Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty

In September, 1994 Robert "Yummy" Sandifer appeared on the cover of Time magazine. He was only 11 years old and lived in Chicago. Why would such a young boy, who loved anything sweet, be on the cover of a national publication? Yummy was a gang called the Black Disciples -- he had killed a 14 year old girl!

This award-winning graphic novel looks at Yummy's life and death. He went into hiding after killing Shavon Dean. The Disciples became tired of the publicity surrounding Yummy and finally killed him. How can an 11 year old be caught up in such violence? Was Yummy a cold-blooded killer or was he a victim? Ultimately he didn't make good decisions. Read the book by G. Neri and decide for yourself.

The Bite of the Mango

This heart-breaking true story is co-authored by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland. Mariatu is 12 years old when the story begins. She lives with her extended family in a small village in Sierra Leone. Civil War breaks out in the country. Bands of rebel soldiers wander the countryside terrorizing and killing. The inevitable happens. The soldiers capture Mariatu.

The horrors this young girl sees are unforgettable. This chapter of the book was especially hard to read....I had to put it down several times. Mariatu survives the rebel attack, but the soldiers - some younger than Mariatu herself - take a machete and chop off both of her hands! Can you imagine?

This isn't the end of Mariatu's suffering. You'll have to read the book to get the entire story. She is a survivor -- that much I will say.

Stitches: A Memoir

David Small wrote this National Book Award Finalist about his childhood and teenage years. He is best known for his picture book illustrations.....this book is in the graphic novel format.

David grew up in a very dysfunctional home. He had many sinus infections as a young boy. His father, a doctor, used x-rays to monitor his condition. Those x-rays ended up giving David cancer. At 14 David had, what was supposed to be a minor surgery. It ended up being several surgeries....and his vocal cords were removed. David was virtually speechless!! I haven't even talked about his mother yet.....

Read the book. It is tragic, disturbing...and a compelling read!

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

Are you in the mood for a good mystery? This is it.

Maya, Abby's younger sister is always in trouble --- major trouble. Whether it is drugs or truancy, Abby always seems to be "covering-up" for Maya.

Abby's morning run takes her along a nearby river where she finds a murdered classmate and Maya's cell phone. What to do? This time it may be impossible to protect Maya.

The police are searching for Maya --- Did she kill Jefferson while high on drugs? He was her tutor, they had a relationship. Are there other suspects? Jefferson isn't the "good guy" that everyone thought he was. Abby tries to track down the killer!

The Beautiful Between

Another first-time YA author --- Alyssa B. Sheinmel!!

Connelly compares herself to the fairy tale character, Rapunzel. Not because she has long, flowing hair.....but because she feels locked up....locked up by all her responsibilities. The SAT's, college applications, but most of all family secrets.

Connelly's mom has never been forthcoming about dad's death. He died when Connelly was only 2 years old, but she still doesn't know why or how. Now a classmate's sister is dying.....what is the connection between Connelly's dad and Kate? Read the book and find out.

Blood on my Hands

Todd Strasser is a favorite author of mine --- this is his newest book.

Cell phones....and cell phone cameras are everywhere. Callie learns firsthand the danger of a cell phone camera.

The book begins, "In the dark woods behind the baseball dugout, I'm kneeling next to Katherine's body, my heart racing, my breaths shallow and fast, my emotions reeling crazily at the sight on the ground before me." At first Callie doesn't understand.....why is her friend lying on the ground? Why does she appear wet? As Callie realizes her friend is dead and the shiny wetness is her blood, other people arrive on the scene.

Perhaps the worst case of bad timing ever....as Callie reaches down and picks up "something" next to Katherine, a cell phone starts snapping pictures. Callie is holding the murder weapon....and now it looks as though she is the one who committed the crime.

Can Callie prove her innocence? Read the book and see!

Weekend reading!

Just a quick post before the Packer-Bears game. Yesterday I finished The Beautiful Between by Alyssa Sheinmel and started Blood on my Hands by a favorite author, Todd Strasser. Now... back to gameday!!

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

First-time Australian author, Lucy Christopher has already had several awards associated with this, her first book!

Sixteen-year-old Gemma is travelling with her parents to Vietnam. Like many 16-year-old girls, she gets in an argument with her parents about her clothes. As things end up, she is going to meet her parents at the flight gate. That never happens.

Ty , a mysterious, older, ruggedly handsome stranger buys her coffee and sits down with her. He also slips a drug into her coffee and kidnaps her. With the use of a fake passport he takes her to the middle of the Australian Outback.

Ty has been planning Gemma's kidnapping for years. He has been watching her. His intentions are for the two of them to live the rest of their lives in isolation....together. Read the story and see what happens to Gemma.

Tell Me A Secret

This is a debut book by author Holly Cupala. Seventeen-year-old Rand is the main character. She has had a lot to deal with the past several years. Her older sister Xanda died .... and it seems as though the family has been hiding some of the facts surrounding her death. Mom says her boyfriend was drunk and that he was no good. Is that the truth or not? Mom is very controlling and dad just disappears.

As the story begins Rand has to deal with another life-altering event. While away at summer camp she discovers she is pregnant. She comes home to find her boyfriend "with" her best friend. The book is a bit heartbreaking and also a bit hopeful. Read the book to see what choices Rand makes.....adoption? art school? work? Does she reconcile with her family?

I Am Number Four

I stayed up late reading this book -- I had to finish it and see if "John Smith" would survive the battle against the Mogardians.

Pittacus Lore is the author of this new book. On his website he says he is an alien from the earthlike planet, Lorien, which is a hundred million miles away! He has been on earth for 12 years.....are you still with me?

John Smith is the main character in the book and he is number four! Nine aliens came to earth with their guardians. Three have already been hunted down and killed by the Mogardians. John knows he is next. He looks like an ordinary teenager from Paradise, Ohio --- but there is much, much more to him than you see.

Read the book - it is amazing!! The movie comes out February 18! http://findnumberfour.com/

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Samantha dies in a car crash after a party. But wait.......why does she wake up in her bed, only to relive the entire Friday over? Sam has to do this SEVEN times before there is any resolution!!! Does it sound like Groundhog Day? Way more emotional............Read it and think about your choices!!

Pod by Stephen Wallenfels

Do you like science fiction? Did you watch the TV show "V"? If you did, you will like Pod. The story begins with a screeching, screaming noise that wakes up the world As people investigate and look outdoors they see immense, pod-like, spinning disks descending from the sky. Walking outdoors ensures a quick death -- you are immediately "zapped" and disappear. Is it the end of the world? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Dozens of new books

Dozens and dozens of new books are in! It's better than Christmas!! Stop in and see what is available.....Or........ are you at home? Access the Destiny West Catalog. Click the "Catalog" tab. Click the "Catagories" tab. Find "November 2010" and you should see a listing of everything that is new. Not sure if this link will work off site? http://10.50.1.184/cataloging/servlet/handlecategorysearchresultsform.do?categoryID=3231&categoryDescription=November+2010&collectionType=0&page=0&collectionType=0

Stealing Henry by Carolyn MacCullough

The first line got me: "The night Savannah brains her stepfather with the frying pan is the night she decides to leave home for good."

Savannah's stepdad is abusive, not only to her, but to her younger brother Henry. Mom is oblivious to everything.....so "Sav" decides to hit the road. Much of Savannah's childhood (she is now 17) was spent riding cross-country with her single mom, Alice. Alice could never seem to make a home for them ....obviously she is a bit dysfunctional.

I picked out this book because I liked the retro look of the cover. I know I always say....don't judge a book by the cover. The "feel" of the book is old, the copyright is new!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie is 16 years old. After using her powers in a "prom night spell gone bad".... she is sent to Hectate Hall. It is a "boarding school" for prodigium teens. What are prodigium? Witches, warlocks, vampires, shape-shifters, fairies, etc...... who have used their powers incorrectly. Hopefully Sophie will now find the correct way to channel her powers.

After her arrival a student is maliciously attacked and left for dead. Sophie's vampire roommate is blamed. Who is responsible? What about the very handsome warlock that Sophie crushes on? Read the book and find out. It will leave you waiting for the next one.

lessons from a dead girl by Jo Knowles

I only meant to read this book for a short time last night. I got home late from conferences and needed something to put me to sleep. (The Viking game wasn't doing it!) I ended up staying up late, too late, to finish this book.

Laine is a victim. Leah is a victim. Leah is dead. That about sums up the book!

Laine has always wanted to be a part of the popular crowd. When Leah, the most popular girl in the school, wants to be her friend, Laine is ecstatic! But popularity comes at a price. When Leah is at Laine's house she wants to go in the closet with her and "practice". Laine is very conflicted in her emotions. She wants Leah's friendship, but she feels wrong. She tries to end the friendship and there are disastrous results. Laine tries to help Leah, but it is as though she doesn't want help. There are risky behaviors and lessons learned. I couldn't put it down.

Another one!!

I read another graphic novel! This time it was Welcome to the Jungle from Jim Butcher's Dreseden Files. I'm really liking this genre!!

Harry Dresden is a wizard "on-call" with the Chicago Police Department. He is brought into a case involving the death of a security guard at Lincoln Park Zoo. The guard was viciously killed -- perhaps by a gorilla? No one appears to know. Harry suspects there is some bad magic at work. He finds himself working against not one, but three hags.

Read the novel, see what you think! There are more titles by Jim Butcher in our collection. Have you outgrown Harry Potter? Try these.

I read a graphic novel!!!

Finally.....I read a graphic novel. Last night I read In the Small by Michael Hague. I've really been liking the "dystopia genre".... and this book fit the bill.

On a beautiful September day a strange blue light swept over the earth. It went everywhere --- inside buildings, to the bottom of the ocean and inside subway tunnels. It only lasted a second -- then life returned to normal - almost. The only life form that changed were humans. Humans are now about 6 inches tall --- approximately the size of a pencil! Think of all the dangers that present themselves when you are that small. Pets - cats and dogs - think you are food, how would you navigate the stairs in an office building, how would you push the button for an elevator?

Somehow "Mouse" and "Beat" short for Beatrice become two of the leaders in the chaos that ensues. Read the book and see if you like it as much as I did.....I'm waiting for a sequel.

Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe

The FBI has finally caught up with Maya's dad. He's pulled one scam too many ..... and is now in prison. Maya is in foster care, but has no intention of staying there.
Aunt Sarah lives in Idaho - at least that is what Maya thinks. The problem is .... she is in Nevada. How to get there? Maya and another girl in foster care run away. She have only the clothes on their backs and a few dollars in their pockets. Life on the streets is hard -- hitchhiking, shoplifting to try and get food, rats...... Read the story and see if they get to Idaho and find the elusive Aunt Sarah.

Huge by Sasha Paley

April and Wil are roommates at "Fat Camp". That is about the only thing they have in common. April has saved and saved to afford the expensive tuition at Wellness Canyon. She desperately wants to lose weight. Wil, on the other hand, does not want to be at camp. Her thin, successful and beautiful parents are owners of Excalibur Sport and Health Club. When your parents are owners of a string of work-out facilities, the last thing in the world you should be is overweight. Well....guess what? Wil is. Wil is also determined to "show" her parents that she is in-charge. Wil is actually trying to gain weight!!

There are lots of clashes between the two girls.....yet as you read the story you will see that they have more in common than you think.