Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Get MAXxed Out in February: Maximum Ride by James Patterson

Holla kids!  February's meeting is coming fast, so if you haven't started reading our next book yet, GIT ON IT.  We'll be reading the first book of James Patterson's popular Maximum Ride series - are you ready to get MAXXED OUT?!

Here's the synopsis:

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

"In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly.

 It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. 

Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way, Max discovers that her purpose is save the world--but can she?"

Ugh! jealous - I wish I could fly... then again, I don't think the whole being-hunted-by-crazy-scientists thing would be much fun, so I'll keep to the ground for now.  This book is hard to put down, and it goes FAST, so get to reading!

If you're already done (thank you...) OR if you're just starting, sound off in the comments - tell us what you're looking forward to in the book or what you just HAVE to talk about at the meeting!  NO SPOILERS, though, pleaseandthankyou - this is a series, so if you've already read past the first book, don't spoil the other books for others!

And don't forget to come to the meeting on February 7th, 6pm at the library!




Thursday, January 17, 2013

December After-Meeting Mint: Heads Will Roll! ... Maybe!

This is classy monocle cat.  He would never be
 late with a blog post. Sorry, classy monocle  cat. 
Remember reading Throne of Glass?  Yeah, I know, that was a while ago (SO last month).  Sorry.  See the previous blog post for my reason for putting off this post (it's actually a pretty cool reason).  But if you still want to talk about Throne of Glass, here's a summary of December's meeting for Throne of Glass and your opportunity to sound off in the comments.

Apparently, like me, most of you liked Throne of Glass - yayforbooks. But a lot of you had trouble getting into the story because of the crazy, hard-to-read names (note to the publishers:  include a pronunciation guide with the book).  Also, this was the second book we've read that's an adaptation of the story of Cinderella, though most of the club didn't realize this about Throne of Glass; anybody spotted similarities between Cinderella and this book since the meeting? (Comments!)

Celeana, an assassin, was the heroine of Throne of Glass.  Most of us liked Celeana - she's fierce and independent like Katniss from The Hunger Games and isn't whiny and insecure like Bella from Twilight.  And despite being REALLY fat-headed, she's just so likable: she's fashionable, she's cool, she's super deadly - basically, she's a female Han Solo.

Speaking of Celeana being deadly: even though we're used to NOT rooting for assassins - they're usually villains - the club didn't have a problem with an assassin as a heroine, as long as she only killed the bad guys.  What we DID have a problem with was an assassin who didn't do any assassinating.  Seriously, I think Celeana's kill record for this book was something like "mythical creatures: 1, humans: 0".

The club didn't really mind that there was a love triangle, or how that story played out.  Celeana is in a relationship with another character for only a short time in the book before dumping the guy; most of us thought that this was a pretty accurate picture of real-life teen relationships.  Bigger question, though: Prince Dorian vs. Chaol, Captain of the Guard? Most of the club turned out to be Team Chaol: he's flawed, he's gruff-with-a-gooey-nice-guy-center, he's swoon-worthy - basically, he's totes dreamy. 

So what did YOU think?  Did you love or hate Throne of Glass, and will you be looking out for the sequel?  Are you Team Dorian or Team Chaol (quick, make your t-shirts NOW!)?  How to feel about the whole assassin-who-doesn't-assassinate thing?  Is Celeana your new literary BFF, or did she totally get on your nerves?  Sound off in the comments!

And keep watching this space - a summary of our January meeting for A.C. Gaughen's book Scarlet is coming soon!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Long Time, No See... er, Blog

Geez, you call this a BLOG?! Doesn't that mean there should be regular posts 'n stuff?  Lame.

Okay, so I haven't posted anything in, like, forevar.  Mea culpa.  Honesty, sorry about that, kids.  But I have a good reason!  I've been working on posters and such for something REALLY AMAHZING coming soon to Smith Library - brace yourselves, dystopian-lit lovers! Check out this sneak peek at one of the posters:                   >

That's right - Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium, Pandemonium, Before I Fall (which are New York Times bestsellers, by the way) and the soon-to-be-released Requiem, is COMING TO THE LIBRARY.  F'REALS. It's kind of a big deal.  And we may even have a special, extra (or extra special?) Teen Book Club meeting to read Ms. Oliver's book before she comes.  Tell your friends!  Tell your frenemies!  Tell your pretenemies! Tell that creepy kid across the street!  Tell EVERYONE!  We're a little excited - it's gonna be awesome.

And watch this space, and tell Madonna - because THE BLOG IS BACK. Check back soon for our regularly scheduled blogging.
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