Staff Selections: Kristin Noell

In first grade, we had a reading competition where we got a scoop on our bulletin board ice cream cone for every book or chapter of a book we read. I won by a mile, and I’ve never stopped reading. That’s why I started working in libraries at age 14. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, I do not get paid to read all day—I wish! Still, most of my recreational time is spent with a book in my hand, and I’ve been known to sacrifice an entire night’s sleep to finish an especially good one. I average about 175 books per year. I like to remember what I’ve read, what I thought, and what I want to read in the future, so I use Goodreads.com to keep track of my books. I’d be lost without it.

Kristin Noell is the reference librarian at Samuels Public Library. 

What is your favorite genre?

I read nearly everything, but I probably read more historical fiction than anything else. I also enjoy chick lit, mystery, romance, non-fiction (mostly history and travel), suspense, literary fiction, and paranormal fantasy. Basically the only genres I tend not to read are horror, western, and inspirational.

Who are your favorite authors?

How long do you have? There are many, many authors that I love and whose new books I eagerly anticipate! Alphabetically, they include (but are not limited to): Sarah Addison Allen, Bill Bryson, Emma Donoghue, Helen Fielding, Ken Follett, Kimberley Freeman, Tana French, Philippa Gregory, Kristin Harmel, Charlaine Harris, Tony Horwitz, Linda Howard, Sarah Jio, Catherine McKenzie, Michelle Moran, Jo Nesbø, Deanna Raybourn, Beatriz Williams… I’m sure there are more!

What are you reading now?

I’m probably already reading something different by now, but as I’m writing this, that would be The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley.

What have you read recently?

In the last month or so, I’ve read The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol, Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen, Juliet by Anne Fortier, Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole, Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø, Betwixt and Between by Jessica Stilling, the Redhead series by Alice Clayton, The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd, The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins… and I think that’s enough!

What is your favorite classic?

Gone with the Wind, hands down – it’s probably my favorite book, period. I believe I’ve read it about a dozen times, the first of which was when I was 11. I can still remember lying on my bed in my childhood bedroom and reading the first few pages (a lengthy description of the Georgia countryside) and feeling like I was at the beginning of a big, important journey. Corny but true! I also love Peter Pan, East of Eden, Dracula, and Frankenstein.

What are your all-time favorite books/series?

So many! Here are a few books: Atonement by Ian McEwan, Bookends by Jane Green, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Every time I promise myself I’ll never start a new series, a great sounding one comes along. Here are several that I’ve greatly enjoyed over the years (or am currently enjoying): Dublin Murder Squad mysteries by Tana French, Fire and Ice mysteries by Michael Ridpath, Harry Hole mysteries by Jo Nesbø, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Mobile Library mysteries by Ian Sansom, Nayir Sharqi and Katya Hijazi mysteries by Zoë Ferraris, Nora Gavin mysteries by Erin Hart, the Redhead series by Alice Clayton, Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris, and Virginia Wine mysteries by Ellen Crosby. Again, I feel like I’m forgetting some. This must be what it feels like to give an acceptance speech at the Oscars!

What are your favorite recommendations?

Of course it’s always fun to recommend one’s favorite books to others, so see my favorite books and authors for many of my favorite recommendations. In my opinion, the two best books of 2013 (that weren’t by my usual favorites) were Life after Life by Kate Atkinson and The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. I think The Rosie Project has an especially broad appeal across genders and genres. One of the most powerful, beautiful, and sadly unfinished works I’ve read in my life is Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky, who wrote about the occupation of Paris as it was happening and ultimately died in Auschwitz before her book was complete—for history and/or historical fiction lovers, it is a perfect read. And really, my favorite part of my job is helping readers find the right book for them. I love happy readers! I have the tools at my disposal to help you find your next favorite book, even if it’s something I would never read personally, so please ask me for help.

What is your favorite sub-genre?

Recently, I have been reading a lot of what I call parallel narratives. I’m not sure if they have an official name or not. Basically, they are novels with two storylines, usually one set in the past and one in the present. They’re often tied together by a family connection or secret, a geographic location, an object, or a theme. Some great authors that write in this sub-genre are Anne Fortier, Kimberley Freeman, Sarah Jio, Susanna Kearsley, Kate Morton, and Beatriz Williams. Standalone books I’d group with these include The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig, The Confidant by Hélène Grémillon, I Gave My Heart to Know This by Ellen Baker, The Island House by Posie Graeme-Evans, and The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes.

What are a few books that you are looking forward to reading?

One is Where Monsters Dwell by Jørgen Brekke, a Scandinavian mystery that takes place in Trondheim, Norway and Richmond, Virginia! I’m also looking forward to the U.S. publication of Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough—I love her historical fiction. The new Diana Gabaldon, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, has had its publication pushed back several times, but is supposed to finally come out in June. And of course, many (or even most) of my favorite authors seem to have books coming out this year!

How do you choose new books to read?

Lots of ways! Of course I read industry reviews and prepublication notices to help me choose which books to buy for the library, so if anything piques my interest, I make a note of it. I also take recommendations from friends and favorite authors. If anything is making big news, like 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James or The Dinner by Herman Koch, I try to read it so that I am better able to talk to patrons about it.

What is your favorite poem?

A few favorites are “Ego Tripping” by Nikki Giovanni, “Her Kind” by Anne Sexton, “I carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou, “Travel” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, and just about everything by Langston Hughes, such as “I Thought It Was Tangiers I Wanted.”

What is your favorite short story?

A few collections I love are Astray by Emma Donoghue, The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and Close Range by Annie Proulx. I also enjoy Sherman Alexie’s stories. In school, I remember being fascinated with “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce.

What is your favorite play?

I mostly like musicals on the stage. I did enjoy my Shakespeare class in college. And I liked the movie Proof, based on the play by David Auburn.

What is your favorite magazine?

I don’t have much patience for magazines. I used to subscribe to Premiere, an incredible film magazine, before it was discontinued. Now I go to Entertainment Weekly for that kind of news. We have dozens of magazines at the library, and if something on the cover calls to me, I’ll check it out—whether it’s cooking, celebrity gossip, news, travel, or whatever!

How do you get your news?

Mostly by listening to people talk. Sometimes I’ll catch the evening news or check out CNN.com, but usually I let the news come to me.

Do you prefer books to e-books? Why?

A lot of people are surprised that e-books don’t outrage me as a librarian. I read books on my Nook and I read books in print. I would never willingly give up print books, but e-books do have their place—for instance, when I’m packing for a trip and can take 10 books in one small device, or when I’m reading a 1000 page Ken Follett novel that would otherwise give me hand cramps!

What type of plots do you enjoy?

Everything from the twisty and complex to the expositional and seemingly plotless!

Describe your favorite main character/character traits that you like to find while reading.

I like variety in characters. For example, one of my favorite characters is Jo Nesbø’s detective Harry Hole, and he’s an alcoholic cop who has problems with authority—one of the last people I’d want to know if real life, but an incredible character study. (Harry is one of the best written characters I’ve ever read. That Nesbø knows how to write!) It’s also fun every now and then to find a character that reminds me even the tiniest bit of myself—either a twenty something, a reader, a librarian, a Virginian, or something like that.

What is your favorite aspect of reading books?

I love the feeling of having lived thousands of lives in my relatively short one. I’ve “seen” places, “met” people, and “had” experiences that I would probably never have done otherwise.

If you could ask your favorite author a question, what would you ask?

Probably “What goes on in your head?” or something similar! I’m just constantly amazed by the depth and breadth of creative, brilliant stories that these special human minds are capable of producing.

Are you a great lover and reader of books like Kristin? Well then you should check out Goodreads.com! It is a great tool to help you keep track of books read, get ideas for new books, and getting opinions from people who have read the book before!

Reading Lists - Kristin on Nordic Crime Fiction

Since Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hit the United States, there has been a growing interest in Scandinavian crime fiction here. I've done a bit of reading in the genre, though I'm looking forward to doing a lot more. (I'm especially fond of Norwegian author Jo Nesbø.) I decided to put together a list for other fans of the genre, focusing on authors whose work we own here at Samuels.

The definition of "Scandinavia" in this case isn't quite accurate. From what I read, strictly speaking Scandinavia is only Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. However, Finland and Iceland are sometimes grouped with Scandinavia because of their historic and/or cultural ties, in which case they're more accurately called the Nordic countries. I've included them too.

This is just a brief, and by no means comprehensive, list. For more Nordic crime, I would recommend starting with Glass Key award winners. The Glass Key, named after the Dashiell Hammett novel, is given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet) to a crime novel written by a Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish author. Each country's members put forth a candidate novel, making up the shortlist.

Now without further ado, I give you a briefly annotated list of Nordic crime fiction available at Samuels Library.

Denmark

Adler-Olsen, Jussi - His first (and so far only) book to be translated into English is The Keeper of Lost Causes, the first in a series about chief detective Carl Morck. The Copenhagen detective is recovering from what he thought was a career-destroying gunshot wound when he is assigned to Department Q, a newly created unit charged with solving cold cases. I haven't read this yet, but I like the sound of the cold cases, the twisty plot, and the touch of humor that Glass Key winner Adler-Olsen is said to possess.

Davidsen, Leif - Davidsen won the Glass Key for Lime's Photograph, a political espionage thriller about Danish expat Peter Lime, who makes his home in Madrid and his living as a paparazzo. Lime takes one photo too many and finds himself in prison; when he is released, it is to discover his wife and daughter have been murdered and his archives burned. Lime's suspenseful search for answers leads him to Moscow, Berlin, and  his own past. Sounds exciting!

Høeg, Peter - I understand that Høeg's Glass Key winner Smilla's Sense of Snow is a must read in the genre. Smilla Qaavigaaq Jasperson is an unemployed glaciologist from Greenland living in Copenhagen. When her six-year-old neighbor falls to his death and no one is willing to suspect foul play, Smilla begins her own investigation. She is a rebellious, stubborn, tough, fearless Eskimo woman with an uncanny sense of direction, a love of Isaac Newton's theories, and a gift for mathematics. She treasures her aloneness, successfully hiding her vulnerability under a near-impenetrable facade of aggressiveness. What a character!

Jungersen, Christian - In Jungersen's only novel translated into English, The Exception, four women employed at the Danish Centre for Genocide Studies are receiving death threats. They suspect a Bosnian torturer and war criminal is the culprit, but then they discover that it could be someone in their very midst. Again, this is another book I haven't read yet, but it sounds like a masterpiece of psychological suspense.

Norway

Fossum, Karin - Fossum writes a series about Inspector Konrad Sejer. The second in the series and first to be translated into English, Don't Look Back, won the Glass Key. Here, the residents of a small village northwest of Oslo are torn asunder by the murder of a much-loved 15-year-old girl. Sejer, an aging, secretive cop still grieving for his late wife, must probe the psychological ticks of members of the seemingly idyllic community to solve the crime. I hear great things about this series.

Holt, Anne - Holt has written two series and several stand alone novels, though many haven't been translated. Her Stubo/Vik series follows the partnership of Norway police commissioner Adam Stubo and troubled FBI profiler Johanne Vik. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the first book to be translated into English from her Hanne Wilhelmsen series, which is coming out on December 27. In 1222, travelers on the Oslo to Bergen train are stranded by a blizzard in a decrepit hotel, where one of their number begins killing off the rest. I love a good locked room mystery!

Nesbø, Jo - I have to try not to get carried away when I talk about Nesbø's Harry Hole series. Hole is a classic loose cannon in the police force, with few close friends and unorthodox methods. He's a smoker and an alcoholic, always in the process of recovery or relapse, which puts his boss, Bjarne Møller, in difficult situations when he's forced to save his brilliant detective's job. In my opinion, Harry is one of the best-written characters I've ever read, and Nesbø's novels are intricately plotted, fascinating, and strongly written. The first in the series, The Bat Man, won the Glass Key. The first translated into English is The Redbreast.

Sweden

Jungstedt, Mari - I chose to include Jungstedt because her novels are set on the island of Gotland, which makes a nice change from Stockholm. The series features Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas and the journalist Johan Berg. (Jungstedt herself has worked as a journalist for many years.) In the title we own, The Inner Circle, students working on an archaeological dig to uncover an ancient Viking fortification become caught up in a web of horror when a young woman turns up dead, naked, and hanging from a tree, the victim of a ritual killing. Dark enough for you?

Läckberg, Camilla - Läckberg's American debut and first in the Erica Falck/Patrik Hedstrom series is The Ice Princess. After she returns to her small west coast hometown, Fjällbacka, biographer Erica Falck learns that her friend Alex was found in an ice-cold bath with her wrists slashed. She researches her friend's past in hopes of writing a book and joins forces with Detective Patrik Hedstrom, who has his own suspicions about the case. I like the premise of a professional and an amateur working together, plus it sounds like there may be a bit of romance. Also, there are many empty houses in the small village's off-season, and I've read that the quiet creates a chilling atmosphere in which silence drives suspense. Sounds awesome.

Mankell, Henning - Mankell won the inaugural Glass Key in 1992 for Faceless Killers, the first novel in his Kurt Wallender series, and was an international bestseller before Steig Larsson had been published. Inspector Wallander works in the southern town of Ystad,  has few close friends, and is known for his less-than-desirable lifestyle—too much alcohol and junk food, too little exercise, and some anger issues. He  investigates on a very personal level, throwing himself into catching criminals and going against the orders of his superiors to try to solve a case. In Faceless Killers, he finds himself coping with a wave of anti-foreigner sentiment when he is put in charge of the investigation into the brutal murders of an elderly couple.

Marklund, Liza - Some mystery/thriller readers might recognize Marklund as the coauthor of James Patterson's Postcard Killers. She has also written her own series about journalist Annika Bengtzon. In the American debut of the series, Red Wolf, a journalist is murdered in the northern Swedish town of Lulea during the freezing winter. Annika suspects that the killing is linked to an attack against an air base in the late sixties. Against the explicit orders of her boss, Annika continues her investigation of the death, which is soon followed by a series of shocking murders. With terrorism and communist splinter groups abounding, this sounds like quite an exciting read.

Sweden seems to dominate the Nordic crime genre, so I've only detailed a few authors here. Also try: Karin Alvtegen,  Åke Edwardson, Kjell Eriksson, Lars Kepler, Åsa Larsson, Steig Larsson, Håkan Nesser, Leif Persson, Anders Roslund, Maj Sjöwall & Per Wachlöö, and Helene Turseten.

Finland

So far I haven't been able to find any Finnish crime authors in our collection, but they might be hiding from me! If you're looking for something from Finland, let me know!

Iceland

Arnaldur Indriðason - A two-time Glass Key winner, Arnaldur Indriðason has written a few stand-alone books and 11 novels featuring Detective Erlendur. (Icelanders are called by their first names since their second name is a patronymic.) In his American debut, Jar City, Erlendur Sveinsson investigates the murder  of an elderly man named Holberg, who was found with a cryptic typed note reading, "I am HIM." Murder in Iceland is rare, and Erlendur is just coordinating his probe when two other crimes demand his attention: the assault of geriatric twin sisters in their home and the disappearance of a bride shortly after her wedding. Sounds like the type of moody, psychological, twisty Nordic mystery that we love!

Ridpath, Michael - Okay, so Ridpath is actually British, but I included him because I recently read his book Where the Shadows Lie, which takes place in Iceland. I thought he did really good research and the book felt Nordic, so it gets a special guest spot on the list. Sequestered to the Icelandic Police Force after a drug cartel puts a bounty on his head, former Boston detective and native Icelander Magnus Jonson is forced to confront difficult truths while investigating rumors about a priceless ancient manuscript. Norse mythology, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, details of life in Reykjavik, stunning settings, an interesting detective... I thought this was a real winner, and I'm looking forward to the next installment, 66 Degrees North.

Reading Lists - Beyond Twilight (YA Fantasy for Adults)

Several (adult) staff members here at the library love to read books from the young adult section, especially fantasy novels. Of course we've read a lot of vampire books (because let's face it, a lot of vampire books have been published lately!), but we've also branched out a lot too—in fact, one of us predicted that angels would be the next big thing before they became the next big thing.

We're often trying to think of recommendations for patrons with the same reading tastes, and we decided to come up with a list of some of our favorites. Though it's difficult to describe the plot and why we liked a book in so few words, trust us when we say, "These books are good!" Our list grew much more quickly than we anticipated, so we finally had to stop with the shocking total of 39 books. Of course, that means there are more where these came from...

Part 1—Paranomal Romance Standards

Vampires

Evernight by Claudia Gray
Sixteen-year-old Bianca, a new girl at the sinister Evernight boarding school, finds herself drawn to another outsider, Lucas, but dark forces threaten to tear them apart and destroy Bianca's entire world. Why we love it: Not just one but two huge plot twists, quick read, fresh take on the themes of “coming of age” and dealing with the undead,” exciting, Bianca’s sexy friend Balthazar.

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night where she will train to become an adult vampyre. Why we love it: New twists, great characters (friends, family, and enemies), clique drama, Native American element, realistically fun and witty dialogue, cool tattoos, vampyres have their own religion (worship of the goddess Nyx), Zoey’s one-of-a-kind kitty Nala.

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, 16-year-old Erin has spent half of her life in therapy and on drugs, but now must face the possibility of weird things in the real world, including shapeshifting friends and her "alter," a centuries-old vampire. Why we love it: Mental illness; mind-sharing; a helpful, magical guy friend; creative; more creatures than just vampires; dramatic.

Weres

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Having fallen for a human boy, Vivian, a beautiful teenage werewolf, must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom. Why we love it: Classic! Klause makes werewolves cooler than vampires, who Vivian ends up with, interesting ending, dark but very human, saw the movie.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Grace Divine learns a dark secret when a childhood friend returns, upsetting her pastor-father and the rest of her family. At the same time, there are strange things happening in their tiny Minnesota town. Why we love it: Just plain good—faith element, family dynamic, artists, paradoxes, suspense/mystery—we could gush forever!

Need by Carrie Jones
Depressed after the death of her stepfather, Zara goes to live with her grandmother in small town Maine, where new friends tell Zara the strange man she keeps seeing may be a pixie king, and that only "were" creatures can stop him from taking souls. Why we love it: Maine, gold pixie dust, Zara supports Amnesty International, most awesome grandma ever.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who has also been watching her with increasing intensity. Why we love it: Reminiscent of Twilight, but we couldn’t put it down—we laughed, we cried, and we fell in love with a hunky wereboy!

Faeries

Tithe by Holly Black
Sixteen-year-old Kaye, who has been visited by faeries since childhood, discovers that she herself is a magical faerie creature with a special destiny. Why we love it: Intriguing, dark, no cookie-cutter characters (they’re troubled, malevolent, etc.), masterfully portrays the allure and terror of the Fae world, shows the ugly side of life and growing up.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see faeries, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle between the Summer King and Winter Queen, and the survival of her life, her love, and summer all hang in the balance. Why we love it: A bad guy who wants to be good, tattoos, living in a train, several stories to follow, interesting faerie mythology, caring male friend, wicked AND lovely!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike
When a plant blooms out of 15-year-old Laurel's back, it leads to the discovery that she is a faerie and that she has a crucial role to play in keeping the world safe from the encroaching enemy trolls. Why we love it: A love triangle with a very tough choice for Laurel, different faerie mythology (petal wings that sprout in spring and die away in autumn, caste system, unique talents...) Interesting!

Angels

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, 17-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her. Why we love it: Angels and a human heroine might be the only ones able to save the world, the librarian has an important role, creepy gothic school with a pool in the church, dark tone.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Nora has always been cautious in her relationships, until Patch, who has a dark side she can sense, enrolls at her school. Is it his voice in her thoughts? What is the V-shaped scar on his back? Why we love it: Suspense, romantic tension, funny BFF, Nora has a personality, yummy bad boy Patch—“unputdownable” and at the top of our list!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Sixteen-year-old Clara Gardner's purpose as an angel-blood begins to manifest itself, forcing her family to pull up stakes and move to Jackson, Wyoming, where she learns that danger and heartbreak come with her powers. Why we love it: Sibling relationship, Wyoming, love triangle (team Tucker!), supernatural girl with a goal, huge surprise ending, very well-written characters.

Part 2—Miscellaneous Paranormal Romance

Beastly by Alex Flinn
A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form. Why we love it: Old story reborn, showcases the importance of morality and the power of love, excellent characterization (with both physical and emotional metamorphosis).

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
In a small South Carolina town, 16-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday. Why we love it: Poetry, Southern Gothic atmosphere, Civil War history, complex mythology, boy’s point of view, strong descriptions, cool librarian, small town feel.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, 15-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster. Why we love it: Plot twists, good laugh-out-loud dialogue, complex romance, interesting characters and mythology.

Evermore by Alyson Noël
Since the car accident that claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras and hear people's thoughts, and she goes out of her way to hide from other people until she meets Damen, another psychic teenager who is hiding even more mysteries. Why we love it: California, tulips, great dialogue, engaging back story, sisters, no creatures—just a cool psychic girl.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
When 16-year-old Jacinda, who can change into a dragon, is forced to move away from her community of shapeshifters and start a more normal life, she falls in love with a boy who proves to be her most dangerous enemy. Why we love it: Strong heroine, love/hate sister relationship, romantic leads endanger each other, and oh yeah—she turns into a dragon! A dragon!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, home of the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead. Why we love it: Page-turner, hope, depressing but enthralling, highlights consequences of a break with conformity, The Village + I Am Legend.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Sam LaCroix, a Seattle fast-food worker and college dropout, discovers he is a necromancer, part of a world of creatures and a threat to another necromancer’s lucrative business of raising the dead. Why we love it: So funny, male lead that boys can relate to, surprise ending, talking head in a bowling bag!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
After learning that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea, Percy Jackson transfers from boarding school to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, and becomes involved in a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Why we love it: Funny, plenty of action, realistic dialogue, more friendship than romance, great for boys.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
When a dark prophecy begins to come true, 16-year-old Evie of the International Paranormal Containment Agency must try to stop it and uncover its connection to herself and the alluring shapeshifter, Lend. Why we love it: Refreshing heroine who gets excited to do normal teenage stuff, vampires and faeries plus original supernatural beings keeps things interesting.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
In late nineteenth-century New York state, wealthy 16-year-old twins Lia and Alice Milthorpe find that they are on opposite sides of an ancient prophecy that has destroyed their parents and seeks to do even more harm. Why we love it: Fighting sisters (one mostly good, one mostly evil), strong secondary characters, great plot, different paranormal abilities.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Mackie Doyle knows that he replaced a human child when he was an infant. When a friend's sister disappears, he goes against his family's and town's deliberate denial of the problem to confront the beings that dwell under the town, tampering with human lives. Why we love it: Disturbing and gruesome yet beautiful story; pure, refreshing lead character; power of love and selflessness.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
After Chloe starts seeing ghosts and is sent to Lyle House, a mysterious group home for mentally disturbed teenagers, she soon discovers that neither Lyle House nor its inhabitants are exactly what they seem, and that she and her new friends are in danger. Why we love it: Non-stop action, fun and exciting, great creepy scenes.

The White Cat by Holly Black
When Cassel Sharpe discovers that his older brothers have used him to carry out their criminal schemes and then stolen his memories, he figures out a way to turn their evil machinations against them. Why we love it: Family dynamics, male protagonist, tragic love, good and evil are jumbled up, attention-holding, silly but brilliant concept (two words—supernatural mafia).

Part 3—Alternate Worlds/Sci-Fi

Alternate World Fantasy

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
On the cusp of manhood, Finnikin reluctantly joins forces with an enigmatic young novice and fellow-exile, who claims that her dark dreams will lead them to a surviving royal child and a way to regain the throne of Lumatere. Why we love it: Complex characters, world building, good old-fashioned young-man-on-a-quest fantasy, surprises.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Accompanied by her shape-shifting daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North. Why we love it: Allegory, the importance of truth, friendship, talking polar bears, witches, parallel worlds, adventure and suspense, physical manifestation of the soul.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king. Why we love it: Emotional journey, epic fantasy, believable characters, strong and inspiring female lead, disturbing villain, swords, two different eye colors.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, 16-year-old Gemma returns to England (after many years in India) to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world. Why we love it: Well-written, Victorian era, good and evil are confused, fear, excitement, atmosphere.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Eldest of three sisters in a land where that is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl. Why we love it: Unique and involved concept with a well-woven plot, laugh-out-loud sarcasm, a real gem.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Cast out of Wonderland by her evil aunt Redd, young Alyss Heart finds herself living in Victorian Oxford as Alice Liddell and struggling to keep memories of her kingdom intact until she can return and claim her rightful throne. Why we love it: Fun and action-packed, new take on a beloved tale, steampunk, detailed characters/character development.

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
When 15-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger. Why we love it: Action and adventure, great fun for all ages and genders—knights, archers, Vikings!

Science Fiction

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids" (who are the result of genetic experimentation) take off in pursuit, also struggling to understand their own origins and purpose. Why we love it: Wings, first love, darkly brooding Fang, future science seems possible, kids controlling their destiny.

The Fetch by Chris Humphreys
After exploring a sea chest full of runes and a journal belonging to his deceased grandfather, 15-year-old Sky summons the old man's ghost, who teaches him how to travel through time and space. Why we love it: Corsica, male protagonist, dark and mysterious, evil grandpa, runestones add a unique touch.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In future North America, Panem’s rulers maintain control through a TV survival competition, pitting teens from each district against each other. Katniss's skills are tested when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place. Why we love it: Eerily possible future, social commentary, love triangle, tough girl, nail-biting suspense, pure AWESOME!

Skinned by Robin Wasserman
To save her from dying in a horrible accident, 17-year-old Lia's wealthy parents transplant her brain into a mechanical body. She must make the transition from leader of the rich, shallow girls at school to mechanical outcast. Why we love it: Seems like a possible future (believable and realistic), girl trying to find herself, sister relationship, the best character development, inspires moral debate.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Just before their 16th birthdays, when they will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all. Why we love it: Fun invented language, social commentary fits modern society, utterly captivating world-building, strongly developed characters, exciting.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a future world where those aged 13 to 18 can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs—and, perhaps, save their own lives. Why we love it: Current headlines projected into future, heart-pounding suspense, biting social commentary, not too much romance, realistic feel.

Staff Selections - Kristin, Adult Services Librarian

What is your favorite genre? I read almost everything! Historical fiction, romance, fantasy (especially young adult), mystery, suspense, chick lit, literary fiction….Any combination of those genres is GREAT! In non-fiction, I like travel writing, history, biography, and some poetry.

Who are your favorite authors? Bill Bryson, Tony Horwitz, Linda Howard, Olivia Goldsmith, Kathryn Reiss, Jane Green, Helen Fielding, and Philippa Gregory. Favorite poets : Nicki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Anne Sexton, and Maya Angelou. I’m sure I missed some!

What are you reading now? I usually read three or four books a week, so this would be outdated before you read it! My current long-term read is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

What have you read recently? Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton, The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans, The 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch, The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, Saving Monticello by Marc Leepson, You Can Get Arrested for That by Rich Smith, the Harper Connelly mysteries by Charlaine Harris, This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson, The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn, Julie and Julia by Julie Powell, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Magicians by Lev Grossman, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds, Waiting on a Train by James McCommons, and dozens more!

What is your favorite classic? I read Gone with the Wind for the first time when I was 11 and have read it about 10 times since—it is my all time favorite book, classic or not! East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, The Illustrated Man and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough are also favorites.

What is your all time favorite book/series? I love series because the story isn’t over when you finish one book! His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman has been my favorite series since middle school—I reread it frequently and love it more each time. Other great series are The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

What are your favorite recommendations? ANYTHING by Bill Bryson. Books by my other favorite authors, especially Confederates in the Attic and Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz. Atonement by Ian McEwan. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles. The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom. The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Jurassic Park and Timeline by Michael Crichton. Going Bovine by Libba Bray. The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherford. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Time Windows, The Glass House People, and Dreadful Sorry by Kathryn Reiss. Mr. Was by Pete Hautman. Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley. Nicholas Sparks books of the 1990s. Ask me for more... I could go on forever!