Wednesday, November 27, 2013

New YA Books

Graphic Novels: 

Transformers. Dark Prelude -- Collects six tales that fill in the background stories of such characters as Thundercracker, Bumblebee, and Trailcutter.
Thor. The Dark World Prelude -- collecting the official adaptation of Marvel's Thor and an all-new adventure leading you directly into the upcoming Marvel Studios blockbuster Thor: the Dark World ! First, get introduced to the world of Asgard and witness the origin of Marvel's mightiest hero! Then, find out what happened to your favorite Asgardians between the events of Thor and Marvel's the Avengers.





X-Men. Storm -- Long ago, Storm won leadership of the underground mutant community known as the Morlocks. But, her reign was a distant one, and Storm's neglected subjects grew increasingly embittered. Ultimately, the mad Mikhail Rasputin swept the Morlocks away into another dimension -- a harsh dimension where time ran much faster than normal. There, the next generation of Morlock children came of age, hard and cold and bitter. They returned as a terrorist unit called Gene Nation, and Storm nearly had to slay their leader to defeat them. Disturbed by her actions, haunted by the guilt of failing the Morlocks, Storm seeks a new balance in her life. But when she is abducted to Mikhail's brutal dimension, can Storm prevail against the living reminders of her failure? Or will the sins of her past drag her down?

Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol. 3 -- Wonder Woman battles German spies, the mysterious Mole Men, Dr. Psycho, with the help of Army Major Steve Trevor, as well as Etta Candy and the Holliday Girls.
Maximum Ride [the manga] Vol. 7 -- Fang's blog highlights ITEX and their research, causing them to shut down, while Max goes to Antarctica to study the effects of global warming.








Witch and Wizard the manga Vol. 3 -- Although Whit and Wisty's magic and their control over it have matured, they still find themselves helpless to prevent the one who is the one from destroying everyone and everything they hold dear. But there's a reckoning on the horizon, and the siblings have no choice but to devise a strategy to topple with one decisive blow the tyrant who has devastated their world before he becomes truly all-powerful.

Boxers by Gene Yang -- In China in 1898 bands of foreign missionaries and soldiers roam the countryside, bullying and robbing Chinese peasants. Little Bao has had enough: harnessing the powers of ancient Chinese gods, he recruits an army of Boxers -- commoners trained in kung fu who fight to free China from "foreign devils."

Saints by Gene Yang -- China, 1898. An unwanted and unwelcome fourth daughter, Four-Girl isn't even given a proper name by her family when she's born. She finally finds friendship -- and a name, Vibiana -- in the most unlikely of places: Christianity. But China is a dangerous place for Christians. The Boxer Rebellion is in full swing, and bands of young men roam the countryside, murdering Westerners and Chinese Christians alike. Torn between her nation and her Christian friends, Vibiana will have to decide where her true loyalties lie -- and whether she is willing to die for her faith.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Book Review

I just read a really really moving short story/novella entitled "The Snow Goose" by Paul Gallico.

We have a beautifully illustrated copy of it in YA here at Central:
http://ipac.ci.waco.tx.us:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1384O61108J8I.1871&profile=cen&uri=link=3100007~!648945~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=Starts%20With...&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=The+snow+goose+%2F&index=ALLTITL

It looks like a "picture book" for younger readers, but it is, rather, a very literate and beautifully told story about a reclusive artist, the birds that he watches over, a young girl who seeks him out despite his reputation, and, of course, the titular snow goose. It isn't a happy story; if you want a good 2 or 3 hankie read, this is it. It's also one that will stay with you for a long time. So give it a try!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

New Books and BOOKSALE

Don't forget the 51st Annual Friends of the Library Booksale, starting tomorrow at the Fairgrounds.

http://www.wacofriendsofthelibrary.org/book-sale/

And now, to some more new books:

45 Pounds (more or less) by K.A. Barson -- Ann Galardi is 16Nand a size 16. She's always struggled with her weight, and her perfect size 6 mother. This summer, it's worse: Aunt Jackie's getting married in August, and Ann's her bridesmaid. She decides she's losing 45 pounds in two monthsNor else. Thus begins a rollicking odyssey in this thoughtful debut.






Phoenix: A Black City Novel by Elizabeth Richards -- Engaged to be married, Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie's life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose's Law - a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.







Battle of the Ampere - Michael Vey #3 by Richard Paul Evans -- To stop Hatch from using the Elgen fleet to gain world power, Michael and the rest of the Electroclan must destroy the lead ship, but divisions within the Electroclan threaten the success of their operation.




From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos -- After an explosion, a new crime by an old murderer, and the sad passing of the founder of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack accompanies his slightly mental elderly mentor, Miss Volker, on a cross-country run as she pursues the oddest of outlaws.






Once We Were by Kat Zhang - Hybrid Chronicles #2 -- In the sequel to What's Left of Me, fifteen-year-old Addie and Eva struggle to share their body as they are drawn deeper into the fight for hybrid freedom from the government's oppression.






Princess of Cortova by Diane Stanley -- Silver Bowl #3 - With tensions rising between the kingdoms of Westria and Austlind, Molly and Tobias accompany King Alaric to Cortova, where he hopes to form an alliance with the powerful King Gonzalo--an alliance that would be sealed by Alaric's marriage to Gonzalo's daughter, the beautiful princess Elizabetta.