Cade Carey, Mooresville High School freshman, chose LOTR to sweep the championship and has won a copy of our Final Four competitors: Lord of the Rings, Cinder, I Am Number Four, and The Hunger Games!
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
And The Winner Is...
I'm thrilled to announce that the brilliant fantasy classic, Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, is our big winner in this year's Battle of the Books!
Cade Carey, Mooresville High School freshman, chose LOTR to sweep the championship and has won a copy of our Final Four competitors: Lord of the Rings, Cinder, I Am Number Four, and The Hunger Games!
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Cade Carey, Mooresville High School freshman, chose LOTR to sweep the championship and has won a copy of our Final Four competitors: Lord of the Rings, Cinder, I Am Number Four, and The Hunger Games!
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Book Review: Colin Fischer
By Ashley Edward Miller and Zach Stentz
****
"Solving crime, one facial expression at a time."Colin Fischer is a young man entering his freshman year of high school. Colin has Asperger's syndrome, which is a high functioning form of autism. He is a brilliant student, excelling in many subjects, but he needs a chart to recognize facial expressions. He's very interested in how things work and why people do the things they do - he even keeps a journal of all his findings, with the plan to further investigate everything. Sherlock Holmes is a hero to him and he finds peace jumping on a trampoline.
Because Colin is so different, he tends to get bullied. In fact, he gets swirlied by his most constant bully, Wayne, on the first day of school. But then something happens early in the school year that Wayne is blamed for, but Colin knows for a fact that Wayne didn't do it. He just has to figure out who did it: to investigate the crime like Sherlock would.
This was a fantastic book. Despite some of the events that take place, the book maintains a light tone. It's a fun who-dun-it that touches on important subject matter, and also teaches the reader, without getting to dark or preachy. I really enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it to teen AND adult readers, cuz it's awesome!
Manga Review: The Earl and the Fairy Vol. 1
By Ayuko (Illustrator), Mizue Tani
**
This series takes place in historical England - I don't recall exactly when, maybe the Victorian era? - and follows a young woman who is a Fairy Doctor and is tasked with finding an artifact for a young man who claims that his ancestors are from the fairy world. So the Fairy Doctor is one of the few people who can actually see people and creatures from the fairy world, when everyday humans are not only unable to see them, but don't believe in them either. Adventures ensue.
Ok, so here's the deal. I didn't really like this story. I have heard this term used in relation to other stories: "too stupid to live." This phrase describes a character, usually female, that is praised in the narration and by other characters, but the character's actions are the antithesis of that praise. They're basically the character that everyone says is so smart, and then doesn't look both ways before crossing the street and gets hit by a car. The "heroine" of this story fits that bill. She was kidnapped in the first half of the book...twice. Then she's hanging out with the second kidnapper, thinking he's a rescuer, then a kidnapper, then a nice guy, then the enemy, then she should escape, and then she should help him and BAH, SHUT UP ALREADY!
So yeah, not a fan of the story, but the artwork is nice. Hence the two stars instead of just one.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Meg-A-Rae Episode 25: A Very Special Valentine's Day Episode
In this episode of Meg-A-Rae, Meg loves love and I hate love. So Meg reviews Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer and I review Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. Meg get's all gooey with the romance (though there IS a hitman in her book, so it's not overly gooey) and I get emo about zombies and blood and guts (though there's a lot of heart in R&R, no pun intended).
In reality, I prefer romance and Meg prefers horror, so please remember whilst viewing this episode that WE ARE ACTING! Enjoy!
Death plants.
Meg-A-Rae Episode 24: A Very Special Mardi Gras Episode
In this episode of Meg-A-Rae, we're celebrating Mardi Gras! Meg discusses the Queen of New Orleans, Anne Rice, and her numerous novels, and I talk about The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor. Now DoSaB isn't exactly a novel about Mardi Gras, nor does it take place in New Orleans, but the cover does have a lovely mask that feels very festive and appropriate for the holiday. Plus, at some point in the video, I don a blue wig in honor of Karou, the heroine of the story.
Be sure to check out our next Valentine's themed episode! It's a great one for lovers AND haters of the holiday.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Happy Valentine's Day! OR Boo Anti-Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day is one of those mixed emotion holidays.
Some people love it...
And other people...not so much.
So I'm going to appeal to the pro-love and anti-love day people by providing books for ANY mood.
First up, Pro Icky Love Stuff Book List:
This is by no means a complete list, but just a few good titles to get you started. Also worth checking out, but neglected by this list is anything by Sarah Dessen.
To get you in the mood, check out this book trailer made by moi of Anna and the French Kiss. It's about love and stuff in Paris!
Now, for those of you who think Valentine's Day is just the candy corporations' made-up holiday designed to make people buy chocolate, then check out these great Zombie and Monster novels. Eat your heart out? They don't mind if they do!
Again, this is not a complete list, but it's a good one! To get you in the mood, check out this other book trailer made by moi of Rot & Ruin. It's about a zombie apocalypse and a zombie-hunter ninja!
So, Happy Valentine's Day OR Happy Chocolate-Eating-Thursday!
Some people love it...
And other people...not so much.
So I'm going to appeal to the pro-love and anti-love day people by providing books for ANY mood.
First up, Pro Icky Love Stuff Book List:
| Populazzi | Allen, Elise |
| Dreamland Social Club | Altebrando, Tara |
| The Story of Us | Caletti, Deb |
| Keep Holding On | Colasanti, Susane |
| The Almost Truth | Cook, Eileen |
| In the Shadow of the Lamp | Dunlap, Susanne |
| Speechless | Harrington, Hannah |
| If I Lie | Jackson, Corrine |
| Never Enough | Jaden, Denise |
| Small Damages | Kephart, Beth |
| Catherine | Lindner, April |
| Jane | Lindner, April |
| Caleb + Kate | Martinusen-Coloma, Cindy |
| Red Heart Tattoo | McDaniel, Lurlene |
| Pushing the Limits | McGarry, Katie |
| The Boy Recession | Meaney, Flynn |
| Meant to Be | Morrill, Lauren |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Perkins, Stephanie |
| Smart Girls Get What They Want | Strohmeyer, Sarah |
| Love & Leftovers | Tregay, Sarah |
| Pizza, Love, and Other Stuff that Made Me Famous | Williams, Kathryn |
This is by no means a complete list, but just a few good titles to get you started. Also worth checking out, but neglected by this list is anything by Sarah Dessen.
To get you in the mood, check out this book trailer made by moi of Anna and the French Kiss. It's about love and stuff in Paris!
Now, for those of you who think Valentine's Day is just the candy corporations' made-up holiday designed to make people buy chocolate, then check out these great Zombie and Monster novels. Eat your heart out? They don't mind if they do!
| Enclave (Razorland #1) | Aguirre, Ann |
| Zombie Queen of Newbury High | Ashby, Amanda |
| The Infects | Beaudoin, Sean |
| Ashes (Ashes Trilogy, #1) | Bick, Ilsa |
| Zombies Vs. Unicorns | Black, Holly (et al) |
| Something Strange and Deadly | Dennard, Susan |
| Zombies Don't Cry: A Living Dead Love Story | Fischer, Rusty |
| Z | Ford, Michael Thomas |
| Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | Grahame-Smith, Seth |
| Bad Taste in Boys (Kate Grable #1) | Harris, Carrie |
| Zombie Blondes | James, Brian |
| Rot & Ruin (Benny Imura, #1) | Maberry, Jonathan |
| Warm Bodies | Marion, Isaac |
| Bonechiller | McNamee, Graham |
| A Monster Calls | Ness, Patrick |
| iZombie (Vol 1-4) | Roberson, Chris |
| The Forest of Hands and Teeth | Ryan, Carrie |
| ZOM-B | Shan, Darren |
| Frankenstein | Shelley, Mary |
| Generation Dead (Generation Dead, #1) | Waters, Daniel |
| The Monstrumologist (Monstrumologist #1) | Yancey, Rick |
Again, this is not a complete list, but it's a good one! To get you in the mood, check out this other book trailer made by moi of Rot & Ruin. It's about a zombie apocalypse and a zombie-hunter ninja!
So, Happy Valentine's Day OR Happy Chocolate-Eating-Thursday!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Battle of the Books
Voting for Round Two is open from Monday, April 8 - Saturday, April 13. Check this page each week for new voting links.
Get to know the four districts:
Panem - Post-Apocalyptic & Dystopian District
These are books that take place in the future, either after a major Earth catastrophe or where the government has declared certain laws that make the world a bad place to live (and sometimes both). Think Hunger Games or The Maze Runner.
New Beijing - Sci-Fi & Fantasy District
These are books that take place in different worlds and include magic or they have amazing technology (and sometimes aliens). Think I Am Number Four or Eragon.
Sherwood Forest - Contemporary & Historical District
These books either take place in the present or in the past, generally with regular people without special powers or abilities. Think The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Scarlet (a retelling of Robin Hood).
Pandemonium Club - Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
These books are very similar. Paranormal stories focus on human and non-human characters (like vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc.). Urban Fantasy often has similar supernatural character elements to Paranormal stories, but these take place in a specific city setting. Think City of Bones (urban fantasy) or Beautiful Creatures (paranormal).
Click the link to vote!
Cinder VS Lord of the Rings
Get to know the four districts:
Panem - Post-Apocalyptic & Dystopian District
These are books that take place in the future, either after a major Earth catastrophe or where the government has declared certain laws that make the world a bad place to live (and sometimes both). Think Hunger Games or The Maze Runner.
New Beijing - Sci-Fi & Fantasy District
These are books that take place in different worlds and include magic or they have amazing technology (and sometimes aliens). Think I Am Number Four or Eragon.
Sherwood Forest - Contemporary & Historical District
These books either take place in the present or in the past, generally with regular people without special powers or abilities. Think The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Scarlet (a retelling of Robin Hood).
Pandemonium Club - Paranormal & Urban Fantasy
These books are very similar. Paranormal stories focus on human and non-human characters (like vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc.). Urban Fantasy often has similar supernatural character elements to Paranormal stories, but these take place in a specific city setting. Think City of Bones (urban fantasy) or Beautiful Creatures (paranormal).
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Teen Tech Week - QR Code Scavenger Hunt
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to come to the library sometime between Monday, March 11th and Friday, March 15th and search for QR codes hidden throughout the library. Grab a handout from the Teen Librarian's desk and list all of the sites the QR codes take you to. When you're done, turn in the handout to the Teen Librarian or one of the Children's Librarians. At the end of the week I'll review all of the handouts and collect the names of everyone who got all the right answers. I'll randomly draw a name from this group and that person will win a $25 dollar gift card to their choice of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or iTunes.
What: QR Code Scavenger Hunt
Where: Mooresville Public Library
When: March 11 to March 15 during open hours
How: Download a free QR code app to your smart phone and scan the codes hidden throughout the library. The codes will take you to a website of my choosing. Write down the information from the website on the handout provided at the Teen Librarian's desk in the YAZ. Once completed, turn the handout in to the Teen Librarian or one of the Children's Librarians.
Why: 1) To celebrate Teen Tech Week at MPL, 2) Because it's fun, and 3) You could win a prize!
Happy Hunting!
Meg-A-Rae Episode 23: A Very Special Tekkie Episode
On this week's episode of Meg-A-Rae, Meg and I discuss Technology! Technology non-fiction available at the library, technology services (like checking out library e-books and researching with library databases) provided by the library, and technology themed books that are awesome to read! Meg reviews Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson (a great adult read with crossover potential for our older teens). I review Cinder by Marissa Meyer (a great teen read with crossover potential for adults).
Join us next week as we celebrate MARDI GRAS!!!
P.S. Teen Tech Week is coming March 10-16th!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Teen Tech Week Book Lists: Part 4 - Time Travel
In honor of Teen Tech Week, I've put together a series of book lists that fit the technology theme. These lists include Technology, Sci-Fi, Steampunk, and Time Travel.
This is the last list in the series: TIME TRAVEL (aka Timey Wimey)
(Note: this list doesn't cover the vast number of titles that fit the Time Travel description; these are titles selected from MPL's collection. Also, some titles may be repeated on multiple lists!)
| Crewel (Crewel World #1) | Albin, Gennifer |
| The Future of Us | Asher, Jay and Carolyn Mackler |
| London Calling | Bloor, Edward |
| Pathfinder (Pathfinder series) | Card, Orson Scott |
| So Close to You | Carter, Rachel |
| Ruby Red | Gier, Kerstin |
| Through to You | Hainsworth, Emily |
| The Obsidian Blade | Hautman, Pete |
| Erasing Time (Erasing Time #1) | Hill, C.J. |
| Firestorm (Caretaker Trilogy) | Klass, David |
| hourglass | McEntire, Myra |
| The Curse of the Romanovs | Rabin, Staton |
| Time Riders | Scarrow, Alex |
Teen Tech Week Book Lists: Part 3 - Steampunk
This is the third list in the series: STEAMPUNK
(Note: this list doesn't cover the vast number of titles that fit the Steampunk description; these are titles selected from MPL's collection. Also, some titles may be repeated on multiple lists!)
| The Battle of Blood and Ink: A Fable of the Flying City | Axelrod, Jared & Steve Walker (Ill.) |
| Pure | Baggott, Julianna |
| The Dark Unwinding | Cameron, Sharon |
| Airman | Colfer, Eoin |
| Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo #1) | Cornish, D.M. |
| The Girl in the Steel Corset | Cross, Kady |
| Something Strange and Deadly | Dennard, Susan |
| Magic Under Glass | Dolamore, Jaclyn |
| Incarceron | Fisher, Catherine |
| Masque of the Red Death | Griffin, Bethany |
| Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy #1) | James, Nick |
| The Iron Thorn | Kittredge, Caitlin |
| Stormdancer (Lotus War #1) | Kristoff, Jay |
| Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories | Link, Kelly |
| The Peculiars | McQuerry, Maureen Doyle |
| Airborn | Oppel, Kenneth |
| Steampunk Poe | Poe, Edgar Allen |
| Steampunk Frankenstein | Shelley, Mary |
| The Hunchback Assignments (Hunchback Assignments #1) | Slade, Arthur |
| The Unnaturalists | Trent, Tiffany |
| The Steampunk Bible | VanderMeer, Jeff |
| Steampunk HG Wells | Wells, H.G. |
| Leviathan | Westerfeld, Scott |
Teen Tech Week Book List: Part 2 - Science Fiction
This is the second list in the series: SCIENCE FICTION
(Note: this list doesn't cover the vast number of titles that fit the Science Fiction description; these are titles selected from MPL's collection. Also, some titles may be repeated on multiple lists!)
| Feed | Anderson, M. T. |
| The Future of Us | Asher, Jay |
| Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) | Card, Orson Scott |
| Breathe (Breathe #1) | Crossan, Sarah |
| Halo: The Flood | Dietz, William C |
| Pirate Cinema | Doctorow, Cory |
| For the Win | Doctorow, Cory |
| Little Brother | Doctorow, Cory |
| Black Hole Sun (Black Hole Sun #1) | Gill, David Macinnis |
| Erasing Time (Erasing Time #1) | Hill, C.J. |
| Magisterium | Hirsch, Jeff |
| The Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy #1) | James, Nick |
| Awaken (Awaken #1) | Kacvinsky, Katie |
| Mothership | Leicht, Martin |
| A Wrinkle in Time (Time #1) | L'Engle, Madeleine |
| Momentum | Lloyd, Saci |
| I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, #1) | Lore, Pittacus |
| Planesrunner | McDonald, Ian |
| Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) | Meyer, Marissa |
| The Host | Meyer, Stephenie |
| The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) | Ness, Patrick |
| A Confusion of Princes | Nix, Garth |
| Academy 7 | Osterlund, Anne |
| Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1) | Revis, Beth |
| Glow (Sky Chasers #1) | Ryan, Amy Kathleen |
| Time Riders | Scarrow, Alex |
| A Long Long Sleep | Sheehan, Anna |
| Inside Out (Insider #1) | Snyder, Maria V. |
| Dreamwalker's Child | Voake, Steve |
Teen Tech Week Book Lists: Part 1 - Technology
This is the first list in the series: TECHNOLOGY
(Note: this list doesn't cover the vast number of titles that fit the Technology description; these are titles selected from MPL's collection. Also, some titles may be repeated on multiple lists!)
| Title | Author |
| Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd | Anthology |
| The Future of Us | Asher, Jay |
| Ashes | Bick, Ilsa |
| Fat Cat | Brande, Robin |
| iBoy | Brooks, Kevin |
| Ender’s Game | Card, Orson Scot |
| Ready Player One | Cline, Ernest |
| Airman | Colfer, Eoin |
| Hacking Timbuktu | Davies, Stephen |
| For the Win | Doctorow, Cory |
| Little Brother | Doctorow, Cory |
| Pirate Cinema | Doctorow, Cory |
| Epic | Kostick, Conor |
| Human.4 | Lancaster, Mike |
| Legend | Lu, Marie |
| Level Up | Luen Yan, Gene |
| Planesrunner | McDonald, Ian |
| Cinder | Meyer, Marissa |
| Delirium | Oliver, Lauren |
| Erebos | Poznanski, Ursula |
| A Web of Air | Reeve, Philip |
| Across the Universe | Revis, Beth |
| Glow | Ryan, Amy Kathleen |
| Star Wars Encyclopedia | Sansweet, Stephen |
| Time Riders: Day of the Predator | Scarrow, Alex |
| Wired | Wasserman, Robin |
| Leviathan | Westerfeld, Scott |
| Uglies | Westerfeld, Scott |
Meg-A-Rae Episode 22: A Very Special Librarian Episode
In this week's episode, Meg and I discuss books where librarians are major characters and libraries are main settings. I doubt you'd be surprised to learn that we kinda love any book that shows library love. Meg discusses one of Charlaine Harris's other series, the Aurora Teagarden series, about a librarian whose true crimes book club finds themselves in the middle of a true crime. I discuss Librynth, a fantasy story of a girl trying to save her world's library (and thus knowledge) from the Eradicants.
Join us next time as we discuss technology-themed books!
Blind Date with a Book
For Valentine's Day, we're celebrating with a very special display: Blind Date with a Book. Putting this display together was significantly more ambitious than what I did last year, which was a little sign and zombie books (they'll eat your heart out).
So here's how it works: I selected just shy of 50 books from various genres (all of them awesome). For each title, I wrote a dating profile, complete with a headline and a 2-3 sentence blurb. Each of the books were wrapped by my wonderful League of Extraordinary Teens: Teen Council members. The profiles were printed and added to the front of each wrapped book.
(For my fellow librarians, we are fortunate to have a scanning system that doesn't require a bar code reader, but I also added a number to the dating profile that referenced the wrapped title in a spreadsheet. This way, if there was a request for a specific book, we could find it.)
I pulled so many books that I thought would be awesome for this little project that I needed an overflow space. A BIG overflow space.
I'm also trying to promote the love with my programming board. Hmm...looks like my handwriting began to tilt a bit - sorry Sarah!
So, what books did I use?Sorry - not gonna tell. At least not in this blog entry. However, I'll share the dating profiles, and if you find one of interest leave me a comment on the blog and I'll let you know the title. (Fellow YA librarians - if you'd like the full list of profiles and titles, email me at rachelm@mooresville.lib.in.us [The titles are now included below!]. You are welcome to use the profiles, but if you blog about it, please reference me and link back to this blog post!!!)
1. If the house is rocking…run far, far away. I'm normal on the outside, but I'm dark and creepy (in a good way) on the inside. I'm looking for someone who likes a good scare. Do you think you can handle me?
2. Everything I learned, I learned from the movies. I'm an amateur film maker who hopes to make a difference in the lives of others. I'm looking for someone who will support my efforts and isn't afraid of a good cry. Will you buy my ticket?
3. Dig that funky wavelength. I live in the past, but the technological future has reached me sooner than it should have. What would you do if you heard your voice from the future? Would you friend me?
4. I thought I knew what the future held… I hear voices, but I swear I'm not crazy. They tell me to do things (still not crazy). I'm looking for someone to help me sort things out. Will you help me solve this puzzle?
5. Love is a (magic) battlefield. I'm fighting a war and discovering my hidden potential. The world is a dangerous place and I'm looking for someone to watch my back. Will you stand beside me?
6. Eat your heart out. Life is waging war everyday just to survive, but it's a lot easier with someone by your side. I'm looking for a trace of humanity in this world - do you have the heart to stick with me?
7. They say lightening never strikes twice… but does it need to? My life is full of excitement and danger, but I'm still looking for that certain spark, that electricity. Do you think we'll sizzle?
8. Looking for the cat's pajamas, not a flat tire. I'm a dame who's new to the big city and I'm looking for a live wire to show me the ropes, and maybe solve a caper or two. Are you the Real McCoy?
9. More than a pretty face. I used to think that looks were the most important thing, until a plane crash changed my pageant plans. Now I'm a warrior who can wrestle snakes and survive in the wild. Will you take me au naturel?
10. Text Me Maybe? I should warn you, me and my iPhone are one. I use it for everything from checking my email to fighting crime and righting wrongs. There's nothing we can't do. Do you think we'll sync?
11. Forget Romeo, I think I'm looking for my Juliet. I'm a drama club girl trying to figure things out. My life is like a screenplay, and we're all just characters upon the page. Will you read me?
12. Looking for a fantasy. They say you can't change the past, but I don't believe it. It defines who we are, but so do the secrets that surround us. Do you think we have a future together?
13. You've stolen my heart. I used to lead a life of crime, but I got out of the game. But you dragged me back in when you stole my heart. Will you be my partner in crime?
14. They say love is the greatest experiment. I grew up hearing the stories of secrets and experiments, but never believed they were true. Until now. Will our love be Top Secret or an Open Book?
15. Life is a mystery, and I plan to solve it. Around each corner is a new question to be answered and a new puzzle to be solved. Sometimes it can get messy or even dangerous. Are you my missing piece?
16. Looking for love against the odds. Everyone around me is sick - but I want to be sick with love. Is it survival of the fittest or does love make the heart stronger? Are you the cure to what ails me?
17. You've hacked my heart. It's you and me against the man and we've got to destroy the system. You've hacked your way into my heart, now will you conquer the world (or at least the city) with me?
18. Looking for a real live wire. I've got an electric personality and I'm looking for someone who can really light up a room. Do you think we've got a spark?
19. I'm on the hunt for my perfect partner. These are dangerous times and anymore it seems like I'm the prey surrounded by predators. Will you stand with me against the enemy?
20. It'd be a crime to pass me by. My life may seem stranger than fiction, but I promise it's based on a true story. It may seem like too difficult of a puzzle, but will you help me unravel the truth?
21. You've sent me outta this world! You've made me feel like I've won the lottery. But will our love shine as bright as the sun or will we find danger on the dark side of the moon?
22. Can't we all just get along? We're supposed to be enemies, but we could save the world if we could just be friends. Will you take the leap with me?
23. It's like déjà vu all over again. I'm an American Girl in London, looking for an adventure. But the new attacks RIPPED from old headlines have left me reeling. Can you help me figure out what's going on?
24. It's the age of the geek, baby. I've turned my gaming into a career of sorts, if you can call trying to win WWIII a career. I'm a super-human war machine…of love. Do you think you have what it takes?
25. Super Villains are people, too. Just because I was kidnapped and trained by super villains doesn't mean I don't have feelings. Maybe we've just been looking for love in all the wrong places. Would you be my hero?
26. Warrior looking for revenge against the shogun and maybe love, if there's time. Significant other must be willing join me in battle and occasionally clean up after the griffin. What's your weapon of choice?
27. Have we met? No, seriously, I can't remember - I've lost my memory. Please excuse that weird energy blast; I don't know how I did that…it's weird, right? Anyway, I'm on the run; would you like to come along?
28. Vampire Ninja seeks love. Don't be surprised if you can't see me; it'd be hard enough if I was just an ordinary ninja. But I'm hardly ordinary. Life with me can be both dangerous and a bit scary - do you think you can handle it?
29. Baby on board. Being a pregnant teen is hard enough, but try dealing with that AND aliens trying to kidnap your baby! I have a lot of hard decisions to make and would like to find someone supportive, responsible, and willing to fight aliens to stand by my side. Are you that special someone?
30. A picture's worth a thousand words. I think someone's messing with my head. Strange photos keep me up at night. What does it mean? Will you help me make sense of it all?
31. Can't watch Dexter? Then check me out. Being raised in the family business has left it's mark on me, but it turns out that I have a rare insight into the investigation of a new serial killer. Can we solve the crime together?
32. There's no place like home. I'm looking to reclaim the land and break the curse, but I can't do it alone. Will you come with me on this quest?
33. Sometimes a fight to the death is the only chance at living. This world is not kind to those without power, but I'll fight for my chance at a better life. Will you fight with me?
34. What's a girl to do when the pickings are slim? All I want is a little romance and a little fun, but I'm having a hard time finding it. Can friendship become romance?
35. Be careful what you wish for… because you might just get it. I've learned this lesson the hard way. If you could change something with the flip of a coin, would you do it?
36. I'm an old story in a new world. The future looks bleak, but we're trying to make it better. But can a lost love be returned? Is there any hope for us?
37. It's all fun and games…until… I'm a gamer, or at least I was. But the game is starting to affect my real life and it knows things about me that it couldn't know. Will you help me solve the mystery?
38. World traveler seeks friend for an adventure. A valuable piece of art has been stolen, and it's up to me to find it. My travels will take me far and wide…would you care to join me?
39. Trying to figure myself out. I'm not really sure who I am anymore. These feelings I have are confusing and unexpected. Do I like him? Do I like her? Will you help me figure it out?
40. One crazy night. One Crazy Girl. Prom night wasn't supposed to end in blood. If you're going to join me, you'd better be prepared for anything, including violence and mayhem. So, are you game?
41. I can see another world in your eyes. Unfortunately, it's a dark and dangerous world. I'm starting to wonder if I'm losing my mind. Can you help me see things clearly?
42. What are the chances of love at first sight? What are the chances you'll fall in love within 24 hours? What are the chances you can find someone again once you've lost them? Will you help me do the math?
43. Trapped with no escape. Chaos reigns and violence is our new way of life. Death surrounds us and there's no one left to help. Mine is not an easy story, and not one for the faint of heart. Will you take a shot with me?
44. Kon'nichiwa. I have many stories to tell. Stories of real life, stories in print and picture, stories of a different culture. Will you read me?
45. This is 19th century London as you've never seen it before. It's unnatural, the things happening these days. Families are being taken, and only an unlikely pair can hope to help them. Are you intrigued?
46. Sticks and stones… Words really can hurt. Reputations can change by the casual words of a stranger. So what do you have to say?
47. It's in the most difficult of circumstances that we find out what we're truly capable of. In the wastelands of this world, I fight to end the corruption that's infested this society. When the time comes, what will you find out about yourself?
48. Trying to live up to my potential… ...but freshman year keeps getting in the way. I'm looking for someone with a good sense of humor (cuz I have one, and you should think I'm funny) and who can see me for what I am: Awesome. Are we meant to be?
49. Looking for an adventure. Whether you're on the hunt for the Lost City of Atlantis or just the keys to my heart, we're on our way to an excellent adventure. Will you dive in with me?
UPDATE! I've had sooo many requests for the full book list, it's completely blown me away! I'm even getting requests THIS year! So here are the book titles and authors with the corresponding number from above. There are no current books on this list, but I hope it inspires your own displays!
So here's how it works: I selected just shy of 50 books from various genres (all of them awesome). For each title, I wrote a dating profile, complete with a headline and a 2-3 sentence blurb. Each of the books were wrapped by my wonderful League of Extraordinary Teens: Teen Council members. The profiles were printed and added to the front of each wrapped book.
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| Blind Date with a Book: Take a chance and you may just find your perfect book. |
(For my fellow librarians, we are fortunate to have a scanning system that doesn't require a bar code reader, but I also added a number to the dating profile that referenced the wrapped title in a spreadsheet. This way, if there was a request for a specific book, we could find it.)
I pulled so many books that I thought would be awesome for this little project that I needed an overflow space. A BIG overflow space.
I'm also trying to promote the love with my programming board. Hmm...looks like my handwriting began to tilt a bit - sorry Sarah!
So, what books did I use?
Blind Date with a Book Book List
1. If the house is rocking…run far, far away. I'm normal on the outside, but I'm dark and creepy (in a good way) on the inside. I'm looking for someone who likes a good scare. Do you think you can handle me?
2. Everything I learned, I learned from the movies. I'm an amateur film maker who hopes to make a difference in the lives of others. I'm looking for someone who will support my efforts and isn't afraid of a good cry. Will you buy my ticket?
3. Dig that funky wavelength. I live in the past, but the technological future has reached me sooner than it should have. What would you do if you heard your voice from the future? Would you friend me?
4. I thought I knew what the future held… I hear voices, but I swear I'm not crazy. They tell me to do things (still not crazy). I'm looking for someone to help me sort things out. Will you help me solve this puzzle?
5. Love is a (magic) battlefield. I'm fighting a war and discovering my hidden potential. The world is a dangerous place and I'm looking for someone to watch my back. Will you stand beside me?
6. Eat your heart out. Life is waging war everyday just to survive, but it's a lot easier with someone by your side. I'm looking for a trace of humanity in this world - do you have the heart to stick with me?
7. They say lightening never strikes twice… but does it need to? My life is full of excitement and danger, but I'm still looking for that certain spark, that electricity. Do you think we'll sizzle?
8. Looking for the cat's pajamas, not a flat tire. I'm a dame who's new to the big city and I'm looking for a live wire to show me the ropes, and maybe solve a caper or two. Are you the Real McCoy?
9. More than a pretty face. I used to think that looks were the most important thing, until a plane crash changed my pageant plans. Now I'm a warrior who can wrestle snakes and survive in the wild. Will you take me au naturel?
10. Text Me Maybe? I should warn you, me and my iPhone are one. I use it for everything from checking my email to fighting crime and righting wrongs. There's nothing we can't do. Do you think we'll sync?
11. Forget Romeo, I think I'm looking for my Juliet. I'm a drama club girl trying to figure things out. My life is like a screenplay, and we're all just characters upon the page. Will you read me?
12. Looking for a fantasy. They say you can't change the past, but I don't believe it. It defines who we are, but so do the secrets that surround us. Do you think we have a future together?
13. You've stolen my heart. I used to lead a life of crime, but I got out of the game. But you dragged me back in when you stole my heart. Will you be my partner in crime?
14. They say love is the greatest experiment. I grew up hearing the stories of secrets and experiments, but never believed they were true. Until now. Will our love be Top Secret or an Open Book?
15. Life is a mystery, and I plan to solve it. Around each corner is a new question to be answered and a new puzzle to be solved. Sometimes it can get messy or even dangerous. Are you my missing piece?
16. Looking for love against the odds. Everyone around me is sick - but I want to be sick with love. Is it survival of the fittest or does love make the heart stronger? Are you the cure to what ails me?
17. You've hacked my heart. It's you and me against the man and we've got to destroy the system. You've hacked your way into my heart, now will you conquer the world (or at least the city) with me?
18. Looking for a real live wire. I've got an electric personality and I'm looking for someone who can really light up a room. Do you think we've got a spark?
19. I'm on the hunt for my perfect partner. These are dangerous times and anymore it seems like I'm the prey surrounded by predators. Will you stand with me against the enemy?
20. It'd be a crime to pass me by. My life may seem stranger than fiction, but I promise it's based on a true story. It may seem like too difficult of a puzzle, but will you help me unravel the truth?
21. You've sent me outta this world! You've made me feel like I've won the lottery. But will our love shine as bright as the sun or will we find danger on the dark side of the moon?
22. Can't we all just get along? We're supposed to be enemies, but we could save the world if we could just be friends. Will you take the leap with me?
23. It's like déjà vu all over again. I'm an American Girl in London, looking for an adventure. But the new attacks RIPPED from old headlines have left me reeling. Can you help me figure out what's going on?
24. It's the age of the geek, baby. I've turned my gaming into a career of sorts, if you can call trying to win WWIII a career. I'm a super-human war machine…of love. Do you think you have what it takes?
25. Super Villains are people, too. Just because I was kidnapped and trained by super villains doesn't mean I don't have feelings. Maybe we've just been looking for love in all the wrong places. Would you be my hero?
26. Warrior looking for revenge against the shogun and maybe love, if there's time. Significant other must be willing join me in battle and occasionally clean up after the griffin. What's your weapon of choice?
27. Have we met? No, seriously, I can't remember - I've lost my memory. Please excuse that weird energy blast; I don't know how I did that…it's weird, right? Anyway, I'm on the run; would you like to come along?
28. Vampire Ninja seeks love. Don't be surprised if you can't see me; it'd be hard enough if I was just an ordinary ninja. But I'm hardly ordinary. Life with me can be both dangerous and a bit scary - do you think you can handle it?
29. Baby on board. Being a pregnant teen is hard enough, but try dealing with that AND aliens trying to kidnap your baby! I have a lot of hard decisions to make and would like to find someone supportive, responsible, and willing to fight aliens to stand by my side. Are you that special someone?
30. A picture's worth a thousand words. I think someone's messing with my head. Strange photos keep me up at night. What does it mean? Will you help me make sense of it all?
31. Can't watch Dexter? Then check me out. Being raised in the family business has left it's mark on me, but it turns out that I have a rare insight into the investigation of a new serial killer. Can we solve the crime together?
32. There's no place like home. I'm looking to reclaim the land and break the curse, but I can't do it alone. Will you come with me on this quest?
33. Sometimes a fight to the death is the only chance at living. This world is not kind to those without power, but I'll fight for my chance at a better life. Will you fight with me?
34. What's a girl to do when the pickings are slim? All I want is a little romance and a little fun, but I'm having a hard time finding it. Can friendship become romance?
35. Be careful what you wish for… because you might just get it. I've learned this lesson the hard way. If you could change something with the flip of a coin, would you do it?
36. I'm an old story in a new world. The future looks bleak, but we're trying to make it better. But can a lost love be returned? Is there any hope for us?
37. It's all fun and games…until… I'm a gamer, or at least I was. But the game is starting to affect my real life and it knows things about me that it couldn't know. Will you help me solve the mystery?
38. World traveler seeks friend for an adventure. A valuable piece of art has been stolen, and it's up to me to find it. My travels will take me far and wide…would you care to join me?
39. Trying to figure myself out. I'm not really sure who I am anymore. These feelings I have are confusing and unexpected. Do I like him? Do I like her? Will you help me figure it out?
40. One crazy night. One Crazy Girl. Prom night wasn't supposed to end in blood. If you're going to join me, you'd better be prepared for anything, including violence and mayhem. So, are you game?
41. I can see another world in your eyes. Unfortunately, it's a dark and dangerous world. I'm starting to wonder if I'm losing my mind. Can you help me see things clearly?
42. What are the chances of love at first sight? What are the chances you'll fall in love within 24 hours? What are the chances you can find someone again once you've lost them? Will you help me do the math?
43. Trapped with no escape. Chaos reigns and violence is our new way of life. Death surrounds us and there's no one left to help. Mine is not an easy story, and not one for the faint of heart. Will you take a shot with me?
44. Kon'nichiwa. I have many stories to tell. Stories of real life, stories in print and picture, stories of a different culture. Will you read me?
45. This is 19th century London as you've never seen it before. It's unnatural, the things happening these days. Families are being taken, and only an unlikely pair can hope to help them. Are you intrigued?
46. Sticks and stones… Words really can hurt. Reputations can change by the casual words of a stranger. So what do you have to say?
47. It's in the most difficult of circumstances that we find out what we're truly capable of. In the wastelands of this world, I fight to end the corruption that's infested this society. When the time comes, what will you find out about yourself?
48. Trying to live up to my potential… ...but freshman year keeps getting in the way. I'm looking for someone with a good sense of humor (cuz I have one, and you should think I'm funny) and who can see me for what I am: Awesome. Are we meant to be?
49. Looking for an adventure. Whether you're on the hunt for the Lost City of Atlantis or just the keys to my heart, we're on our way to an excellent adventure. Will you dive in with me?
UPDATE! I've had sooo many requests for the full book list, it's completely blown me away! I'm even getting requests THIS year! So here are the book titles and authors with the corresponding number from above. There are no current books on this list, but I hope it inspires your own displays!
| # | Title | Author |
| 1 | Bad Girls Don’t Die | Alender, Katie |
| 2 | Me and Earl and the Dying Girl | Andrews, Jesse |
| 3 | The Future of Us | Asher, Jay |
| 4 | Touched | Balog, Cyn |
| 5 | Shadow and Bone | Bardugo, Leigh |
| 6 | Ashes | Bick, Ilsa |
| 7 | Struck | Bosworth, Jennifer |
| 8 | The Diviners | Bray, Libba |
| 9 | Beauty Queens | Bray, Libba |
| 10 | iBOY | Brooks, Kevin |
| 11 | Between You & Me | Calin, Marisa |
| 12 | Pathfinder | Card, Orson Scott |
| 13 | Heist Society | Carter, Ally |
| 14 | So Close to You | Carter, Rachel |
| 15 | Shelter | Coben, Harlan |
| 16 | The Way We Fall | Crewe, Megan |
| 17 | Little Brother | Doctorow, Cory |
| 18 | The Prisoner of Cell 25: Michael Vey | Evans, Richard Paul |
| 19 | The Hunt | Fukuda, Andrew |
| 20 | Mister Death's Blue Eyed Girls | Hahn, Mary Downing |
| 21 | 172 Hours on the Moon | Harstad, Johan |
| 22 | Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars | James, Nick |
| 23 | The Name of the Star | Johnson, Maureen |
| 24 | Insignia | Kincaid, S.J. |
| 25 | The Vindico | King, Wesley |
| 26 | Stormdancer | Kristoff, Jay |
| 27 | False Memory | Krokos, Dan |
| 28 | Blood Ninja | Lake, Nick |
| 29 | Mothership | Leicht, Martin |
| 30 | Every You, Every Me | Levithan, David |
| 31 | I Hunt Killers | Lyga, Barry |
| 32 | Finnikin on the Rock | Marchetta, Melina |
| 33 | Carnival of Souls | Marr, Melissa |
| 34 | The Boy Recession | Meaney, Flynn |
| 35 | Fair Coin | Myer, E.C. |
| 36 | The Darkness Shows the Stars | Peterfreund, Diana |
| 37 | Erebos | Poznanski, Ursula |
| 38 | Tokyo Heist | Renn, Diana |
| 39 | Boyfriends With Girlfriends | Sanchez, Alex |
| 40 | Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick | Schreiber, Joh |
| 41 | The Marbury Lens | Smith, Andrew |
| 42 | Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight | Smith, Jennifer |
| 43 | Quaranteen: The Loners | Thomas, Lex |
| 44 | TOMO: An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories | Thompson, Holly ed. |
| 45 | The Unnaturalsits | Trent, Tiffany |
| 46 | The List | Vivian, Siobhan |
| 47 | Blood Red Road | Young, Moira |
| 48 | Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters | Zeitlin, Meredith |
| 49 | Lost Code | Emerson, Kevin |
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