Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780375870897
Publisher: Random House
Date of publication: June 25, 2013
Age: Grades 5 - 9
Genre: Science Fiction

Themes: libraries, games, gadgetry, information science

The infamous gamemaker, Luigi Lemoncello, has constructed a brand new, high-tech library for the town. As his biggest fan, Kyle is determined to be part of the select few kids who get to preview Lemoncello’s library before it’s officially open. With 11 other kids, Kyle soon realizes the sneak-peek is another elaborate game with high stakes—one he’s determined to win.

In terms of the story, it is very similar to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and has some exciting twists and turns. As a librarian, however, this book came across to me as pure propaganda. It was all about the cool things you can find at a library, but a more high-tech, lets-give-kids-an-unrealistic-expectation version. Sorry, we do not have holographic librarians at our branch, you’ll have to come back in 50 years. So I was disappointed in it. But, technically, it is an exciting adventure book that is especially good for the reluctant-reader boys of the world, so I do appreciate that. And if they come to the library looking for the larger-than-life robotic Mother Goose, then at least they are at a library. 

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Elite

The Elite
Kiera Cass
(Selection Trilogy #2)

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 9780062059963
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date of publication: April 23, 2013
Age: Grades 8 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: Love, caste hierarchy, reality television, Post-Apocalyptic America, royalty

The middle installment of the Selection Trilogy, America is among the last six competitors, or the elite. However, the closer she gets to Maxon, the more she fears the crown. And what about her feelings for Aspen? How could she possibly choose between the two? With a growing number of attacks from rebels, she must decide soon since her own safety is at stake.

This is definitely a middle book: it drags, it doesn’t really seem to have its own plot, and it could have easily been condensed into the other two books. Overall, it was a bit hard to read in that America’s indecision and angst over the whole competition becomes tiresome. The characters are shallow, too, flip-flopping in ways that don’t make sense. Cass needs give them better depth.

Check out my reviews for the other books in the series: Book 1 and Book 3.

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

Love in the Time of Global Warming

Love in the Time of Global Warming
Francesca Lia Block

My rating: ★

ISBN: 9780805096279
Publisher: Henry Holt
Date of publication: August 27, 2013
Age: Grades 9 and up
Genre: Romance

Themes: apocalyptic disaster, GLTBQ, retelling,

Awards: YALSA Top Ten (2014), American Library Association Rainbow List Top 10 (2014) 

In this retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, Penelope is left seemingly alone in Los Angeles after disaster strikes the country. However, as she finally leaves the house, she encounters cyclops, giants, witches, and other such fantastical beings. Meeting up with a few other survivors, Pen begins her journey to find her family.

I don’t really know what to say. Like, I even had a hard time writing the summary, because there’s just too much competing for attention in this book. It is such a mishmash of genres, themes, stories that…my brain hurts. Let me touch on a few: Global Warming is killing the earth. But the disasters were actually caused by a mad scientist who created giants and stuff. Yet, Pen has elemental powers. Oh, and she’s homosexual and falls in love with a transgender. And it loosely follows The Odyssey (which it makes a point of mentioning SEVERAL times throughout the book). But it is only 240 pages. Yeah. I really don’t recommend this. At all. Apparently, it’s the first in a series, but I’m not even going to worry about it.

Warning: Explicit Content
Sexuality

If you really want to, find it at your library or on Amazon

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
April Henry

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780805095418
Publisher: Henry Holt
Date of publication: June 11, 2013
Age: Grades 7 and up
Genre: Mystery

Themes: Abduction, amnesia, secrets

Imagine coming to and not remembering a thing—where you are, what your name is, nothing. Not only that, but you overhear a man telling his companion to finish you off. All you can do is run. Written in first person, April Henry takes the reader on a suspenseful journey to discover just who this character is and why these men want her dead.

The twists and surprises in the plot had me guessing the entire time. With nearly every chapter ending with some cliff hanger, it was nearly impossible to put down. And, at a short 213 pages, it was a quick read, too. Basically, I gasped out loud while reading. Several times, actually. There were quite a few plot points that were a tad far-fetched...but that's what you need with a good thriller, I think. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

Find it at your library or on Amazon