***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

March 22, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

The Blind side: Evolution of a game

by Michael Lewis

Details the life of University of Mississippi football player Michael Oher, who was raised by a crack addicted mother and adopted at the age of sixteen by a wealthy family, and explores the rising importance and salary of the offensive left tackle in the game of football.

Book review: ‘The Blind Side’ by Michael Lewis

By Allen Barra,

who writes about sports for the Wall Street Journal
Monday, November 27, 2006

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/27/AR200611270

“The Blind Side,” perhaps the best book written about a college football player since Willie Morris’s “The Courting of Marcus Dupree” (1983), grabs hold of you in several ways. On one hand, you’ll be appalled by the tactics used to advance academically unqualified high school and college football players. At the same time, you’ll be furiously turning the pages, rooting for Michael Oher to succeed. And the story isn’t over: If Oher makes it into the NFL in three years, Lewis should have a dandy follow-up.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

March 15, 2010

These books are available for checkout from our library.

This week’s book is titled:

Altar of Eden

by James Rollins

Years after armed men loot the city zoo in Baghdad, Lorna Polk, a Louisiana state veterinarian, discovers strangely deformed animals with a heightened intelligence in the cargo of a shipwrecked fishing trawler and must track down the one that got free, but she will need help from a man from her past, U.S. Border Patrol agent Jack Menard.

“About the book” from http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061231421/Altar_of_Eden/index.aspx

The thriller king praised for his “edge-of-your-seat excitement” (San Francisco Chronicle), James Rollins storms the New York Times bestseller list with every novel he writes. With his latest breathtaking blockbuster, Altar of Eden, Rollins takes a breather from his Sigma Force adventures (Map of Bones, Black Order, The Judas Strain, et al) while delivering all the action, surprise, and intensity for which he’s well known—and loved. Combining science, history, and breakneck suspense—and a secret tied to the Book of Genesis—Altar of Eden is sure to satisfy every James Rollins fan while winning over a slew of new converts.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

March 8, 2010

These books are available for checkout from our library.

This week’s book is titled:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies : The classic regency romance now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem

by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

An adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” in which Meryton is overrun with zombies and Elizabeth Bennet does what must be done to rid the world of the flesh-eating fiends, but she is distracted by the arrival of Mr. Darcy, a rich man who harbors an air of arrogance.

Reviewed at: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,7847/

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you’d actually want to read.

Jane Austen is the author of Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and other masterpieces of English literature.

Seth Grahame-Smith once took a class in English literature. He lives in Los Angeles.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

March 1, 2010

Each week I will highlight one of the new books that we have received this year.

These books are available for checkout from our library.

This week we feature the top 5 books checked out this school year:

#1 One of those hideous books where the mother dies

By Sonia Sones

Fifteen-year-old Ruby Milliken leaves her best friend, her boyfriend, her aunt, and her mother’s grave in Boston and reluctantly flies to Los Angeles to live with her father, a famous movie star who divorced her mother before Ruby was born.

#2 Wake

By Lisa McMann

Ever since she was eight years old, high school student Janie Hannagan has been uncontrollably drawn into other people’s dreams, but it is not until she befriends an elderly nursing home patient and becomes involved with an enigmatic fellow-student that she discovers her true power.

#3 Fade: sequel to Wake

By Lisa McMann

Using her ability to tap into other people’s dreams, eighteen-year-old Janie investigates an alleged sex ring at her high school that involves teachers using the date rape drug on students.

#4 Vampire Kisses

By Ellen Schreiber

Sixteen-year-old Raven, an outcast who always wears black and hopes to become a vampire some day, falls in love with the mysterious new boy in town, eager to find out if he can make her dreams come true.

#5 What my girlfriend doesn’t know

By Sonia Sones

Artistic fourteen-year-old Robin Murphy is so unpopular at high school that his name is slang for “loser,” so when he begins dating the beautiful and popular Sophie, her reputation plummets.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Feb 22, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

I was a non-blonde cheerleader

by Kieran Scott

As a brunette on the all-blonde cheerleading squad at her new Florida high school, sophomore Annisa Gobrowski tries to fit in with her popular teammates without losing the friendship of Bethany, the only other non-blonde at the school.

Summary and critique from http://readingroom.rrpl.org/itemdtl.asp?bid=7136

Summary
Annisa Gobrowski stands out like a sore thumb at her new high school. She is a brunette in a sea of blonde, and her New Jersey roots clash with her new Florida surroundings. Still, she is determined to make the most of her surroundings, so she joins the cheerleading squad. Even the squad’s coach is blonde, even though she is African-American. The girls aren’t exactly thrilled when they find out she has made the squad. She has already gotten on their bad side through no fault of her own. However, soon her determination and dedication to the squad begin to win them over.

Critique
Cheerleading fans will enjoy Annisa’s spunk and determination. The plot is fast moving and sure to delight. This is the first in a series.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Feb 16, 2010

These books are available for checkout from our library.

This week’s book is titled:

Gathering Storm

by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Rand al’Thor prepares for the last battle with the Dark One by trying to reunite kingdoms and alliances, while Egwene al’Vere, being held in the White Tower, continues to provide leadership to the Aes Sedai factions, despite the obstacles she faces.

The Gathering Storm is the twelfth book in The Wheel of Time series. Released on October 27th, 2009, it was the first book in the series published after Robert Jordan’s death. Brandon Sanderson co-authored the book, using extensive notes and recordings that were collected before Jordan’s death.

Robert Jordan passed away in September, 2007. The book he was working on, A Memory of Light, which was intended to be the twelfth and final novel in The Wheel of Time series, was incomplete at the time of his passing. He left behind a staggering amount of notes on the world, as well as some written chapters for the final book. In addition, for the parts of the story he did not have documented in written form, he passed on in the good, old fashioned way: he told people the story.

In his last days he told the story to his friends and family, who recorded it onto tape. In the months that followed his death, Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan’s beloved wife and editor, put together a comprehensive outline of this final book.

Brandon Sanderson, an up-and-coming fantasy writer (and long-time fan of Robert Jordans’s) was chosen by Harriet to bring the outline to life in the form of a published novel. Harriet will edit these books, just as she did the rest of the series.

In March 2009, it was announced that A Memory of Light was going to be far too long to contain into a single novel and would be published as three separate novels instead. This was primarily a creative decision, and not a business one.

The final three books will be:

1. The Gathering Storm
2. Towers of Midnight
3. A Memory of Light

http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Gathering_Storm/

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Feb 8, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

Swallow me whole by Nate Powell

From our Graphic Novel section: Teenage stepsiblings Ruth and Perry try to make sense of their psychological problems while dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence.

Reviewed at: http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/18/review-swallow-me-whole/

The opening pages immediately set the tone: on a black background, a liquid is being poured into a jar with a large frog floating inside; on another black page, a tiny gnome sits atop a boy’s pencil as he draws. We get lots of deep blacks, open spaces and unconventional storytelling devices. Panels are broken up or omitted as needed. Drawings often bleed off the page. Lettering takes on its own expressive life. We are able to read only up to what we would naturally hear in a conversation.

The art is as beautiful and lyrical as the writing. Powell’s love and skill with drawing takes him to high places, allowing him to shift and play with style, from cartoony to more realistic. In his writing, there’s something similar going on, dialogue is enmeshed in deeply poetic observations.

The cover to Swallow Me Whole is at once inviting and provocative: a young woman free falling or floating, above a suburban landscape with bugs surrounding her. This is Ruth. She is bright and pretty and full of promise. But she hears and sees things that are not there, although they could be, at least in some sense. Her stepbrother, Perry, struggles with this too. So does Ruth’s grandmother, or Memaw, who is mostly bed-ridden and lives with the family. They each are tuned into these other-worldly visions, visions that could, given a chance, swallow them whole.

In Nate Powell’s world, being swallowed whole can mean many things. It could even be comforting. The profound is sought out and too often found by Ruth and Perry, who are just getting their bearings in a landscape made up of little wizards, frogs and insects, making spectacular demands. Could you blame them if they succumbed and allowed themselves to be swallowed up whole by these mysterious forces?

Here Ruth tries to take it all in: “That thread of our lives is such cheap narrative. Human forms lowly vibrate. Unfixed points do Heisenberg proud.”

Pitch perfect teenage angst. That Powell manages to keep the rhythm going and balance the everyday with supernatural mystery, is quite impressive.

This is a book that rewards you on a high artistic and literary level. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, then definitely seek it out.

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Feb 1, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

Evermore, the Immortals Book 1

by Alyson Noël

Since the car accident that claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras and hear people’s thoughts, and she goes out of her way to hide from other people until she meets Damen, another psychic teenager who is hiding even more mysteries.

Reviews from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Evermore-Immortals-Alyson-Noel/dp/031253275X

“Evermore is addictive.  When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about how I could sneak away to read some more.  I couldn’t put it down.  I dreamt abuot this book.  And when I was finished, I couldn’t get it out of my head.  This book was simply breathtaking.” –Teens Read Too

“Teen angst and the paranormal make a combustible mix as Noel utilizes typical themes and gives them a dangerous and eerie twist. Getting hooked on this new series, The Immortals, is guaranteed.”–4 stars!  Romantic Times Magazine

“Readers who enjoy the works of PC Cast and Stephenie Meyer will love this outstanding paranormal teen-lit thriller.” –Midwest Book Review

“Get ready for a wild ride that is filled with twisting paths and mystery, love and fantasy. . . The writing style, story, and characters are a bit like Meyer and Marr’s popular books, but written with a new twist and voice. And after reading the book, you too will probably want your own Damen, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.”  –5/5 stars! The Book Queen

“I found myself unwilling to put the book down, even though I had to at some points, because I wanted to know what was going to happen…Ever was so real and her emotions were so believable that it was a little creepy. It’s like Alyson Noël is actually a grieving, lovestruck teenager. She got Ever completely perfect. And by perfect, I mean delightfully flawed and deep.” –The Frenetic Reader

“Evermore is a wonderful book that I believe would be a lovely addition to any library . . .Definitely a book that fans of Stephenie Meyer and Melissa Marr should add to their collections. Definitely engaging and will catch your attention the minute you open to the first page!” – Mind of a Bibliophile

“Alyson Noel creates a great picture of each and every character in the book. I am a fan of the Twlight series and I recommend this book to those who like the series as well. It is a very quick read, with all the interesting twist and turns.” –Flamingnet Book Reviews

“I loved this book. It really keeps your attention though out the story, because the puzzle gets pieced together bit by bit, but you don’t know exactly what happened until the end. The only thing that disappoints me is that the second book won’t be published for a while. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.” –Portsmouth Teen Book Review

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Jan 25, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

Sovay

by Celia Rees

At the end of the eighteenth-century, the world was an exciting and dangerous place. The French were going ballistic, calling for a bloody end of the monarchy; the English were so fearful of a similar revolution in Ireland, they made patriotism and loyalty to ‘king and country’ a prerequisite for anyone who didn’t fancy a stint in the gaol or a swift execution. In amongst all this madness, Celia Rees sets her novel Sovay—a tale of love, bravery, gallantry, principles and every other noble characteristics you can imagine.

Sovay Middleton, seventeen-years-old and a stunning beauty—something which is mentioned so frequently, it may become tiresome to some readers—is faced with a number of difficulties. Her father is wanted for treason, thanks to his liberal attitudes and great love of Thomas Paine. Her brother Hugh has disappeared from university. All alone, in charge of their English country estate, Sovay deals with these things in a very intriguing way. Highway robbery—purely to intercept incriminating documents and search warrants, naturally—otherwise it would not be the noble thing to do.

However, all highway robberies in the world can not give Sovay what she really longs for: news about her father and brother’s whereabouts. Hence, the young heroine sets off to London, in the company of her loyal maid, Lydia, and handsome steward, Gabriel. The big city brings unexpected allies and one very powerful new enemy, the evil aristocrat Robert Dysart. Will Sovay be able to locate her missing family? Will she be able to uncover the heinous plot Dysart is working on? Will she finally find a man who will treat her as an equal despite of being a woman? So many questions…

Review from: http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2904

***Now appearing at the LHS Library***

Jan 19, 2010

This week’s book is titled:

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett’s familiar ability to create new worlds, to people them and provide them with a past, present, future and a coherent philosophy is wittily demonstrated in Nation. Mau’s world is literally turned upside down when a giant wave sweeps away everything he has known. His home has gone, the village has gone, the Nation, the sophisticated world in which he lived, has gone. And it all happened while Mau was returning from the Boys’ Island on his way to becoming an adult. Now a man, Mau has to construct a new nation from nothing, building on history and the advice of the Grandfathers, whose voices will not easily die down. But Mau isn’t quite alone; luckily Daphne, or Trouser Man, as Mau calls her, is also alive. How the two survivors must listen to the past even while they create a new future leads to boundless adventure.

Review from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/12/nation-terry-pratchett