tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58894221906509285802025-05-30T12:25:22.497-07:00A teen librarian speaks about books, teen literature, comics, graphic novels and other stuff.Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-33062566622024452562013-03-23T12:38:00.002-07:002013-03-23T12:38:39.835-07:00

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg My rating: 3 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-82876847032526026402012-05-21T17:22:00.001-07:002012-05-21T17:22:17.639-07:00

Croak by Gina Damico  #132 of 158 on To Read Shelf  What You Need to Know:  This title is a refreshing break from paranormal romances, but suffers from an overabundance of quirkiness and strange tonal shifts. Summary:  Lexington (aka Lex) is pissed off.  All the time.  At everybody.  Her incessant brawling has led to numerous near suspensions and her parents

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-47345033122341644542012-05-04T23:48:00.002-07:002012-05-04T23:51:10.886-07:00

Title:  Why We Broke Up  #150 of 158 on the Too Read Shelf By Daniel Handler and Maria Kalman I feel really bad about this, but I couldn't finish this book.  It's a Printz Honor!  It's illustrated!  It's an award winner teens would actually want to read!  I should be supporting it. This is a total, "It's not you, it's me" situation.   I am not a Daniel

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-80101167362761525762012-04-07T16:32:00.000-07:002012-04-07T16:32:01.945-07:00

So, here is a new, randomly occurring feature on the MeridethSays blog, the "Sort of Watched" Review. Often, my husband and/or child will choose a movie or show that doesn't really appeal to me, but they want me to "stay!" and watch it with them. Typically, I work on something else crochet or read while they partake of their chosen entertainment, and only watch with half an eye. The latest

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-814715697781818522012-03-24T19:49:00.002-07:002012-03-24T19:49:59.822-07:00

Like every other teen literature professional on earth, I have be anxiously awaiting The Hunger Games film release.  Actually, to be honest, I was looking forward to it not just because I wanted to see it, but because I planned 3 programs, helped a little with a scavenger hunt, oversaw a bulletin board, designed and created a chalkboard display, created a book list all

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-42440406591221149992012-03-18T00:05:00.000-07:002012-03-18T00:05:53.977-07:00

So, It's been more than 6 weeks since my last post.  That's bad. However, I have a good excuse!  Namely, I've been quietly freaking out over the fact that I might not have a day job anymore.   My city is facing "draconian" budget cuts.  The library looks to be taking a huge hit, following the other huge hit we took 2 years ago. I would love to tell you more, give you

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-50859829574690356292012-02-04T15:49:00.001-07:002012-02-04T15:49:10.464-07:00

Over at the blog for my "day job" I wrote a love letter to John Green's latest The Fault In Our Stars.   A snippet:   I don't love you, love you, because you're 17 and fictional and that would be creepy. Hit the link to read the whole thing. 

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-90479224983574165462012-01-11T23:03:00.000-07:002012-01-11T23:03:15.451-07:00

Inspired by the awesome Christian and Julia of That Hapa Chick, my daughter and I have decided to start having "Literary Dinners" featuring food inspired by our favorite books. To give you all a little background, my daughter Mari is 10, and has a good amount of cooking knowledge.  Her father managed to make it all the way to his 30's without learning any cooking skills, and

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-57412713453834303512011-12-06T10:07:00.001-07:002011-12-06T10:08:57.099-07:00

Please bask in the epicness of my library's teen volunteers!  Each gingerbread man was made by them.  

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-37337413969543555922011-10-11T18:30:00.000-07:002011-10-11T18:30:14.858-07:00

What You Need to Know:  This book is a little heavier than Perkins' debut, but is still a fun, unabashedly romantic read. Summary:  Lola, just barely 17, has 3 goals in life.  1) To convince her two dads that her (much older) boyfriend is THE ONE; 2) To create and wear a full Marie Antoinette costume for the Winter Formal and 3) to never see the Bell twins again. However, Dad

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-18099813832930742072011-10-08T12:25:00.001-07:002011-10-08T12:25:29.148-07:00

What You Need to Know:  This YA Dystopian is the best contender for the "next Hunger Games" and an amazing book on its own, and one of my Best Books of 2011. Summary: Saba lives in Silverlake, a small piece of (kind of) sustainable land carved out of the ever shifting dust that has taken over the world.  She lives with her father, broken since the death of her mother, and

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-16662876180033162312011-10-07T08:20:00.002-07:002011-10-07T08:20:39.293-07:00

Hey Look!  I wrote a book! And it's on sale! Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season! Celebrate Teen Read Week with Special Savings.   Oooooh!  Look, a gift with purchase!  Ladies love the gift with purchase!

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-91727820414889760672011-09-29T21:29:00.000-07:002011-09-29T21:29:08.499-07:00

What You Need To Know:  This is a solid entry in the post-apocalyptic/zombie genre that suffers from a last minute plot twist. Summary:  Alex is dying.  The monster in her brain, an inoperable tumor, has stubbornly refused treatment.  Rather than continue, Alex has taken the ashes of her parents to the mountains where they used to camp.  She intends to say

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-34020616159303735482011-09-25T01:52:00.000-07:002011-09-25T01:52:46.373-07:00

Total Finished: 97 out of 240 pages So, Why Didn't You Finish It?   But how much thought have you given to what your music choices say about you to other people?  Boys who love records (and let's face it, at some point we will al date a boy who is a little too into his records) are totally obsessing on what music you like when they meet you.  They're using it to figure out how

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-81788354522488252142011-09-19T23:04:00.000-07:002011-09-19T23:04:38.247-07:00

What You Need to Know: This intriguingly written tale of street kids and second chances takes a major left turn in its final third. Summary:  Blink has been living on the streets for a few months now, but has figured out that well dressed kids don't get hassled.  Thus, he uses a stolen set of clothes to wander through hotels, looking for uneaten food on room service trays.

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-51741454262740829162011-09-17T19:58:00.000-07:002011-09-17T19:58:47.015-07:00

What You Need to Know:  This urban fantasy is is an amazing, trope- twisting read, and one of my Best Books of 2011. Summary:  Karou, a blue haired art student living in Prague, lives a double life. Most of the time, she lives like any other college kid, hanging with friends, dating and learning.  What her friends don't know is that Karou's family is a race of half-human/

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-70370915199598831402011-09-13T22:29:00.000-07:002011-09-13T22:29:00.296-07:00

What You Need to Know:  This beautifully written steampunkish fairy tale is an antidote to cookie cutter supernatural romances, and one of my best books of 2011.  Summary:  Briony Larkin is 17 years old and a witch.  She knows that she is evil;  responsible for her sister Rose's mental difficulties.  However, she must care for Rose and that means keeping her

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-75427871578142193762011-09-12T23:13:00.000-07:002011-09-12T23:13:20.851-07:00

Wow!  It has been more than 8 weeks since I last posted here. I apologize, but Summer kicked my butt this year.  While I had a very successful summer at the Day Job, it was very stressful.  July brought Comic-Con and presentations and the end of summer reading... it was very hectic. It took most of August for me to recuperate. When school started, there was a lot of drama with

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-90297484220838147452011-06-29T18:28:00.000-07:002011-06-29T18:28:46.736-07:00

What You Need to Know:  Fourteen year old Alex finds herself via playing bass and skateboarding in this slight novel. Summary:  Alexis, age 14, is miserable.  She is neither blonde, nor pretty, nor cool.  All she can do is cry and mope.  However, once her older brother suggests that she learn to play bass in a friend's band, her life turns around.  Now a "

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-61486614431782906042011-06-24T23:40:00.000-07:002011-06-24T23:40:13.511-07:00

What You Need to Know:  The steampunk superhero conceit will draw in readers, but the excessive length, meandering plot and predictability of this book will turn off all but the most determined. Summary:  Finley, a servant girl in "reduced circumstances" fears the angry thing inside of her.  When, upon being attacked, the thing causes her to harm the young lord of her

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-64276353031343879582011-06-13T20:27:00.002-07:002011-06-13T20:36:46.370-07:00

I am not a romance reader, and double that for paranormal romance. But, The Iron Duke.  Damn, I love that book.  Really, if you're over 18 and O.K. with thrusting and heaving, you should totally read it. So, I thought, maybe, possibly, that I haven't been fair to the genre.  That I had dismissed it out of hand.  And, I wanted to read more of Meljean Brook's work. Enter&

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-31011755950706953592011-05-27T20:03:00.001-07:002011-05-27T20:05:32.690-07:00

What You Need To Know: This charming middle grade fantasy combines unique characters with Levine's trademark world-building skill. Summary:  Elodie is a poor farmer's daughter, who leaves her impoverished, but loving,  home for the city of Two Castles.  Under orders to become an apprentice weaver, Elodie instead seeks to become a mansioner, or actor.  Broke, unused to

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-90549741478303926662011-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:002011-05-25T21:21:15.299-07:00

What You Need to Know:   This is a well-done, quirky coming of age story with an appealing main character that struggles under too many divergent themes. Summary:  Donna’s dad died her freshman year of high school.  Now getting ready to graduate, Donna realilzes that she’s walked through the last four years in a fog, just getting by, not making any connections or feeling much

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-48996037863348966252011-05-22T20:53:00.000-07:002011-05-22T20:53:19.945-07:00

What You Need to Know:  This typical coming of age novel features lots illicit behavior, but ultimately falls flat. Summary:  Charlotte's life pretty much sucks.  Forced to transfer her senior year, a learning disability keeps her from getting into an exclusive prep school.  That same disability keeps her from getting into the gifted and talented program at her new high

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5889422190650928580.post-66166165032912765092011-05-18T23:56:00.000-07:002011-05-18T23:56:48.107-07:00

What You Need to Know: This dystopian sci-fi tale will find an audience with teens seeking the "next" Hunger Games, but doesn't live up to the pre-release hype.   Summary:  Beatrice lives in a world of factions.  She has been raised as a Abnegation, trained to value selflessness and service.  But as she turns 16, she must choose a faction, which will supersede all

Meridethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269524071143531730noreply@blogger.com0