Better Off Read

January Recap

2012-01-13T09:57:00.001-05:00

Our first meeting of 2012 was last night. It was good to see both new and returning members. We discussed Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. I am happy to say that everyone really enjoyed the book despite the fact that many book clubbers don't typically read historical fiction. The novel is about teenager Mattie Cook's attempts to survive the yellow fever epidemic that hit Philadelphia in 1793, killing nearly 10% of the population. Book club members said that Mattie's story felt very real, which shows that the author put a lot of time into researching the fever epidemic to capture not only the panic that many people experienced but also the bravery of the volunteers who risked their lives to aid the sick.

Next month we will be discussing Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, author of The Giver. Gathering Blue is set in a primitive society without modern technology. Everyone must fend for themselves. When Kira becomes orphaned and physically disabled, she is taken to live at the palatial Council Edifice. Here, she must use her talent as a weaver to help the powerful Guardians who rule the village. Kira must decide whether to try to leave and find freedom, or stay and try to change the way things are. If you weren't at last night's meeting, come to the Children and Young Adult information desk to pick up a copy of the book.

For Hunger Games fans, if you haven't seen the trailer, you should definitely check it out. We also have a booklist called "If You Liked the Hunger Games" featuring books that will appeal to fans of the series, including Unwound by Neal Shusterman, which was mentioned last night. The list is available in print in the Young Adult section of the library, or on our website here.

Finally, here are a few of the new books recently added to our Young Adult collection:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie considers herself a normal teenager. But most teenagers don't work for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Evie's ex-boyfriend is a faerie, and her new crush is a shape-shifter. Also, she is the only person able to see through paranormals' glamours. Evie will soon discover she is in the middle of a dark faerie prophecy that will bring destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

Three Quarters Dead - Richard Peck

Kerry is the new girl at school trying to fit in. When the popular girls pick her to be part of their clique, she thinks her problems are solved. When her three new best friends are killed in a car accident, Kerry feels like her life is over, too. Until she begins receiving mysterious texts...

Enthralled - edited by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr

Enthralled contains fourteen paranormal stories united by a common theme of road trips. Featured authors include Cami Garcia, Carrie Ryan, Jackson Pearce, Ally Condie and Kimberly Derting.

New titles @ APL

2011-12-27T10:33:00.010-05:00

Looking for something to read over the holidays? Lots of new books have arrived @ APL:

Winter's Knight by Richard Argent

As a boy, Andrew's fate was revealed to him by the ghost of a murderer. Now, he is determined to ride in the Crusades. While he may find glory battling in the Crusades, Andrew also risks becoming entangled in Templar politics. One thing is certain - Andrew will face many test before he can return home.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond
Studious Evan plans to attend an Ivy League school. Every year, he looks forward to a visit from Lucy, his childhood best friend, who moved away after her parents' divorce. When Lucy arrives, she's a totally different person - chopped-off, dyed-black hair, nose ring and a bad attitude. Evan is determined to bring out the "Old Lucy" he remembers so well, but have these two friends grown too far apart? This book, told from Evan's and Lucy's perspectives, features text, comic strips and art.

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman

Newcomer Shayne Black causes a stir when he confesses to a murder shortly after his arrival in town. It's hard to believe a quiet guy like Shayne who keeps to himself would be capable of murder. But how well does anyone really know him?

Howl by Karen Hood-Caddy

When Robin's mother dies, her father moves the family to a small town to stay with Robin's eccentric grandmother. Feeling hurt and angry, Robin decides not to care about anything or anyone - until she saves her pregnant dog from drowning. Robin begins rescuing other animals and rehabilitating them in what becomes an illegal animal shelter. When she is caught, can she find a way to save her shelter, and the animals?

Vintage Veronica by Erica S. Perl

Veronica Walsh is overweight and doesn't have many friends. When she lands a job in the Employees Only section of a vintage clothing store it's a dream come true. But when two of the other salesgirls befriend her, encouraging her to spy on the socially awkward stock boy, what started as a prank turns into something unexpected.

Princess Knight by Osama Tezuka

Set in mediveal times, Princess Knight is the story of a courageous young princess named Sapphire who must pretend to be a male in order to take the throne because women aren't allowed to rule. Can she win her rightful place on the throne?

Also available:

Gossip Girl: For Your Eyes Only by HyeKyung Baek and Cecily von Ziegesar (graphic novel)
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Buried Thunder by Tim Bowler
Bite Club by Rachel Caine
Reckoning by Lili St. Crow
Happyface by Stephen Emond
Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
The Mourning Emporium by Michelle Lovric
7 Souls by Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando
Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach by Barbara Nickel
Justin Thyme by Panama Oxridge
Legacy by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Torn by Robin Wasserman

New @ APL

2011-12-15T18:50:00.000-05:00

More new titles have arrived:

Ultraviolet by B.J. Anderson

Alison wakes up in a mental hospital. As she pieces her memory back together, she realizes she's confessed to killing Tori Beaugrand, a popular girl at school. But Tori's body has never been found. As Alison struggles to figure out what happened, she discovers she has strange sensory abilities that could explain the strange events surrounding her.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

The sequel to Clockwork Angel finds Tessa safe with the Shadowhunters. But her safety is jeopardized when a rogue group within the Clave plots to overthrow Charlottte, her protector, leaving Tessa vulnerable to the Magister, who has his own dark plans for her. With the help of Jem and Will, Tessa tries to understand the secrets of the past, including her own parentage and the real reason the Magister despises the Shadowhunters.

Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul by Leanna Renee Hieber

In this historical novel, Natalie Stewart is obsessed with the painting of handsome Lord Denbury, who is said to have committed suicide. As it turns out, Denbury's soul has been trapped by dark magic while his possessed body commits crimes in the streets of Manhattan. Now, he must lure Natalie through the painting so that together they can end the curse and free his soul.

In Trouble by Ellen Levine

The year is 1956. Best friends Elaine and Jamie are both pregnant - Elaine by her boyfriend and Jamie as the result of date rape. Both thought getting "in trouble" was something that only happened to other girls. This book explores the difficult choices pregnant teenage girls faced back in the 1950s.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Many people don't know the hot springs and geysers in Yellowstone National Park are caused by an underlying supervolcano. Alex's perfect weekend of freedom with no parents around, hanging out with friends and playing video games is interrupted when the supervolcano erupts, covering the town is darkness and ash. Alex braves the violence in the streets to search for his family, hoping he can survive.

New books @ APL

2011-12-09T12:56:00.001-05:00

More new titles have arrived at APL!

Almost True by Karen David

In this sequel to When I Was Joe, Ty and his mother are in hiding from a group of gangsters. But a vicious attack and a bullet meant for Ty prove he's still not safe. Ty goes to live with grandparents he's never met - his absentee father's parents. He begins to learn the truth about his family, all the while missing his girlfriend, Claire, who he's been forced to leave behind. Will she betray him to the wrong people? This suspenseful book will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (Audiobook)

Brookyln: Andi Alpers is angry - at her father for leaving, at her mother for being unable to handle it, and about her younger brother's death. She's about to be expelled from private school when her father insists she join him in Paris for winter break.

Paris: Alexandrine Paradis, who lived two centuries ago, dreamed of making her debut on the Paris stage. But a fateful encounter with a French prince trapped her in a role she didn't want and couldn't escape.

When Andi discovers Alexandrine's journal, she finds comfort in the other girl's words. Until a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris results in the past becoming terrifyingly present...

Jane by April Lindner

In this retelling of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, the sudden death of her parents forces Jane Moore to leave college and take a job as a nanny at Thornfield Park, home of famous rock star Nico Rathburn. Sensible Jane finds herself drawn to brooding Nico, but he is keeping a dark secret. As the mystery surrounding Nico's past unravels, Jane must decide how far she will go for true love.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

When Delilah Hannaford's grandmother dies, she and her mother, Claire, and her aunt Rachel head to the family lake house to tie up loose ends - with the estate and with the family. Claire and Rachel had been estranged from their mother for the past eight years. Over the course of the summer, Delilah uncovers several family secrets and starts a new romance with a childhood friend. Ockler's novel is an emotional tale of self-discovery and family bonds.

Vampire Kisses: Graveyard Games by Ellen Schreiber (art by Xian Nu Studio)

Raven is a goth in a small town and just happens to be dating a vampire named Alexander. Alexander's vampire cousin Claude and his friends are in town, and they become involved in the production of Cinderella for which Raven is designing costumes. Raven suspects Claude has an ulterior motive for his involvement in the play, and it may have something to do with the leading lady. Can Raven and Alexander keep an eye on the vampires and still make sure the play goes off without a hitch?

December Book Club Recap

2011-12-09T11:55:00.000-05:00

This month's book club pick was Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury. When Dylan's Scout troop goes camping on a remote Hawaiian island, he's less than excited about spending time with bully Louie Domingo. But when an earthquake hits, followed by a tsunami, Dylan and Louie must learn to work together in order to survive. Book club members felt the novel could have used more character development. Several characters are introduced early on in the book, but not much information is given about their backgrounds. We also discussed Dylan's and Louie's leadership skills and how their relationship changes at the end of the book.

We will be starting a new book club session in January. If you haven't signed up, you can do so at the Children and Young Adult information desk on the second floor of the library. Our first meeting will be January 12 at 7:00 p.m. We will be reading Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. This historical novel tells the story of a teenager named Mattie who must flee her home after an outbreak of yellow fever. Can she stay alive?

Looking forward to seeing everyone in January!

New Titles @ APL

2011-12-06T16:08:00.000-05:00

If you need something new to read, check out these new titles @ APL:

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Alex's world is ripped apart when an electromagnetic pulse destroys all electronic devices and kills billions of people. On her quest to find out what caused it, she meets up with fellow survivors Tom, a solider, and Ellie, an orphaned little girl. Together they must evade the Changed, a group of flesh-eating zombies. But as Alex and her friends encounter more survivors, they soon discover that humans can be monsters too. Ashes is the first book in an exciting new trilogy.

Bunheads by Sophie Flack

Hannah has devoted her whole life to ballet and is now a dancer with the prestigious Manhattan Ballet Academy. When she meets Jacob, a talented musician, she must decide whether she wants to continue fighting for the soloist spot she's always dreamed of or leave the world of ballet behind to follow her heart. A fascinating look at the world of professional dance.

Double or Nothing by Dennis Foon

Kip places bets on everything, from card games to his teachers' behaviour. Then he falls for Joey, whose father is a compulsive gambler willing to teach Kip everything he knows. Soon, Kip's gambling is spinning out of control. Will he lose everything?

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

In this sequel to Birthmarked, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone has only her baby sister, a few supplies, and a rumour to guide her o her journey. She is captured by the people of Sylum, a society in which women rule over men and a kiss is considered a crime. In order to see her sister again, she must abide by the society's strict rules. But what happens when she falls in love?

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

The daughter of Lucifer, Daphne is half-demon and half-fallen angel. When her brother, Obie, is kidnapped, she fears it may be her fault. Leaving her home in Pandemonium, Daphne sets out for Earth to find him. With the help of a human boy who was the last person to see Obie alive, she is able to see into his dreams and find clues to Obie's whereabouts. Along the way, she discovers what it means to be human.

New books @ APL!

2011-11-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

Looking for something to read? Check out one of these new titles!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

From Amazon.ca:

If a violent battle destroyed the only world you’ve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, there’s no turning back.

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

Pulse-pounding and addictive, GLOW begins the most riveting series since The Hunger Games.

Kill All Enemies by Melvin Burgess

From Goodreads.com:

Everyone says fourteen-year-old Billie is nothing but trouble. A fighter. A danger to her family and friends. But her care worker sees someone different. Her classmate Rob is big, strong; he can take care of himself and his brother. But his violent stepdad sees someone to humiliate. And Chris is struggling at school; he just doesn't want to be there. But his dad sees a useless no-hoper. Billie, Rob and Chris each have a story to tell. But there are two sides to every story, and the question is ...who do you believe?

The Fifth Rule by Don Aker

From Goodreads.com:

Reef has been living in Calgary for the past year but now he's back in Halifax for the funeral of Frank Colville - his former mentor. Memories of Frank compete with memories of Leeza and the terrible way their relationship ended. Mindful that the restraining order against him has been renewed by Leeza's mother, Reef has no intention of staying in Halifax for long.

Leeza, in the meantime, is feeling stifled by her mother's concern. A first-year university student at Dalhousie, she is kicking herself for not attending university out of town.

Despite Reef's best efforts to stay away, circumstances quickly unfold to push him and Leeza ever closer to each other. An eager political crusader wants to close Reef's former group home and he will stop at nothing to get media attention including manipulating news items -- Reef is shocked to discover that he has been photographed outside Leeza's house and is therefore in violation of the restraining order. Finding himself at the centre of growing controversy Reef is pushed to his limits.

Before he leaves town Reef must face his demons and make some tough choices or else risk losing everything he has ever worked for including the only girl he has ever loved

Dragon's Oath by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

From Goodreads.com:

In early 19th century England, long before he’s a professor at the Tulsa House of Night, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything…until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world.... In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…

But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all?

Chance to Dance for You by Gail Sidonie Sobat

From Amazon.ca:

Sometimes keeping a secret is harder than telling the truth. Ian lives in a suburb where everything’s the same. The houses are the same, the cars are the same, and their aspirations are the same. But Ian is different. Openly gay in his bigoted high school, Ian doesn’t exactly fit in. But he’s not worried - he’s been training in dance for a long time and soon he’ll be able to leave town and train to become a professional. Then he falls in love with Jess, the high school quarterback...

November Book Club Recap

2011-11-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

I had a great time meeting with everyone book club last night! We discussed the book Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. Flipped is told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Juli and Bryce. This gave us the chance to see both sides of the story and made it easier to understand where the characters were coming from. We also discussed open vs. closed endings. Some Book Club'ers prefer a happy ending where the conflicts in the story are resolved, while others prefer books that are more open-ended because this gives us a chance to imagine what happened after the book ends.

Next month, we'll be reading Night of the Howling Dogs by Grahan Salisbury. In this exciting adventure novel, Dylan's camping trip to Hawaii with his Scout troop is turned upside-down when both an earthquake and a tsunami hit the area. The book is based on a true story and is sure to keep readers captivated.

The next book club meeting is Thursday, December 8. At the December meeting, you'll be able to sign up for our winter session, which starts January 12, 2012. See you in December!

And We're Off

2011-10-18T09:42:00.000-04:00

Hi All!

What a fun first meeting! It was great to meet all of you and see what you like to read. Just to recap, this month we are reading Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (which was also made into a feature film). I love this book and I hope will enjoy it too!

We also discussed asking Rick Riordan some questions about his popular book series. I have some bad news - he does not accept questions via e-mail, facebook or twitter. But, check out his FAQs for answers to some of your questions.

For you horror fans, here are some suggestions:

Bloodline by Kate Cary
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lisa McBride
Gentlemen by Michael Northrop
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

First Meeting on October 13th

2011-10-11T15:42:00.000-04:00

Hi All!

It's that time again. The Better Off Read Book Club start this Thursday, on October 13th at 7:00 p.m. Spaces are still available. If you are in Grades 8, 9 or 10 and love to read, then register today! You can reach the Children and Young Adult Services Department at (905) 727-9493 option 5. Visit our website for more details.

See you there!

Fall is right around the corner...

2011-08-18T14:34:00.000-04:00

... Which means that Book Club will soon be back in full swing!

Welcome to the Grade 8, 9, 10 Book Club blog! If you are a returning member you probably noticed that we have a new name (Better Off Read) for the new session! I am very excited for this year's meetings; we have some terrific books to discuss, and I think that they will evoke strong feelings and opinions from all of our members.

Please note that the first fall meeting will take place on Thursday October 13. Members, new and returning, are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to guarantee a spot in our amazing club. Additional information will soon be available in the library (Children and Young Adult Desk, 2nd floor), and on our website: http://www.library.aurora.on.ca/. I am more than happy to address any questions you may have.

See you soon!
Sydnie

April Book Club Re-cap!

2011-04-21T15:56:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who made it to this month's discussion! We were able to chat about various books that have been made into movies, why we thought this was a good (or bad) idea, and talked a lot about one of the most anticipated "book-into-movie" releases: The Hunger Games! The consensus was that we are a little nervous over some of the casting (we're looking at you, Liam Hemsworth), and really hope that the details are accurate! Lucky attendees also received copies of ARC's (library lingo for copies of books that haven't yet been finalized, but are still awesome), posters, and some fun bookmarks!

The final Book Club meeting of this school year will be held next month on May 12th! Can you believe it? We will be reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie as a wrap-up for our year. Be sure to stop by the C&YA Info Desk to pick-up your copy - it's a great book!

Questions, comments or concerns? Drop-by and let me know!

--Sydnie

New titles @ APL!

2011-04-08T15:35:00.001-04:00

Tired of school work? Need a break? Here are a few fabulous titles that are available (or will be soon) @ APL!

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book #4 of The Mortal Instruments series

From Amazon.ca:

"Who will be tempted by darkness? Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart? And who will betray everything they ever believed in?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever."

Vague description? Perhaps. Intriguing? You bet!

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
(Follow-up to If I Stay)

From Goodreads.com:

"It's been three years since the devastating accident ... three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance."

Angry Young Man by Chris Lynch

From Amazon.ca:

"In Angry Young Man, award-winning author Chris Lynch takes us into the mind of a boy whose journey of self-discovery leads to the unthinkable."

Wondering what "the unthinkable" is? You'll have to pick this one up off the YA shelf!

Got a book review you want to share? We want to hear it! Send your review to:

yamagazine (at) library.aurora.on.ca.

(Be sure to include your name & email address)

Book Club - 2 week countdown!

2011-03-29T14:07:00.008-04:00

March is almost over! That means our next Book Club meeting is in TWO WEEKS! Join us for a riveting chat that will focus on our love (or like. Or maybe dislike. It's up to you!) of Books Into Movies. We'll chat about our titles, why we think they were adapted into films, make comparisons/contrasts between the two, and discuss our overall opinions.

If you haven't stopped in to claim your title, there's still time! Come see us at the Children & YA Info Desk so we can record what you're reading.

We will also discuss a possible NEW name for the Book Club. Come prepared with your amazing ideas. It's YOUR club, you deserve a say in what it's called! See you Thursday, April 14th. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel! Er... I mean, 7pm. In the MA Room (2nd floor).

And for your viewing pleasure, the trailer for the movie adaptation of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.

Enjoy! --Sydnie

March Book Club Re-cap!

2011-03-13T13:39:00.008-04:00

Thanks to all who came out last Thursday despite the miserable, rainy weather!

We had a chance to discuss Nick Hornby's Slam in detail, as well as representations of teen pregnancy in the media (e.g. MTV's Teen Mom, Gilmore Girls). The majority of Book Club'ers felt that this book was realistic, but everyone seemed to be bothered that Sam talked so much to his Tony Hawk poster! Although everyone thought it was interesting that the protagonist of the novel was male, they also felt that the female characters (Sam's mom and Alicia for example) should have been more developed to make for a better story.

Remember that next month the theme is "Books into Movies." Stop by the library to sign-up for the title you want to read!

Happy March Break to all!

--Sydnie

April Heads-Up!

2011-03-01T12:10:00.008-05:00

Hey Book-Club'ers!

I imagine you're just finishing up Slam for this month's meeting (if you haven't already finished!) but I wanted to give you a list of potential titles you may choose for our April meeting. Remember, it's the "Books into Movies" theme and we're trying to have everyone read a different title. If you have any questions or still need help choosing a book, OR you know what book you want to read (we need to record it!) stop by the Children & YA Info Desk and talk to some of our wonderful staff!

Happy Reading!

--Sydnie

Books Into Movies

(A few suggestions...)

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. FIC Auste

Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. JFIC Boyne

Cabot, Meg. The Princess Diaries series. YA FIC Cabot

Cohn, Rachel & David Leviathan. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. YA FIC Cohn

Cross, Shauna. Whip It (original title: Derby Girl) YA FIC Cross

Dessen, Sarah. How to Deal. YA FIC Desse

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. JFIC Gaim

Goldman, William. The Princess Bride. FIC Goldm

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. YA FIC Hinto

O'Malley, Brian. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. YA 741.5 O'Mall / GB FIC O'Mall

Picoult, Jodi. My Sister's Keeper. YA FIC Picou

Sachar, Louis. Holes. JFIC Sacha

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. GB NF 955.054092 Sat

Swarup, Vikas. Slumdog Millionaire (original title: Q&A). FIC Swaru

This list is by no means comprehensive. Check the YA Info Board on the second floor for more titles.

February Book Club Wrap-Up

2011-02-12T16:01:00.004-05:00

What we learned from our February Book Club meeting...

Most of our members don't really enjoy fantasy as a genre. Some of the genres that the members DO enjoy include: horror, romance (mostly historical or action-romance), realistic fiction, and mystery.

Next month's book selection is...

This is definitely realistic fiction (with a British slant - you may even end up learning some new slang), and contains some mature (though important) subject matter. We're looking forward to reading something that doesn't involve magic or fantastical beings for a change!

April will bring a different spin on the 8-9-10 Book Club. Instead of reading the same book, we will be doing a themed club focusing on "Books into Films". A list with some ideas for you will be added both here on the blog, and to the Teen Information bulletin board on the second floor.

*Once you have determined which book you would like to read, please let me know and I will record it. We want to try and have everyone read a different book this time!*

And remember: there is more to this category than Twilight or Harry Potter (as great as they are).

Questions, concerns, or ideas? Pay me a visit at the Children & YA Info Desk!

--Sydnie

Read and Read-Alike!

2011-02-09T09:57:00.005-05:00

Hey all,

If you finished The Water Mirror and thought, "hmm, I wish there was a sequel", guess what? Not only is there a sequel, but The Water Mirror is part of the Dark Reflections TRILOGY. That's right, a 3 book series! If you're intrigued and want to know what happens to Merle, check out The Stone Light and The Glass Word.

If you're looking for some read-alike suggestions, perhaps you might be interested in:

Cornelia Funke - author of the popular Inkheart series. She also has a bunch of other stand-alone titles, including the newest, Reckless (released September 2010).

Scott Westerfeld - known for the Uglies series, Westerfeld also wrote the popular steampunk fiction (historical fiction + new technologies = amazing!) Leviathan and Behemoth.

If you're looking for something a little more adult, anything by William Gibson is sure to be a hit (Familiar with cyberpunk fiction? Well, he created that! If you're not familiar, definitely check it out!). Pattern Recognition is one of my favourites!

--Sydnie

February Meeting

2011-02-07T15:14:00.006-05:00

The next meeting is quickly approaching - have you read your book yet? The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer is available at the Children & YA Info desk. Pick up your copy today!

See you at our next meeting (this Thursday Feb 10th @ 7:00pm)!

--Sydnie

APL Poetry Contest!

2011-02-02T14:19:00.005-05:00

The Poetry Contest is back! Read on...

(Click to enlarge)

Calling All Writers & Artists!

2011-01-28T08:56:00.007-05:00

Have something to say? Let yourself be heard!

(Click to enlarge poster)

January Discussion... And more!

2011-01-18T16:51:00.009-05:00

Hi everyone!

Thanks to all who made it out last week to discuss The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz-Zafon. The consensus is that it was a pretty creepy horror book that left everyone with questions. At the end of the night, we wrote questions to the author and I am working on getting them sent to him. If we're lucky we'll get a reply and learn more about the writing of The Prince of Mist, as well as Ruiz-Zafon's life and career in general.

If you enjoyed the book and are looking for some read-alikes, you may want to try:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Pretty much anything by Stephen King (if you're brave enough!)
The City of Bones (or any Cassandra Clare title)
Anything by Darren Shan

Looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting, and stay tuned to the blog for answers to the questions posed to Carlos Ruiz-Zafon!

Come in to the library to pick-up the February pick for Book Club if you haven't already got it!

--Sydnie

January 2011 Book Club

2011-01-04T16:51:00.009-05:00

Welcome to 2011, everyone! For this month's meeting, we will be discussing The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. This is Ruiz Zafon's first YA novel, and we're looking forward to hearing what you thought about it. If you're feeling adventurous you may want to try one of his adult novels - The Shadow of the Wind is particularly wonderful (albeit long!).

See you next Thursday the 13th!

--Sydnie

2010-12-03T16:26:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks to all of you who made it out to the last meeting, our first official 'discussion' meeting! We had a great turnout and some intriguing thoughts on the book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

I loved hearing all of your various opinions, (some of which were quite strong!) even though I had hoped more of you would like the book since it's one of my favourites (although I admit I didn't enjoy reading it this time as much as I did the first time).

Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying the next book, which is:

The City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau

For those of you who have finished reading this already (or for those of you who have read this before and aren't planning to re-read it - and I know who you are!) and are who are looking for something to tide you over until the meeting, here are some read-alikes for The City of Ember:

Feed - M.T. Anderson (YA FIC Ander)
The Kindling - Jennifer Armstrong (YA FIC Armst)
The House of the Scorpion - Nancy Farmer (YA FIC Farme)
Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry (YA FIC Lowry)
Shade's Children - Garth Nix (YA FIC Nix)
Mortal Engines - Phillip Reeve (YA FIC Reeve)
The Uglies - Scott Westerfield (YA FIC Weste)

Hope you enjoy them, let me know what you think!

Looking forward to hearing all about it at the next meeting on Thursday, December 9th - same time, same place.

Until then, take care and happy reading,

Jennifer

2010-11-04T17:59:00.001-04:00

Hi Guys,

Hope you're all enjoying our first Book Club selection:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon

I love this book and I'm really looking forward to hearing what you all thought about it (even if it's negative) at our next meeting, which is Thursday, November 11th, 7-8 p.m.

For those of you who have finished the book and would like to read something similar, here's a list of books that are like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - in one way or another. Some of these have characters who have Autism or Aspergers, and some of these have characters that have a unique outlook or eccentric way of life. If you get a chance to read some of these, please let me know what you think!!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (YA FIC Chbos)
Episodes: My Life as I See It - Blaze Ginsberg (YA FIC Ginsb)
Straydog - Kathe Koja (YA FIC Koja)
Sorta Like a Rockstar: A Novel - Matthew Quick (YA FIC Quick)
Borderline - Bonnie Rozanski (YA FIC Rozan)
Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli (YA FIC Spine)
Marcelo in the Real World - Francisco X. Stork (YA FIC Stork)
See You Down the Road - Kim Ablon Whitney (YA FIC Whitn)

See you soon & Happy Reading,

Jennifer

2010-10-13T15:34:00.002-04:00

Hello & welcome to the Grade 8, 9 & 10 Book Club Blog!!

The first meeting of the 2010-2011 session is Thursday, October 14th 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Marjorie Andrews Room and I hope you all can make it.

Once again this year we'll be reading books from different genres and having discussions about everything we read!

The blog will be updated after each meeting, but if any of you have any comments or ideas you'd like to add to the website, please feel free to do so!

See you all soon,

Jennifer

2010-04-30T11:53:00.004-04:00

Hi Guys,

Hope you're all enjoying the lovely spring weather!

I was very sorry to miss the last meeting, but I know Monika said she had a great time. She was very happy to get to talk with you all about Ender's Game, which she loves! Monika claims that everyone who reads this book LOVES IT, so I plan to read it to see if it can cure me of my stubborn dislike of Sci-Fi.

Anyway, I will be at the next meeting (our last for the year), which is on Thursday, May 13th 7-8 p.m.

I think most of you already have the book for May, but if not, please drop by the Children and Young Adult Information Desk on the 2nd floor to pick up a copy.

And for those of you who missed the reveal during the last meeting, our book for May is:

Hope Was Here
by
Joan Bauer

I hope to see you all at the meeting! If you have any other books from the book club that you haven't yet returned, please bring them along.

Happy Reading,
Jennifer

2010-03-27T16:10:00.004-04:00

Hi Guys,

Just a quick reminder about our Young Adult Poetry contest which is on now!

When we spoke with Sylvia McNicoll, she mentioned that participating in local writing contests are a great way for aspiring young authors to get their start! In addition to the Poetry Contest, we're also searching for The Next Great Canadian Writer - so get writing!

For full details, visit our website at:

http://www.library.aurora.on.ca/dynamic/ya/YAProgramViewer.php

2010-03-27T15:17:00.014-04:00

The Grade 8 & 9 Book Club selection for the April meeting is:

Ender's Game

by

Orson Scott Card

** The next meeting will take place on Thursday, April 8th, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

2010-03-27T13:26:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,

Thanks to all of you who attended the last meeting! We had a great turnout, an excellent discussion and best of all, a very special guest appearance (via Skype) from Sylvia McNicoll, the author of our book for March Last Chance for Paris.

This was the first time we've had the opportunity to chat with an author about their book and I was thrilled that we were able to speak with Sylvia for such a long time and about such varied topics as Last Chance for Paris, dogs, travel, writing, getting published and reading interests in general.

This was also the first time that everyone actually liked the book! From our discussion, I'd say what we liked is that the characters were realistic and likeable, and also that there was so much going on in the plot: action, adventure, family relationships, mystery, romance, suspense, teen angst, and of course Paris the wolf/dog. Everyone in our book club seems to love dogs (but NOT chihuahuas)!!

It was also very interesting to learn that Last Chance for Paris is the first book of a series (which has unfortunately only been published in Norwegian and Swedish). Luckily Sylvia was kind enough to let us know some of what happens in the rest of the series. Still, it would be nice if the rest of the series were published in English so we could read the books for ourselves.

We're also looking forward to Sylvia's next book Dying To Go Viral, which even includes some elements of fantasy and is sure to be popular with our book club members.

For more information about Sylvia McNicoll and her books, check out her website at: http://www.sylviamcnicoll.com/index.html

Sylvia also has a blog and this particlar entry will be of interest to you because she mentions us! Check it out:
http://sylviamcnicoll.blogspot.com/2010/03/writer-talks-on-voice-without-one.html

Anyway, I had a great time and I hope you all did too!
I won't be able to attend the next book club meeting, but someone who LOVES this month's book will be there to see what you guys thought of it.

Have fun and happy reading,

Jennifer

2010-02-22T16:39:00.009-05:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks to those of you who made it out to the last meeting. It ended up being 2 0r 3 mini meetings, but it was fun! And we all agreed on one thing: synaesthesia is interesting!

The book for this month is:

Last Chance for Paris

by Sylvia McNicoll

To be discussed at our next meeting: Thursday, March 11th, 2010.

See you there!!

2010-02-22T16:01:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks to those of you who made it out to the last meeting - it ended up being 2 or 3 mini meetings instead of a regular one, but we all agreed on one thing: synaesthasia is interesting!

Our next book is:

Last Chance

for Paris

By Sylvia McNicoll

* To be discussed at the next meeting: Thursday, March 11th, 2010.

APL Grade 8 & 9 Book Club

2010-02-08T11:29:00.004-05:00

Selection for January (to be discussed at the February meeting):

A Mango-Shaped Space

by Wendy Mass

The next meeting is Thursday, February 11th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
It should be a good one - I hope to see you all there!!

January meeting

2010-02-08T10:57:00.003-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Thanks to all of you who made it out to our last meeting! I know it coincided with EXAMS for a lot of you - I hope they went well & weren't too stressful!

We were a pretty small group at the last meeting, but there was still some division over The Red Necklace. Overall, the book was pretty well-liked and everyone agreed that the setting of the novel (Paris during the French Revolution) was really interesting.

Here's a list of books that are similar to The Red Necklace; they're mostly historical fiction, and should provide a glimpse into life long ago.

The Lacemaker and the Princess – Kimberly Bradley [J FIC Bradl]

A Curse as Dark as Gold – Elizabeth C. Bunce [YA FIC Bunce]

The Musician’s Daughter – Susanne Dunlop [YA FIC Dunlo]

I, Coriander – Sally Gardner [J FIC Gardn] *by author of The Red Necklace

The Luxe – Anna Godbersen [YA FIC Godbe]

Den of Thieves: A Cat Royal Adventure – Julia Golding [J FIC Goldi]

Ivy – Julie Hearn [YA FIC Hearn]

Newes From the Dead – Mary Hooper [YA FIC Hoope]

In Mozart’s Shadow: His Sister’s Story – Carolyn Meyer [YA FIC Meyer]

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy – Carolyn Meyer [J FIC Meyer]

Princess Ben – Catherine Gilbert Murdock [J FIC/YA FIC Murdo]

Saving Juliet – Suzanne Selfors [YA FIC Selfo]

The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Brian Selznick [J FIC Selzn]

One last thing: for those of you who were at the last meeting, check out the latest issue of SNAP Aurora http://www.snapaurora.com/index.php?option=com_sngevents&id[]=149011
- our picture is in there! You all look great (my eyes are half closed, of course)!
In case you miss it I'll make sure to grab some extra copies for everyone in the photo.

Hope to see you all at the next meeting!

Happy reading,

Jennifer

2009-12-19T16:15:00.005-05:00

APL Grade 8 & 9 Book Club

Selection for December(to be discussed at the January meeting):

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

2009-12-19T15:07:00.003-05:00

Hey guys,

Thanks to all of you who made it to our last meeting! I really enjoyed hearing all of your opinions about The Shamer's Daughter, and what secret or special power you would choose if you could have one - you all managed to come up with some pretty great ideas!

For those of you who did enjoy The Shamer's Daughter, here is a list of similar or related titles you might also enjoy:

Graceling - Kristin Cashore

The Naming - Alison Croggon [Pellinor series, book 1]

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

The Merchant of Death - D.J. MacHale [Pendragon Series, book 1]

Sabriel - Garth Nix [Abhorsen Trilogy, book 1]

Eragon - Christopher Paolini [Inheritance series, book 1]

The Will of the Empress - Tamora Pierce [The Circle Reforged series, book 1]

These are all part of a series, so if you like these, there will be more for you to read after you've finished the first one.

And if you liked The Shamer's Daughter, you might want to check out the other books in the series (all by Lene Kaaberbol):
The Shamer's Signet (The Shamer Chronicles, book 2)
The Serpent Gift (book 3)
The Shamer's Way (book 4)

I look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting and hearing what you have to say about our latest selection!

In the meantime, happy holidays, enjoy your time off school, and I'll see you in 2010!!

Jennifer

2009-11-22T14:48:00.004-05:00

Thanks to everyone who made it out to the October meeting - those who couldn't attend can pick up the next book at the Children and Young Adult Information Desk!

We had a pretty even split - half of us really enjoyed the book and the other half didn't like it at all.

For those of you who did like the book, here are some titles of books which are 'similar' to Stargirl:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Misfits by James Howe

Alice, I Think by Susan Juby

Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Razzle by Ellen Wittlinger

If you do end up reading any of these, be sure to let us know what you think about them!

2009-11-22T14:43:00.004-05:00

APL Grade 8 & 9 Book Club
Selection for November
(to be discussed at the December meeting):

The Shamer's Daughter by Lene Kaaberbol (Book 1 in The Shamer Chronicles series)

2009-10-25T14:24:00.001-04:00

Hi Guys!

Thanks to all of you for coming out to our first meeting. It was a lot of fun meeting everyone and hearing about your funny stories, embarrassing moments and which cheeses you like and dislike!

The next meeting is coming up very soon (November 12th at 7:00!) - I hope you're all enjoying Stargirl so far.

There's still room in our Book Club for 1 more person, so if any of you know someone who might be interested in joining, feel free to invite them.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all at the next meeting!
Until then, take care and have fun!

Jennifer

p.s. If any of you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, or just something you want to mention to everybody, please feel free to comment and I will add it to the Blog.

2009-10-25T13:35:00.000-04:00

APL Grade 8 & 9 Book Club

Selection for October

(to be discussed at the November meeting):

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

2009-08-06T13:29:00.000-04:00

Hi guys!

The information for Aurora Public Library's new Grade 8/9 Book Club is now out!

Our first meeting will be on Thursday, October 8 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

All you need is a valid Aurora Public Library card, but be sure to sign up - space is limited!!

For more information, please visit us at the Children's and Young Adult Information Desk.

You can also find it on our website at:
http://www.library.aurora.on.ca/dynamic/ya/YAProgramViewer.php

Welcome to the New Grade 8&9 Book Club

2009-07-17T10:42:00.000-04:00

Welcome! Once we start the book club I will begin posting!