Waiting On Wednesday: The Leveller by Julia Durango

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

The Leveller

By Julia Durango

Publication Date: June 23, 2015

From Goodreads:

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them.

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

Gamers and action fans of all types will dive straight into the MEEP, thanks to Julia Durango’s cinematic storytelling. A touch of romance adds some heart to Nixy’s vivid, multidimensional journey through Wyn’s tricked-out virtual city, and constant twists keep readers flying through to the breathtaking end.

Why I picked it:

A bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world? Yes, please! If you would like to put a hold on this book, click here.

Monday Meme Spotlight: Trilogies

     Have you ever had that 'fish out of water' gasping feeling when you finish a book and realize that you have to wait (usually a YEAR) for the next one? Especially when you find out that you have to wait for not only one, but TWO years to get to the end of the series? I feel your pain. Here are a few trilogies that are already completed, so you can read them all at once without that panicked feeling when you hit the cliffhanger. 

The Graceling series- Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue- by Kristen Cashore: Although these books aren't all set with the exact same characters taking the lead, the world-building and extraordinary storytelling make it difficult to wait for the next book to be in your hands. They're set in a world of fantasy, but not so different that it's hard to grasp. It's creative enough to enhance the reading and set the novels apart, but you don't have to spend half the book figuring out what the world is like. Although these seem to me to be more geared to girls, certainly the boys can enjoy the swordfights and plotting that goes on throughout the series as well. You can order the books from the library by clicking here.

The Chaos Walking series- The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, Monsters of Men- by Patrick Ness: A breathtaking look at the realities of life, even life on another planet, where certain circumstances have made life unbearable for some and easy to control for others, this series is like an undertow- it pulls you under, and if you're like me, you were sad the see the last page turn. If you like a slightly sci-fi setting with a lot of action, twists, and heart, you'll love these uniquely written installments (that are all already out!) These are excellent reads for boys and girls, and will appeal to a wide variety of ages. Click this link to order the series from the library.

The Ashes trilogy- Ashes, Shadows, Monsters- Ilsa J. Bick: This is a series with serious cliffhangers. It happens after every nail-biting page- even though the first book starts slow, once you're into it, the action doesn't stop. A wild tale of people going mad and those who have to survive in the midst of it, this series is one that will make your head spin, boy or girl. The covers are pretty fantastic, too. Click here to see for yourself.

So stop making yourself look like this: 

And start looking like this:

Teen Book Review: Famous Last Words by Katie Alender

Famous Last Words by Katie Alender was a book that kept me up all night trying to finish it. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. The plot twists were amazing and in all the right places. Right when you think you know what's going on, the entire book flips on you. With creepy ghosts lurking in the corner, a terrible secret haunting the back of your mind, and a Hollywood Killer on the loose, this book is terrifying. But in a good way. This book deserves a five out of five star rating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

(Reviewed by Gingerbread637, 13, Western Middle School) 

Waiting On Wednesday: A Book Of Spirits and Thieves by Morgan Rhodes

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

A Book Of Spirits and Thieves

By Morgan Rhodes

Publication Date: June 23, 2015

From Goodreads:

Modern-day sisters discover deadly ancient magic in book 1 of this Falling Kingdoms spin-off series!

Worlds collide in this suspenseful, page-turning Falling Kingdoms spin-off series, which explores a whole new side of Mytica—and an even darker version of its magic.

Crystal Hatcher, Modern-day Toronto: It’s a normal afternoon in her mother’s antique bookshop when Crys witnesses the unthinkable: her little sister Becca collapses into a coma after becoming mesmerized by a mysterious book written in an unrecognizable language.

Maddox Corso, Ancient Mytica: Maddox Corso doesn’t think much of it when he spots an unfamiliar girl in his small village. Until, that is, he realizes that she is a spirit, and he is the only one who can see or hear her. Her name is Becca Hatcher, and she needs Maddox to help get her home.

Farrell Grayson, Modern-day Toronto: Rich and aimless Farrell Grayson is thrilled when the mysterious leader of the ultra-secret Hawkspear Society invites him into the fold. But when he learns exactly what he has to do to prove himself, Farrell starts to question everything he thought he knew about family, loyalty, and himself….

Fate has brought these young people together, but ancient magic threatens to rip them apart.

Why I picked it:

I’m always up for a good adventure novel, especially when it mixes modern day with the past. If you would like to put a hold on this book, click here.

Monday Meme Spotlight: Short Story Collections

     Sometimes you just don't have the time or the mental awareness to wade through a whole novel. Or maybe you just find that long books get too detailed- you want the action, and you want it now! In that case, short stories are for you! There are innumerable short stories floating around out there, and sometimes, publishers will kindly tie them up in a collection of similarly-themed stories by well-known authors.  Here are a few examples. 

1. Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd- Full of nerd culture references and fun illustrations, these short stories (by such authors as Cassandra Clare, John Green, and Scott Westerfeld) take a fun, lighthearted approach to a movement that is ever growing in the new generation. From comic-con to MMORPGs, this collection is a fun, easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here's a link to hold a library copy.

2. Corsets and Clockwork- Featuring 13 steampunk stories by such authors as Ann Aguirre and Maria Snyder, this collection is perfect for the history buff who likes a little bit of a twist in their stories. No matter who you are, these action-filled tales of airships and super-technology will satisfy your desire for a quick read. Here's the link to the library copy.

3. Zombies v. Unicorns- For the fantasy lover inside of you, here's a collection of fantastic, outlandish stories that portray the pros and cons of being Team Zombie or Team Unicorn. Featuring stories by Maureen Johnson, Carrie Ryan, and Meg Cabot, this anthology edited by Holly Black is a daring exposé that reveals the truth about how some of our favorite authors feel! 

So whether you're looking for a fun, light read or you're trying to decide what mythical creature to support, expand your world with some short stories and see what happens!

Monday Meme Spotlight: Awesome Box!

 We all want to be awesome. It's the life goal of many people in one way or another- they want themselves to be awesome, their kids to be awesome, or their products to be awesome. Well, here at KHCPL, we want to know what you think is awesome. That's why we have the AWESOME BOX. This is a box at return location where you can put your books, CDs, or movies to let us know just what you love. Here are a few YA selections that have been recently placed in the Awesome Box.

1. Frostfire- Amanda Hocking: A girl trying to be a warrior, a forbidden romance (well, two, I think) and a unique world, Frostfire is the first in the Kanin Chronicles, a series we carry here at the library. I've heard a lot of feedback about this novel but haven't actually read it myself, so if you want to check it out and tell me what you thought, click this link. 

2. The Wrath and the Dawn- Renee Ahdieh: This novel is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, the classic story of a girl who keeps herself alive by weaving tales every night. And let me tell you, this is one tale you want to read. Right now, go pick it up, and read it. You won't put it down, I promise. The eloquent writing, the beautiful scene-setting, and the rich details make for a book that grabs you, sucks you in, and keeps you there with dizzying descriptions of setting, vivid characters, and electrifying turns. You'll want to click on this link and order a copy from the library.

3. Rook- Sharon Cameron: This is another page-turner, as well as another book inspired by a classic. The Scarlet Pimpernel was a big influence on the writing of this novel, and I very much enjoyed this tale of a Luddite society reverting to the methods of the French Revolution. With danger, deception, and lots of action, Rook carries itself through any doubt that a standalone novel is somehow less than, say, a trilogy. And you get a satisfying ending without having to wait three years for it. Click here to hold a library copy.

4. Ashes to Ashes- Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian: A tale of love, revenge, and deception, Ashes to Ashes marks the third book in the Burn for Burn series. Although I haven't read it, it was put in the Awesome Box, so it must be stellar. There's no excuse for falling in love in this novel- and if you fall for the wrong person, you'll have to pay. It sounds great, right? Find the whole series by clicking here. 

You can find more recently awesome picks, as well as 'most awesome' by going to this website in your browser: http://khcpl.awesomebox.io/. Once you're there, you can scroll through everything that's been named awesome at any of the three KHCPL branches. Thanks for reading! And remember that puppy says: