Teen Survivor 2013 Books

 

This summers Teen Survivor 2013 Summer Readers Club featured eight fantastic novels with a little something for everyone.  Below is a list of all eight with a brief description of each novel. Teen Survivor is a program for youth in grades 7-12 in Orillia with a library card.  Over the course of the summer they read the books and vote online for their favorites.  At the end of the summer we have a big party where teens can win fabulous prizes and copies of the books.

 

All eight books will continue to be available at the library in the teen section of the library. For more information message below or contact ltoutant@orilliapubliclibrary.ca

 

 

 

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

 

Rory Deveaux, of Bénouville, Louisiana, is spending a year at a London boarding school when she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat and becomes involved with the very unusual investigation.

 

 

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love with a human. R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn't enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

 

 

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

 

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London;working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward; both of whom she is deeply drawn to; Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius; and madness; in her own blood.

 

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect.

 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

A stunning debut young adult novel about two misfits falling in love for the first time

 

Bono met his wife in high school, Park says.  So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers.  I'm not kidding, he says.You should be, she says, we're 16. 

 

What about Romeo and Juliet?  Shallow, confused, then dead.  I love you, Park says.  Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers.  I'm not kidding, he says.  You should be. 

 

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits - smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love - and just how hard it pulled you under.

 

 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that's enthralling.

 

 

Shards & Ashes (Short Stories)

 

Gripping and powerful original stories of dystopian worlds fromNew York Times bestselling authors:

Kelley Armstrong
Rachel Caine
Kami Garcia
Nancy Holder
Melissa Marr
Beth Revis
Veronica Roth
Carrie Ryan
Margaret Stohl

 

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

 

When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town; a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo . . . her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.

Mateo has lived in Captive's Sound his entire life, shadowed by small-town gossip and his family's tormented past. Every generation, the local legends say, one member of the family goes mad, claiming to know the future before descending into insanity. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl from a car accident actually come true, he knows he's doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his terrible family curse, and to prevent a coming disaster that even now threatens the entire town, including Nadia's family, her newfound friends, and her own life. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's new novel depicts a dark and unforgettable world of witches, curses, buried secrets, and star-crossed romance.

 

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

 

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark.

 

After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Dayis the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels.

 

Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!

 

Happy Reading!

Teen Review: The Maleficent Seven by Derek Landy

 "The Maleficent Seven"

Author: Derek Landy

Publisher: Harpercollins

Published: April 15, 2013

*From the World of Skulduggery Pleasant

Summary:

This time, the bad guys take the stage.

Tanith Low, now possessed by a remnant, recruits a gang of villains - many of whom will be familiar from previous Skulduggery adventures - in order to track down and steal the four God-Killer level weapons that could hurt Darquesse when she eventually emerges. Also on the trail of the weapons is a secret group of Sanctuary sorcerers, and doing his best to keep up and keep Tanith alive is one Mister Ghastly Bespoke.

When the villains around her are lying and scheming and plotting, Tanith needs to stay two steps ahead of her teammates and her enemies. After all, she's got her own double-crosses to plan -and she's a villain herself...

 

My Review:

Tanith Low in the Maleficent Seven is an action packed dystopian fantasy book and a sequel to Skullduggery Pleasent. This book is about Tanith trying to steal four god-killer level weapons to protect Darques and end the world.

 

I like how Derek Landy decided to write from the bad guys point of view because it is a view you don’t experience that often. Mr. Landy does an amazing job of making me feel like I’m there, and sometimes I just want to shoot a gun and use some magic to help Tanith out! 

 

He is constantly using his words to tie the story together and keep me interested. Throughout this book you get to discover Tanith’s past, how she became a good fighter and what she was before the first Skullduggery Pleasant book, and the Remnant. I like the hope that this book gives you about how Tanith can control the Remnant, but I don’t like the fact that she kills half of her team.

 

Overall this book is a four star and I hope Derek Landy writes the next one.  

 

Happy Reading,

Nate Harrington
Teen Reviewer

New On TV This Fall

There is SO MANY awesome new TV shows airing this fall! I am a huge dystopian fan, so of course The 100 is going to be at the top of my "to watch" list but The Reign appeals to my love of history (more specifically the history of the British Monarchy). I am also really excited to check out the Vampire Diaries spin off, The Originals, featuring the very handsome bad boy Klaus. Despite desperately wanting to know whats going to happen to Stefan after the shocking season finale I am more then over the love triangle going on between Elena and the Salvatore brothers!

Watch the previews of some of the new hot shows coming this fall below and check out the reading suggestions for books with a similar books feel to them that we have in the library!

For more reading suggestions feel free to message below or come to the Young Adult Readers Advisory desk in the teen section!

The Reign

If you think The Reign looks awesome and you need something to tide you over until it premiers in the fall why not try reading the popular novel, Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce!



Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce

Summary:

Aly fails to foresee the dangers that await as she uses her magic to safeguard Dova and her younger siblings, despite knowing that her thirteen-year-old charge might be queen of the Copper Isles when the colonial rulers are defeated.

The Originals

If teen paranormal dramas are your preferred indulgence we have a ton of books to offer you at the library. Try out one of the selections below!



Night World by L. J. Smith

Summary:

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.  In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.  Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.  Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder.



Spell Caster by Claudia Gray

Summary:

When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town;a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo . . . her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.

Mateo has lived in Captive's Sound his entire life, shadowed by small-town gossip and his family's tormented past. Every generation, the local legends say, one member of the family goes mad, claiming to know the future before descending into insanity. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl from a car accident actually come true, he knows he's doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his terrible family curse, and to prevent a coming disaster that even now threatens the entire town, including Nadia's family, her new found friends, and her own life. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray's new novel depicts a dark and unforgettable world of witches, curses, buried secrets, and star-crossed romance.



Wicked: Resurrection by Nancy Holder

Summary:

A threat more powerful and frightening than anything they have faced before looms over the Cahors witches as both the Devereux and Cahors family lines face extinction, and Cahors family secrets are revealed.

The Tomorrow People

If you were a fan of Hero's or Alphas then The Tomorrow People (or you happen to have watched the original 1970's version) this may be your next favourite program.  For books with a similar feel see below!



The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Summary:

After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…



Gone by Michael Grant

Summary:

In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have "The Power" and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.

Star Crossed

I think aliens may be the new trending theme in YA fiction (see the books below) but this is the first I have seen Aliens openly attending high school!



I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Summary:

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books; but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.



Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Summary:

When seventeen-year-old Katy Swartz moved to West Virginia right before her senior year, she’d pretty much resigned herself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring, but then she spotted her hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up…until he opened his mouth. Daemon Black is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. It’s hate at first sight, but when a stranger attacks her and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens. The hot guy next door? Well, he’s an alien. Turns out that Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities and Katy is caught in the crosshairs. Daemon’s touch has lit her up like the Vegas Strip and the only way she’s getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until her alien mojo fades. That is if she doesn’t kill him first.

Happy Reading/Happy Watching!

Read This Watch That: The 100

Coming this fall is a new TV series put out by the CW network called The 100, which is based on a novel written by Kass Morgan by the same name. The book and TV show should appeal to fans of The Hunger Games and Across the Universe or for those looking for a TV show without Vampires or other paranormal creatures.  The book is due to be released on September 3rd and we have it on order at the library! Check out the summary of the book below and/or watch the previews and clips!

Title: The 100
Author: Kass Morgan
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: September 3, 2013
*On order at the library

Summary:

No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope

Teen Review: Rush by Eve Silver

 

"Rush"

Author: Eve Silver

Publisher: Harpercollins

Published: June 2013

Available at the library: On order

*Aliens, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Synopsis:

So what's the game now?
This, or the life I used to know?
 
Miki Jones's carefully controlled life spirals into chaos after she's run down in the street, left broken and bloody. She wakes up fully healed in a place called the lobby-pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game in which she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures.
 
There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Every moment of the game is kill or be killed, and Miki has only the questionable guidance of Jackson Tate, the team's alluring and secretive leader. He evades her questions, holds himself aloof from the others, and claims it's every player for himself. But when he puts himself at risk to watch Miki's back, he leaves her both frustrated and fascinated. Jackson says the game isn't really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival. And the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn't. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

My Review:

 

The book I have recently read and reviewed was Rush by Eve Silver, a fantasy novel taking place in our current time period in an unspecified place, most likely North America. It follows Miki, a teenaged female living a normal life. Suddenly one heroic choice, saving a classmates sister from being hit by a truck, changes her life, her relationships and could change the world. She and child-hood friend Luka are transported to a place called “The Lobby” where they meet Richelle, Tyrone and our love interest, Jackson Tate. These kids and hundreds of others were predestined to fight a terrifying and beautiful alien race, the Drau. The rest of the team calls this a game and that’s how Miki treats it. Then the game becomes fatal quickly, and the weight of their situation finally hits her, full force. Struggling with this deadly challenge, a best friend quickly becoming distant, her own grief and the infuriating yet special Jackson Tate, Miki’s life presents a formidable challenge. The plot was exciting yet easy to follow, a harmonious mixture.

            The book wastes no time getting to the meat of this story, the game. Within the first pages we’ve met Miki, her best friends and learned enough about her life that we already feel connected to the character but there are still mysteries to solve about her. The book was able to maintain interest throughout but it didn’t have too many major events that the reader became confused or felt the book was trying to distract them with excitement. It had enough twists to aid the story and they were logical but not predictable. It was a very strong piece of writing with very few faults.

            As mentioned earlier, this book had exceedingly good writing. Not only was it an original concept, it was an original concept executed well. Starting off with the writing itself, the passages were descriptive enough to paint a clear picture but still let the reader imagine some things. They used a wide range of vocabulary appropriate to the age level it was geared towards, especially for the character’s emotions. For example, instead of saying “She didn’t like the taste” it would say something like “She detested the sharp, bitter taste with a vehement passion”. It really helped the reader empathise with the characters, giving a better reading experience. The author also used great detail in describing settings such as Miki’s home. You got a clear mental map of everything, further immersing yourself. Moving on to the characters themselves, there was one thing that caught my eye first. Not only is there a strong, realistic female protagonist, she’s of Asian descent. A lot of times when there is a female protagonist in a modern novel, she’s Caucasian. Having a character representing minorities is always a plus. Miki’s personality was likeable with a good back story. I’m against using tragedies simply for the sake of giving characters a tragic back story. I felt the story did it to add meaning and it didn’t feel like a cheap gimmick. The characters also developed over the course of the story and you see your first judgements overturned. The only complaint I could possibly have is sometimes it can use repetitive phrases. It would still have good vocabulary but it would be identical to something the character said in the previous chapter. It wasn’t a big problem, just a small thing.

In conclusion, I give this book five out five stars for excellent development and execution. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the fantasy genre or who is looking for a relatable female protagonist in a leadership role.

Happy Reading,

Abby
Teen Reviewer

Teen Survivor Creepy Carnival Lock In Party!

 

 

 

 

It's LOCK IN TIME! On Friday September 13th from 6-8pm (please be there before the doors lock at 6pm) the library will be hosting the Teen Survivor 2013 Creepy Carnival Lock In. Non Teen Survivor participants are welcome to join in on the fun (you will be eligable for different prizes then those who are part of Teen Survivor). If you would like to join Teen Survivor its not to late to join! Join to day to be eligable to win some fantastic prizes such as a Kobo eReader, books, gift certificates and more. Message for more details or click here to sign up for Teen Survivor! We will be posting more details as we get closer to the date!

Happy Reading

Teen Review: Hideous Love by Stephanie Hemphill

“Hideous Love”

 

Author: Stephanie Hemphill
Publsiher: Harpercollins
Published: October 2013
*Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Fantasy

 

Synopsis:

An all-consuming love affair with famed poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, a family torn apart by scandal, a young author on the brink of greatness: Hideous Love is the story of the mastermind behind one of the most iconic figures in all of literature, a monster constructed out of dead bodies and brought to life by the tragic Dr. Frankenstein.

This luminous verse novel reveals how Mary Shelley became one of the most celebrated authors in history.

My Review: 

“Hideous Love” by Stephanie Hemphill tells the story of young Mary Shelley, the novelist of the famous Gothic classic “Frankenstein.” The novel chronicles Mary's late teen years, during which she feels she cannot live up to her father's expectations, or her stepmother's constant chiding. From there, readers follow Mary as she begins to fall in love with the poet Percy Shelley, at sixteen years of age, whom she elopes with a few months later, much to the dismay of her family. Travelling across Europe, the magic of first love begins to disappear from Percy and Mary's relationship. Through unfortunate struggles, such as suicides, affairs, and pregnancy problems, Mary's relationship with Percy quickly begins to unravel, until a horrific accident changes Mary's world forever. Readers learn that although Mary's young adult years were filled with hardship, it was also during these years that she developed the strength, determination, and fearlessness that she channelled into writing the well-loved tale of Frankenstein.

 

One of the strengths in Hemphill's novel concerns her character development. The personalities of the primary characters were realistic, and visible. For example, Mary Shelley's character is well developed; her hopes and aspirations, fears and weaknesses described throughout the story. One learns about her fear of letting down her father, her longing for acceptance, and hope to be seen as an equal to her male counter-parts. With information such as this, one begins to see Mary not only as an important figure in literary history, but as a brave, brilliant young woman, who has many of the same dreams and fears as teens today. The same excellent development can be said for Hemphill's other characters, from the moody and often unpredictable personality of Mary's partner, Percy Shelley, to the extreme intelligence and power-loving ways of Lord Bryon. Through the development of her characters, Stephanie Hemphill has managed to bring to life the young, spirited Mary, and her 19^th century friends and family.

 

The novel “Hideous Love” is written in verse format, each line containing only a few words. Many lines in the novel were highlighted with this format, especially those that expressed image and emotion well. The following is an example of such a sentence: “The lake reflects the mountains as the moon reflects the sun, so brilliant in the flashes of night...” However, with the exception of these few sentences, the rest of the novel contained mostly non-lyrical and not particularly poetic sentences. As a result, the novel felt choppy and unnatural, making it difficult to read. The sentences did not flow , and separating the sentences line by line did not make the story more visual, descriptive, and emotional like some stories in verse do, but rather drained it of these. Perhaps with more emotion and imagery the verse format would have worked, but in the case of “Hideous Love” it seemed to only weaken the writing.

 

Overall, I enjoyed Stephanie Hemphill's novel of young romance, horrible tragedy, and tantalizing scandal, which proved to be an interesting read on one of the most celebrated authors in the history of literature.

I rate this book a 7.5/10

 

Happy Reading,

Emily
Teen Book Reviewer