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LOVED THIS SERIES!!! Rick Riordan really outdid himself on this. It's about a boy Percy who is the son of Poseidon and goes on quests to save his friends and help his father.
Call number: YA RIORDAN (Teen Room)
Reviewed by Jonathan.
The E-Street Band is a great band with lead singer Bruce Springsteen leading the way. Love all their songs! I really want to go to a concert but "I'm too young." Anyway, they truly are the best band in my opinion because they've been around for so long. PLUS, Bruce Springsteen is a Jersey boy!
Call number: CD ROCK 671; 3771; 74-B; 74-C; 2270; 3166; & 3889
Reviewed by Jonathan.
Writer Eric Shanower and artist Skottie Young present a gorgeous retelling of the original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. The Wizard of Oz has become a classic of American and international culture as a result of the beautifully done movie starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, but the series of books written by Baum are often left untouched by young readers. This adaptation bring to life the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto as they attempt to find those things they desire most. Most readers will know how everything turns out -- Scarecrow gets his brains, the Tin Woodman gets his heart, Lion finds courage, and Dorothy gets back home to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas -- but there are many twists and turns and wonderful details that will be brand new and exciting for new and experienced readers. The famous shoes, the flying monkeys, and the evil trees all play significant roles in the lives of our key characters, but version of the events might be different than what we're all used to seeing . . .
This graphic adaptation of a classic is highly recommended for those who love the story of The Wizard of Oz, those who appreciate artistic talent and storytelling at its highest, and those with a fascination for the unexpected.
Call number: YA GRAPHIC SHANOWER (Teen Room)
Reviewed by kate the librarian
(And for a real-life fantastical Kansas adventure, check out the previous review of The Storm in the Barn . . .)
Told in graphic novel format through stark illustrations and selective wording, Jack Clark shares a short period of his life when he is considered too young to know anything, but old enough to know better.
It is 1937 in Kansas during the Dust Bowl and Jack is 11 years old. Jack lives on a farm with his family, including a sick sister, and it hasn't rained in four years. Before the world stopped, he wasn't old enough to learn how to work the farm or how to grow up to be a man, and now, even though he's gotten older, he's treated like he's still a child. But Jack has noticed the barn that's all locked up -- he hears sounds at night and sees a light shining through the slats of its wooden walls. He's shocked to find that he can open the door to the barn, and he's even more shocked -- and frightened -- by what he finds inside, and what it all means. In a dangerous world, where children are cruel from boredom and men are cruel from necessity, Jack finds the courage, the power, and the control to prove his worth to his family and himself.
This quick and power read is recommended to those of all ages, especially young boys who are struggling to find the power to stand up for themselves, as well as those interested in history. This story shows a fascinating glimmer of life during the Dust Bowl in 1937.
Call number: YA GRAPHIC PHELAN (Teen Room)
Reviewed by kate the librarian.
(Also find a cameo from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz . . .)
The classical composer Antonio Vivaldi is a very good, underrated composer. Among his works are the classic Four Seasons and the Double Trumpet Concerto, my personal favorite. Even though most wouldn't take much time to listen to his music this decade, it is unarguable that Vivaldi is just as good as Chopin, Beethoven, and Mozart. I sometimes think he's even better, too...but that's just an opinion. Listen to his music to see what I'm talking about!
Call number: CLASSICAL CD 2902; 2728; 2785; 2047; 1278; 687; 2863; & 101
Reviewed by Alon.
The book The Lost Years of Merlin is a must read for everyone. There isn't a single person that hasn't heard of Merlin the magician, but does everyone know about his "lost years" when he was just a child? NO! This book is a real eye-opener to the start of an epic saga. There are five books in all. Read them all to find out what Merlin started out from...and what he endured and destroyed. Is Merlin really all good? Read this book to find out.
Call number: YA BARRON (Teen Room)
Reviewed by Alon.
Blake, Sim, and Kenny can't believe that Ross is dead. They also can't believe the sham of the funeral that his parents gave him, complete with every loser from school who never even cared about Ross while he was alive. So -- after some graffiti retribution on the homes of a select few -- the trio decided to honor Ross with the funeral he deserves. Ross always wanted to travel from his English hometown to Ross, Scotland because "[h]e thought it would be cool to be Ross in Ross." All the boys have to do is figure out how to steal Ross' ashes (without getting in trouble)and travel a day there and a day back (with one map and not a lot of money. And without getting into trouble). What the boys don't bet on is getting caught out so quickly, the cops, girls, or Ross' own secrets to interfere with their plans. But they also weren't counting on motorbikes, girls, or even really each other to help them get from Point A to Point B in the end. It isn't all about where you wind up, but what you learn from the journey.
This isn't a typical road trip novel. It's also not a guy's guy book. But it certainly is an exploration of the unexpected and the unspoken. Recommended to all high school readers who like their books with a twist, a heartbeat, and an adventure.
Call number: YA GRAY (Teen Room)
Reviewed by kate the librarian.
LOVED THIS SERIES!!! Rick Riordan really outdid himself on this. It's about a boy Percy who is the son of Poseidon and goes on quests to save his friends and help his father.
The E-Street Band is a great band with lead singer Bruce Springsteen leading the way. Love all their songs! I really want to go to a concert but "I'm too young." Anyway, they truly are the best band in my opinion because they've been around for so long. PLUS, Bruce Springsteen is a Jersey boy!
Writer Eric Shanower and artist Skottie Young present a gorgeous retelling of the original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. The Wizard of Oz has become a classic of American and international culture as a result of the beautifully done movie starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, but the series of books written by Baum are often left untouched by young readers. This adaptation bring to life the adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto as they attempt to find those things they desire most. Most readers will know how everything turns out -- Scarecrow gets his brains, the Tin Woodman gets his heart, Lion finds courage, and Dorothy gets back home to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas -- but there are many twists and turns and wonderful details that will be brand new and exciting for new and experienced readers. The famous shoes, the flying monkeys, and the evil trees all play significant roles in the lives of our key characters, but version of the events might be different than what we're all used to seeing . . . 
Told in graphic novel format through stark illustrations and selective wording, Jack Clark shares a short period of his life when he is considered too young to know anything, but old enough to know better. 
The classical composer Antonio Vivaldi is a very good, underrated composer. Among his works are the classic Four Seasons and the Double Trumpet Concerto, my personal favorite. Even though most wouldn't take much time to listen to his music this decade, it is unarguable that Vivaldi is just as good as Chopin, Beethoven, and Mozart. I sometimes think he's even better, too...but that's just an opinion. Listen to his music to see what I'm talking about!
The book The Lost Years of Merlin is a must read for everyone. There isn't a single person that hasn't heard of Merlin the magician, but does everyone know about his "lost years" when he was just a child? NO! This book is a real eye-opener to the start of an epic saga. There are five books in all. Read them all to find out what Merlin started out from...and what he endured and destroyed. Is Merlin really all good? Read this book to find out.
Blake, Sim, and Kenny can't believe that Ross is dead. They also can't believe the sham of the funeral that his parents gave him, complete with every loser from school who never even cared about Ross while he was alive. So -- after some graffiti retribution on the homes of a select few -- the trio decided to honor Ross with the funeral he deserves. Ross always wanted to travel from his English hometown to Ross, Scotland because "[h]e thought it would be cool to be Ross in Ross." All the boys have to do is figure out how to steal Ross' ashes (without getting in trouble)and travel a day there and a day back (with one map and not a lot of money. And without getting into trouble). What the boys don't bet on is getting caught out so quickly, the cops, girls, or Ross' own secrets to interfere with their plans. But they also weren't counting on motorbikes, girls, or even really each other to help them get from Point A to Point B in the end. It isn't all about where you wind up, but what you learn from the journey.
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