Sweet Sixteen and behind the Wheel?

Women make up for more than half the drivers on the road, but most of us don't know the difference between a radio and a lug-nut. That's why ZEST books is giving away copies of their new book Driver's Seat: A Girl's Guide to Her First Car. To be eligible, all you have to do is send the publisher an email (http://www.zestbooks.net/) describing your funniest or most embarrassing driving moment as a teen (and let's face it--there are lots of them)! Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on March 22nd, 2010. Winners will be notified by email within 5 days.

The Driver's Seat encourages young women encourages women to get comfortable with their four-wheeled friends and gives advice on how to change a tire, how to handle insurance, how choose a mechanic, and much, much more! I wish I'd had this book around when I was your age--I would have made less mistakes for sure. There are also funny statistics of things women do behind the wheel..so the book is entertaining as well as informative.

Side note: I have a great embarrassing story. Right after I turned 16, my parents told me that if I ever saw an animal or object in the road to STAY ON THE ROAD. What they meant was they didn't want me swerving off the road and into a ditch or a tree as that could be tremendously damaging--so basically they were asking me to SLOW DOWN. Well....a couple months later I was on the way to a friends' house and saw a couple of deer in the road. All I could think about was my parents warning me to STAY ON THE ROAD so I sped up to about 60 and plowed right into the deer--totalling my parents' car in the process. When the tow driver brought me home and my parents asked what happened I said, "I did exactly what you told me to do. I sped up and hit the deer because you told me if I ever saw anything in the road to stay on it." Needless to say, they weren't very happy.

A newly famous fantasy.....

Incarceron by Katherine Fisher is starting to get a lot of press and the word on the street is that it's AMAZING! It was Amazon's book of the month in February and recently received a starred review in Booklist. If you were a fan of the HUNGER GAMES or THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH I strongly suggest you check this out. Here's the review from Booklist:

The vast prison Incarceron, made of metal and cutting-edge technology, was designed as a grand experiment: all undesirables would be sealed inside and given everything for a model utopia. But the experiment failed as Incarceron grew self-aware and tyrannical, resources dwindled, and prisoners divided into factions. Centuries later, prisoners exist under Incarceron’s watchful eyes with one belief: no one from Outside enters, no one from Inside escapes. Finn, however, believes he’s from Outside, and after he finds a crystal key that opens any door, he embarks on a journey to escape. Outside Incarceron, Claudia, the warden’s daughter, is also looking for escape, from an arranged marriage and from her role in a plot to end Protocol, which forces inhabitants to live according to seventeenth-century norms. When she too finds a crystal key, she comes into communication with Finn, who she believes is the true prince of the Realm. This gripping futuristic fantasy has breathless pacing, an intelligent story line, and superb detail in rendering both of the stagnating environments. Fisher’s characters are emotionally resonant, flawed, determined, and plagued by metaphysical questions. With some well-timed shocking twists and a killer ending, this is a must-have. Grades 9-12. --Krista Hutley

A Whale of a Tale.....

I'm currently reading a non-fiction title called "Whaling Season" by Peter Lourie that is about whale hunting in North America--it's history, who does it, why it's controversial, etc. It really gives an interesting look at the whaling industry and Publishers Weekly recently gave it a starred review for the unique insights it offers--Here is that review:

Gr 4–8—Lourie skillfully describes the delicate three-way relationship that exists among the Iñupiat of Alaska, the bowhead whales, and the scientists who are there to collect data and study the animals. The Iñupiat have hunted bowheads for thousands of years and their very existence depends upon the harvesting of the leviathans. The scientists are there to determine whether the whaling done by these communities is sustainable and not decimating the bowhead population. Using a day-in-the-life format, Lourie follows one particular scientist, John Craighead George, as he goes about collecting the necessary data. The biologist is careful not to disturb the integrity of the harvest and, in fact, works closely with the Iñupiat to do what he needs to do. Interwoven throughout this daylong saga are historical information, scientific facts, and cultural tradition. Crisp color photographs on every page provide a lush complement to the engaging, informative text. Young readers will come away with a stronger appreciation of the bowhead whales, the people who both hunt and respect them, and the scientists who straddle the traditional and modern worlds to gather important information. An excellent addition to any collection.
—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Recommended for anyone but especially those interested in the environment, whales, marine biology, and Native Americans. Put this title on hold today! The pictures alone are worth the effort!

Is Your Mother Reading YA???

So you found your mom sitting on the couch with a bag of Cheetos and a Sprite reading Twilight, or the Hunger Games, or Eragon. What to do you're wondering? Well, you are not alone. YA fiction is a fast growing tumor that is spreading rapidly amongst the adult population. Young Adult fiction (in my humble opinion) is often better than the books on the adult shelf and with such authors as JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, and Stephanie Meyer breaking out staggering best-sellers expect YA to continue to rise in popularity. Here is a great article by the LA times documenting the phenomenon: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/08/entertainment/la-net-young-adult08-2010mar08

I suggest you read it if you're at all freaking out about your mom stealing your books--Don't worry--it's normal!!

Get Involved!

We all have social causes we care about and so I wanted to turn you on to a great Web-site that allows you to pick your cause and then help you find organizations to become involved with. It's called http://www.dosomething.org/ and it's a site dedicated to helping teens find a solution to their volunteering hang-ups. I really suggest you check it out and see what it has to offer. I know many of you have school requirements that you have to volunteer so many hours--and why not spend it doing something you're really passionate about?

Want to do something even more??

Start your own "Do Something" Club. Details can be found on the website or you can fill out an application here:
www.DoSomething.org/node/add/club

GLBTQ YA Literature

As many of you know, I've been working on completing a Master's degree in Library Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A class I'm enrolled in right now, "GLBTQ Young Adult Literature" is asking us to promote our GLBTQ books for our patrons young and old alike. The books can easily go unnoticed in the stacks and because it IS an important part of our collection, I am taking this opportunity to acquaint you with some of the great "Queer Literature" in our teen area. If you have the time or interest, please give some of these great books a look.

Totally Joe, by James Howe is a great book for middle readers (grades 5-8) that is a thoroughly enjoyable tale of how one young man comes to terms with his identity. This funny and poignant book (written like a memoir) explores the adolescent journey of discovering one's sexuality through journal writings written from the author (Joe) to his teacher. This was a favorite of our class and one we highly recommend for those who are seeking some answers or for anyone who enjoys a good laugh. A great read for all ages!

Ash, by Malinda Lo was another class favorite, and as I've mentioned to some of you is a unique "fairy tale with a twist." This unique Cinderella-type tale tells the story of Ash-- who must traverse the perils of her evil step-mother and sisters, the enchanted forest, and Sidhean (the male equivalent of a fairy god-mother only not-as-nice) to capture the heart of her one true love. The language of this story is incredibly rich and the author describes the scenery so beautifully it's as if you're actually there. The lush setting and perfect love story make this a winner! Check it out today!

Luna, a book by Julie Ann Peters is the story a young woman who struggles with her brother's "coming out" as a woman. Both funny and dramatic, the characters in this story pull the reader in, and whether one has dealt with an issue remotely close to this or not, the story is what counts and it's brilliant. My professor, Ms. Mary Wepking, says this has been a class favorite for years. Be sure to check out my January 7th blog for an excellent interview with Luna's author.

A Horror--ible book.....

The Monstumologist by Rick Yancy

Rick Yancey's throwback gothic horror novel, THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST, takes its readers back to 1888 New England where young Will Henry narrates the strange tale of his master, Pellinore Warthrop, and their "search and destroy" mission against a bloodthirsty pod of monstrous killers called anthropophagi. These creatures are headless (though not thoughtless), vicious (though not foolish), and gourmands of human flesh (though not averse to mere animal flesh, if no human cuisine is on the menu). The creatures' mouths, located in the stomach-area (how direct!), are not unlike a great white shark's. Perfect for eating, in other words -- wholesale. While Yancey's YA gem is undeniably a "plot book," it is also blessed on other fronts. The characterization, for instance, is excellent. The key characters are not cardboard, but real, with traits both admirable and abominable. Dr. Warthrop sometimes lets science get in the way of his humanity, but he's nothing compared to the dashingly dangerous Jack Kearns, a fellow monstrumologist called into the fray when it is learned that there is not just one, but many, anthropophagi living beneath an otherwise tranquil New England cemetery. Kearns delights in the hunt, and the more dangerous, the better. The trouble is, he'll stop at nothing to accomplish his goals and, to him, the laws of church and state are more a source of amusement than reference. The novel also features a convincingly Victorian style, what with its more advanced vocabulary and numerous allusions to Greek mythology. Both doctors are cool under pressure (and pressure abounds in this creepy book), bringing to mind the unflappable Sherlock Holmes. Overall, it's a singularly well-written book, a riveting display of the horror genre, and, for young Will Henry, a nightmarish coming-of-age tale. Best of all? It's the first of a series. If we are to vicariously hunt more creatures and things that go bump in the night, then, count me in. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
Review by Ken. C. www.amazon.com


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