Grief Girl; My True Story

Scanning the shelves I found this book. The inside cover intrigued me:

I am just like you.

I get bored in school.

I goof off with my friends.

I fight with my family.

I love my family.

I have big dreams.

I am just like anyone else.

And then, in a split second, I'm not.

This is my story.

What could happen in a split second to change 14-year-old Erin's world? Her parents were in a horrific car accident. Read the book -- go home and tell your parents that you love them -- it is Erin's true story.

Gadget Nation - A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

I saw this nonfiction book on the shelf and it caught my eye. I like quirky "stuff". If you do, you will lol at this book.

Don't you wish you would have thought of "bird diapers"? How about pet "fat"? Octodogs or lighted slippers? This book is full of odd inventions and the stories behind the inventions. How much money was spent on "mopflops? Did the inventor make any money? You'll have to browse the book and see!

Wake

Imagine you were able to "spy" on the dreams of other people -- classmates, your parents, teachers........ that is exactly what happens to Janie.

Since she had her first experience when she was 9 years old, Janie is able to fall into the dreams of others. Imagine you are working at a table in the library. At the table next to you someone falls asleep (now....if it were here at West I'd probably nudge you awake!) suddenly you enter their dream. That is exactly what happens to Janie. Unfortunately she also "blacks out" in the process. It looks like she is having a seizure.

In the past 8 years Janie has been drawn into some very bizarre dreams. But now, she is drawn into some pretty gruesome nightmares. Why is she dreaming about Cabel? Why is he dreaming about her? Read this book by Lisa McMann and the follow-up, Fade.

Deadly Little Secret

When I first started reading this book I thought, "Oh no......it's starting to sound like Twilight." Remember the scene in Twilight where Edward saves Bella by blocking an out-of-control car in the student parking lot? Something similar happens in this book. Camelia, the main character, could have died 3 months ago in the school parking lot. Gloria went into diabetic shock while driving and her car headed straight for Camelia. Out of the blue, Ben, a very mysterious new student shows up. He pushed Camelia out of the way, saving her life. But....then he disappears. Camelia really wants to thank him, but can't find him. Meanwhile rumors start about Ben -- about how he killed his ex-girlfriend. Camelia starts receiving threatening letters and packages. Everyone puts two and two together -- Ben is the suspect. Did he or didn't he?

Anna: A Daughter's Life

One of the things I'm enjoying about high school is I get to read more "adult" books. Last night I finished this memoir that William Loizeaux wrote about his first-born daughter, Anna. It was heartbreaking, but I was compelled to read it. Both William and his wife, Beth, were older parents....something I can relate to.

Anna was born with a variety of birth defects known as Vater Syndrome. In Anna's short 5 1/2 month life she endured many surgeries to fix her myriad of problems. William is trying to make sense of the death of his child. The book is written in a diary format to span the months of Anna's life. Touching, tender and sad. Read it.

The Compound

Eli's dad has always been a "freak" about nuclear war. Dad was convinced that war would come -- and he wanted his family to be prepared. When the inevitable happens and the steel door to the compound closes behind Eli, life as his family knew it, will never be the same. The door is programed to stay closed for 15 years -- the amount of time it should take our world to recover from a nuclear event.
Eli is 15 years old. He has been living in the underground compound for 6 years. Some things are not adding up. Dad gives him a CD to listen to. Eli peels the label off and finds the name of the band and the copyright date -- but the date is last year. How can that be when he and his family have been locked up for 6 years? Certain things don't seem right. As Eli starts to question his father, dad shows increasingly erratic behavior. Read the book and find out what happens to Eli and his family.
S. A. Bodeen (Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen) is a Wisconsin author. She grew up in Humbird, Wisconsin. You'll have to Google the location to see where it is -- I know I never heard of it:)

Before I Die

What a sad title:( Tessa has terminal cancer. The cancer is so advanced that she has decided to forgo chemotherapy treatments. She is just a teenager. In the months that she has left she wants to pack her life with all the experiences that she will miss as an adult.

Some sound simple -- others like, find love, are not. Read the book by Jenny Downham and see what happens to Tessa.

Finally ... September 1 --the sequel is published!

I've been waiting for this sequel. Many of you read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Here is the next one....... We don't have it yet, but soon will!