What Happened to Cass McBride?

I annotated this book for the Gazette for next week, but I think it deserves a bit more than three sentences. I enjoy a good thriller, but I don't like it when everything ties up at the end and everyone goes back to their same old lives. That's where this one is different. The story is told in alternating voices: the captor, the police, and Cass who is the captive. What seems like a straight forward revenge tale ends up much more convoluted and complex with each character having many reasons for ending up where they are. Sometimes the voices get confusing when you hear about things from the past and the present together, but is works to tell the story. I like the fact that the ending is really messy, meaning that you know what happens but you also know that nobody had a "happily ever after" moment either. It's not a long book, a quick read and worth your time. If you like this one, check out some of Gail Giles' other titles.

If I was a superhero...

My daughter sometimes asks me what superpower I would like most. I think I would have to say the ability to fly. No cape. Apparently I won't get my wish. According to thesuperheroquiz.com I would be Wonder Woman if I were a superhero. I think Catwoman is much more interesting, but that nasty do gooder streak of mine eliminated my chances. Try it for yourself at www.thesuperheroquiz.com.

If you like comics or even comic genius try Stuff: The Life of a Cool Demented Dude by Jeremy Strong.

Part novel, part comic strip, this is the story of Stuff (AKA Simon) who is a fourteen-year-old boy with a host of problems. His father’s girlfriend has moved in with her evil daughter and feminist attack rabbit. He has fallen for the new girl at school even though he has a girlfriend and now the girlfriend’s insane big brother is going to pound him. Luckily, his art teacher at school has recognized his genius and given him free hand to draw his comic strip for the school paper. I liked the comic strip inserted throughout the book. Let me know what you think.

Eragon (the movie)

Against my better judgement, I went to see the movie Eragon this weekend. I have read both of the books in this series and enjoyed them both. I don't think that the writing was always brilliant, but compared to the movie it was sheer genious! The movie left out three quarters of the plot making the character development almost nonexistant. For people who don't know the complete story, it must have been very confusing. The CG work was okay, and the settings were beautiful (it was shot in Hungary) but the acting was thin through most of it. I can only hope that they don't make a sequel. If you are at all interested in the story, please read the book! They are thick, but they move quickly and are much more intellegent than the halfhearted plot the movie provided.

January Teen Advisory Board Meeting

It's the start of a new year and we are excited to be planning new things for our Young Adult department. I am looking forward to the first Young Adult summer reading program, some new furniture for the Teen Corner and more programs. Our first T.A.B. meeting of the year will be Thursday January 18 from 5-6 p.m. Looking forward to seeing you there!