Book highlights

Every two weeks, the library will be highlighting a few titles from the collection, some popular and some overlooked gems. Enjoy!

Vampires

[The Historian / Elizabeth Kostova]

A medieval book, empty except for a woodcut of a dragon and the word "Drakulya,” and a group of letters addressed to “My dear and unfortunate successor” plunge a sixteen-year-old girl into a dangerous mission to uncover the secrets of her parent’s past. As she researches Vlad the Impaler and the legend of Drakula, the drama mounts as does the body count.

Beautifully written, spine-tingling drama.

Mystery

[The Boxer and the Spy / Robert Parker]

When fifteen-year-old Jason’s body washes up on a New England beach, his death is ruled a suicide. But shy, artsy Jason was not the type to experiment with steroids; his classmate, Terry Novak believes Jason was murdered and sets out to bring his killer(s) to justice. A young boxer, Terry uses violence only when absolutely necessary; he is on a quest not only to solve a crime but to learn “to live honorably and with moral purpose.” (Amazon; 9/8/10)


Robert Parker weaves terrific mysteries with sparkling dialogue and vivid descriptions. Don’t miss his “Spenser” novels.


Drama / Drug Addiction


“Life was good
before I
met
                            the monster.

After,
life
                              was great.

At
least
                           for a little while.” (Crank / Ellen Hopkins ; p. 1)

The disturbing story of Kristina; her bad-girl alter-ego Bree; and her addiction to the “monster,” crystal meth. Written in verse and based on the story of Hopkins’ own daughter.

Hopkins has written three books about Kristina and her family : Crank, Glass, and Fallout (to be released on September 14)


Fiction / Islam

[Does my head look big in this? / Randa Abdel-Fattah]

Sixteen-year-old Amal is an Australian-born, Muslim Palestinian. A smart, funny girl, and a devout Muslim, she chooses to wear the hijab (head covering) despite her parents’ misgivings and jibes from her fellow students. The book “tells of her emotional and spiritual journey as she copes with a mad crush on a boy, befriends an elderly Greek neighbor, and tries to help a friend who aspires to be a lawyer but whose well-intentioned mother is trying to force her to leave school and get married.” (Amazon ; 9/8/10)

Manages to deal with serious issues in a funny, entertaining manner.