Staff Book Pick of the Week: Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl

This week's pick is Cover-up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein (YA FEINSTEIN).

14-year olds Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson have already covered two major sports scandals and are on their way to becoming famous as the reporters for Kid-Sports, a national cable television show. But when the Kid-Sports producer tells Steve he's been replaced on the show, he's convinced his career as a reporter just might be over. Luckily the Washington Herald newspaper sends Steve to cover the Super Bowl, and things start looking up. And Susan Carol is there as well - with her new co-host, an irritatingly handsome boy band member. Will Steve and Susan Carol still be friends? Will they land themselves in yet another mystery? Find out in Cover-up.

New Book Display: Celebrate African-American History Month

Check out this new display celebrating African-American History Month in the Teens & Tweens Space:

Curtis, Christopher Paul
Bucking the Sarge: 15-year old Luther Farrell has lived his entire life under the thumb of his manipulative and money-hungry mother, the "Sarge." Forced to work countless hours at one of the Sarge's group homes in exchange for a college fund, Luther dreams of winning the science fair, living his own life, and convincing classmate Shayla to fall in love with him. When Luther realizes how vicious the Sarge can truly be, will he be able to cut his losses and get out?
YA CURTIS

Draper, Sharon
Copper Sun: 15-year old Amari's life changes forever the day white men enter her village. Forced on a slave ship and sold to a vicious master upon reaching America, Amari's last possession is hope. When she learns about Fort Mose, a Spanish settlement where slaves are freed, she is determined to make the journey there and gain her freedom.
YA DRAPER

Draper, Sharon
Fire From the Rock: 15-year old Sylvia is ready for high school - for new classes, hanging out with her friends, and maybe even a boyfriend. But then her teacher recommends she be placed on the list of African-American students to attend Central High, a segregated school that is to be integrated. Is Sylvia ready for such a difficult challenge?
YA DRAPER

Flake, Sharon
Begging for Change: 14-year old Raspberry Hill's mother has just been beat up and Raspberry has had it. But will stealing from her best friend make things right?
YA FLAKE

Grimes, Nikki
Bronx Masquerade: When their English teacher decides to start hosting open-mike Fridays, Mr. Ward's class at first isn't quite sure what to think. But then they decide to start sharing their writing, and everything changes.
YA GRIMES

Johnson, Angela
The First Part Last: 16-year old Bobby is left to raise his baby daughter Feather on his own, with little help from anyone. Through flashbacks and Bobby's narration, readers will discover how Bobby and Feather came to be where they are.
YA JOHNSON

Lester, Julius
Day of Tears: Slaveowner Pierce Butler has promised Emma's parents he will not sell her in his slave auction, the biggest in U.S. history. But when he decides not to keep that promise, Emma's life is irrevocably and heart-wrenchingly changed.
YA LESTER

Moore, Yvette
Freedom Songs: 14-year old Sheryl loves visiting her family in the South, but the visit her family makes in the spring of 1963 makes her see things differently. Her uncle Pete has decided to join the Freedom Riders, and Sheryl is determined to help him.
YA MOORE

Myers, Walter Dean
Harlem Summer: It's 1925 in Harlem, and 16-year old Mark Purvis cares about only two things - getting to play his sax with Fats Waller and staying alive until the end of the summer. While trying to convince the legendary piano player to listen to him play, Mark finds himself on the bad side of local gangster Dutch Schultz. What will he do next?
YA MYERS

A New Spot for Young Adult Nonfiction!

Ever wondered where to find young adult nonfiction? The next time you're looking for stuff about health, life, poetry, etc., look no further than the Teens & Tweens Space! Now the majority of young adult nonfiction will be shelved here for your convenience!

Staff Pick of the Week: Cures for Heartbreak

This week's pick is Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb (YA RABB).


High school freshman Mia Pearlman doesn't see how she can go on when her mother dies of cancer after being diagnosed just twelve days before. Before she knows what is happening, her father has a heart attack and acquires new girlfriend, and her sister Alex becomes even more unbearable than before their mother died. But somehow life is still there to be lived, and Mia realizes she's not completely immune to living it, though the thought of her mother will always be with her.

Staff Book Pick of the Week: La Linea

This week's pick is La Línea by Ann Jaramillo (YA JARAMILLO).

15-year old Miguel has always known he would make the journey north from his small town in Mexico and join his parents in California. Assuming Papá would have sent for him much sooner had there been enough money, Miguel is shocked to discover when Don Clemente, the man his father tells him to go to for help, tells Miguel he would have gotten him cross the border long ago had Papá's pride not interfered. Despite his anger at his father, Miguel is still determined to go and soon leaves the place he's called home his entire life to travel to California. But all of Miguel's plans begin to fall apart when he discovers his 13-year old sister Elena has secretly followed him, and soon the two are in grave danger. Will Miguel and Elena ever make it across the border? Will they survive the treacherous trek across the desert? Find out in La Línea.

New Books!

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

The Angel of Death by Alane Ferguson (YA FERGUSON)
Cool Girls Quilt: More Than 15 Fresh, Fun, and Funky Projects by Linda Lum DeBono (746.46 LUM)

Michael L. Printz Award!

The 2008 Michael L. Printz Award was announced by the American Library Association (ALA) today. The winner is The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, and the honor books are:

Dreamquake: Book Two of the Dreamhunter Duet by Elizabeth Knox
One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill

Reserve your copies today!

Teens & Tweens Program this Saturday @ 2:00 PM

Marble Magnets!: Looking for something to help hang up pics in your locker? A cheap birthday present for your sister? Come make marble magnets this Saturday @ 2:00 PM!

Staff Book Pick of the Week: The Poker Diaries

This week's pick is The Poker Diaries by Liza Conrad (YA CONRAD).

Lulu lives two separate lives: most of the time she's with her mom in Manhattan, living the life a private school society girl, but the rest of the time she's hanging out with her dad, playing poker and learning about what New York has to offer outside of Manhattan. Lulu likes both of her lives, although she definitely feels more of an affinity for her dad's way of doing things. But when her uptown friend Dack gets himself in a bit of trouble and finds himself owing money to the wrong people, Lulu knows she needs to use her downtown skills to help him out. However, things don't work out quite as planned, and now Lulu has a few problems of her own to contend with: her mom finding out, her mom's boyfriend finding out (who also happens to be the mayor of New York), and Lulu's own potential love interest getting in trouble because of her. What will Lulu's next move be?

New Books!

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

Good Witch of the West Vol. 3 by Noriko Ogiwara (YA GOOD WITCH OF THE WEST)
Pearl Pink Vol. 3 by Meca Tanaka (YA PEARL PINK)
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill (811 HEM)

New Book Display: Love Stinks

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

Love Stinks ... or is confusing, at the very least

Barkley, Brad & Hepley, Heather
Dream Factory: Disney World is supposedly the "happiest place on Earth,"but as Luke and Ella soon find out, it is anything but. Hired for the summer to replace striking Disney cast members, Ella as Cinderella and Luke as Dale (as in Chip and Dale), the two teenagers grow tired of the Disney fantasy and find themselves connecting with each other. But Chip is played by Cassie, Luke's current girlfriend, and Prince Charming is Mark, a cute and forgettable Disney devotee. Will Luke be able to see beyond Cassie's blonde and beautiful perfection? Will Ella be able to tell Luke what's really going on in her life?
YA BARKLEY

Cabot, Meg
Princess in Love: Now that Mia has pretty much got the Princess of Genovia thing figured out (or so she thinks), she now must deal with her current boyfriend crisis. Kenny's a great guy, fun to talk to, etc., but there's one catch - Mia doesn't like him. In fact, she's very much in love with someone else. What's a princess to do?
YA CABOT

Cohn, Rachel & Levithan, David
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist: Nick and Norah share their first kiss when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for a few minutes in order to back at his ex, Tris. What follows is a night of conversation, music, and perhaps two people falling in love.
YA COHN

Hughes, Mark Peter
I Am the Wallpaper: 13-year old Floey is certain things will finally change once her beautiful and talented older sister Lilian is out of the house. And change they do - but will it be for the better? And will they guy she's been crushing on for ages finally notice?
YA HUGHES

Johnson, Maureen
Girl at Sea: 17-year old Clio just knows she's going to have the best summer of her life - she just got a job at the local art supply store, where her crush also happens to work. But then her mother sends her to live with her dad over the summer on his boat in the Mediterranean, which is the absolute last thing Clio wants to do. When Clio arrives her fears appear to come true - her dad is as obnoxious as ever, and the rest of her crewmates aren't much better. Especially Aidan, her father's girlfriend's research assistant. But could there be more to Aidan than his initial arrogance?
YA JOHNSON

Lockhart, E.
The Boyfriend List: 15-year old Ruby Oliver has not had a very easy past couple of weeks - her boyfriend broke up with her and started dating her best friend, her other friends have all dropped her, and now she's having panic attacks. When her new psychiatrist suggests she make a boyfriend list, is Ruby up to the task?
YA LOCKHART

Myers, Walter Dean
Street Love: Damien has everything ahead of him, while Junice is doing everything she can just to keep up with the present. Can two people with such different lives actually fall in love?
YA MYERS

Rennison, Louise
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson: 14-year old Georgia has enough to deal with - a cat who has it in for the neighbor's poodle, a dad who's taken off to New Zealand to find work, and a family who's just annoying in general. But when 17-year old Robbie enters the scene, everything changes.
YA RENNISON

Soto, Gary
Accidental Love: 14-year old Marisa couldn't care less about school, grades, or getting ahead. But one day she picks up the wrong cell phone and meets Rene, a boy completely unlike herself, and nothing will be ever be the same again.
YA SOTO

Staff Book Pick of the Week: Strays

This week's pick is Strays by Ron Koertge (YA KOERTGE).

16-year old Ted's life is not going well. His parents just died in a car crash and he's stuck with scary foster parents and a couple of foster brothers - one seems okay but the other one could beat him up in about five seconds. Add those difficulties to the fact that Ted's never really gotten along with other people (he prefers to communicate with animals), it's kind of up in the air how things are going to work out. But as time goes by, Ted realizes that while he misses his parents and some aspects of the life he lived with them, he's not all that sure it was the right life for him. Will he be able to make peace with his parents' death? Will he realize that he is able to connect with others after all? Find out in Strays.

New Books!

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

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser (YA STRASSER)
A Samurai Never Fears Death by Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler (YA HOOBLER)
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix (YA HADDIX)