Not only is the world going to end...we're all INFECTED!

This end of the world stuff is not a coincidence. YA is, in my humble opinion, on the cutting edge of what's coming up in fiction and is where we need to look when we want to know what's "HOT" and what's "NOT" (thanks Vanity Fair Magazine for that cute litle quip). And NO, this new fascination with the end of the world and for some reason mermaids (?), is not a coincidence...because truly, for many of us, it DOES feel like the end of the world. Ever seen....
Wasteland or
ENRON or
An Inconvenient Truth???
Infection plays on those fears, and while I would not classify it as technically being YA, it has elements of that genre (rage, apocalyptic undertones, end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-anxiety). While I would only recommend this book to those mature teens who can handle an absurd amount of blood, guts and gore (there are incredibly memorable scenes involving the oven and a fork but I'll leave it at that), it IS primarily an adult book for those who enjoy a good zombie/infection/can't take it with you so spend it crowd. While not written in the style of Henry James, it's good for what it does: SCARE. It's fast-paced, fun, and filled to the top with monsters and bloodshed. So, like I said, teen and adults-alike: skip this one if you're a tad bit squemish...or even medium bit squemish. This would be either rated R or MA if books had ratings.
The story basically centers on a virus that attacks the body and brain, making human beings go absolutely mad with rage and kill their fellow humans. "Blue Triangles" appear on the body and telepathically communicate with the host until they go mad and kill off a large number of innocent people. In addition, the "triangles" use the body as a vessel from which to hatch. Hatch what you say? Well, you'll have to read the book to find that one out. I've noticed more lately that there is a HUGE book culture out there that consists of horror and gore fans just chomping to get their hands on a book that might actually FREAK them out. This, for some of you, may be it.
While I've read novels in a similiar vein, this one gets four stars for being unabashadly unafraid to go where many would fear to tread. The end of humanity as we know it....because of a man-made virus that imprints blue triangles on the human body. Forget about Wall Street or your vanishing 401K fund. THE HATCHLINGS ARE AT THE DOOR!!!!

Teen Final Program

The Teen Food Tour was a great success! In all, 20 teens enjoyed the taste of Thai and Mexican from our local restaurants, Thai Italiana and Marty's Restaurant. Along the way, we learned some local history as well discovering our own local minority's heritages. It was an afternoon filled with good food, laughter, and learning!

The Teen Final Grand Prize Winners were:

Evan Hisey for the Mp4 player and gift certificate

Breanna Anderson for the Museum & Mummies package

Britanny Chic for the Notebook computer

and Andrew Boster for the Night in the Village prize pack.

Thank you to all our wonderful teens who helped make this program a tremendous one!

Hula Hype!

We had soooo much fun playing hula hoop games in the park and decorating our own hula hoops for the Summer Reading Program! We also participated in Hula Contests to see who could wiggle and jiggle the best! It was a wonderful program!

Wisconsin Death Trip--Be Warned!

Ah....Wisconsin. Home to infamous homebodies like Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer, as well as the birthplace of Schlitz beer and Usinger's sausage. Mmm...yummy treats. If you thought you knew everything about Wisconsin, then you clearly haven't traveled to the Wisconsin Dells to see the rock that resembles a piano, or learned how to make homemade soap and butter at Old World Wisconsin in the good land of Tichigan. Oh, Wisconsin how I love thee and your infinite weirdness.
But...I digress. Yes, I'd heard of this book in those "bizarro" circles in which it was whispered about as the "it" book when it comes to Wisconsin and it's all-encompassing rural weirdness. Being both a native Wisconsinite and a bit weird, naturally I checked this book out immediately from the library upon hearing about it in those hushed and forbidden circles often referred to as groups of "teenagers." Just in case, here's a picture of one:


If you enjoy books that take a look at society's darker half, it's "underbelly", please do find a copy of this book and sit yourself down for a delicious treat. Newspaper clippings from the State of Wisconsin around the turn of the century provide the meat of the book, but also included are black and white photos from the town of Black River Falls that seemingly correspond with the spine tingling (and often hilarious) true tales from around the state. For example:

"Frederick Schultz, an old resident of Two Rivers, cheated his undertaker by suddenly jumping out of the coffin in which, supposed to be dead, he had been placed." (State, 11/15).

"Constant worrying over the thought that he would be unable to solve the mysteries of perpetual motion has drive A.J. Dayton of Janesville insane. For the past 14 years, the study of perpetual motion has occupied the greater portion of his spare time. he would study at night till way into the morning. It is said that he spent considerable money in his efforts to solve the mystery of perpetual motion." (State, 4/19)."

"Jack the "Hugger" or James Moore who for more than 10 years past has followed the occupation of waylaying lone women after sundown and hugging them then dissapearing before assistance could reach them was caught. There, after a rigid examination he admitted he had committed the offenses of which he was charged. ....he drew his paycheck and left for the north to work in the woods during the winter." (State, 11/23).

"Harry Ehlers, a Milwaukee butcher, died from nosebleed. His nose had been bleeding for 9 days...he was 37 years of age and had been a great meat eater." (State 8/24).


If you don't like disturbing photographs, or cannot find good humor in suicide, dismemberment, arson, murder or thievery, pass on this one. If however, you have a blind date and need an excuse to either up the ante or high tail it home, I highly recommend pulling this one out of your pocketbook.

Bringing Back the Dead!

Charlie Higson, you made my week! Not only do you write zombie books with enough pus, blood, and brains to actually keep my interest, you are also daring enough to kill teens in DROVES!! Hallelujah! I've been waiting for a teeth-gnashing novel in which the author isn't afraid to kill off some of his best heroes and heroines and I finally got one! Hurray! Usually the killing of tweens and teens is censored in some way....but not in Higson world! Oh no, we have enough biting, gnoshing, and flesh-eating here for everyone (and we're not even sorry about it). To be coming soon...a theme park based on this novel-- (those under 16...BEWARE)!

I'm the type that loves a good zombie film but finds most books on the subject totally and utterly boring. Even World War Z, which some laud as the finest in modern zombie literature couldn't keep my interest. And as I sit here writing this, watching a new zombie film from Germany that I received in the mail today (Hammbock: Berlin Undead), I can honestly say that I had not yet read a very fine zombie tale. That, my friends, is no longer the case. I am puffed with pride like a pus nodule waiting to explode.

So, welcome to the Enemy series, where anyone over the age of 16 has become one of the undead, and those under 16 must fight back or become the next chicken wing on some zombie stay-at-home dad's Sunday dinner plate. Fantastic. *licking of fingers*

Our protagonist, Ed, and his group of over-priveged private school mates fight hordes of zombies that have invaded England while the group strives to maintain their sanity amidst the hungry, cannibalistic chaos. Oh, and while steering clear of the religious zealots as well. (THE LAMB....THE LAMB...HOLD THE FLAG)!!!!

Bravo! Teens finally doing what they do best....hacking apart adults with fifteenth century axes from the Tower of London. Yay for depravity and truth! May the teens forever reign! Certainly will read the next in the series just to see how far Higson is willing to go.

BCNU@WPL: Review: Lark by Tracey Porter

BCNU@WPL: Review: Lark by Tracey Porter

Review: Lark by Tracey Porter

This book is like a painted Easter egg; it's delicate, fragile, sometimes gorgeous, and/or a bit tacky depending on one's perspective of painted eggs.
The premise is similar to Sebold's "The Lovely Bones", although personally I never connected with that book and felt it lacked a certain something...a sprinkle of salt, glitter, and mozzarella cheese...what have you. The smells of home and of fresh bread baking in the oven. The rubber soles of boots. Grandpa's pipe.
I never felt firm in my conviction towards that book, and I don't with "Lark", either. There were foundation problems.
"Lark" is a quick read and suffers from the same ailments as Sebold's earlier work. While the writing and plot line appear fresh, the stories lacked a certain credibility and spirit that my yoga-minded, vegetarian omelet eating self couldn't quite connect with.
"Lark" is the story of a 16 year-old young woman who is taken against her will by a man who rapes and leaves her to die in the woods during the first big snowstorm of the year. The narrative of this book is told in three voices: Larks’, her no longer best friend Eve, and a young lady named Nyetta whom Lark used to baby-sit.
Eve struggles with Lark's death and the dark secret she was withholding from her which caused the demise of their friendship, while Nyetta believes Lark is trapped within the tree she was found under and claims to see Lark regularly. Enough so even, that Nyetta's parents finally find her an understanding therapist (enter April...the hippie therapist...anyone else sick of these people invading our fiction?) where she attempts to deal with Lark's horrible death and get our little Nyetta on the right track.
And if you lost me when I noted that Nyetta believes Lark's spirit is stuck within a tree, than most likely you are amongst the many readers who started this book and thought "What??!! Where did THAT come from??" As the whole concept is not clearly explained; nor does it really add any substance to the book. I'm just going to assume this particular author likes trees. Seems to be the sanest explanation.
The characters are not well drawn, the plot is shaky, and for the hugeness of the subject matter--(murder, death, rape, general drudgery), the novel is really too short.
So why 3 stars? Because it's fragile; like a baby bird waiting to spread its wings for the first time, or that moment when Michael Jackson held his baby over a balcony in Europe (gasp). With the right care and editing, this novella (?) could have been grand. And like that little chirping bird, the author shows promise and has a lyrical ability that not only made it palpable to read, but rather charming as well.