New Books - 10/27/14

Achilles and the Trojan War
by David L. Ferrell

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes
New York: Powerkids Press, 2014
24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth about Achilles and the Trojan War. 

The Cabinet of Curiosities: 36 Tales Dark & Sinister
by Stefan Bachmann, Katherine Catmull, Claire Legrand, and Emma Trevayne

New York: Greenwillow Books, 2014
488 p.

Thirty-six eerie short tales, most of which were originally published on the blog of the same name, relate to an imaginary museum of creepy artifacts and are arranged into such thematic "drawers" as love, luck, song, and fairy tales.

The Captive Prince
by Scott Chantler

Series: Three Thieves, Book 3.
Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press, 2012
116 p.

Dessa, Topper and Fisk, still searching for Dessa's missing twin brother, find themselves in a mess after Dessa accidently rescues a prince. 

 The Golden Twine
by Jo Rioux

Series: Cat's Cradle, Book 1
Tonawanda NY: Kids Can Press, 2012
111 p.

With monsters slipping through the mountains into the valley of Galatea, Suri, an orphan, dreams of becoming a monster tamer.

 Perseus and Medusa
by Lynne Weiss

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes
New York: Powerkids Press, 2014
24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth about Perseus, one of the god Zeus' human sons, and the slaying of Medusa, a Gorgon whose gaze turned men to stone.



World's Scariest Prisons
by Emma Carlson Berne

New York: Scholastic, 2014
108 p.

Examines twenty prisons from around the world and includes descriptions of living conditions, information on famous prisoners, and facts about when the prisons were in operation and what types of prisoners were held at each facility.

Most Popular Books - 10/27/14

So, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo is the most popular book again this week. This dark fantasy, one of my favorites from a couple of years ago, has a touch of a creepy feel to make it perfect reading close to Halloween.

Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.

At the number two spot is Tenth Grade Bleeds, the third book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series by Heather Brewer. These books continue to circulate well based on the fabulous covers -- very eye catching!

Tenth grade does not bring any relief to Vlad who is finding it increasingly difficult to resist feeding on his classmates and to avoid the evil vampire D'Ablo who wants to drain his powers.

Next up is The Compound by S.A. Bodeen. It's a chilling story that captures the interest of many a reader early in the story. 

Fifteen-year-old Eli, locked inside a radiation-proof compound built by his father to keep them safe following a nuclear attack, begins to question his future, as well as his father's grip on sanity as the family's situation steadily disintegrates over the course of six years.

Another book with a fabulous cover takes the number four spot this week. Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter is a solid entry in the Gallagher Girl series.

Cammie Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston and the two escape a kidnappers' plot using their espionage skills, and when Macey goes on the campaign trail with her father, the vice-presidential nominee, Cammie and other friends use their spy training as part of the security team.

At number five, How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart is a humorous look at life in middle school. 

When eleven-year-old David Greenberg's best friend makes the start of middle school even worse than he feared it could be, David becomes friends with Penny, who shares his love of television shows and posts one of their skits on YouTube, making them wildly popular--online, at least.






Honorable Mention:

 

New Books - 10/20/14

Bigfoot and Yeti

by Jennifer Joline Anderson

Series: Creatures of Legend

North Mankato, MN: Core Library, 2014.

48 p.

Describes the legendary characters of the Yeti and Sasquatch, covering the history of sightings, separating fact from fiction, and more.

The Labors of Heracles

by Johanna Ehrmann

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes

New York: Powerkids Press, 2014.

24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth about Heracles and the labors of extreme strength he performed in order to atone for killing his family in a fit of madness.

Theseus and the Minotaur

by Johanna Ehrmann

Series: Jr. Graphic Myths: Greek Heroes

New York: Powerkids Press, 2014

24 p.

In graphic novel format, relates the Greek myth of Theseus and the minotaur.

A Home for Mr. Emerson

by Barbara Kerley; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

New York: Scholastic Press, 2014

46 p.

A biography of American author Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The San Francisco Earthquake and Fire

by Chros McDougall

Series: History's Greatest Disasters

Minneapolis, MN: Core Library, 2014

48 p.

Provides an account of the devastating earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, and the resulting fires that left the city in ruins.

Most Popular Books - 10/20/14

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was the most popular book last week. It's had a resurgence in popularity at AMS, based mainly on word of mouth. Fans of dark fantasy will most certainly want to read this one!

Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold.




Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero came in at number two. It looks like many are wanting to do a re-read of the Heroes of Olympus series as The Blood of Olympus was just released. Any fan of the the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series needs to also read these.

Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students from a school for "bad kids," find themselves at Camp Half-Blood, where they learn that they are demigods and begin a quest to free Hera, who has been imprisoned by Mother Earth herself.

Next up is The Mark of Athena, the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series, by Rick Riordan. All in this series are super popular at the moment, especially with The Blood of Olympus' release earlier this month.

The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death.

One of my favorite books of a couple of years ago, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, is in fourth place. Just when I think almost everyone has read it, I find a few more who haven't. 

Ten-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was not expected to survive, goes from being home-schooled to entering fifth grade at a private middle school in Manhattan, which entails enduring the taunts and fear of his classmates as he struggles to be seen as just another student.

It wouldn't seem right without a Diary of a Wimpy Kid on the most popular list. This week's entry is the first one, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney. The Wimpy Kid books are always a favorite here at AMS and I've said many times that I doubt we could ever have too many copies of these books on the shelves.

Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.



Honorable Mentions:

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Really enjoyed reading this, but I'm not sure how many kids would stick with it. It takes a while for the story to set up and yes, Early is different. Would that intrigue a kid or just make him think the story was weird? I'm not really sure. I for one found Early adorable and see characteristics of a couple of the autistic kids I know in him.

I'm a bit disappointed that the surprise at the ending actually occurred. No, I won't go into more detail than that, but I remember thinking of the surprise as a possibility while I was reading. I immediately discarded the idea because I was sure that it was too predictable and something too commonly done in children's books. It did make for a better story of course, but it was the easy way out. (If you've read NE, you know what I'm talking about.)

I rate this story a solid B. It had the potential of being an A book, but my disappointment in the predictability at the ending lowered my rating.