New in June!

• Z. Raptor- Steve Cole
  
• Dead Rules- Randy Russel
  
• Uncommon Criminals- Ally Carter
  
• Cruel Love- Kate Brian
  
• Passion- Lauren Kate
  
• Demon's Surrender- Sarah Rees Brennan

College Support for Students with Learning Differences or ADHD

Join Rana Slosberg of Slosberg College Solutions on June 14 from 7:00-8:00 for this free program for high school students and their parents, covering the following topics: College as compared to high school Should a student disclose LD or ADHD at college? Descriptions of support available at college How to learn what support a particular college offers Sign ups are required. Visit the program calendar at www.bernardslibrary.org or call us at 908-204-3031 ext. 5 to register!

After by Amy Efaw

I'm re-posting this review I did of After from 2009 because it was nominated for a Garden State Teen Book Award! It was one of my favorite books that year. Here's what I wrote:

After is the story of Devon, a straight-A student from a working class family who hides her pregnacy, gives birth alone and throws her baby in a dumpster. Following Devon through her hearing and first days in juvenial detention, the author explores how a teenager who had everything going for her got to this place and the denial and panic that led her to perform such a horrific act. It's interesting to hear about the attempted murder from the mother's side but be prepare- it's an addictive read and you might be up all night!

Soul Pancake

What is the biggest mistake you've ever made?
(Decca Records reject the Beatles in 1962 saying, "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out anyway.")

What does art have to do with the soul?
("Originality is undetected plagarism- W.R. Inge)

How do you determine truth?
("Intense feeling too often obscures the truth."- Harry Truman)

These are some of life's big questions posed by Rainn Wilson (you might know him as Dwight from The Office) in the new book Soul Pancake. Each question is accompanied by quotes, images and sub-questions that get you thinking about the question, speaking your mind and helping you "figure out what it means to be human".

In addition to the book, Rainn Wilson also created SoulPancake.com, a social networking site. In his own words, "SoulPancake is more of a mission than a Web site. It's a MOVEMENT to wrestle with and chew on LIFE'S BIG QUESTIONS. It's a way to EXPLORE why we believe the things that we believe. It's a place for you to TALK about your soul and the existence of God. It's a space to ENGAGE in art, philosophy, creativity, truth, and beauty. And ultimately, SoulPancake is a community of people who are digging DEEPER to figure out what it means to be human and to experience this rich, strange, difficult, and awesome journey called life." Check it out at www.soulpancake.com

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman

Wes and June are high school juniors. June is new in town. Her father's job doesn't let her stay in one school for very long. After six schools in four years, June has finding friends and boyfriend down to a science- find smart, fun people to hang around but no one who is so unique that she'll actually miss them. Wes's best friend Jerry fits the bill perfectly. Geeky but not too geeky, fun but not too fun. But Wes and June keep finding themselves thrown together and they fall hard for each other despite the many obstacles in their way. Big Crunch tells a story that's both sweet and simple and it manages to stay away from a lot of "teenage love story" cliches. If you are looking for a realistic story of two nice kids in love than this one is definitely for you!

Garden State Teen Book Award 2012

The nominees for the 2012 Garden State Teen Book Awards are here! Each year, New Jersey teens vote for their favorite books in three categories.
The ballot lists twenty nominees for each category, based on teen appeal and quality of writing. Follow the links to see the nominees in each category and to place your vote (if you are ready!)

• Fiction- Grades 6-8
• Fiction- Grades 7-12
• Nonfiction- Grades 6-12
  

Voting will run through January 7, 2012 so you have plenty of time to read a few and vote for your favorite! Paper ballots can be picked up at the library and all the books will be on display until voting ends. I'll be featuring some of the nominated books here in the future using the tag "GSTBA" so check back later!

Reach Out Reads

ReachOut is an organization that helps teens cope with tough issues and mental health problems. For the month of May, they are featuring teen novels that have characters facing different issues such as depression, anorexia, cutting and how to help a friend. If you or anyone you know if facing tough times, you may want to check this out. They also will be hosting a bunch of live author chats so you may want to see if any of your favorites will be featured!

Shine by Lauren Myracle

When 16 year old Cat's former best friend Patrick is found beaten, unconscious and tied to a gas pump at the gas station where he worked, everyone in rural Black Creek, NC assumes it was local college students that put Patrick in a coma because he refused to sell him alcohol and that it had nothing to do with the fact that he is openly gay. Cat, however, knows that's not what happened. She has drifted apart from Patrick and her other friends in the last few years but she's determined to find out exactly what happened to Patrick that night. As Cat begins to investigate, she turns up twisted relationships, shocking evidence and disturbing memories. This book is raw and gritty and at times difficult to read but it will definitely have you turning the pages and second guessing yourself! I highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good mystery with rough characters.

Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day is being held at comic stores across the country this Saturday 5/7! Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who comes into their stores. Find a store participating near you!

For the Win by Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow (you might know him as the author of Little Brother) is back with this fast-paced story about a group of teenagers from around the world who work in harsh conditions playing for virtual gold in several different massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Their bosses then turn around and sell the virtual gold for real money, very little of which these "gold farmers" ever see. That is until the mysterious Big Sister Nor brings these teens together, convincing them to unionize and bring their virtual sweatshops to a halt. This book is action packed (in the real and virtual world) as the gamers take on corrupt local bosses, social indifference, crooked cops and big business. You don't have to be a MMPORPG lover or a future economics major to love For the Win but both of those things would make this book perfect for you!

New in May!

• What Happened to Goodbye- Sarah Dessen
• Shimmer- Alyson Noel
  
• Beauty Queens- Libba Bray
  
• Everfound- Neil Shusterman
  
• Dead is Not and Option- Marlene Perez
  
• Cryptic Cravings- Ellen Schreiber (Vampire Kisses)
  
• Bitter End- Jennifer Brown
  
• The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group- Catherine Jinks
• Between Here and Forever- Elizabeth Scott