Mesa Teens Talk Books...

A Little Less Girl

2012-02-14T10:38:00.000-08:00

By: Tess Oliver

Everything has always come easy to Jake West. But when Amy, the girl obsessed with him, commits suicide, the entire town of Raynesville is quick to blame Jake. Now Amy’s cousin, Dani, has moved into town. And suddenly Jake has an obsession of his own. Dani Spencer has always dreamed of a home and normal life. When her beloved cousin and grandmother die, her wild, impetuous mother inherits their house in Raynesville. With Amy’s diary in hand, Dani intends on finding out what happened to her cousin. And there’s an obvious place to star…Jake west, the guy who broke Amy’s heart.

Everyone says things that they don’t mean, especially when they are angry, upset, or irritated. And in this town when you say something it never dies. In a town that small you don’t have a choice of what happens, you’re stuck. And then when something bad happens, people try to find ways to take the blame away from them. Not Jake West he takes it almost believing it was his fault. That is till Dani came along and tried to find the truth about her cousin. Jake becomes infatuated with this girl so much so he starts to fall in love. But how could she love him the boy that supposedly killed her cousin. But Dani is the only one that doesn’t believe it. Armed with her cousin’s diary, a really cute guy, and a passion to find the truth Dani goes on the biggest search of her life. The murderer of her best friend since birth. Have fun reading. And let us know what you think with comments.

~Timorie

Our first book review for 2012! Enjoy!

2012-01-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

The Book of Spells: A private prequel

By: Kate Brian

The year is 1915 when sixteen-year-old Eliza Williams arrives at the Billings School for Girls in Easton, Connecticut. Her parents expect her to learn the qualities of a graceful, dutiful wife. But Eliza and her housemates have a dangerous secret: They’re witches.

After finding a dusty, leather-bound spell book, the Billings Girls form a secret coven. Bonded in sisterhood, they cast spells – cursing their head-mistress with laryngitis, brewing potions to bolster their courage before dances, and conjuring beautiful dresses out of old rags.

The girls taste freedom and power for the first time, but what starts out as innocent fun turns sinister when one of the spells has an unexpected – and deadly – consequence. Magic could bring Eliza everything she’s ever wanted … but it could also destroy everything she holds dear.

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Eliza is the original tom boy. She loves adventures and having fun. She doesn’t want a man, well until she goes to Billings that’s when she finally sees Harrison Knox, and let’s just say she saw the right and wrong guy. She falls in love only to have it snatched away. The bond she makes with her sisters in the coven is on the deepest level she loves them and they love her, the younger girls look up to her (Eliza) and Theresa. She thought that going to Billings would change her like the school did with her older sister May, and the school did; she grew up. This story is truly a tale of wise girls who make some foolish choice and in the end they couldn’t fix everything but knew it was for the better. Have fun reading!

~Timorie

Happy Holidays to all from Mesa Public Library Teens!

2011-12-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all and have a great new year! While your home on winter break, here's some good reading suggestions from Mesa Public Library Teens.

Enjoy!

Binding Ties by Max Allen Collins. This book is from the CSI series.

Holiday Princess By Meg Cabot - a guide for gift ideas, tips, recipes, etc.

Jingle Boy by Kieran Scott- a boy who hates Christmas and tries to get his spirits high by other's help.

Kringle By Tony Abbott - In the fifth century A.D., as order retreats from Britain with the departing Roman Army, orphaned, twelve-year-old Kringle determines to rescue his beloved guardian from the evil goblins who terrorize the countryside by kidnapping and enslaving humans and, in the process, with the help of elves and others along the way, discovers his true destiny.

The Princess Present By Meg Cabot- Princess Mia goes traveling around the world with friends as a present.

Promised Land by Robert B. Parker. This book is from the Spenser Mystery series.

A War of Gifts : an ender story By Orson Scott Card

See you all next year!

YAACers create a Holiday Display @ the Main Library

2011-11-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

Timorie, Joe & Charlotte created snowmen and snowflakes for the bulletin boards in the Teen realm @ the Main Library!

Holiday Display @ the Red Mountain Library

2011-11-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Mesa Library's Young Adult Advisory Council created a holiday display for the Children's Area
@ the Red Mountain Library!

A book review from Joe

2011-10-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

Promised Land - A Spenser Mystery Series Novel
By Robert B Parker

The book Promised Land by Robert B. Parker is about a private detective from Boston named Spenser. Spenser is a tough guy with a know it all personality who likes good food, beer, and girls. Along the way, he meets up with two old friends. Susan Silverman a counselor who is kind and is always willing to help others. Spenser has a committed relationship with her. Also there is Hawk, an enforcer who gets hired to kill and earns money in return. There are three overlapping plots in this book. First Spenser is sent to find a missing spouse who has run away. Meanwhile her husband Harvey Sheppard owes money to a crime boss named King Powers and can’t pay. Hawk is hired by Powers to make sure he gets his money. Finally, Pam Sheppard the wife gets involved with her friends, Rose and Jane whose ambition is to start a violent feminist movement. I give this book five stars because it is filled with good action and also talks about the characters life which makes the story interesting. It is also a fun and quick read. I would recommend it to people who like good mystery stories.

-Joe

Book Review

2011-09-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

The Liar Society

You’re only as good as your last lie.

By: Lisa & Laura Roecker

Since when do the dead send emails? Kate Lowry’s best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate’s more than a little confused.

Kate,

I’m here…sort of.

Find Cameron. He knows.

I shouldn’t be writing.

Don’t tell. They’ll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining-armor – the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her love struck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them – even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder…

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Different huh? That’s what I thought too, for this book the title can sum it up right. This book is full of suspense and danger, secrets and lies, knights and swords. This book has it all; love, murder, and a girl who fights to find the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Lisa and Laura, two sisters, know how to write the next bestseller and have just given it to us. Have fun reading.

~Timorie

A Book Review From Timorie!

2011-08-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

Book 2

The keys to the Kingdom

Grim Tuesday

Arthur Penhaligon didn’t think he would ever have to return to the very strange house that nearly killed him on Monday – the house that contains a fantastical and sinister realm inside.

But the next day brings new challenges – in the form of an enemy named Grim Tuesday, who threatens the safety of both Arthurs family and his world. Arthur must retrieve the second Key from Grim Tuesday in order to save everything – an adventure that will force him to steal a Sunship, survive a very weird work camp, befriend a bearlike spirit, and fight the void of Nithlings. And even after all that, he will still have to venture into the scary Far Reaches for an ultimate showdown.

The stakes are high. And time is ticking.

This is the Second kingdom book in the series and it was just as great as the first. In this story Arthur has grown up a lot compared to the first book (Mister Monday), even though only a few short hours have passed since he saved his town from the sleepy plague, its already been months in The House and he is being called forth again to obtain the second key. In this story Grim Tuesday and his followers are trying to get the First Key by saying that the original Monday owed him a great debt and since the funding is low because no one knew how to keep good banking going and all the paperwork in check. But to get the key Arthur and his friends need to find the second piece of the will, and that my friends, is no easy task. So they have to travel with Tom a new friend to the center of the sun to release the will, however that is easier said than done. The will is not very happy and doesn’t trust that Arthur is the true Heir and the will wants to go with all the formalities which they don’t have time for because the great and mysterious nothing has escaped. But to find out what truly happens well you’re just going to have to read the book because I don’t like spoiling a great ending. More to come in The Keys to the Kingdom series. Have fun reading.

~Timorie

First Movie Review!

2011-07-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Water For Elephants

No, I have not read the book, though I would like to sometime judging on my liking for the movie. The movie was amazing, it made me cry. Not for reasons about the romance in it, the animal abuse in it is what did me in. Other then that the movie was enjoyable and I would see it again if the opportunity came. The main actors were great, I was impressed by Robert Pattinson considering I don't like his other role in Twilight. Reese Witherspoon was great which I wouldn't say was unexpected, I loved who she got to play and that she did it well. Over all the movie was worth watching and definitely opened me up to reading the book when I get the chance.

-Danielle

A Book Review From Timorie!

2011-06-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Book 1

The Keys to the Kingdom

Mister Monday

Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is, in fact, supposed to die an early death. But then his life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Arthur is safe – but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. A stranger named mister Monday, his avenging messengers with bloodstained wings, and an army of dog-faced Fetchers will stop at nothing to get the key back – even if it means destroying Arthur and everything around him. Desperate, Arthur ventures into a mysterious house – a house that only he can see. It is in this house that Arthur must unravel the secrets of the key – and discover his true fate.

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Garth Nix is truly a great writer, I was captured by this book, it has adventure, mystery, a romance that is just beginning to form, and well it has something for everyone. The way I see it is that this novel, the 1^st in the series, is about a young boy, he’s just a kid, who was chosen to lead a world that he didn’t even know existed. The storyline is a very long time ago there was nothing and everything came from nothing so the first man like creatures that came from this nothing saw that nothing had created a 2^nd realm (which is our world) so they created a Will that consisted of 7 parts and the number one thing that they (the creators of the Will) was to not under any circumstances meddle in with the other realm. And when they didn’t want to follow the will of the Will they broke it apart into seven kingdoms which stood for the seven days of the week and seven chosen man like creatures were to guard the part of the will and they had their group dawn, noon ,dust, midnight and each had their own group. In the first book it’s all about the lower part of the never-ending house which falls on Monday. The true reason I liked this book was that it was about a simple kid going to a new school having to start all over again with asthma so he was already going to be an out-cast but his destiny changed with the key and it showed me that even if everything is against you; you will have people beside you.

If you want to know more just read the book.

~Timorie

Book Review.

2011-06-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Lost Hero- Rick Riordan

Heres a short but sweet review from one of our awesome yaac members.

"This book, written as a continuation of his Percy Jackson, was a truly amazing sequel. It is truly a feat worthy of his heroic subjects. Look no further, dear readers; the next Harry Potter is here." -Karan

And to go along with it heres the synopsis for the book.

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It was hard to say good-bye to Percy--but fans don't have to. A lovable new generation of demigods has its own prophecy to prepare for, and their hero Perseus Jackson just may turn up in times of need.
After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they’ll need the help of some familiar demigods.

Haven't posted in a while, very sorry!

2011-06-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Heres a very late photo of a few of the Yaac members after redecorating the Main libraries display case. They did and amazing job and it turned out fantastic!

By the way there are book reviews coming, so be ready.

Finished!

2011-04-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

I finished City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare! I have to say she really knows how to break your heart. I'm not quite sure how to word my feelings about it but I'll try. I have to say forewarning the ending is killer, just confirming the rumors. I thoroughly enjoyed the book as I did the other even if it wasn't my favorite, and I can not wait for the next one. As for the next book I haven't a clue what exactly to expect, I'm quite nervous about it. Simon grows a lot in the book, it gives you a better view of his personality and I've heard from people who didn't like Simon much say this book changed their opinions. Jace and Clary have a few good scenes, but I'm not sure whats going to happen between them in the next book considering the ending of this book. I have hope for them though... I have heard a rumor for the next book though that theirs going to be a hot club scene between Jace and an mystery girl, Cassandra won't say if it's Clary or not.

-Danielle

First book review...

2011-04-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

City of Fallen Angels

I'm not completely finished with the book, but so far -in my opinion- it's as good as the rest. Clarissa Clare is an amazing writer, these books have action, fantasy yet reality, romance, and theres always something coming. On top of that I'm usually rather good at predicting things that happen in books, but in this series I've actually got caught off guard a few times.

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Heres the Synopsis-

City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
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So far being only over half way through I can tell you it's good and enjoyable. It's definitely not my favorite in the series though. A lot of the books focus is on Simon and how he's changing, getting used to being a vampire, and realizing how different things are going to have to be. I will tell you that Simon gets to witness his new popular mark in action. There is also still some focus on Jace and Clary, and as always even though they are free to be together things are bumpy. I'm just getting to the reason why and will not tell, I will say that it's quite interesting. I believe thats all I'm willing to say right now, and it is absolutely worth reading. I shall have a follow up post on my thoughts about it when I'm finished.
-Danielle

2011-04-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Test post for the new blog! More posts to come.