The New Year "To Be Read Pile"

I took a break from Young Adult Fiction over the holidays to read a stack of books that have been collecting dust on my night stand. Some excellent books that included 1, 000 White Women-The Journal of Mary Dodd by Jim Fergus and Say You're One of Them by Uwen Akpan. Now I'm ready to jump back into my favorite genre. My list of books for the new year year include:

1. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

2. The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

3. Children of the Lamp-The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr

4. The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

5. The Alchemyst-The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel

6. The Seer of Shadows by Avi

7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

8. Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

9. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!!!

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief

Book One

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

By Rick Riordan

2006

12 year old New Yorker Percy Jackson is having a bad day. He was kicked out of boarding school, found out that his best friend is a goat and that his real father is Ruler of the Sea according to Greek mythology.

This fast paced story combines adventure, action and an awesome lesson mythology.

Percy tells the story with humor and awe as he discovers that he is a demigod-half human, half god. There is a modern day feud happening between Poseidon, Hades and Zeus which will lead to war unless Percy who has been accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt can find and return it. He has just ten days before the world is plunged into total chaos.

The twist of mythology being alive and well in a modern world made this book a really fun read. Mount Olympus is located on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building in New York, Hades is in L.A. and Percy has run ins with Medusa and Ares along the way.

Percy is a great kid with a lot of issues. Abandonment, dyslexia, trouble in school and ADHD.

This reluctant hero embarks upon a journey with a seemingly impossible task and along the way discovers friendship, loyalty and the ability to do more then he ever thought possible.

It's a great story with a great character. I look forward to reading more of Percy Jackson's adventures. This is the first book in a series of five. I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.

This book is available for check out at the Salmon Public Library.

WAKE

Wake

By Lisa McMann

2008

Janie has the unfortunate ability to be sucked into other people's dreams. Sounds cool, right?

Not so much when it happens at school or when she's driving a car. Not only is it annoying but it's also a little dangerous. She doesn't want this and she can't control it either.

She especially gets tired of the naked in a room full of people dream or falling to your death dream. She can't tell anyone about her problem for fear of being called a freak or a liar, because who would honestly believe her?

The one night she is sucked into Cabel's dream where it is dark, gruesome and twisted. This nightmare just might be happening in real life and now Janie is a witness.

I recommend this book for readers 15 and up.

This book is available for check out at the Salmon Public Library.

Blue Bloods

I have just finished my third
book for the R.I.P. Challenge!















Blue Bloods
by Melisa De La Cruz
2006
Young Adult-Adult





Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at her prestigious New York City private school. Her class mates dress in only the latest fashions, vacation in the Hamptons, ski in the Alps and go clubbing at the hottest night spots. Schuyler prefers baggy thrift store finds and hanging out with her best friend Ollie playing video games.
That all changes after she turns fifteen. A strange pattern of blood veins appear on her arms, she has vivid memories of a long ago past and she craves raw meat.
Schuyler suddenly discovers that she is part of an ancient secret society of vampires that date back to the Mayflower. Their members are wealthy and powerful and happen to be part of the most elite families in New York City. They are called the Blue Bloods and now Schuyler herself has become one of them.
But in this society there are many secrets, that many members are determined to keep. If Schuyler has any chance of unraveling her complicated past she must find the answers.

This book is the first in a series of the Blue Bloods. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I'm excited to see where she takes them and the changes that will happen as the story progresses. I admit I already bought the second one on amazon yesterday and plan to read it as soon as it gets here. I loved how she combined the history with the now. The old journal pages by Catherine Carver added a spooky element to the story.
I would recommend this book for ages 16 and up for sexual situations and violence.

CATCHING FIRE

Book Number Two for

the R.I.P. Book Challenge

CATCHING FIRE

by Suzanne Collins

2009

Young Adult

Catching Fire is the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The story picks up where the last one left us. After Peeta and Katniss have both been crowned victors they return to District 12 to try to put their lives back together. But Katniss quickly learns that life will never be the same for her or the ones she loves. Her single act of rebellion in the games, which kept her and Peeta alive has sparked a fire in the people. Now President Snow wants revenge and plans to use Peeta and Katniss as pawns during the Hunger Games Victory Tour. But as they travel to the districts that surround the Capitol they begin to understand that the unrest is not just in District 12, the other districts are also showing signs of rebellion and turmoil.

Something big is coming and Katniss know her life will never be the same. Should she take her family and run for safety or should she stay and fight for the only chance of freedom they may ever have?

I admit I was a little worried that the sequel might not live up to The Hunger Games. It happens with movies and albums all the time-the dreaded sophomore slump. Well I'm happy to say, have no fear, no slump here! The action, intensity and emotion kicks off at page one and doesn't let go.

At the end of the book I had two reactions-despair that I'll now have to wait for the third book to find out what happens to the people I have grown to love and hate. The second was to pick up the phone and schedule a massage because the book is that intense. Loved it and I can't wait to go for another ride!!

This book is recommended for readers 14 and up due to to violence.

Salmon Public Library has this book as well as the Hunger Games.

By The Way.....

Kelley Armstrong author of The Summoning and The Awakening has a monthly give away contest on her website- www.kelleyarmstrong.com
You can win a signed copy of one of her novels by entering your name and email.
It doesn't get any easier than that!

The Summoning

My First Book for the R.I.P. Book Challenge

Drum Roll Please........

The Summoning

by Kelley Armstrong

July 2008

Young Adult

Chloe Saunders just had a really bad day. On her way to class she suddenly develops the ability to see and hear dead people. After one ghost chases her through the halls she freaks out. She is sedated, sent to a hospital, and enrolled in a group home for troubled teens.

Soon Chloe realizes that nothing is as it seems at the Lyle House, where the dead continue to try to speak to her and her room mates have special talents of their own.

But as her housemates each reveal the powers they possess(Super strength, spell casting, starting fires and moving things) Chloe must figure out who she can trust and who has an agenda of their own.

This fast paced thriller is filled with horror, suspense, mystery, conspiracy and a little romance.

The paranormal plot kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible and the little twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

The book leaves the door wide open for the sequel called The Awakening which I will definitely read.

I recommend this book for readers 12 and up. This book is not available at the Salmon Public Library but I would be more than happy to get it for you through an Inter Library Loan.