The Lighting Thief

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Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2005.

Annotation: Percy discovers he is a child of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon, and then he and his friends go on an adventure to prevent a war between Greek gods.

Book talk:

You probably thought that Greek myths were just that – myths. That is what Percy thought, too. But while on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a school he is trying not to get kicked out of, he find finds out the myths are real because he has to fight a winged hag, who also was his teacher. However, Percy founds out not only that the myths real, but he is a demigod, a child of a mortal woman and the god Poseidon. On top of that, he finds out that Zeus thinks that Percy has stolen his master lightning bolt and will start a war if it is not returned. So Percy starts a journey to find who stole the real bolt, fighting with Medusa and going to Hades along the way, but also discovering that he has special abilities. All of this just to prove he is not a lightning thief.

Book Trailer posted by highcrazyloony on You Tube:

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Teen Recommended:

Hunter, 12, recommends books about Percy Jackson in his favorite genre of fantasy.

Awards:

• A Best Book of 2005, School Library Journal
• A New York Times Notable Book of 2005
• A Best Book of 2005, Child Magazine
• Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2006, Texas Library Association
• Askews Torchlight Award (UK) Winner, 2006
• Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book List, 2005
• VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005
• ALA Notable Book for 2005
• YALSA Best Book for Young Adults 2005
• Red House Children’s Book Award Winner (UK), 2006
• CCBC choice award 2006, Cooperative Children’s Book Center
• A 2006 Notable Children’s Book, National Council for Teachers of English
• A Publishers Weekly National Children’s Bestseller
• Warwickshire Book Award Winner (UK), 2007

Awards source: http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/percy-jackson-olympians/lightning-thief.aspx

Extras:

• Check out the authors website and hear the first chapter read by the author: http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/percy-jackson-olympians/lightning-thief.aspx
• Watch the trailer for the movie based on the book: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi613221401/

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making

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Valente, Catherynne M. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. New York: Feiwell and Friends, 2011.

Annotation: After her father goes to war and her mother goes to work, September is taken by the Green Wind and a leopard to Fairyland, where Earth’s rules don’t apply and her adventure begins.

Book talk:
Which would you choose -- "To Lose your Way, To Lose your Life, To Lose your Mind or To Lose your Heart? Tough decision? Well, these are the choices September had to decide which path to take in Fairyland.She ended up in Fairyland by invitation of the Green Wind and the Leopard. But getting into Fairyland was the easy part. Once there, she has to decide what path to take and meets a variety of creatures, including a boy named Saturday and a dragon who loves books. And she has to remember she shouldn't eat fairy food! So which path does September choose? Find out and the rest of her adventures in The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making.

Check out the book trailer on YouTube!

Awards:

• Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award Maser List
• Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy

Awards source: http://us.macmillan.com/thegirlwhocircumnavigatedfairylandinashipofherownmaking/CatherynneMValente

Extras:

• Publisher information: http://us.macmillan.com/thegirlwhocircumnavigatedfairylandinashipofherownmaking/CatherynneMValente
• It includes information about the art, music and characters of the books. Plus, it has information about the author.
• Author website: http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/

Geek Fantasy Novel

Image credit: LibraryThing.com

Archer, E. Geek Fantasy Novel. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011.

Annotation: Ralph goes to England to set up his cousin’s wireless network but ends up in a magical journey based on his cousins’ wishes.

Book talk:

Wishes can be dangerous if they ever came true, which is why Ralph’s parents are adamant against making wishes. Other than that, Ralph leads a pretty average geeky life where he is good at computers and gaming. Then one summer, extended family invite him to England to set up their wireless network, and Ralph finds out why his parents are against wishes. His cousins’ wishes send him on a magical journey of a lifetime full of exploding rabbits, enslaved fairies, murdering unicorns, evil aunts and a snow queen that come to life in this unusual fantasy tale that breaks the rules and has a narrator who can’t keep his opinions to himself. Being a geek isn't always geeky.

Teen Recommended:

“A funny book with a twist. Never-ending mystery until the end.”

-- Christine, 13

Awards: None