All posts by Sharon
20th Century Ghosts — Joe Hill
To continue this week’s short story theme, I’ve decided to add 20th Century Ghosts to my 31 days of horror book recommendations. This collection is phenomenal! Joe Hill is one of my favorite new writers and every one of these stories had a profound effect on me as a reader. I was happily terrified by the opening story Best New Horror, my pulse racing while my eyes rushed ahead to find out what was going to happen. I was melancholic and reflective after reading the beautiful tale Pin-Up–the story of a young boy with an inflatable best friend. Hill’s characters are believable and well developed, not an easy feat in short stories. This collection highlights the incredible range Hill has as a writer, and it left me anxiously awaiting his next novel, comic, and/or short fiction collection.
~Tricia is CPL’s teen librarian and loves this rainy, fall weather–perfect for curling up with a book and some hot tea.
Black Juice by Margo Lanagan
After writing about Sideshow yesterday, I couldn’t stop thinking about other short story collections I’ve read and whether they could be defined as horror. Black Juice by Margo Lanagan may not be your typical collection of scary stories, but each of the strange tales she includes is haunting and has shades of horror within it. Lanagan’s stories immerse the reader in alternate and surreal worlds without any of the context spelled out for us. We adjust to our surroundings over the course of each story, whether it is traveling with a herd of elephants or being attacked by giant creatures called yowlinins.
The two stories that I imagine will stay with me the longest are Singing My Sister Down and Red Nose Day. The former is the story of a young boy singing his sister to her death at a public execution and the latter is a bizarre and eerie story about clowns (an already existing fear of mine).
This collection is not for everyone. The writing is layered and complex and a lot is demanded of the reader. BUT, if you’re searching for something unlike anything you’ve ever read, Black Juice may be just what you’re looking for.
~Tricia is CPL’s teen librarian and is very happy it’s Friday. =)
Sideshow
Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical
This new collection of short stories is edited by Deborah Noyes, who also brought us the creepy collections: The Restless Dead and Gothic!
Just in time for October, this book is wonderfully eerie with stories from David Almond, Cynthia Leitich Smith and Vivian Vande Velde.
The Bread Box by Cecil Castellucci is my personal favorite and involves a family bread recipe that calls for the tail of a living, worm-like starter. It was equally sweet & grotesque–a bizarre combination, but one that many of these stories have in common.
So, if you’re busy with school, work, or life in general, check this out. Each story is about 20 pages long and can be finished in one sitting. Just don’t read it right before bed. =)
~ Tricia is the Teen Librarian at CPL. She loves short stories and can’t get the image of the bread box creature out of her head…
Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks
Another amazing book from Lauren Myracle:
Carly is a free-spirit–she loves dressing like a flower child, listening to sixties music, and doing everything she can to differentiate herself from her fellow students at Holy Redeemer High School, including her sister Anna.
Over the summer, Anna transformed from Carly’s little sis into a beautiful high school freshman with an enviable figure.
The girls’ relationship is tested numerous times over the course of the semester when confronted with crazy hair, high dives, boys, new friends, ex-friends, clueless parents, parties, and of course, baby ducks.
This is a wonderful book! As usual, Ms. Myracle presents us with a wonderful (albeit flawed) main character who we’d love to hang out with. Throughout the novel, we love Carly, regardless of her missteps. We wince when her hair is ruined, silently plead with her to recognize Roger for the great catch that he is, and cheer every time she and Anna manage to work things out.
A fast, fun & perfect beach read!
~Tricia is the CPL teen librarian and loves everything she’s read by Lauren Myracle.
Reality Check by Peter Abrahams
Cody is the star QB of his high school football team and because of this he has bright prospects for his future–even though he’s never been that great of a student.
He’s also in love with an amazing girl named Clea.
Cody’s world comes crashing down when Clea’s father sends her to boarding school to separate her from Cody. Trying to do the right thing, Cody breaks up with Clea before she leaves, so that nothing from her past life (including himself) will be able to hold her back. To add insult to injury, Cody blows out his knee at the beginning of his junior year and all his hopes of attending college on a football scholarship disappear.
After giving up on ever escaping his hometown, Cody receives a letter from Clea and then discovers that she’s gone missing from her Vermont prep school. Cody leaves home, drives to Vermont, and starts his own search for Clea. How far will he have to go to find her?
Prom Dates from Hell
Prom Dates from Hell is the first book in a wonderful series titled–Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil written by Rosemary Clement-Moore. Maggie is a smart, witty, psychic teenager on the fringes of her high school’s social scene. A clique of popular seniors are falling prey to their darkest fears and Maggie may be the only person who can help them, whether she wants to or not.
I could not put this book down and had to finish it in one sitting. Maggie is awesome! I haven’t adored a demon-fighting teenager this much since Buffy! Like Buffy, Maggie is snarky, loyal and tough, BUT she has to fight evil without the benefit of Buffy’s super-strength or popularity.
I am dying to read the next two Maggie Quinn books:
Hell Week where Maggie tries to infiltrate an evil sorority and Highway to Hell which tells the story of a road trip that takes a turn for the worse when Maggie and her friend Lisa get stranded in a creepy town in Texas.
If you’re looking for a fun, fast, slightly scary read you won’t be disappointed with one of Maggie’s adventures.
~Tricia is the CPL teen services librarian and has started (re)watching her Buffy DVDs after being inspired by the evil-fighting prowess of Maggie Quinn.
Books are a Uniquely Portable Magic — SK
As a librarian, I am often asked about my reading habits–what was the last book I read, how often do I spend reading, and who my favorite author is. For the record the answers to the previous queries are: Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen, about an hour a day (more on days off when I can sit in the sun and relax with a book), and Stephen King.
I LOVE Stephen King’s writing. His short stories, novellas, and door-stop sized novels are always a joy for me to read. You may be asking how horror novels can be a joy to read, but if you’re asking that you’ve probably never read SK. In King’s writing the horror and supernatural elements are secondary to his wonderful characters and driving narratives–which isn’t to imply that the horror isn’t present…it absolutely is. I freely admit that I love a good scare and I’m never disappointed with Stephen King.
I feel very lucky to count Stephen King as my favorite writer. I immediately devour every new book of his that’s published, but I take my time savoring his back list of titles. I’ve read 27 books by Stephen King and I always go back for another one when I need to be reminded how much I love reading.
For work (and my own personal interest) I read a lot of YA fiction. I try to keep on top of award lists and titles that have garnered starred reviews, as well as recommendations from teens I speak with at the library. Sometimes in the midst of all that reading I get a little overwhelmed and I start to experience the feeling that my reading is an extension of work instead of something I love to do. Whenever I start to feel this way, I find a tattered SK paperback (I buy them at garage sales) out of the horde in my closet and–the moment it’s opened–my love for reading is rekindled.
Who’s your favorite author?
~Tricia is the Teen Services Librarian at CPL and can’t wait to get home and finish Different Seasons.
North of Beautiful
At 16, Terra is an aspiring artist and excellent student who dreams of escaping her current life. She feels trapped in her Northwestern town by her domineering father and the port-wine stain on her cheek. It isn’t until she meets Jacob–a kindred spirit in goth garb–that she begins to find her strength, her resilience, and her own definition of true beauty.
This book is beautiful.
The characters become real as a result of their flaws and their vulnerabilities. The relationship that develops between Terra and Jacob is enviable (who wouldn’t want Jacob as a friend/boyfriend?) and the complexity of Terra’s family, especially the interactions with her mother, make this novel poignant on an even deeper level.
You MUST read this book.
I loved it so much that I checked out Girl Overboard and was equally amazed by the strength and beauty of Syrah. These are entirely different books, but both have incredible young women finding their inner strength, as well as wonderful & supportive guy-friends (who become boyfriends), and complicated & affecting mother-daughter relationships.
I can’t wait for Nothing but the Truth, and a Few White Lies to come back to the library, then I will have read all 3 novels by the incomparable Justina Chen Headley. Now that I think of it, maybe I’ll hold off on the third book, so I have something to look forward to reading on the next dreary, rainy, stay-inside-curled-up-on-the-couch reading day (we usually have quite a few in April).
For more book recommendations check out one of my favorite websites: readergirlz. Ms. Headley is one of the founding members, so you know it has to be good. =) Learn more about readergirlz: Operation TBD by clicking on the following icon.
~ Tricia is the Teen Services Librarian at the Chelmsford Public Library and is recommending North of Beautiful to all the lovely women in her life.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Book Reviews by Rebecca Driscoll
The Lightning Thief (Rating: The Best!! I definitely would recommend it to others.) Percy Jackson is 12 and not normal in any way. When he finds out he’s a halfblood (half Oympian half man) and now monsters are everywhere! Go with Percy on a quest of a lifetime through plots and twists.
The Sea of Monsters (Rating: The Best!! I definitely would recommend it to others.) When Grover, Percy’s best friend, goes missing Percy is worried sick but dreams: no way! Percy’s dreams are now about Grover with a Cyclops.
The Titan’s Curse (Rating: Good. Enjoyed it, but not one of my favorites.) Titans are coming back and Percy has got to stop them. Goes out of camp without permission and now is on a hunt for his friends!
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Rating: The Best!! I definitely would 
recommend it to others.) Percy’s friend Grover is still looking for the god Pan and they are lost in a maze–a labyrinth! Have a fun time riding through tunnels of thrilling terror and roller coasters of excitement.
Thanks for the book reviews Rebecca!
You can find all of these titles at the Chelmsford Public Library!
If you would like to have your reviews posted bring them to the CPL Teen Services desk or email them to me at: phoran@mvlc.org.
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
Quick summary: Sym is a 14 year old girl who has a unique companion in the form of Titus Oates (the dead Antarctic explorer). He becomes an invaluable comfort to her when she finds herself stranded in Antarctica with her mentally unstable uncle.
I loved this book! There’s adventure, suspense, and I learned a lot of new things about the harsh terrain of Antarctica and the people who first explored it (to find out more about these explorers check out: Emperors of the Ice).
If you enjoy stories of survival, check out Nation by Terry Pratchett and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins–both are incredible new examples of edge-of-your-seat adventure.
Enjoy!
~Tricia is CPL’s teen librarian and loves reading about places she’s never been before. If you could travel anywhere (in or out of a book) where would it be?