Saturday, December 10, 2011

Welcome!

Insatiable

Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Image courtesy of Library Thing

Cabot, Meg. Insatiable. Harper Collins: New York; 2010.

Awards/Honors: n/a

Annotation: After meeting her unusual neighbors’ Romanian cousin, Meena Harper starts to see New York through a whole new set of eyes. She quickly learns that the unseen has been hiding the undead.

Book Talk:

Are you over vampires already?

Wonder why everyone made such a fuss about Twilight?

Hate the idea of reading one more book about how vampires are so great?

Then read Meg Cabot’s Insatiable, the most unvampire vampire book of the year!



Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

 Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark…
Image courtesy of Library Thing

Fantaskey, Beth. Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company: New York; 2009.

“The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat!” (Emily, 14).

Awards/Honors: n/a

Annotation: Jessica had big plans for senior year, none of which involved dating a vampire. That is, until a handsome Romania prince named Lucius Vladescu comes to claim her as his bride.

Book Talk:
Jessica has a secret past. Born Anastasia, she was adopted from Romania as a baby. Can it be true that she was born to vampires who betrothed her to Lucius?

“The first time I saw him, a heavy, gray fog clung to the cornfields, tails of mist slithering between the dying stalks. It was a dreary early morning right after Labor Day, and I was waiting for the school bus, just minding my own business, standing at the end of the dirt lane that connected my family’s farmhouse to the main road into town.

I was thinking about how many times I’d probably waited for that bus over the course of a dozen years, killing time like any mathlete would, by doing the calculations in my head, when I noticed him.
It had never struck me how vulnerable I’d been all those mornings I’d waited out there alone, but the realization hit me hard then.”

The Devouring

The Devouring by Simon Holt
Image courtesy of Library Thing

Holt, Simon. The Devouring. Little, Brown, and Company; New York; 2008.

Awards/Honors: n/a

Annotation: Regina Halloway’s mom has abandoned the family, leaving her to raise her baby brother and endure her depressed dad. She finds solace in her friendship with Aaron, her job at the bookstore Something Wicked, and the horror books and movies she devours.

"Horror books can freak people out! Especially reading one on a scary night." (Michael, 19)

Book Talk: Vivian didn’t think her boss Eben would mind if she borrowed the manuscript that she found while unpacking a box at the bookstore. She starts reading it as a bedtime story to her brother Henry, until he starts behaving strangely.

“When dark creeps in and eats he light,
Bury your fears on Sorry Night
For in the winter’s blackest hours
Comes the feasting of the Vours
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body’s here but not your soul…”

Surely, the Vours can’t be real?

Blood and Chocolate



Image courtesy of Library Thing

Klause, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. Delacorte Press: New York; 1997.

Awards/Honors:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults - Winner 1998
ALA Quick Pick for Young Adult Reluctant Readers – Winner 1998
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award – Nominee 1999
South Carolina Children's Book Award - Winner 1998
Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List – Winner 1998
  
Annotation: Vivian is a werewolf and almost old enough to choose a mate. Even though she has her pick of herwolf pack, see has fallen for a human named Aiden.

Book Talk: Vivian Gandillion is beautiful, just like here werewolf mother. All the wolf boys in her pack persue her, but she has a crush on Aiden; a human being, a meatboy! That’s a big no-no in her world and the pack is getting wise to her. What’s a beautiful, open-minded werewolf to do?

“Aiden was gentle. She hadn’t expected that. Kisses to her were tight clutch, teeth, and tongue. His torturing hands down her sides and lightly caressed her back. When he flicked her lip to his tongue, she parted her mouth to invite him in. Instead, he pulled away and sighed.

…She was intrigued."

The Betrayal

 The Betrayal by R. L. Stine
Image courtesy of Library Thing

Stine, R.L.. The Betrayal (The Fear Street Saga:Where the Fear Began-Book 1). Parachute Press: New York; 1993.

"I like horror because of the suspense in it. It makes me want to keep reading." (Gabby, 12).

Awards/Honors: n/a

Annotation: In 1900, ancestor Nora Goode pens a tell all account. In it, she marks the moment in 1692 where the Fier and Goode families' clash unleashed an evil that doomed their descents for all their days.

Book Talk: Everyone has taken a walk down Fear Street...but have you ever wondered why such horrors occur here? 

It all began in 1692 when Susannah Goode and Edward Fier feel in love. They wanted to be married, but Edward's father Benjamin had other plans. He would prevent the wedding by any means so that Edward could make a wealthy match instead.

"You cannot do this? Susannah Goode shrieked.

The officer roughly dragged Susanah and her mother to the door.

Benhamin Fier stopped on the path. His voice was low and steady. His eyes locked onto Susannah .

You two will burn before the week is out.' "

Moonlight

 Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne
Image courtesy of Library Thing

Hawthorne, Rachel. Moonlight (Dark Guardian-Book 1). Harper Teen: New York; 2009.

Awards/Honors: n/a

Annotation: After her parents were mistaken in the woods for wolves and killed; Kayla was adopted by another family. Now as a teenager, she is back in that same forest and about to discover where she really came from.

Book Talk: Kayla always felt different. She thought it was because she lost both her parents and was adopted; yet…there was always something more that set her apart. This summer, working as a sherpa in the national forest, she will finally learn her truth.

“I should have run when Lucas stepped over to me, but I didn’t. I stood there gazing into his silver eyes. They held me captive. They wouldn’t let me look away.

He wrapped his hands around my arms. I thought he would jerk me toward him now and plant that kiss I so desperately wanted. Instead he said solemnly,

‘Kayla, you’re one of us.’”