Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

It's 1888, and British magisters have always ruled the colonies of hte New World.  But now an underground society of mechanics, scientists, and engineers are developing non-magical sources of power.  With these steam engines and dynamos they hope to gain their freedom.

When Verity Newton arrives in New York and lands a job as a governess for a leading magister family, she quickly learns they have some big secrets.  Why does it seem that the children's young uncle is sympathetic to the Rebel Mechanics cause?  And why does he come home battered and bloody so often?

As Charity falls for a Rebel inventor and agrees to become a spy against the magisters, she also becomes more enmeshed in the magister family's life.  She soon realizes she's in a unique position to help the rebellion -- but to do so she'll have to reveal her dangerous secret . . .


This is the first book in the Rebel Mechanics series by Shanna Swendson.  It is a great alternate history story that incorporates both magic and steampunk.  The characters are interesting and draw you into the story.  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, fantasy, or steampunk.

Laugh Out Loud

Sometimes we just need a good laugh.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite funny teen books . . . .

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schrieber
Perry's parents insist that he take Gobi, their Lithuanian exchange student, to senior prom but after an incident at the dance he learns that Gobi is actually an assassin who needs him as a henchman on a mission in Manhattan.

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff
When the beautiful Lucy prays to fall in love, God, an irresponsible youth named Bob, chooses to answer her prayer personally, to the dismay of this assistant, Mr. B who must try to clean up the resulting catastrophes.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger
Three teenagers in Boston narrate their experiences of a year of new friendships, first loves, and coming into their own.


More Funny Books --
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney
Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T.S. Easton
Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan
Noggin by John Corey Whaley
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly
Soul Enchilada by David Gill
Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor
Three Clams and an Oyster by Randy Powell
The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 13, 2017.

Go on an Adventure . . . with a Book

This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite adventure chapter books with you . . . .

Jack the Castaway by Lisa Doan
Upon the death of his Aunt Julia, twelve-year-old Jack is whisked by his scheming and dreaming parents from Pennsylvania to a small Caribbean island, Compano, and soon finds himself alone on a deserted island.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen by Shutta Crum
When the princess is kidnapped by a dragon queen, thirteen-year-old Thomas, a new--and very small--squire-in-training boldly sets out on a quest to rescue her.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Gen flaunts his ingenuity as a thief and relishes the adventure which takes him to a remote temple of the gods where he will attempt to steal a precious stone.

Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elisa Primavera
At Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents, Ms. Rapscott teaches her students How to Get Lost on Purpose, resulting in a series of fantastical adventures that makes each learn a little something about courage, strength, bravery, and teamwork.


More Adventure Tales --
The Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe
Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks
Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy by Gareth Wronski
The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwith
The Jolly Regina by Kara LqaReau
The Magic Mirror by Susan Hill
The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle by Deva Fagan
My Near-Death Adventures (99% True) by Alison DeCamp
Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Etsby Dagg
The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi
The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers
Walking with the Dead by L.M. Falcone

Check these books out of display at the Arnold Branch through October 6, 2017.

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck

Russell Culver, 15 years old, is raring to light out for the Dakotas to join one of the team of harvesters working the new 1904 all-steel Case Special threshing machine.  The only thing standing in his way is school.

Lucky for him, his teacher just dropped dead weeks before the start of school.  Hopefully, the school board will decide there aren't enough students to hire another teacher and keep the school open.

No such luck.  Russell and his schoolmates are about to get the teacher of their nightmares -- Russell's sister Tansy.

Despite stolen supplies, vandalism, privy fires, and snakes, Russell discovers the new school year isn't as bad as he first thought.  In fact, it might just give him a new dream.



This is another great historical book from Richard Peck looking at rural Indiana in 1904.  Readers will enjoy hearing how people thought differently about education years ago.  This would be a great book for boys to read.

What Shall I Wear Today?

Kids love to pick out their outfit to wear for day -- whether fancy clothes, play clothes, or a costume.  Here are some of my favorite picture books about clothes and getting dressed . . . .

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
After reading "Puss in Boots," an adventurous dog sets out to find the perfect pair of shoes to suit his every need.

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
Cat struggles to adjust and find a way to overcome his disappointment when his best friend, Yarn, is transformed into an itchy, stuffy sweater that Cat initially despises.

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A little fish thinks he can get away with stealing a hat.

Chamelia by Ethan Long
Chamelia loves to stand out and often wears outrageous outfits, but eventually she learns to shine in other ways.

Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep by Teri Sloat
Farmer Brown shears his sheep and has their wool made into yarn, but after they beg to have it back he knits the yarn into sweaters for them.


More Books --
Aliens Love Dinopants by Claire Freedman
Bear in Underwear by Todd Doodler
Bing, Get Dressed by Ted Dewan
Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld
Buy My Hats by Dave Horowitz
Centipede's 100 Shoes by Tony Ross
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling
The Day We Danced in Underpants by Sarah Wilson
Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth
Ducks Don't Wear Socks by John Nedwedik
The Emperor's New Clothes by Demi
Finders Keepers by Keiko Kasza
Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak
Fruits in Suits by Jared Chapman
Grandpa's Overalls by Tony Crunk
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting
Hello, Sun! by Dayle Ann Dodds
Hooray for Hat by Brian Won
I Love My Hat by Douglas Florian
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
King Bob's New Clothes by Dom DeLuise
Lamby Lamb by Chris Raschka
Lucille's Snowsuit by Kathryn Lasky
Maggie and Michael Get Dressed by Denise Fleming
The Magic Hat by Mem Fox
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg
My Grandfather's Coat by Jim Aylesworth
Naked! by Michael Ian Black
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Wilems
The Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble
The Skeleton in the Closet by Alice Schertle
Which Hat Is That? by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Check these and more books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 29, 2017.

When the Past Is Missing . . .

This week I'm sharing teen books featuring characters who have lost their memories.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

As I Wait by Elizabeth Scott
Seventeen-year-old Ava awakens with amnesia and a feeling that something is wrong with her life, her mother, and her friends but when the mysterious Morgan appears, her flashbacks of life as a spy for a shady government agency begin to make sense.

Survival Colony 9 by Joshua David Bellin
Querry Genn, a member of one of the last human survivor groups following global war, is targeted by the monstrous Skaldi, although Querry has no memory of why.

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead
Seventeen-year-old 'Hank,' who can't remember his identity, finds himself in Penn Station with a copy of Thoreau's Walden as his only possession and must figure out where he's from and why he ran away.

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde
A girl finds herself running through the forest at the edge of a village with no memory of anything, even her own name, and later learns that she might be twelve-year-old Isabelle, believed to be stolen by a witch six years before.


More Books --
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary PEarson
Asking for It by Louise O'Neill
Black River Falls by Jeff Hirsch
Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn
The Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
The Dead I Know by Scott Gardner
Don't Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout
Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
Forgotten: A Novel by Cat Patrick
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry
I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormer
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
The Program by Suzanne Young
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
White Cat by Holly Black


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 22, 2017.