Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Book Review - Truly Devious

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖
by Maureen Johnson
Aspiring detective and true-crime enthusiast Stevie Bell is thrilled to be attending Ellingham Academy in Vermont. The school was founded in the early 20th century by Albert Ellingham and was closed temporarily when his wife Iris and daughter Alice went missing - the only clue a riddled letter signed Truly Devious. The case has remained unsolved and Stevie is determined to solve it. As Stevie tries to work the case, new mysteries seem to unfold.
If you are looking for a great mystery read, look no further. This page-turner will have readers wondering what happened to Iris and Alice. Stevie’s story in the present time alternates with a storyline at the time of the disappearance. The first in a planned series (The Vanishing Stair is out now) means not everything, if anything at all, is concluded in this book. There is still though, many twists and turns to keep readers occupied.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Book Review - Summoner: The Novice

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖
Book Review from the Bookster
Title: Summoner: The Novice by Taran Matharu & Narrated by Ralph Lister
Book Edition: Audiobook* (Physical Copy Available)
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, & supernatural
Warnings: Demons.
Series: Yes. Book 1 of 2 of the Summoner.

The Novice is a nice easy read for those who want a younger version of John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series. Based in the middle ages, orphan Fletcher goes on a journey of magic and discovery when he is given a book to summon demons. The ability to summon demons has its on math behind it and those the highest numbers are the best summoners. Fletcher is outcast in the town that he is raised in and outcast in summoning school he is brought to. As summoners are never found in the region he came from and if anyone found out about his criminal record he would everything.  

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio
*Please note the Bookster listened to this in audio not via Nassau Digital Doorway. The library does not currently own this title in audio form.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

YALSA 2019 Teens' Top Ten

The winners of the 2019 Teen's Top Ten have been announced!
How many have you read?
Did your favorites make the top ten?

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Book Review - Before I Let Go

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖
by Marieke Nijkamp
Shortly before Corey is set to return to the small Alaskan town she once called home, she learns that her best friend Kyra has drowned. Corey returns to attend Kyra's funeral, where she discovers the town she once knew has changed. The people there also seem to think that Kyra's death was meant to be.
Alternating between chapters of the present and before, this story is one you have to pay attention to. Readers will find themselves just as puzzled as Corey as to what is going on in the place she called home for so long and the people who still live there. Nijkamp also brilliantly set this story in a remote town, as any other location would not give this story the same feeling.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Book Review - What Goes Up

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖
by Kate Kennedy
NASA’s top-secret Interworlds Agency (IA) is looking for recruits; Teen recruits to be exact. Rosa and Eddie are among the group of teens participating in a series of tests to join the program. When aliens from an alternate Earth show up, well, not in peace, Rosa and Eddie must travel to their planet along with two other recruits and their instructor Reg, to help save their own planet.
A fun, humorous, and entertaining science fiction novel. Rosa and Eddie differ from one another but make quite a pair. The other characters in the story are equally enjoyable. The dynamic between them all is done so brilliantly and readers may find themselves wishing to be among them.
Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Book Review - Love From A to Z

📖Recommend for Grades 8 and up📖

by S.K. Ali
After getting suspended from school for confronting her racist teacher, Zayneb heads early to visit her aunt in Doha for spring break. Adam is also flying home to Doha, Qatar for spring break, with the secret that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. When Zayneb is boarding the plane, Adam notices that she has a marvel and oddity journal just like him. The pair run into each other again when it turns out Zayneb’s aunt is friends with Adam’s family. Their chance encounter on the plane and seeing each other again is both a marvel and an oddity for each of them.
Zayneb and Adam’s perspectives are alternated to tell this tale. The format is unusual, as it is supposed to be a transcribed version of their journals with their marvel or oddity as the chapter heading. While both Zayneb and Adam can be intriguing at times, Adam’s sister easily steals the scenes she appears in. Some of the other characters are forgettable and may be confusing to keep track of. Zayneb is Muslim and of Middle Eastern descent, which causes her to deal a lot with various forms of racism throughout the book and her inability to stand for it is inspiring even if her direct actions aren’t the wisest.