S.C. Young Adult Book Award Nominees

Great Books for S.C. High Schoolers!!

The South Carolina YA Book Award Nominees are in for 2012-2013!

Our state's students, librarians, teachers, parents, and others chose these books as the very best for high schoolers. (Heads up: Teachers like to pick summer reading requirements from these lists...so get a head start!)

Click on any title to reserve a copy:



Pathfinder
By Orson Scott Card

Rigg has a secret ability to see the paths of others' pasts. However, revelations after his father's death set him on a dangerous quest that brings new threats from those who would either control his destiny or kill him.

Books With Looks

When Words and Images Unite

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? How about a drawing? A painting? A sketch? The books below combine words with images to tell some really amazing stories! (Click on any title to reserve a copy at a CCPL branch, or click here to search our e-books.)

Wonderstruck

By Brian Selznick

Having just lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, 12-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home to find the father he's never known in New York City. There, he meets Rose, who is also longing for something that's missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's is told in pictures.

New Books Feature Ghosts, Insanity, and a Sunken Ship

Be First to Get These New Books!

Our new books feature ghosts, murder, cover ups, entire worlds gone bad, the Titanic, an alien abduction, and more! Click on any title to reserve a copy at your favorite CCPL branch.

Everybody Sees the Ants
By A.S. King

Fed up with his parents' fighting and a bully's attacks, 15-year-old Lucky Linderman dreams of being with his grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War. However, during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective.

By the author of Please Ignore Vera Dietz.

Legend
By Marie Lu

A future America is at war. Born into an elite family, June is being groomed for the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, Day is the country's most wanted criminal. They have no reason to cross paths -- until June's brother is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Is Day really to blame, or was he set up to cover a darker secret?

Book-O-Scope: Your Summer Reading Forecast

Wondering what to read next?

Find answers in the stars!

Gemini
May 21 -- June 21

You’ve been feeling confused lately. Yet, the answers are all there for you to find -- if you look. Read Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams, and find out if John decides to stay with his girlfriend, Cilla, or to take a chance with Destiny.

Cliques, Cats, and Bullies

Keep Your Friends Close...

If the first season of Pretty Little Liars left you hanging, where else can you get a fix of backstabbing, cattiness, and terror? Start reading, of course.

The TV show is based on Sara Shepard's books, which dish up a snarky amalgam of queen bees, fashion, beauty, crushes, and lies -- all wrapped up in a mystery.

The series begins when a mysterious person sends creepy -- and oddly personal -- texts to Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer. The girls used to be best friends until their leader, Alison, vanished a few years earlier. She'd ruled Rosewood Day, which meant they had, too. Then suddenly, the texts appear, signed simply by --A, each with threats or secrets only the girls should know. But who's sending them? And why?

The eight books in the Pretty Little Liars series are easy to spot thanks to the Barbie wannabe on each cover. (The ninth book, Twisted, comes out July 5.)

Sequels: Flawless, Perfect, Unbelievable, Wicked, Killer, Heartless, Wanted



Meanwhile, check out these other titles that feature mean girls -- some just catty, others dangerous bullies (click on any title to put it on hold):

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!

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:

Dystopias Have Caught Fire

UPDATED WITH NEW TITLES (AT THE TOP)!! ALSO, CHECK OUT THE NEW SEQUELS TO MATCHED AND THE MAZE RUNNER.


Hungry for Dystopias?

If the The Hunger Games left you hungry for more thrilling, world-gone-bad tales, we've got great news! Suzanne Collins' trilogy has become so incredibly popular that authors and publishers are cranking out tons of great dystopian and post-apocalyptic books for teens. Here's a bunch we think you should check out next.

(Click on titles to reserve them at a CCPL branch near you.)

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's...a Graphic Novel!

Superheroes Battle Over Pages

and the Big Screen

Calling All Hero Fans! 

It's going to be a Marvel-ous year at the box office with movies like Thor (May 6) and Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22) hitting the big screen. While you wait, read up on a few heroes (and sheroes!) -- some familiar, some new -- in these graphic novels: 

"Almost Perfect" Tops 2011 Stonewall Book Awards

The Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Awards are given to books relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experiences. This year's list includes lots of amazing books (click on any title to check it out of your favorite Charleston County Public Library).

The top winner is:

Almost Perfect

By Brian Katcher

Sage Hendricks is the new girl at Logan Witherspoon’s small-town school. Tall, unconventionally pretty, and a bit awkward, she appeals to Logan even at a time when he trusts no one. He's drawn to her intelligence and humor. But Sage’s life is a mystery -- until she reveals that she was born a boy. Outraged, Logan questions his own sexuality and cuts ties with his friend just when she needs him most. Can Logan accept and love Sage for who she is?

Author Brian Katcher also wrote Playing with Matches, about a high school junior who befriends a lonely, disfigured female classmate.

And the four Stonewall Honor books are....

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

By John Green and David Levithan 

When two teens, one gay and one straight, meet accidentally and discover that they share the same name, their lives become intertwined as one begins dating the other's best friend, who produces a play revealing his relationship with them both.

Freaks and Revelations

By Davida Wills Hurwin

This raw, moving novel follows two teenagers -- one, a Mohawk-wearing 17-year-old violent misfit; the other, a gay 13-year-old cast out by his family -- hustling on the streets and trying to survive. This narrative is told in the alternating perspectives of their lives before and after the violent hate crime that changed both their futures. This tragic but ultimately inspirational journey of two polarized teens, their violent first meeting, and their peaceful reunion years later is an unforgettable story of survival and forgiveness.

The Boy in the Dress

By David Walliams

Dennis is a bit surprised -- but not terribly upset -- to discover that he enjoys wearing dresses. The 12-year-old does, however, realize this is not the kind of revelation he wants to share with his truck-driving dad, his older brother or his friends on the school football team, where he is a star player. But these things have a way of getting out, and Dennis finds himself both exposed and expelled. Is this the end?

Love Drugged
Love Drugged

By James Klise

Terrified that his classmates will discover he's gay, high-school freshman Jamie decides his best cover is to start dating a girl. Even better, the beautiful and wealthy Celia expresses an interest in him. However, it evolves into a sexual interest that Jamie cannot reciprocate. But wait: Celia’s father is a doctor who develops behavior-modification drugs and is experimenting with one that will “cure” homosexuality. Should Jamie risk taking it?

Click on any titles to reserve them at your favorite Charleston County Public Library branch!

Hot Books For Cold Days

CHILL YOUR TOES, WARM YOUR HEART!

Raise a hand if you're ready for winter break. It's almost time to hit the road (or maybe just the couch!). Here are books to help you brave the winter chill and savor the season of giving. Click on any title to reserve it at your favorite CCPL branch!

Trapped
By Michael Northrop

Seven high school students are stranded at their New England high school when a massive week-long blizzard chokes the roads, kills the heat and electricity, blocks the phones, freezes the pipes, and leaves them fearing for their lives. Grab some hot chocolate before you curl up with this chilling nightmare!

Booklist: Back to School Blues

It's that time of year again...
Whether you go to public, private, or home school, why not take a break from your homework and read about some school experiences that are (hopefully) VERY different from yours…

Click on any title to go to the CCPL catalog to reserve a copy for pick up at the branch nearest you.

A Taste for Red by Harris Lewis
Svetlana has recently discovered she’s a vampire and it’s making her transition from home-schooling to attending Sunny Hill Middle School that much more difficult. What happens when your sixth-grade science teacher might also be your immortal enemy?

H.I.V.E: Higher Institute for Villainous Education

by Mark Walden

At a secret academy for evil geniuses, a brilliant orphan, a sensitive warrior, a shy computer specialist, and an infamous jewel thief plot to beat the odds and escape the prison that is H.I.V.E.  

Don't miss the sequel: The Overlord Protocol.

Spud by Jon van de Ruit
At an elite, boys-only boarding school in South Africa, John “Spud” Milton deals with bizarre housemates, wild crushes, utterly embarrassing dysfunctional parents, and much more.
Don't miss the sequel: Spud—the Madness Continues

School for Dangerous Girls  by Eliot Schrefer

At a remote, run-down reform school, 15-year-old Angela is placed with the better girls, but upon learning that her "dangerous" friends are disappearing and being left to live as animals, she takes radical steps to join them and help them escape.