Beastly by Alex Finn
Beastly is basically Walt Disney’s movie Beauty and the Beast put into text with a few changes. For instance the main character is a rich popular kid in private school. The witch who casts a spell on him is also a “student” at this school as is the equivalent of Belle, Linda. After Kyle becomes a beast he secludes himself and becomes a connoisseur of roses by the instruction of his blind tutor Will. As the story progresses Kyle begins watching Linda with his enchanted mirror (as seen in Disney’s version) and sees how awful her living conditions are. Then one night Linda’s father tries to rob Kyle and in exchange for his not being turned over to the cops he trades Linda who is furious with the arrangement. However, she soon becomes attached to Kyle and is deeply torn when she sees her father hurt in the enchanted mirror. Kyle lets her go, and later goes on to save her life and consequently regain his human form. Over all I rather enjoyed the story. I found it to be a light and fun read.
Review by Mallory
Keep up with all things Teen @ Bossier Parish Libraries! Have any question, give us a call, 318-746-1693.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Teens' Top Ten Nominations - Truancy: Origins by Isamu Fukui
This week's book is Truancy: Origins by Isamu Fukui!
From Booklist
This prequel to Truancy (last week's book feature) features 15-year-old twins Zen and Umasi, adopted sons of the notorious mayor of Education City, a dystopian metropolis where children are the product of cruel schooling. While Umasi is a model student and obedient son, when Zen discovers his father is responsible for the oppressive educational policy, he runs away to the abandoned districts to recruit homeless kids for his rebellion against city agents. Umasi quickly follows Zen, hoping to stop him from destroying the city, but the rebellion escalates into a war between the brothers. Both Umasi and Zen have inexplicable martial-arts training and talk like college professors, rather than teenagers. Despite its title, this book does little to explore how Education City came to exist or even why the brothers turn against each other. Instead, Fukui, who is a teen himself, focuses primarily on deftly depicted violence and explosive action sequences that will resonate most with reluctant male readers. Grades 8-11. --Kimberly Garnick
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
From BooklistThis prequel to Truancy (last week's book feature) features 15-year-old twins Zen and Umasi, adopted sons of the notorious mayor of Education City, a dystopian metropolis where children are the product of cruel schooling. While Umasi is a model student and obedient son, when Zen discovers his father is responsible for the oppressive educational policy, he runs away to the abandoned districts to recruit homeless kids for his rebellion against city agents. Umasi quickly follows Zen, hoping to stop him from destroying the city, but the rebellion escalates into a war between the brothers. Both Umasi and Zen have inexplicable martial-arts training and talk like college professors, rather than teenagers. Despite its title, this book does little to explore how Education City came to exist or even why the brothers turn against each other. Instead, Fukui, who is a teen himself, focuses primarily on deftly depicted violence and explosive action sequences that will resonate most with reluctant male readers. Grades 8-11. --Kimberly Garnick
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
2009 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
The following books have been selected by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) as the Top Ten books of 2009. Don't confuse this with the Teens' Top Ten that I have been posting selections from. Those books will be voted on by teens in October!
It's Complicated: The American Teenager, by Robin Bowman.
Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Conner.
Mexican WhiteBoy, by Matt de la Pena.
Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
Ten Cents a Dance, by Christine Fletcher.
Baby, by Joseph Monninger.
Nation, by Terry Pratchett.
Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki.
The Brothers Torres, by Coert Voorhees.
For more books recommended by YALSA, click here.
It's Complicated: The American Teenager, by Robin Bowman.
Waiting for Normal, by Leslie Conner.
Mexican WhiteBoy, by Matt de la Pena.
Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
Ten Cents a Dance, by Christine Fletcher.
Baby, by Joseph Monninger.
Nation, by Terry Pratchett.
Skim, by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki.
The Brothers Torres, by Coert Voorhees.
For more books recommended by YALSA, click here.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Teens' Top Ten Nominations - Truancy by Isamu Fukui
This week's book is Truancy by Isamu Fukui!
Book Synopsis:
In an alternate world, in a nameless totalitarian city, the autocratic Mayor rules the school system with an iron fist, with the help of his Educators. Fighting against the Mayor and his repressive Educators is a group of former students called the Truancy, whose goal is to take down the system by any means possible-at any cost.
Against this backdrop, fifteen-year-old Tack is just trying to survive. His days are filled with sadistic teachers, unrelenting schoolwork, and indifferent parents. Things start to look up when he meets Umasi, a mysterious boy who runs a lemonade stand in an uninhabited district.
Then someone close to Tack gets killed in the crossfire between the Educators and the Truants, and Tack swears vengeance. To achieve his purpose, he abandons his old life and joins the Truancy. There, he confronts Zyid, an enigmatic leader with his own plans for Tack. But Tack soon finds himself torn between his desire for vengeance and his growing sympathy for the Truants...
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
Book Synopsis:In an alternate world, in a nameless totalitarian city, the autocratic Mayor rules the school system with an iron fist, with the help of his Educators. Fighting against the Mayor and his repressive Educators is a group of former students called the Truancy, whose goal is to take down the system by any means possible-at any cost.
Against this backdrop, fifteen-year-old Tack is just trying to survive. His days are filled with sadistic teachers, unrelenting schoolwork, and indifferent parents. Things start to look up when he meets Umasi, a mysterious boy who runs a lemonade stand in an uninhabited district.
Then someone close to Tack gets killed in the crossfire between the Educators and the Truants, and Tack swears vengeance. To achieve his purpose, he abandons his old life and joins the Truancy. There, he confronts Zyid, an enigmatic leader with his own plans for Tack. But Tack soon finds himself torn between his desire for vengeance and his growing sympathy for the Truants...
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Teens' Top Ten Nominations - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This week's book is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!
To save her young sister from competing, Katniss Everdeen takes her place in the annual Hunger GAmes, a televised competition in which only one person, the winner, survives. By turns an adventure, a love story, and a futuristic thriller, this is the first in a planned trilogy.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance. Grades 9-12. --Francisca Goldsmith
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
To save her young sister from competing, Katniss Everdeen takes her place in the annual Hunger GAmes, a televised competition in which only one person, the winner, survives. By turns an adventure, a love story, and a futuristic thriller, this is the first in a planned trilogy.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance. Grades 9-12. --Francisca Goldsmith
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations - City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
This week's book is City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare!
This volume is the second book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy, and it continues the saga of Clary and her best friend Simon as they struggle to find their place in a magical world parallel to their NYC home. Demon-fighting shadowhunters, vampires, warlocks, werewolves, faeries, and a master villain named Valentine provide a heart-pounding backdrop as Clary uncovers secrets about her past.
If you would like to start to at the beginning of the series, the first book is City of Bones. If you like the series, the newest book, City of Glass, just came out!
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
This volume is the second book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy, and it continues the saga of Clary and her best friend Simon as they struggle to find their place in a magical world parallel to their NYC home. Demon-fighting shadowhunters, vampires, warlocks, werewolves, faeries, and a master villain named Valentine provide a heart-pounding backdrop as Clary uncovers secrets about her past.If you would like to start to at the beginning of the series, the first book is City of Bones. If you like the series, the newest book, City of Glass, just came out!
Check back next week for information about the next book on the 2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations list!
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