JENNIFER’S BODY by Audrey Nixon – REVIEW June 7, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: demons, friendship, horror, possession, young adult
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HarperTeen – June 1, 2009
Anita “Needy” Lesnicki is the best friend to wild, crazy, and beautiful Jennifer Check. After Needy is dragged to a club to see a up and coming Indie band called Low Shoulder, her life begins to unravel.
Needy notices some changes after their night at the club. Jennifer’s behavior gets more wild and leads to the deterioration of her and Needy’s relationship and even more disturbing is the fact that boys start turning up dead and partially eaten. All of a sudden, the town of Devil’s Kettle is in the national spotlight.
Needy decides she needs to get to the bottom of what is going on in town. She knows there is a connection between the band Low Shoulder and their immediate rise to the top and Jennifer’s weird behavior – she just doesn’t know what it is.
The story is told as a flash back from Needy’s point of view while she is in solitary confinement at Leech Lake Women’s Correctional Hopital. We know Needy did something bad – we just don’t know what it was. JENNIFER’S BODY is filled with fun and gore which makes it a super fast read. Be on the lookout for the movie sometime this Fall.
Traveling To Teens: DEMON’S LEXICON by Sarah Rees Brennan – REVIEW and Q & A June 4, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: demons, Q & A, siblings, traveling to teens, young adult
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Welcome to the Traveling to Teens Blog Stop for Sarah Rees Brennan.
Sarah Rees Brennan was born and raised in Ireland by the sea, where her teachers valiantly tried to make her fluent in Irish (she wants you to know it’s not called Gaelic) but she chose to read books under her desk in class instead. The books most often found under her desk were Jane Austen, Margaret Mahy, Anthony Trollope, Robin McKinley and Diana Wynne Jones, and she still loves them all today.
After college she lived briefly in New York and somehow survived in spite of her habit of hitching lifts in fire engines. She began working on The Demon’s Lexicon while doing a Creative Writing MA and library work in Surrey, England. Since then she has returned to Ireland to write and use as a home base for future adventures. Her Irish is still woeful, but she feels the books under the desk were worth it.
The Demon’s Lexicon is her first novel.
Sarah was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about the book and about her writing.
1. What made you decide to tell the story from Nick’s point of view instead of Alan’s?
I never thought of writing it from Alan’s point of view: Alan would be fiendishly difficult to write because he’s, uh, smarter than I am… and also part of why I wanted to write the book was to get inside the head of That Guy – you know, Tall, Dark and Handsomely Withdrawn – and see what made him tick.
2. Mae seemed to cause Nick some inner-turmoil. Do you plan to have the relationship resolved in the next book or will the possible love triangle between Alan, Nick, and Mae be something that runs throughout the entire trilogy?
Well, the relationships between Mae and Nick and Mae and Alan do progress and change over the second book, but – hmmm – I don’t really see it as a love triangle? All three characters will have other potential love interests, so I guess I see it more as a love web. But Mae certainly does get to Nick. 
3. Both Alan and Nick are strong and attractive young men. Whereas Alan is naturally kind; Nick seems to be reluctantly kind. If you were Mae who would you choose?
You know, I love them both but I might not choose either. Alan’s kind of a compulsive liar, which would be a problem for me, and it would always be hard to tell if Nick really liked you. Maybe even he wouldn’t know.
4. When you are writing, do you listen to music or do you need peace and quiet?
I listen to loud loud music. (Country music, often, she admits shamelessly.) And I like writing with my friends as they watch TV, and in busy cafes. I like writing with life going on all around me!
5. Is writing a full-time job for you or do you maintain other employment?
I teach part-time: creative writing, and I love doing it, but I love writing best and feel very lucky I get to spend so much time doing what I love best!
6. Do you have a set amount of writing you want to complete everyday or do you just let the words come however they may?
I don’t have a set amount since so much of writing is revision, and cutting scenes takes time too – you don’t want to end up going ‘Minus 2000 words, Sarah! Time to go put your fingers in the toaster as punishment!’
… Not that I would ever do that. Or consider doing it. Such a thought would only cross a truly demented mind.
Thanks so much for your time Sarah!
REVIEW:
Margaret K. McElderry – June 2, 2009
Nick is dark, quiet, and exudes danger. Alan is friendly, open, and puts others before himself. The brothers back each other up no matter what. For years they’ve been hiding from Black Arthur and his minions, trying to keep their mother and the charm she stole from the master magician safe. They’ve been constantly on the look out for signs they’ve been found and ready to move at a moments notice. This time is no different, except for the brother and sister that come to them for help.
Nick doesn’t want anything to do with Mae and Jamie, but Alan can’t turn them away. Jamie has been marked by a demon and needs help removing the mark or he’ll become possessed. In the process of trying to help, Alan also becomes marked. After some investigation they find out both Alan and Jamie’s marks are a result of The Obsidian Circle and the only way to save them both is to kill the circle’s leader – Black Arthur.
Sarah Rees Brennan has created an interesting story full of mystery, suspense, questions of loyalty and friendship, and what it really means to be family. Nick, not necessarily the nicest guy, becomes a character you can’t help but love. You’ll be ready to move on to the second book in the trilogy after you finish DEMON’S LEXICON.
PROM DATES FROM HELL, HELL WEEK, and HIGHWAY TO HELL by Rosemary Clement-Moore – REVIEW April 22, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: demons, friendship, humor, journalism, photography, prom, psychics, romance, sororities, Spring Break, witches
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Last week a friend of mine loaned me the Maggie Quinn: Girl v. Evil series. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. They are funny and interesting.
Delacorte Books for Young Readers – March 13, 2007
Maggie Quinn is a high school senior who spends her time taking photos for the yearbook and writing stories for the school’s newspaper. She is completely content with staying under the radar in order to avoid coming into contact with the Jocks and the Jessicas (the girls that seem to run the school). Everything is working out just fine until she snaps some incriminating pictures of the Jocks bullying one of the bigger geeks of the school.
Soon, after her creative photo rescue, Maggie starts having disturbing dreams. She has ignored her dreams for a long time and has tried to forget the fact that she has psychic abilities. But with someone or something picking off the Jocks and the Jessicas one-by-one, she is going to have to start tapping into her mojo. With the help of her Grandmother and a new friend named Justin, Maggie starts to put her powers to work to solve the mystery.
Maggie Quinn is a delightful main character. She is quick witted, sarcastic, and cynical and her one-liners will have you rolling. Check out a couple of entries back for my “Say It Again” Saturday post where I listed a few of my favorite lines from PROM DATES FROM HELL. You’ll want to pick up the sequel as soon as you finish. Also, there is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer connection – The Prom where Buffy saves the prom from the devil dogs has a similar feel.
Delacorte Books for Young People – August 26, 2008
Maggie made it out of high school alive so what does she decide to take on next? Sororities! Maggie decides to go through Rush, undercover, in order to get her foot in the door at the college newspaper.
With the hectic schedule of a new college freshman, participating in Rush, and trying to figure out what is going on with her sort-of boyfriend Justin, Maggie is burning the candle at both ends. But it isn’t until she realizes that she is losing time that she starts to worry that something of an evil nature is at work.
Maggie was lucky enough to survive high school and the prom, but can she survive a sorority?
HELL WEEK is an interesting story, but it lacks some of the humor that was so enjoyable in PROM DATES FROM HELL. If you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and liked the episode, Reptile Boy, where Buffy goes to a frat party with Cordelia and gets chained in the basement to be sacraficed to the lizard demon, then you’ll like HELL WEEK.
Delacorte Press – March 10, 2009
Maggie and her best friend, Lisa, decide to head to South Padre Island for a normal Spring Break. Just because they battle demons and save the world on a regular basis doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to have some normal teenager time, right? Wrong!
On the way, on a dark and lonely highway, they run over a dead cow that is laying in the middle of the road. The fuel tank on Maggie’s Jeep is ripped open which leaves her and Lisa stranded in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, a nice cowboy drives by and gives them a lift to the nearest town to get some sleep and find a mechanic to tow her Jeep in the next day.
Once settled in Dulcina, TX, Maggie realizes that the cow she ran over isn’t the only animal that has been killed lately. Dogs, goats, calves, and now cows are being torn apart by unknown predators. Some people say its because of the drought and the coyotes getting more bold, but others say it is the el chupacabra – a creature with blood red eyes, scales on its back, and razor-sharp teeth.
As long as they are stuck there anyway, Maggie and Lisa decide they may as well see if they can figure out what is going on in the sleepy town. As they research the history of the town and meet some of its founding members, it becomes clear that the big “E” is at work again and this time Maggie needs the help of the “big gun” if they are going to make it out alive.
HIGHWAY TO HELL is just as good as the others in the series, but like HELL WEEK, it doesn’t have the same amount of humor as PROM DATES FROM HELL. Rosemary Clement-Moore did a great job of creating the side characters in Dulcina. She makes it so easy to picture the locals in your mind.
For up-to-date information, visit Rosemary’s website.
Prom Dates from Hell
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl vs Evil, Book 1)
Hell Week
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl vs Evil, Book 2)
Highway to Hell
(Maggie Quinn:
Girl Vs Evil)
THE NEW KID by Temple Mathews – REVIEW March 11, 2009
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: bullies, bullying, demons, love, Science Fiction, twins, video games, young adult
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Teen Libris – March 2009
(Borders Exclusive)
Will Hunter is no stranger to moving. He has been to five schools in three years. You might think his parents are the ones uprooting him all the time, but you’d be wrong.
Will is a demon hunter like his father and grandfather before him. He has developed a way of making enough money to support his development of new weapons while at the same time providing a cover for his mother being “transferred” wherever he needs to go next.
Will spends his time monitoring demon activity, constantly looking for the tell-tale signs of evil. His latest stop is Harrisburg, WA. This once quiet town has recently suffered from disappearances, instances of severe bullying, and outright deviant behavior.
The only trustworthy person Will meets is Natalie. Natalie’s sister is one of the teens to recently disappear. She has always had a feeling something sinister was involved and once she sees the things Will deals with on a daily basis, her suspicions are confirmed.
In spite of his better judgement, Will decides to let Natalie into his world. Never before has he trusted someone with his secret. Doing so would put an innocent person in danger and as his feelings for Natalie grow, he realizes just how dangerous it can be.
Will and Natalie face the ultimate evil on their journey to find the people they’ve lost. Will is confronted with knowledge that threatens his sense of self and is forced to make some big decisions.
Can Will face his demons and rid Harrisburg of its evil?
Personal Note: I had a hard time debating between a 3 glasses rating and a 4 glasses rating. On the one hand, I don’t think the writing was spectacular, but on the other hand, I wanted to keep reading. I really enjoyed the story. So, I went with the higher rating.
CITY OF GLASS by Cassandra Clare – REVIEW December 21, 2008
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: angels, demons, family, Fantasy, love, romance, sequel, series, vampires, werewolves, young adult
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Coming March 2009
The third and final installment in the Mortal Instruments trilogy definitely lives up to the reputation of the first two – CITY OF BONES and CITY OF ASHES. CITY OF GLASS picks up a short time after CITY OF ASHES ends. Clary has a mission. Madeleine, her mother’s friend, is possibly the only person who knows how to wake her mother from a coma. Clary will have to travel to Alicante in Idris to get what she needs.
Alicante is the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters. It is known as the City of Glass because of the beautifully tall glass towers that guard the city from harm. The only way to get to Idris is through a portal and Magnus, the warlock, has arranged one. Clary is planning to go through the portal with Jace and the Lightwoods. The only problem is, Jace doesn’t want Clary to go so he lies to her about when he and the Lightwoods are leaving. He thinks it is too dangerous for Clary.
After being left behind, Clary eventually finds her way to Alicante. She uses her ability to create runes and makes a portal for herself. Being new to the Shadowhunter world, Clary doesn’t know that using a portal and entering the city without permission is against the law. If she is found she could be put to death.
Once in the City of Glass, Clary is thrown in the middle of the largest battle the Shadowhunters have ever had to face. Valentine’s evil plans are in the final stages and everyone is on full alert, not knowing what he will do next. Jace and Clary’s complicated relationship keeps them just as confused as ever, but provides great excitement for the reader.
Cassandra Clare works magic with this novel. The excitement begins on the first page and doesn’t stop until the final sentence. She brings everything full circle for a completely satisfying ending – even though fans would be more than happy to read about these beloved characters forever. One thing Cassandra Clare fans need to keep an eye out for is the release of THE CLOCKWORK PRINCESS: VOLUME 1 of THE INFERNAL DEVICES. THE INFERNAL DEVICES is a trilogy of prequels set one hundred and forty years ago in Victorian England. Tessa, a warlock, is the main character. The first prequel to the Mortal Instruments trilogy is scheduled to be released Fall 2010.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare October 4, 2007
Posted by karinlibrarian in young adult.Tags: demons, mortal instruments, relationships, secrets, vampires, werewolves
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Clary Fray lived a normal life. At least she did until she witnessed a murder at a dance club while out with her best friend Simon. What she couldn’t understand is why the victim disappeared in front of her eyes. You see, she wasn’t supposed to see it in the first place. Not because there weren’t supposed to be witnesses to the murder, but because the murder victim was a demon and the ones who killed the demon were Shadowhunters.
Once she enters the world of the Shadowhunters everything in her life changes. Her relationship with Simon is drastically changed, she discovers the true identity of her father, and she learns what betrayal really means. On her quest to find her mother, Clary and Jace form a strong bond. Together they fight vampires, werewolves, and other creatures from strange demon dimensions.
CITY OF BONES is filled with action and humor. Jace’s character is lovable and causes you to laugh all through the book. If you are a fan of fantasy you will definitely love this book and be chomping at the bit until the next one comes out in 2008. The sequel is called CITY OF ASHES.
