July New Books (Part 2)

Bloodkin by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Fantasy 

When a shapeshifter/vampire nation is charged with a crime against Midnight that sixteen-year-old Kadee and her friend Vance played a hand in, Kadee feels compelled to return to the Shantel forest where she must confront her past and the decisions she has made in the pursuit of freedom.

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman

Contemporary Fiction 

Caden Bosch is on a ship that's headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Caden Bosch is a brilliant high school student whose friends are starting to notice his odd behavior. Caden Bosch is designated the ship's artist in residence, to document the journey with images. Caden Bosch pretends to join the school track team but spends his days walking for miles, absorbed by the thoughts in his head. Caden Bosch is split between his allegiance to the captain and the allure of mutiny. 

Charlie, Presumed Dead by Anne Heltzel

Mystery 

Told in separate voices, Lena and Aubrey, each hiding her own secrets, set off in search of the truth about Charlie, including if he is really dead, after meeting at his funeral and learning that he was dating both of them.

Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

Paranormal 

In post-World War I England, eleven-year-old Triss nearly drowns in a millpond known as "The Grimmer" and emerges with memory gaps, aware that something is terribly wrong, and to try to set things right, she must meet a twisted architect who has designs on her family.

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

Action/Adventure 

At fourteen, Frances survived a slaughter that claimed the lives of her parents and best friend, Libby, but she took on Libby's identity and wealth while plotting revenge against the powerful Wells family and now, at age eighteen, is ready to destroy them, including her first love, Grey.

Halloween books - Zombies!

For you zombie lovers out there, here's what we got for zombie books~

After a disease turns everyone over sixteen into brainless, decomposing, flesh-eating creatures, a group of teenagers leave their shelter and set out of a harrowing journey across London to the safe haven of Buckingham Palace.

Each time fifteen-year-old Hannah and her out-of-work father move she has some fears about making friends, but a classmate warns her that in Maplecrest, Vermont, the cheerleaders really are monsters.

Streetwise, tough, and savvy, Nick and his quick sarcasm are the stuff of legend... until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. With his fellow students turning into flesh-eating zombies, how can he stop them... without getting grounded by his mom?

Having learned that she has powers both to heal people and to create zombies, sixteen-year-old Hailey is trying to lead a fairly normal life with her brother and aunt in Milwaukee, but when she attempts to contact her boyfriend, she brings dangerous villains--both alive and undead--to her doorstep.

Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

When dead teenagers who have come back to life start showing up at her high school, Phoebe, a goth girl, becomes interested in the phenomenon, and when she starts dating a "living impaired" boy, they encounter prejudice, fear, and hatred.

Alex, a resourceful seventeen-year-old running from her incurable brain tumor, Tom, who has left the war in Afghanistan, and Ellie, an angry eight-year-old, join forces after an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky and kills most of the world's population, turning some of those who remain into zombies and giving the others superhuman senses.

In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

ZOMBIES VS UNICORNS - Twelve short stories by a variety of authors seek to answer the question of whether zombies are better than unicorns.

Graphic novels~

A mysterious illness is spreading rapidly through the halls of Fujimi High School. In a matter of hours, the campus is transformed from a place of learning into a hive of nightmares, as the infected students collapse and are reborn as flesh-hungry zombies! Only a handful of students escape the initial outbreak - among them Takashi Komuro and his childhood friend, Rei. He manages to protect Rei from the initial onslaught, but how long can Takashi and the other students hope to survive when the whole school - maybe the whole town - is out for their blood?!

St. Petersburg High school juniors Dicey Bell, a baseball star, and Jack Chen, who loves science and role-playing games, discover a mutual attraction when paired for a project, but on their first date, a zombie-producing fungus sends them on the run.

Nonfiction~

The Zombie Handbook' explains how to identify a zombie, survive an attack, and ultimately, defeat the undead hordes. Packed with sound, practical advice, true-life encounters, and a world history of these drooling brain munchers, this little book is a must for everyone who wants to know the truth about the undead!

So you're a zombie. What now? Slow down -- and flesh out the life of the mindless with this essential guide for the newly undead. The vacant stare, the shambling gait, the sense that you're falling apart -- adjusting to "life" as a zombie takes a little getting used to. And what's with the sudden obsession with brains? Time to get your outstretched hands on this comprehensive handbook spelling out all things z-o-m-b-i-e.

Movie Monday: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

With Halloween coming up, its appropriate that I pick a zombie book to spotlight today for Movie Monday! I'm talking about...

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

(BTW, which cover do you like better?  I like the one on the right cause I think it fits better with the story)

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future---between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

This is a  great book you guys!  I love this take on zombies.  This is the first book in a trilogy (book 2: The Dead Tossed Waves and book 3: The Dark and Hollow Places)

Here's what I know about the movie:  Seven Star Pictures has bought the rights to the movie and they hope to have the movie out in 2013.  (next year, yay!)  Here is the movie cover that IMDB has up:

A little boring so far I think...but not bad.  Not much other info out there right now, thou I'm dying to find out who is going to be cast in this movie.  I just hope they don't cast Kristen Stewart, I want to see some fresh new faces!  Will let you know when I know more!

DYSTOPIAN FICTION

Do you like books about the future, but not a very happy future?  I'm thinking about books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, or Delirium.  This genre of books are called Dystopian Fiction.  Dystopia was a word that was made up to be the opposite of utopia, which means a perfect society.  In dystopian fiction the characters are often leading fearful lives because either social or technological trends have lead to a corrupt or degraded society.  Things might also be bad from deprivation, (running out of water, oil, food, etc) oppression from the government, or terror.

These books are crazy popular right now, so I made a display of all the dystopian fiction we have here at DPL.  The books are on the mobile shelf right next to the YA biographies.  You can browse them there.  I'm also going to post my annotated list of the titles here for your browsing pleasure!  The list will also be on the website if you want to go find it there as well.  Enjoy!

Novels

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
 In 2036 New Jersey, teens are expected to become wives and mothers or high-priced Surrogettes for couples made infertile by a virus, 16 year old twins Melody and Harmony find in one another courage to believe they have choices.

 The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
After his parents, two sisters, and he have spent 6 years in a vast underground compound built by his wealthy father to protect them from a nuclear holocaust, 15 year old Eli, whose twin brother and grandmother were left behind, discovers that his father has perpetrated a monstrous hoax on them all.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Ann Aguirre  In a post-apocalyptic future, 15 year old Deuce, a loyal Huntress, brings back meat while avoiding Freaks outside, but when she is partnered with outsider Fade, she beings to see the ways of the Elders may be wrong- and dangerous.

Fearless by Tim Lott
Tim Lott  In the future, girls labeled 'juvies' or 'mindcrips' are taken from their families and sent to the prison-like City Community Faith School, but Little Fearless decides to break out, and try to free the girls from their miserable captivity.

Feed by M.T. Anderson
M.T. Anderson In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

 House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
In a future where clones are despised, Matt is the young clone of El Patron, a 142 year old drug lord living between Mexico and the United States.

Human.4 by Mike Lancaster
Twenty-first century 14 year old Kyle was hypnotized when humantiy was upgrades to 1.0 and he, imcompatible with the new technology, exposes its terrifying impact in a tape-recording found by the superhumans of the future.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
After being interrogated for days by Homeland Security in teh aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Fransico, 17 year old Marcus, released inot what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.

Test by William Sleator
 In the security obsessed elitist UnitedStates of  the near future, where a standardized test determines each person's entire life, a powerful man runs a corrupt empire until 17 year old Ann and other students take the lead by boycotting the test.

Those That Wake by Jesse Karp
When a consumer driven future society runs amok, unleashing near cosmic forces, Mal and Laura search for their families only to find that something or someone has erased them from the memories of everyone they have ever known.

 Unidentified by Rae Mariz
 In a futuristic alternative school set in a schopping mall where video game playing students are observed and used by corporate sponsors for market research, Katey "Kid" Dade struggles to figure out where she fits in and whether she even wants to.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
 In a future world where those between the ages of 13 and 18 can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs-- and perhaps save their own lives.







Series
(Series name - Author - Titles)

Atherton - Patrick Carman - The House of Power, Rivers of Fire, & Dark Planet
Edgar secretly climbs the wall separating the three worlds of Atherton and discovers that they are beginning to collapse.  Atherton is not what it seems, but something far more dangerous.

Birthmarked - Caragh O'Brien - Birthmarked & Prized (coming Nov. 2011)
In a future world baked dry and divided into those inside the wall and those outside it, 16 year old midwife Gaia Stone is forced into a difficult choice when her parents are arrested and taken into the city.

Carbon Diaries - Saci Lloyd - Carbon Diaries 2015 & Carbon Diaries 2017
 In 2015, England becomes the first to introduce carbon dioxide rationing to combat climate change, 16 year old Laura documents the first year as her family struggles.

Chaos Walking - Patrick Ness - The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, & Monsters of Men
Pursued by power hungry Prentis and minister Aaron, Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World.

Chemical Garden - Lauren DeStefano - Wither & Fever (coming Feb. 2012)
After modern science turns every human into a genetic time bomb with men dying at 25 and women at 20, girls are kidnapped and married off in order to repopulate the world.

The Declaration - Gemma Malley - The Declaration, The Resistance, & Legacy
 In 2140 England, drugs enable people to live forever and children are illegal, teenaged Anna, an obedient "Surplus" training to become a servant, discovers her parents are trying to find her.

Delirium - Lauren Oliver - Delirium & Pandemonium (coming Mar. 2012)
Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until 95 days before her treatment, she falls in love.

Divergent - Veronica Roth - Divergent & Insurgent (coming May 2012)
In a future Chicago, 16 year old Beatrice must choose among five factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she does not fit into any one group, and that her society is not perfect after all.

Dustlands - Moira Young - Blood Red Road
 In a distant future, 18 year old Lugh is kidnapped, and while his twin sister Saba and 9 year old Emmi are trailing him they are captured too, and taken to brutal Hopetown, where Saba is forced to be a cage fighter.

Ember - Jeanne Duprau - The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, & The Diamond of Darkhold
In the year 241, 12 year old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

Exodus - Julie Bertanga - Exodus & Zenith
In 2100, the island of Wing is about to become covered by water, 15 year old Mara discovers New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters, and convinces her people to travel there.

Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan - Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, & The Dark and Hollow Places
Orphaned Mary seeks life, love, and knowledge of what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

The Giver Trilogy - Lois Lowry - The Giver, Gathering Blue, & The Messenger
 At age 12 Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly  utopian futuristic world, is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of true joy and pain.

Gone - Michael Grant - Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, & Fear (coming Apr 2012)
 In a small town on the coast of Cali, everyone over 14 suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between public and private school students, and those with and without "The Power."

Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay
In a future North America, the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from the 12 districts against each other, 16 year old Katniss' skills are put to the test when she takes her sister's place.

 

Hungry City Chronicles - Philip Reeve - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices, Darkling Plain, Fever Crumb, Web of Air, & Scrivener's Moon
In the distant future, cities move about and consume smaller towns. A 15 year old apprentice is pushed out of London by his mentor and must seek answers in the Out Country.

Incarceron - Catherine Fisher - Incarceron & Sapphique
 To free herself from an upcoming arrange marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.

The Jenna Saga - Mary Pearson - The Adoration of Jenna Fox & The Fox Inheritance (coming Aug 2011)
 In the not too distant future, biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, 17 year old Jenna is recovering from a serious accident when she learns a startling secret about her existance.

The Last Survivors - Susan Beth Pfeffer - Life as We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone, & This World We Live In
Through journal entries 16 year old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Lorien Legacies - Pittacus Lore - I am Number Four & The Power of Six
 In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a 15 year old who has hidden on Earth for 10 years, waiting to develop the powers he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien

Matched - Ally Condie - Matched & Crossed (coming Nov. 2011)
Cassia has always followed the Society without question. So when Xander's face is displayed as her Match, she knows that they are perfect mates. However, Ky's face also flashed on the screen for a second. Now Cassia can't stop thinking about him, even if the Society says it was a glitch.

Maze Runner - James Dashner - Maze Runner, Scorch Trials, & The Death Cure (coming Oct. 2011)
16 year old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes that he must work with the community in which he finds himself to escape.

Skinned - Robin Wasserman - Skinned, Crashed, & Wired
Lia Kahn's wealthy family decide to save her from dying by transplanting her brain into a mechanical body.

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld - Uglies, Pretties, Specials, & Extras
Just before their 16th birthdays, when they will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all.

XVI - Julia Karr - XVI & Truth (coming Jan. 2012)
Nina lives in a totalitarian future society in which all girls are required to get "XVI" tattooed on their wrist on their 16th birthdays, announcing to the world that they are ready for sex.  This is Nina's worst fear until right before her birthday her mother is brutally attacked and reveals a shocking truth to Nina.