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Birth Marked by Caragh M. O'Brien

It is the future and there are those who live inside the wall and those who live out. Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone lives outside the wall. She has followed in the footsteps of her mother who is a highly regarded mid-wife, committed to the the mission of the Enclave, to live the Enclave lifestyle and to serve it. When Gaia's mother and father are arrested by those who they dutifully serve, Gaia begins to question everything that she has been taught to believe. Gaia's only choice is to now enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or to die if necessary trying.
This first novel by high school English teacher Caragh O'Brien will make you feel like you have been thrown into this futuristic world and are questioning everything that you once felt was true. The author has always been interested in decoding language and skillfully uses this as an intrical component of the story. Birth Marked ends on a cliffhanger and without a doubt leaves it open to a sequel. It was recently a YALSA Young Adult Fiction nominee.
If you are a fan of dystopian novels, this is for you.
I love reading first time authors and this one did not disappoint!

Operation Teen Book Drop!

Be a part of teens helping teens. Through Tuesday, April 27 drop off a gently used teen read book in the library. These books will be distributed to homebound and hospitalized teen throughout the area. This is part of a national reading initiative called TBD! Operation Teen Book Drop co-sponsored by readergirlz and Guys Lit Wire. Help us reach our goal of 100 books by April 27!

Celebrating National Poetry Month

Do you like to write poetry? Do you enjoy sharing poetry readings with others? Then this event is for you!

Help the FHS library celebrate National Poetry Month by participating in the library's 1st annual Poetry Slam. (Due to state testing, we will celebrate the week of May 6.) Join us in the library during any of the lunches on Thursday, May 6th, to perform an original poem or one from another poet. Look for flyers around campus or drop by the library to get more details.

There will be prize drawings for participants.

Already onboard is Ms. Black's Creative Writing Class. You will want to be a part of all the fun!

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Seventeen year old Lennie, bookworm and band geek has always spent her time neatly tucked away in the shadow of her fiery older sister Bailey. But when Bailey suddenly dies, Lennie is immediately thrown into the center of her own life and suddenly finds herself juggling the affections of two boy. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend. His grief pretty much mirrors Lennie's. Then there is Joe, the new boy in town. Joe, a transplant from Paris is a girl's dream. He has a smile that melts, a sultry European accent and has musical talent that just makes him the hottest thing the band room has to offer.

This book will make you laugh and cry. It is heartbreaking and beautifully written. Jandy Nelson has hit the mark on this one. Chick lit readers will devour this!

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos

In the 1960s, Rico Fuentes, a pale-skinned Cuban American teenager, abandons drug-infected New York City for the picket fence and apple pie world of Wisconsin, only to discover that he still feels like an outsider and that violent and judgmental people can be found even in the wholesome Midwest.

Teens will be able to relate to the authentic voice of Oscar Hijuelos.

While browsing the shelves in my library I came across this book. It caught my attention and turned out to be a terrific read! Recommend it to those who liked The Outsiders.

This is definitely one I will share with my guy readers.

Teen Tech Week in the FHS Library

We will be having events everyday at 8 am. See the schedule below. Plan to join us for these fun events!

Tuesday, March 9: Create your own Avatar

Wednesday, March 10: Check out the newest Google Tools!

Thursday, March 11: Get Nooked! A representative from Barnes and Noble will be here with Nooks to demonstrate the features of their new EReader. You won't want to miss this!

Friday, March 12: Show us your Apps. Bring your tech device and share your favorite Apps. Yes! You can legitimately use your iphone in the library.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

You know how a book just moves you to the point that you have to discuss it with others who have read it. That is that this book did to me. I couldn't get it out of my mind and have re-read it more then once.

Set in early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, "Skeeter" has just returned to Jackson after graduating from Ole Miss. Skeeter unlike her friends, is unmarried and mostly in limbo, but has the dream of being a writer.

Abileen, is a regal and devoted black woman who has proudly raised over seventeen of Jackson's finest young children while serving as domestic help in the homes of their parents. Abileen is grieving the loss of her son who lost his life due to racial strife.

Minny, who is Abileen's younger friend, is one of the sassiest among most of the domestic help in Jackson. She can cook like nobody's business, but also has a tongue that can get her fired from a job faster then you can say "pass the grits". Minny finally gets hired by a young lady who is too new to town for others to quite know her reputation. She also carries a secret of her own.

From totally different worlds, these three women come together for a clandestine project that can put all of them at great risk. The Help is a timeless and universal story that holds a message for all who read it.

Great discussion for classrooms studying the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.

Suggestion: Ask your librarian to booktalk The Help as an introduction to a discussion about civil rights.

I'm Down: a memoir by Mishna Wolff

Mishna Wolff grew up in the 80's in a poor black neighborhood with her single father who truly thought he was a black men. He strutted around with the short afro type perm, polyester pants, gold chains and at times even the white patent leather shoes. Mishna's father tried early to make his white daughter "down". Boy did he try!

Sadly for Mishna, she just didn't quite fit in. She couldn't sing or dance and she definitely couldn't "double Dutch". No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't quite live up to her father's definition of "down". She was shy, not cool and felt painfully white in a neighborhood where she tried, but just couldn't fit in.

I'm Down is hip, hysterical and will have you howling with laughter. It will also have you questioning what it means to be black and white in America.

Read it, talk about it and definitely recommend it to others.

Numbers by Rachel Ward

Check out the booktrailer for Numbers by Rachel Ward