Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

We recently blogged about Lauren Oliver's new book Delirium, but her less-hyped first novel, Before I Fall, is also a real champion.

From the inside cover:
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last. Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

Click here to check out Lauren Oliver's website and learn more about the characters in Before I Fall.
Click HERE to watch a killer book trailer on it.

Happy Canada Day weekend!

Scribbling Women: True Tales from Astonishing Lives by Marthe Jocelyn

A male publisher in 1855 complained about the irritating fad of "scribbling women". Those women could have been writing journals, writing letters to friends, or were professionals. But those irritating scribbles are what helped document history.

Marthe has researched and filtered it down to some of her favourite women. Some are highly educated, some are barely literate. But in some way, all of these women have affected history with their journals, letters, or books. One was the first undercover detective. Another sailed the ocean as a whaler. One woman was a criminal. Another believed that from her travels, the European oppression in Africa was revolting. One women was a survivor of a disastrous scientific expedition. There are many other stories as well.

This book is just an example of how women have kicked butt throughout history.

You can request this book from the Stettler Public Library here.

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaQpaHtuWS4

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

At first I was hesitant to read this book, but it surprised me. For some reason, I could not put this book down. It was creepy, memorable, fast-paced, and sexy. The rugged angel Patch is way better than a sparkling emotional vampire. He has scars, gets dirty, and kills. If you love a bad boy, you can request this book here.

Nora Grey is an independent high school girl. She's never been interested in guys, even if her best friend Vee tries to throw them onto her. Then she meets Patch in her biology class. His personality obnoxious; however mysterious, and Nora knows better than to become friends with him. But she finds herself strangely attracted to him. She becomes intrigued by him and wants to dig deeper into the mystery of Patch. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora begins to second guess herself. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and somehow knows more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide if she should fall in love or run and hide. And when she beings to uncover some answers Nora finds an unsettling truth.

Check out the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1wdnz7wSKA&feature=player_embedded

Becca has written a sequel called Crescendo, and the final chapter of this series called Silence will be released in October 2011.

Mockingjay.net - your source for the Hunger Games

Yes, fellow Hunger Games Fans, you can now access the Hunger Games online! http://mockingjay.net/

No & Me by Delphine de Vigan

Delphine de Vigan has only ever written books in French, and this is her first one to be published in English. It's touching, but not cheesy; deep, but not unrelatable; it makes you think, but also lets you get lost in the story. Read it. Read it right now.

Lou is a bit of a genius and she gets moved up two grades in school, but she's painfully shy and can't ever seem to fit in with her classmates. At home, her parents have bigger problems on their hands than paying attention to Lou. Her mother is only half-present, spending most days in a haze of depression, staring off into space. Her father tries to hide his muffled crying from Lou, but she can hear him through the bathroom door. Then, Lou meets No - a homeless girl on the brink of giving up - and the two girls help each other. No might be just the key to patching up Lou's family, and Lou gives No hope that someone might care about her after all. But can they really ever break through the emotional and social boundaries that have been set for them?

We are just about to get this book in at the Stettler Public Library and it's on it's merry way to our shelves. If you want to request it (and I know you do!), click here.

Royal Tea

The Royal Tea, hosted by Lady Sean Higgins and Lady Bobbie Mappin will commence at 6:00 PM tonight. Please join us for cucumber sandwiches, dainties, tea, a jolly good game of croquet and yes, the opportunity to make your own fascinator.


YES! Even in the rain!

Success!! 85 people in attendance. Thank you all!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Jay Asher's debut novel is not new anymore (published in 2007) but it is still one of those books everyone should read.

When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit.

You will be surprised at who Hannah blames for her suicide. This book reminds us of how important the little things we do and say are to other people in our lives. As my grade 5 teacher used to say: "Be careful in all things you do and say and we'll see you all on Monday morning."

Movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOlNzMncF3w

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5eXthaeZpI

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver's second novel fits right in with the dystopia craze happening at our library right now! The ending was such a shock. Lots of teen romance and twists and turns.


Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love--the deliria--blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold.

Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love.

Book Trailer! --->    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNgqW3pPqog
(Review by Jill Higgins!)

Trapped by Michael Northrop

When the blizzard started, nobody knew it was going to be the storm of the century. Scotty and his friends are among the seven kids left in the school when they realize there is nobody coming for them. But really - what's a night in the school? There's food in the cafeteria, there are washrooms. It's almost as comfortable as home.

But those of us who know winter know that the heat can go out, that pipes can freeze and that snow can accumulate to the point that it does damage to buildings. Not everyone survives.

Of course there's a book trailer:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/8cf9d2a53701c1f553b1/Trapped-by-Michael-Northrop

Before I Wake by Robert J. Wiersema

'The greatest gifts have the highest cost...'

This was Robert J. Wiersema's first novel, out in 2006. The story is told in short spurts, switching from character to character, with miniature cliff-hangers at the end of each character's section. At first you're like 'Oh this seems like your average depressing grown-up piece of literature'. But then you're like 'Wait a minute...is this science fiction? What is this? It's awesome'.

On a beautiful spring day, three-year-old Sherry Barrett is injured in a hit-and-run accident. Her devastated parents, Simon and Karen, wait by her bedside, hoping for a miracle...one that doesn't come. Told that she will never recover, they agree to remove her from life support. And then the miracle occurs. Sherry doesn't die. But neither does she wake.

Definitely recommended for older teens, fantasy fiction fans, and mildly smart people.

Need reading ideas?

Here are a bunch of them. Click on the images for videos or links directly to the catalogue!

http://stettlerlibrary.glogster.com/debs-ya/

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie: She's normal...minus the fact she has an fairie as an ex-boyfriend, can see through paranormal's glamours, works for International Paranormal Containment Agency, carries a sparkly pink taser and iron knuckles with her at all times, has a mermaid as a best friend, and oh ya, is crushing majorly on this new shape shifter. She's a "paranormal fighter rockin' the peep-toe heels". But other than that, a normal teenager.

She may think that catching paranormals is boring, and would rather watch Easton Heights (yeah, she's kind of obsessed with real teenagers, she thinks they're fascinating, and gym lockers too). But things get weird when he ex shows up (talk about awkward) and starts talking about this silly fairie prophecy that she must fulfill. To make matters worse a crazy girl who's on fire starts killing all the paranormals and Evie has to try and figure out all these things while trying to catch the eye of the hottie shape shifter.

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkxqq04z8H4

Watch for the second book in the series too! Coming July 26

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RjvpuWnfOw

When college drop out and fast food restaurant worker meets Douglas, his world changes. Douglas is the kind of person who thrives on power and doesn't like it when others have power. You'd think Sam would fly under his radar (come on, he's a college drop out and asks "would you like fries with that?" for a living) but instead, Douglas hijacks Sam's entire world.

Douglas is a necromancer. Turns out, so is Sam (which is way better than being a college-drop-out-fast-food-worker, right?)

Ramon, Frank and Brooke were Sam's normal friends, until Brooke became just a talking head (and we're not talking news broadcaster here). His new friends include a harbinger, a werewolf, a fey, witches... well, Douglas certainly did change Sam's world. Described as "scary funny or funny scary", it's full of laughs, wit, scary moments, evil, action and romance. I highly recommend you take advantage of it and enjoy!

Probably best for older teens. Unless you like nightmares, sacrificed animals, zombies, and the like!
Second title in series due out this September!

The Mealworm Diaries by Anna Kerz

Jeremy has a painful secret that makes it hard for him to fit in at his new school in Toronto. He has the same awful dream every night that has his mom worrying about him, and he's homesick for Nova Scotia. It doesn't help that his science project partner is a huge pain in the neck. But eventually Jeremy finds ways to make friends at his school, be nice to his hyperactive science partner, and deal with the nightmares from his past.


Anna Kerz is a storyteller from Toronto and this is her first novel. I would recommend it for ages 9 to 12, but it's a short, feel-good novel for almost anyone.