April Books bring May...more books! (April new books part 9)

Waiting for Gonzo by Dave Cousins

Contemporary Fiction

Things could be going better for Oz. He's just moved miles from all his friends. A prank at his new school puts him in the crosshairs of "Psycho" Isobel Skinner, a bully who also happens to be his mum's new best friend. And he's driven off the only other kid who will have anything to do with him: a Tolkien-obsessed boy in desperate need of a decent playlist. With his life careening out of control, Oz sets about making things right. But when he stumbles on his sister's game-changing secret, Oz is left wondering if he can ever get his old life back . . . or if he's stuck forever in this craziness. 

Zom-B Family by Darren Shan

Science Fiction

Now a prisoner of the most heinous survivors of the human race, B finds herself at the mercy of her enemies and discovers the fate of her parents and friend Vinyl, calling into question how much she is willing to sacrifice in the name of justice.

Happy birthday to me! ~ New Books for March (part 8)

Wild by Alex Mallory

Contemporary Fiction

The forest is full of secrets, and no one understands that better than Cade. Foraging, hunting, surviving--that's all he knows. Alone for years, Cade believes he's the sole survivor. At least, until he catches a glimpse of a beautiful stranger. . . . Dara expected to find natural wonders when she set off for a spring break camping trip. Instead, she discovers a primitive boy--he's stealthy and handsome and he might be following her. Intrigued, Dara seeks him out and sets a catastrophe in motion. Thrust back into society, Cade struggles with the realization that the life he knew was a lie. But he's not the only one. Trying to explain life in a normal town leaves Dara questioning it. As the media swarm and the police close in, Dara and Cade risk everything to get closer. But will the truth about Cade's past tear them apart?

Wildlife by Fiona Wood

Contemporary Fiction 

Two sixteen-year-old girls in Australia come together at an outdoor semester of school, before university--one thinking about boys and growing up, the other about death and grief, but somehow they must help each other to find themselves.

Zits: Shredded by Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman

Contemporary Fiction

Zits jumps from the comics page to the bookshelf, and Zits: Shredded is perfect for fans of James Patterson's Homeroom Diaries as well as the Zits comic strip!

Jeremy Duncan and his friends Hector and Pierce are hitting the road! That is, if they can squeeze enough french fries to get their newly veggie oil–powered van to Dog Tired Records in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It's road trip time!

Zodiac by Romina Russell

Science Fiction 

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens, Rhoma Grace, a sixteen-year-old student from House Cancer, must convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac against Ophiuchus, the exiled thirteenth Guardian of Zodiac legend, who has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy.

Zom-B Bride by Darren Shan

Science Fiction 

B Smith has been reunited with the murderous maniac clown, Mr. Dowling. To her shock and consternation, he's desperate to make B his partner in crime. Mr. Dowling disgusts her, but B thinks she can see a way to control him and maybe even save the world. But it will involve a sacrifice far greater and more surreal than any she has contemplated before...

Zomburbia by Adam Gallardo

Action/Adventure 

Displeased with her small-town life in Salem, Oregon, Courtney Hart sells drugs through the drive-thru at her job to earn enough money to run away to New York, while avoiding both the advances of boys in her high school and the town's ever-present zombiehorde.

Teen Book Club - October - ZOM-B

Heya YAs.

Last night the Teen Book Club met to discuss Zom-B by Darren Shan.

When the news starts reporting a zombie outbreak in Ireland, B's father thinks it's a hoax-but even if it isn't, the two of them joke, it's only the Irish, right? That is, until zombies actually attack the school. B is forced on a mad dash through the serpentine corridors of high school, making allegiances with anyone with enough gall to fight off their pursuers. But when they come face-to-face with the ravenous, oozing corpses, all bets are off. There are no friends. No allies. Just whatever it takes to survive.

Here are our discussion questions:(trying not to give away any spoilers for those who have not read yet, so some sentences may read a little weird!)

1.  What did you think of the book?  General impressions?

2. Did you know before the end of the book whether B was a boy or a girl?  What clues did you read?  Were there any false clues, that made you think the opposite?

3. What did you think of B as a character?  How is B shaped by B's father's beliefs?

4. What was the first sign of zombies for B?

5. What did you think of B's friends?

6. Do you think the illustrations added to the story?  Did you enjoy them?

7. Do you think B deserved what happened?

8. Did you have a favorite scene or character in the book?

9. What do you think will happen in the 2nd book?

10. Ratings and final thoughts!

Melanie gave it a 6/10 and said "It would be a good read for kids who want to start improving their reading."

MissG gave it a 6.5/10 and said "Quick action read that would be very appealing to boys ages 10-14, lots of questions unaswered, drawing you to the next book!"

If you liked Zom-B you may like…

The rest of the series

1. Zom-B

2.  Zom-B: Underground

3. Zom-B: City

4. Zom-B: Angels

5. Zom-B: Baby

6. Zom-B: Gladiator

Other zombie books:

Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey: In 1867 Texas, Jett, a girl passing as a boy while seeking her long-lost twin brother, joins forces with Honoraria Gibbons, an inventor, and White Fox, a young Army scout, to investigate a zombie army that is terrorizing the West. YA PAR LAC

The Enemy by Charles Higson: 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. YA PAR HIG

Generation Dead by Dan Waters: 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. YA PAR WAT

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon:   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? YA PAR KEN

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry: 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. YA SFF MAB

Unforsaken by Sophie Littfield: 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. YA PAR LIT

Zombies vs. Unicorns by various: Twelve short stories by a variety of authors seek to answer the question of whether zombies are better than unicorns. YA SFF ZOM

for November...

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac

Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years. But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

New School Year...New Books for September! (part 4)

5 Centimeters per Second by Makoto Shinkai

Love can move at the speed of terminal velocity, but as award-winning director Makoto Shinkai reveals in his latest comic, it can only be shared and embraced by those who refuse to see it stop. Takaki Tohno quickly befriends Akari Shinohara when she transfers to his school. They grow closer to each other due to similar interests and attitudes; for instance, they both prefer to stay inside during recess due to their constitutions. As a result, they form a strong bond. Upon ending their school year, Akari moves to Tochigi, due to her parents' jobs. The two keep in contact by writing letters, but eventually begin to drift apart.

 Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

Period 8 has always been a safe haven and high school senior Paulie "The Bomb" Baum a constant attendee, but as Paulie, Hannah, their friends, and a sympathetic teacher try to unravel the mystery of a missing classmate, the ultimate bully takes aim at the school.

Elegy by Amanda Hocking

 Gemma must battle Penn to break the siren curse and secure a future with Alex.

 Zom-B Angels by Darren Shan

Near to giving up hope in a London overrun by zombies, B meets The Angels, a group gathered to fight the living dead and the forces that introduced them.

The Hot Air Balloon Book by Clive Catterall

More than a century before the Wright brothers’ first flight, humans were taking to the skies in hot air balloons. Today, with basic craft skills, you can build and safely launch your own balloons using inexpensive, readily available materials. Author and inventor Clive Catterall provides illustrated, step-by-step instructions for eight different homemade models, as well as the science and history behind them. 

Summer Reads! - July New Books (part5)

Zom-B City by Darren Shan

As zombies overrun London, B battles moral dilemmas and a growing sense of hopelessness at every turn.

 Monument 14: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne

After repairing a school bus, the group of survivors split in two, with one group heading to the airport in hopes of reuniting with their parents and saving their dying friend and the other trying to rebuild the community they lost.

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

In graphic novel format, the author offers an account of growing up in the same schools as Jeffrey Dahmer, who went on to become one of the most notorious serial killers and cannibals in United States history.

The Rough Guide to the Best iPhone and iPad Apps by Peter Buckley

So many apps and so little time! This guide pinpoints the finest free and paid-for applications across all the categories of the Apple App Store.