Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

This is the first book of the Reckoners series by the co-author of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.  Currently in its 8^th week on the New York Times bestseller list, this is the story of the Epics and the Reckoners – and of David.  The Epics were created when a burst in the sky gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers.  But with these powers came a desire to rule – at all costs.  The Reckoners, the group of ordinary humans, spend their time studying the Epics in an effort to destroy them.  David knows that Steelheart is the Epic who is responsible for killing his father, and he’s out for revenge.

Find it in: APL Teen New Books YA FIC Sanderson, B.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

 

This is the autobiographical account of William Kamkwamba's life in drought-stricken Malawi.  When William was 14, his family -- who farmed for a living -- began to feel the impacts of the drought and the lack of food as a result.  William felt he should do something and was curious about "electric wind."  Thus began his quest to discover all he could about this form of energy.  Using borrowed library books and items from junk piles, he began to build a windmill.  This is a story of his determination and perseverance to do something to change the life of his family and the lives of those in his village.

Find it: APL Teen Nonfiction YA BIO Kamkwamba, William .K35 2010

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

 

Malala is a young woman who is wise beyond her years.  She had been outspoken about her belief that Pakistani women should have the same access to education as their male counterparts.  As a result, on October 9, 2012, she was shot by a member of the Taliban while riding the bus home from school.  Miraculously, she survived and is the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.  This is her story.

 

To place this book on hold, click here:  http://minerva.maine.edu/record=i6269922

 

 

The Ashleys by Melissa de la Cruz

a book review by Sydney Abbott

Meet the Ashleys, who rule the school and make life miserable for non-SOA (Seal of Approval) girls.  The three of them are gorgeous, wealthy, and have all the best clothing. This year, the three Ashleys watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star.  Lauren has arrived at a new state, or so she hopes.  Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashleys and then destroy them.  With her father's newfound wealth, she's gone from bargain shopper to having her own personal shopper.  Lauren Page, tired of being a loser, has received a makeover in an attempt to fit in at Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls, so she can wriggle her way into the inner circle of the most popular girls at school, the Ashleys.  She plans to break them apart and take charge as the new queen bee at Miss Gamble's.

I would really recommend this book.  It's a great book if you enjoy an easy-to-read, girly book.  The book keeps you interested throughout the entire story. 


The Ashleys is a page turner, also funny and enjoyable. The Ashleys sets its background on the social scene of a high-end society.  The Ashleys took place in San Francisco, and the characters were narrowed down to a group of pre-teens within an all-girl school.  You're definitely going to enjoy this book if you're interested in this genre!



Find it in YA FIC de la Cruz, M.

Haven (Winterhaven #1) by Kristi Cook

a book review by Sophie Messina

 

Haven by Kristi Cook is about Violet McKenna going to a school for gifted people. But she doesn’t realize this until her friends show her their powers. Violet’s visions are becoming stronger and now she thinks she can see the future. She sees visions of her father’s murder, and she wants to control them with the help of her new friends and Aidan.

This book was like Twilight goes to boarding school because Aidan turns out to be vampire, and he and Violet have a romance. Violets friends ( Kate, Sophie, Cece, and Marissa) have to learn to use their powers to face a group of vampires who are plotting to kill Aidan. Violet's visions help her learn about the killers and what’s coming up. They end up killing the vampires at the end of the year.

There are questions that pop up in the book. What do these vampires want? Is there someone on the inside of the school giving away information? What’s going to happen with Violet and Aidan? What will happen in the next book? Read this book and you decide.

Find it: YA FIC Cook, K.

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

a book recommendation by Lily Russell

 

A Stolen Life: a memoir by Jaycee Dugard is a true story of a girl who was kidnapped for 18 years. Jaycee had walked out of the house thinking she would be back in a short eight hours to greet her parents and tell them how her day was, but the opposite is true. Jaycee was walking to school when, out of the blue, she was knocked out and thrown into the trunk of a car.

Jaycee rode to the kidnapper, Mr. Garrido’s, house with her head down, refusing to lay her eyes on this terrible man. She was thrown into Garrido’s basement, given little food, or necessities.

Find it: BIO Dugard, Jaycee Lee

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

a book review by Sydney Abbott

 

Fifteen-year-old Charlie is about to begin his freshman year of high school without his best friend, Michael, who committed suicide one month before the  story begins. In an attempt to cope with Michael’s death and his own anxiety of entering high school alone, Charlie begins writing letters to an anonymous stranger. Charlie does not feel that he can lean on his parents or older siblings for support because they never truly understand him. He feels that the only relative that he ever felt close to was his Aunt Helen, who was killed in a car accident on his seventh birthday.

At school, Charlie befriends two seniors, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick. He soon develops feelings for Sam, but he believes that he has no chance with her. Sam and Patrick introduce him to many new experiences and a group of upperclassmen friends. Charlie writes about situations that he gets into with his new friends, including going to parties, driving through his town's tunnel and feeling "infinite," seeing and performing in Rocky Horror Picture Show, going on his first date, and trying various drugs. After one party, the police find Charlie passed out in the snow. In a conversation with the police and his parents, Charlie reveals that he often has visions, which means that he is not mentally well.

Despite his feelings for Sam, Charlie briefly dates Mary Elizabeth, another girl in their clique. She takes him to their school's Sadie Hawkins Dance, and they go on a few dates. At first, Charlie does not mind how one-sided their conversations are. Even so, after Mary Elizabeth buys him a book of poems, he senses a change in their relationship that he does not like. In a game of Truth or Dare at a party, Charlie is dared to kiss the prettiest girl in the room. He kisses Sam, which officially ends his relationship with Mary Elizabeth. Patrick decides that Charlie should stay away until their relationship drama calms down.

Sam also starts a relationship with an attractive older boy named Craig. Charlie does not think that Craig appreciates Sam. Sam and Craig soon break up, after Sam learns that Craig had been cheating on her with numerous girls. Read this book to see how things turn out!

 Find it in YA FIC Chbosky, S.