DPL Teens

The second trailer for Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, based on the popular series by Cassandra Clare, was just released!  Do you think the movie will do justice to the book?

Did you guys know that they’re making Divergent into a movie?  Shailene Woodley from The Secret Life of the American Teenager is going to play Tris!  If you already read the book and are looking for something similar to read while you anxiously await the movie, check out some of these other futuristic, dystopian novels that have lots of action and strong teen characters:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Title: Eleanor and Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

What’s on the cover:  On a peach background, a guy and a girl with their backs towards us.  One has long and curly red hair and the other has short black hair.  They are both wearing headphones and the cords are woven together in the middle.

What I think it’s about:  Two teens who bond through their love of music.  Probably involves some romance, based on how the headphone cords are wrapped up together.  The colors make me think it might be a lighter, fun sort of book.

Do I think I want to read it?:  The cover is pretty minimal and gives me just enough clues to be intrigued.  I like the idea that it might be about music, and I really like that it’s not a photo of a random person like SO MANY book covers I’ve seen lately.  So I think I’ll pick it up!

What the blurb says:  ”Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits–smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.”

Final verdict:  Okay, so it doesn’t say anything about music, but CLEARLY music is going to play a part in the story, right?  And “star-crossed” doesn’t suggest light fun, so I might have been off the mark here.  But I still think I’ll be putting this one on my To Read pile!

What do you think about the cover?  Have you read the book, and if so, is the cover fitting?  Post your thoughts in the comments!

Grab some nerds candy and Jammie Dodgers!  Directioners and Nerdfighters are doing insane happy dances all over the world this morning as it has been announced that bestselling author and youtube star, John Green, will be writing an original screenplay about the classic boardgame, Candy Land, with a dystopian twist (Think Wreck-it Ralph + Jumanji + Hunger Games). Few other details about the story have been released, but the BIGGEST news is that John Green is specifically tailoring the script to star THE BOYS OF ONE DIRECTION! :::Sugar Rush Swoon::: We love it when fandoms collide! Check out the announcement HERE!

Candy Land film projects have bounced around Hollywood for the last decade, but most previous efforts focused on slapstick stories aimed at younger kids and families. However, producers have shifted perspective due to teen superstars taking over the A-list and the popularity of YA book-to-film adaptations, and we now look forward to a much grittier, much nerdier Candy Land with cute British accents. Huzzah!

Although John Green, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson are the only official names attached to the project, there is some speculation about who will play their female hero counterparts. Many unofficial sources are reporting that John Green has been constantly listening to a particular J-Pop supergroup in order to get a feel for all 88 of their personalities. Yup, rumor has it that EACH MEMBER of Japan’s sensation AKB48 will have a starring role alongside the One Direction Boys! Remember when you were watching The Hunger Games and you thought to yourself “Gah, if only there were 88 times as many Katnisses…then this might be interesting!”

Sadly, there are no rumors yet on who will be playing Queen Frostine or Princess Lolly. My vote is for Gwen Stefani to play both.

Have you read all of John Green’s books and now you’re wondering what to read next?  Here are some suggestions:

If you liked Looking For Alaska: You might want to try other boarding school novels like Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard (if you’re looking for another guy narrator) and The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (if you’d like to switch to a girl narrator). Another great choice is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher; like Alaska, it’s about a guy who is piecing together information about a girl he thought he knew.

If you liked An Abundance of Katherines:  Other road trip stories like The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith and Car Trouble by Jeanne DuPrau could be right up your alley.   Much like Katherines, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler is (as the title suggests) about dealing with a breakup.

If you liked Paper Towns:  Check out some more books about guys falling for and/or getting caught up in the lives of complex, eccentric, mysterious girls.  You might try out The Disenchantments by Nina Lacour, The Amanda Project by Melissa Kantor, and Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King.

If you liked Will Grayson, Will Grayson:  Try some other books told in multiple perspectives, like My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger or Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.   If you’re interested in another LGBT read, Geography Club by Brent Hartinger is a great pick for fans of Will Grayson.

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars:  Moving stories about love and loss like Deadline by Chris Crutcher, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, and Before I Die by Jenny Downham might be just what you’re looking for.

For more reading lists, be sure to check out our Recommended Reads for Teens page!

Title: Every Day

Author:  David Levithan

Other books in series or Standalone:  Standalone

First Impressions:  Very unique concept.  “A” wakes up in a new body every morning and has to live that person’s life without making any changes or being noticed.  Everything is turned upside down when A, after waking up in the body of a teen named Justin, meets Justin’s girlfriend Rhiannon and is immediately drawn to her.

Last Impressions: I tore through this book in one sitting, and while I had a lot of questions at the end about the mechanics of it all, I did overall enjoy reading it.  It’s very original and thought-provoking; A is always a 16 year old but can wake up on any given morning looking like a completely different person, and so the book sends some strong messages about love, empathy, and acceptance.

Favorite Moment (SPOILER ALERT):  The first time A tries to explain the situation to Rhiannon.  As you can imagine, it’s tricky.

Dream Cast:  Since A is so many different people, the options are endless!  I would love to see someone like Emma Stone circa Easy A play Rhiannon; she could really bring the combo of feistyness and vulnerability.

People who should read this:  The bonus of A inhabiting a lot of different bodies is that it makes this book appealing to lots of people, since the main character is going through so many unique experiences based on the body he/she is in.  If you’re looking for something totally different from any other YA book you’ve read, and if you’re looking for a quick read, this is for you.

If you like this book, you may also like: some more of David Levithan’s books (like Boy Meets Boy and Will Grayson, Will Grayson), Ask the Passengers by A.S. King, Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak

Our shelves are overflowing with awesome, brand new YA books!  Check out just a few of them below.  If you want to be the first to get your hands on one of these, click the cover to place a hold or stop by one of our libraries to see if the one you want is still here!