Happy Holidays

Peeled

Hilly Biddle wants to be a journalist, a real one that tells the truth, sorting fact from fiction. As one of the best writers for her high school newspaper, The Core, Hilly wants to do the best job she can. Hilly lives in a small, apple-picking town in upstate NY. When murders begin piling up near an old--and allegedly haunted—abandoned house, and signs that warn people to stay away mysteriously appear on the lawn, it’s up to Hilly and the school newspaper to figure out the truth. However, the panic from the locals, and the sensationalized writings from the town’s newspaper that is creating even more fear in the community, has Hilly’s truth angle in the minority. Are things really as they appear to be? When Hilly and her friends get too close to the truth, their school newspaper is suspiciously shut down after the lead reporter from the town’s newspaper tries sues the school on the grounds of slander. What connection does this reporter have the mysterious occurrences surrounding the haunted house? Why does Hilly’s secret newspaper, The Peel, which features anonymous articles that threaten to expose the truth, cause so much controversy among the townspeople?

Peeled by Joan Bauer is a cute, well-written mystery, with a plot reminiscent of what you might see in an episode of Scooby Doo.

Goodreads Choice Awards

The 2011 Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/) best book award results are in! The awards covered a variety of genres in both childrens, YA, and adult fiction, as well as non-fiction for adult categories.

The winner for best 2011book is the extremely popular Divergent by Veronica Roth. Divergent also won for best YA in the category of Fantasy/Sci-fi.

Divergent takes place in future Chicago, where sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Read more about the awards--and check out an amazing site to keep track of what books you've read and want to read--here: http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice/2011

Liesl and Po

The sun hasn’t shown in over 1,000 days, and it’s been three days since Liesl’s father died. Liesl has been locked up in her step-mother’s tower—to keep her out of harm’s way, of course—since her father died. One night, a cookie-cutter figure of a person materializes in her dark room, along with its pet companion. The ghost’s name is Po and it came from the Other Side. When asked if it is a boy or a girl, Po explains it doesn’t remember; on the Other Side, things are different. So begins the friendship of Po and Liesl. Around the same time that Po and Liesl meet, we are introduced to Will, the Alchemist’s orphan apprentice. Will has just been given another late night assignment, to deliver to most impressive magic the Alchemist has ever created to the Lady Premiere and also to get materials from the coroner. The magic he must give to the Lady is rumored to bring the dead back to life. Will accidentally mixes up the box with the magic and the box at the coroner’s that holds Liesl’s father’s ashes. From that one mistake, Will finds himself on the run. Liesl, too, is on the run, having escaped from the tower to deliver what she thinks is her father’s ashes to their old home. Liesl, Will, and Po find themselves in the adventure of a life time and form a friendship strong enough to transcend dimensions.

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver (acclaimed author of Before I Fall and Delirium) is a charming tale about friendship, magic, family, and the power of belief. Oliver’s writing is lyrical, with a fairy tale quality. Illustrations interspersed throughout the book really make the story come alive. This book is highly recommended for fans of the supernatural, fairy tales, and books with beautiful writing.

A Monster Calls

There is one thing that scares Connor more than anything in the world, more than when his father left him and his mother to move to America, more than his creepy grandma, and more than his mother’s cancer that never seems to get better. This is Connor’s one truth, a truth that hides itself in a horrible, incessant nightmare that no one can ever know about. On a particularly stormy night, when the old Yew tree outside his house comes alive, turning itself into a horrible, leafy monster and calls to Connor, Connor is not scared; this monster is not the same monster as in his nightmare. The monster, which has always preferred to take the shape of a Yew tree, is as old as stars, wide as the sky, and righteous in a way that would confuse most humans. The monster has only come walking three times before Connor called it and he tells Connor that he will share three stories with him. When he is done with these tales of royal quarrels, selfish apothecaries, and a wicked step-mother, Connor must tell him a story, the truth he has never dared tell anyone.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is lyrical, haunting and heart-wrenching; it’s one of those rare books that will stay with you forever. The stark black illustrations throughout the book add even more depth to the story and characters. Make sure to have some tissues nearby when you get towards the end of the book. One of the best books I’ve read this year!

The Future of Us Book Review

Imagine you've just gotten a new computer. You power it up, go on the internet and are immediately brought to a Facebook page. It's actually your Facebook page, only it is your Facebook page from the future. Your future. Fifteen years from now. Would you read every detail about yourself and try to change the things you don't like or would you ignore it and let things happen as they are supposed to? That's the dilemma that friends Emma and Josh face in The Future of Us by Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why) and Carolyn Mackler (Tangled).

It's 1996 and Facebook hasn't even been invented yet, but when Emma's dad buys her a computer and she signs on to AOL (WECLOME!) she spies her future Facebook page and realizes that not only can she learn her fate, but she can also change the outcome. The things she does when she is 15 can alter the things that happen to her when she is 30.

Emma and Josh, have big decisions to make. Do they keep reading Facebook and do what they can to make their futures what they want them to be? Or do they log off and keep the future well, in the future? And why aren't they even Facebook friends when they grow up? Talk about a tough decision.

The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Throughout his entire life, 17-year-old Alton has heard stories about his rich great-uncle. Though he’s only met him once, said uncle must continually be told he is Alton’s “favorite uncle” whenever they talk on the phone, as per his parents’ request. Alton’s parents have made it very clear that they want to be listed in the uncle’s will and must continually try and get in his good graces. This is pretty hard to do, considering his uncle’s heart is “cold as stone” and he’s really not interested in accepting dinner invitations from Alton’s mother nor spending time with Alton and his sister. One day, Alton’s uncle calls, asking Alton if he would like to be his card tuner. Alton’s uncle is a high-ranking bridge player, and after going blind, he requires someone to play the cards he picks. While being a card turner starts out as a chore for Alton—and a way to get the family on his good side—, Alton soon finds himself immersed in the game of bridge and begins to really connect with his uncle. Alton learns there is more to his uncle than meets the eye in this fascinating novel of bridge, family, friendship, love and loss.

Taylor Swift Wins Big at CMAs

Did anyone watch the Country Music Awards this weekend? Taylor swift won Artist of the Year for the second time in a row, as well as awards for favorite country artist and favorite country album.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Rumor has it Tim Burton is in talks to direct Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. If there is anyone weird enough to do it...it's him!

Read the article from Deadline New York here.

Hunger Games Interview

Check out this interview with Jennifer Lawrence aka Katniss Everdeen from Vanity Fair!

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/11/jennifer-lawrence-the-hunger-games-twilight

Across the Great Barrier (Frontier Magic Book #2)

Three years have passed since Eff defeated the mirror bugs that threatened to destroy the Western settlements and became a hero, despite her being the thirteenth child. Now 18-years-old, Eff needs to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Her brother Lan, magician prodigy and the seventh son of a seventh son, wants her to continue her magical education with formal training at a name school. The only problem is Eff still has difficulty with Avrupan magic and must compensate by using Aphrikan magic to force her spells to work. Instead of more schooling, Eff really wants to continue helping Professor Jeffries at the menagerie and to explore more of the mysterious Far West past the Great Barrier. Eff’s desires become reality when she’s asked to join an expedition with Professor Torgeson and Wash, her Aphrikan magic mentor. On their journey they uncover some peculiar findings: magical and normal animals petrified. Eff and the others must find out if this happened because of some natural fossilization process or if another creature with great power is causing this.

Across the Great Barrier is an excellent follow up to Wrede’s first book in the series, Thirteenth Child. You won’t find Wrede’s version of the late 19th century western expansion in U.S history books, but she does an excellent job creating a fascinating alternate history. In this book we even find out that while the events parallel our own U.S history, the characters are in the United Sates of Columbia not America. Wrede’s novel is historical, coming-of-age, and adventure rolled into one good story. While this story is a sequel, enough of the first book is explained that it could stand alone. Here’s to hoping that there will be more books in the series!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Jacob grew up with fantastical stories from his grandfather that he always wanted to believe. Jacob’s grandfather is a Holocaust survivor; after surviving the Nazi's horrific genocide as a child, he has been on the run from something else: monsters. Jacob’s grandfather took solace along with many other children in a mystical house on an island off the coast of Wales, led by “the Bird,” their protector. Jacob’s bedtime stories were filled with these peculiar children: some could levitate, one had a mouth in the back of her head, covered up by golden curls, and others could control sound waves or elements. As a teenager, Jacob denounces these stories as lies, and he believes that his grandfather’s fear of monsters is nothing more than a delusion caused by old age and the trauma he faced as a child. But, when Jacob sees his grandfather lying dead outside their house and catches a glimpse of his killer, an otherworldly-looking creature with long tentacles coming out of his mouth, he realizes that everything his grandfather said must be true. Jacob sets off to the island where his grandfather grew up, hoping to find clues about the peculiar children, the monsters they were running from, and their guardian, Miss Peregrine. The challenge is not only where these clues are, but when.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is a mysterious tale of survival and believing in your own abilities. The book is filled with old pictures of the peculiar children, the basis for the creation of the specific children. The photos make the book unique and compliment the text nicely—they’re also fascinating to look at on their own. Unfortunately, the book is a little too similar to the X-men and Xavier’s School for the Gifted. Even the Holocaust was an important part in shaping one of the main character’s lives, as it is in this novel. While the story is enjoyable, the similarities were so striking that it detracted from the original aspects of this book. Nonetheless, it is still worth reading.

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

If Michael Vey was a normal 14-year-old boy, the only things he would have to deal with would be his mild case of Tourette’s Syndrome, the bullies who throw him into lockers, and his unsympathetic principal. But, Michael Vey is far from ordinary—he’s electric. Michael Vey is one of 17 surviving infants from a failed medical experiment. As a result, these children, including Michael, and as he finds out later, his classmate, Taylor, have unique electric abilities. Michael, Taylor, and Michael’s brilliant best friend Ostin form a secret club known as the Electroclan to track down how and why Taylor and Michael have these powers. Meanwhile, Dr. Hatch, leader of Elgen research lab and part of the group responsible for the accident, has spent more than a decade tracking down all the “Electric Children.” The Electroclan’s snooping regarding the accident sets in motion their captivity by Hatch. Hatch’s self-righteous ambition is to study the surviving teens, control their power, and create a new world of superior humans. The Electric Children live pretty glamorous lives at Elgen with a $200,000 expense account and lavish living quarters, but the utopian environment masks dark manipulation and murder. Michael and his friends must do whatever they can to avoid Hatch’s temptation, protect their families, and escape their imprisonment.

Richard Paul Evan’s first YA book is filled with non-stop action, memorable characters, believable dialog, and is a unique take on the whole ‘world domination by a new breed of humans’ troupe. Luckily, this is only the first novel in the Michael Vey series. Don’t miss this book!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween~!

Happily Ever After?

If you love fairy tales, you don't want to miss Grimm or Once Upon a Time. While the shows both involve fairy tale characters, they're actually quite different. However, it seems many viewers are choosing to watch either or instead of both.

Check out this interesting article comparing the two shows:

http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/telefile/2011/10/once-upon-a-time-vs-grimm-will.php

Has anyone seen Grimm or Once Upon a Time? What are your thoughts about the shows?

Essential Steampunk Reading

Check out this website for essential steampunk reading:

http://bestbookrecommendations.com/what-is-steampunk-fiction/

The Name of the Star

Jack the Ripper is still considered one of the most feared serial killers in history. The murders he committed in 1888 were the first to be committed for no real reason other than enjoyment. More than two-hundred years have passed and someone-or something-is carrying out murders in London that follow the exact MO as Ripper: the days, the times, and the number of victims. Rory finds herself in the middle of all this when she moves from New Orleans to London when her parents take a job teaching at a British University. At first, the only thing Rory has to worry about is fitting in at her new foreign boarding school; but she soon finds herself the only witness for one of the Ripper murders, and oddly enough, the only person to have seen the killer, despite her friends standing right next to her when he spoke to her. With the help of a special, underground police force, virtually unknown to anyone in London, Rory realizes that she has a gift that can help put a stop to the psychotic new Ripper—but at what price?

The Name of the Star, book 1 in The Shades of London series, by Maureen Johnson is an intriguing, supernatural take on the Ripper murders in modern times. While this is not historical fiction, Johnson clearly did her research on Ripper and his affect on 19^th century London and the world thereafter. The ending was a little too neatly resolved, but there is still plenty of suspense throughout the novel that will have you guessing. If you love series, you’ll be happy to know that there will be more books after this one; for those of you who don’t care for continuations, The Name of the Star stands well on its own. This is one spooky read you don’t want to miss—and just in time for Halloween!

Favorite YA Book of 2011?

The teen librarians of Nassau and Suffolk counties are hard at work nominating titles for this year's mock Printz Award. The Printz Award is given to a young adult novel every year "for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature" (http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/printzaward/Printz.cfm)

Last year, Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi won the award.

If you could nominate a book that you read, published in 2011, for this award, what would it be?

RVC Library is Famous for Teen Community Service Week

Congrats to our two amazing YA librarians for getting their article, "At Your Service: Community Service Week in Long Island," published in the Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA) journal!!!

Ask at the reference desk if you're interested in reading the hard copy of the article.

http://www.voya.com/2011/09/16/in-october-2011-voya/

Breaking Dawn Part 1

Having Twilight withdrawal? You won't have to wait much longer, as Breaking Dawn will hit theaters on November 18th! Like Harry Potter, the final book will be broken into two movies.

Happy145th Birthday H.G Wells

H.G Wells, known to be one of the 'fathers' of science-fiction, has written classics such as The Time Machine, War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man. Today would have been his 145th birthday!

Interesting fact: In 1838, War of the Worlds was broadcast as a radio play, read by prolific actor Orson Welles. His performance was so convincing that people actually believed martians were invading Earth! Widespread panic occurred days later. The mix-up forever changed Welles' career, as the one who convinced the world of alien invasion from his dramatic performance of Wells' book.

Ashes

Alex has a monster inside of her, a brain tumor that threatens to swallow her whole; it’s already taken away her sense of smell and taste. Alex is fed up with chemo and new treatments that haven’t produced results. She decides to take a break, leaving home for awhile to hike in the woods, when a mysterious thing happens: a pulsing noise, leaving electromagnetic waves in its path streams across the entire continent. All of the electronics shut down; anyone in their 30s to early 60s is instantly killed on the spot. Young children remain the same, as do the elderly. The teens, however, begin to experience a weird transition. Their bodies begin to decompose and they crave human flesh. Only Alex and a few other teens are unaffected by the zombie transition, something that may have to do with Alex’s diminished brain. The world is left in chaos. Who do you trust? How can you avoid the zombies? What caused the blast—nuclear attack or something else? These are questions Alex must face as she journeys in the new post-apocalyptic world, finding people she can trust and people who will turn on her in second because she’s an endangered species now.

Ashes, which is the first novel in a new trilogy by Ilsa J. Black, is an engrossing, fast-paced post-apocalyptic thriller. The book sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the end. This is one book you don’t want to miss!

Library Renovation

Still need summer reading books? We'll have summer reading lists and books available in YA until Friday, September 2 @ 6pm when we close for renovations. We'll be reopening Tuesday, September 20th. But to hold you over until then you can visit other local libraries including Baldwin, Lakeview, Oceanside and Malverne, they will be happy to help you! In the meantime, the Library staff will be working hard to have the Library ready for you on the 20th!

My Life: The Musical review

Emily and Philip become instant friends when they find out they have two things in common: they are both from (our very own!) Rockville Centre and they love the musical Aurora. Using money they have saved up from holidays, birthdays, and celebrations, they take the train into NYC every week to see their favorite play. Not everyone shares their obsession for Auroro, such as Mr. Henderson, Emily’s English teacher who refuses to let her write persuasive essays about Aurora, and the owner of the show’s venue, who feels he will make more money cancelling the show to make room for plays co-starred by The Producers' Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. And there is still the mystery of who really wrote Aurora. The answer may solve all of their problems.

My Life: The Musical by MaryRose Wood is a humorous, fast-paced coming of age novel about holding onto your passion—and fighting for it! This is great book to read even if you are not a thespian; but if you are into theater, you will definitely appreciate the references more, especially the fact that every chapter opens with a quote from a Broadway show.

Thirteenth Child book review

“Everybody knows that the seventh son is lucky…and everybody knows that seventh son of a seventh son is a natural born magician.”

Seven isn’t the only number that permeates lore—there is also thirteen. You’ve probably heard that thirteen is unlucky, bad, and even evil. Eff was born thirteenth child and twin to the seventh son of a seventh son. Eff and her brother Lan are inseparable, despite the Fate determined by their birth order. Eff knows what it’s like to be different, to have her siblings, cousins, and aunts and uncles treat her like she’s a demon. When things get too out of hand, Eff’s father decides to take a job out West as a professor of magic at a new college and move the family away. There, Eff finds her true destiny, as she helps protect the homesteaders from these strange beetles that threaten to destroy everything they come in contact with. Eff learns that she has always been more powerful than anyone let her believe, and once she believes in herself, she’s capable of anything she sets her mind to. Thirteen may be unlucky in some cultures, but what happens if you change the perspective?

The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede is a heart-warming tale about finding the courage to believe in your inner strength. Wrede’s writing is nostalgic, creating a magical alternate late 19th century American world. If you like adventure and humor; if you like dragons, magic, and mystery, then you don’t want to pass this book up!

New Steampunk Books

Love steampunk? Love romance? Then you don't want to miss these two books we just got in the library!

Corsets & Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances: "Dark, urban fantasies come to life in the newest collection of Steampunk stories. Young heroes and heroines battle evils with the help of supernatural or super-technological powers. Throw in epic romances that transcend time, and this trendy, engrossing anthology is sure to become another hit..."

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross: "Finley, who has a beastly alter ego inside of her, joins Duke Griffin's army of misfits to help stop the Machinist, the criminal behind a series of automaton crimes, from carrying out a plan to kill Queen Victoria during the Jubilee."

Book Review: Imaginary Girls

In Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, Chloe has spent most of her fourteen years living in her older sister's shadow. Ruby is the girl that every guy wants to date and every girl wants to be. It evens seems as though Ruby has some kind of power over people, always getting them to do things for her. Chloe has never minded being known as Ruby's little sister, since it is Ruby who has practically raised Chloe. But when Chloe finds the body of a local teen at a party, her world is shattered. Sent away to live with her father, Chloe spends two years separated from Ruby until Ruby reappears and convinces Chloe to return home promising that everything will be the way it used to be. Chloe is shocked to discover that Ruby is right. Everything is the same as it was two years earlier--the dead girl is alive and Ruby's power over others is terrifying. A creepy reservoir with deep secrets, a living dead girl and Ruby's other-worldly powers add up to one scary mystery.

And the Winner Is....

Did anyone watch the Teen Choice Awards last night? I watched part of it and was so glad that Darren Criss (aka Blane from Glee) won for best break-out star!

If you missed the show, check out a list of the winners here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/teen-choice-awards-2011-winners-220172?page=2

Tosho-con = Big Success!!

(Anime Improv group)

RVC's second annual Tosho-con was a huge success. With about 160 people, it was even bigger than last year!

Check out some of the pictures at my Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/64600137@N04/sets/72157627100219637/

Read about us in Newsday here:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/long-island-now-1.1732330/anime-takes-over-rockville-centre-library-1.3029932

And check also check out some videos (the taiko drumming was amazing!)

http://www.youtube.com/user/RVCAnimeToshoCon

Case Closed manga vol. 1

Case Closed, also known as Detective Conan, by Gosho Aoyama, is a dramatic and hilarious detective manga series. Seventeen-year-old detective prodigy Jimmy Kudo finds himself way over his head when he tries to catch two criminals in the act and ends up being poisoned by the “men in black” for knowing too much. Rather than dying, Jimmy shrinks down to the size of a toddler. Adopting the pseudonym “Conan,” after the famous novelist, he makes it his life goal to track down the culprits and get his real body back. Now, Conan must solve crimes to get closer to those he seeks--only, no one will take tiny Conan seriously. Conan takes refuge with his high-school friend, daughter of a mediocre detective, and uses his incredible wit to solve crimes on behalf of the clueless detective. Armed with an array of scientific gadgets created by his scietist neighbor--and the only other person who knows what really happned to Jimmy--Conan successfully solves crimes, unbenonst to his friend and her father.

With great artwork and expertly plotted out mysteries, it's no wonder this series is a hit in Japan and the U.S!

Childhood Memories-Reading Rainbow Flash Mob

Does anyone remember watching the show Reading Rainbow? This hit children's show, hosted by Star Trek's LeVar Burton, promoted literacy and the enjoyment of reading. It was on from 1983-2009. I remember watching the show in the early-mid 90's and taking out videos from the library. Burton just announced that he is organizing a ..."fan flash mob that will sing and dance to the show's theme song." You can sign up to receive emails and tweets for when this will happen.

Check it out here! http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/levar-burton-to-lead-reading-rainbow-flash-mob_b33254

And if you forgot the theme song, you can see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6j8EiWIVZs

Anime Tosho-con Youtube Channel!

If you have a YouTube account, make sure to subscribe to the channel I made for this year'sTosho-con. Even if you don't have an account, check out the link after July 16th for videos from the convention!

http://www.youtube.com/user/RVCAnimeToshoCon?feature=mhee

The Girl in the Steel Corset review

In Victoria London, things are not always as they seem. Deep in the Earth’s core exist primordial beings known as “organites,” creatures that make up the very emblem of life. If attached to humans, they can rebuild organs, skin, and tissue, making one heal faster—they can even bring back those on the brink death. These “beasties” work their so-called magic not only on people, but they can also work their powers on robots. A team of scientists excavated these creatures decades before, and at the wishes of Queen Victoria, they remained a secret from the public.

In the present, there are ordinary people, relatives of the team of those scientists, who exhibit inhuman powers. Finley Jayne has something inside her, a darker self, which seeps out when her normal self is threatened. Griffin King, newly appointed Duke after his parents were mysteriously murdered, has the ability to control the aether, energy, to the point that he can converse with the dead. Sam has extraordinary strength; and Emily, a brilliant mechanic, develops an ability to communicate with metal. Together, they must stop The Mechanic, a man who has given life to robots and threatens to destroy those who betrayed him.

This fascinating steampunk novel is, as the author describes, “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets X-men,” with an additional mix of Jekyll and Hyde and The Golden Compass thrown in. Cross’s language is lyrical and descriptive; the world she creates is imaginative and well-developed.

Hunger Games Parody

Check out this hilarious Hunger Games parodoy using Britney Spears' song.

New Anime Tosho-con Website!

Will, a member of the RVC Anime Club, created a new website to advertise our second annual anime convention! Make sure to check it out! He did an amazing job ^_^

http://www.toshocon.com/

All Men of Genius

I was lucky enough to get an advanced readers' copy of this great steampunk book, which will be available to the public this October!

In alternate Victorian England, there are many scientists who have mastered the ability to create inventions beyond the common man’s wildest dreams, using gears and steam for power. Illyria is a prestigious private school run by Duke Ernest, and takes only the best of men. Violet is not your typical Victorian girl; rather, she is a gifted scientist and inventor and wants nothing more than to go to lllyria. Violet concocts a scheme to impersonate her twin brother, Ashton, in order to attend the school. She plans to keep up her disguise until the final exhibition at the end of the year, and hopes that after proving herself as a worthy scientist, she will be allowed to stay. As one would expect, keeping up this ruse is not an easy task for Violet, especially when she starts getting close to the Duke. Within Illyria, there are also dark secrets that threaten to ruin Violet’s plan.

A mixture of steampunk, The Twelfth Night, and The Importance of Being Earnest, All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen is a book that will suck you in from the prologue. The attention paid to the details of the elaborate inventions will satisfy any steampunk fan, though it is not overdone to the point that newcomers will grow bored with the descriptions (which are done very well). The combination of action, mad science, humor, and romance allow for the novel to have a wide audience.

RVC now carries the Steampunk Bible by Jeff Vandermeer

For all of you interested in steampunk--or if you just want to find out what it is!--then this is a book you do not want to miss! Jeff Vandermeer's book The Steampunk Bible is filled with gorgeous full-colored photos of steampunk fashion, gadgetry, and characters from books, anime, and movies that have a steampunk flaire. It's also chock full of information about the evolution of steampunk as we know it today, how it impacts the lives of its followers, and provides a nice annotated list throughout the book of different things to read or watch.

This is the resource for all things steampunk!

Revolver Book Review

“Even the dead tell stories.”

You think that once a person is gone, they no longer exist and they have no future. But that’s not true. Their legacy will always live on, and their unfinished business will simply be passed to their remaining loved ones. No one’s story ever truly ends, as is the case with Einar, recently deceased father to Sig and Anna.

The time: late nineteenth century-early 20th century during the Gold Rush.Tthe location: the Arctic Circle. Einar moved his family to the Arctic Circle in hopes of getting rich on gold. Months turned to years and his family continued to stay there, though no gold ever came. Eventually, Einar gets a job weighing gold, and at that time he comes in contact with a bear-like man. Years pass and this man shows up hours after Einar dies, saying he has unfinished business with him. Sig and Anna must take responsibility to deal with this man’s problem.

And what of the gun?

Why I picked it up: It was recommended to me as a 'must read.'

Why I finished it: The book sucked me in from the very first line. I didn't know a lot about the Gold Rush during that time, and I was also intrigued by the concept.

Who I'd give it to: Anyone who wants a quick read with great characters and a unique plot. Fans of historical fiction and back-and-forth timelines would love this, as well.

First Photo of Katniss

Check out Jennifer Lawrence on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, preparing for her role as Katniss in The Hunger Games.

Rick Riordan's Favorite Childhood Books

Last week the New York Times had an article about author Rick Riordan's (Percy Jackson, Red Pyramid) favorite childhood books. See his top picks here:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/rick-riordans-favorite-childhood-books/

Saturday is Free Comic Book Day!!

Free Comic Book Day is the first Saturday in May! Check out your local comic book shop to get yours!!

Read more about it here http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

Ghostgirl Review

All Charlotte Usher wanted to be was popular. Is that too much to ask?

For Charlotte, it was too much to ask and it came with a penalty. Every year for Charlotte is the same: no one in school notices her, she’s invisible to her crush, and the popular girls want nothing to do with her. But this year is different. Charlotte spent all summer primping to have “the look.” Things were starting to go her way, especially when she was paired with her crush for chemistry lab, which would last the whole year. Then things changed. Charlotte Usher, virtually unknown to the rest of the world, became even more so—she died.

Not yet ready to go to the other side, Charlotte is stuck in between. Dying doesn’t even get her out of school, as she’s forced to attend a school for teens like her with unfinished business. Charlotte must learn to work with the other teens and learn to accept herself for who she is. But what is her unfinished business and how will her dreams to attend the Fall Ball with her crush—despite the fact that she’s dead—affect the Fate of everyone else?

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley is a fast-paced, intriguing book with a great premise. Each chapter starts off with a quote from a famous author, poet or musician to set the mood.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 2 Trailer

Here it is

Book Trailer for Melissa de la Cruz's New Series

Check out the book trailer for Witches of East End, book 1 in Melissa de la Cruz's new series. It looks good and the book takes place on Long Island!

Sakura (Cherry) Blossoms at Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Hanami celebrates the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying the blossoming of the Cherry Blossom trees, known as Sakura in Japanese. At the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens between April 1 and May 2, you can see beautiful Cherry Blossom trees and visit the Japanese gardens. On Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, they will have their annual Sakura Matsuri, a festival with Taiko drumming, origami, traditional Japanese instrument concerts, and tons of anime/manga related events!

http://www.bbg.org/discover/cherries/

Cart and Cwidder book review

Osfameron Tanamoril, or Moril for short, is the son of the famous singer Clennen. As traveling musicians, his family is allowed to travel between the warring Northern and Southern parts of Dalemark. Equipped with two cwidders, their lyrical songs, and their horse Barangarolob to pull them along, Moril’s family has made quite a name for themselves in all areas of Dalemark. As legitimate travelers, his family often takes on passengers seeking to visit other areas of the country; they are also allowed to pass messages between the two halves of Dalemark. Yet, this common act is not what it appears to be, and a new traveler to be taken to the North is suspiciously different from the rest. The family’s seemingly simple life changes dramatically when Clennen is mysteriously murdered, Moril’s older brother is arrested for treason by Southern official, and Moril is bequeathed his father’s ancient—and magical—cwidder. What does this new traveler have to do with these occurrences? How is the past, once thought to be exaggerated songs sung by Clennen, repeating itself with Moril as the new hero?


This first book in Diana Whynne Jones’ The Dalemark Quartet series will take you on a fantastical adventure. Her writing is, as always, engaging and descriptive.

Trapped Book Review

I have to admit, I probably took the easy way out by reading Trapped by Michael Northrop in April when the threat of snow is unlikely. Regardless, Trapped is a gripping page turner. Scotty, a sophomore basketball player, narrates the events as they unfold of the seven students and one teacher who are stranded at school when a winter storm turns into the biggest nor'easter the U.S. has ever had. The small group, ranging from a jock and a bully, to the prettiest girl in school and the most average boy, must weather the storm by rationing left over cafeteria food, navigating the dark hallways, and ultimately deciding how to get help when the school building becomes too dangerous for them to remain. Scotty's admission that not everyone will survive builds the suspense immediately and the ever falling snow piles on the drama. Best read on a snow day, but pretty chilling on a warm spring day too.

Saturn Apartments Vol. 1

In Earth’s future, all humans have evacuated into space to preserve the dying planet. Instead of living on Earth, all humans now live around Earth in a man-made ring structure, occupying apartment buildings in three levels organized by social status. Considering the fact that right outside their homes is space, how can one ever have clean windows? Enter the window washers, those who risk their lives to leave the comforts of their controlled atmosphere to enter space and clean the windows of people rich enough to afford them.

Mitsu, a hard-working orphan, has just graduated school. Mitsu is training to be a window washer like his missing father, who, years ago, mysteriously disappeared during a lower-level window washing job. Was his rope torn by the raging wind or did the beautiful site of his old home planet have something to do with it?

Saturn Apartments by Hisae Iwaoka is a fascinating science fiction story, filled with interesting and well-developed characters. The art is just as unique as the plot. If you love science fiction or are just looking for something out of the ordinary to read, then make sure to pick up this book!

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Cast of The Hunger Games

Gale will be played by Liam Hensworth Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson

Katniss will be played by Jennifer Lawrence

None of them are exactly what I pictured, especially Katniss and Gale. But I'll reserve judgement until I see the movie.

NYPL launches mobile app scavenger hunt

If you love scavenger hunts and have a smartphone then head over to the New York Public Library after May 20 until the end of this year to participate in this landmark event! All you have to do is download the virtual scavanger hunt app to your phone and it'll take you on adventures throughout the library's special collection (ie: to see a copy of Declaration of Idependence)! Check out this article from CNN for more info! http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/04/01/new.york.library.game/index.html?hpt=Sbin#

British Fantasy Author Diana Wynne Jones Dies at 76

Diana Wynne Jones, author of Howl's Moving Castle, the Chrestomanci series, and dozens of other children's and young adult fantasy books passed away today. She was one of the most well-known fantasy authors in the world. Make sure to check out the book display in front of the YA section, along with a book list of her most popular books!

Hush book review

In a community that prides itself on tradition and following the ways of G-d, how do you deal with enemies from within?

Silence.

Hush by Eishes Chayil, provides a window into a community where ‘dirty laundry’--secrets and family problems--are best left buried in the closet. In such a world, what happens to those who cry out and are silenced? What happens to the witnesses who survive but are scared to speak up? This is a story friendship and betrayal; family and criminals; regret and courage; silence and voice.

Devory and Gittel have been best friends since birth. They go to school together, play together, and even dream of getting married on the same day. But when they’re nine-years-old, Gittel discovers a horrible secret about her best friend: she’s being molested at home. Devory tries to reach out to Gittel, but Gittel believes such things don’t happen to their people and refuses to truly listen to her friend.

Gittel has lived nearly a decade in regret after Devory was driven to suicide and must decide whether or not to become a ‘traitor’ in her community and speak up about Devory’s murder or let her friend’s memory die.

Hush is gripping, thought-provoking, and engaging; it’s a book you will begin reading and not put down until you’ve reached the very last page. The book explores issues in a community not often written about in fiction novels. Hush is based on experiences witnessed by the author, who has written this book under a pseudonym. If you’re looking for a realistic fiction book with a unique plot and characters you will come to care about, don’t miss out on this read!

Authors Unlimited

If you're intersted in reading and writing, check out Authors Unlimited, a free full-day event connecting teens and authors. The event will take place Saturday, April 30 @ 10am-4pm at St. Joseph's College and features a number of popular authors including Robert Lipsyte (The Contender, Center Field) Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer), Tonya Hurley (Ghost Girl), Anna Godbersen (Luxe series) and many more!

Get more info here.