Book Talk

The Scorpio Races

Maggie Stiefvater

An interesting take on the myth of the water horse.  Every November on the Island of Thisby only the bravest race the water horses.  It is a deadly race.  Sean Kendrick is a returning champion, his skills with the water horses is almost otherworldly.  Puck Connolly never meant to race but to save her house and family she has no choice.  These two characters who are so different come to work together to paint a beautiful picture about life and fate.  It's a breath-taking story you shouldn't miss.

~from the Teen Review

Book Talk

Amber House

by Kelly Moore

A wonderfully haunting book about the past and present.  While exploring her family ancestral home, Sarah begins having visions of the past.  Slowly she comes to discover that there are many secrets hidden in this home.  But when her visions begin to see and speak to her, Sarah begins to feel that there is a presence that threatens the person she holds most dear, her little brother Sam.  It was a fantastic book that I couldn't put down.  Wonderfully written with just the right amount of mystery.

~taken from the Teen Review.

Book Talk

Legend

Marie Lu

Set in a dystopian United States where the West is the "Republic" at war with its neighbors, "Legend" by Marie Lu is an action-packed tale that keeps you reading!  I loved how the story switched perspectives from fifteen-year-old Day (a wanted criminal living in the slums) to fifteen-year-old June (a military detective).  They are supposed to be enemies.  And they are ... that is until they meet each other and are forced to reassess their notions of this dystopian world and the people in it.

~Jeanelle W. 

(from the Teen Review)

Book Talk

Okay For Now

by Gary D. Schmidt

Okay For Now drops you into the life of Doug Swieteck, a fourteen year old who has just move to a new town. While trying to adjust to his new life, he meets several new friends.  Along the way he runs into his fair share problems.  It is a well done story that describes what it's like to move to a place, make new friends, overcome problems and how to stand by your friends no matter what.

~From the Auburn Teen Online Review

David H.

Book Talk

Sold

By Patricia McCormick

Told in powerful vignettes, Sold by Patricia McCormick is a haunting tale of a girl from Nepal who thought she was going to be a maid, but instead finds that she ahs been sold into child prostitution.  Though the topic is quite heavy, through the voice of 13-year-old Lakshmi your eyes will be opened to the reality of modern-day slavery.  An important and enthralling read.

~Jeanelle W.

Your Summer Reading Recap

Teens who joined the Light Up the Night Summer Reading Program this year did just that.  You read a cumulative total of 312 days a gave a whopping 53 reviews of all that you read.  AWESOME!
Here is just a small list of some of the things you read this summer and enjoyed.

• Heaven is for Real - T. Burpo
• The Revealers - D. Wilhelm  (yes, some of you enjoyed your school reading!)
• The Alex Rider Series - A. Horowitz
• Delirium - L. Oliver
• The Hunger Games Series - S. Collins
• I.Q.: Independence Hall - R. Smith
• The Fourth Stall - C. Rylander
• Inheritance - C. Paolini
• Birthmarked - C. O'Brien
• The Book Thief - M. Zusak

Awesome job this summer.  And don't forget to keep reading!

Book Talk

Salt

by Maurice Gee

Hari and Pearl are each on a mission - Hari to rescue his father, Pearl to escape an arranged marriage. They both soon discover that their mission is bigger than the two of them. There are secrets in Deep Salt - the mine owned by Pearl's intended and where Hari's father has been sent. No one ever comes back from Deep Salt and no one knows what is mined in Deep Salt. Will Hari and Pearl succeed? This is a tale that will keep you guessing - full of adventure, family and political intrigue. Will you survive Deep Salt? 

~from Teen Review

Book Talk

Chime

Franny Billingsley

Briony lives in the Swampsea - a place known for its links to the old world.  Briony has a secret - she can see the Old Ones and spirits - Briony is a witch.  She knows that exposing this secret will mean her death.  Yet when a young man comes into her life she discovers that more than just her own secret will be exposed - secrets she never even knew.  This book is a bit slow but it grabs you and won't let go.

~from the Auburn Teen Review

Book Talk

When You Reach Me        

by Rebecca Stead

Join Miranda as she retells a year of life in New York City - life at school, working at a sandwich shop and at home with her family.  This is a tale of friendships, of mystery and even some magic.  Its Newbery Medal was well-deserved for this clever read was filled with surprises!

Review by Jeanelle W.

Book Talk

Uglies

by Scott Westerfeld

Scott Westerfeld creates a futuristic world in his novel The Uglies, where everyone gets cosmetic surgery at age 16 to become a standardized version of "pretty."  The ones that don't buy into the conformity make Uglies startlingly thought-provoking, raising questions for our present society and for ourselves.

Review by Jeanelle W.