mer's blog

Some friends will stick with you, no matter what. Even when they’re dead.
Hannah doesn’t mind that Lillian’s ghost still lingers; it’s been six months since she passed away due to an eating disorder. Hannah likes her company (though she can be VERY critical), but it’s hard to truly get over the loss. When a rash of strange murders occurs in town, the small town she lives in goes into panic mode. Despite warnings from parents and news anchors against leaving the house alone, Hannah (accompanied by Lillian) does a bit of investigating in hopes of finding the killer. Several classmates have become victims to this Valentine Killer, who surrounds his victim’s bodies with little trinkets and paper valentines. As Hannah becomes increasingly involved with investigating the murders, she develops a crush on local bad boy, Finny, who may be more dangerous than Hannah originally thought… It’s only a matter of time before the killer strikes again and his next victim might just be dear, sweet Hannah.
Ghosts, serial murders, cute juvenile delinquents all meld together nicely in this unusual story. This book has a quirky feel to it, and if you don’t scare too easily it’s hard to put down.

Also try:
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Check out Story Casting, a fantasy site where you can cast the movie of your favorite books. So much fun! Who will YOU pick?

-Shy heart-throb seeks sensitive reader. Must believe in love at first sight.
-Bold adventurer looking for thrill-seeker. Must have a strong tolerance for danger.
-Quirky klutz seeks soulmate. A sense of humor is necessary.

Let us set you up this February with a literary “blind date.” Your next literary love will be waiting for you with plenty of other hopeful candidates in our teen section. There’s no peeking until you get home—they’ll be completely wrapped up in brown paper. When you’re finished reading, please fill out the included Rate Your Date card and drop it by the Readers’ Advisory Desk for a kiss (Hershey’s that is) and a chance to win a $25 Graham’s 318 gift card.
The drawing will be held on Friday, March 8th, so all of the rate your date cards must be returned by closing on Thursday, March 7th.
The wrapped books will remain available/on display until February 28th. :)

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.

Here are some of the 2013 award winners:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
WINNER- The One and Only Ivan written by Katherine Applegate

Three Newbery Honor Books also were named:
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkinan
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:
WINNER- In Darkness written by Nick Lake

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Dodger by Terry Pratchett
The White Bicycle by Beverley Brenna

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is Somebody, Please Tell Me Who I Am written by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman
Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
Juvenile in Justice by Richard Ross
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
One Shot at Forever by Chris Ballard
Pure by Julianna Baggott
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:
Tamora Pierce is the 2013 Edwards Award winner. Pierce was born in rural Western Pennsylvania in 1954. She knew from a young age she liked stories and writing, and in 1983, she published her first book, Song of the Lioness. She continues to write and even record her own audiobooks. She currently lives with her husband and a myriad of animals in Syracuse, New York.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

WINNER- Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Two King Author Honor Books were selected:
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:
The Fault in Our Stars produced by Brilliance Audio, is the 2013 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by John Green and narrated by Kate Rudd.

Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks also were selected:
Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian produced by Listening Library, written by Eoin Colfer and narrated by Nathaniel Parker
Ghost Knight produced by Listening Library, written by Cornelia Funke and narrated by Elliot Hill
Monstrous Beauty produced by Macmillian Audio, written by Elizabeth Fama and narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Pura Belpré (Author) Award:
WINNER- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

One Belpré Author Honor Book was named:
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano

Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
WINNER- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Four Stonewall Honor Books were selected:
Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
Gone, Gone, Gone written by Hannah Moskowitz
October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard written by Lesléa Newman
Sparks: The Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie written by S. J. Adams

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:
WINNER- Seraphina written by Rachel Hartman

Four other books were finalists for the award:
Wonder Show written by Hannah Barnaby
Love and Other Perishable Items written by Laura Buzo
After the Snow written by S. D. Crockett
The Miseducation of Cameron Post written by emily m. danforth

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
WINNER- Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon written by Steve Sheinkin

Four other books were finalists for the award:
Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different written by Karen Blumenthal
Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 written by Phillip Hoose
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster written by Deborah Hopkinson, We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March written by Cynthia Levinson

Tomorrow is the big day! The Youth Media Awards will be announced at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in the morning. Winners of the Michael Printz Award (high praise for literary achievement in young adult fiction), the William C. Morris Award (best debut teen novel), the Margaret A. Edwards Awards (which is awards to an author for their contibution to young adult literature) and so many more! Check back for details!