Curl Up With One of February's New Books (part 2)

Breakaway by Kat Spears

Contemporary Fiction 

When Jason Marshall's younger sister passes away, he knows he can count on his three best friends and soccer teammates Mario, Jordie, and Chick to be there for him. With a grief-crippled mother and a father who's not in the picture, he needs them more than ever. But when Mario starts hanging out with a rough group of friends and Jordie finally lands the girl of his dreams, Jason is left to fend for himself while maintaining a strained relationship with troubled and quiet Chick. Then Jason meets Raine, a girl he thinks is out of his league but who sees him for everything he wants to be, and he finds himself pulled between building a healthy and stable relationship with a girl he might be falling in love with, grieving for his sister, and trying to hold onto the friendships he has always relied on. 

Captive by A. J. Grainger

Action/Adventure 

When a teen is held hostage, her efforts to escape uncover a conspiracy that forces her to question everything in this psychological thriller with a twist of forbidden romance. They told her not to worry-- because the man who shot her father was in custody. They told her that she was safe-- because security had been increased. All it took was one opportunity, one breach, and then she was theirs. Kidnapped, confined, alone. They told her she could go home when their demands were met. That it wouldn't take long, because she was the prime minister's daughter. But it has been days , and still no help has come. She wonders when they will tire of this game and kill her. She cannot wait around for that to happen; she will escape. She has to.

The Capture by Tom Isbell

Science Fiction 

The Maze Runner meets The Hunger Games in this heart-pounding teen trilogy. This second book in the Prey series is a suspenseful story of courage, survival, and doing what's right, no matter how hard. Orphaned teens, soon to be hunted for sport, must fight for a better life. Riveting action, intense romance, and gripping emotion make this fast-paced adventure a standout. Fifteen escaped and found their way to freedom, but Book, Hope, and Cat can't settle into their new life knowing the rest of the Less Thans and Sisters are still imprisoned. Now the teens must retrace their steps to save the others and thwart the Republic's dark plans to destroy those deemed different, even as relationships are tested and the path back is filled with danger. With new enemies lurking, the group must put their fate into the hands of unexpected allies and must ask themselves how far they're willing to go to free their friends.

Catacomb by Madeleine Roux

Paranormal 

The heart-stopping third book in the New York Times bestselling Asylum series follows three teens as they take a senior year road trip to one of America's most haunted cities, uncovering dangerous secrets from their past along the way. With all the thrills, chills, and eerie found photographs that led Publishers Weekly to call Asylum "a strong YA debut," Catacomb is perfect for fans for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Sometimes the past is better off buried. Senior year is finally over. After all they've been through, Dan, Abby, and Jordan are excited to take one last road trip together, and they're just not going to think about what will happen when the summer ends. But on their way to visit Jordan's uncle in New Orleans, the three friends notice that they're being followed . . . and photographed. Then Dan starts receiving messages from someone he didn't expect to hear from again--someone who died last Halloween. When the trio arrives in New Orleans and the strange occurrences only escalate, Dan is forced to accept that everything that has happened to him in the past year may not be a coincidence, but fate--a fate that ties Dan to a group called the Bone Artists, who have a sinister fascination with notorious killers of the past. Now Dan's only hope is that he will make it out of his senior trip alive.

City of Halves by Lucy Inglis

Paranormal 

Ancient myth collides with modern technology in this gripping urban fantasy.

London. Present day. Girls are disappearing. And strange things are roaming the streets. 

When sixteen-year-old Lily is attacked by a two-headed dog, she's saved by hot, tattooed, and not-quite-human Regan. As Guardian of the Gates, it's his job to protect both halves of the City--new and old--from restless creatures that threaten its very existence. But an influx of these mythological beasts has Regan worried that something terrible--and immense--is about to happen. 

The missing girls may have something to do with the monsters wandering around London, but what do they have in common? Can Lily and Regan find the girls and discover the truth in time to save London from being torn apart?

New books for October ~ Part 5

Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin Moulton

Action/Adventure 

Lil Bennett goes to Crete to find answers about the circumstances of her mother's death, and there finds herself entangled in an adventure of mythical proportions that leads her and her friends through the very labyrinth in which the real Minotaur was imprisoned.

The Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell

Contemporary Fiction 

A teen grapples with ALS and his decision to die in this devastatingly beautiful debut novel infused with the haunting grace of samurai death poetry and the noble importance of friendship. Abe Sora is going to die, and he's only seventeen years old. Diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), he's already lost the use of his legs, which means he can no longer attend school. Seeking a sense of normality, Sora visits teen chat rooms online and finally finds what he's been longing for: friendship without pity. As much as he loves his new friends, he can't ignore what's ahead. He's beginning to lose the function of his hands, and soon he'll become even more of a burden to his mother. Inspired by the death poems of the legendary Japanese warriors known as samurai, Sora makes the decision to leave life on his own terms. And he needs his friends to help him.

Library of Souls by Ranson Riggs

Paranormal 

Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They'll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? (Features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs.)

Lizard Radio by Pat Schmatz

Science Fiction 

Fifteen-year-old bender Kivali has had a rough time in a gender-rigid culture. Abandoned as a baby and raised by Sheila, an ardent nonconformist, Kivali has always been surrounded by uncertainty. Where did she come from? Is it true what Sheila says, that she was deposited on Earth by the mysterious saurians? What are you? people ask, and Kivali isn't sure. Boy/girl? Human/lizard? Both/neither? Now she's in CropCamp, with all of its schedules and regs, and the first real friends she's ever had. Strange occurrences and complicated relationships raise questions Kivali has never before had to consider. But she has a gift--the power to enter a trancelike state to harness the "knowings" inside her. She has Lizard Radio. Will it be enough to save her?

Lock & Mori by Heather Petty

Mystery 

In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students-one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James "Mori" Moriarty-meet. A murder will bring them together. The truth very well might drive them apart. Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more... FACT: Someone has been murdered in London's Regent's Park. The police have no leads. FACT: Miss James "Mori" Moriarty and Sherlock "Lock" Holmes should be hitting the books on a school night. Instead, they are out crashing a crime scene. FACT: Lock has challenged Mori to solve the case before he does. Challenge accepted. FACT: Despite agreeing to Lock's one rule-they must share every clue with each other-Mori is keeping secrets. OBSERVATION: Sometimes you can't trust the people closest to you with matters of the heart. And after this case, Mori may never trust Lock again.

The Rest of Your Summer Reading ~ August New Books (part 8)

The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

Into the Dark #1

Paranormal 

In this modern retelling of the Persephone myth, Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, is sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead.

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Paranormal 

When the murals painted on the walls of her Brooklyn neighborhood start to change and fade in front of her, Sierra Santiago realizes that something strange is going on--then she discovers her Puerto Rican family are shadowshapers and finds herself in a battle with an evil anthropologist for the lives of her family and friends.

Still Waters by Ash Parsons

Contemporary Fiction 

High-schooler Jason, who lives with a drunk, abusive father at home, hopes to earn enough money to escape with his younger sister, Janie, by being tough at school, but the stakes grow ever more dangerous and soon even his fists and ability to think on his feet are not enough to keep his head above water.

Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

Science Fiction 

A cross between the cult classic Mad Max movie series and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, blends adrenaline-fueled action with an improbable yet tender romance to offer a rich and vivid portrayal of misfits and loners forced together in their struggle for a better life.

Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood. Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive.

The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury.

And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything.

Surrounded by Sharks by Michael Northrop

Action/Adventure 

On the first day of vacation thirteen-year-old Davey Tsering wakes up early, slips out of his family's hotel room without telling anyone, and heads for the beach and a swim in the warm Floridian waters--and a fateful meeting with a shark.

The Rest of Your Summer Reading ~ August New Books (part 5)

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

Contemporary Fiction 

Armed with her camera and a Magic 8-Ball and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college.

Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

Magonia #1

Paranormal 

Aza Ray Boyle's life has been defined by a unique lung disease and her evolving friendship with Jason, but just before her sixteenth birthday, she is swept up into the sky-bound world of Magonia and discovers her true identity.

Manga for the Beginner: Everything You Need to Start Drawing Right Away by Christopher Hart

Nonfiction 

With Manga for the Beginner, anyone who can hold a pencil can start drawing great manga characters right away. Using his signature step-by-step style, Hart shows how to draw the basic manga head and body, eyes, fashion, and more. Then he goes way beyond most beginner titles, exploring dynamic action poses, special effects, light and shading, perspective, popular manga types such as animals, anthros, and shoujo and shounen characters. By the end of this big book, the new artist is ready to draw dramatic story sequences full of movement and life.

Mortal Gods by Kendare Blake

The Goddess War #2

Paranormal 

The escalating war between the gods takes Athena and Cassandra across the globe, searching for lost gods, old enemies, and the great warrior, Achilles, and although their alliance is fragile, they must find a way to work together or all is lost.

Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano

Nearly Gone #2

Mystery 

High school senior and science whiz Nearly Boswell, called Leigh, is thrilled when she gets an internship in a forensic science lab, since it is a step toward college and a way out of the trailer park--but soon she finds herself the target of a serial killer, one who seems to know a lot about the residents of Sunny View Trailer Park as well as her absent father's secrets.

The Rest of Your Summer Reading ~ August New Books (part 1)

15 Dangerously Mad Projects for the Evil Genius by Simon Monk

Nonfiction 

This wickedly inventive guide explains how to design and build 15 fiendishly fun electronics projects. Filled with photos and illustrations, 15 Dangerously Mad Projects for the Evil Genius includes step-by-step directions, as well as a construction primer for those who are new to electronics projects.

Using easy-to-find components and equipment, this do-it-yourself book shows you how to create a variety of mischievous gadgets, such as a remote-controlled laser, motorized multicolored LEDs that write in the air, and a surveillance robot. You'll also learn to use the highly popular Arduino microcontroller board with three of the projects.

Avalon Rising by Kathryn Rose

Metal & Lace #2

Fantasy 

In the aftermath of Morgan le Fay’s war on Camelot, the once great kingdom struggles to rebuild. Knights scour the world, attempting to restore the Round Table’s glory by locating Avalon and the Holy Grail before the dreaded Black Knight can do so first.

Vivienne, Merlin’s former apprentice, toils in secret day and night to build an aeroship. The Lady of the Lake has seen the future and promised that the ship will ensure Camelot’s knights succeed in their quest.

But when an infantry of knights goes missing—including Owen, Vivienne’s brother, and Marcus, her beloved—Vivienne changes the plan and commandeers the aeroship for a rescue mission, altering the fates of all involved. Now, the Lady sees danger in Vivienne’s future. And for Marcus: either betrayal or death.

Batgirl of Burnside by Cameron Stewart

Batgirl #1

Graphic Novel 

It's Batgirl as you've never seen her before! Big changes are here for Barbara Gordon as she moves across Gotham City to begin a new chapter in her ongoing fight against crime as Batgirl! The new creative team of Cameron Stewart (BATMAN AND ROBIN, SEAGUY, SEVEN SOLDIERS), Brenden Fletcher and Babs Tarr set Barbara Gordon off in a brand-new direction in BATGIRL VOL. 1! Collects BATGIRL #35-40 and a story from SECRET ORIGINS #10

Beauty's Daughter by Carolyn Meyer

Historical Fiction 

When renowned beauty Helen runs off to Troy with Prince Paris, her enraged husband, King Menelaus, starts the Trojan War, leaving their plain daughter, Hermione, alone to witness the deaths of heroes on both sides and longing to find her own love and place in the world. Includes historical notes.

Beyond Championships: A Playbook for Winning at Life by Coach Dru Joyce II

Nonfiction 

In Beyond Championships Teen Edition, Coach Dru Joyce lays out the steps teens can follow to become winners on and off the court. Much more than a sports book, Beyond Championships Teen Edition is a blueprint for anyone looking to make better choices and reach their full potential. The book speaks to athletes aspiring to emulate LeBron's success, as well as anyone who feels either uninspired or unable to change the direction of their lives. In less than ten years, Coach Dru went from someone resigned to a dull-yet-stable existence to one of the highest profile basketball coaches in the country, despite having virtually no background in the sport. It was an incredible transformation, the type most people only dream of, but one Coach Dru proved can become a reality with the right combination of faith and hard work. 

New Books for June...Finally! (Part 1)

Hiya, I know this post is a little late!  These books are all ready and on the shelf for you to check out~

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Paranormal

Athena and Hermes' search for the cause of their life-threatening illnesses leads them to Cassandra, who may be key to a war started by Hera and other Olympians who have become anti-gods determined to destroy their rivals.

 

Ask the Dark by Henry Turner

Action/Adventure

Billy Zeets has a story to tell. About being a vandal and petty thief. About missing boys and an elusive killer. And about what happens if a boy who breaks all the rules is the only person who can piece together the truth.

Batman: vol 6: Graveyard Shift by Scott Snyder

Graphic Novel

Continues the "New 52" Batman storyline.

 Boys Don't Knit (in Public) by T. S. Easton

Contemporary Fiction

After a brush with the law, Ben, a dyed-in-the-wool worrier, must take up a new hobby and chooses knitting, an activity at which he excels but must try to keep secret from his friends, enemies, and sports-obsessed father.

 The Boys of Fire and Ash by Meaghan McIsaac

Fantasy

Urgle and two other Brothers of the Ikkuma Pit, where boys are abandoned at birth and learn to fend for themselves and rear their younger brothers, embark on a quest to rescue Urgle's brother, Cubby, who has been carried off by monsters into the forest from which no one has ever returned.

 

Thanks for the New Books! ~ November New Books Part 8

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

A publisher in New York asked me to write down what I know about the Greek gods, and I was like, Can we do this anonymously? Because I don't need the Olympians mad at me again. But if it helps you to know your Greek gods, and survive an encounter with them if they ever show up in your face, then I guess writing all this down will be my good deed for the week. So begins Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, in which the son of Poseidon adds his own magic--and sarcastic asides--to the classics. He explains how theworld was created, then gives readers his personal take on a who's who of ancients, from Apollo to Zeus. Percy does not hold back. 

The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny--especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in. Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that throws into question everything he believed about their mission. Faced with this revelation, Iolanthe struggles to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies--or forging a divergent path to an unknowable future. 

Playing for the Commandant by Suzy Zail

A young Jewish pianist at Auschwitz, desperate to save her family, is chosen to play at the camp commandant's house. How could she know she would fall in love with the wrong boy? "Look after each other . . . and get home safe. And when you do, tell everyone what you saw and what they did to us." These are Hanna's father's parting words to her and her sister when their family is separated at the gates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Her father's words -- and a black C-sharp piano key hidden away in the folds of her dress -- are all that she has left to remind her of life before. Before, Hanna was going to be a famous concert pianist. She was going to wear her yellow dress to a dance. And she was going to dance with a boy. But then the Nazis came. Now it is up to Hanna to do all she can to keep her mother and sister alive, even if that means playing piano for the commandant and his guests. Staying alive isn't supposed to include falling in love with the commandant's son. But Karl Jager is beautiful, and his aloofness belies a secret. And war makes you do dangerous things.

Press Play by Eric Devine

Does the truth really set you free? Pound by sweaty pound, Greg Dunsmore's plan is working. Greg is steadily losing weight while gaining the material he needs to make the documentary that will get him into film school and away from the constant jeers of "Dun the Tun." But when Greg captures footage of brutal and bloody hazing by his town's championship-winning lacrosse team, he knows he has evidence that could damage as much as it could save. And if the harm is to himself and his future, is revealing the truth worth the cost?

Romeo & Juliet adapted & illustrated by Gareth Hinds

She’s a Capulet. He’s a Montague. But when Romeo and Juliet first meet, they don’t know they’re from rival families — and when they find out, they don’t care. Their love is honest and raw and all consuming.But it’s also dangerous. How much will they have to sacrifice before they can be together?In a masterful adaptation faithful to Shakespeare’s original text, Gareth Hinds transports readers to the sun-washed streets and market squares of Shakespeare’s Verona, vividly bringing the classic play to life on the printed page.

New Books for March ~ Part 5

These Lying Eyes by Amanda Allen

How can the truest friends you’ve ever had be a curse? Perhaps when you’re the only one who can see them. But when the unseen world forces its way into Mina Roth’s life, she is forced to trust herself as never before. With an old friend, her lifelong companions, and a newly discovered faith in herself, Mina uncovers a hidden world and makes some startling discoveries about friendship, family, and what it means to love.

 Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Seven stories of passion and love separated by centuries but mysteriously intertwined--this is a tale of horror and beauty, tenderness and sacrifice. An archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact, an airman who finds himself far from home, a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and a Viking: the seven stories in this compelling novel all take place on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed where a curiously powerful plant that resembles a dragon grows. What binds these stories together? What secrets lurk beneath the surface of this idyllic countryside? And what might be powerful enough to break the cycle of midwinterblood?

 Twisted Myths: 20 Classic Stories with a Dark and Dangerous Heart by Maura McHugh

Readers may be familiar with these traditional tales of gods, demons, and tricksters but they've never heard them like this before! Award-winning fantasy author Maura McHugh revisits the popular myths of Loki, Odin, Cupid, and Psyche and others from Greek and Norse mythology--as well as lesser known fables from Africa, Asia, and the Americas--and gives them a macabre makeover. These gruesome myths of love, treachery, sacrifice and revenge include:

New books to spend the holidays with~ (Part 1)

Spiderman Big Time Ultimate Collection 

Peter Parker has finally hit the Big Time. He's a full-fledged Avenger, he just landed a high-paying science job, and he has an amazing new girlfriend. But big-time living means big-time pressure! When the Hobgoblin returns, Spidey will need a slick new edge to defeat him. And when the Scorpion targets J. Jonah Jameson and his loved ones, Spider-Man must grapple with matters of life and death in a moving and compelling tale. Then, Spidey is asked to join the FF, adding even more to his already overful plate. Peter has never been one to shirk his responsibility, but will all his new commitments prove too much to handle? Plus: a new and strangely familiar Venom makes his debut!

 Greek Mythology for Teens by Zach Hamby

"Greek Mythology for Teens" takes classical mythology to a new level by relating ancient stories to the culture, history, art, and literature of today. The book uses the innovative approach of reader's theater to teach mythology to teens, asking them to act out the stories and become engaged in a common learning experience. By looking at topics instrumental to both mythology and modern culture, teens are encouraged to question topics such as heroism, foolishness, love, and more. Each chapter builds on a particular theme found in the central myth and includes activities, discussion questions, and exercises that connect the myth to the modern world and everyday life. Visually appealing sidebars also give background on Greek and Roman mythology and culture. "Greek Mythology for Teens" takes the classic myths taught in school and turns them into an engaging, interesting, and modern way of looking at old material.

 Foul Trouble by John Feinstein

Terrell Jamerson is the #1 high school basketball player in the country. His team is poised to win State, top colleges are lining up to give him scholarships, and everyone says he could play in the NBA tomorrow. But it only takes one false step to lose everything. Danny Wilcox is Terrell's best friend and teammate, and a top prospect himself, but these days it seems like "everyone" wants to get close to Terrell: the sneaker guys, the money managers, the college boosters. They show up offering fast cars, hot girls, and cold, hard cash. They say they just want to help, but their kind of help could get Terrell disqualified. Danny and Terrell better keep their eyes on the ball if they hope to last the season. John Feinstein has been praised as "the best writer of sports books in America today" ("The Boston Globe"), and he proves it again in this fast-paced novel.

Michael Vey: Battle of the Ampere by Richard Paul Evans

The hair-raising action continues for Michael Vey in this charged third installment of the #1 "New York Times "bestselling series. Michael, Taylor, Ostin and the rest of the Electroclan have destroyed the largest of the Elgen Starxource plants, but now they're on the run. The Elgen have teamed up with the Peruvian army to capture them, and only Michael remains free. With his friends due to stand trial for terrorism--a charge that may carry the death penalty--Michael will need all his wits and his abilities if he's to save them. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Dr. Hatch and his loyal Electric Children have seized control of the "E.S. Ampere"--the super yacht the Elgen use as their headquarters. With the seven ships of the Elgen fleet now under his control, Hatch heads back to Peru to gather his army and begin his quest for global domination. Michael must free his friends then find a way to stop Hatch, but Hatch knows Michael and the Electroclan are coming. And he's ready for them. Can the Electroclan win the battle of the "Ampere"? Or has Michael's luck finally run out? 

Invasion by Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers brilliantly renders the realities of World War II. Josiah Wedgewood and Marcus Perry are on their way to an uncertain future. Their whole lives are ahead of them, yet at the same time, death's whisper is everywhere. One white, one black, these young men have nothing in common and everything in common as they approach an experience that will change them forever. It's May 1944. World War II is ramping up, and so are these young recruits, ready and eager. In small towns and big cities all over the globe, people are filled with fear. When Josiah and Marcus come together in what will be the greatest test of their lives, they learn hard lessons about race, friendship, and what it really means to fight. Set on the front lines of the Normandy invasion, this novel, rendered with heart-in-the-throat precision, is a cinematic masterpiece. Here we see the bold terror of war, and also the nuanced havoc that affects a young person's psyche while living in a barrack, not knowing if today he will end up dead or alive.

New Books for your Dog Days of August (part 2)

Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Paranormal

After being tricked into releasing the gods from their capitiviy on Olympus, Helen Hamilton must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devasting war, all while fighting the ever-growing passion she feels for her forbidden love, Lucas Delos.

Sailor Moon, vol. 12 by Naoko Takeuchi

Graphic Novel

As Galaxia picks off one Sailor Guardian after another, even those of the outer planets, Usagi finds new companions to help her fight her most nefarious enemy yet.  

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Malencia (Cia) Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing.

Awaken by Meg Cabot

Paranormal

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn't want him to let go. Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she'd be forced to live forever in the one place she's always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant shecould be with the boy she loves. But now her happiness - and safety - are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul. If the balance between life and death isn't fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce's home back on earth will be wiped away. But there's only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.

 Fabulous Teen Hairstyles by Eric Mayost
Nonfiction
Learn how to create fabulous hairstyles with step-by-step color photographs.

April Teen Book Club Recap - NOBODY'S PRINCESS

Hey YAs, the TBC met on Tuesday to discuss Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner.  Here are the discussion questions we used~

1.  What did you think of the book in general?
2.  Did you have a favorite character? (Besides Helen of course)
3.  How was Helen's relationship with her sister?
4.  How was Helen's relationship with her brothers?  How was it different from her relationship with her sister?
5.  Why is it important for Helen to understand herself as 'the pretty one' or the 'future queen?'  Why is seeing herself in the mirror important to her?
6.  Why did Helen want to train to fight?
7.  How important is religion & mythology in their lives?  Why does the King dislike Athena?
8.  Did you have a favorite scene in the book?
9.  What did you think of the writing style?
10.  Ratings and final thoughts!

Here are our ratings~

Clare - 7.5/10 - Would be a great summer read since the writing flows easily.
Melanie - 7/10 - It made me enjoy Greek mythology and it was one of the better YA books I've read recently.
MissG - 7.5/10 - An interesting and unique historical fiction that caught my attention right away and kept it throughout the book.

If you liked Nobody's Princess then you may enjoy:

Nobody's Prize by Esther Friesner - Still longing for adventure, Princess Helen of Sparta maintains her disguise as a boy to join her unsuspecting brothers as part of the crew of the Argo, the ship commanded by Prince Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter -  Eden, Michigan, high school student Kate Winters strikes a bargain with Henry, Greek god of the underworld, if he'll cure her dying mother of cancer. The bargain she strikes with him is a grim one, but the full enormity of what she has undertaken--"live forever or die trying"--is not revealed until it's too late to recant.

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs - When her mother suddenly decides to marry a near-stranger, Phoebe, whose passion is running, soon finds herself living on a remote Greek island, completing her senior year at an ancient high school where the students and teachers are all descended from gods or goddesses.

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman - Persephone runs off to the Underworld with Hades, with whom she has fallen in love, but when her mother Demeter threatens to destroy the earth to save her, Persephone finds a way to come back once a year, bringing spring.

For the month of May we are reading:

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents.

Copies of the book are available at the front desk.

Discussion & snack on Tues., May 28th 6:30-7:30pm

New Books for May (part 4)

The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand by Gregory Galloway

A bored, self-absorbed teenager commits suicide and later wakes up alive, physically unharmed--thirty-nine times.

Rise by Anna Carey

In the stunning conclusion to Anna Carey's thrilling dystopian trilogy, Eve has the fate of The New America in her hands.

The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Kate finds herself faced with the choice of saving her unborn child along with all of humanity but losing Henry and her mother.

This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Perfect strangers Graham Larkin and Ellie O'Neill meet online when Graham accidentally sends Ellie an e-mail about his pet pig, Wilbur. The two 17-year-olds strike up an e-mail relationship from opposite sides of the country and don't even know each other's first names. What's more, Ellie doesn't know Graham is a famous actor, and Graham doesn't know about the big secret in Ellie's family tree. When the relationship goes from online to in-person, they find out whether their relationship can be the real thing.