Book Talk #18 - Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"Mitty Blake is a mediocre, but happy-go-lucky student at his private high school in NYC. When faced with being removed for poor grades from his Advanced Biology class, where the (brilliant) girl of his dreams is, he decides to buckle down and tackle the research project he has been putting off. Smallpox…who ever heard of smallpox? His initial search for facts leads him to an antique leather-bound medical book that his mother intends to use as an interior design accent, but Mitty finds some useful information within it. He also finds an envelope containing scabs from a smallpox outbreak in 1902. The more he and his girlfriend, Olivia, learn about “his” disease, the more he fears he may be responsible for reintroducing it back into society. This biological thriller is impossible to put down!" (Prepared by: Leah Roche, Beaufort High School for SCASL Young Adult Awards, 2008)
SUBJECTS:
Smallpox -- Fiction.
Diseases -- Fiction.
Schools -- Fiction.
High schools -- Fiction.
New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction.
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/cooney_code.htm

Featured music: "Isola" by Ilya INFO HERE!

Author's Website

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #18 - Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"Cyd Cherisse, expelled from boarding school, goes back home to San Francisco to live with Nancy and Sid, her mother and stepfather. Sid affectionately calls her his “hellion”, but Nancy always seems to be on Cyd’s case for one thing or another. Luckily, Cyd always has Gingerbread, the childhood rag doll her biological father gave her the one time they met, to confide in. After she stays out past curfew with her boyfriend, Shrimp, one too many times, she’s grounded in Alcatraz/the puke princess room, as Cyd refers to her bedroom, decorated by her mother in a House Beautiful but no one lives here style. Finally, no one can stand her Helen Keller impression and moping about anymore, and they decide to send her to New York to live with her bio-dad for the summer. Cyd’s always wanted to get to know him and her half-siblings. It may not be what she expected, but then, Cyd is seldom what anyone expected. Attitude, attitude, attitude. Spoiled she may be, but Cyd and Gingerbread are true originals." by Cindy Claypool of King County Library System for Evergreen Young Adult Book Award Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/cohn_gingerbread.htm

SUBJECTS:
Mothers and daughters -- Fiction.
Stepfamilies -- Fiction.
Interpersonal relations – Fiction
Abortion -- Fiction.

Featured music: "You Broke My Heart" by The Lovebites INFO HERE!

Author's MySpace Website

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #17 - Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Snakecharm by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Reviewed by Aaron

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"In this sequel to Hawksong, Zane Cobriana, the serpiente-shifter King and his bride Danica, Queen of the avians must deal with dangers from within their respective kingdoms, as well as dangers from without. Danica is pregnant and both rulers fear that neither race will accept a half-blood child. Furthermore, the two races are visited by the falcon - Syfka. The falcons are ruthless and more powerful than the avian and serpiente combined. Syfka has come looking for a fugitive falcon and won't hesitate to enforce her will upon our rulers.

Will Zane and Danica find a way to unite their peoples and stand against the falcons? Find out when you check out Snakecharm from the McCluer library."

Featured music: "Bleach 2 Theme/D - TecnoLife" by UVERworld INFO HERE!

Author's MySpace Website Fansite

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #16 - Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor

Prophecy of the Stones by Flavia Bujor

Reviewed by Melissa

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"The Prophecy of the Stones tells the story of three teenage girls — Jade, Opal, and Amber — who are chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Although strangers, they must learn to trust one another with their lives as they embark on an epic journey, armed only with magical stones. They must leave their families and friends to battle fierce enemies in a magical land called Fairytale, where evil is unknown. In a parallel world, a young girl named Joa fights for her life in a hospital in Paris. While she is dreaming, she is transported to a magical realm where the three young heroines fight a spectacular battle. Their success or failure will determine the fate of Fairytale... and Joa's survival. "
Source: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Prophecy-of-the-Stones/Flavia-Bujor/e/9780786818358

Featured music: "Cold Sea" by Autumn's Grey Solace INFO HERE!

Author's INFO

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #15 - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Reviewed by Julisia

LISTEN HERE:

 

OR READ IT HERE:

"In 1895 after her mother’s mysterious death in India, sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle is shipped off to an English boarding school whose mission is to prepare girls for marriage to wealthy men. At first, she is picked on by a group of catty girls, but Gemma possesses magical powers that enable her to turn the tables on them. Soon, a select group of four begins to leave school in the middle of the night for a cave off-campus where the girls enter into another dimension and where their most fervent wishes are granted. Tragedy results from their dalliance into forbidden territory and lives are changed forever." (Jean B. Bellavance for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards, 2005-2006)

SUBJECTS:

Magic -- Fiction.

Supernatural -- Fiction.

Boarding schools -- Fiction.

Schools -- Fiction.

England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction.

Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/bray_great.htm

Featured music: "Scarborough Fayre" by Mediaeval Baebes INFO HERE!

Author's LiveJournal Website Publisher Site

Movie coming soon!!!

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #14 - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Reviewed by Celeste

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"An extraordinarily ordinary, accident-prone girl of seventeen: Isabella Swan. Phoenix-born, Bella is accustomed to red rocks and dry deserts. Just to make her newly remarried mother happy, she decides to move in with her dad, Charlie in Forks, Washington. Despite her loathing of the town, with gritted teeth, Bella makes the move.

Little does she know she's in for a surprise. That surprise's name is Edward Cullen. With topaz eyes, bronze hair and impeccable beauty, Bella finds it hard not to stare. A silent, complex boy, Edward has a secret. His unexplainable rage towards Bella and suddenly jet black eyes cause her to wonder. She becomes consumed by the irresistable puzzle he presents. Lives will be at stake, sacrifices will be made.

What are you willing to die for?"

Featured music: "We Are Broken" by Paramore INFO HERE!

Author's MySpace Website Fansite

Movie coming December 2008!!!

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #13 - Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Reviewed by Brianna

LISTEN HERE:

OR READ IT HERE:

"Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes is the story of a shape-shifter named Danica who is a princess and the only heir to the avian throne. Her people - the avians - who can transform into birds have been in a war with the serpiente who can change into snakes for centuries. Now both sides are sick of the constant killing and will do anything to reconcile the two races and stop the constant bloodshed.

Another neutral race of shape-shifters - the tigers - tell them there is only one way. Danica will have to accept Zane the serpiente prince as her husband. Even if she does, their cultures are so different from each other that Danica is not sure she can bring herself to adjust to her new life. And meanwhile somebody is trying to start up their age-old war again."

Featured music: "Boadicea" by Enya INFO HERE!

Author's MySpace Website Fansite

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #12 - Feed by MT Anderson

Feed by M.T. Anderson

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

" What’s your favorite website? One you visit every day. Imagine if you could visit that site anytime you wanted. You wouldn’t have to carry around a laptop or worry about a wireless connection because you would always be connected to "the feed." Maybe your parents have been thinking about buying you an upcar, the feed would automatically send you information about the coolest ones and the best deals. Maybe you’ve been thinking about visiting the moon, the feed will tell you the braggest places to hang out. The feed can keep you updated on the latest hairstyles and let you chat your friends so you can share secrets no one else can hear.

This futuristic fantasy is a reality for Titus and his friends in Feed by M. T. Anderson. There are some annoying things about the feed too. Like getting totally bannered with pop-up ads and all these strange legions everyone’s getting, but it’s all they know. Everyone has the feed installed in their brains when they’re babies. Before they can talk, they’re plugged in. Titus thinks nothing of it until he meets Violet who makes him think about the world in a different way. She encourages him to resist the feed.

With a computer in your brain, you’re never alone. It’s watching your every move, so it can market to you. What will happen to Titus and Violet if they resist? What will happen if they don’t? Feed raises a lot of questions about what happens to a society where marketing and buying are the most important things and computers are everywhere. Should YOU resist?" (Stella Shafer, MLIS student, iSchool, University of Washington)
SUBJECTS:

Science fiction.
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/anderson_feed.htm

Featured music: "No Surprises" by Radiohead INFO HERE!

Author Info HERE!

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #11 - Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reviewed by Alexandria

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

" '...Patrick started driving real fast, and just before we got to the tunnel, Sam stood up, and the wind turned her dress into ocean waves. When we hit the tunnel, all the sound got scooped up into a vacuum, and it was replaced by a song on the tape player. A beautiful song called "Landslide". When we got out of the tunnel, Sam screamed a really fun scream, and there it was. Downtown. Lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder. Sam sat down and started laughing. Patrick started laughing. I started laughing.

And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.'

Fifteen year old Charlie is having a hard time dealing with the death of his aunt Helen, who he cared deeply for, also starting high school, and we all know how that feels. But what's worse is that he has no friends to go through it with. His best friend, Michael, committed suicide in eighth grade and his other friend Bridget has moved on and changed like kids do. To help let his emotions out, Charlie writes anonymous letters to someone he knows. He writes about everything, and gives the people he talks about fake names. Charlie just wants someone to listen and understand him, like Aunt Helen did."

Featured music: "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac INFO HERE!

Author Info HERE!

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Read The Riot REMIX! #1-#10

LINKS TO BOOKTALKS #1 - #10

Booktalk #1 - Street Pharm by Alison Van Diepen

Booktalk #2 - Acceleration by Graham McNamee

Booktalk #3 - As Simple As Snow by Gregory Gallow

Booktalk #4 - A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Booktalk #5 - Invisible by Pete Hautman

Booktalk #6 - Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Booktalk #7 - The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Booktalk #8 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Booktalk #9 - Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

Booktalk #10 - Tyrell by Coe Booth

Book Talk #10 - Tyrell by Coe Booth

Tyrell by Coe Booth

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

" Fifteen-year-old Tyrell doesn't have much in this life and he doesn't have really high expectations for his life. His spaced out mother has gotten them kicked out of the projects. OK, life in the projects isn't great but it's what Tyrell knows. And its what he wants for his younger brother. Living in some awful homeless hotel is not what he wants. He doesn't want his brother falling in with the kind of people that frequent the shelter. But his mother isn't interested in what Tyrell wants. As a matter of fact, she is trying to get Tyrell to start selling drugs so she'll have some money. Tyrell just has to find a way back to the projects to keep himself and his brother safe. But how?"
SUBJECTS:
Homeless persons -- Fiction.
Poor -- Fiction.
African Americans -- Fiction.
Bronx (New York, N.Y.)
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/booth_tyrell.htm

Featured music: "Hell, Yes" by Beck INFO HERE!

Author's Website MySpace

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #9 - Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan

Selected and Read by

Poet of the Dusk

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

"Ever want to run faster than a deer, play soccer better than a pro, have broken bones mend themselves in a few hours, and meet interesting and amazing people and things while traveling across the county? Ever want to live 8 times longer than the average human? Ever want to see a real wolf man........ rip out your friend's stomach?
Well, Darren Shan didn't want these things in his life, but that's what he got, and much more! Shan was just a normal kid, sneaking out of the house in order to have a good time with his "buds." And then they went to a freak show- Cirque de Freak. It provided more thrills and chills than bargained for- but even that didn't stop Darren from stealing a vampire's deadly spider and having to pay for that life changing mistake by becoming a 1/2 vampire assistant himself!
Imagine being a vampire's assistant... You, like David Shan, would have to say good-bye to your family and friends... FOREVER! Sure, you could run across the country faster than a car- and bite through metal pipes with your bare teeth, but your friend would be Evra the snake boy and your mentor, Mr. Crepsley, is someone you'd like to kill someday -- especially since you believe he's the one responsible for a slaughterhouse full of bone-dry bodies....
For Darren, this was the last straw- but little does he know of the reeeeeeaaaallll horror that awaits..... (Da duh duh dum...) (Andi Figart AJFIGART@MSN.COM)
SUBJECTS:
Vampires -- Fiction.
Spiders -- Fiction.
Best friends -- Fiction.
Friendship -- Fiction.
Freak shows -- Fiction.
Conduct of life -- Fiction.
Horror stories.
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/shan_cirque.htm

Featured music: "Midnight" by Adrina Thorpe INFO AND FREE SONG DOWNLOAD HERE!

Author's Website MySpace

BUY IT HERE!

2008 MOVIE INFO HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #8 - Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

"Aliens called Buggers have been attacking earth and have come close to destroying the human race. So to save earth, the world government starts creating military geniuses and training them in the art of war. Early training is in the form of computer war games.
Six year old Ender Wiggins is one of the children chosen for this task. He's unbeatable at these games.
But when he finds out that due to his amazing talent, he needs to leave his family for 10 years to attend Battle School, he's devastated that he won't see his sister Valentine anymore, whom he adores. It's not as hard to leave his older brother Peter, though, who hates Ender.
At Battle School Ender proves to be a genius among geniuses, and is looked at as a future military leader. But having the fate of the human race on your shoulders is a lot of pressure for such a young guy. Simulated war games are one thing, but how will he do in real combat situations?
Worst of all, Ender finds out that there's something HUGE the Battle School hasn't been telling him about his training . . ." (Davinna Artibey, Center for International Studies, Denver Public Schools, CO)
SUBJECTS:
Military education -- Fiction.
Space warfare -- Fiction.
Science fiction
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/card_game.htm

Featured music: "Havestar" by i:scintilla INFO HERE!

Author's Website

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!

Book Talk #7 - Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

LISTEN HERE:

I made this music player at MyFlashFetish.com.

OR READ IT HERE:

“Have you ever been attracted to someone strange…unusual…maybe even dangerous? Zoë was, but she's not thinking clearly. Everyone is leaving her. Zoë’s mother is dying of cancer, her father is so concerned about his wife that he’s forgotten his daughter, and Lorraine, her best friend, is moving to Oregon. So Zoë sits on the park bench by herself in the darkness, thinking of how she would be all alone soon. That’s when she first saw Simon…a vampire…one of the undead.

“He was young, more boy than man, slight and pale, made elfin by the moon. He noticed her and froze like a deer before the gun. They were trapped in each other’s gaze. His eyes were dark, full of wilderness and stars. But his face was ashen. Almost as pale as his silver hair. With a sudden ache she realized he was beautiful. The tears that prickled her eyes broke his bonds, and he fled, while she sat and cried for all things lost.”

Simon couldn't stop thinking about the girl and how lovely she was…dark like the night, pale and thin. He was surprised to find himself thinking about her, he usually didn't give food a second thought. Simon had to keep his mind clear so his quarry wouldn’t escape…an evil fiend, disguised in a surprising form, that killed his mother three hundred years ago and continues to kill today. But Simon couldn't stop thinking about Zoë, and when he sees her again she stirs feelings that he thought were long dead. Simon wants to be with Zoë, talk to her, maybe even kiss her with the Silver Kiss, the one that will make her his forever.

Zoë is wary when the beautiful, yet frightening Simon comes to her house in the dead of night. But he seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death, and Zoë’s aching thoughts of her dying mother.

So on Halloween night, after the trick-or-treaters had gone home, Zoë opened her front door and invited the real monster to come inside. (Patricia R. Jansen, prjusc@yahoo.com, Graduate Student at University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science)
SUBJECTS:

Vampires -- Fiction

Death -- Fiction
Source: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/klause_silver.htm

Featured music: "Something Wrong" by Bang Gang INFO HERE!

Author's Website

BUY IT HERE!

OR CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY!