Super Fun New Books

I love to look at new books.  Here is a sample of some super fun new arrivals:

How to Fight, Lie and Cry Your Way to Popularity (and a Prom Date):  Lousy Life Lessons From 50 Teen Movies by Nikki Roddy is in essence of brief history of teen films.  Each entry includes a short synopsis of the movie, a “life lesson”, a sound bite and a fun quiz.  Here are a few life lessons:

• It’s OK to date a dead, murderous vampire so long as he’s hot and has great hair.
• A smart, sensitive guy will eventually fall for a ditsy, self-serving girl as long as she promises to be a little nicer to people–and is ridiculously hot.
• With a little manipulation, you can make the school art dork a hottie and get her to date you.  You can’t however, turn her into a prom queen.

More about teen movies:

Top Teen Movies (IMDb)

List of teen films (Wikipedia)

Awkward Family Photos and Awkward Family Pet Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack are so relatable and so hilarious.  The books followed the 2009 launch of their website: AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.  There is a special section just for teen photos!  It just goes to show that styles do change.  What was once cool is now dorky.

And for the gamers:  Halo:  The Essential Visual Guide by Jeremy Patenaude.  For more information about Halo, check the official website and Wikipedia.

Have fun reading!

~Marian

 CLP – Mt. Washington

Series and Sequels for 2012

How about starting the new year by picking up a series you may have never read before? The following are series with new installments (or are sequels to a title) coming out in 2012. Start from the beginning now and you won’t have long to wait!

The Fallen Series by Lauren Kate




Creepy old school, teen pining, angels….and demons.

First Book: Fallen   Coming out in 2012: Rapture

The Delirium Trilogy by Lauren Oliver

A future America where the part of the brain that feels love is surgically removed to ensure civil obedience.

First Book: Delirium    Coming out in 2012: Pandemonium

The Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

The First World War given a steampunk/sci-fi makeover.  It’s biology versus technology. The last book in the trilogy, Goliath, just came out at the end of last year. A companion book called The Manual of Aeronautics is coming out in 2012.

First Book: Leviathan

The Evernight Series by Claudia Gray

The new girl at a private school hooks up with the popular crowd, who likes to go out for a ‘bite’ every now and then.

First Book: Evernight   Coming out in 2012: Balthazar

The Heroes of Olympus Series by Rick Riordan

More mythological mayhem from the author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The demi-gods of camp Half-blood discover there’s another camp like theirs. Are they friends or foes?

First Book: The Lost Hero   Coming out in 2012: The Mark of Athena

The Kane Chronicles Series by Rick Riordan

A brother and sister find out that they are part of an ancient Egyptian clan of magicians. Another outstanding mythological, magical adventure from Rick Riordan.

First Book: The Red Pyramid  Coming out in 2012: The Serpent’s Shadow

Ship Breaker and The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi

A future world dealing with the consequences of melted ice caps, risen sea levels, no fossil fuels, and malicious science.  The Drowned Cities, coming out in 2012,  is the sequel to the 2011 Printz Award Winner Ship Breaker.

As you can see, there’s something for everyone’s taste, so try one, or try them all. Enjoy!

Steve – CLP Lawrenceville