notes on books, teaching, and tech from your friendly neighborhood librarian
The Night She Disappeared, April Henry
Mystery
It starts out as a normal night at Pete’s Pizza. Most of the employees are high school and college kids like Drew, Gabie, and Kayla. They get along and joke around in between orders, and there’s plenty of blossoming friendships and romances. When Kayla gets sent out on a delivery, it’s still business as usual. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Night She Disappeared, by April Henry”
The Great Trouble, Deborah Hopkinson
Historical fiction/Mystery
London in 1854 had some things in common with today’s London. For centuries, London has been the center of the English-speaking world: full of business and science and fashion, with crowded streets and lots of culture and excitement. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Great Trouble, by Deborah Hopkinson”
Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson
Graphic novel/Realistic fiction
From the first time Astrid sees a roller derby match, she’s hooked. It’s a game where a bunch of girls speed around a track trying to knock each other out of the ring. It’s fast and kind of violent and fully awesome, and Astrid desperately wants to become a roller girl – even though her best friend Nicole is not so interested. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Roller Girl, by Victoria Jamieson”
Paper Hearts, Meg Wiviott
Historical fiction/Verse
Paper Hearts is a story told in verse – in poetry form – by two girls, Zlatka and Fania, who were Jewish teenagers in Europe during World War II. The story starts out when they and their families are sent into two different ghettoes, and then to the same concentration camp. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Paper Hearts, by Meg Wiviott”
City of Light, City of Dark, Avi & Brian Floca
Graphic novel/Fantasy
The Kurbs owned an island. When People came, the Kurbs agreed to share their Power to bring light and warmth so the people could build a city. But once a year, a chosen person must return the Power to the Kurbs, or the city will be destroyed. When the power is stolen, it’s up to Carlos and Sarah to find it and save their city.
Losers Take All, David Klass
Humor/Realistic fiction
At Fremont High School, sports come first. They have the best everything in New Jersey – best basketball team, best baseball team, and most importantly, best football team. It’s earned them the nickname “Muscles High.†Continue reading “Book of the Week: Losers Take All, by David Klass”
Under the Mesquite, Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Realistic fiction/Verse
It can be hard growing up in a big family. Lupita, a brilliant writer & high school student who moved to Texas from Mexico when she was six years old, has eight younger siblings, which means she has a lot of extra responsibility already – and that’s before her mother is diagnosed with a serious illness. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Under the Mesquite, by Guadalupe Garcia McCall”
A School for Unusual Girls, Kathleen Baldwin
Historical fiction/Adventure
Georgiana Fitzwilliam is not your typical rich 19th-century girl. She’s not interested in petticoats or fancy parties or getting married. What she does love is science. Which would be great in 2014, but wasn’t so great in 1814. After years of close calls, in the process of one of her many experiments, Georgie manages to burn her family’s stables to the ground. Continue reading “Book of the Week: A School for Unusual Girls, by Kathleen Baldwin”
Baba Yaga’s Assistant, Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll
Graphic novel/Fantasy
Some kids act out when their families change, but most of them don’t decide to go work for a witch who is rumored to eat children. In this graphic novel, that’s just what happens. Continue reading “Book of the Week: Baba Yaga’s Assistant, by Marika McCoola & Emily Carroll”
The Thing About Jellyfish, Ali Benjamin
Realistic fiction
Suzy knows that things don’t just happen. What kind of world would that be? But that’s the only answer she gets when she asks why her best friend Franny drowned on summer vacation, before Suzy could apologize for the worst thing she’s ever done. Continue reading “Book of the Week: The Thing About Jellyfish, by Ali Benjamin”