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!