HOWARD COUNTY READS 2012 BOOK CHOSEN!

You nominated your favorite books and a committee reviewed those books and chose Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman as the book for Howard County Reads 2012.

For years, 12-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt has taken care of her mother, Camille, a crown-wearing laughingstock who thinks it’s 1951 and she’s Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia. When tragedy strikes in their Ohio town, CeeCee is whisked off to Savannah, Ga., by her great-aunt Tootie Caldwell. CeeCee is soon catapulted into a world of prosperity and Southern eccentricities. CeeCee’s world view is challenged with secrets to keep, injustices to face, and loyalties to uphold. Just as she begins to feel like she belongs, her newfound joy collides with the long-held fear that her mother’s legacy has left her destined for destruction.

Several events are planned to celebrate Howard County Reads 2012, including author Beth Hoffman visiting Kokomo.

More Information to come!

Teen Review Winners Round 3!

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Lies is a fantastic book filled with surprise. This story is about a girl named Camelia who might have caught psychometry from her ex-boyfriend, but their powers have caused some danger and pranking in their small little town. Something is happening in Camelia’s life that is causing twice the torture, but who could it be? I suppose you’ll have to read the book to find the answer. (Amber, Grade 9, Kokomo-High School)

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

This book is exciting and adventure filled with romance. This is a great book and filled with comedy. This book will capture your interest and you will want more. (Sarah, Grade 9, Western)

Warlock by Michael Scott

It was really good, but it was confusing and has a lot of different things going on. It has good plots, and I like that type of book. I wouldn’t change much except that it should have been simpler. (Ethan, Grade 7, Western)

Vampire Breath by R. L. Stine

Vampire Breath had a lot of good things like excitement, fighting, and vampires. I’m a big fan of Goosebumps. Since it’s a horror book I like to read it late at night. If I were to rate this I would rate it four out of five. I highly recommend this book for 7-12. (Daniel, Grade 7, Home School)

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Great book that has action with paranormal abilities, love triangle, family feuds, and amazing twists you don’t see coming not allowing you to put it down. A true must read.  (Megan, Grade 10, Western)

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Knight’s written masterpiece is a full package of reality, horror, and adventure. The plot tells us of how a struggling teenager, Wilde, even though she tries to find acceptance and evade the tragic death caused by her sister’s tantrum, she couldn’t escape her sister herself, or her fate. Wiled meets five others who had been summoned as gods and goddesses to fight a growing terror. I love the way she strived to move forward and find, among her new family, love, strength, and within herself, acceptance. (Ann, Grade 11, Kokomo)

Uncivil Acts by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew has always been a fantastic character to me and this time she really did it. I really liked how the people in her town all get involved in the Civil War reenactment. It was very interesting to see that the pain of the Civil War still lives on. And how scary it was…ooh! I could hardly put it down! I would really recommend it to all Nancy Drew loving teens.  (Sarah, Grade 9, Home School)

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I will be a freshman in high school this year and this book has given me a lot of pointers on family, friends, and…boys. This is a very relatable book for any teenage girl. Read it if you get the chance. You won’t regret it. (Azhane, Grade 9, Western High School)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

I think this book is perfect for anyone. For people who like to hear about adventures or emotional stories I’d highly recommend this book. It’s about a person whose life gets worse and worse and eventually she loses her brother to the darkness, yet finds the strength to get him back. I think this is a wonderful story for all ages. (Dominic, Grade 6, St. Joan of Arc)

The Outcasts by John Flannagan

The Outcasts is about an inventive boy living on an island full of barbarians. His father was a hero and a great fighter, and dies in a tragic accident. And this is the story of the creative boy’s teenage years.

The boy’s name is Hal and he and his friends are to be put through Brotherband training. They are competing against all the biggest, most popular boys on the island. I won’t tell you any more because you have to read it.

I liked this book because John Flannagan has such a good sense of plot, and he gives intricate cliffhangers that make you want to keep reading! If you haven’t already read this book or the Ranger’s Apprentice series, you need to read it now! If you have gree time that you wan to spend reading then read this book. It is awesome. (Donovan, Grade 7, Northwestern)

Teen Review Winners Round 2!

Three Men on Third by Carl Sifakis

Three Men on Third is a book filled with hilarious narratives of sports mishaps.  It relates many unusual events from different sports throughout the years that range from being funny to almost unbelievable.  In other words, Three Men on Third shows that if it can happen, it will happen.
(Christine, Grade 11, Homeschool)

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

In The Sun of Neptune Percy Jackson wakes up barely knowing more than his name.  He is forced to be on the run chased by monsters.  Whenever he kills the monsters they com right back.  When he gets to Camp-Jupiter he knows he doesn’t belong.  His new friends Hazel and Frank accompany him on a quest that most people think is impossible.  They have to release death.  On the way they see such terrifying monsters we would only see them in our nightmares.  In the end Percy realizes that Romans and Greeks must join together and defeat the enemy. Will Percy Jackson ever have his old life back? That we will never know.

The Son of Neptune is a must read.  It is a story about Roman and Greek gods alike.  This book shows true friendship and courage.  This book will never let you put it down.
(Hannah, Grade 6, Western Middle School)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

From all the books I have read this year, this was by far the best.  I would give this book a 5 star rating because the story line is impeccable. The author made it sound like a very dramatic situation, to which it wasn’t even fiction.  I truly believe this situation could happen throughout the world!

Basically, the story is about a girl named Anna, who gets sent to boarding school in France.  In school, she meets a “beautiful” and “perfect” boy named St. Clair.  She slowly finds out that she wants to be with him, but does he want to be with her?  He has a girlfriend.  Anna also has a very, very good friend back where she lives in Atlanta, Toph.  She thinks she wants him, or does she want St. Clair?  As you go on through the story, you will find a love for it!
(Rebekah, Grade 8, Taylor)

Mister Monday by Garth Nix

It was really good and a little different.  It is quite exciting.  I like that it introduces a whole new world (well more like a new dimension) and I’m excited for Grim Tuesday.
(Ethan, Grade 7, Western)

The Killer Book of Infamous Murders by Tom Philbin and Michael Philbin

The Killer Book of Infamous Murders was a very informative book about a lot of different murderers that I had never heard about.  I think the most interesting chapter in this book would have to be Chapter 3 “And Gave Her Father Forty Hacks…” which is about Lizzie Borden killing her father Andrew Borden and her stepmother who she disliked, Abby Borden.
(Marissa, Grade 9, Christian County High School)

The Invaders by John Flanagan

After Skandia’s greatest treasure is stolen… After they are disbanded and exiled… Nine adventurous lads seek to capture a famously evil pirate who stole the treasure, save a town from complete demolition, and return the Andomal to its proper place. 

In this wonderfully suspenseful sequel to book one of the Brotherband Chronicles The Outcasts, our young and quite inventive protagonist, Hal, confirms the makings of a new invention, this time without any drawbacks.  Hal has created a giant crossbow that can be mounted on the bow of his ship.  He plans to use it to give a certain pirate a very nasty surprise.

I think that the author wanted to show that courage, determination, and loyalty will form a strong bond that is not easily separated.  Hal learned not to trust pirates, to respect strength, and to never enter the sea without a sheepskin vest.

The author wrote this book to entertain, and I think that he vastly succeeded.  I really enjoyed this book because it is packed with action, close calls, and suspense at the end of every chapter.  When I read this book, I felt as if I was really there, sailing over vast seas, feeling the wind and sea spray…I really enjoyed it.

I absolutely loved this book and I hope that you take the time to read it too!
(Holly, Grade 7, Northwestern Middle School)

Kids’ Kitchen by Amanda Grant

This book is about helping kids learn how to cook and it helps them follow the directions.  This book is about cooking food and I think this is good for me because I can learn recipes because I want to go to culinary school.
(Veronica, Grade 8, Maple Crest)

Huge by Sasha Paley

Huge is a hilarious book about two girls who are total opposites.  April saved her money for a long time to go to Wellness Canyon to lose weight.  All she wants is to be skinny and popular.  Wil, on the otherhand, could care less about what people think of her. She gets stuck at Wellness Canyon because her parents are embarrassed by her size.  They don’t want the press to know the owners of Excalibur Fitness Clubs have an obese daughter.  April and Will end up being roommates and must rely on each other to lose weight.  Sparks fly as these girls go from enemies to allies to friends.  If you want a silly, heart-warming, inspiring, page-turner, you have made the right choice.
(Abby, Grade 8, Northwestern)

Kidnapped by River Rats by Dave Jackson

The book Kidnapped by River Rats was a very good book to read.  The book is about two homeless people named Jack and Amy.  Their mother died in the beginning of the book.  Jack and Amy have only one hope and that is to find their uncle.  After a couple of hard days Amy gets kidnapped by some guy.  Jack looked very hard to find Amy, but it was just impossible.  After a couple of hours Jack found Amy but Amy was trapped in a building.  Then Jack got the Salvation Army to help.  After late at night they finally got Amy safe and sound.  The next morning they got adopted and went to America. 

This book was a heartwarming book.  That part that made me almost cry was for the days after Mother Crumpton died in her sleep.
(David, Grade 11, Kokomo)

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Great book, has moments where your heart is really pounding and the “ah-ha” moments when you can put together the puzzle on your own.
(Michaela, Grade 9, Northwestern High School)

Teen Review Winners Round 1!

Congratulations to our first set of Winners!  These teens will be notified and will receive a set of earbuds in a nice zippered colored pouch.  Keep the reviews coming!

If you are interested in reading one of these great books, just click on the image for a full description!

I loved it.  It was kind of slow but it was good.  I like the good partnership of romance and magic.  I really don't like Bree with all her jealousy and hate. 
(Ethan, Grade 7, Western)

In The Hunger Games there is a harsh government we can only imagine.  There are twelve districts plus the capitol.  To prove the capitol can do whatever they want, every year each district is forced to give a boy and a girl to compete in the Hunger Games.  In other words, to fight to the death on live TV.  Katniss Everdeen a sixteen year old girl lives alone with her mother and twelve year old sister Prim.  Ever since their father died Katniss has been the head of the family.  For a long time her family was on the brink of survival.  When Prim is picked for the Hunger Games, Katniss immediately takes her place.  She is forced to leave her family knowing she might not come back.  When Katniss gets to the arena she can only hope to survive.  When other people are hunting her one choice can make the difference between life and death. 

In my opinion, The Hunger Games is a must read.  It is full of love and tragedy.  It is also a page-turner that will leave you wanting more.  You would be crazy not to read this book. 
(Hannah, Grade 7, Western)

I found that this book is amazing.  It is filled with action and excitement.  I think it’s the best in the series.  I like how everything bad in the book happens to Harry and his friends.  It is very amazing how Harry can manage a freaky lying reporter and Lord Voldemort’s return.  At least everything is good for Harry in the end. 
(Dominic, Grade 6, St. Joan of Arc)

Great book and it was the type of book I have been looking for.  I will hopefully be able to read the rest of the trilogy and any together books Lauren DeStefano has written.  I would suggest this to anyone looking for a book about genetically altered humans, or a book about captivity. 
(Sarah, Grade, School)

A story where a boy’s dream world is real and he goes there when is in a coma.  A great tale of light and dark, good and evil, and hero and villain. 
(Aaron, Grade 10, Kokomo High School)

A universal book about someone  [who] dreams to his liking, making it his own little world to explore and learn.  Most of the dream is due to a concussion in a car crash which caused two deaths except the person alive. Great storyline. Makes the impossible possible.  (Cameron, Grade 11, Kokomo High School)

This book was amazing.  It drew me in just by the first paragraph.  Who knew she would fall in love with a fallen angel.  It was like they were destined to be together except for the fact that he was supposed to kill her at first.  Their love and passion for each other is unbreakable.
(Shannon, Grade 9, Kokomo High School)

This book is perfect.  It shows love for family and friend and slowly connects two strangers together to lovers.  It’s a perfect book/trilogy for people who get all warm and fuzzy over love stories that have a huge dramatic turn.  In description, I have no words that could explain my love for this book/trilogy.
(Alex, Grade 9, Kokomo High School)

I love this book because it tells about 3 teenagers in their high school years and their lives outside of school.  What I really like about the book is that it’s made into emails.
(Brittany, Grade 9, Kokomo High School)

A book filled with action mystery, with danger waiting around every corner, and unfolding of a great mystery.  A fast paced book that leaves people wanting more.

(Kody, Grade 9, Eastern High School)

I love Goosebumps, but somehow I didn’t find Welcome to Dead House as exciting.  I guess it was probably it had the same theme ghost.  Just like another horror book I read if I were to rate it I would give it a three out of five.  I would recommend it for people who like to read the same book twice.
(Daniel, Grade 7, Home Schooled)

It was one of the best books I have ever read.  It had a good story.  It made sense.  It wasn’t too easy or too hard, just right.
(Nick, Grade 6, Northwestern)

This book is filled with adventure and romance.  Galen is a prince of the sirena.  He finds a girl named Emma who is different.  This book is funny and you fall in love with the characters and you won’t want to put this book down.
(Sarah, Grade 9, Western)

A heart touching book about a girl with a serious problem who finds relief with elephants…not to soon after she meets Sabastian who completely relieves her stressed life.  With connections, love, drama, this book is about a girl finding what true feelings are. 
(Megan Deck, Grade 10, Western)

The Eye of the Hunter is about a party of five’s quest to kill an evil beast.  They face many exciting and terrifying adventures before they finally kill it, at the expense of much pain, sorrow, and one of their party members.

This book begins when a previous group of adventurers is trying to kill the beast aforementioned, Stoke.  Stoke is trapped in a glacier with a party member named Urus. Without giving away the ending, I can’t say any more, so why don’t YOU read it and find out.

This book was 601 pages long, and was a slow read, but it was worth the time invested.  It used older grammar, like thou, and thee.  I think that anyone who reads this book has invested their time well, and deserves another visit to the library!
(Donovan, Grade 7, Northwestern)

This book is about an orphan girl named Roo who moves into her rich uncle’s house.  She discovers a secret garden…but it is almost completely destroyed.  The “life” in the soil has diminished into a whisper, instead of its usual buzzing hum; hence the name of the book.

Roo and her two new friends, a sick kid and a Faigne (a boy who lives on the river), work to restore this dead garden into a lush one, but about halfway through their job, Roo’s uncle finds out.  It turns out that he was the one who had destroyed the garden, after a tragic event happened there.  He finally warms up to restoring the garden to its former glory though…the rest of the book is for you to read!!

I really enjoyed this book because the author used such wonderful detail, and at the end of every chapter was a really suspenseful cliffhanger.  This was a relatively quick read, only 182 pages.  If you want two or three nights of a great book, I would definitely suggest this one.
(Holly, Grade 7, Northwestern)

Chat, Book Signing and Q&A with YA Author Saundra Mitchell

Sunday, Sept. 18 • 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at KHCPL Main

Saundra Mitchell, author of The Vespertine (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011) and Shadowed Summer (Random House, 2009) will be at the KHCPL Main at 220 N. Union St. Sunday, September 18^th from 2:30-4:30 P.M. for a book signing, talk, and question and answer session.

Join us for an exciting afternoon while we chat with award-winning young adult (YA) author Saundra Mitchell. She will talk about her books and the writing experience, and will answer questions from the audience.

The Vespertine is the story of a teen girl who discovers she has an unusual ability to see the future while visiting relatives in 1889 Baltimore.  It is a gripping piece of historical fiction and fantasy.  It is a 2011 Amazon Summer Reading List Selection and received excellent reviews from VOYA and Kirkus.  A spinoff novel, The Springsweet, will be published on April 17, 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Shadowed Summer was a 2009 ALAN pick, a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection, and a 2010 Edgar Nominee for Best YA Mystery.  Shadowed Summer takes place in the small town of Ondine, Louisiana.  Fourteen-year-old Iris uncovers family secrets when she conjures up the ghost of a boy missing for decades and decides to solve the mystery of his disappearance




Saundra Mitchell resides in Indianapolis.  I attended a couple of her signings in Indy and she is an excellent speaker.  She can talk about writing and publishing as well as about her experiences in the process of getting her novel published.  This is an excellent opportunity for teens to meet a published author and ask questions.  I hope you will pass this information on to your students.

You may bring books to have signed or purchase books at the event.  Hardcovers of The Vespertine will be $14 and paperbacks of Shadowed Summer  will be $7.  Cash only please.

Coming Soon:

Book Review: If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser

If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Growing up in the projects leaves a person with very few options. DeShawn, an intelligent young man knows this very well as he watches the young people around him join gangs, drop out of school, and fall between the cracks of society. The educational system fails them, and society fails them, leaving boys like DeShawn struggling to make ends meet in a world that doesn’t care if he grows up.



There is no doubting Strasser’s talent for getting a reader into the lives and minds of the characters. Strasser took a young man whose intelligence and street smarts attract the reader and shows how he develops over a period of several years. Looking closely at how a smart young man can become a gang member.

I’ll admit, this isn’t my usual type of book. It isn’t one that I would have willingly picked up on my own, but it is one that I am glad I read because it is remarkable. The characterizations are beautifully done. Gang members, who in other hands would have been superficial stereotypes, are wonderfully developed into people you can believe exist. The pacing is perfect. I literally flew through this novel in on sitting—rare for me because I am such a slow reader. Strasser hooks you with the gunshots at the beginning and propels you to the end at breakneck pace. You won’t believe where this novel will take you.

Overall this was a remarkable piece of fiction. Not a book I would have picked up on my own, but one that I am glad to have read. It is a fast, interesting read, with superb characters and remarkable writing.

Cautions for sensitive readers: Violence, drugs, sexual references, I don’t recall any explicit language, and language in the quotes at the beginning of the chapters was edited out.

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Book Review: Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sixteen year-old Finley Jayne doesn't know exactly what she is, but for your own safety, it is unwise to make her angry. When the son of her employer attacks her, Finley protects herself, and finds herself out of a job and running for her life. While running away from the repercussions of her violent actions, Finley stumbles into Griffin King, the young Duke of Greythorne, who has some unusual abilities of his own. He and his group of unusual friends are after a man they call the Machinist who is turning automatons against their owners, and using them to commit crimes. Griff, recognizes Finley as one of their own, and tries to convince her that she can help him stop the Machinist and find out who and what she is once and for all.

This has to be one of my favorite books this year. It is so original and fun that from start to finish I didn't want to put it down. There are many things that I enjoyed about this book, but to keep this review brief I am only going to name a few.

First, the characters are wonderful--even the supporting ones. Finley Jayne is smart, strong, and even sassy at times. She has two warring personalities, and this is portrayed very well. Plus an unexpected surprise about her parentage added a bit of thrill to the story! I love Griffin, his calm reassurance that he always has a plan and his desire to save everyone. Emily is charming and it is so refreshing to see a girl that is smart and mechanically inclined. Sam was probably my least favorite character, but that is because I felt like he wallowed in his losses. The character development was outstanding. I love these characters and wanted to spend more time with them.

Secondly, the setting was exceptionally well done. The story takes place in a steampunk version of Victorian London. Although steampunk adds technology that doesn't exist in the time period of the book, it blended well into this novel. The technology and the Victorian era go well together, and it never felt forced to me. I could believe that this world existed and I wanted to go there.

Finally, the story keeps the reader engaged. It was vivid, fast paced, and action packed. I couldn't wait to keep reading this novel because I wanted to know what would happen next.

Overall, this novel is positively stunning. I loved this book, these characters, and couldn't stand to step away from it when finished. To be honest, I am already contemplating rereading it because I enjoyed it so much. This book is the first book in the Steampunk Chonicles series. My only regret is that I don't know when book #2 in the series will come out. Not soon enough for this fan!

Cautions for sensitive readers: Violence. No language and no sex, although the attack on Finley was suggestive in nature.

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