Book-O-Scope: Your reading forecast for Spring 2011

Wondering what to read next?  The answer is in the stars!

Aquarius  Jan 20 - Feb 18:  You're feeling extra emotional these days.  Take a deep breath and keep your cool, but trust your feelings.  Read Delirium by Lauren Oliver, and see what happens to a society where people have been "cured" of all strong emotions, even love.

Pisces   Feb 19 - Mar 20:  You may run into a sticky situation soon, but your perceptiveness will keep things going smoothly.  Read  The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by 

Robin Benway, about a group of sisters whose extra-special perceptions save the day.  

Aries  Mar 21 - April 19:  Stop worrying about what you're going to do with your life -- your hidden talents will take you to surprising places.   Read Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, about a boy who finds his true calling as a zombie killer.

Taurus  April 20 - May 20:   Strike up a conversation with someone you've never talked with before. You may make a new friend and learn something about yourself, too.  Read Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins and see how Natasha's life changes when she befriends girls at a crisis center.

Gemini  May 21 - Jun 21:  A lot of pressure and expectations are piled on you right now, but stay calm and have faith in your abilities.  Read Hero by Mike Lupica and meet Zach, a remarkable teenager who, like you, has more power than he realizes.

Cancer  Jun 22 - Jul 22:  Perserverance is what you need to focus on now -- don't let anything distract you from your goals.  Read Teenie by Christopher Grant, and see how Teenie keeps it together while dealing with the drama of her BFF's online crush and her own dangerous relationship.

Leo July 21 - Aug 22:  A new person is coming into your life soon, bringing exciting changes and opportunities. read 13 to Life by Shannon Delany, where a mysterious stranger with a dangerous secret changes Jessie's life forever.

 Virgo  Aug 23 - Sep 22:  You hate to see your friends upset and are always trying to keep them from getting hurt, but maybe you're protecting them too much.  Read Bruiser by Neal Shusterman, about a boy who takes on the pain of the people he loves.

  

 Libra  Sep 23 - Oct 22:  Someone is underestimating you, but you are about to surprise them with an impressive accomplishment.  Read Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin and see if Phoebe has also been misunderstood - or is she really special enough to break an ancient curse and save her life? 

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21:  You have two choices facing you right now:  stay silent and do nothing, or speak out and right a wrong.  Read The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney, and find out how Alex finds the courage to stand up for herself. 

Sagittarius  Nov 22 - Dec 21:  Right now, you need to be as clear as you can, even when you think your intentions are obvious.  Read Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, in which two teenagers get to know each other by trading cryptic clues and challenges in a notebook they take turns hiding around NYC.

Capricorn   Dec 22 - Jan 19:  There is high drama surrounding you right now, so try to focus on your own needs and stay calm in the midst of chaos.  Read Maxine Banks is Getting Married by Lori Aurelia Williams - all the drama in Maxine's life will prepare you for dealing with your own!

The Undead Walk Among Us...Again

Zombie Plague Returns

New release alert! Book three in Carrie Ryan's zombie series comes out this week. The Dark and Hollow Places picks up after The Forest of Hands and Teeth (also available as a downloadable audiobook) and The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Years after a zombie plague destroyed society, small holdouts of humanity struggle to survive in the face of their undead enemies. Annah lives in the Dark City alone after losing her twin sister and their best friend, Elias. She's near despair when she meets a new boy, Catcher, and begins to hope again. 

But Catcher has his own dark secrets connected to Annah’s past. Brimming with suspense, romantic turmoil, and threats of death by zombie, don't miss the series!   

Want more zombie books for your braaaaaaaaaains? Click on "Read More":

From Tsunamis to Supermoons

Welcome to That Reminds Me of a Book, a regular feature where we link current events and pop-culture happenings with YA books.

 Is the Moon Getting A Bad Rap? 

 

The Dead & The Gone

Talk about a depressing week. With the tsunami of news from Japan, it's hard to look at the waves off Folly quite the same way. Don't even mention the moon.

Yes, some people think the moon caused it all -- namely, the Supermoon expected on Saturday. Disasters have occurred near past Supermoons. Mere coincidence? Discover Magazine sets us straight. 

Still, at Teen Underground we're in a fiction sort of mind -- so we're busy freaking ourselves out by reading The Last Survivors trilogy. It includes:

1. a seriously messed up moon
2. earthquakes and tsunamis
3. death and destruction
4. a reminder to hug everyone you love (no matter how much they annoy you).



      Check it out:



Life As We Knew It

Life As We Knew It

(The Last Survivors trilogy)

By Susan Beth Pfeffer

It all starts with a chance to watch a really big meteor smash into the moon. Cool, right? For sophomore Miranda, it means a bunch of last-minute class assignments on the moon.

But the meteor shocks everyone -- it knocks the moon off its proper axis, causing massive worldwide earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions. In the end, Miranda and her family face life with no power, little food, dwindling water, freezing temps, and lots of fear.

Sequels: The Dead & the Gone and This World We Live In

(Click on titles to reserve them at your favorite library branch!)

When Race is a Family Issue

Welcome to That Reminds Me of a Book, a regular feature where we link current events and pop-culture happenings with YA books.

The Other Half of My Heart

Have you heard about this ABC News story about twins born to a Caucasian mother and an African-American father? Gabe has ivory skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. His sister, Trinity, has ebony skin, black hair, and brown eyes. 

The Cunningham family gets some curious looks -- and perhaps a few behind-the-back whispers, too. It all raises questions about how we view race in this country. 

Which reminds us of a book...



The Other Half of My Heart
By Sundee Frazier

When Minerva and Keira were born, they made headlines: Keira appears black like Mama; Minni looks white like Daddy. The twins are close, but their relationship is tested when their grandmother invites them down South to compete for the title of Miss Black Pearl Preteen America. The sisters have always shared a special bond. But is it strong enough to overcome racial biases?

Click on the title to reserve it at your favorite library branch.

Brave New Dystopian World Giveaway

Win an Advance Reading Copy of Divergent

As we told you last week, dystopian fiction is on fire!  It seems like everyone is reading The Hunger Games (even celebrities!) and speculating about who will be cast in the upcoming movie.  And there are lots of other great dystopian reads already out there...and still more on the way.

Divergent by Veronica Roth doesn't come out until May 3rd and already people are calling it "unique, gripping and captivating."
It's a dystopian thriller filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance. 

And we're giving away a free Advance Reading Copy of this amazing book:   Just comment on this blog post for a chance to win! (don't forget to leave an email addy where we can contact you.)

Did you know there are three different types of dystopias?   Which is your favorite kind to read about?

Red Riding Hood Leads Pack of Fairy Tale Remakes

MY, HOW GORGEOUS YOU ARE

It's a fairy tale March! Fresh on the heels of Beastly, now Red Riding Hood comes out Friday. And never before has a movie trailer reeled us in so shamelessly...

Meet Valerie (Amanda Seyfried), a young woman who's in love with this brooding orphan guy (my, how sexy you are, Shiloh Fernandez). But her parents have arranged for her to marry this rich guy (Max Irons isn't shabby either). Then, Valerie's sister gets killed by a werewolf that stalks their medieval village. Turns out, the werewolf is masquerading as a human...but who? The movie is directed by Catherine Hardwicke (of Twilight fame).

Anyway, if you looked as gorgeous as Seyfried in a crimson cloak and had an afternoon to kill wandering in the woods (amid pure white snow, of course), what would be playing on your iPod? Someone at flavorwire thought of this very question and answered it for us! Check it out. 

So, if you like Little Red, check out these other "fractured" fairy tales. Beware: They aren't the versions Grandma told you: