Tag Archives: teen

Review: Flame in the Mist

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Flame in the Mist
by Renee Ahdieh
4 stars

For those of you who have not seen my “My Librarian” page, I am a huge fan of Renee Ahdieh’s books.  Her first series The Wrath and the Dawn is a YA retelling of Scheherazade from Arabian Nights.  Flame in the Mist was described to me as Mulan meet 47 Ronin.  I was lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy, the official release date for Flame in the Mist is May 16th, 2017.

Set in feudal Japan, Flame in the Mist tells the story of 17 year old Mariko.  She is the daughter of a prominent samurai who is being married off for political advantage.  After being attacked and nearly killed on her way to meet her betrothed, she disguises herself as a boy and infiltrates the group of bandits that attacked her.  Political intrigue, deception, and slow burning romance abound.  Both Flame in the Mist and Wrath and the Dawn are 2-book series.  Sadly the 2nd book in Flame and the Mist does not have a release date as of yet, but I am eagerly anticipating reading the rest of this story!  However, this will give you time to pick up The Wrath and the Dawn and the sequel The Rose and the Dagger.

Read-alikes

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Review: Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

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Relish: My Life in the Kitchen
by Lucy Knisley
4 stars

Take one part memoir, and one part cookbook and put it into a graphic novel and you get this book by Lucy Knisely.  Lucy has always grown up around food, with chef for a mother and a gourmet for a father, she was born into an appreciation for food.  While smells or photos can evoke strong memories in some, Lucy’s memories were formed alongside her palate.  The crack of the burnt sugar on a crème brulee brings back memories of serving alongside her mom in her catering business. Shucking oysters brings back memories of working with her uncle.  Pixy stix are correlated with the travel to Mexico with her friend. McDonald’s fries eaten in Italy much to her parent’s dismay are her reminder that the world needs a bit of comfort grease sometimes.  The entire book is about food, yes, but also about the relationships built around eating together.  With excellent illustrations and delightful humor and a few self-deprecating stories, Lucy Knisley is able boil the book down to the truth that while eating is a solitary act it is truly enjoyed and memorable when food is shared with others.

Read-alikes

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Jules Verne & Steampunk

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Join us for our next Teen After Hours Lock-In (Friday, March 24th at 5pm) as we explore the classic works of Jules Verne (including Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in 80 Days, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) with games, crafts, and the power of your imagination.  There will be running, there will be laughing, there will be snacks, and general merriment had by all.  Registration and a signed permission are required and available in the teen room!

If you don’t know much about Jules Verne (I didn’t before planning this program), then you might not know that his works are considered to be among the earliest examples of steampunk. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that has a historical setting, usually nineteenth century, and typically features steam-powered machinery. There are fun gadgets, fancy dresses, and always crazy adventures! A few famous steampunk movies you might know are Wild Wild West (starring Will Smith), Atlantis, and Hugo.

Here’s a list of my top ten favorite teen steampunk novels!

For more steampunk recommendations, check out the new display in the Teen Room!

Review: The Last Time We Say Goodbye

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The Last Time We Say Goodbye
by Cynthia Hand
4 stars

Lex is a math genius and a high school senior who has worked very hard to get into MIT.  She’s a sister, a daughter, and a girlfriend. She has friends she loves and a bright future in front of her.  And her brother is dead.  The future that was so bright seems lonely and unsure.  Everything changed in one moment, with one text.  Everything.  And it haunts Lex.  He haunts Lex.

I had absolutely no expectations with this book.  To be honest, it’s one I would normally shy away from – the loss of a sibling plot line overwhelms our shelves at the library, and it’s not really one of my favorite types of stories.  But without anything waiting in my audiobook queue I thought I’d give it a chance.

And I loved it.  It was thoughtful, sincere, and genuine in its depiction of loss and regret.  There was no aptly timed romance to pull Lex out of her depression, no overly preachy therapist bashing ideas into her head.  The Last Time We Say Goodbye is  just a story about a girl who is sad, and refreshingly there wasn’t someone telling her she shouldn’t be.  Lex was a fully developed character, and through her you also get a full picture of her brother Tyler and their relationship.  Her healing takes time and patience, but it pays off with a gradual understanding and appreciation for life, both her own and her brother’s.

I didn’t dissolve in a pool of tears with this one, but I did appreciate Lex’s journey and her tenacity.

Read-alikes

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen