New at the Library: August 2013

Below are some of the new books available at the OPL.  Our new books are located across from the Young Adult Readers Advisory desk in the teen section of the library.

 

Fracture by Megan Miranda 

 

 

 

Summary:

 

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine despite the scans that showed significant brain damage.

 

Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it? Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought.

 

Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening? For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

 

Underworld by Meg Cabot

 

 

Summary:

 

Meg Cabot's dark reimagining of the Persephone myth begun in Abandon continues... into the Underworld.

 

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance . . . on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there . . . and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

 

The End Games by Michael Martin

 

 

Summary:

 

It happened on Halloween.
The world ended.
And a dangerous game brought it back to life.

Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.

In the rural mountains of West Virginia armed with only their rifle and their love for each other the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But The Game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors; esurvivors who don't play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

Rebot by Amy Tintera

 

 

Summary:

 

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes, she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren's favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie—Callum Reyes—is the worst she's ever seen. As a 22, Callum is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he's always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet he's still her newbie. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she'll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows that if she does, she'll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Happy Reading!

Read This Watch That: Divergent

Next to, The Hunger Games, Divergent has to be one of the most popular dystopian novels released in the last decade. This didn't go unnoticed by Hollywood and the movie adaptation is set to be released on March 21st 2014!

I wasn't sure about the casting of Shailene Woodley as Tris but after watching the trailer and featurette I am convinced she was made for the role. We have all of the books currently out in this series but they are so popular you will never find it on shelf. To put this book on hold you can call the library, or better yet come in and ask me to do it!

What do you think of the casting for this movie? Which actors and actresses did you envision in the role?

Drivergent Trailer #1 

 

Divergent Official Featurette 2014

Interview with Theo James & Shailene Woodley

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 

 

Summary:

 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue-Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is-she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are-and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she''s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.


Happy Reading!

Lindsey
YA Readers Advisor
Acting Teen Programmer
Orillia Public Library

Review: In The After by Demitria Lunetta

"In the After"

 

Author: Demitria Lunetta

Publisher: Harpercollins

Published: June 2013

*Science Fiction/Dystopian

*On order at the library

 

 

Summary:

Attack.

Not isolated.

Fate of Americans: unknown.

Amy is watching TV when the world is attacked by Them. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to survive-and even rescue "Baby," a toddler she finds in an abandoned supermarket.
Then, after years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream, with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she''ll lose Baby-and much more.
You''ll tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.


My Review:

Recently, I read a fast-paced page turner, In the After by Demitria Lunetta. It was a fantastic book that caught my attention despite the numerous lucrative distractions around me. If you are a fan of science fiction and coping with an apocalypse, this is your book!

Before, Amy Harris was the daughter of an environment advocate and a workaholic. After, she is caring for a toddler she calls Baby. Amy has to rapidly grow up in order to provide for two meanwhile trying to escape from Them. Them are green aliens with glowing yellow eyes, uncanny hearing, and an unquenchable appetite for human flesh; Them caused an apocalypse. The two relied on each other for companionship by communicating with a modified version of American Sign Language until they were rescued by New Hope, a post apocalyptic city dedicated to preserving the remaining members of the human species. Amy is surprised to discover that her mother, whom she thought was dead, was alive and directing this entire initiative to rebuild society. She attempts to live up to her mother’s and her community’s expectations. In New Hope the safety, security, and prosperity of the community was placed above all else, including the freedom of individuals. Curious Amy had trouble adapting to a life where propaganda and confidentiality were the foundation of society. What is the secret that New Hope is trying to hide? Why do leaders of New Hope want her dead? Will Amy choose freedom over safety?

This book kept me captivated and intrigued from the first page to the last. It was well written in the sense that the descriptions touch on all the senses and flowed together to create a perfect imaginary movie.

“I walked slowly, carefully placing each foot on the sidewalk to avoid making noise. The night was windy, which made me jumpy. Any movement of a bush or free and I froze. After constantly stalling, I had to force myself to calm down again. I didn’t want the sound of my hyperventilating to bring Them.”

The books did have some weaknesses. It was cliché and there was improper use of binomial nomenclature. They referred to the monsters as Florae sapiens when in biology no two species names can overlap. Usage of the word sapiens was scientifically inaccurate, but usage of the word Florae was incredibly witty. Flora (plural: Florae) refers to both plants and bacteria living inside of humans. This name is appropriate because the creatures resemble plants and is the result of biological warfare. In terms of rhythm, the beginning of the books was a bit slow and repetitive, and the ending was too fast. The idea for the conclusion, in my opinion, was the most interesting part of the entire story. In the sea of confusion, the ending held all of the answers. Unfortunately, it lasted only a couple of pages.

In the second and third part of the book, there are these episodes written in italics that confused me terribly. They seem to be dreams, but they also occur when she is awake. The episodes describe her treatment process in a mental institution. There is a possibility that these scenes are flashbacks to when she transitioned from the After into New Hope. Due to my lack of understanding for the purpose of these episodes, I felt like they were there to take up space, and didn’t contribute a whole lot to the plot.

I would categorize this book as a science fiction story with aspects of a utopian society. It follows the Hunger Games theme of trying to survive alone and learn how to live in a society that values productivity over individuality. The societies in both books are ruthless. New Hope used captives to test antidotes to biological weapons, while Hunger Games used children fighting for their survival as a method of entertainment. Both books also incorporate a very realistic and authentic romance.

Overall, the writer does a great job in making a believable post apocalyptic atmosphere by examining all aspects of how it functions, e.g. how humans will reproduce, how they will get their food source, and how they would defend themselves against the monsters. The protagonist is very believable. Through Amy’s actions, the reader can feel her maternal instincts, her desire for freedom, and her fear of the unknown. She embodies a beautiful and strong woman who is capable of facing the goods and evils of society without a male protector. I especially enjoyed her suitor because he was normal. He was not the unbelievably hot, super secretive, and incredibly charismatic alpha male, we normally read about. His personality is what pulls people in. He respected Amy instead of attempting to control her. He used his love and his dedication to earn her love. I would say her suitor, Rice, has to be one of the most attractive and realistic personalities in young adult literature.

“He reminds me of the boys I went to school with Before. Not the jocks or the popular kids. The geeky ones who looked a little socially uncomfortable, but you always knew they were going to go to Harvard and change the world.”

“He smiled crookedly, softening his striking features and wild blonde hair making him look kind. He looked familiar with his sharp features and wild blond hair. When I noticed a pair of glasses shoved in his white coat…”

Happy Reading,

Betty
Teen Reviewer

Review: The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen

The False Prince

The Ascendance Trilogy, Book One

 

Author: Jennifer A Nielsen

Publisher: Scholastic

Published: February 2013

Rating: 5/5

* Available in the library

Summary:

The thrilling first book in a trilogy filled with danger, deceit, and hidden identities will keep readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword''s point - he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

My Review:

 

The False Prince by Jennifer Neilson is a book a bout a lost prince named Jaron, who when his family is murdered, must reclaim his place on the throne. Meanwhile, a Nobleman named Conner searches for a false prince to put on the throne so he has power over the country Carthya. He comes across a boy named Sage who he thinks is perfect to be his false prince. But can he control Sage?

 

            The False Prince finds a perfect balance between the story and action. The action does not over throw the story, but has enough to keep you entertained. The plot about over throwing Carthya is an intriguing story line that keeps you wanting to read more. Ms. Neilson does a great job of making me feel like I’m one of Conner’s slaves, silently watching and observing Sage. The puzzle of who Sage really is, is all revealed in a twist of the tale, which you must read to find out. Even though this is not one of my favorite genres, this is one of my favorite books!     

Happy Reading,

Nate
Teen Reviewer

Review: Asylum by Madeleine Roux

 Asylum

Author: Madeleine Roux

Publisher: Harpercollins Publishers

Published: August 2013

* Under consideration for purchase

 

 



Summary:

Once you get in, there's no getting out.

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, a summer program for gifted students is the chance of a lifetime. No one else at his high school gets his weird fascinations with history and science, but at the New Hampshire College Prep program, such quirks are all but required.

Dan arrives to find that the usual summer housing has been closed, forcing students to stay in the crumbling Brookline dorm-formerly a psychiatric hospital. As Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan start exploring Brookline's twisty halls and hidden basement, they uncover disturbing secrets about what really went on here . . . secrets that link Dan and his friends to the asylum''s dark past. Because it turns out Brookline was no ordinary psych ward. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Featuring haunting found photographs from real asylums, this mind-bending reading experience blurs the lines between past and present, friendship and obsession, genius and insanity.

My Review:

Asylum by Madeleine Roux is a young-adult mystery novel about 16 year old Dan Crawford who gets the opportunity to go to a college prep program for the summer. When the college dorms are closed he has to stay in Brookline, a retired asylum that is on the college property. Then Dan finds an old photo and he and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, venture in the hospitals crumbling basement where they find secrets that refuse to stay buried. I really liked the picture element of this book, they were very creepy and fit the book. I found the setting very well described and could easily picture the creepy halls of Brookline. The place where the book lacked consistency was with the characters and relationships. Dan would say he was socially awkward, but then would make friends with Abby and Jordan instantly and easily. They didn’t act the way described. Also the relationships seemed rushed and not very believable, especially his relationship with Abby. I didn’t feel any pity for the trio when they were fighting or in trouble, I just didn’t connect with them. My favourite parts of the book was any of their adventures in the basements. I found them suspenseful, creepy and well written. I liked learning about Brookline and its patients’ pasts. I felt differently about the ending. The ending didn’t seem to fit the rest of the book and seemed sudden. I wasn’t left wanting more, I was left confused. Overall I found the book hard to get through and didn’t enjoy the characters.

Happy Reading,

Alicia Campbell

Teen Reviewer

 

Review: The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni

The Caged Graves

Author: Dianne Salerni

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Published: May 2014

*On order at the library

 

 

Summary:

 

The year is 1867, and seventeen-year-old Verity Boone is excited to return from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, the hometown she left when she was just a baby. Now she will finally meet the fiancé she knows only through letters! Soon, however, she discovers two strangely caged graves . . . and learns that one of them is her own mother's. Verity swears she'll get to the bottom of why her mother was buried in "unhallowed ground" in this suspenseful teen mystery that swirls with rumors of witchcraft, buried gold from the days of the War of Independence, and even more shocking family secrets.

 

 

My Review:

 

* Please be aware there are some spoilers within the review.

 

I recently read The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni after being intrigued by its cliché but mysterious and elegant cover. The story stars a seventeen year-old girl, Verity Boone, who returns to her birth town Catawissa, Pennsylvania, to marry her fiancé Nathaniel. When Verity was two years old, she was put into the care of her aunt by her father after her mother had died. With her return, she has to learn how to adjust to a life in the countryside with her father and fiancée and abandon the city life that she had been so use to. When he and Nate first meet, he takes her to the cemetery where she sees the graves of her mother and aunt underneath cages. She realizes how little she knew about her mother’s death and begins the search for the reason behind the caged graves. The people in the town have kept their mouth shout, leaking very little valuable information.  The townspeople were more willing to gossip about how she stole the most eligible bachelor of Catawissa. Some pessimists were also hinting that Nathaniel only married her in order to receive her father's farmland as a dowry. Her struggles escalate when a new suitor shows up and steals her heart. Will she break off the engagement? Will she discover why her mother's grave is surrounded by a cage?

Dianne K. Salerni created a fantastic plot that put a unique twist on the popular gothic and supernatural themes. Descriptions of her two suitors are believable, but still fulfill the mold of the dreamy alpha male. The book was a real page turner because the suspense behind who were hiding the secret of the graves and who Verity was going to choose to marry was unbearable. Everything about the book was engaging and difficult to predict. The ending is especially audacious and unexpected creating a very satisfying finale.  Unfortunately, I found the writing a little weak. The vocabulary was sophisticated appropriate for the 1867 setting but the sentence structure was very simple. Sentences with room to add adjective and adverbs resembled the following example: "She selected her very best gown - a green bodice and scalloped skirt over a full ivory underskirt shot through with gold thread." Sentences without room to use the thesaurus sounded like this: “Her aunt directed the horses into the woods, where the road grew even more narrow and rough.” Overall, it made for an interesting read but wouldn't be an ideal choice for an ISU because the plot lacks depth.

The parts of the story that aren't about her romantic moments with both suitors are about her reaching numerous dead ends in her search for the truth behind her mother's death. Except Verity doesn't connect the evidence she discovers from the dead ends until the last fifty pages. She knows that Aunt Clara is against her marriage. She knows that her aunt and mother died on the same day with the same symptoms. She knows that the two sister-in-laws both died of poisoning. She knows that her new suitor mysteriously appears wherever she meets kidnappers. However, she is unable to connect any of the information until the mastermind behind all these events confess. If Verity could connect the evidence it would have added more depth to the plot.

The book definitely falls into mystery/gothic/romance because, despite the fact that the major conflict is about discovering the mystery behind Verity's mother's death, most of the story is about Verity making a decision about which suitor she prefers. The author tastefully sways our opinion about which man was her soul mate; this keeps the reader hungry for scenes that allow the players in the love triangle to interact. The cover appears to be mysterious, but the story doesn't built up enough suspense to allow the mystery aspects to shine. However, the author perfected the gothic part of the gothic romance. The vocabulary, level of etiquette and lack of promiscuous content all help to create a convincing 1867 atmosphere.

The protagonist, Verity, is very believable because she is not cliché. She is a strong independent woman who wants to find her own happiness. She makes mistakes when meeting Nathaniel, but isn’t afraid to correct them. She doesn’t depend on her partner to give her all the love and protection. Her dedication to the causes that she believes in is also admirable. Her fiancée Nathanial is shown to be flawed, unlike many other male characters in teen romance today. He often visits without a calling card, an action unwelcomed by Verity. He also isn’t too charismatic. In a matter of fact, Nate frequently says the wrong thing, but it is adorable because it is authentic and truthful.

My favourite scene was when Verity meets Nathaniel for the first time. Nathaniel shows up unexpectedly to take Verity for a walk. Verity was just working in the kitchen and wasn’t dressed in an outfit that would make a good first impression on a man she would spend the rest of her life with. Throughout the walk Verity is so awkward and stubborn while Nathaniel is trying to be as accepting as possible. Verity complains, “It’s very pretty, although I haven’t seen much of it yet. My father brought me straight home from the station, and he’s been in the fields ever since.” Nate defends her father by saying, “He works hard. It’s a big property. And this is a busy time of year for a farm.” This date is perfect because it is filled with flaws. Real dates aren’t the epitome of perfection that stories describe them to be, yet they are still beautiful. The location is casual, which allows the focus to be on their unique personalities.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it was a relaxing read that provided a fantastic outline. The way the story is set up reminded me of Anne of Green Gables in the sense that both settings are dull in order to put more focus on the well-developed character. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and romance. However, I really didn’t like who Verity chose as a husband. I would have preferred the other suitor.

Happy Reading,

Betty Zhang
Teen Reviewer

Great Opportunity!

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 

Orillia Youth Opportunities Committee – Student Members

This Committee works to reduce factors in our community that place youth at risk by providing opportunities for activities, links to existing youth activities and programs, and also enables the voice of Orillia’s youth to be heard to allow them to be part of decision making processes that affect them.

 

Two high school students are required to fill the membership of the Committee

for a term commencing September 1, 2013 until August 31, 2014.

 

Please note that qualifications vary by Committee and

applicants may be interviewed.

 

Application deadline is Noon on Monday, September 16, 2013.

 

For more information or an application,

please contact the City Clerk’s Department

(705) 325-1311 or clerks@orillia.ca

 

Welcome to the Teen Scene Blog!

Welcome everyone, to the Orillia Public Library's Teen Scene blog! Here you will find information on teen library programs, contests, new releases at the library, book reviews and more.

One of the new programs we have launched is the Teen Book Reviewer program.  Each teen who signs up gets a free book in exchange for a fair and honest review, which will then be posted to the Teen Scene blog! 

Are you a self proclaimed Fangirl? Do you like to talk about your favourite graphic novels? Are you are interested in becoming a regular blogger on Teen Scene? If you answered yes to any of those questions you may be interested in becomming a regular blogger on Teen Scene! For more information send me an email!

Additionally,  on the right side of the blog you will see links to the Teen Scene Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, and the Orillia Public Library's web site  as well as a link that will allow you to directly email me! On Pinterest you will find literary inspired crafts and fashion, books based on genre, interesting pins on Doctor Who, Merlin, and more.

Feel free to explore the blog and all of our social media sites.  If you have any questions or suggestions please comment below or email me at ltoutant@orilliapubliclibrary.ca

Happy Reading,

Lindsey