Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Hugo Cabret is a twelve-year-old orphan and clock winder living in the walls of a Paris train station. His only friend is the broken automaton his dad was trying to repair before he died.  When Hugo is caught stealing parts from an old man’s toy shop to fix his automaton, he begins an unlikely friendship with the man and his young goddaughter. With the help of a heart-shaped key and a picture of a rocket in the eye of the man in the moon, Hugo and his friends begin to create The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Set in 1930’s Paris, this book tells the story of a lonely young orphan and a disappointed old man who form an unlikely friendship that saves them both. Told in both pictures and words, this award-winning book is highly recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.

Teen Interview

"I read this book because I like graphic novels and with all of the pictures in this book I thought it wouldn't be too different to read...  I liked it.  It seems like a huge book, but lots of it is the pictures so it doesn't actually take that long to read... I thought it was cool how he used his drawings to kind of take over telling the story, and then had pictures from the old movies and stuff that he was talking about, too."
--Kyle C., age 13
Kyle mainly reads graphic novels, and has read the steampunk graphic novel Dragonero by Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti with illustrations by Giuseppe Matteoni.  He reads about 5 graphic novels a month.  Kyle is on Facebook but does not use it very often.  He likes to play online video games (massively multiplayer online [MMO] games) with his friends.

Awards

2008 Caldecott Medal
2007 National Book Award Finalist
2007 New York Time's Top 10 Best Illustrated Children's Book

Learn More

Learn more about Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and his other books on his website.  You can also see clips from some of the old movies mentioned in Hugo, read about the directors and writers who influenced Selznick, watch interviews with Selznick, and watch a slideshow of illustrations from Hugo.

Watch an interview with Brian Selznick below where he discusses the making of Hugo.



The Invention of Hugo Cabret was made into the movie Hugo in 2011.  Watch a preview of the movie below:




Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. Print.
9780439813785; Hardback; $15.00; 533 pages


Also available in paperback and audiobook format.


Monday, August 27, 2012

Joe Golem and the Drowning City by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden

Joe Golem and the Drowning City by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden
Set in an alternate reality where Manhattan is drowning in 30 feet of water, this book tells the story of a young girl named Molly, whose friend and mentor, Felix, is kidnapped by strange creatures in rubber suits.  Molly must fight the forces of evil magic to save Felix and the world with the help of detective Simon Hodge and his assistant, Joe Golem.  This illustrated steampunk novel is recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.

Index Card Synopsis:
--1970’s New York City
--Manhattan underwater (the Drowning City)
--Scavengers, water rats—very dangerous
--Felix Orlov: psychic and magician in his 80’s
--Molly McHugh: Felix’s friend and assistant, 14 years old
--Simon Hodge: Detective, part man part automaton
--Joe Golem: Simon’s assistant, super-human strength
--Kidnapping
--Magic
--Battle to save Felix and the world

Learn More

Visit the websites of Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden to learn more about them and find out about what other projects they've been working on.  Friend Mignola on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.  You can also read Golden's blog, follow him on Twitter, or friend him on Facebook.

Continue to follow the adventures of Joe Golem in the short story Joe Golem and the Copper Girl by Mignola and Golden.

Joe Golem and the Copper Girl


















Joe Golem and the Drowning City is currently being made into a movie.  Stay tuned here for details on its release.

Mike Mignola is well-known for the comic series Hellboy, which was made into a movie in 2004 with a sequel in 2008.  Watch a preview for the first Hellboy movie below:



One of Christopher Golden's many well-known books is Soulless.  Watch a trailer for the book below:




Mignola, Mike, and Christopher Golden. Joe Golem and the Drowning City: An Illustrated Novel. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2012. Print.
9780312644734; Hardback; $18.00; 288 pages


Also available in audiobook and ebook formats.


Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
How far would you go to save your father?  When 13-year-old Meg’s father disappears in the middle of conducting secret work for the government, a mysterious stranger from another world offers to help her find him.  With her brother, Charles Wallace, and her friend, Calvin, Meg sets off through space and time to try to rescue her father.  Can they survive the process of traveling by wrinkling time?  Will they be able to locate their father in the vastness of the entire universe?  And will they be able to rescue him from the darkness that is holding him prisoner?


This science fiction adventure novel tells the story of an awkward, out of place young girl who travels through space and time to rescue her father with the help of her brother, her friend, and some other-worldly travelers.  Imaginative and unique, this book is recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.


Awards

1963 Newbery Medal
1965 Sequoyah Book Award
1965 Lewis Caroll Shelf Award

Learn More

Learn more about Madeleine L'Engle and her other books on her website.  You can also follow a blog about her work. L'Engle died in 2007 at the age of 88, but her work continues to live on.  In 2003, A Wrinkle in Time was made into a movie.  It is rumored that a new version of the movie will be made in 2013.

Watch a book trailer for A Wrinkle in Time below:



A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in the Time Quintet.  Read the rest of the books to find out what happens to Meg, Charles Wallace, Calvin, and their friends, families, and enemies.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
Book 2
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
Book 3
Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle
Book 4
An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Book 5
Note: Book order of the Time Quintet is per Madeleine L'Engle's website and is by chronological order of the storyline, not by publication date.



L’Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Square Fish, 2007. Print.
9780312367541; Paperback; $7.00; 245 pages


Also available in hardback, audiobook, and ebook formats.


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
What are your chances of survival when the entire German army is hunting you?  That’s what Prince Aleksandar is about to find out when his parents are assassinated on the eve of World War I and the assassins want to stop him from inheriting the throne.  In the process of escape, Alek makes an unlikely ally in Deryn, a girl pretending to be a boy so she can serve in the British Air Service.  Can Alek and his small crew escape the German army and keep their identities a secret from the British?  And will Deryn and her fellow British soldiers help them escape or will they turn them in to the Germans as prisoners of war?  And can Deryn keep her real gender a secret even as she begins to develop feelings for Alek?

Set in an alternative steampunk version of World War I, this exciting adventure tells the story of Prince Aleksandar Ferdinand as he attempts to escape the German army and survive the war so he can take the throne as Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  With the help of the British Air Service, and their whale airship, the Leviathan, Alek battles to keep himself and his crew alive and to keep his identity a secret.  Beautiful illustrations throughout the book enhance the story, and a cliffhanger at the end will leave readers eager for the next book in the series.  This book is highly recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.

Awards

2010 ALSC Notable Children's Book
2010 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
2009 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel

Teen Interview

"My friend told me to read this series...The illustrations are really cool and I like the story a lot.  We learned about World War I in school but this book makes it way more interesting with the animal ships and the Darwinists and Clankers and stuff...I'm definitely reading Goliath when it comes out."
Jacob H., age 16
"I read the Uglies Series and the Midnighters Series and really liked them so I thought I'd probably like this series too. I don't usually read, like, war type books, but this one was really good. Plus it starts to hint that there's something else going on with Alek and Deryn, so it's not just about war, there's some romance, too. I'm excited to find out what happens with them."
April J., age 15
Jacob and April have both read other steampunk novels.  Jacob has read The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade, and April has read the Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare.  Jacob and April both read a couple of books a month, although April said she reads more in the summer when she has more time to read.  Jacob is on Facebook and Twitter, although he doesn't use Twitter very often.  April is not on any social media and prefers to call, email, or text.

Learn More

Read more about Scott Westerfeld and his many other books on his website.  You can also friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.  Learn more about the entire Leviathan Series--listen to audio excerpts, watch interviews, and browse illustrations from the books--on Westerfeld's Leviathan webpage.

To learn more about Keith Thompson, the illustrator of the Leviathan Series, visit his website where you can view a gallery of his artwork or buy some of his art. You can also follow his blog or friend him on Facebook

Watch the book trailer for Leviathan below:



Leviathan is the first book in the Leviathan Series.  Read the other books in the series to find out what happens to Alek, Deryn, and their friends and enemies.

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Book 2
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Book 3 (releases 9/20/12)



Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. Illus. Keith Thompson. New York: Simon Pulse, 2009. Print
9781416971733; Hardback; $20.00; 440 pages


Also available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.


Friday, August 17, 2012

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger
Alexia Tarabotti has many things working against her in the eyes of Victorian London society: she’s a spinster, she’s part Italian, and she’s smart.  What the elite of London don’t know is that she doesn’t have a soul, which gives her supernatural powers.  As she assists the head of supernatural investigations, the handsome werewolf Lord Maccon, in solving a mystery, she’ll need every bit of her wit and her power to stay alive.  And she’ll need every ounce of her willpower to resist the charms of Lord Maccon, who finds her increasingly enticing…even if she is Soulless.

Set in a steampunk Victorian London, Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Maccon battle human and supernatural forces to solve the mysterious disappearances of rogue vampires and werewolves. This witty story combines elements of Jane Austen with steampunk, science fiction, romance, and fantasy to create a highly entertaining book.  Due to strong sexual references, this book is recommended for older young adults in a public library setting.

Awards

2010 ALA Alex Award
2009 Indie Booksellers Indie Notable

Learn More

Read more about Gail Carriger and her other books on her website.  You can also follow her blog, friend her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.  Find out more about the world of steampunk on Carriger's Steampunk page.

Watch a book trailer for Soulless below:



Soulless is the first book in the Parasol Protectorate Series.  Continue to follow the adventures of Alexia, Lord Maccon, and friends in the next books...

Changeless by Gail Carriger
Book 2
Blameless by Gail Carriger
Book 3
Heartless by Gail Carriger
Book 4
Timeless by Gail Carriger
Book 5

Carriger is currently writing a series specifically for young adults that takes place 25 years before the Parasol Protectorate Series.  The first book in the new Finishing School Series, Etiquette & Espionage, is scheduled to release in February, 2013.

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
"The Finishing School Series is set in the same world as The Parasol Protectorate series, only 25 years earlier, and features a finishing academy located in a giant caterpillar-like dirigible floating over Dartmoor in which young ladies are taught to . . . finish . . . everything . . . and everyone . . . as needed. There will be steampunk etiquette! There will be well-dressed espionage! There will be Victorian fake food. There will be flying mechanical sausage dogs named Bumbersnoot."

--Gail Carriger, posted to her blog on 3/25/2011






Carriger, Gail. Soulless. New York: Orbit, 2009. Print.
9780316056632; Paperback; $8.00; 384 pages


Also available in ebook format.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Junior is an outsider in every way. The kids on the reservation don’t like him because he’s skinny, wears super thick glasses, and just transferred to a white school off the reservation. The kids at the white school don’t like him because he’s an Indian and he lives on the reservation. As Junior navigates these and other obstacles—family, poverty, death, alcoholism—in the process of making a better life for himself, he writes it all down in his Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

Set in a Native-American reservation near Spokane, Washington, Junior tells his story of growing up as an outsider in both the Native-American and white worlds with humor, insight, and illustrations. Beautifully written with a colorful cast of characters and an entertaining and poignant storyline, this book is highly recommended for adults and young adults in a public or school library setting.

Awards

2010 California Young Reader Medal
2009 International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Peter Pan Prize
2008 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Learn More

Learn more about Sherman Alexie and his other books on his website.  You can also follow his blog, friend him on Facebook, or follow him on Twitter.

To learn more about Ellen Forney, the illustrator of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, visit her website where you can browse her illustrations, see what else she's been working on, or send her an email.

Watch Alexie read an excerpt from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and answer questions about the book below:




One of Alexie's most well-known works is the award-winning movie Smoke Signals, which is based on Alexie's collection of short stories, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.  Watch a preview for Smoke Signals below:




Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Illus. Ellen Forney. New York: Little Brown, 2009. Print.
9780316013697; Paperback; $10.00, 288 pages


Also available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook formats.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A Contract with God by Will Eisner

A Contract with God by Will Eisner
A Contract with God tells four very unique short stories—in graphic novel format—of tenement life in the Bronx in the 1930’s.  Gritty, raw, and at times tragic, these stories and illustrations provide an unflinching look at the realities of life at 55 Dropsie Avenue: the death, the violence, the sex, the anger, and the despair.  Due to the adult themes and illustrations of this book, it is recommended for mature young adult audiences in a public or school library.

Index Card Synopsis:
-- Graphic Novel
-- Bronx Tenements
-- 1930’s
-- 4 Short Stories
-- “A Contract with God”: Death of a child
-- “The Street Singer”: Busking to survive
-- “The Super”: Enemies—superintendent vs. residents
-- “Cookalein”: Marriage, adultery, and sex

Awards and Recognition

A Contract with God, first published in 1978, is credited as one of the first graphic novels ever written.  Will Eisner himself has won many awards, including the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) Story Comic Book Award in 1979, the NCS Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, the NCS Reuben Award in 1998.  In 1971 Eisner was inducted into the Academy of Comic Book Arts Hall of Fame. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which are commonly referred to as the Oscar Awards of the comic industry, were established in 1988.

Learn more

Will Eisner died in 2005 at the age of 87, but he continues to influence the comic industry today.  Learn more about Eisner, his life, his work, and his continuing influence on his website.  You can also connect with the Will Eisner Official Site on Facebook, or follow his site on Twitter.

To learn more in-depth information about Eisner, you can read his authorized biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life by Bob Andelman.  You can also watch a documentary about him titled Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist directed by Andrew D. Cooke.

Watch Stan Lee interview Eisner about his life and work for the Comic Book Greats series below:


Watch Part 2 and Part 3 of the interview.

A film adaptation of A Contract with God is currently in development.  Stay tuned here for more information.

The Spirit is one of Eisner's most popular comic series.  It was made into a movie in 2008.  Watch a preview of the movie below:




Eisner, Will. A Contract with God. New York: DC Comics, 1996. Print.
978-0393328042; Paperback; $10.00; 181 pages


Also available in hardback and ebook formats.


Monday, August 13, 2012

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
Modo has been trained his entire life for two things—to be a deadly secret agent and to hide his deformed face from the outside world.  Now at the age of 14, having proven his skill at both, he is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of London’s street children.  With the help of his fellow agent, Octavia, Modo must risk his life to fight the evil Clockwork Guild, rescue the children, and save London from destruction if he wants to successfully completely his first Hunchback Assignment.

Modo is a 14-year-old hunchback orphan with an unusual talent: shapeshifting. While using this talent to hide his face from the outside world, Modo battles evil with the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Socrates, his trainer, Tharpa, and his fellow agent, Octavia.  This book combines elements of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to create a highly entertaining steampunk adventure.  Recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.

Awards

2011 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (France)
2010 TD Canadian Children's Literature Book Award
2010 Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year: Honour Book
2009 Junior Library Guild Selection

Teen Interview

"This was a cool book.  I've actually read all of the books in the series so far.  I like how it's like a new spin on a classic story.  These books actually got me interested in reading older books like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Time Machine, stuff like that." 
Scott R., age 15
Scott is a fan of the steampunk genre and has read other steampunk books including Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Worldshaker by Richard Harland, and Planesrunner by Ian McDonald.  He also reads science fiction and fantasy books.  Scott is busy with school and sports, so he reads about one book every couple of months during the school year, but he reads more in the summer.  Scott has a Facebook account but doesn't use it very often.  He prefers texting.

Learn More

Learn more about all of the books in the The Hunchback Assignments series at the Hunchback Assignments website.  On the website you can read excerpts from the books, play games, learn odd Victorian factoids, or like the series on Facebook.  You can learn more about Arthur Slade and his many other books on his website, or send him a message.

Watch the book trailer for The Hunchback Assignments below.



The Dark Deeps is the second book in the Hunchback Assignments series.  Watch a book trailer for The Dark Deeps below.



Continue the adventure of The Hunchback Assignments series with books 3 and 4:

Empire of Ruins by Arthur Slade
Book #3
Island of Doom by Arthur Slade
Book #4 (releases 9/11/2012)


Slade, Arthur G. The Hunchback Assignments. New York: Random House Children's Books, 2009. Print.
9780375893896; Hardback; $15.00; 288 pages


Also available in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats.


Saturday, August 11, 2012

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Aiofe (pronounced “EE-fa”) is a 15-year-old girl with a family history of madness—madness that always begins on the 16th birthday.  As Aiofe’s own 16th birthday approaches, she receives a cryptic message from her missing brother.  He is in mortal danger, and, as Aiofe risks everything to try to find him, she begins to discover the truth about the world she lives in and the “madness” of her family.

“There are seventeen madhouses in the city of Lovecraft.  I’ve visited all of them…  My mother likes to tell me about her dreams when I visit.

‘I went to the lily field last night,’ she murmurs…

When I didn’t immediately reply, my mother picked up her hand mirror and threw it at my head.  There was no glass in it—hadn’t been for years, at least six madhouses ago…

‘I’m talking to you!’ she shouted. ‘You might not think it’s important, but I went to the lily field!  I saw the dead girls move their hands!  Open eyes looking up!  Up into the world that they so desperately desire!  …Don’t leave me to look into their eyes alone.  The dead girls will dance, Aoife, dance on the ashes of the world…’”


--Caitlin Kittredge, The Iron Thorn

Set in a world where reason and science reign supreme, where magic and witchcraft are punishable by death, Aiofe Grayson struggles against her impending madness to try to rescue her missing brother with the help of her best friend, Cal, and their street-tough guide, Dean.  Entertaining and imaginative, this steampunk novel is recommended for young adults of all ages in a public or school library setting.

Learn More

Read more about Caitlin Kittredge and her other books on her website.  You can also friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

The Iron Thorn is the first book in the Iron Codex series.  If you liked this book, you might like the sequel, The Nightmare Garden (Iron Codex #2).  Watch a book trailer for The Nightmare Garden below.


Read an interview with Kittredge about The Nightmare Garden (**warning: this interview contains Iron Thorn spoilers**) and her writing inspiration.



Kittredge, Caitlin. The Iron Thorn. New York: Delacorte Press, 2011. Print.
978-0385738309; Paperback; $9.00; 493 pages


Also available in hardback, audiobook, and ebook formats.


Friday, August 10, 2012

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Could you trust your life to a zombie? That is what Nora must decide when she is kidnapped by a zombie army and learns that she must work with Bram, a handsome zombie Lieutenant, to stop the bad zombies from infecting the world. Can Nora and Bram work together when Bram’s basic instinct is to hunt the living? And when their feelings for each other grow beyond co-workers, can they act on those feelings? Can you be in a relationship with someone who is Dearly, Departed?


Nora is a high-society teenager learning to be a proper New Victorian lady when she is kidnapped by Zombies one fateful night.  Nora learns that not only do zombies actually exist, but there are good and bad zombies and only she holds the key to protecting the world from the bad zombies.  Highly entertaining with a unique twist on the steampunk genre, this first book in the Gone with the Respiration series is recommended for all young adults in a public or school library setting.

Teen Interview

“At first I thought this book was weird because, I mean, who falls in love with a zombie?  But then I read it and Bram is so cute and sweet and I can totally see them together now.  Plus I like how Nora isn’t some helpless girl.  She kicks butt.” 
Jennifer G., age 13
“Yeah, I always thought zombies were gross, which I guess they kind of are, but after this book I can totally see how they can be cute, too.  I love Bram and Nora together.  It’s cool how they fight zombies together but also do romantic stuff like dancing and stuff.” 
Gretchen W., age 13

Jennifer and Gretchen have both read steampunk books, although they didn’t know they were called “steampunk.”  They have both read Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare.  Gretchen reads a couple of books a month, while Jennifer reads about one book per week.  Both girls like to read romance and chick lit books, and Gretchen also likes to read reality fiction.  Jennifer and Gretchen are both on Facebook and Twitter, which are their favorite social media platforms.

Learn More

Read about Lia Habel and her books on her website, or see what she's been reading on Goodreads.  You can also follow her on Twitter, friend her on Facebook, or read her blog.

Watch the book trailer for Dearly, Departed below



Dearly, Beloved, book #2 in the Gone with the Respiration series, releases on September 25, 2012.  Read an excerpt from the book here.




















Habel, Lia. Dearly, Departed. New York: Del Rey/Ballantine Books, 2011. Print.
9780345523310; Hardback; $11.00; 470 pages


Also available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.


Thursday, August 9, 2012

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Courtney thought breaking up because your boyfriend was in love with someone else was the hardest part.  Then she remembers that she and her ex, Jordan, were supposed to drive to college orientation together.  She’s about to find out that spending three days alone with your ex on a cross-country road trip is even harder than breaking up.

“I sigh and stare out the kitchen window, looking for Jordan’s TrailBlazer.  It’s 8:07, and he was supposed to be here at eight, which makes me think that: a) he’s late, b) he’s acting like an asshole and blowing me off, or c) he’s gotten into a horrible car crash that’s left him dead.

The most likely answer is A…  Although I’m all about option C.  Okay, maybe not the dead part.  Just, like, a broken leg or something.  I mean, his parents have always been really nice to me and I would feel horrible if they lost their youngest child.  Even if he is a liar and a cheat.”

--Lauren Barnholdt, Two-Way Street

Jordan and Courtney are newly broken up when they embark on a cross-country road trip to attend their college orientation.  Over the course of the trip, they learn some hard truths about their families and themselves that cause them to reevaluate their relationship and why they broke up.  This entertaining novel captures the drama and angst of young love in the digital age.  Due to some sexual content, this book is recommended for older young adults in public or school libraries.

Awards

New York Public Library "Books for the Teen Age"
New York Public Library Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

Learn More

Learn more about Lauren Barnholdt and her other books on her website.  You can also follow her on Twitter or friend her on MySpace.  Browse the e-book version of Two-Way Street on Google Books.

You can read an interview with Barnholdt to find out some unusual things about her--her greatest fear, her fantasy career, and her life in 8 words or less.

Listen to an audio excerpt of Two-Way Street below:


Two-Way Street Audio Clip from Dreamscape Media on Vimeo.




Barnholdt, Lauren. Two-Way Street. New York: Simon Pulse, 2007. Print.
9781416913184; Paperback; $10.00; 288 pages

Also available in ebook and audiobook formats.


Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon
Can love survive a murder conviction and a prison sentence upstate?  That’s what Natasha and Antonio are about to find out.  When Antonio is convicted of murder and sent to prison, he and Natasha write letters to each other and attempt to keep their love alive through years of fear, violence, growth, and learning, after which neither of them will ever be the same.  Are their letters enough to keep them together?  Or, after years of separation and changes, will their love eventually die in that prison Upstate?

Natasha and Antonio are two teenagers in love whose letters to each other illustrate their worlds of poverty, violence, love, hope, and despair in Harlem and in prison.  At times moving, violent, raw, and heartfelt, this is a powerful story of love and life in impossible circumstances.  Due to some violence and sexual content, this book is recommended for older young adult readers in public or school libraries.

Awards

2006 American Library Association ALEX Award
2006 Audio Publishers Association Award in Literary Fiction

Learn More

Learn more about Buckhanon and her other books by visiting her blog. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, WordPress, and MySpace.  She also has a YouTube channel.

Listen to an excerpt from Upstate below:




You can also watch Buckhanon read an excerpt from her second novel, Conception:


 Watch Part 2 of the video.



Buckhanon, Kalisha. Upstate. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005. Print.
978-0312332693; Paperback; $11.00; 247 pages

Also available in hardback, audiobook, and ebook formats.