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  • Books, Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: May 2013

    02.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    We still really love John Green. This doesn’t change even if you skip a month (oops). It’ll be a little while before we get something new from him – “Untitled” is due to be published in January next year. Until then, this post for other reading ideas.

    Public service announcement: 1D, the story of One Direction’s X-factor experience: we have only one copy of this book! We asked nicely for more, but unhappily there are none available, so they’re rare things. Consequently we can’t do much about the reserve queue. We have another book about the fab five, here.

    1. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [up 1]
    2. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [down 1]
    3. Looking for Alaska, John Green [no change]
    4. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [no change]
    5. Light, Michael Grant [new]
    6. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
    7. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    8. Chosen at Nightfall, C C Hunter [new]
    9. Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl [down 3]
    10. Scorched Earth, Robert Muchamore [down 2]


  • Books, Grimm, New

    Looking forward to:

    01.05.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Some next instalments!

    Stormbringers, Philippa Gregory. The sequel to Changeling, and the second of four in the Order of Darkness series. “Italy, 1453. Luca and Isolde grow more and more attracted to each other as they continue their journey to unravel the mysteries throughout Christendom. But their travels are delayed by the uprising of an intense religious crusade that threatens the balance of the civilized world. Death lingers in the air as war ravages on, but this religious conflict is nothing compared to the arrival of an intense and deadly storm. Caught in the midst of unimaginable chaos, Luca and Isolde must rely on one another in order to survive.” (goodreads.com) If you like historical romance with some fantasy, then this might be right up your street.

    Zom-B: Angels, Darren Shan. Darren Shan is pumping out the Zom-B books, which is fantastic for zombie fans. They’re not telling us anything about what happens though, not even a small teaser, but we can tell you that the fifth book (Zom-B: Baby) will follow hot on its heels in September. Ah well, you can order it now and just be surprised.

    Goddess, Josephine Angelini. The final book in the Starcrossed trilogy. “After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count. To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.” (goodreads.com)

    Dare you to, Katie McGarry. Described as the sequel to Pushing the limits, although with new characters I think. “If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does… Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him. But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all…” (goodreads.com)

    And one new:

    Shipwrecked, Siobhan Curham. This is the first in a new series which is described as “Lost meets Gossip Girl”, which sounds quite intriguing (perhaps like Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, but a bit more serious?). “I jump at the sound of a whispered voice over my shoulder. But when I turn round all I see is sand, and the towering, green wall of the rainforest. I guess it must have been the breeze, but I can’t help shivering. I have the weirdest feeling that we’re being watched… Grace Delaney and her fellow dance students are en route to perform on a South Pacific cruise-ship when a freak storm hits and they find themselves stranded on a deserted island. With the tropical heat rising, passions and tensions swell to breaking point. And the island itself is quietly steaming with a terrible secret…” (goodreads.com)

    Order some today!


  • Books, Grimm, New

    In today’s mail: Clockwork Princess

    25.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    clockworkprincessblogOne of the better things about working in a library is opening boxes of new books.

    Clockwork Princess, the final instalment of the Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, has just arrived. The 57 people waiting will be happy to hear this. Place a reserve now if you haven’t already – to the right you will see we have 13 copies (about half a leg’s worth).

    We’ve also just received today the third book in the Chemical Gardens trilogy, Sever by Lauren Destefano, if dystopia is more your thing.

    Here’s a book trailer:


  • Books, Grimm, New

    New Books

    20.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    The Last Minute, Eleanor Updale (268 pages) – There’s a sudden explosion in the middle of an English town, creating terrible destruction, confusion and panic. The Last Minute tells the stories of the people of Heathwick, in which there may be clues as to what happened, and why.

    First sentences: Dust. A cold wind. The first shards of icy rain.

    The Madness Underneath, Maureen Johnson (290 pages) – this is the second in the Shades of London series – the first (The Name of the Star) got librarian’s choiced. Rory returns to London to discover she’s developed the power to extinguish ghosts on contact. The Ripper copycat is gone, but there’s a series of new, unexplained deaths in the city, and Rory’s sure they are linked. But can she convince the Shades that something awful is going on? We do hope so.

    First sentence: Charlie Strong liked his customers – you don’t run a pub for twenty-one years if you don’t like your customers – but there was something about the quiet in hte morning that pleased him no end.

    Passion Blue, Victoria Strauss (342 pages) – “In fifteenth-century Italy, seventeen-year-old Giulia, a Count’s illegitimate daughter, buys a talisman hoping it will bring her true love to save her from life in a convent, but once there she begins to learn the painter’s craft, including how to make the coveted paint, Passion blue, and to question her true heart’s desire. Includes historical notes and glossary.” (catalogue description)

    First sentence: The clouds broke apart and sunlight flooded down, burnishing the rough bark of the apple trees and tossing their shadows across the grass.

    Miss Fortune Cookie, Lauren Bjorkman (276 pages) – Erin is the brain behind the advice blog Miss Fortune Cookie. All’s going well, and the blog is really popular, but things turn a bit custardy when her former best friend writes in for advice, and then acts on it. Erin tries to fix the ensuing mess, which leads to more craziness (but possibly also love).

    First sentence: My friends and I were riding home from school on Muni, clinging to an assortment of slippery handholds, when Linny almost blew my secret identity.

    Elemental, Antony John (326 pages) – In the near future, Thomas thinks himself unspecial: he’s the only child born into the Outer Banks colony without the power of an element. When pirates capture the colony’s Guardians and threaten to take over the island, Thomas and his friends run, fighting for survival in an abandoned settlement. There he finds secrets that will turn his world upside down.

    First sentence: Thunder rattled the aging wooden cabins, but no one stopped to listen.

    Hidden, Marianne Curley (325 pages) – Ebony is snatched at birth from her midwife and brought to earth to be hidden from her relatives who are searching for her. She’s grown up blissfully unaware of her origins, but things are about to change. When Ebony comes of age, she will be “visible” – to both her family and the one who stole her. “Who will find her first?” is the question the cover is asking.

    First sentence: Do you ever stare at your reflection and wonder who that person is looking back at you?

    Bad Hair Day, Carrie Harris (228 pages) – “Future physician Kate Grable is thrilled to shadow the county medical examiner, but when he is arrested for murder and Kate is left to run the morgue, she discovers that something is killing students – something very hairy and strong.” (catalogue)

    First sentences: “Braaaains!” After all the zombie attacks, even the word made me twitchy.

    Live Through This, Mindi Scott (289 pages) – Coley Sterling’s life appears to be perfect, and she works hard at this appearance. Underneath, she’s hiding a dreadful secret she’s kept for ten years. When it looks like her crush on Reece might turn into a real romance, the secret threatens to come out and turn her life into a nightmare.

    First sentence: I’m on my bed, under the covers, and my boyfriend is kissing my neck.


  • Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: March 2013

    01.03.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Beautiful Creatures is on at the movies at the moment, which means the book’s in demand (is Ethan more likeable in the film?).

    1. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [no change]
    2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [no change]
    3. Looking for Alaska, John Green [no change]
    4. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [up 1]
    5. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    6. Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl [old/new]
    6. The Indigo Spell, Richelle Mead [new]
    8. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
    8. Scorched Earth, Robert Muchamore [up 2]
    10. Guardian Angel, Robert Muchamore [down 6]

    Other interesting popular titles include Mockingjay, Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Cardcaptor Sakura 4, and Prodigy by Marie Lu.


  • Books, Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: February 2013

    01.02.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Lots of John Green love on the Most Wanted list for February again, and Clockwork Princess is due out in March – the much-anticipated third book in the Infernal Devices trilogy (for now).

    1. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [up 1]
    2. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [up 3]
    3. Looking for Alaska, John Green [up 6]
    4. Guardian Angel, Robert Muchamore [down 3]
    5. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [down 2]
    6. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [down 3]
    7. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    8. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [down 2]
    9. Maximum Ride 5 : The Manga, Narae Lee [new]
    10. Reached, Ally Condie [down 4]
    10. Scorched Earth, Robert Muchamore [new]
    10. Cardcaptor Sakura Omnibus Edition 4, CLAMP [new]


  • Books, Library Serf, New

    Looking forward to:

    09.01.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    The next installments in three hot series which will be released this year.

    Scorched Earth, Robert Muchamore. The next in the Henderson’s Boys series, which is like CHERUB but with World War II thrown in for good measure. This is described as their final mission. We at the teen blog hope this is because they’re going to retire and sip mocktails in a hammock on an island somewhere, but there is a rumour this may not be true for one character. The official website is quite coy about giving away information.

    The Indigo Spell, Richelle Mead. The third in the Bloodlines series, in which Sydney is in for a rough ride. “In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch – a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood – or else she might be next.” (goodreads.com)

    Perfect Scoundrels, Ally Carter. The third Heist Society book, but what happens?? Well: “Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it’s that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting – or stealing – whatever they want … When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother’s billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there’s no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won’t let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother’s will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company’s fortune. So instead of being the heir–this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she’s willing to save her boyfriend’s company if it means losing the boy.” (goodreads.com)


  • Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: January 2013

    03.01.13 | Permalink | Comment?

    Hello 2013! These are the ten most popular and reserved young adult titles, as requested by you, the discerning reader. The list features a John Green-athon, particularly starring Looking For Alaska, first published in 2005. We are slightly puzzled, but agree that it is a good read!

    1. Guardian Angel, Robert Muchamore [no change]
    2. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [up 3]
    3. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [up 4]
    3. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [up 1]
    5. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green [new yet somewhat old]
    6. Reached, Ally Condie [down 4]
    6. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [down 3]
    8. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    9. Looking for Alaska, John Green [new yet rather old]
    10. Days of Blood & Starlight, Laini Taylor [down 2]


  • Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: December 2012

    04.12.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    The final Most Wanted of the year sees Robert Muchamore on top again, although this has been the year of The Hunger Games, which almost everyone in Wellington has read I think.

    1. Guardian Angel, Robert Muchamore [no change]
    2. Reached, Ally Condie [no change]
    3. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [up 3]
    4. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [no change]
    5. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [up 3]
    6. Finale, Becca Fitzpatrick [down 4]
    7. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [down 3]
    8. Days of Blood & Starlight, Laini Taylor [new]
    9. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    10. The Rise of Nine, Pitacus Lore [down 4]


  • Grimm, Most Wanted

    Most Wanted: November 2012

    06.11.12 | Permalink | Comment?

    Here are the top 10 requested and borrowed young adult items at Wellington City Libraries. Numbers 2 to 10, although they’ve ganged up in pairs, have still got a ways to go to topple Robert Muchamore, spy king, from his perch.

    1. Guardian Angel, Robert Muchamore [no change]
    2. Reached, Ally Condy (on order) [up 3]
    2. Finale, Becca Fitzpatrick (on order) [up 5]
    4. 1D: One Direction: Forever Young [up 2]
    4. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins [down 1]
    6. The Rise of Nine, Pitacus Lore [down 2]
    6. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins [up 1]
    8. One Shot Kill, Robert Muchamore [new]
    8. Clockwork Princess, Cassandra Clare [new]
    10. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins [down 8]


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