The Dead-Tossed Waves

Author: Carrie Ryan

         Carrie Ryan is back and better than ever with her stunning sequel to the post apocolyptic zombie thriller, "In the Forest of Hands and Teeth". This follow up YA novel chronicles the life of Gabrielle and the Vista, the compound where she and a colony of humans have band together to ward off attacks from the infected "Mudo". In the small town bordered by the ocean and large fence barriers, any knowledge of the diseased zombies have become a thing of legend. With the village elders still reeling from the catostrophic plague that devestated the world, the young teens begin to grow restless. Seeking out forbidden thrills, Gabrielle, her friend Cira, and a couple others set out towards the abandoned amusement park, a final relic from a world before the "Return". What the teens find there is the unimaginable. A Mudo girl had infiltrated their formly safe haven, attacking and infecting two kids, including Cira's brother Catcher. Gabrielle managed to escape the horrors of the blood bath unscathed, while Catcher suquesters himself deep into the woods, far from anyone he loves. With the fallout of the amusement park yielding serious consequences, Gabrielle finds herself compelled to lie, remaining mum about her involvement as to not upset her mother. But Gabrielle's mother is harboring dark secrets about her past, secrets that threaten to destroy the only life she has ever known. Can Gabrielle repair her relationship with her mother and save Catcher before the disease ravages his body? Find out in "The Dead Tossed Waves".

        Carrie Ryan has once again proven her talents and staying power with this vastly creative sequel. In the novel, Carrie delves even deeper into the very fabric of the dystopian world she has concocted, adding details so life like you can practically taste the sea salt air blowing off the ocean spray. Her character developement and interaction only further enhances an already pleasent reading experience, making it all the more terrifying. Using tips from the throwback days of Steven King, Ryan uses visual context clues to keep her audience on the edge of their seats and glancing over their shoulders. Overall, "The Dead-Tossed Waves" is a unique and magical journey well worth taking.

Empty

Author: Suzanne Weyn

       It's ten years from the present, and time has run out for mankind. All the world's fuel sources have been depleted due to overuse, and the war for oil is reeking havoc on the United States. Caught up in the aftermath are a series of teenagers doing whatever it takes to survive in an apocolyptic world. This evolutionary journey of self discovery showcases Suzanne Weyn's undoubtable knowledge of the inner workings of an adolescent's mind while staying true to their voice. Told from alternating viewpoint perspectives, this story of unbearable tragedy and hope for the future will leave you a changed individual. Suzanne Weyn is a wonderfully gifted dystopian author whose books hold a sacred space on my bookshelf. She penned such childhood favorites of mine like "The Bar Code Tattoo" and its sequel, "The Bar Code Rebellion", and her latest work was no disappointment. I was having a bad day when I settled down on my couch and cracked open my copy of "Empty". Before I knew it, an hour had gone by, and I had devoured the entire novel in one sitting. Weyn once again had worked her magic charm, and I found myself consumed by a world as real feeling as my very own. Suzanne Weyn's "Empty" is a splendid treat that will leave her fans as loyal as ever, and earn her even more admirers.

Edge of Ready

Author:  L.B Tillit

        Donna Garia is a Latin American teenager struggling to cope with the stress of her family falling apart. After her mother became pregnant with her boss' child and is promptly fired, Donna is intrusted with Benny's care while she searches for a new job. Unfortunately, Donna is forced to deal with her own drama. Her best friend Ruth is acting abnormally, her grades are dropping, and she is sleeping with the school's most notorious womanizer,Evron. And when Donna finds herself viciously assaulted one rainy night, she feels like giving up hope. Can she find the courage to face her abuser and graduate from high school on time?

"Edge of Ready" is a beautiful story from Gravel Road, a perfect high-low book choice for any inner-city/urban librarians book shelf. With a plot line that is relevant to the problems faced by youth today, paired with simple vocabulary essential for their reading level.

PSLA Conference 2012! The prequel

DuBois Area High School junior Monica Sheffo recently won an essay contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association called “Me? A School Librarian.” In winning, Sheffo earned an expenses-paid trip to the PSLA annual conference in Hershey April 12-14.

DuBOIS – DuBois Area High School junior Monica Sheffo wants to be a school librarian some day. It was only fitting that she entered an essay contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association called “Me? A School Librarian.” Sheffo did and won, earning an expenses-paid trip to the PSLA’s annual conference in Hershey April 12-14.

DAHS librarian Mrs. Ginny Schott entered Sheffo into the contest with a letter of recommendation along with two essays from Sheffo answering the questions: “The best thing about my school library is …” and “The one thing I would change about my school library is …”

In her letter of recommendation, Schott noted that Sheffo “shows enthusiasm for our profession and has volunteered many days after school to help in our school library.” Schott went on to say that even after having eye surgery Sheffo spent hours working on her essay against her mother’s wishes because of the surgery. “This is a girl who really takes her career plans seriously!” Schott wrote.

In one essay, Sheffo wrote the best part about her school’s library is the librarian and her aide. Sheffo wrote, “Mrs. Schott has made it her priority to create a warm and welcoming environment that both students and teachers flock to.” Sheffo also said that Mrs. Kessler, the former library aide, also played a significant role in encouraging her desire to become a school librarian.

In her other essay, Sheffo wrote about the significant reduction in funding the school library received due to state budget cuts. Sheffo said if there was one thing she could change about her school library it would be to restore book funding.

Sheffo also had to answer why she wanted to attend the conference. “Attending this conference would provide me with an opportunity to gain a more thorough understanding of all that being a librarian entails. It would also create connections with other students who share my passion of books, as well as professionals in this field,” she wrote.

In addition to volunteering at the library, Sheffo participates in theater, mock trial and peer mediation. She is a member of both NHS and the International Thespian Society. She is a youth leader for grades 2 and 3 for Vacation Bible School each summer. She also runs the technology booth at Lakeside United Methodist Church during the contemporary service and is employed by Hoss's Steak and Sea as a hostess.



500 Liberty Blvd.
DuBois, PA 15801

The Healing Spell

By Kimberley Griffiths

Filled with mystery and old Southern charm, this book has serious heart.

In THE HEALING SPELL, Livie is trying to cope with her mother's current state. She is in a coma. Also, she has a secret so big it threatens to consume her if anyone were to find out.

Livie would do anything to get her mother back, which leads her to seek the help of a voodoo healer. And it is this healer who sends her on a journey she will never forget.

As mystical and breathtaking as the bayou itself, Kimberley Griffiths Little's story about the unspoken love between a mother and her daughter is sure to move you. With characters full of personality and life, you will easily find yourself falling in love with this struggling family. This really is a perfect read.

 

Accomplice

By Eireann Corrigan


Best friends Chloe and Finn have a secret. They have developed a plan to attract prospective colleges with a bogus kidnapping.

But when the plan spirals out of control, will the girls be able to stick to their story, or will their bizarre scheme be exposed?

Captivatingly powerful, Eireann Corrigan's latest novel is a thrilling ride from beginning to end. Her unique characters have you entertained from page one and continue to surprise you throughout the entire story.

Corrigan takes the classic white lie tale to the next level with ACCOMPLICE, and her cliffhanger ending will leave you longing for more.
 

Along the River

By Adeline Yen Mah


CC is a young Chinese girl whose own misfortune landed her in a hospital in a coma. When she reawakens three weeks later, she feels and appears fine.

That is, except for an unusual obsession with a painting called "Along the River at Qing Ming".

A session with a hypnotherapist reveals the unthinkable. CC is possessed with the spirit of Zang Mei Lang, a young girl from the Song Dynasty, desperate to tell her story.

CHINESE CINDERELLA's Adeline Yen Mah delights again in ALONG THE RIVER. Mah's gift of storytelling is evident on every page of this coming-of-age tale about two young girls linked across time, blending the beauty of the old ways with the promise of the future in ways that will both surprise and entertain you.

This one is a real treat.