PML YA Yakkers!

Patchogue Medford Library Young Adult Department

Friday, December 14, 2007

Gee Wiz! Double Vote out!

This just in! We have had two books voted out! Click Here and Bucking the Sarge1

Click Here: To Find Out How I Survived 7th Grade by Denise Vega tells the story of a 7th grader who makes her own online journal. Here is the School Library Journal review:
Grade 5-7–Erin Swift, who is beginning middle school, keeps a diary on her own private Web page, which she never intends to post on the Internet. The year gets off to a rough start when she discovers that she and her best friend, Jilly, will not have any classes together. Then Erin punches her archenemy, Serena, for calling her Jilly's puppet. Worst of all, Erin begins to wonder if she does follow Jilly's wishes instead of her own and resolves to make some new friends and pursue her own interests. Things become more difficult when the boy Erin secretly likes becomes infatuated with Jilly. The only bright spot is the Intranet Club, where her computer skills earn her a lead role in designing the school's new Web site. Then disaster strikes when Erin's secret Web page is accidentally posted on the school Intranet for everyone to read. Suddenly, she is faced with her biggest problem yet. The characters and situations are believable, and readers will relate to and sympathize with Erin's dilemmas. Entries from the diary supplement the first-person narrative, an approach that works well with the story. The Erin at the end of the semester is hardly recognizable from the earlier Erin, and the result is pleasing to everyone.–Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX




Check it out!

The other book, Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis is a story that takes place in Michigan.

Check out this website:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/buckingthesarge.htm

Woo hoo!!

And here is a review on it written by Amazon:
Fifteen-year-old wannabe philosopher Luther T. Farrell knows a few things about life. He knows the Sarge (his rich, shrewd, slumlord mom) is tougher than nails and that he better not cross her. He knows his chances of using Chauncey, the ancient condom in his wallet, are slim to none. And, he knows that despite his goal to attend Harvard, he may end up stuck in Flint, Michigan, cleaning toilets in his mom's loathsome empire. Luther spends much of his time helping the Sarge run "Happy Neighbor Group Homes" around the city, including shaving and bathing elderly men and driving residents around with an illegal license. In spare moments he tries to win first place in the science fair at school and hang out with his best friend Sparky, all the while fantasizing mightily about his one true love, the beautiful Shayla.
Readers will be moved as Luther, a thoroughly decent if sometimes naive boy, rails against his mother's cold, ruthless notions of what it takes to get ahead in the world. Up-to-the-minute slang and pop culture references will resonate with teen readers, as will the funny, first-person narrative; crisp, often hilarious dialogue; and wonderfully vivid characters. Christopher Paul Curtis, winner of the Newbery Medal for Bud Not Buddy tells a warm, witty, heart wrenching story where the good guy gets his due. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Want to write a book review?

Have you read anything good lately? Want to tell other people about it? Read anything bad that you want to warn people about? Write a book review, and we'll post it here. Put your book review on youtube, and we'll post the link.

Looking for something good to read? Check out our display of great first lines in the YA department.

Here are a few to get you started:

I'm a slut for a good rumor. (Love Sick by Jake Coburn)

Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi)

The way it looks is not the way it is. (Inexcusable by Chris Lynch)

The gunman is useless. (I am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak)

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Rock and Roll All Night! (Book Survivor)

Hello there!

We are sad to announce the Rockin' departure of Born to Rock by Gordon Korman in Book Survivor V! The interesting thing about Gordon Korman is that he was a published author at the age of 14! Can you believe it? And he's written a mondo load of books, dude!

Check it out, courtsey of Wikipedia:
This Can't Be Happening at MacDonald Hall (1977)
Go Jump in the Pool (1979)
Beware the Fish (1980)
Who is Bugs Potter (1980)
I Want to go Home (1981)
Our Man Weston (1982)
The War with Mr. Wizzle (1983)
Bugs Potter Live at Nickaninny (1983)
No Coins Please (1984)
Don't Care High (1985)
Son of Interflux (1986)
A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag (1987)
Zucchini Warriors (1988)
Radio 5th Grade (1989)
Losing Joe's Place (1990)
Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood (1991)
The D- Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1992)
The Twinkie Squad (1992)
The Toilet Paper Tigers (1993)
Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road (1994)
Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall (1995)
The Last Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1996)
The Chicken Doesn't Skate (1996)
Liar, Liar Pants on Fire (1997)
Quarterback Exchange: I Was John Elway (1997)
Running Back Conversion: I was Barry Sanders (1997)
Super Bowl Switch: I was Dan Marino (1997)
Heavy Artillery: I was Junior Seau (1997)
Ultimate Scoring Machine: I was Jerry Rice (1998)
NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets and Touchdowns (1998)
The Sixth Grade Nickname Game (1998)
Slapshots 1: The Stars from Mars (1999)
Nose Pickers from Outer Space (1999)
Slapshots 2: All-Mars All Stars (1999)
Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)
No More Dead Dogs (2000)
Slapshots 3: The Face-Off Phony (2000)
Slapshots 4: Cup Crazy (2000)
Your Mummy is a Nose Picker (2000)
Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)
Island Trilogy
Island: Shipwreck (2001)
Island: Survival (2001)
Island: Escape (2001)
Son of the Mob (2002)
Everest: The Contest (2002)
Everest: The Climb (2002)
Everest: The Summit (2002)
Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America (2003)
Jake, Reinvented (2003)
Clue Me In! (2003)
Dive: The Discovery (2003)
Dive: The Deep (2003)
Dive: The Danger (2003)
Son of the Mob: The Hollywood Hustle (2004)
On the Run Series (2004-2006)
Chasing the Falconers
The Fugitive Factor
Now You See Them, Now You Don't
The Stowaway Solution
Public Enemies
Hunting the Hunter
Born To Rock (2006)
Kidnapped: The Abduction (2006)
Kidnapped: The Search (2006)
Kidnapped: The Rescue (2007)
You Smell (2007)
Schooled (2007)


Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Korman"
Categories: Canadian children's writers

Monday, December 03, 2007

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS: ADVANCED DIVISION

Students in grades 9 - 12 - it's time to come join the Patchogue-Medford Library's Advanced Division Battle of the Books Team!

Read 3 great books, and demonstrate your knowledge in a battle against other Suffolk County libraries. We need you to help make this our best battle ever!!!
This year's battle titles are:

Black and White by Paul Volponi

Two star high school basketball players, one black and one white, experience the justice system differently after committing a crime together and getting caught.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

While navigating his first year of high school and awaiting the birth of his new baby brother, Scott loses old friends and gains some unlikely new ones as he hones his skills as a writer.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

After fifteen-year-old Liz Hall is hit by a taxi and killed, she finds herself in a place that is both like and unlike Earth, where she must adjust to her new status and figure out how to "live."

Come in to the library or call now to sign up! Pick up the books and start reading!

We will have our first team meeting on January 7, from 6:30 - 7:30 pm - and hope to see you there!

If you want to participate, but can't make the meeting, call the YA desk at 654-4700 ext. 251 for more information. The Battle will be held on April 4