Staff Book Pick of the Week: The Off Season

This week's pick is The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (YA MURDOCK).

Picking up where The Dairy Queen left off, this is the story of D.J. Schwenk, football star, family caretaker, and potential girlfriend of Brian Nelson (quarterback on neighboring town's high school team). D.J.'s junior year seems to be headed in the right direction - she's finally on Red Bend's football team, her family members appear to be taking care of themselves without too much help on her part, and Brian seems genuinely attracted to her. But before D.J. knows what's happening, things get turned around yet again. The football season's not actually going that well, and just when she thought things were really happening with Brian, he disappears. To top it all off, a tragedy no one expected comes along to tear the Schwenk family apart, and it's up to D.J. to repair the damage. Is she up to mending everyone's fences again? Is she going to figure out what's really going on with Brian? And most important of all, will she be able to find her own path in the midst of all the chaos? Find out in The Off Season.

Staff Book Pick of the Week: Red Moon at Sharpsburg

This week's pick is Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells (YA WELLS).

It is July 1861, and the Civil War has just begun. 12-year old India Moody believes in two things: the Southern cause and the wonders of science. When her parents send her to be tutored by neighbor Emory Trimble, she learns about medicine, biology, and chemistry instead of handwriting and the Bible like her family expects. Although it is soon apparent that the South is not as victorious as the local newspaper would have everyone believe, India at first clings to the idea that the South will prevail. But then her father joins the cause and India realizes more and more that the society she lives in will not allow her to live her life the way she needs to. Will she understand that the South is no longer safe? Will she get the education she so desperately wants? Find out in Red Moon at Sharpsburg.

Staff Book Pick of the Week: The Decoding of Lana Morris

This week's pick is The Decoding of Lana Morris by Laura & Tom McNeal (YA MCNEAL).

16-year old Lana Morris has not had an easy life by any stretch of the imagination. Shuttled around various foster homes since her mom took off, Lana is currently living in a house with a foster dad whose caring concern goes a little too far, a foster mom who only cares about herself, and four foster siblings who all have special needs. At the same time she's trying to break into the crowd that her next door neighbor Chet hangs with, only they want nothing to do with her. One day on a drive with Chet and his friends (Lana has to ride in the trunk), she buys a drawing set at an antique store. Before she realizes what's happening, everything she draws on the paper from the set seems to come true. Determined to create a few happy outcomes in a household of mostly sad ones, Lana starts drawing with a purpose, only to discover that some wishes don't come out like you've planned. Will Lana be able to create a drawing that will makes things turn out okay? Will she come to understand who her real friends are? Find out in The Decoding of Lana Morris.

New Books!

Check out these new books on display in the Teens & Tweens Space:

Extras by Scott Westerfeld (YA WESTERFELD)
S.e.x.: the all-you-need-to-know progressive sexuality guide to get you through high school and college by Heather Corinna (613.951 COR)

Teens & Tweens This Saturday @ 2:00 PM

Don't forget Teens & Tweens this Saturday @ 2:00 PM. We're making Goth Sock Puppets - we'll be making puppets with piercings, tattoos, mullets … the weirder the better. See you there!

New Book Display: Oldies But Goodies #3

Check out this new book display in the Teens & Tweens Space:

Oldies But Goodies #3: Books You Might Have Missed

Cadnum, Michael
Forbidden Forest: The Story of Little John and Robinhood: How did Little John find his way to Sherwood Forest? When did he really meet Robin Hood? Find out in this retelling of a famous story.
YA CADNUM

Carter, Alden
Sheila's Dying: Jerry really likes Sheila, but knows it just isn't going to work out. But when he's about to break up with her, Sheila presents him with some startling news of her own.
YA CARTER

Chan, Gillian
Glory Days and Other Stories: Stories about family, life, and high school, each with a different perspective.
YA CHAN

Clark, Clara Gillow
Nellie Bishop: 13-year old Nellie Bishop knows she must get away - before her selfish mother sells her hand in marriage to the highest bidder. But how can she escape, and more importantly, how can she keep her younger brother Willie safe?
YA CLARK

Coville, Bruce
Fortune's Journey: 17-year old Fortune Plunkett has just inherited her father's acting troupe, and is determined to carry out his dying wish - take the troupe to San Francisco and establish a theater. But in 1853, such a proposition is anything but easy, and Fortune will have to use all the strength she possesses on the journey.
YA COVILLE

Cross, Gillian
Wolf: Cassy knows nothing about her father, but it's never really bothered her. Never until her grandmother sends her to stay with her mother and has her bring a mysterious package - a package that could endanger Cassy and everyone around her.
YA CROSS

Cusick, Richie
Overdue: One night when Kathleen is working at the library, five overdue books are returned - books about murder. And before she realizes what's happening, everyone around her is in danger. Is she next?
YA CUSICK

DeFelice, Cynthia
Nowhere to Call Home: 12-year old Frankie is left just about alone in the world when her father commits suicide due to the Depression. Instead of going to live with an aunt she barely knows, she decides to run away and ride the rails, joining the ranks of thousands of others.
YA DEFELICE

Guest, Elissa
Over the Moon: 16-year old Kate's sister Mattie ran away almost four years ago and no one knows where she is - until a package comes out of the blue. Kate knows she needs to visit Mattie, but can she let go of the pain of Mattie's betrayal?
YA GUEST

Hall, Lynn
A Killing Freeze: Clarie doesn't mind living in small-town Minnesota - she's got her dad and a life she likes. But when her next door neighbor is killed in what looks like a possible homicide, everything changes and Clarie's small town will never be the same.
YA HALL

Hathorn, Elizabeth
Thunderwith: Lara can barely remember her father, but when her mother dies she has no choice but to go live with him and his family in the Australian Outback. Lara has no idea if she'll make it - the Outback is so different, her stepmother is often unkind, and there's a bully at school who is constantly after her. Will things ever get better?
YA HATHORN

Hoban, Russell
The Trokeville Way: Nick is tired of being beat up by Harry Buncher, but never thought he could escape. But after this last fight Nick realizes things are different - and the line between reality and fantasy is not so clear anymore.
YA HOBAN

Staff Pick of the Week: Beyond the Billboard

This week's pick is Beyond the Billboard by Susan Gates (YA GATES).

Thirteen-year old twins Firebird and Ford Tucker have rarely questioned the life they lead with their father and grandmother in the swamp. Ford especially is happy with his life the way it is, trapping eels with his dad and staying away from the city that is plainly visible beyond the huge billboard at the edge of the swamp. Firebird wishes she could be content with the way things are (as apparently her long dead mother was), but finds herself wanting more, wanting to see what's beyond the billboard. And even though she knows she's not supposed to talk to strangers, she finds herself inexplicably drawn into a conversation with a woman from the city. And when she follows her grandmother out of the swamp for the first time one night, she soon understands her whole life as she has known it is about to change.

New Books!

Check out these new books on display in the Teens & Tweens Space:

Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb by Kirsten Miller (YA MILLER)
Pirates! by Celia Rees (YA-V REES PIR)

Come to the next Teens & Tweens Book Club!: Thursday, December 6th @ 7:00 PM

This month we're reading Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Accelerated Reader points: 14.0). Copies are available for you to pick up at the circulation desk. Come prepared to snack, discuss, and have fun!

What are your favorite books?

Is it a book you've read recently & have been telling all your friends about? Or one you read a long time ago & keep meaning to read again? Either way, let us know! Leave a comment here on the blog or send an e-mail to the teen librarian with the title, author (if you remember), and why it's one of your favorite books!