Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

How many of you here have already read Twilight?

[Wait for a response: If no hands go up: "I can't believe it! You don't know what you're missing," if they do go straight to:]

Apparently, the good folks at Hollywood think this is a killer novel: Paramount and Maverick have optioned the movie and a guy named Mark Lord is writing the script!

Here's the story:

Isabella's parents are divorced, her mom has remarried, and so Bella finds herself relocated to Forks, WA. Does anyone know what Forks big claim to (Washington) fame is?

[Wait for a response]

Yep. Forks gets a lot of rain. As much as 160 inches—that's 13 feet, every year. Now, if you were a vampire, and had to stay out of the sun—and if nice grey cloud-cover was just as good as nighttime--where would you relocate?

[Wait for a response]

Right again. Forks second claim to fame, if anybody knew about it, would be the nest of vampires—the "Cullen family"—that live there—several of whom attend Isabella's new high school, and one of which, Edward, has taken a dangerous interest in Isabella's blood. Scary stuff, right?

[Wait for a response]

Yes. And no. It's not (quite) that kind of story. These vampires—the Cullens—have sworn off human blood. They only hunt wild animals. What Edward is, is deeply attracted to Isabella, and Bella can't believe that the most beautiful, irresistible guy imaginable has the hots for a seemingly-ordinary girl like her. Bella just has no idea how good she smells to a predator.

Edward may look 17, but he's older, a lot older. He knows how dangerous it is to get involved with a human. Bella and Edward are falling in love, and half the time Edward is trying to stay away from her—for her own safety.

But he may not have a choice. Because the Cullens aren't the only vampires around, and most of them--? Are a lot more old-fashioned about their menu choices.

Read Twilight: A hot story of dangerous, forbidden love.

(Booktalk by Kirsten Edwards, King County Library System)

Twilight
 by Stephanie Meyer

There are three things that Isabella knows. 
1. Edward is a vampire
 2. There's a part of him—how big a part, she isn't sure—that truly thirsts for her blood
3. She is unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Of course, Isabella never planned on falling in love with a vampire. It's not the kind of thing you put in your dayplanner. Tuesday, 4pm, fall in love with blood-sucking undead monster. Nope.

Imagine going to your boyfriend's house for dinner to meet his parents knowing that under other circumstances you'd be the main course.

Isabella knows that loving Edward is dangerous. She even suspects that she may be putting her family—everyone else she cares about—at risk.

But what Isabella doesn't realize is that Edward and his family aren't the only vampires in town.

Read a very different kind of love story, read, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Adapted from the back cover blurb


Last Updated: January 15, 2008

Death Note, vol. 1 By Tsugumi Ohba, art by Takeshi Obata

Death Note, vol. 1
 By Tsugumi Ohba, art by Takeshi Obata

Light Yagami is a serious student, studying for his college entrance exams, until he finds the Deathnote. This curious notebook was dropped in the human world by a Shinigami Death god. If someone writes a name in the notebook while thinking about what that person looks like, that person dies.

Light recognizes the amazing opportunity the Notebook presents- he can rid the world of evil!

As Light proceeds to kill off criminals, he mystifies the authorities who consider him to be a murderer. They suspect a student is behind the strange deaths, and send the legendary detective L out to track him down- a man that no one has ever seen, so Light has no way to get rid of HIM via the Notebook.

Since Light's father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency, he can hack into his father's computer at home and glean information about more criminals and elude detection.

But how long can he stay ahead of the law?

The artwork in this graphic novel is not to be missed, especially the wild depiction of the Shinigami...

(Booktalk by Kathy Caldwell, Woodward Middle School Library)

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

The Glass Castle 
by Jeanette Walls

Let’s look into the future: do you see yourself in a limo, dressed for the evening in a gorgeous gown? As you step from the taxi, really, do you see your mother rooting through a dumpster?

So begins Jeanette Walls’ memoir of her childhood, a tale of a childhood spent wondering if you were going to eat at all that night.

Memories emerge from a girl-hood with an alcoholic, but adored, father, whose desire is to build a glass house (castle) for his family and his favorite daughter. Without money for Christmas presents, he takes each of his children into the Arizona desert and “allows” them to “choose” a star.

However, home is not easy or sweet. Jeanette remembers her mother, an artist who can’t seem to deal with the day-to-day activities, or even help her children. Jeanette feeds herself at school by going through the garbage cans after lunch, or outright stealing food from other childrens’ lunch-bags.

This tale of sinking into the depths, of escaping, and of an incredibly dysfunctional family is not for everyone. Dad has a horrible, swearing style that may not be appropriate for some students. This is a memoir, and while honest, at times funny, at times sad, it is at times shocking.

(Booktalk by Mary Jo Heller, Shoreline School District)

The Glass Castle
 by Jeanette Walls



Don't take that thermosat for granted! Running water is very nice too, and electricity--Jeanette Walls is a sophisticated gossip columnist who gets invited to Hollywood premieres, and she's hidden the truth about where she came from for years.

Jeannette was raised in California, Nevada, Phoenix and Welch, West Virginia and her parents were not interested in holding regular jobs or having normal conveniences. Day-to-day living for her and her family was an adventure: eating out of dumpsters; sleeping on cardboard boxes; homemade orthodontia. and "doing the skedaddle" whenever the bills came due.

Her father, who ran their whole crazy, homeless lifestyle had big dreams and big plans: including building a fantastic "glass castle" for his family. But he also drank and swore and stole!

So each of the kids must make their escape to New York in turn: this is their bizarre, but true story!

Read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

(Booktalk by Matt Laxton, Sno-Isle Regional Library System)


Last Updated: January 15, 2008

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie By David Lubar

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
 By David Lubar

Welcome to Scott Hudson''s freshman year of high school.

He isn't the handsomest or most popular guy around and he doesn't have a clue as to how to talk to Julia, the girl who once shared his peanut butter crackers and has morphed into the hot chick over the summer. 
Seniors smack him on the head on the bus. He doesn't have classes with his best friends. His Spanish teacher has a thick French accent. His gym teacher is seriously demented and is surely out to kill him. And his homework load? Enormous.

Then, while trying to get Julia’s attention, he finds himself covering sports for the school newspaper, working on the school play and running for the student council. And on top of all of this, his parents have announced that they're having a baby. He's so in over his head—there aren't enough hours in the day for everything!

Will Scott eventually find his place in the confusing world of high school? Will he ever win Julia’s heart? And most importantly, will he ever get any sleep?

(Booktalk by Amy Rodda, Booktalking Colorado)

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
 By David Lubar

Ah, 9th grade. Freshmen year. New beginnings. Scott is looking forward to it and yet he is a bit nervous. As he readies himself for his big year, his home life seems to get complicated by the return of his older brother and the announcement that his mother is having another baby. Scott's year doesn't go as planned and through a series of hilarious misadventures, we see him change and grow. Throughout it all, he writes a series of letters to his yet unborn sibling as a manual for how to survive your freshmen year. These include lessons in lost friends, unattainable girls, new friends and unexpected secrets from the family.

(Booktalk by Nancy Keane, Booktalks Quick and Simple)

Traitor by Andy McNab

Traitor
 by Andy McNab

Anyone here have family in the military, serving their country?

[Wait for responses, let teens tell you about what their family members have done]

Danny Watt's grandfather was an SAS explosives expert for the British Army. Pretty cool, yes? No.

Because Fergus Watts was a traitor, one of the worst ever. He betrayed his country and his Regiment for money—drug money. Fergus was arrested and left for dead in a Columbian jail. As far as Danny was concerned that's just fine—Fergus got what he deserved!

Until, at seventeen, when Danny tries to win a scholarship to the Sandhurst Military Academy. Danny's got the grades, but more importantly he's got the will and he aced the physical tests. But in a private interview with a sneering officer, Danny learns that the grandson of a traitor will never be allowed to serve!

But...Danny has found out something the army doesn't know: Fergus isn't dead, and he isn't in jail. He's alive and living secretly with fake I.D. in England.

Determined to get revenge, Danny sets out to hunt Fergus down and bring him to justice.

But-there's something that certain people in the army know that Danny doesn’t: Fergus's treason wasn't all it seems, it went deeper than anyone suspects; and they'll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Soon Danny is both the hunter and the hunted.

Packed with cool, true stuff about Special Forces procedures, this page turner will keep you reading through every twist and turn in the plot.

Don't miss Traitor, by former SAS officer Andy McNab (whose real name is still a secret!).

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie By David Lubar

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
 By David Lubar

Welcome to Scott Hudson''s freshman year of high school.

He isn't the handsomest or most popular guy around and he doesn't have a clue as to how to talk to Julia, the girl who once shared his peanut butter crackers and has morphed into the hot chick over the summer. 
Seniors smack him on the head on the bus. He doesn't have classes with his best friends. His Spanish teacher has a thick French accent. His gym teacher is seriously demented and is surely out to kill him. And his homework load? Enormous.

Then, while trying to get Julia’s attention, he finds himself covering sports for the school newspaper, working on the school play and running for the student council. And on top of all of this, his parents have announced that they're having a baby. He's so in over his head—there aren't enough hours in the day for everything!

Will Scott eventually find his place in the confusing world of high school? Will he ever win Julia’s heart? And most importantly, will he ever get any sleep?

(Booktalk by Amy Rodda, Booktalking Colorado)

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie 
By David Lubar

Ah, 9th grade. Freshmen year. New beginnings. Scott is looking forward to it and yet he is a bit nervous. As he readies himself for his big year, his home life seems to get complicated by the return of his older brother and the announcement that his mother is having another baby. Scott's year doesn't go as planned and through a series of hilarious misadventures, we see him change and grow. Throughout it all, he writes a series of letters to his yet unborn sibling as a manual for how to survive your freshmen year. These include lessons in lost friends, unattainable girls, new friends and unexpected secrets from the family.

(Booktalk by Nancy Keane, Booktalks Quick and Simple)