Hot Properties

YA Books to Film
So many books, so little time. Or is it so many movies, so little time? Either way here's a round up of YA books slated for translation to the big screen this year or next. Say adieu to the vampire craze of yore; dystopia is front and center with zombies on the side...

For a more comprehensive listing of forthcoming big screen wonders, don't forget to check IMDb's upcoming books-to-movies list. Early Word also has a 2013 list, organized by month.

Read and Watch or Read and Wait...
Warm Bodies by Issac Marion
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney (Movie Title = The Seventh Son)

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Divergent by Veronica Roth (Also try the sequel, Insurgent)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Book two in the Hunger Games Triology, as if this is news...)
The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Carrie by Stephen King (Don't forget the original film starring Sissy Spacek)
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness (In order : The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men)

Legend by Marie Lu (Also try the sequel, Prodigy)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (First in a series; great for Hunger Games fans.)
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Percy Jackson : Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

It's Footprint Friday Time! 2013 Edition

Make Tracks to the Library...
If you are in 2nd or 3rd grade, join us on Friday afternoons for fun games and activities based on popular book series. Bus transportation from Memorial School to the library will be provided along with a no-frills snack.

Here's a line-up of upcoming events; use the program name links to register online or give us a call.  All programs begin at 3:30 p.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Children's Services Librarian Tim Guay leads the festivities.

March 15 : Magic Tree House
Go on an adventure through time at the library! We'll have activities and crafts for any adventure-seeker...

April 12 : Scooby-Do
Be a detective and help us solve a mystery at the library! Find clues, take fingerprints, write secret messages, and more!

May 17 : My Weird School
Mr. Tim had a whim (whim [noun]: 1. an odd, eccentric or silly idea). Join us for some fun and silly activities and crafts!

June 14th : Magic School Bus
Be a scientist and join us in trying out some amazing science experiments!

See you after school!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful!

Make a Snowflake
Leading up to today's snowstorm, we've been included in more than a few conversations about how you plan to ride out the storm with your family. Thanks for making a stop at the library part of your before-storm preparation drill.

However, now that we're likely to be indoors for a while -- or outdoors for a bit -- we offer a very quick round-up of snowflake-friendly resources for the little people in your life and you, too.

Paper Snowflakes and Snowflake Books
When the storm passes, a few super books ready for your enjoyment...

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle
It's Snowing by Gail Gibbons
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
The Secret Life of a Snowflake by Kenneth Libbrecht
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Snowflakes : Creative Paper Cutouts by Cindy Higham
Snowflakes for All Seasons by Cindy Higham
The Snowflake Fell : Poems About Winter ; compiled by Laura Whipple

Virtual Snowflakes
There's plenty of paper snowflake guidance online and as you already know, we do like the Star Wars series. You can also make virtual snowflakes at snowdays or Make-a-Flake.

Surf's Up
The Science of Snowflakes, and Why No Two Are Alike (PBS)
Wilson A. Bentley: Pioneering Photographer of Snowflakes (Stories from the Smithsonian)
And Visions of Snowflakes from the American Chemical Society

Pop! Go the Pages...

General Grievous, engineered by Matthew Reinhart

Movable Book Wonders

We love movable books and so do you! They're sophisticated, visually stimulating wonders meant to be admired, cared for and loved.

Though our board and picture book collections include many movable books geared to the motor skills of little hands, our juvenile collections also include paper-engineered gems for older readers. Handle with care so as many readers as possible can enjoy these 3-D treasures for years to come.

Cooler Than Cool
A quick list of our movable book favorites:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum; art by Robert Sabuda
The Odyssey, art by Sam Ita; based on Homer's 8th century epic poem
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's original tale; art by Robert Sabuda
Birds of a Feather by Francisco Pittau
Alive : The Living, Breathing Human Body Book by Anita Ganeri; paper engineering Iain Smyth
Star Wars : A Galactic Pop-up Adventure by Matthew Reinhart (Make Your Own General)

For more movable books, click here.

DIY Pop-Ups
If you're feeling crafty, here's a few DIY books to help you make your own pop-up masterpieces!

Cards That Pop Up, Flip & Slide by Michael Jacobs
The Elements of Pop-up : a Pop-up Book for Aspiring Paper Engineers by David A. Carter and James Diaz
How to Make Pop-ups by Joan Irvine
Paper In Three Dimensions : Origami, Pop-ups, Sculpture, Baskets, Boxes, and More by Diane Maurer-Mathison
Paper Pop Up : 40 Dynamic Designs for Surprising Cards and Gifts by Dorothy Wood
Pop-o-mania : How to Create Your Own Pop-ups by Barbara Valenta
Making Books that Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist, & Turn by Gwen Diehn
Pop-up Cards : Over 50 Designs for Cards that Fold, Flap, Spin, and Slide by Mari Kumada

Surf's Up
Concise History of Pop-up and Movable Books
What Makes a Good Pop-up Book?
The Movable Book Society

I Laughed! I Cried! It Was So Romantic!

Favorite Romance Novels?
With Valentine's Day fast approaching, romance may be much on your mind. Let us not forget greeting cards, flowers, a great dinner pour deux, or perhaps an addition to your favorite someone's 'bling' collection.

All of this being said and scheduled, February is also a good time to catch a ride on the romance reader train. Here's a few romance and love story titles suggested by local readers in an unscientific survey. Read 'em and weep...

Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

MacKenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

From This Day by Nora Roberts
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
The End of the Affair by Graham Greene
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Snackin' and the Super Bowl

Perfect Partners
If you are planning a party for the... big... day... we offer a few quick book lists; titles sure to help you add a little "yum" to the festivities. Pick and choose from these and many other titles available at the library.

Pizza Party!
You can always order out but can also do it yourself.
My Pizza : the Easy No-knead Way to Make Spectacular Pizza at Home by Jim Lahey with Rick Flaste
Pizza : Grill it, Bake it, Love it! by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough
Pizza on the Grill : 100 Feisty Fire-roasted Recipes for Pizza & More by Elizabeth Karmel and Bob Blumer

Image courtesy of eatright.org

Are You Ready for Some Popcorn?
Perhaps you missed National Popcorn Day on January 19th? There's still time to celebrate this odd holiday on February 3rd:
Popcorn Treats : Delicious Recipes for Savoury Snacks & Sweet Treats by Hannah Miles
Let's Cook with Popcorn! : Delicious & Fun Popcorn Dishes Kids Can Make by Nancy Tuminelly
101 Things to Do with Popcorn by Christina Dymock

Planning Ahead : Slow Cooking
Go with a theme : Mexican, Mediterranean, or French or pick and choose from:
150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes by Judith Finlayson
The 150 Healthiest Slow Cooker Recipes on Earth by Jonny Bowden and Jeannette Bessinger
The Everything Vegan Slow Cooker by Amy Snyder
Slow Cooker Revolution : One Test Kitchen, 30 Slow Cookers, 200 Amazing Recipes by the editors at America's Test Kitchen

A Sandwich By Any Other Name
Supply the ingredients and play make-your-own "sammich" with your guests.
Emeril's Kicked-up Sandwiches : Stacked with Flavor by Emeril Lagasse
Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day! : Revolutionary New Takes on Everyone's Favorite Anytime Meal by Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes
200 Best Panini Recipes by Tiffany Collins
American Sandwich : Great Eats from All 50 States by Becky Mercuri
Panini by Melanie Barnard

Mix and Match on the Tasty Front
Snackin' around the big TV; have a happy football day!
Small Bites : Tapas, Sushi, Mezze, Antipasta, and Other Finger Foods by Jennifer Joyce
Salsas of the World by Mark Miller with Robert Quintana
Wings : More Than 50 High-flying Recipes for America's Favorite Snack by Debbie Moose
Gourmet Game Night : Bite-sized, Mess-free Eating for Board-game Parties, Bridge Clubs, Poker Nights, Book Groups, and More by Cynthia Nims

A Football Cookbook : Simple Recipes for Kids by Sarah L. Schuette
Gluten-free Vegan Comfort food : 125 Simple and Satisfying Recipes, From "Mac and Cheese" to Chocolate Cupcakes by Susan O'Brien
America's Best Ribs : Tips and Recipes for Easy, Lip-smacking, Pull-off-the-bone, Pass-the-sauce, Championship-quality BBQ Ribs at Home... by Ardie A. Davis and Paul Kirk

Surf's Up : A Food-Friendly Feud
Peruse menu ideas for Baltimore or San Francisco fans from the foodies at Epicurious. If you're neutral, you can always tip your chef's hat to New Orleans.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Darcy...

Bennet Sisters, Too
On January 28th, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice celebrates its 200th anniversary. Read (or re-read the book), listen on CD or downloadable audio, watch the book-to-film (Hello, Mr. Firth), and please do expect the decade-long Austen craze to continue...

Quick lists in several categories:

Popular Fiction Inspired by Jane
Jane Austin in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Austenland by Shannon Hale
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron
I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

Austen-Inspired Films
Becoming Jane
Bridget Jones's Diary
Clueless
The Jane Austen Book Club

Non-Fiction Reads
A Jane Austen Education : How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things that Really Matter by William Deresiewicz
The Jane Austen Handbook : Proper Life Skills From Regency England by Margaret C. Sullivan
What Matters in Jane Austen? : Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan

Surf's Up for Austenites
You choice to link-to :
The Republic of Pemberley : for the very true-blue.
Jane Austen Society of North America
Austenprose : All that is Austen and then some.
Austentacious : Three American fans of the BBC share their thoughts...

... and our favorite : Pride and Prejudice as told through Facebook status updates, courtesy of DeeDee Baldwin.

Take Your Child to the Library Day!

The Name and Logo are copyrighted work held
by the Connecticut Library Consortium and
artist Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. Used by permission. 

Let's Have Some Fun... Library Style!
Join us on Saturday, February 2, for a full day's worth of events all about you! For all ages.

Schedule of Events
Here's a quick line-up of scheduled events. For each event you attend, you may fill out a ticket to take a chance on winning a small prize at end of each event. All tickets will be entered in end-of-day Grand Prize drawing!

10:00 a.m. Story Hour
Join us for super stories about books and the library. We will also sing and dance, just in case you'd like to wear your favorite shoes (comfy, colorful, blinking, sparkly, sporty) for a shoe-riffic photo ready to share.

11:00 a..m. Craft : Owl Love You
Come join us for our "Owl Love You!" craft. This adorable owl craft, made entirely out of gently folded paper hearts and decorated with a potato stamp, comes just in time for Valentine's Day giving. For ages 4-8; registration is required.

12:00 p.m. Bookmark Design Contest
We'll supply the tools; you design a bookmark! Our contest will have three winners, based on age group. We will print 25 copies of each winning bookmark design for all to share and mark their place in a favorite book.

1:00 p.m. Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, and Get Cartoonized!
Get your face painted by local resident Cheri Kelley; learn to twist simple balloon animals with library staff member Phil Carr, or get a cartoon version of yourself drawn by Children's Services Librarian, Tim Guay!

2:00 p.m. Trivia Contest
What color do you get when you mix red and blue? What is the capital of France? What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? Join us for a trivia contest with a variety of questions for all ages levels.

3:00 p.m. Scavenger Hunt
Work in teams; decode clues; and use a compass to hunt for and find hidden treasures, small but nifty.

So Much to Do on Take Your Child to the Library Day!
Also plan to have some fun with :

• Board games
• Puzzles donated by the MOM's Club of East Hampton, CT
• Our Jelly Bean Guessing Contest, or...
• Pin the book on the Library!

About Take Your Child to the Library Day

Take Your Child to the Library Day is a Connecticut-grown, grass-roots project dreamed up in 2012 by Nadine Lipman, Children's Services Librarian at the Waterford (CT) Public Library. Now it's second year, this annual event created by Lipman and Caitlin Augusta (Stratford Library Association), has become a national campaign dedicated to bringing more children into their local libraries. As of January 16, 2013, 229 libraries (33 states, 3 countries, 1 province, and 1 school library) had signed on to participate. 

Odd But Wonderful Holidays

Winnie the Pooh Day!
“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” ~ Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh Day : Friday, January 18th
The creator of Winnie the Pooh, author A.A. Milne, was born on January 18, 1882 so quite naturally January 18th is Winnie the Pooh Day! Take a little Friday time to share bear-time with your kids, plus Winnie's pals Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Christopher Robin. Click here for a quick list of titles.

Winnie the Pooh : Not Just for Kids?
Check out a Pooh wisdom adaptation courtesy of Forbes; this one rated one of the top 5 customer service articles at the turn of 2013's calendar year.

Pooh and Friends Originals
Check out Treasures of the New York Public Library.

A Pooh-Friendly Tune
Your choice to click on over to YouTube : House at Pooh Corner, performed by Loggins and Messina.

Tax Form Update

Paper Forms
We understand many in our community traditionally look to our library as a convenient source of printed tax forms. Please note that the IRS has reduced distribution points for tax forms and libraries were included in the plan.

The IRS will provide us with a select number of forms. A few paper schedules have arrived but instruction booklets are not expected for a few weeks. Tax forms and instructions are first-come, first-served; we cannot set aside documents for you. Form racks are located in the library's lobby.

Form Downloads
Some forms are, however, now available online. We do offer free computer access to download tax forms from government web sites; printing is available for a nominal fee; i.e., 10 cents per page.
Federal Publications and Forms
Connecticut Publications and Forms

Beginning January 30
The IRS reports processing paper and e-file tax returns will begin starting on January 30. This year the filing deadline is April 15, 2013. According the IRS web site, households claiming key forms on their returns will be able to start in late February or March.

e-File (Federal)
Free File (Federal)

Tax Preparation Assistance
2012 Tax Centers List
Also check with the East Hampton Senior Center to determine if you are eligible to participate in an AARP tax clinic offered through the Center.

Resolutions

New Year, New You?
Well before the clock strikes midnight, we all resolve to make some sort of change in a new year. Whether you've resolved to exercise more, lose weight, spend more time with your family -- improve relationships, revive a set-aside talent, or try something new -- the library resolves to offer a variety of titles to support your goals.

Quick lists follow and don't forget to recommend a good read for library purchase, either online or in person.

Diet and Exercise
A few of the latest or most popular :

The Miracle Carb Diet by Tanya Zuckerbrot
The Digest Diet by Liz Vaccariello
Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook by Sarah Fragoso
Eat to Defeat Menopause by Karen Giblin and Mache Seibel
Body by You by Mark Lauren
Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Dummies by Meri Raffetto and Wendy Jo Peterson
7 Years Younger by the Editors of Good Housekeeping
The First 20 minutes : the Myth-busting Science That Shows How We Can Walk Farther, Run Faster, and Live Longer by Gretchen Reynolds

Making the Most of Your Gadget
Enjoy titles sure to appeal to the gadgeteer in you : smartphones, iPad, with several how-to books for popular tablets on the way. Don't forget a variety of resources, a few mentioned here, on how to achieve better digital camera results.

Relationship Building
Better family or work communication on your list for 2013? Here's a few on-point titles. Mix and match!

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler
Just Listen : Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Everyone by Mark Goulston
Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? : A Modern Guide to Manners by Henry Alford
Decisive Parenting : Strategies That Work With Teenagers by Michael Hammond

Personal Growth
From different perspectives :

The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell
The Big Shift : Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife by Marc Freedman
Making Good : Finding Meaning, Money, and Community In a Changing World by Billy Parish and Dev Aujla
Happier at Home : Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
There's a Better Day A-Comin' by Ronda Rich
The Procrastination Equation : How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Things Done by Piers Steel
The Art of Procrastination : A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing by John Perry

Don't Be Afraid to Just Call Me!

Reserve Notifications Just Got a Little Easier...
If you are currently receiving email notifications to pickup items you've reserved for checkout, you may also receive these notices on your cell phone. All you need to do is update your patron record and append your cell phone number to your email address.  Here's how you can opt in to the service:

Login in to your local library account. Your user name is your library barcode number, printed on the back of your card; the password is yours. If you don't know or remember your password, give us a call. We'd also encourage you to reset your password with some frequency as a hedge against losing your card.

Click on My Account
Verify your email account name then insert a comma, your cell phone number@ your provider's messaging address. Example? emailname@email.com,8605551111@provider.xxx

A Number of Cell Providers and Their Formats
Next time you stop by the library, pick up a quick list of providers and the format you'll need to use to accept a cell phone message.

In the Garden : 2012 Edition

Regards to Our Gardens
Gardening books come in all varieties and are fun to read, even if your thumb isn't as green as you might like. We offer a quick list of 2012's high-profile and/or award-winning gardening books -- not all of them DIY -- but all sure to instruct, impress, and inspire.

Decoding Garden Advice : The Science Behind the 100 Most Common Recommendations by Jeff Gillman and Meleah Maynard

American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools and Communities by Michelle Obama

What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses by Daniel Chamovitz

The Layered Garden: Design Lessons for Year-Round Beauty from Brandywine Cottage by David Culp

How Carrots Won the Trojan War by Rebecca Rupp

The Untamed Garden : A Revealing Look at Our Love Affair With Plants by Sonia Day

Little House in the Suburbs : Backyard Farming and Home Skills for Self-sufficient Living by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin

The Year-round Vegetable Gardener : How to Grow Your Own Food 365 Days a Year No Matter Where You Live by Niki Jabbour

Small Green Roofs by Nigel Dunnett

The Holistic Orchard : Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way by Michael Phillips

Free-range Chicken Gardens : How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-friendly Yard by Jessi Bloom

The Beginner's Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables by Marie Iannotti

All Hearts On Deck!

Hearts On Hands Crunch Time...
By now, just about everyone in our community has heard about The Kissing Hand Mitten Project, conceived by our extraordinarily humble neighbor, Kim Piscatelli.

If you are not a knitter but would like to contribute your time, basic sewing skills and heart to the cause, here's one easy way to support the Kissing Hand Project:

Show Your Heart, Sew A Heart
Beginning Monday, January 7, you can pick up one or more mitten/glove kits at the library. Each kit contains a pair of mittens or gloves, felt, a 'kissing hand' heart template for the felt, and yarn. Sew one heart on to each of the mittens or gloves; also use the yarn to connect the pair. Work at the library as a group (we'll make room) or take a few kits home to share with your neighbors.

All completed Kissing Hand kits must be returned to library on Friday, January 11 by 3:00 p.m.

All of the kit components, 50 plus, were donated by local and area residents. Hope to see you Monday and let's get sewing!

Sports Page : 2012 Edition

Reader Up!
Sports books take up their fair share of slots on bestseller lists, both short and long. Here are but a few sports titles in our collection that found their way into the spotlight in 2012.

Fenway 1912 : the Birth of a Ballpark, a Championship Season, and Fenway's Remarkable First Season by Glenn Stout
Essential reading for any Red Sox fan.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A baseball star at a small college launches a routine throw that goes disastrously off course and inadvertently changes the lives of five people. The author's debut novel.

When the Garden Was Eden : Clyde, the Captain, Dollar Bill, and the Glory Days of the Old Knicks by Harvey Araton
A recounting of the 1970's Knicks and how they made their way to two NBA championships.

American Triumvirate : Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, and the Modern Age of Golf by James Dodson
A celebration of three legendary champions on the centennial of their births in 1912.

Chasing Dean : Surfing America's Hurricane States by Tom Anderson
Re-released in 2012, a quirky read about science and surfing. Pair this one with fiction book, The Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow or Susan Casey's non-fiction book, The Wave.

Girl Hunter : Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time by Georgia Pellegrini
The second book from a popular foodie blogger.

Eat and Run : My Unlikely Journey to Ultra-Marathon Greatness by Scott Jurek
The ultra-runner author opens up about his life and career as an elite athlete.

The Secret Race : Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France by Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle
Exciting, quick moving, shocking and winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

The Good Son : the Life of Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini by Mark Kriegel
The story of fathers and fighters. Even if you don't watch boxing, this one's a great read.

Sweetness: the Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton by Jeff Pearlman
The challenging and not all glittery story of a Chicago Bears superstar.

Cooler Than Cool : Young Adult Books 2012

Great for Adults, Too
YA books sales skyrocketed this year and the Hunger Games Trilogy offered proof positive that young adult books aren't just for young adults anymore. We offer a quick list of YA and tween-age reads, all of which appeared on one or more of 2012's notable book lists.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
The companion book to Graceling and Fire.

Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
A National Book Award Finalist from the author of Cut, a summer reading list favorite. Based on true story.

Son by Lois Lowry
The final book in a quintet, companion to : The Giver, Gathering Blue, and Messenger.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
An excellent, complex, and unforgettable read and no, no, no -- not anything like summer reading list favorite, Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper. Pair Green's book with Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. Both are great choices for adults, too.

A Tale Dark and Grimm and In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
Enjoy classic fairly tales -- homage to the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen -- but with a decidedly creative twist and just enough 'yuk' to please the crowd.

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Not the first adult book author to throw a hat into the YA ring; this one's the first in the Chronicles of Kazam series.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Follow-up to the author's Newbery-winning title, How You Reach Me. Both are quirky and fun to read.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's book is as cool as they come. A great pick for families who share an interest in mystery, historical, adventure, and friendship reads.

Angelfall by Susan Ee
First in a planned series and another in a stream of YA novels with a post-apocalyptic theme.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Lemony Snicket for older kids. Great vintage photographs; a sequel is planned and the film rights have been purchased...

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Last in a series of four.

Crossed by Ally Condie
A sequel to Matched. Sequel to sequel, Reached, is already available.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Historical fiction, based on the author's family experiences and a 2012 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) award winner.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
From the author of the Scorpio Races and Wolves of Mercy Falls series, all unconventional YA reads that respect the reader.

Every Day by David Levithan
What would happen if you were able to take over the body of a different person each day at midnight? Explore some very, very interesting questions with this one.

The Best of the Best : Reading Roundup 2012

Image courtesy of the East Lansing
Public Library (Michigan)

Making a List or Two or Three...
What's a 'best book'? Tough call and a highly personal one for sure. However, as we count down to 2013 we'll be using the week ahead to highlight 'best books' included on a variety of lists from a variety of sources.

From the NYT
The top ten features five fiction and five non-fiction reads. The list includes a Booker Prize and a National Book Award winner.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
This and its predecessor, Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker Prize and is set in the days of Henry VIII.
Building Stories by Chris Ware*
A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers
NW by Zadie Smith
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in the Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo*
2012's National Book Award Winner in the non-Fiction category explores life in Annawadi, a Mumbai slum.
Far From the Tree : Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon
The Passage of Power : The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro*
The Patriarch : The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy by David Nasaw*
Why Does the World Exist? : An Existential Detective Story by Jim Holt

Parent's Magazine

"Reads they'll relish"...

Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky
Trains Go by Steve Light
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Sky Color by Peter H. Reynolds
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater and Adam Stower
Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Newsday

Including four other titles, which also made the NYT's top 10 list*, these eight round out Newsday's top 12:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Beautiful Ruins : a Novel by Jess Walter
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Monkey Mind : A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith
May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Carry the One by Carol Anshaw
Fire in the Belly : The Life and Times of David Wojnarowicz by Cynthia Carr