Thursday, December 17, 2020

This is My America- Realistic Fiction

This is My America

by Kim Johnson



The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.

Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time--her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy's older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a "thug" on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town's racist history that still haunt the present?

Lies You Never Told Me- Mystery Fiction

Lies You Never Told Me

by Jennifer Donaldson




Gabe and Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.


Quiet, shy Elyse can't believe it when she's cast as the lead in her Portland high school's production of Romeo and Juliet. Her best friend, Brynn, is usually the star, and Elyse isn't sure she's up to the task. But when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye--someone she knows she absolutely shouldn't be with--she can't help but be pulled into the spotlight.

Austin native Gabe is contemplating the unthinkable--breaking up with Sasha, his headstrong, popular girlfriend. She's not going to let him slip through her fingers, though, and when rumors start to circulate around school, he knows she has the power to change his life forever.

Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. Told in parallel narratives, this twisty, shocking story shows how one bad choice can lead to a spiral of unforeseen consequences that not everyone will survive.

"A compulsive page-turner with a shocking twist--get ready to stay up all night!" Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - Fantasy Fiction

The Midnight Library 

By Matt Haig



"Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?" 

A dazzling novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived, from the internationally bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive and How To Stop Time.


Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig's enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

Invictus- Science Fiction

Invictus

by Ryan Graudin



Time flies when you're plundering history.


Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time traveler from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in ancient Rome, Far's very existence defies the laws of nature. All he's ever wanted was to explore history for himself, but after failing his entrance exam into the government program, Far will have to settle for a position on the black market--captaining a time-traveling crew to steal valuables from the past.

During a routine heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl named Eliot who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Eliot has secrets--big ones--that will affect Far's life from beginning to end. Armed with the knowledge that history is not as steady as it seems, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to set things right before the clock runs out.

E books on Sora

We have a new service called Sora. You can find it in your Learner Login and check out e-books to read on your device.  Here is a peek at some of the books that are available.  Take a look and let us know if there are others you would like to read.

 



A Breath too Late - Realistic Fiction

 A Breath too Late

by Rocky Callen


Seventeen-year-old Ellie had no hope left. Yet the day after she dies by suicide, she finds herself in the midst of an out-of-body experience. She is a spectator, swaying between past and present, retracing the events that unfolded prior to her death.

But there are gaps in her memory, fractured pieces Ellie is desperate to re-assemble. There's her mother, a songbird who wanted to break free from her oppressive cage. The boy made of brushstrokes and goofy smiles who brought color into a gray world. Her brooding father, with his sad puppy eyes and clenched fists. And Ellie's determined to find out why a piece of her was left behind.

Told in epistolary-like style, Rocky Callen's deeply moving A Breath Too Late sensitively examines the beautiful and terrible moments that make up a life and the possibilities that live in even the darkest of places. Perfect for fans of the critically-acclaimed SpeakI’ll Give You the Sun, and If I Stay.

"An exquisitely played love song to life, in all of its hurts, wonders, memories, and loves." –Jeff Zentner, Morris Award winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days

"A haunting story, punctuated with brilliant points of hope and light. This is an important story. A necessary story . . . Callen’s writing radiates with passion, honesty and love." ―National Book Award finalist and Printz Award–winning author An Na

Monday, December 14, 2020

Manga Series

Descriptions of some of the Manga series we have available in our library.


Devils & Realist

 After the failure of his uncle's business, the brilliant realist 

 William Twining finds himself penniless. To make matters 

 worse, demons appear before him, insisting he has the 

 power to appoint the next King of Hell! The demons offer 

 to pay his school tuition in exchange for his help. While 

 His principles as a staunch realist prevent him from 

 believing in them, how can William resist such a 

 Generous offer?



Seraph of the End                

After the fall of humanity, vampires arise from the shadows 

to rule the earth. Yuichiro wants just one thing, to get revenge 

by killing each and every vampire.Yuichiro’s dream is near-

impossible, given that vampires are seven times stronger than 

humans,& the only way to kill them is by mastering advanced 

demon-possessed weaponry. Not to mention that humanity’s 

most elite Vampire Extermination Unit wants nothing to do 

with him unless he can prove he’s willing to work in a team—

which is the last thing he wants!



Ouran High School Host Club   

In this screwball romantic comedy, Haruhi, a poor girl 

at a rich kids’ school, is forced to repay an $80,000 

debt     by working for the school’s swankiest, all-male  

club—as a boy! There she discovers just how wealthy 

the six members are and how different the rich are 

from everybody else…



Attack on Titan                     

In this post-apocalytpic sci-fi story, humanity has been 

devastated by the bizarre, giant humanoids known as the 

Titans Little is known about where they came from or why they

are bent on consuming mankind.Seemingly unintelligent, they

have roamed the world for years, killing everyone they see. 

For the past century, what's left of man has hidden in a giant, 

three-walled city. People believe their 100-meter-high walls will 

protect them from the Titans, but the sudden appearance of

an immense Titan is about to change everything.



Tokyo Ghoul                        

In the world of Tokyo Ghoul, sometimes the only way to fight 

monsters is to become one…The Commission of Counter 

Ghoul is the only organization fighting the Ghoul menace, & 

they will use every tool at their disposal to protect humanity 

from its ultimate predator. Their newest weapon in this hidden 

war is an experimental procedure that implants human 

investigators with a Ghoul’s Kagune,giving them Ghoul powers

and abilities. But both the procedure and the newly formed Qs 

Squad are untested. Will they become heroes…or monsters?!



Gin Tama

It's samurai vs. aliens!


The samurai didn't stand a chance. First, the aliens 

invaded Japan. Next, they took all the jobs. And then 

they confiscated everyone's swords.So what does a 

hotheaded former samurai like Gintoki "Gin" Sakata do 

to make ends meet? Take any odd job that comes his 

way, even if it means losing his dignity.



Naruto

Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for 

mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is 

completely serious about his mission to be the world’s 

greatest ninja! No one takes him seriously at Ninja 

Academy. Especially not the other students, who all are 

competing to be the best ninja ever. Naruto and his 

classmates are about to embark on an adventure that takes

them far beyond Ninja Academy, beyond Konoha, beyond 

anything they ever imagined. What is Naruto’s true destiny?


Bleach                            

 Part-time student, full-time Soul Reaper, Ichigo is one of the 

 chosen few guardians of the afterlife. Ichigo Kurosaki never 

 asked for the ability to see ghosts—he was born with the gift.

 When his family is attacked by a Hollow—a malevolent lost 

 soul—Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper, dedicating his life to 

 protecting the innocent and helping the tortured spirits 

 themselves find peace.



My Hero Academia        

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the    

population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? 

Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! 

Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but 

where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course!

But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who

were born Quirkless?



Soul Eater                     

Maka is a weapon meister, determined to turn her partner, a living scythe named Soul Eater, into a powerful death scythe - the ultimate weapon of Death himself! Charged with the task of collecting and devouring the tainted souls of ninety-nine humans and one witch, Maka and her fellow meisters strive to master their weapons as they face off against the bizarre and dangerous minions of the underworld. But the meisters' own personal quirks may prove a bigger obstacle than any sultry enchantress!



One Punch Man 

Nothing about Saitama passes the eyeball test when it comes

to superheroes, from his lifeless expression to his bald head 

to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking

guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to

find an opponent strong enough to take on!

Every time a promising villain appears, Saitama beats the 

snot out of ’em with one punch! Can he finally find an 

opponent who can go toe-to-toe with him and give his life 

some meaning? Or is he doomed to a life of superpowered 

boredom?



Parasyte 

They arrive in silence and darkness & descend from the skies, with a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade–and take control of–a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret–except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?



The Promised Neverland

Life at Grace Field House Orphanage is good for Emma 

and her fellow orphans.. But perhaps not everything is as

 it seems Emma, Norman and Ray are the brightest kids at

 the orphanage. And under the care of the woman they 

 refer to as “Mom,” all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable

 life. Good food, clean clothes and the perfect environment

 to learn. One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover 

 the dark truth of the outside world they are forbidden from

 seeing.



The Seven Deadly Sins      

When they were accused of trying to overthrow the monarchy, the feared warriors the Seven Deadly Sins were sent into exile. Princess Elizabeth discovers the truth - the Sins were framed by the king's guard, the Holy Knights - too late to prevent them from assassinating her father and seizing the throne! Now the princess is on the run, seeking the Sins to help her reclaim the kingdom. But the first Sin she meets, Meliodas, is a little innkeeper with a talking pig. He doesn't even have a real sword! Have the legends of the Sins' strength been exaggerated...?



Inu Yasha 

Kagome is an ordinary modern schoolgirl living an ordinary

life. Who would have thought the dried-up old well on the 

site of her family's shrine would be a gateway to Japan's 

ancient past? Drawn through the gate against her will, 

Kagome finds herself battling demons for control of what

she thought was a worthless trinket but is actually a 

powerful magical gem, the Shikon Jewel! Together with an 

unlikely ally, the half demon Inuyasha, Kagome begins a 

quest to recover the shards of the Shikon Jewel and learn 

more about her link to the past.



Black Butler 

Just a stone's throw from London lies the manor house of the illustrious Phantomhive earldom and its master, one Ciel Phantomhive. Earl Phantomhive is a giant in the world of commerce, Queen Victoria's faithful servant...and a slip of a twelve-year-old boy. Fortunately, his loyal butler, Sebastian, is ever at his side, ready to carry out the young master's wishes. And whether Sebastian is called to save a dinner party gone awry or probe the dark secrets of London's underbelly, there apparently is nothing Sebastian cannot do. In fact, one might even say Sebastian is too good to be true...or at least, too good to be human...



The Ancient Magus Bride  

Enter the Magician's Apprentice. Her name is Chise Hatori, a 

penniless orphan troubled by visions. Sold as a slave to an 

inhuman mage, she is about to begin a strange new life, filled 

with magic, fairies, and other beings of a fantastical nature.



Vinland Saga

FOR HONOR AND VENGEANCE


As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson 

and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his 

youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. 

Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn 

became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band's 

leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn

through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams 

of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery...the

and Leif called Vinland.



  Death Note                           1-13

   Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects--and he's

bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the 

Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death 

god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, 

and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note

to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping 

dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track 

down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of

his noble goal...or his life?

Thursday, December 10, 2020

E-Books Available in our Online Catalog

Here are some YouTube videos on a few of the titles we have available online. You can check out any of these e-books through the Sora App in your Learner Login. 



The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Awake by Natasha Preston

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Between Two Skies by Joanne O'Sullivan

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Jackaby by William Ritter

The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fischer

The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen

The Ickabog by J K Rowling

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

Woods on Fire by Jennifer A Nielsen

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter


Monday, December 7, 2020

One of Us is Lying- Mystery Fiction

This was the most recent book read by our High School Book Club. This is their review of this book. We have multiple copies available. 




Thursday, November 19, 2020

I Know You Remember - Mystery Fiction

I Know You Remember

By Jennifer Donaldson



Zahra Gaines is missing.

After three long years away, Ruthie Hayden arrives in her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska to this devastating news. Zahra was Ruthie's best friend--the only person who ever really understood her--and she vows to do whatever it takes to find her.

Zahra vanished from a party just days before Ruthie's return, but the more people she talks to, the more she realizes that the Zahra she knew disappeared long before that fateful night. Gone is the whimsical, artistic girl who loved books and knew Ruthie's every secret. In her place is an athlete, a partier, a girl with secrets of her own. Darker still are the rumors that something happened to Zahra while Ruthie was gone, something that changed her forever...

As Ruthie desperately tries to piece together the truth, she falls deeper and deeper into her friend's new world, circling closer to a dangerous revelation about what happened to Zahra in the days before her disappearance--one that might be better off buried.

In her stunning follow-up to Lies You Never Told Me, Jennifer Donaldson once again delivers a propulsive thriller with a masterful twist, skillfully creating a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Stamped - Non Fiction

Stamped

By Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi



The #1 New York Times bestseller and a USAToday bestseller!

A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America

This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.


Located in our Non Fiction Section, Call # 305.8 REY

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

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