protect those weaker than himself. But enemies are waiting, traps are laid, and Larten's path is bound to be strewn with bodies.

This is his story. (Book 3)

Awesome Cover Alert

2011-10-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Super excited about today's awesome cover. I loved Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore, and I'm really excited Bitterblue is finally ready to come out...in May 2012. Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to be patient...not! Hurry up May!!

According to the article in Publisher's Weekly, Bitterblue is 576 pages and takes places eight years after Graceling,with Bitterblue now 18 and the reigning queen of Monsea. While Bitterblue may be more of a companion novel to Gracleling, fans, have no fear! The different-colored-eyed Katsa – returns in Bitterblue, as does Po. Don't you love how the keys look like they could be weapons?

Awesome Cover & Book Trailer for Iron Knight

2011-10-07T08:00:00.074-05:00

As some of you know, and if you didn't you will now, Iron Knight, book four in Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series is set to release on October 25th. That's a little over 2 weeks!

To get you excited, here is the awesome cover, both front and back to show of Ash and Puck!

And here is the awesome book trailer:

If you haven't read the first three books in the Iron Fey series, be sure to pick them up and get started today!

Book 1: Iron King

Book 2: Iron Daughter

Book 3: Iron Queen

Author Spotlight: John Corey Whaley

2011-10-06T19:01:00.005-05:00

Author Bio:
JOHN COREY WHALEY grew up in the small town of Springhill, Louisiana, where he learned to be sarcastic and to tell stories. He has a B.A. in English from Louisiana Tech University, as well as an M.A in Secondary English Education. He started writing stories about aliens and underwater civilizations when he was around ten or eleven, but now writes realistic YA fiction (which sometimes includes zombies…). He is terrible at most sports, but is an avid kayaker and bongo player. He is obsessed with movies, music, and traveling to new places. He is an incredibly picky eater and has never been punched in the face, though he has come quite close. He can often be found standing around with a big grin on his face. His favorite word is defenestration, which is the inspiration for his second novel.

UPDATE: John Corey Whaley was also just announced as a National Book Foundation Top 5 Under 35 author! WOOT!

You can read more about John Corey Whaley, his books, and where he'll be by visiting his website at www.JohnCoreyWhaley.com.

Title: Where Things Come Back
Publication Date: May 3, 2011

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen’s senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone’s eating “Lazarus burgers.” But as absurd as the town’s carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Check it out today!

P.S. That awesome director who did the video is a musician...check out his website here: www.benjenkinsmusic.com

Teen Book Giveaway

2011-10-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

Question: What teen fiction sequel are you most looking forward to reading and why?

Answer: I am looking forward to Veronica Roth's second book in the Divergent series, Insurgent. Divergent was such an absolutely fantastic book that I would just assume that Insurgent will be even better. Divergent is set in the future where the world is split into different factions that represent the characteristics of that group. The children have to take a test that will determine what group is best for them. Beatrice, who had always been Abgnation, trades in her old life to become Dauntless. Her decision is met with difficult obstacles. She has transformed herself into Tris, the brave. But there is turmoil in the factions. Erudite (the intelligent) seek to overthrow the Abgnation (the selfless) with the help of Dauntless (the brave). Insurgent begins with the aftermath of Tris's war.

Expected publication: May 28th 2012 by HarperCollins

* Shundrika, 16 @ OV

~Such a great answer! I'll cast my vote for Insurgent as well. The closer May 2012 will get, the closer I will to bouncing on the edge on my seat, waiting for this book to come out. I love me some Tris and Four! - Joy, YA Librarian @ OV

YA Programs This Week

2011-10-05T08:00:00.006-05:00

Oct. 6, Thursday @ 3 p.m. - Carver-McDonald - Games

Oct. 6, Thursday @ 3:30 p.m. - Sterlington - Game On! We will play a variety of games from minute to win it to checkers and scrabble.

Oct. 6, Thursday @ 4 p.m. - Ouachita Valley - Quench Your Thirst : Relax and cool down with a tasty coke float, followed by Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover.

Oct. 6, Thursday @ 4:30 p.m. - Ollie Burns - Talent On Parade

Oct. 7, Friday @ 3:30 p.m. - West Monroe - Wii Party and refreshments

Oct. 11, Tuesday @ 3:30 p.m. - JR Searcy - Horror Movie Day: Dylan Dog, Dead of Night, rated PG-13, with snacks & prizes.

Oct. 13, Thursday @ 3 p.m. - Carver-McDonald - Movie Afternoon

Oct. 13, Thursday @ 3:30 p.m. - Sterlington - Duct Tape Galore: Back by popular demand we will make billfold and coin purses out of duct tape.

Oct. 13, Thursday @ 4:30 p.m. - Ollie Burns - Books Under A Tent

Author Spotlight: Susan Beth Pfeffer

2011-10-04T09:00:00.015-05:00

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Author Bio:

Susan Beth Pfeffer was six when her father wrote and published a book on constitutional law, and Pfeffer decided that she, too, wanted to be a writer. That year she wrote her first story, about the love between an Oreo cookie and a pair of scissors.

Follow her blog: http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/. More information on the Last Survivors Series can be found at: http://www.lifeasweknewit.com/

Title: Life as We Knew It

(Book 1 Last Survivors Series)

Publication Date: December 31, 2005 by Harcourt Children's Books

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Title: The Dead and the Gone

(Book 2 Last Survivors Series)

Publication Date: January 1, 2008 by Harcourt Children's Books

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.
With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

Title: This World We Live In

(Book 3 Last Survivors Series)

Publication Date: April 1, 2010 by Harcourt Children's Books

It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.
The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

Title: Blood Wounds

Publication Date: September 12, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books

Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother.

Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? As Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear her family apart.

If I could...

2011-10-03T16:00:00.001-05:00

Question: What is your favorite location or setting from a teen fiction novel and why?

Answer: My favorite teen fiction novel setting is the Lotus Hotel and Casino from Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover come across the Lotus Hotel as they are looking for the pearls that will help them escape the Underworld. In the Lotus Hotel, the waitresses and waiters give the guests lotus flowers to eat that make them forget why they came to the Lotus Hotel. The flower also makes the person who eats it lose track of time. There are lots of forms of entertainment in the Lotus Hotel, such as video games and skeet shooting. There are kids there from all time periods caught up because they ate the lotus flower. My favorite character in the Lotus Hotel and Casino is the guy front he seventies playing Mrs. Pac-Man. Also, there is this game that Grover plays where the hunters are the hunted and the deer shoot the hunters. Annabeth plays a game where she can design an entire city. I think these would be really cool games to play, and that is some of the reasons why the Lotus Hotel and Casino is my favorite location from teen fiction!

* Haley, 18 @ OV

Zombie Prom 2011

2011-10-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

For more information, contact your closest library branch and talk to your young adult librarian today! Hope to see you in costume if you dare!

October Teen Book Giveaway

2011-10-01T09:59:00.000-05:00

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Question for October 2011

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

What teen fiction sequel are you most looking forward to reading and why?

The Rules:
*You must be 12-18 years old (and not in college)
*Answer the question in 150-200 words
*Email your answer to oplib.org@gmail.com
*Include your name, age, phone number, Ouachita Parish Public Library branch you use the most
*Include 1 book from the six shown you would like to win
*See you submissions on this blog
*3 winners will be notified by email at the end of the month and will be able to pick up their book at the branch they listed on their email.

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

OPPL / Goodreads

The Death Cure by James Dashner

OPPL / Goodreads

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

OPPL / Goodreads

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

OPPL / Goodreads

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

OPPL / Goodreads

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

OPPL / Goodreads

Author Spotlight: Jay Asher

2011-09-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

Jay Asher

Author Bio:

Except for six months in Wyoming, I've lived my entire life in California. It was during those six months in Sheridan, Wyoming that I came up with the idea for Thirteen Reasons Why. I've worked at an independent bookstore, a chain bookstore, an outlet bookstore, and two public libraries. Before those jobs, I worked at a shoe store, a trophy shop, and an airline. My very first writing award earned me a free fruit smoothie every day for a year. I've won a lot of awards since then, but that one tasted the best!

Blog: http://jayasher.blogspot.com/

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Publication Date: October 18, 2007 by Razorbill

http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Title: The Future of Us

with author Carolyn Mackler
Publication Date: November 21, 2011 by Razorbill

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.
Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

Banned Book Week

2011-09-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Did you know this was Banned Books Week? BBW is being held from September 24 to October 1, 2011.

BBW is an event held every year to celebrate our freedom to read and how important the First Amendment is to us. BBW is especially important because it shows us how having free access to all information is important and necassary, even for teenagers! Banned Books Week also the puts the spotlight on censorship with a list of books from across the United States that have had actual or attempted bannings brought upon them.

Hunger Games...The Lord of the Flies...Crank...Harry Potter...The Golden Compass

What's your favorite book? Chances are good that someone has tried to ban it. Celebrate YOUR freedom to read during Banned Books Week.

A Wrinkle in Time...Twilight...To Kill a Mockingbird...ttyl...The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Every year, there are hundreds of attempts to remove books from schools and libraries. Celebrate YOUR right to choose your book!

For More Information:

American Library Association Banned Book Week

Books Challenged and/or Banned 2010/2011

This Just In...

2011-09-27T15:22:00.001-05:00

Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks

On the prairies of Canada during World War II, a girl and her two young siblings begin a war of their own. Stricken with tuberculosis, they are admitted to a nearby sanatorium. Teenager Marie Claire is headstrong, angry, and full of stubborn pride. In a new strange land of TB exiles she must “chase the cure,” seek privacy where there is none, and witness the slow wasting decline of others. But in this moving novel about fighting a way back to normal life, it is the thing that sets back Marie Claire the most—the demise of her little brother—that also connects her with the person who will be instrumental in helping her recover.

Tilt by Alan Cumyn

Stan is an intense sixteen-year-old loner who desperately wants to make the junior varsity basketball team. And it seems that he may be about to do so, until he’s blindsided by the unexpected attentions of Janine Igwash. Suddenly Stan is no longer thinking about jump shots. Instead he is obsessed with Janine’s spiky hair, her milky white shoulders and the mysterious little tattoo at the base of her neck, not to mention the heat of her breath, her dark eyes, wide hips and . . . Sometimes Stan’s imagination runs so wild he wonders whether he might be going crazy. That would be par for the course given his home life. His mother is dating the feckless Gary, and his little sister, designated gifted but a holy terror, is acting out. Then Stan’s father arrives on the scene with Stan’s four-year-old half brother, and things become truly insane.

The Survivors by Amanda Havard

In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived.

The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.

On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all...

HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?

Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel

Abby doesn’t remember what happened the night she woke up in soot-stained clothes, lying next to a burning building with an unfamiliar boy at her side. But her connection with Sam is immediate and intense. And she has no one else: no family, no home, not even a last name.

She and Sam start a new life, just the two of them, and Abby’s deliriously happy. Until memories from her past begin to haunt her ;— ; and suddenly everything she’s learned to love turns sinister. It’s only a matter of time before her reality cracks apart.

Vanish: A Firelight Novel by Sophie Jordan

An Impossible Romance. Bitter Rivalries. Deadly Choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love? (Book 2)

Edda by Conor Kostick

Everyone in the virtual universe of Edda is made of pixels-except Penelope. While her body is kept alive in a hospital bed, her avatar runs free, able to go anywhere and do anything, including create deadly weapons for Edda's ruler, her guardian, Lord Scanthax. When Scanthax decides he wants to invade another virtual world, Erik/Cindella from Epic and Ghost from Saga become part of the story-and soon the virtual universes are alive with fighting, alight with bombs, and brought together by three teenagers who want peace and understanding. This is the third and final book in Conor Kostick's trilogy. (Book 3)

Epic Fail by Claire Lazebnik

Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?
At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you.

Case in point:
As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list. When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

Enthralled by Melissa Marr and more

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

Daniel X: Game Over by James Patterson

When Daniel X discovers that a duo of evil extraterrestrials is plotting to control kids around the world through videogames, he's determined to take them both out of commission. This pair of wicked game masters wants to destroy the human race by turning brainwashed videogamers into an unstoppable army of doom! They're also running an endangered species hunting club on the side, and their next target is none other than Daniel. He'll have no choice but to turn to the aliens' rebellious son who needs help to stand up to his malicious parents. But can Daniel trust the progeny of this treacherous twosome? Or will it be "Game Over" for the alien hunter? (Book 4)

Torn by Margaret Peterson

Still reeling from their experiences in Roanoke in 1600, Jonah and Katherine arrive in 1611 only moments before a mutiny on Henry Hudson’s ship in the icy waters of James Bay. But things are messed up: they’ve lost the real John Hudson, and they find what seems to be the fabled Northwest Passage—even though they are pretty sure that that route doesn’t actually exist. Will this new version of history replace the real past? Is this the end of time as we know it? With more at stake than ever before, Jonah and Katherine struggle to unravel the mysteries of 1611 and the Hudson Passage...before everything they know is lost. (Book 4)

Clean by Amy Reed

You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. I’m still wondering the same thing.

Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They're addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they'll all have to deal with themselves and one another if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there's nowhere to go but down, down, down.

Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx by James Rollins

Using his father's watch as a key, Jake intends to return to Calypsos. Instead he's thrust into a strange desert land where he's joined by his friends Marika, Pindor, and Bach'uuk and his sister, Kady. As they try to figure out what to do next, a surprise attack by the beautiful young Princess Nefertiti takes them all captive.

Soon even she is battling the Skull King's minions. For Jake has something the Skull King wants—a prize that will give its owner awesome power, including control of the fearsome Howling Sphinx. In a new pounding adventure, Jake races against time to outfight and outwit Kalverum Rex, knowing that if the Skull King wins, he'll be unstoppable. (Book 2)

Glow by Kathleen Ryan

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

Pulse-pounding and addictive, GLOW begins the most riveting series since The Hunger Games. (Book 1)

Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Smedry is on a mission to save the day! When a hero is needed to save the doomed kingdom of Mokia from the evil Librarians, thirteen-year-old Alcatraz, whose family talents include getting lost and breaking things, answers the call. In his final adventure in the series by bestselling adult fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz has a lot to prove and, as always, little time in which to do it!

The fourth and final book in the fabulously funny Alcatraz Smedry series! (Book 4)

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Your future is not your own...
"We wanted to know what makes a good kid good and a bad kid bad. Can you blame us for that? We found an astoundingly, marvelously simple answer: The brain isn't so much a complicated machine as it is a crystal ball. If you look into it, you will see everything you want to know."
-Dr. Mark Miliken, senior researcher at Utopia Laboratories

Who will it be?
Will the head cheerleader get pregnant?
Is the student council president a secret drug addict?

The whole school is freaking out about PROFILE, an experimental program that can predict students' future behavior.

The only question Daphne wants answered is whether Jesse will ask her out...but he's a Predicted, and there's something about his future he's not telling her.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

Keek’s life was totally perfect.

Keek and her boyfriend just had their Worst Fight Ever, her best friend heinously betrayed her, her parents are divorcing, and her mom’s across the country caring for her newborn cousin, who may or may not make it home from the hospital. To top it all off, Keek’s got the plague. (Well, the chicken pox.) Now she’s holed up at her grandmother’s technologically-barren house until further notice. Not quite the summer vacation Keek had in mind.

With only an old typewriter and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar for solace and guidance, Keek’s alone with her swirling thoughts. But one thing’s clear through her feverish haze—she’s got to figure out why things went wrong so she can put them right.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as Prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Airforce.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.

The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic onboard: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy. (Book 3)

The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey

When Dr. Warthrop goes hunting the "Holy Grail of Monstrumology" with his eager new assistant, Arkwright, he leaves Will Henry in New York. Finally, Will can enjoy something that always seemed out of reach: a normal life with a real family. But part of Will can't let go of Dr. Warthrop, and when Arkwright returns claiming that the doctor is dead, Will is devastated—and not convinced.

Determined to discover the truth, Will travels to London, knowing that if he succeeds, he will be plunging into depths of horror worse than anything he has experienced so far. His journey will take him to Socotra, the Isle of Blood, where human beings are used to make nests and blood rains from the sky—and will put Will Henry's loyalty to the ultimate test. (Book 3)

This Just In...

2011-09-22T12:15:00.000-05:00

Check out all the awesome teen books that have come in recently to a branch near you:

Frost by Marianna Baer

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends chose to live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar.

What Celeste lacks in social grace, however, her brother, David, a recent transfer student, makes up for in good looks and charm. But while he and Leena hit it off immediately, Leena finds herself struggling to balance her growing attraction with her fear of getting hurt.

As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House—frames mys-teriously falling off walls, doors locking by themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And while Leena tries to play peacekeeper between her best friends and new roommate, soon the mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind . . . or in Frost House itself?

Anna Dressed in Blood by
Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett

Ariadne is destined to become a goddess of the moon. She leads a lonely life, filled with hours of rigorous training by stern priestesses. Her former friends no longer dare to look at her, much less speak to her. All that she has left are her mother and her beloved, misshapen brother Asterion, who must be held captive below the palace for his own safety.

So when a ship arrives one spring day, bearing a tribute of slaves from Athens, Ariadne sneaks out to meet it. These newcomers don’t know the ways of Krete; perhaps they won’t be afraid of a girl who will someday be a powerful goddess. And indeed she meets Theseus, the son of the king of Athens. Ariadne finds herself drawn to the newcomer, and soon they form a friendship—one that could perhaps become something more.

Yet Theseus is doomed to die as an offering to the Minotaur, that monster beneath the palace—unless he can kill the beast first. And that "monster" is Ariadne’s brother . . .

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.

Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that hasn’t stopped him from other thrill-seeking behavior—like scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut. Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says "I love you," and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex’s wedding, and suddenly she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a south sider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world? (Book 3)

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

To everyone at Meridian High School, fourteen-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette’s syndrome. But in truth, Michael is extremely special—he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities, and their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens—and through them, the world.

With only his powers, his wits, and his friends to protect him, Michael will need all his strength to survive….

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.

Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants—what she must do—is to bring Danny back.

But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.

Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her—and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.

But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

For the bright young things of 1929, the beautiful days seem endless, filled with romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, friendship and rivalry.

After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys’ lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan’s bustling metropolis. But Letty’s not content to be a mere socialite. She is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams—no matter the cost.

Cordelia is still reeling from the death of her father at the hands of Thom Hale, the man she thought she loved. Now she is set to honor Darius Grey’s legacy . . . and take her revenge.

Promised to Cordelia’s half brother, Astrid is caught up in a world of dazzling jewels and glittering nights—and the sparkle is blinding. Charlie Grey is a gangster playing a dangerous game; and for Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty, the stakes could be deadly. (Book 2)

The Line by Terri Hall

When Rachel and her mother move to Mrs. Moore's house-the one with the greenhouse, right next to the Line-Rachel starts questioning things. There are so many rumors of horrible things that lie beyond the Line-in a place called Away-but no one dares to talk about it. And it's no use asking questions- especially of Mrs. Moore, who has always lived by the Line, or of her mother, who is just happy to have a place to stay, especially since Rachel's father died in the war. But then Rachel comes across a recorded message-one that could only have come from Away. And the voice on the recorder is asking for help. As things start to unravel, the question becomes, how far is Rachel willing to go to cross the Line and do the right thing? (Book 1)

Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way by Lisi Harrison

The frighteningly hip teenage children of the world's most famous monsters have gathered together under one roof...to brave the horrors of high school!

Always overshadowed by her six brothers and her fab friends, Clawdeen Wolf plans to finally strut her stuff in the spotlight at her upcoming Sweet Sixteen bash. But after The Ghoul Next Door goes viral, it's into the woods for the family Wolf. Clawdeen goes stir crazy lying low at her family's B&B with her annoying brothers until Lala shows up to keep her company. But is the vamp flirting with Claude?! (Book 3)

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.

In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade for food and other items essential for survival. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true, where there are real houses, barbecues, a school, and even baseball games. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing forever.

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

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.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother spiraling toward suicide. For her, “perfect” means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back in order to score his perfect home run—on the field and off. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never understand.

A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins’s Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up—and grow into our own selves. Because everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go?

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

The Emerald Flame by Frewin Jones

The Emerald Flame of her people.

Branwen has finally accepted that the Shining Ones have chosen her to save her country from the Saxon invaders. But the next stage in her journey includes a seemingly impossible mission, and the path before her is filled with darkness and danger. Branwen is pushed to the brink of disaster, and with each step she takes, she is being pulled farther from the life she once knew—the life she still desperately misses.

Guided by the spirits, with both her fearless friend Rhodri and the dashing, sometimes maddening Iwan by her side, Branwen must overcome terrifying odds if she is to succeed in her quest. But a true Warrior Princess won't back down . . . even when an old enemy returns. (Book 3)

If I could...

2011-09-20T13:30:00.002-05:00

Question: What is your favorite location or setting from a teen fiction novel and why?

Answer: If I could live in any book series I would have to choose the wonderful, wizarding world of Harry Potter. Who wouldn't want to live in a place where anything could happen? Just imagine a day of playing Quidditch with your friends before taking a trip into The Three Broomstick's in Hogsmeade to relax and check out the locals. Simple words can not even captivate the purely magical essence in the air. Besides, the fantastical places in the Wizarding World, the magical creatures are unbelievable. I don't know about you but I would love to pet a unicorn, befriend a hippogriff, or even watch a dragon (with protection of course!). Harry Potter's world is most definitely the place I would go if I had a chance.

* Shundrika, 15 @ OV

If I could...

2011-09-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Question: If I could live in any teen novel, which one novel would I choose and why?

Answer: If I could live in any teen book (or books in my case), I would choose to live in Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. I would choose to live in the world of Percy Jackson and the Olympians because in the books the characters are half god and half human or demigods. They have great physical abilities, and they have the ability to read Ancient Greek. Also, I love learning about Greek mythology, so living in it would be amazing for me. These are the teen books I would choose to live in.

*Haley, 18 @ OV

Awesome Cover Alert!

2011-09-17T14:26:00.000-05:00

Take a look at the awesome covers for some upcoming teen fiction books. OPPL has the first three on order, so click the titles to be taken to the library's catalog so you can get on hold today! I'm ending today's post with an extra special awesome cover for a book that does not come out until next year, but I couldn't wait to share it with you! I'll let you know when this book is in the OPPL system.

Title: Fateful

Author: Claudia Gray

Publication Date: September 13, 2011 by Harper Collins Children's Books

Goodreads for synopsis

Title: Carrier of the Mark

Author: Leigh Fallon

Publication Date: October 4, 2011 by HarperTeen

Goodreads for synopsis

Title: Son of Neptune

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication Date: October 4, 2011 by Hyperion Book

Goodreads for synopsis

AWESOME COVER JUST RELEASED:

Title: Insurgent

Author: Veronica Roth

Publication Date: May 2012 by HarperCollins
Goodreads for synopsis

This Just In...

2011-09-07T11:00:00.003-05:00

Ashes by Ilsa Bick

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushed her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom — a young soldier — and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar’s year can’t get much worse. After witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab, he’s forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey’s train wreck of a life is finally improving — until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley’s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn’t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey’s father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury — and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben’s latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about.

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

Starship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James

A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.

Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

Haven Moore and Iain Morrow have been living a blissful life in Rome, an ocean way from the Ouroboros Society and its diabolical leader. But paradise is not to last. The mysterious disappearance of Haven's best friend, Beau, sends the pair running back to New York, where they encounter the Horae, an underground group of women who have spent centuries scheming to destroy Adam Rosier. Only they can help Haven uncover the secret to Beau's whereabouts in one of her past lives. But their help comes at a price: Haven must infiltrate the Ouroboros Society, charm Adam Rosier, and lure him into a trap. It's a plan the Horae believe will save the world-but Haven and Iain fear that it may destroy the happiness they've been chasing for two thousand years. (Book #2)

The Date Book by Erika Stalder

So, You’ve got a date with a new guy. Or is it even a "date"? You’re not sure. Your heart is jumping. Your palms are sweating. Suddenly, you want to throw up. Don’t panic. The Date Book will get you through.

Inside, you’ll find creative date suggestions, fashion advice, tips on how to bargain for extended curfews, and bad date exit strategies. There’s even a dating personality quiz and a dating contract to outline goals and boundaries for your new romance. Brimming with practical, humorous, and safety-centered tips, The Date Book is a must have for teen girls who want to be on top of their game when going out with a new guy.

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.

Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything—lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder—to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son . . . and Braden may be destined to kill him.

The Hidden by Jessica Verday

A love that knows no bounds.

Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny. Theirs is a bond that transcends even death. But as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very hard choices to make. Caspian may be the love of her life, but is that love worth dying for?

Beautifully spun, emotionally gripping, and irresistibly romantic, The Hidden will leave you breathless.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Juliette Immortal

2011-09-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

Title: Juliet Immortal

Author: Stacey Jay
Pubication Date: August 9, 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Goodreads

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest love stories ever written. This tale is about love at first sight. These two teenagers are madly infatuated with each other before they have spoken one word. In less than five days the two are secretly married. But as you all know, these violent delights have violent ends.

But what if that wasn't the true story. What if Romeo fell in love with Juliet, but tricked her into killing herself so that he could live forever? Stacey Jay's novel, Juliet Immortal, is the real story of Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague. This time true love has turned into worst enemy. Throughout the ages Romeo and Juliet have been fighting, each for a different cause. Juliet's fight is for true love for the Ambassadors. Romeo is a soldier for the Mercenaries. The differences in their stations are clear. Every time Juliet dies in a new body her soul will be sent to the mist, waiting for a true love again. While Romeo inhabits the bodies of the dead forever.

When Juliet enters her new body named Ariel, she learns that this reincarntion is different than all the others. It might be her last.

*reviewed by Shundrika, 15 @ OV

This Just In...

2011-08-30T10:42:00.000-05:00

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

At the beginning of his junior year at a boys' boarding school, 16-year-old Alex is devastated when he fails to save a drowning friend. When questioned, Alex and his friend Glenn, who was also at the river, begin weaving their web of lies. Plagued by guilt, Alex takes refuge in the library, telling his tale in a journal he hides behind Moby-Dick. Caught in the web with Alex and Glenn is their English teacher, Miss Dovecott, fresh out of Princeton, who suspects there's more to what happened at the river when she perceives guilt in Alex's writing for class. She also sees poetic talent in Alex, which she encourages. As Alex responds to her attention, he discovers his true voice, one that goes against the boarding school bravado that Glenn embraces. When Glenn becomes convinced that Miss Dovecott is out to get them, Alex must choose between them.

Free ACT Practice Test

2011-08-29T16:05:00.001-05:00

Free ACT Practice Test

& ACT Stress Workshop

Who: Ouachita Parish Public Library & Sylvan Learning Center

Where: Main Branch Library, 1800 Stubbs Ave., Monroe, LA 71201

When: The test will be given on Saturday, September 24th beginning at 8:00 am

ACT Stress Workshop & Test Results

This will be given on Saturday, October 1st

at the Main Branch at 2:00 pm

*Registration Begins*

Thursday, Septmember 1st @ 9:00 am

Registration is required to participate!

To register, call 327-1490, ext. 3024

and follow the instructions.

Limited seating is available.

This Just In

2011-08-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

Nocturne by Christine Johnson

Claire couldn’t be happier that her life has finally settled down. She’s been fully initiated into her family’s pack of female werewolves, her best friend Emily is back in town, and she’s finally allowed to be with Matthew, the human love of her life. But when a new girl arrives, everything starts to unravel. Not only is the intruder getting close to Claire’s best friend and boyfriend, but she may also know more about Claire than she’s letting on. If Claire’s secret gets out it breaks all the rules of the pack, and the consequences may be more than Claire can handle.... (Book 2)

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

In I Am Number Four, the Mogadorians have tracked down and killed the writers of the newsletter They Walk Among Us. But someone is continuing with the newsletter, sending out updates of what is happening to John and the rest of the Lorien Nine. Could it be a trap planted by the Mogadorians, or is it someone trying to help them? In a Spanish convent, seventeen-year-old Marina longs to join forces with her fellow Loriens to prepare for battle with the Mogadorians who destroyed their home planet, while in the United States, John, Six, and Sam elude authorities who think John is a terrorist. (Book 2)

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

If I could...

2011-08-25T08:15:00.000-05:00

Question: If I could be a character in any teen novel, which one novel would I choose and why?

Answer: There are so many books that I have read and loved, but The Hunger Games is one of my top favs. I would love to be Katniss. The reason is she's strong, independent, great at bow and arrow - which I'm working on - and she'll stop at nothing to protect the ones she loves. Also, I'd love to be the crush of someone as sweet, funny, handsome, strong, and creative as Peeta Mellark. I would also pick Katniss because I just love the adventure of The Hunger Games. It's full of suspense, action, humor, quirks, and an all out romance all around. I love to read of tales where the two would do anything to be with the one they love even if it means they risk their own lives. It's one very true definition of true love. I would also love to be able to be a character that, yes, has to grow through some grief in there life - that's life - but, to be able to come out stronger and stand up for what I know, what I'm fighting for, and what I believe.

*Michaela, 14 @ OV

Ripple Review

2011-08-19T09:00:00.005-05:00

Title: Ripple

Author: Mandy Hubbard
Publication Date: July 21, 2011 by Razorbill
Goodreads

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

Before you judge this book purely on the fact that it seems to be a mermaid tale, read the first page. Lexi's tale ensnared my mind, and I gladly accepted my fate. I read this book in one day. It was just that captivating.

On Lexi's sixteenth birthday the ocean began to call to her and she could not resist the initial temptation. In her joy she decided to take her boyfriend, Steven, with her to the ocean behind his house. A night to remember became her worst nightmare. She had killed her crush with her deadly siren song. That day she became withdrawn, no longer speaking to her friends in an attempt to distance herself and to protect them. Her friends nicknamed her the Ice Princess.

Two years later on one of her nightly swims in a lake surrounded by dense forest, Lexi's life will be changed. Steven's best friend,Cole, is at her lake. Lexi is forced not to swim to save his life, enduring her body's rebellion the next day because of his unexpected visit. Slowly Cole manages to reawaken Lexi from her shell-like life. He is able to make her smile again. However, their relationship will be challenged with the arrival of Erik and his "cure".

*reviewed by Shundrika, 15 @ OV

This Just In...

2011-08-18T11:16:00.001-05:00

Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany

Locked away at Pecan Place, Jessie finds her situation to be even more dangerous than she feared. While she struggles to maintain her sanity and discover answers about the group that seems less and less like any legitimate government agency, Pietr fights to keep their relationship alive. But very aware that his mother’s time is running out, Pietr makes a deal he doesn’t dare tell Jessie about. Because the deal Pietr’s made could mean the death of far more than his tenuous relationship with the girl he loves. (Book 3)

Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

Brought together each summer at a boarding school in Switzerland, three girls learn a lot more than just French and European culture. Shirin, an Iranian princess; Ingrid, a German-Canadian eccentric; and Vivien, a Cuban-Jewish New Yorker culinary phenom, are thrown into each other's lives when they become roommates. This is a story of 3 paths slowly beginning to cross and merge as they spend the year apart, but the summers together. Through navigating the social-cultural shoals of the school, developing their adolescence, and learning the confusing and conflicting legacies of their families' past, Shirin, Ingrid, and Vivien form an unbreakable bond.

Like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this story takes readers on a journey into the lives of very different girls and the bonds that keep them friends.

Almost Final Curtain by Tate Hallaway
Craving the spotlight is in her blood.

Ever since high school student Anastasija Parker discovered she was vampire royalty, her life has been sort of crazy. The half-vampire- half-witch just wants some normalcy, and trying out for the spring musical seems like the perfect fix.

But when the ancient talisman that stands between vampire freedom and slavery to witches is stolen, Ana has to skip rehearsal and track down the dangerous artifact before someone uses it to make this year's curtain call her last...

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I’ve thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna’s life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It’s bad enough that she has to leave her friends behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love—a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that have been buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tide means that nothing, not the sea glass that collects along the shore, not the truths behind Anna’s mother’s death, stays buried forever.

Sons of Liberty: Death and Taxes by Alexander Lagos

Several years have passed since Graham and Brody escaped the bonds of slavery. Now, when the streets of Philadelphia erupt in violence, the two boys must decide: will they use their extraordinary abilities to aid the growing rebellion or to quell it? An ambitious, thought-provoking, and visually stunning graphic novel, Death and Taxes offers an entirely new way to experience all the hope and heartbreak of America's early days. (Book 2)

Ingenue by Jillian Larkin

Bobbed hair. Short skirts. Cool jazz. Dark speakeasy. Anything goes. Meet the flappers, Gloria, Clara, Lorraine . . . and the rich young boys who love and loathe them. Unaware that a hired killer has followed them from Chicago, the three eighteen-year-old flappers relocate to separate sections of New York City where their lives still revolve around speakeasies and rich boyfriends. (Book 2)

Thirst #4 by Christopher Pike

The conclusion to the phenomenally successful Thirst series follows five-thousand-year-old vampire Alisa Perne as she battles a new race of immortals: the Telar. The Telar are a challenging threat. But Alisa is hungry for blood—and thirsty for revenge. (Book 4)

Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

This highly atmospheric debut crackles with tension and has a shivery horror tang.

Lexi's late father taught her that witches are as good, bad and various as humans, so she trusts the witch sisters who live at the edge of her village; unlike most of the sullenly insular villagers, she doesn't blame a lurking stranger when children start disappearing. Each night, a village child hears the wind singing a tune and climbs out the window to play on the moor, vanishing before morning. As a mob mentality unfolds in the village, tracker Lexi works harder and harder to defend the stranger and find the children. Part mourning and healing tale, part restless ghost story, the strengths here are Lexi's sophisticated characterization (strong, sad, fiercely protective) and the extraordinary sense of place.

Set in an undefined past, this will appeal to fans of haunting vibes and romance; readers who love it will go on to Wuthering Heights.

Life on Mars edited by Jonathan Strahan

Mars! The Red Planet! For generations, people have wondered what it would be like to travel to and live there. That curiosity has inspired some of the most durable science fiction, including Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles and the work of Isaac Asimov. Now the award-winning anthologist Jonathan Strahan has brought together thirteen original stories to explore the possibilities. After reading Life on Mars, readers will never look at the fourth planet from the sun the same way again.

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.

Misfit Review

2011-08-17T15:51:00.000-05:00

Title: Misfit

Author: Jon Skovron
Publication Date: August 1, 2011 by Amulet Books
Goodreads

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Jael Thompson is not just a Catholic schoolgirl that wonders about mundane things like when will she be moving again or who will sit next to her in class. For all of her life, her father and her have moved across states and countries, never having a place to call home. The reason for this is simple. If they stay in one place for long the demon Belial, Grand Duke of the Northern Reaches of Hell, will be able to rid the world of half breeds for good. That's right. Jael's mother was once a powerful demon but fell in love with Paul,resulting in the half breed Jael Thompson. Astrate, Jael's mother, believed that her daughter had a Prophecy to fulfill later in life. Astrate sacrificed herself in order to protect her husband and baby.

Misfit is a perfect name for this book. When learning about her demon heritage from her uncle Dagon, Jael feels like she doesn't truly fit in either world. Her parents were also a pair of misfits: the demoness and the priest working together to fight other demons that were abusing humanity.

Misfit isn't something that can fit with everyone's expectations. It outdoes them.

*reviewed by Shundrika, 15 @ OV

TMI (Too Much Information) Review

2011-08-15T16:31:00.000-05:00

Title: TMI (Too Much Information)

Author: Sarah Quigley
Publication Date: April 16, 2009 by Dutton Juvenile
Goodreads

Friends call Becca the Overshare Queen, but her tendency for TMI never seemed like a problem to her until she blabs about her sweet band-geek boyfriend's sloppy kisses - and gets dumped! Realizing it may be better to resist the temptation to overshare face-to-face, Becca decides to blog anonymously about everything instead. On her blog, Too Much Information, Becca unleashes her alter ego, Bella. Bella tells it like it is . . . though perhaps with a bit more drama. After all, no one's going to read it, right???

Becca can't seem to control herself. She talks about everything (personal problems or not) with everyone. Only after messing up her relationship by giving a poem her boyfriend gave to her, in secret, to her friends...does she realize she has to stop. But it will not be easy to just hold it all in. So, she writes a blog. But, even with top secret names for everyone, including a fantasised relationship with her crush, Matt (a.k.a. Mr. Wonderful) she is found out and once secrets are out and a friendship is ruined.

Can things start to look up for her?

Can Becca break her "TMI" habit? Or will she never be able to stop?

Want to find out...read the book!

*reviewed by Tobie, 12 @ OV

If I could...

2011-08-12T10:28:00.000-05:00

Question: If I could be a character in any teen novel, which one novel would I choose and why?

Answer: This is a really hard question because of all the books that I have read, the leading characters have always been smart, brave, fearless, and simply inspiring. Bella from Twilight, Zoey from the House of Night series, and Fire from Graceling are just examples of all the great heroines in teen fiction. If I had to choose I would most definitely, without a doubt, be Rosemary Hathaway from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.

Rose is a dhampir whose best friend is Vaslissa Dragomir,the last of her line. When Lissa's family died, Lissa has managed to bring Rose back to life, making her shadow kissed. As a result, their friendship is taken to a whole new level with the bond that has been created between the two. Throughout all of the drama of high school and standoffs against the Strigoi, Rose manages her life. She is both outgoing and fiercely protective of all the people she loves. Rose is just a girl despite her training to become a Guardian. She knows how to live her life to the fullest in spite of all the hardships. She shows incredible strength in all situations and is loyal to the end.

* Shundrika, 15 @ OV

Blood Magic Review

2011-08-11T14:13:00.000-05:00

Title: Blood Magic

Author: Tessa Gratton
Publication Date: May 24, 2011 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Goodreads

It starts off simply.

Draw a circle ... place a dead leaf in the center ... sprinkle some salt ... recite a little Latin ... add a drop of blood ...

Maybe that last part isn't exactly simple. Yet somehow it feels right to Silla Kennicott. And nothing in her life has felt remotely right since her parents' horrific deaths. She's willing to do anything to uncover the truth about her family—even try a few spells from the mysterious book that arrived on her doorstep ... and spill some blood.

The book isn't the only recent arrival in Silla's life. There's Nick Pardee, the new guy next door who may have seen Silla casting a spell. She's not sure what he saw and is afraid to find out. But as they spend more time together, Silla realizes this may not be Nick's first encounter with Blood Magic. Brought together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick can't deny their attraction. And they can't ignore the dark presence lurking nearby—waiting to reclaim the book and all its power.

Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood.

As I read Tessa Gratton's Blood Magic, my heart went out to Drusilla. I can not imagine the pain that she has had to live with since her parents murder-suicide. Especially since she does not believe her beloved father would ever harm her mother. The mysterious book sent by The Deacon only makes her want to be reconnected to the parents she has always known.

Being at their grave comforts Drusilla and when she first tests the astonishing powers of magic she has an audience. Nick, having known about the magic his entire life, is unwilling to accept it into his life. He has no choice in the matter. Nick and Silla are bound by the blood magic that erupts whenever they are together.

Nick, Silla, and Robert explore the magic, but everything is far from okay. Learning the spells gives Drusilla answers to the question that she has asked for for weeks now: "Who actually killed her parents?" and has born a new question, "Who was her real father?"

The answer to that lies in a journal dating years ago when witch doctors were burned and diseases were rampant. As the past and future collide, Silla will need strength, her sanity, and Nick to survive this outcome.

*reviewed by Shundrika, 15 @ OV

If I Stay Review

2011-08-10T10:42:00.025-05:00

Title: If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman
Publication Date: January 1, 2009 by Dutton Juvenile
Goodreads

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family.

Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make -and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

After a four-ton truck going 60 mph plows into their car, Mia's parents and brother are dead. She is in what her social worker calls "grave condition." She now had a choice that will decide he fate. Stay alive...or let go of life and go with her family.

Paperback Cover

After everything that has happened...everyone has something to say to her. Some telling her it's okay to let go...others begging her to stay. Making her decision even harder.

In the end, does she stay? Or does she go into the light? You will have to find out for yourself...

I am not easily overwhelmed by emotions, but this book is a major tear-jearker. My favorite book this year.

*reviewed by Tobie, 12 @ OV