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March New Books

Click on the book cover to reserve a copy

Anastasia’s Secret by Susanne Dunlap

As world war and the looming Russian Revolution threaten all they hold dear, Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II, and her family are being held in captivity, where she falls in love with one of their captors, a young man who has espoused the ideals of Lenin.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

High school junior Violet uses her uncanny ability to sense murderers and their victims to try to stop a serial killer who is terrorizing her town, and although her best friend and would-be boyfriend Jay promises to keep her safe, she becomes a target.

Borderline by Allan Stratton

Despite the strained relationship between them, teenaged Sami Sabiri risks his life to uncover the truth when his father is implicated in a terrorist plot.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, an unusually talented weaver, must master her mysterious power and join a young wizard in stopping an imminent war in her land.

The Clone Codes by Pat McKissack

On the run from a bounty hunter who arrested her mother for being part of a secret society devoted to freeing clones, thirteen-year-old Leanna learns amazing truths about herself and her family as she is forced to consider the value of freedom and what it really means to be human in 2170 America.

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

After a dangerous encounter in Central Park, actress Kelley Winslow, who has only recently learned that she is a Faerie, journeys to the Otherworld and begins to untangle the strands of a magical conspiracy with far-reaching consequences.  Sequel to Wonderous Strange.

Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Gabry lives a quiet life in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, hemmed in by the dead who hunger for the living, but her mother Mary’s secrets, a cult of religious zealots who worship the dead, and a stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry threaten to destroy her world.

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

In 2097, men are a small and controlled minority in a utopian world ruled by women, and fourteen-year-old Kellen must fight to save his father from an outbreak of the virus that killed ninety-seven percent of the male population thirty years earlier.

Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong

In 1982 twelve-year-old Vonlai, his parents, and sister Dalah, escape from Laos to a Thai refugee camp where they spend four long years struggling to survive in hopes of one day reaching America.

Fablehaven Book 5: Keys to the Demon Prison

Since ancient times, the great demon prison Zzyzx has protected the world from the most dangerous servants of darkness, including Gorgrog, the Demon King. After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx is on the verge of recovering the five artifacts necessary to open the legendary prison. Facing the potential of a world-ending calamity, all friends of light must unite in a final effort to thwart the Sphinx s designs and find a safe home for the five artifacts. To this end, Kendra, Seth, and the Knights of the Dawn will venture far beyond the walls of Fablehaven to strange and exotic magical preserves across the globe, where the end of every quest becomes the beginning of another. In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate struggle to control the keys to the demon prison. 5th book in the Fablehaven series

Fading Echoes by Erin Hunter

As Dovepaw, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze strive to understand and fulfill the prophecy that promises them great power, the cats of the Dark Forest begin to teach battle skills and techniques to different Clan cats through dreams.

Fang: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

When Max and the Flock discover an unscrupulous scientist who is experimenting on humans in an effort to “improve” the human race, they decide they must try to stop him, in spite of Angel’s prediction about Fang dying.

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy White

At a Charlottesville, Virginia, boarding school, fourteen-year-old Laurel realizes that she shares her deceased mother’s connection with flowers, but as she begins to learn their ancient language and share it with other students, she discovers powers that are beyond her control.

Gone by Lisa McMann

While eighteen-year-old Janie ponders her future with Cabe, knowing that her being a dream-catcher means eventual blindness and crippling, she encounters her past as the father she never knew is hospitalized with brain trauma and seems to need her help.

Hourglas by Claudia Gray

Star-crossed lovers Lucas and Bianca are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross vampire hunters but also by the powerful vampires of Evernight, when Bianca learns that her destiny is tied to that of the wraiths. Part of the Evernight series.

Is It night or Day? by Fern Chapman

In 1938, Edith Westerfeld, a young German Jew, is sent by her parents to Chicago, Illinois, where she lives with an aunt and uncle and tries to assimilate into American culture, while worrying about her parents and mourning the loss of everything she has ever known. Based on the author’s mother’s experience, includes an afterword about a little-known program that brought twelve hundred Jewish children to safety during World War II.

Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson

HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT. Sylvie is sure Carl loves her, so why hasn’t he kissed her? Sylvie and Carl have always been best friends, and Sylvie’s always dreamed that they’d get married someday. But when she begins to realize that Carl may be more interested in boys than girls, Sylvie struggles to hold on to the pieces of her shattered dreams. With her trademark blend of honesty, sensitivity, and humor, bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson delivers a novel for teens about first love, first heartbreak, and the power of a kiss.

The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco Stork

Seventeen-year-old Pancho is bent on avenging the senseless death of his sister, but after he meets D.Q, who is dying of cancer, and Marisol, one of D.Q.’s caregivers, both boys find their lives changed by their interactions.

Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

Upon moving to her mother’s upstate New York home after her gambler father leaves, ninth-grader Elizah just wants to be left alone until she meets Nathaniel in the cemetery where her mother is caretaker, and feels instantly drawn to him.

The Line by Teri Hall

Rachel thinks that she and her mother are safe working for Ms. Moore at her estate close to The Line, an invisible border of the Unified States, but when Rachel has an opportunity to Cross into the forbidden zone, she is both frightened and intrigued.

Max Cassidy in Shadow Island by Paul Adam

British fourteen-year-old Max Cassidy calls on his skills and training as a professional escape artist when he attempts to clear his mother of murdering his father, who disappeared two years earlier in the Central American country of Santo Domingo.

My So-Called Death by Stacey Jay

After dying in a cheerleading accident, high school freshman Karen turns into a zombie and enrolls at a boarding school for the undead where she uncovers a murder mystery.

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray

After their best friend Ross dies, English teenagers Blake, Kenny, and Sim plan a proper memorial by taking his ashes to Ross, Scotland, an adventure-filled journey that tests their loyalty to each other and forces them to question what friendship means.

The Pickle King by Rebecca Promitzer

During an endlessly rainy summer in the town of Elbow, twelve-year-old Bea and her misfit friends solve an unlikely mystery involving an unidentified dead man who is missing an eye, an evil surgeon, a ring shaped like an old castle, a bag of smelly intestines, and a helpful ghost.

The Returners by Gemma Malley

Will Hodges wonders why “freaks” began following him after his mother drowned, but when he finally discovers what they want, he can begin to make sense of the nightmares he has always had and try to do something about the anti-immigrant hatred that his father so vehemently espouses.

Roy Morelli Steps Up to the Plate by Thatcher Heldring

Eight-grader Roy Morelli can’t wait for baseball season to start so he can take his rightful place as shortstop for the Pilchuk All-Star team. Being on the All-Stars is just the warm-up for the big leagues: the varsity baseball team at the high school Roy will go to next year. But when Roy’s divorced parents find out he’s failing history, they make him quit the All-Stars. It’s nothisfault the only thing interesting about history class is Valerie Hopkins, and she won’t even give Roy the time of day. Now Roy is stuck on a losing team in the wimpy rec league, and instead of playing ball every spare minute, he’s spending his afternoons with a tutor—who just happens to be his dad’s brainiac girlfriend. If Roy’s going to impress the varsity baseball coach, he’s sure he should be looking out for number one, not wasting his time studying. After all,baseballis what Roy does best. But when his grades continue to slide and his teammates get tired of his know-it-all attitude, Roy Morelli will need to step up to the plate. . . .

Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson

Joshua Wynn is a preacher’s son and a “good boy” who always does the right thing. Until Maddie comes back to town. Maddie is the daughter of the former associate pastor of Joshua’s church, and his childhood crush. Now Maddie is all grown up, gorgeous–and troubled.

Shadow Mirror by Richie Cusick

Seventeen-year-old Miranda Barnes’ ability to communicate with spirits gets her in trouble when she crosses over to the “Other Side,” and only love will bring her back.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

In the months after her sister dies, seventeen-year-old Lennie falls into a love triangle and discovers the strength to follow her dream of becoming a musician.

The Softwire: Awakening on Orbis 4 by PJ Haarsma

As the Scion’s guardian, Johnny Turnbull is expected to begin training as a Space Jumper, a role he promised his girlfriend Max he would never take on, and which might not be enough to save his sister and friends when Orbis is threatened.

Split by Stefan Petrucha

After his mother dies, Wade Jackson cannot decide whether to become a musician or a scholar, so he does both–splitting his consciousness into two distinct worlds.

Split by Swati Avasthi

A teenaged boy thrown out of his house by his abusive father goes to live with his older brother, who ran away from home years ago to escape the abuse.

A Spy in the House by Rushang Li

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan and thief Mary Quinn is offered a place at Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls where she is trained to be part of an all-female investigative unit called The Agency and, at age seventeen, she infiltrates a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. First book in the Agency series.

Stuck on Earth by David Klass

On a secret mission to evaluate whether the human race should be annihilated, a space alien inhabits the body of a bullied fourteen-year-old boy.

That’s Life Samara Brooks by Daniel Ehrenhaft

When thirteen-year-old Samara devises a genetics experiment to cover up her involvement in a middle school gambling scheme, she and two classmates make a discovery that causes them to question their beliefs about God, aliens, or “Whoever-you-Are.”

To Come and Go Like Magic by Katie Fawcett

In the 1970s, twelve-year-old Chili Sue Mahoney longs to escape her tiny Kentucky home town and see the world, but she also learns to recognize beauty in the people and places around her.

Vampire Diaries: The Return, The Shadow Souls

On the run . . .Elena Gilbert’s love, the vampire Stefan Salvatore, has been captured and imprisoned by demonic spirits who are wreaking havoc in Fell’s Church. While her friends Bonnie and Meredith explore the evil that has taken over their town, Elena goes in search of Stefan.In order to find him, she entrusts her life to Stefan’s brother, Damon Salvatore, the handsome but deadly vampire who wants Elena, body and soul. Along with her childhood friend Matt, they set out for the slums of the Dark Dimension, where Stefan is being held captive. It is rumored to be a world where vampires and demons roam free, but humans must live enslaved to their supernatural masters. . . .Elena will stop at nothing to free Stefan. Yet with each passing day the tension between Elena and Damon grows, and she is faced with a terrible decision: Which brother does she really want?Back in Fell’s Church, Bonnie and Meredith have made some dire discoveries. They hastily try to follow Elena and warn her-only to be caught up in Elena’s most dangerous adventure yet.

Vintage Veronica by Erica Perl

After getting a job at a vintage clothing shop and quickly bonding with two older girls, fifteen-year-old Veronica finds herself making bad decisions in order to keep their friendship.

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

In a parallel world where humans and dragons live in a state of cold war, seventeen-year-old Kay and her dragon friend, Artegal, struggle to find a way to show that dragons and humans can co-exist.

Teen Reads For Grown Ups

Do you hate reading boring books that Oprah recommends?  Do you want to read what the COOL kids are reading?  Why not read the best Young Adult fiction that there is?  All of our book club books have been chosen by our Teen Book Club. 

If you are 18 or older, stop by the Aloha Teen Tower to pick up your members only copy of Maximum Ride by James Patterson.  We will be discussing this book on 3/10/10 6:30-7:30 at Pegasus in downtown Castle Rock

Max and her “family” are a bunch of kids who have been raised by a team of evil scientists in a lab.  They have bird wings grafted to their bodies and they can fly.  Everything is going pretty crappy (you try living in a dog crate your whole life) until the kids escape.  Life on the outside is not easy if your a birdkid.  You have to keep your wings covered, look for food, and avoid the giant wolf like minions that the evil scientists send to bring you back to the lab.  This is a fun and fast story that will have you putting the rest of the series on hold.  If you are a fan of Patterson’s adult fiction you are sure to love his Young Adult fiction.

My Castle Rock Teen Writing Contest

 

The Castle Rock Library is having a Teen Writing Contest.  March 1^st – April 1^st teens (12-18) can turn in a piece of writing.  You can write a poem or essay or comic or anything you want.  The only catch is that you have to mention Castle Rock in the writing.  Winners will be picked based on online votes and a panel of judges. Prizes go to 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd place entries. 

“My Castle Rock” Teen Writing Contest Rules

1. Registration Required.

2. One entry Per Person.

3. Entrants must be a 12-18 years old.

4. Deadline for turning in all work is Thursday, April 1^st by 9:00 p.m. (All work must be

    turned in before the library closes at 9:00 p.m. 4/1/10)

5. Entries must be no longer than a single page of text with 12-pt type.  There is no

    minimum length for entries.

6. Entries may not depict any lewd language (cursing or disparaging remarks about any

    group or person).

7. Entries must feature Castle Rock in some way.

8. Entries may be any kind or original writing: comic strip, poem, short story, fiction,  

    non-fiction, newspaper article, horror, mystery, etc…

9. Entries should be submitted via email to the following email address:

mdellapenna@dclibraries.org

10. When submitting your entry please include the following information: Your name,

      phone number, age, email address, grade, and how you heard about the contest.

11. Any questions can be directed to the email address above.

Anti-Valentine’s Day!

The Anti-Valentines day party was a huge success!  Thanks so much to all the people who attended!  We had a peak attendance of 36 people.  There were games like musical chairs, beanbag throw, and “pin the heart on the hottie”. In addition to these, there was a tattoo station, crafts table, and snacks.  Everyone had a great time, and several chances to win a variety of prizes.  Musical Chairs was the main contest, with the winners taking home Skull Candy Ear Buds donated by our local Best Buy.  The music was really good for the occasion and kept the party upbeat.  It was a lot of fun!!

We hope to see you there next year!

Musical Chairs

When will the music stop?

Pin the Heart On the Hottie

OM NOM NOM

Teen Book Club March 6th

The next book we are reading is The Compound by S.A. Bodeen.  It’s the story of a family that survives a nuclear attack by living in a underground compound built by the wealthy father.  When suspicious things start happening the oldest son is determined to escape the compound, but the dad is doing anything he can to keep everyone underground.  The book is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.  If you would like to get a members only copy of this book, stop by the Teen Tower in the Castle Rock Library and sign up for the Teen Book Club.  Our next meeting is March 6^th 1pm-2pm.

Teen Reads for Grown Ups Book Club

We just read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and it was a lot of fun talking about the book.  The next book we are reading is Maximum Ride by James Patterson.  Fans of his adult fiction books are sure to love his first teen series.  If you are over 18 and would like to join us at Pegasus in downtown Castle Rock, stop by the Teen Tower in the Castle Rock library and sign up.  I hope to see you there!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

This book is a post apocalyptic romance…with zombies.   Mary’s village is protected one all sides by a large fence.  The fence keeps the zombies (unconsecrated) out, and the villagers in.  When tragedy strikes Mary’s family she starts to dream of life outside of the village.  She becomes convinced that the Sisters who run the town are keeping secrets about the outside world. 

This is an interesting take on the classic Zombie Apocalypse tale.  Mary and everyone in the town has always lived with the threat of attack from these creatures, but no one is a super zombie killing ninja.  It’s a realistic look at how people might survive.  The ending left me a little flat but overall the book had me up all night turning the pages to find out what would happen next.  I recommend it to anyone who likes a good tragic romance, or zombies, or an exciting adventure.

If you like the book you will love the sequel.  What happens to Mary?  What happens to the people living beyond the forest?  Find out in The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale

Aspen Brooks is popular, beautiful, smart, and things always work out for her.  She leads a charmed life, until some less popular, skanky, boyfriend stealing, CHEERLEADER, gets Homecoming Queen.  Aspen knows that something is not right with the world and her suspicions are confirmed when someone starts playing mean pranks on her.  This cute and funny story starts out light, but turns dark when people start disappearing.  It’s up to Aspen and the geek next door to solve the crimes and find the missing people. 

 This book seems like it would suck.  Why should we care about some girl who has got it all?  The problem is that she reminds the reader of Ell Woods from Legally Blond.  Just like Ell, Aspen is impossible to hate.  You may not lead her charmed life or have her perfect looks, but by the end of the book you will be cheering for her to win.

The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson

If you’re just a regular guy, dreaming about making your own Star Wars kind of movie you know that giant metal exoskeleton bots that you control are not real.  Darren is a regular sixteen year old guy, a little nerdy, but not a total geek who gets picked on.  He keeps to himself until he meets Eric.  Eric is very nerdy, but he thinks Darren is cool so they become friends.  Eric has a secret…A for real George Lucas type of secret.  One minute they are talking about adventure, and the next minute they are having one. 

This book reads as realistic fiction until the last few chapters that read as science fiction.  There is a friendship, cursing, action, adventure, girls, and The Man.  I recommend this book to guys who like to read about real guys.  The main characters are not perfect, and they have everyday problems.  I also recommend it to anyone who wonders what life would be like if something extraordinary happened in the middle of your everyday life.