Bookends: Storm Thief

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding
Orokos: an island city of chaos, where lives Rain, whose body was changed by a probability storm and cannot breathe without wearing a special breathing contraption, and Moa, the outcast daughter of dead rebels. Together they are thieves who have discovered an important artifact of technology -- one that can open a door anywhere at anytime -- a perfect gadget for thieves. But someone else wants the piece, as well, and sends after them her favorite young murderer. Caught up in betrayal and danger and the fear of probability storms, Moa and Rain run for their lives, discovering friends, enemies, and heavy duty secrets about the city, its rulers, and its people along the way. But when the secret police catch up to them, and finally catch them,
A pretty interesting piece of sci-fi with a twist of fantasy, and it tastes of futuristic dystopias. It took me a few pages to get into it because the writing has a different flavor than what I usually read; in fact, it seems to just have a different flavor, period. I appreciated Moa and Rain's struggles, was disappointed that the power of the probability storms was never shown in full strength (just talked about), and was struck by Vago's (read the book to find out who he is) quick change to the dark side. So, if you like adventure, futurism, or thrillers with imagination, give this one read. You might be surprised.

Vampire Bunnies

I don't know how many of you read Bunnicula in your younger years, but I remember reading it somewhere along the line and thinking it a great book. I couldn't help but blog the link to this comic strip today -- I mean really, vampire bunnies? You can't do much better than that!

3 Books

On the day that I went to the 3-county fair, I also stopped by a used bookstore to pick up 3 books to read and review for you:

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

Dragon Keeper by Carole Wilkinson

Johnny Hazzard by Eddie de Oliveira

I'm working on Storm Thief at the moment -- I'll let you know how it goes.

Write in with your opinions about these books! Just click the comments link below and let us know what you thought of these books when you read them!

Remember -- the library isn't open today.

New Books

I picked up an Indie List book paper from the local bookstore in Amherst and saw that one of my favorite authors has a new fantasy out – Robin McKinley, who wrote The Blue Sword, Beauty, and Sunshine (to name a few), has a new book out, and the reviewer I read quite liked it. I’ll be ordering it, so be sure to look for Chalice.

Celia Rees also has a new book out – remember Sorceress and Witch Child? Sovay tells the story of a girl who dresses as a highwayman and has a bit of trouble about it – a historical fiction piece that is sure to be popular. Be on the lookout for that one, too.

Best of the Year List

I was at B&N yesterday, looking at the Teen section, trying to find popular and high-selling books that aren't available at FPL. I had a happy surprise when I discovered that FPL has many of them! So, I decided to poke around the internet looking for websites with book reviews -- looking for those great books that I somehow missed for the YA department yet. There are many available, of course, and some of them I linked from the previous FPLYA blog, but I thought this one was a pretty good one to use, if one is simply looking for a list of good teen books. This is the Editor's Choice: Best of the Year's YA Hardcover Fiction. Lots of them we already have, but there are a few we'll be getting soon.

Closing: Advanced Warning

Hey hey hey~
Just a notice that the library will be closed ALL weekend -- Saturday, Sunday, & Monday. So if you want to grab anything from the library, be sure to be in before Friday at 5pm.

Bookends: The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I'm sure, if you're a Twilight fan, you've already gobbled your way through Stephenie Meyer's newest in the series, Breaking Dawn. And if you haven't read it, you're probably on the waiting list for it at the library. But have you read the sci-fi piece Meyer wrote for adults? I read it this weekend, and truth be told, I think teens are a perfect audience for it. However, don't expect another Twilight.
The Host recounts the story of an alien that has been implanted into a teenage girl's body -- part of a movement to take over the human population by these parasitic beings that have conquered many worlds before. And usually they have very little trouble when they conquer new worlds -- but Wanderer has trouble overcoming her host body and mind, Melanie. Her Comforter and Healer cannot help her and Melanie will not disappear -- she continues to bother Wanderer until Wanderer is persuaded to help Melanie seek out her brother and her boyfriend in the depths of the desert. They almost die in pursuit of Melanie's dream, but are found and rescued by her uncle who takes her to an underground mansion of caverns where he is hiding with dozens of other humans who have escaped implanting -- dozens of others, including Melanie's brother and boyfriend. However, trust is difficult, and Melanie and Wanderer are considered dangerous and almost killed a number of times before they begin to be accepted by the group. But greater dangers erupt, putting the whole group at risk, and Melanie and Wanderer face a question of huge importance to themselves and to the others in the caverns -- if they stay, will they bring more danger to the ones they love, or should they go and let everyone forget their existence? Melanie has one answer, Wanderer has another.
This was a surprising read for me. I wasn't sure I would like this new Meyer book, having received mixed reviews about it from other readers. It moves Meyer away from vampire teen fantasy fiction into science fiction, but it continues her themes of impossible love made possible and also reminds us that the individuality of humanity is important and powerful. My verdict? I liked it and I dare you to read it.
FICTION Meyer