If you liked Ranger's Apprentice Series

If you liked the Hunger Games Trilogy try reading these...

Coming soon to Teen Fiction

Jane by April Lindner

Jane Moore finds herself forced to drop out of Sarah Lawrence due to her inability to afford school after the unexpected death of her parents.  Determined to find a job and save money to go back to school, Jane takes a job as a nanny for a famous rock star.  Jane is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.  However, one does not need to have read, or enjoyed Jane Eyre to enjoy this fun new romance.  Those who have read Jane Eyre will enjoy drawing parallels between the two stories.

Jane will be released on October 11, 2010.

$5000 Book Scholarships for College Bound High School Seniors

Author James Patterson is giving away over $70,000 in gift certificates to college bound High School Seniors to use to purchase text books. 

To win the certificates, high school students can visit http://jamespatterson.com/dollars-for-scholars-entries.php.com and enter into and win an essay contest. The essay question is “How has your favorite book inspired you toward what you’d like to do in life?” The fifty-six students whose applications, which will be
read by James Patterson and select members from his ReadKiddoRead.com board, show the
most creative thoughts on how books can energize real-life pursuits will receive the following:
one of eight first-place awards of $5,000 apiece; one of eight second-place awards of $2,500
apiece; or one of forty third-place awards of $250 apiece. This contest is sponsored by Patterson,
who has chosen to work with IndieBound to provide gift certificates for the contest winners.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

The third and final book in The Hunger Games Trilogy, Mockingjay  was released last Tuesday.  I cannot remember the last time I was so excited to get my hands on a book.  If you are one of the many fans of The Hunger Games you may share the same excitement.  For those of you who have not heard of, or read The Hunger Games I highly (stress on highly) recommend that you read it!  The books are written for a young adult audience, but it is something adults won’t be able to put down either.

I don’t want to spoil Mockingjay for those who have not had the chance to read it yet, but I do want to say that odds are you will not be disappointed.  I loved every page and was sad when I finished the book because it is the last of the trilogy.    

The Hunger Games (the first novel) is set to be made into a  movie sometime in the near future (possibly 2011).  Lions gate acquired rights for the movie in 2009.  The screenplay was written by Collins and is currently being polished by another screenwriter.  Casting has not yet taken place.

New in Teen Fiction

If you are looking for a fun book to enjoy during the last few weeks of summer I recommend Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs. Lily has been keeping a massive secret from all of her friends and classmates, she is a mermaid! Lily is just not any mermaid. She is the Princess of Thalassinia, a secret mermaid city. Lily’s mother was a terapid (human) making Lily half human and half mermaid. She has been spending time as a human and attending high school on shore to learning more about the human world. During her time on shore she has developed a massive crush on a hunk from the swim team. However, Lily quickly learns that relationships on shore can be just as complicated as those in the mermaid world. Forgive My Fins is a fast paced fun to read book that will likely have you asking when the sequel will be out.

Spend the Summer with Sharon Flake!

There is a great opportunity for 5-12th graders to win a school visit from author Sharon Flake.  We have four of Ms. Flake's books in the teen area, and one in juvenile fiction.  Be sure to stop by and pick up a book.  Remember reading the books can also count towards hours for your summer reading logs.

Win a chance to have Sharon Flake visit your school!

Read any or all of Sharon Flake's books from June 1st - August 13th, 2010.

Write a 500 word essay about how one of Flake's novels, short stories, or poems has affected your life or changed the way you look at your community.  This reading contest is open to students in grades 5-12 who live in the lower 48 states.  All essays are due by Friday, August 13, 2010.  Please email essays to flake.sharon@gmail.com

The winner will be announces on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.

For further contest details, check out the contest page:

http://www.sharongflake.com/4u/contests/

 

Prizes Include:
1. First place winner will receive a free school visit from Ms. Flake.
2. Second place winner will receive an autograph copy of one of Ms. Flake's books and one set of books for their English, Language Arts or Reading classroom.
3. Third place winner will receive an autograph copy of one of Ms. Flake's books and will receive one signed collection of all Ms. Flake's books for the school library.