Thursday, October 18, 2018

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Maddie thought she would be best friends with Logan forever.  That is until her decides to move her to Alaska with no warning. 

It's been six years without one word from Logan -- even though she wrote him every day for two years. 

She accepted that he no longer wanted to be friends. 
She accepted that her life only includes two people -- herself and her dad.
She accepted that she'll always be alone.

Then Logan shows up on her front step and he's brought trouble with him. 

Now they're trying to survive kidnappers and a wild Alaskan blizzard in the woods.  Will they make it through alive or will Maddie end up killing Logan?


This is a great stand-alone book by the author of the Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, and Embassy Row series.  I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy survival stories as well as those who like romances.

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

It's Written in the Stars: A Teen Read Week Booklist

This year's Teen Read Week theme is "It's Written in the Stars" focusing on science fiction.  Here are a few of my favorite space-themed science fiction stories for teens . . . .


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.

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
A futuristic retelling of Snow White in which seventeen-year-old Essie, a master at repairing robots and drones on the frozen mining planet Thanda, is pulled into a war by handsome and mysterious Dane after his shuttle crash-lands near her home.

Tin Star by Cecil Castelluci
Beaten and left for dead, fourteen-year-old Tula Bane finds herself abandoned on a space station called Yertina Feray after traveling with the colonist group, Children of the Earth.


More Books --Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Avalon by Mindee Arnett
The Cage by Megan Shepherd
A Confusion of Princes by Garth  Nix
Contagion by Erin Bowman
Dangerous by Shannon Hale
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
Dove Arising by Karen Bao
Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Mars One by Jonathan Maberry
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
Railhead by Philip Reeve
Satellite by Nick Lake
Spacer & Rat by Margaret Bechard
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Vanguard by Ann Aguirre
What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy
 Zero Boxer by Fonda Lee

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 26, 2018.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Sweetness & Lightning series by Gido Amagakure

Teach Kouhei Inuzuka is doing the best he can since his wife died trying to raise his young daughter Tsumugi as a single father.  Unfortunately, he's a failure at cooking.  Then a chance encounter with one of his students Kotori brings him the opportunity to learn how to cook.  Now they're working together to figure out how to make delicious food for Tsumugi and themselves.

This is a slice-of-life manga series that would be enjoyed by those with an interest in cooking.  Each chapter includes a recipe of one of the dishes they attempted to cook in that chapter.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Dear Diary . . .

This week, I am sharing chapter books for children that feature a diary format.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Little Wolf's Diary of Daring Deeds by Ian Whybrow
In letters home to Mom and Dad, Little Wolf describes his journey to rescue his little brother, Smellybreff, from a crafty cubnapper, Mister Twister the Fox.

This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy
Sara's summer plans are upended by a surprise cross-country train trip with her moms, her sisters, and her sister's boyfriend, an adventure shaped by a group of Texans, the diverse landscape, and her mom's book about the journey.

Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell
Hunky Dory is an unconventional witch who would rather grant wishes than cast spells which gets her kicked out of charm school; so Hunky sets out to become the best fairy godmother she can be.


More Books --
After Iris by Natasha Farrant
The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
Cat Diaries by Betsy Byars
Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville
Diary of a Monster's Son by Ellen Conford
Eliza's Freedom Road by Jerdine Nolan
My Diary From the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson
My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale
North by Night by Katherine Ayres
Notes from a Totally Lame Vampire by Tim Collins
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 19, 2018.