Week of December 30, 2007

So B. It by Sarah Weeks

It was very good. :-) All my friends told me to read it and

when i did it was very good.
About a girl and her mentally disabled mother and finding out who she is.

- Julie

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

I listened to this book. Took a bit at first to get involved in the story; well done though. It’s about a girl who discovers that it doesn’t make any difference what she does, people see her individuality.

- Cheryl

Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce

For any reader looking for a good escape yarn. An adventure filled fantasy replete with gods, tricksters, warring tribes, spies, and magic.

I listened to the audio version of this book.

Poison Apples by Lily Archer

Imagine a different take on the Cinderella evil stepmother story:

Upscale teenagers plot revenge on their stepmothers. I found this to be a humorous well-written story.

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Although you know what’s coming – student molested by his high school history teacher, the story gives the characters involved depth –

there isn’t black and white here. Well written.

Week of December 23, 2007

Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
Good story – Setting is a mental hospital. The story related through Anna’s eyes is told with humor and warmth.

Looking for J.J. by Anne Cassidy
New identity, new life – She readily accepts and regrets the murder, why won’t others let Jennifer Jones move on?








Freak by Marcella Pikley features an unattractive laughed at girl who not only stands up for herself
but defends the primary bully who’s been attacking her. A powerful read.

Week of December 16, 2007

Dating Hamlet by Lisa Fiedler recounts the Shakespeare play from Ophelia’s point of view. It is available as a playaway and should be pretty popular. It is a fun imaginative retelling of the Hamlet story.





Midnighters: Touching Darkness by Scott Westerfeld continues the special group’s exploration of “blue time.”
Good story. We meet other “darklings” as well as “halflings” and historical Bixby. More is learned about darkling lore in this second installment.

Tuesday, December 11

Week of December 9 , 2007

In addition to books or compact disks the library offers mp3 format and electronic resources downloads.

An mp3 that I just transferred to my ipod for listening while cleaning, putting up the Christmas tree, and weight lifting
is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver. It’s a very informative, interesting, chatty sort of story about a family that leaves Tucson, AZ to live off the land on an Appalachian farm.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld is the first of a trilogy about an hour of time each day that only special people know exists.
Friends, Rex, Desdemona and Melissa are part of this world. They are misfits at their high school in Bixby OK. Jessica Day is a new student from Chicago. She too has the gift. Why do the darklings want her killed? Even Jessica doesn’t know.
This was an exciting story from the start - I wanted to complete it in one sitting - a real page turner.

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

A regular somewhat impulsive guy's social status is downgraded to that of a criminal because of a dumb act. As Tyler Miller's life spirals downward he becomes aware of who he is and what he wants to become. This revelation changes how he perceives himself and those around him.

Week of December 2nd, 2007

The Other Half of Me by Emily Franklin is about “being a part of a team.”

17 year-old Jenny always considered herself an outsider to her sports-minded family. Her three other siblings have the same biological parents while Jenny’s biological father is only known as Donor #142. Jenny’s world changes through two major events in her life: a new boyfriend and a half sister’s surprise visit.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl is a fun read focusing on the world of comics and self publishing.

Jenn's Picks!

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman -- If you haven't read this one yet, be sure to check it out before the movie comes out the first week in December. Don't be fooled by the fact that the main characters are kind of young, or that the animals talk. This is a complicated world, and a dark story overall. The other two books in the trilogy are The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld -- Another delightfully weird Scott Westerfeld novel. Vampirism as a parasitic disease, great SW characters, and wacky, witty dialog. Sure, I'll read the next one. These are fun.
Zigzag by Ellen Wittlinger -- I had picked this one up when it caught my eye on the teen shelves. A book about a road trip! What's not to love? I read this pretty much in one sitting. At first I thought it would be a slog, since the main character was such a wimp - But she straightened right up, 60 or so pages into the story. I liked the way this one ended. A good read.

Music and More -Tuesday, December 11, 3-5pm

Hear what he sounds like at www.benjaminwinter.com

Week of November 25, 2007

The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Susan Crowley tells the story of a teenager with Asperger’s syndrome. She befriends a boy who’s a product of fetal alcohol syndrome – The dynamics of their relationship is the focus of this story.

Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin is about the afterlife of teenager Liz Hall. It's basically a story of love, separation and letting go.
I listened to the audio book.

Forest of the Pygmies by Isabel Allende is the third book featuring Alexander Cold and Nadia Santos, teenage adventurers. Allende combines fact, folklore, magic and fantasy for a spirited romp in Central Africa.

The library currently has only the audio book.

Week of November 18, 2007

What if you could start fresh - having forgotten temporarily the past?
Naomi doesn't remember friend or enemy.
That's the premise of this story, Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zavin

Another story about seeing things differently because of a situation is
Tending to grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco.
Cornelia, embarrassed by her voice, discovers that others have their own unique hangups.
With this knowledge she begins forays into communicating with others.

After School Library Program

An upcoming event at the library featuring world traveled acoustic guitarist,
Benjamin Winter - www.benjaminwinter.com
He'll be performing in the Teen Section of the Los Gatos Public library for your entertainment
on Tuesday, December 11th from 3-5pm. He will also be featured November 21st on KFOG'S morning show (104.5 FM).

Week of November 11, 2007

Listened with rapt attention to Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, ship’s boy by L.A. Meyer. This sea adventure is about a girl posing as a boy to escape a life of begging in nineteenth century London.

We currently have the first three books:

• Bloody Jack: being an account of the curious adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, ship’s boy
  

• Curse of the Blue Tattoo: being an account of the misadventures of Jacky Faber, midshipman and fine lady

• Under the Jolly Roger: being an account of the further nautical adventures of Jacky Faber

Pirates!: the true and remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kington, female pirates by Celia Rees

Sound recording

This is a sea adventure on the slave trade and piracy. It takes place about a hundred years before the Bloody Jack series. Instead of a poor street urchin improving her lot, Nancy is from a wealthy Bristol family, the setting is Jamaica.

Another book I’ve been enjoying is Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin – Falling down some steps, Naomi saves an expensive camera but hits her head, awakening to discover that she has no recollection of classmates, friends or enemies.

Week of November 4, 2007

Just finished listening to The Day My Mother Left by James Prosek. This thought-provoking story centered on life changing situations and
how different family members met the challenges.

New titles we have received include:

• Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith in audio cd/mp3 format;

• Matisse stories by A.S. Byatt in audio format – Three stories influenced by artist’s paintings

• The Sweet Terrible Glorious Year I Truly Lost It by Lisa Shanahan - Shifting emotions; a wedding, a play, and a boy.

• Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande – Student stands up for teacher with opposing viewpoint on evolution

• Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Family struggles to survive aftermath of meteor impacting moon

• The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous by Suzanne Carlisle Crowley - Teenager copes with Asperger’s Syndrome

October 30 - Book Review by Will

"I felt nothing or maybe it's more accurate to say I felt the Absence of Everything"

Head Case by Sarah Aronson chronicles the life of an injured teenager, Frank Marder. Confined to a wheel chair after a spinal cord injury, Frank struggles to do every task that once required little effort. Without the aid of several nurses and his grieving parents, Frank’s paralysis would prevent him from accessing the most basic necessities, neither food nor water.
Drunk Driving cost Frank his movement but girlfriend as well. Having lost a friend in similar circumstances I was able to relate to what some of the characters must have felt during times of great loss. Statistics say alcohol kills upwards of 400,000 people yearly, with 30% of those deaths caused by drunken driving accidents. The statistics speak to how careful youth must be when taking such risks.
Aronson connects well to her audience by writing about a relevant subject. The risks of drunk driving should be reinforced within this particular age group. She captures the audience with Frank’s story of hardship and writes with ease. Good Read.

Week of October 28, 2007

The Awakening by Kate Chopin captures the feelings and social awareness of Edna Pontellier, a 19th Century woman . This short novel can be appreciated on many levels . Not only do we have this classic work in print and audio, but also through electronic download.
Raiders Night by Robert Lipsyte tells the story of a high school football player torn between team loyalties and doing what is right.
ttfn and ttyl by lauren myracle are about Zoe, Maddy and Angela's lives as told through their instant messages. These novels are easy to get into and fun to follow.

Jenn's Picks -- Spooky Halloweeny themed

Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen -- Set in a creepy but intriguing world beneath the city of London, this is a story about a guy who's life changes speedily and irrevocably when he stops to help a wounded girl on the street. The author has a very clean style and a fantastic imagination.

Blood and chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. The story of Vivian Gandillion, who is a 16 year old werewolf, who falls in love with a human, or a "meat boy." A good story about someone stuck between two very different worlds, and a great interpretation of life in a pack of werewolves. We have the movie as well, it's got the same title, and some of the same characters, and enjoyed watching it. If you're annoyed by movies that diverge from the original book, read it or watch it, but don't do both.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 21, 2007

Rash by Pete Hautman is about a future time in the United Safe States of America (one nation under the law).
About a quarter of the Nation’s population is incarcerated in work farms for crimes including anger and road rage.
The take on a future society determined to insure a safe environment free from even pastimes like football makes for a good read.
I enjoyed listening to our audio copy.

If you want to get a real feeling about what it was like to be a pirate; ship's captain; or a slave, read The Slave Ship by Marcus Rediker.
The author’s focus (1700-1808) includes accounts of many involved in the slave trade. I think it would be a fine resource for any paper
on the subject.


This week, I’ll be listening to The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1899) which explores treatment of women as property and not human beings.
The main character, Edna, undergoes an inner transformation which is at odds to her role as ‘model wife.’

Week of October 14, 2007

I’ll be listening to Rash by Pete Hautman this week. It’s about a future society that would rather be “safe than free.”

Scott Westerfeld's latest book, Extras, stars 15 year-old Aya Fuse.
Her initial concern is a popularity ranking of 451,369. Through daring feats involving special circumstances Aya discovers her true self and what’s really important to succeed.

Want to know the ins and outs of the slave trade through the eyes of one family? Try Copper Sun by Sharon Draper.

Here are a few of the latest books received:

• Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

(Freshman football and steroids)

• Frannie in Pieces by Delia Ephron

(Jigsaw puzzle helps Frannie come to terms with father’s death)

• No Place Safe by Kim Reid
  

( T921 A serial murderer began hunting black children in 1979 Atlanta.
Kim Reid's mother was a lead detective on the case)

• It’s Superman by Tom De Haven
  

(Early feats of daring-do by the man of steel)

• Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause
  

(17 year-old Abel, a freak show “normie” is haunted by mysterious wraith)

• In Search of Mockingbird by Loretta Ellsworth
  

(16 year-old goes by bus to visit reclusive Southern author)

Week of October 7, 2007

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a story about a high school girl who's been
raped and tells no one. It's about how her classmates see her.
It's about consequences when she is able to tell what happened.
I listened to the audio version

We just received Extras by Scott Westerfeld. It's a sequel to the Uglies trilogy. I'm looking forward to reading it right after I finish listening to So Yesterday by the same author.

Scott Westerfeld is appearing for a talk and book signing at
Hicklebee's in Willow Glen http://www.hicklebees.com/

He'll be there Wednesday October 10, at 3PM.

Jenn's Picks for the week

Here are picks from avid reader Jenn that you too might enjoy:

An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
London Calling by Edward Bloor
Trickster's Choice , we also have the audio copy of

Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce

and the sequel

Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce

Two other titles on Jenn's list were Light Years by Tammar Stein and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohen which the library does not have as yet but will soon.

Read an interesting book, Right Behind You by Gail Giles. It is about a child killer turned teen coming to grips with his 'hungry ghosts.'

Teen Programs at the Library

What kind of programs would you like to be a part of at the Library?

Different suggestions have included:

• Business Startups
• DDR
• Guitar Hero
• Youtube contest

Paul's Picks for the week

Titles from this past week that I recommend:

Does my head look big in this? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

An abundance of Katherines by John Green

I listened to and thoroughly enjoyed a playaway entitled,

After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates

Several other new titles of interest:

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyers (Read the first two, Twilight and New Moon)

Some of Tim's Stories by S.E.Hinton (Remember her Outsiders and Rumble Fish)

Under the wolf, under the dog / Adam Rapp

What I believe : a novel / Norma Fox Mazer

What my girlfriend doesn't know / Sonya Sones (Follow up to What my mother doesn't know)

Blue lipstick : Concrete poems by John Grandits

Books on CD's and Playaways

Recorded books have been popular at the Los Gatos Library. In addition to current titles, Los Gatos High School reading list 2007 was consulted in
development of this collection.

Here are several of the latest titles received:

Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Harmless by Dana Reinhardt

Separate Peace by John Knowles

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher

Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink

Rash by Pete Hautman

We’re starting a collection in the Teen area called Play-a-ways.
These self contained digital recordings need only one AAA battery and set of ear phones.
They are very compact – Others will think you’re listening to music when actually, “It’s a book!”

Play-a-ways are available in the Children’s area of the library too.

Here are several of the Teen titles available in the Teen section:

Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison

Chinese (Cantonese)

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Pretties (part 2 of the Uglies trilogy) by Scott Westerfield

Specials (part 3 of the Uglies trilogy) by Scott Westerfield

After the Wreck I Picked Myself Up, Spread my Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates

Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

TEEN REVIEWS

Got a favorite book you want to share? Send us an email. All you have to do is include:

• title, author,
• brief summary,
• what you thought of the book,
• your first name and grade!

Megan Meade's guide to the McGowan boys : a novel by Kate Brian I think that this was my favorite of all the books I read for this (Summer 2007). This is because it was funny, interesting and fresh. I really enjoyed the book, it kept my attention and I hope she writes another like it. Reviewed by: Katie 8th grade

Pardon My French by Cathy Hapka
I loved this book because it really took you to France and all the amazing places there. The characters and their stories were fun to read about! This book got me hooked on all the S.A.S.S. books. Very good!
Reviewed by Katie H. 9th grade



Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
This is an enlightening story of a young Japanese girl in times of war. I was so affected by the hardships of Saguri and fascinated by geishes (who) are like prostitutes. Geishas do not exist anymore. I feel like I learned more about a lost people of Japan.
Reviewed by Melissa 8th grade


Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss

...it had a good, interesting plot. Also, it was unique because the story was
told in 1st person from several different characters, so you could really tell
what they were thinking. Also, the story didn't really have a happy ending,
but it was a little refreshing because so many stories have happy endings, but life
doesn't always turn out that way.
Reviewed by Ellie 8th grade

Eats shoots & leaves by Lynne Truss
...is an excellent grammar book, filed with humorous examples
of grammatical slip-ups, witty remarks,and simple rules to remember for punctuation.
Still educational,yet entertaining and clever. Lynee Truss creates a convergence of the
actual fun of learning while pruning the ridiculous nuances and repetitiveness that
most grammar books have. In essence, this book teaches grammar without being boring, and is, quite wonderfully enough, based on a joke! An additional plus are the stickers.
Reviewed by David 11th grade

Sound of Munich by Suzanne Nelson
I liked this book a lot because it had a mystery in it and was funny at the same time.
I was hooked on this book till the end!
This book takes place in Munich, which made it interesting to read.
Reviewed by Rachel 8th grade