American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

I'm going to take a small detour from the Summer Reading Game recommendations, and give a  review for the Teen Remix: Book Discussion Group title for July.  It's a graphic novel called American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang.

Summary: Three stories in one, this YA Graphic depicts the struggle to change oneself to fit in, and just how dangerous this can ultimately be.  The first story focuses on the legendary Monkey King who longs to become a Great Sage and embarks on an egotistical quest to do so.  The second story is about Jin Wang, a Chinese-American teen who desperately wants to fit in at his high school, and is willing to go to extreme lengths to assimilate into American culture.  Finally we are told the story of Danny and his cousin, Chin-Kee. Chin-Kee is the culmination of every bad Chinese stereotype melded into a single character, much to Danny's chagrin.  The further the stories go, the more they begin to intertwine with each other, weaving into a conclusion that shouts of the importance of being true to one's own self.

Recommended for:  Any fan of a great story.  The book was very funny at parts, but filled with so much honesty and heart that it can catch a reader off guard. I'm a sucker for separate stories that come together in the end, so I especially enjoyed that aspect of the book, as well.  This would also be an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys graphic novels, or those looking for an introduction to the genre.  The artwork was skillful and clean, the colors bright, and the storyline crisply illustrated.  

Pick up a copy of the book from the front desk and join us to talk about it at Teen Remix on July 12.  We'll also be  having snacks and making bottle cap wristbands.

Summer Reading Book Recommendations-Fantasy and Biographies

As promised, here's more suggestions to help you earn points on your Summer Reading game board for the categories of Fantasy and Biographies.  Fantasy stories are fictional works that involve magic or supernatural elements, and biographies focus on the lives of actual people.

Fantasy

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (YA FIC Fisher)
Finn is born captive in Incarceron, a self-sustaining prison, but hatches a long-shot plan for escape.  He is helped by the warden's daughter, Claudia, and must put his trust in her as their lives intertwine.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (FIC Tolkien)
Hobbit Bilbo Baggins is a content  homebody who is happy to never stray far from his door, that is, until he is unwittingly thrust into a journey of danger and  adventure with the grey wizard, Gandalf.  There he happens upon the magical ring with the power to rule all of middle-earth!  Read the book before seeing the movie that is scheduled for release in 2012.

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black (YA FIC Black)
This book attempts to answer the age-old question: "Which is better, zombies or unicorns?".  Twelve authors face off with their own pro-zombie or pro-unicorn stories, with hilarious/scary/suspenseful/addictive results.  So which are you, zombie or unicorn?






Other Fantasy books you might like:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (J FIC Rowling)
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers (YA FIC Meyer)
Marked: A House of the Night Novel by P.C. and Kristin Cast (YA FIC Cast)
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare (YA FIC Clare)
Eragon (Inheritance Trilogy) by Christopher Paolini (YA FIC Paolini)

Biographies

Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on Board by Bethany Hamilton (YA BIO Hamilton)
Read the book that inspired the movie, based on Bethany Hamilton's strong will and determination to continue to do what she loves after a vicious shark attack that took her arm.

Lil Wayne by Janice Rockworth (YA BIO Wayne)
Learn about the trials and tribulations Lil Wayne endured on his path to become a hip hop legend.  Everything, from his childhood ambition, to his continued determination to meet with record execs, to his current superstardom, is recounted in this interesting read.

Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey From Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray (YA BIO Murray)
Discover how a homeless runaway defied her life of abuse and neglect, and against all odds, followed her dreams all the way to Harvard University. 







Other biographies you might like:
 Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem by Anthony Bozza (YA BIO Eminem)
A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive by Dave Pelzer (YA BIO Pelzer)
Lady Gaga by Claire Kreger Boaz (YA BIO Lady)
Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef (NEW YA BIO Austen)

Summer Reading Game Book Recommendations (Historical Fiction and Manga)

Here are a few suggestions for historical fiction and manga to help you along on your game board:

Historical Fiction

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (YA FIC Zusak)
Narrated by Death himself, this powerful story focuses on a young girl living in Germany during WWII.  Although her life is very difficult and bleak, she finds pleasure through the books that she must steal and hide.

Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel (NEW YA FIC Oppel)
It's 1973 and Ben's parents have just moved him across Canada, uprooted his life, and introduced him to his new "half-brother"--a chimpanzee that the family will be raising for an animal language experiment!  Will man and chimp ever be able to peacefully coexist under one roof?

Bloodline by Katy Moran (YA FIC Moran)
Set in seventh century Britain, Essa and his father happen upon a village during their travels across ancient lands.  Essa soon finds himself alone amongst the villagers after his father disappears, and lands himself in the middle of tribal disputes and warring kingdoms after being sworn as a servant to the king.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (YA FIC Donnelly)
Depressed and broken by a tragic event, Andi is livid when her father forces her to accompany him on a trip to Paris.  What awaits her there is beyond the realm of belief after she discovers the diary of a teen girl from the French Revolution and becomes a part of the story herself.






More historical fiction you might like: 
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (YA FIC Sepetys)
Chains by Laurie Hals Anderson (YA FIC Anderson)
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson (YA FIC Anderson)
Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt (YA FIC Schmidt)

Manga

Animal Academy by Moyamu Fujino (YA GRAPHIC Animal Academy)
Neko is finally accepted into a high school that doesn't mind her poor grades, but discovers that all of her classmates are magical creatures that can turn into humans!  Things get even weirder when she realizes that they believe she's really an animal too.

Dragonball Z by Akira Toriyama (YA GRAPHIC Dragonball Z)
If you haven't already read it you should definitely check out this classic manga series.  Goku is the greatest warrior on earth, ready to pass on his skills to his son Gohan.  But when the world is threatened by a new enemy, Goku must form an unlikely alliance with his old nemesis, Piccolo.

Black Butler by Yana Toboso (YA GRAPHIC Black Butler)
Sebastian is a loyal and perfect servant, whether cooking, cleaning, or serving as a spy for his twelve-year-old master in Victorian London.  He seems too good to be true...and he just might be, as his inhuman nature is revealed!







Other manga titles you might enjoy:
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya (YA GRAPHIC Fruits Basket)
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa (YA GRAPHIC Fullmetal)
Arisa by Natsumi Ando (YA GRAPHIC Arisa)


More recommendations on the way!

Summer Reading Game recommendations (Mysteries and books about different countries)

Summer Reading recommendations continue...

The game board asks you to read a mystery book and a story about a different country, so here's some suggestions to make deciding easier:


Mysteries for teens

Rat Life by Tedd Arnold (YA FIC Arnold)
When an unidentified body is pulled from the river, Todd questions his mysterious new friend's involvement in this gripping mystery.

The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci (YA FIC Plum-Ucci)
The guys never thought that picking on Chris was a big deal, but when he turns up dead they begin to turn on each other and point the finger.  As the group tries to unravel the mystery of Chris's death, they find themselves further implicated in his possible murder.

King Dork by Frank Portman (YA FIC Portman)
Life isn't easy for perpetually bullied high schooler, Tom, but it gets even more complicated when girls, bands, mistaken identities, and the suspected murder of his father are thrown in.  Through his father's writings and his own investigation into what happened to his dad, Tom finds himself entangled in secrets that started long before he was born.

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan (YA FIC Duncan)
Mr. Griffin is the strictest teacher in the school, and even straight-A student Susan finds him impossible.  When her crush asks her to take part in a seemingly harmless prank against Mr. Griffin, Susan can't resist.  But when things go horribly wrong and people are dying one-by-one, Susan must face the fact that one of her friends is a killer...





Other mysteries you might like:
Heather Wells mysteries by Meg Cabot (in Adult Fiction) (FIC Cabot)
Wanted: A Pretty Little Liars Novel by Sara Shepard (YA FIC Shephard)
Paper Towns by John Green (YA FIC Green)

Books about another country

 Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah (YA FIC Abdel-Fattah)
A funny journey into the life of an Australian teen who chooses to wear the hijab to express her Muslim faith.  Along the way she encounters people who don't understand her decision, a serious crush on a classmate, a friend's conflict with her mother, and an uncle who's driving everyone crazy with his Australian slang!

Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon (YA FIC Pon)
Strong-willed and fearless, Ai Ling has different plans than other girls her age in her ancient Chinese kingdom.  Instead of marriage and settling down, Ai Ling is determined to find and destroy the emperor's captor, a feat that takes her on an action-packed journey that includes demonic predators, mysterious strangers, and the quest to fulfill her destiny.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (in adult section; FIC Hosseini)
An adult book with teen appeal, this story tells of betrayed friendships and sought forgiveness in the midst of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray (YA FIC Gray)
The quest to give a dead buddy a proper departure sends a group of friends on a journey from England to Scotland.  Along the way certain secrets that they've chosen to ignore until that point are brought into the open, forcing the boys to confront truths that may threaten their friendship.






Other books about another country that you may like:
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (YA FIC Rennison)
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (YA FIC Perkins)
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (YA FIC Paulsen)
Stolen by Lucy Christopher (YA FIC Christopher)
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (YA FIC Sedgwick)
Nothing by Janne Teller (YA FIC Teller)

More suggestions on the way!

Summer Reading Game book recommendations (Fiction books)

Summer Reading Program starts on June 18, and that means that teens will be able to start working on their game board!  Game boards include types of books to read and programs to attend in order to be eligible for a free book and a chance at our Grand Prize Raffle baskets (that include MP3 players, numerous gift cards, pizza vouchers, CDs, pens, and more!).  The game board requires books within certain genres and criteria to be read, so I'm going to create these lists with some handy suggestions to help you pick out a good book that will earn you a stamp!

Fiction books suggestions:

Matched by Allie Condie (YA FIC Condie)
Set in a dystopian future world in which all decisions about occupation, school, free time, and even love are made for its inhabitants by The Society, Cassia feels relieved after she is matched with a close friend and great guy to spend her life with.  But a malfunction causes her to question if her match is really who she is meant to be with, and if her pre-determined life that she's always blindly followed is really a life at all...

Hate List by Jennifer Brown (YA FIC Brown)
After her boyfriend goes on a shooting spree that leaves six students, a teacher, and himself dead, Valerie must face the role that the hatelist that she helped to write played in the tragic events.

The Rogue Crew: A Tale of Redwall by Brian Jacques (NEW YA FIC Jacques)
When great evil threatens Redwall Abbey in the form of Razzid Wearat, a tyrannical sea captain, the rabbits and Rogue Crew sea otters must join forces to save their land. (Redwall is an excellent series with many, many titles that you may also want to check out).

Scrawl by Mark Shulman (NEW YA FIC Shulman)
Get inside the head of a bully in this sometimes funny, but painfully honest journey into the mind of the class jerk.  After Tod gets into trouble for doing something really, really bad, his guidance counselor forces him to write about why he does what he does.  He learns a lot about himself and who is becoming, but it is too late to turn around?






Stay tuned for more Summer Game recommendations, including Mysteries, Biographies, nonfiction, adventure books, stories that take place in another state, poetry books, Sci-fi, Manga, Historical Fiction, and audiobooks...