Sizzling Showdown

August Sizzling Showdown--Crossovers!

2010-07-30T14:14:00.004-06:00

Crossovers are books published for teens but that are popular with adults as well. This summer Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games Series is the hot title. We've got more crossovers to satisfy your inner teen. From 8/01 through 8/23, find one you like, write an online review on our website--be sure to mention that it's your Sizzling Showdown nominee, and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Mockingjay on its release date 8/24!

Five Ancestors

2010-07-05T08:29:00.001-06:00

"All the other books in the Five Ancestors series were quite exhilarating as well. If you like stories with action, survival, adventure, and martial arts you'll love this book and the series."

Five young warrior-monk brothers survive an insurrection and must use the ancient arts to avenge their Grandmaster.

Pretty Little Liars series

2010-07-05T08:29:00.000-06:00

"I loved the whole Pretty LIttle Liar series! Sara Sherpard did an awesome job of keeping me interested the entire time. I couldn't put this book down!"

When one of their tightly-knit group mysteriously disappears, four high school girls find their friendship difficult to maintain when they begin receiving taunting messages from someone who seems to know everything about their past and present secrets.

Beastly

2010-07-05T08:27:00.001-06:00

A modern retelling of the "Beauty and the Beast" story told from the beast's point of view.

Kyle is turned into a beast and must find true love to turn back to his normal self. The movie comes out on March 18, 2011.

Maximum Ride series

2010-07-05T08:27:00.000-06:00

"Maximum Ride is DEFINENTLY one of my fav books!"

After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids," who are the result of genetic experimentation, take off in pursuit and find themselves struggling to understand their own origins and purpose.

Find more of the series.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

2010-07-05T08:25:00.000-06:00

The gods of Olympus are alive in the 21st Century. They still fall in love with mortals and have children who might become great heroes, but most of these children meet horrible fates at the hands of monsters by the age of twelve. Only a few learn the truth of their identity and make it to Half Blood Hill, a Long Island summer camp dedicated to training young demigods. Such is the revelation that launches young Percy Jackson on a quest to help his real father, Poseidon, avert a war among the gods.

Five teens nominated the Percy Jackson series . What's not to like - lots of action, fun characters, scary monsters, and a bit of mythology thrown in.

Hunger Games

2010-07-05T08:23:00.003-06:00

"well i for one definately recommend the hunger games! thats an amazing series suzanne collins is sooo good!"

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

If you haven't read this trilogy yet, check out The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. The final book, Mockingjay comes out on August 24.

Harry Potter

2010-07-05T08:23:00.002-06:00

Well, what favorite book poll would be complete without the Harry Potter series?

Maybe the next poll will be your favorite book in the series - mine is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Giver

2010-07-05T08:23:00.000-06:00

Two teens both said they love The Giver.

Jonas lives in a community of the future where everyone works and plays by the rules. He anxiously awaits the Ceremony of Twelve when he’ll learn what his life’s work will be. Much to his surprise, he is apprenticed to one of the most honored of the elders, the keeper of memories, who alone remembers what snow is, and sunlight.

"FANTASTIC READ!!!!!!!!!! I love how the author Lois Lowry writes and describes her thoughts of what a futuristic and maybe utopian society is like."

Inheritance Series

2010-07-05T08:22:00.002-06:00

The Inheritance series was also nominated by two teens.

The first in the trilogy is Eragon. In Aagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

Find some Inheritance read-alikes.

Shadow Children series

2010-07-05T08:22:00.000-06:00

This series, which begins with Among the Hidden, was nominated by two teens.

Imagine a future world where government regulations restrict families to two kids. Now imagine that you are a third child, born secretly and illegally. You have to hide away in your home. You can never go to school. You can never have friends. You think you're the only one... until the day you spy another third child.

If you like this series, try the Missing series by the same author.

Teen Favorites

2010-07-05T08:18:00.000-06:00

For July we've selected the picks a little differently - instead of librarian picks, we've asked our teen patrons to nominate the books for this month's Showdown. Take a look at the nominees. Check the reviews of the favorites--and you can vote for your favorite starting June 11th.

"Real" Kids

2010-06-28T07:08:00.000-06:00

Not such a fan of fantasy and science fiction? Which book about normal kids is your favorite? Vote in the poll on Tales' Treehouse or leave your comments here.

The Penderwicks

The strange case of Origami Yoda

Because of Winn Dixie

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Beezus and Ramona

Gooney Bird Greene

Boys Against Girls

Bobby vs. Girls

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler

Anastasia Krupnik

Princess Books

2010-06-25T10:00:00.000-06:00

What is your favorite princess book? Vote in the poll on Tales' Treehouse or leave your comments here.

The Paper Bag Princess

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

Princess KIM and the Lie That Grew

Princess Hyacinth

Arthur and Guen

The End

Falling for Rapunzel

Princesses Are Not Quitters

Magical Kids

2010-06-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Which of these magical characters is the best? Vote in the poll on Tales' Treehouse or leave your comments here.

Percy Jackson is the demigod in the Percy Jackson books whose mother is human and whose father is the Greek god Poseidon.

Harry Potter hardly needs introduction as the wizard boy in the Harry Potter books and movies.

Charlie Bone is on of the Children of the Red King in the series by Jenny Nimmo. He is a picture listener so he has the gift to hear what people in pictures are saying, and is able to travel through them.

Kendra and Seth are the brother and sister in the Fablehaven books by Brandon Mull. After drinking magic milk they are able to see magical creatures.

Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage.

Meggie Folchart is the main character in the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke. She has inherited her father's ability to read characters out of books and into the real world.

Molly Moon is a time traveler, hypnotist and mind reader who is the main character in the Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng.

Best Dino Book - How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight!

2010-06-13T09:13:00.000-06:00

The winner of the best dinosaur book poll is How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight. If you love that book, remember Jane Yolen has written lots more dinosaur books.

Best Dinosaur Books

2010-06-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

What is your favorite dinosaur book? Our favorites include these seven books. Visit Tales' Treehouse to vote for your favorite.

When Dinosaurs Came with Everything

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?

I'm Bad

Danny and the Dinosaur

Dinosaurs Love Underpants

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime

Dinotrux

Sizzling Kids Books

2010-06-01T14:21:00.006-06:00

During June we will be looking at four sets of kids books so we don't have to compare picture books to chapter books or make kids pick between their favorite topics. The polls for voting for favorites will be on Tales' Treehouse to encourage as much participation from kids as possible.

Check back on June 7th to start discussing and voting!

June 7th - 13th Best Dinosaur Picture Books
June 14th - 20th Favorite Magical character in Chapter Books
June 21st- 27th Favorite Princess Picture Books
June 28th - July 4th Favorite Real Kid in Chapter Books

Mistress of the Art of Death is the Winner!

2010-05-17T08:26:00.004-06:00

Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar wins the Mystery Competition! If you haven't yet read Mistress of the Art of Death--well, what are you waiting for? Thanks to all who nominated titles, commented on the nominees, and voted for their favorite mystery. Check back next month--our June Sizzling Showdown will feature Kids' Books!

Vote Today!

2010-05-10T08:07:00.002-06:00

Tell us what your favorite mystery is by voting in our poll--open through Sunday, May 16. Do you think we covered the best mysteries? Comment and let us know!

Mystery Competition

2010-05-03T08:59:00.003-06:00

The May Sizzling Showdown is the Mystery Competition. Take a look at our 7 nominees. Which book is your favorite? Care to tell us why? Just leave a comment. Check back on May 9th to vote!

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin

2010-05-03T08:50:00.003-06:00

The Canterbury Tales with a dash of Kay Scarpetta? You just can't miss with this one!

The mystery is good: Someone is killing the children of England. The Jews of Cambridge are being blamed and King Henry II is determined to clear them of the charges. He orchestrates the rounding up of a team of medieval detectives.

The characters are even better: Enter Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar of Salerno--doctor to the dead, Mansur--a Moor, a eunuch, and Adelia's protector, and Simon of Naples--the "fixer." (There are more great characters--ALL of them are superbly written--but a few words here don't do them justice.)

This is book one in the Mistress of the Art of Death series--and probably the best--but I am just as excited about reading the newly released book four. That's what a great mystery series does--sells you on the characters and keeps you coming back for more. This fits the bill!

Deal Breaker - Myron Bolitar Series #1

2010-05-01T11:36:00.005-06:00

It's a good thing Myron is the monogamous sort (and a fictional character): he wouldn't be interested in a married middle-aged woman with three kids, which is good because he's the only man I'd leave my husband for.

I re-read Deal Breaker for the purposes of this review and realized it's not my favorite of the series. Coben does a much better job in further books of developing the characters and the humor.

What do I love about the books? Myron is a wise-cracking sports agent with a equally wise-cracking, very rich, WASPY - and deadly - friend Win. The banter between these two is classic; I can read and re-read it and still laugh. Rounding out the cast of characters is Esperanza, his assistant-turned-lawyer who used to be famous wrestler; Big Cindy, who I'd love to see cast in a movie 'cause she'd probably make Mimi from the Drew Carey show look thin and bland; and Myron's parents, who are actually portrayed as wise, loving and loved. There's more... you can read the books and see for yourself who shows up over and over again. What I really enjoy are Coben's veiled references and cameo appearances of characters in his standalone books.

I've read many mysteries and have solved many mysteries long before the book was over. That's never happened with a Myron book (or any of Coben's other books). True, Coben leaves some details for the very end, making it nearly impossible to predict the ending. The endings also aren't often happy. Solving the mystery might have negative personal or financial ramifications for Myron but he solves it anyway and does the right thing because that's just the kind of guy Myron is.

As a Teen Librarian, I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to read that Coben is writing a three book young adult series. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry

2010-04-30T12:25:00.005-06:00

“He opened his eyes and saw nothing but a pale grayness above him, uniform, like a winter sky, threatening and heavy. He blinked and looked again. He was lying flat on his back; the grayness was a ceiling, dirty with the grime and trapped fumes of years.” His name is William Monk, and he is a police detective. Only he doesn’t know it. In this polluted nightmare of a city known as Victorian London, a carriage accident has robbed him of his memory and dissolved his entire past. Then he is assigned a murder case…

Anne Perry’s characters are like no one else’s. They are 3-D, and you can touch, smell, feel, and hear them. You can discern their strengths and their weaknesses. You can almost carry on a conversation with them. You KNOW them. They are REAL.

Her horror-filled descriptions of mid-nineteenth century London are vivid, and insert us into the midst of a poverty-stricken population ripe with starvation, disease, and misery.

Then there is murder…Ah, but don’t think that it is only the poor who suffer from THAT malady. Oh, no. The other side of London…the upper class…are not even exempt from that.

With his partner John Evan, and young Crimean War nurse Hester Latterly, Monk attempts to solve the murder of an English gentleman. He is also tries to recover his identity, but there is no easy solution to the latter. The more he finds out, the less he likes himself. Hmmmmm…

This is the first title in the series, and by not putting each successive book into a box and tying it with a bow, Perry manages to keep us intrigued…and totally hooked! She is absolutely the Mistress of Mystery…

Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson

2010-04-27T13:07:00.006-06:00

If you like current day English mysteries, try Peter Robinson's excellent Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks series. These novels characteristically carry two story lines: The solving of crimes, and intricacies from Bank's private life – which include his personal relationship with his police cohort, Annie Cabot, his involvement with his children from a former marriage, and his attempts to deal with his own private turmoils.

In the recent "Friend of the Devil" episode, two murders are discovered on the same Sunday morning: A paraplegic woman is found near a cliff with her throat cut, and Inspector Annie Cabot is on the case; meanwhile, Alan Banks is in the middle of investigating a crime involving a young college student but finds himself drawn into Annie’s case as well. Then Annie’s case turns a shocking direction that further involves Banks.

Peter Robinson writes truly quality mysteries with captivating plots and vivid (though compelling flawed) characters. They're sometimes gritty but not overly so. This is a very fine series drawn within a well-decripted Yorkshire setting.

Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series by Jacqueline Winspear

2010-04-27T09:55:00.006-06:00

Ten Things I Love About Maisie

1. Many novels take place during World War II; less frequently the era between the wars is highlighted, as it is in this series. The time period and the details of Maisie's life feel fresh.

2. There's just a touch of the paranormal in what Maisie knows and how she knows it...or is it just that she is a deeply intelligent and keenly observant person who is open to the information her subconscious and intuition might reveal?

3. Maisie moves in male-dominated circles professionally, and her personal mentors and family are largely men; but she also has a close friend, Priscilla, and their relationship is central to Maisie's life.

4. Grief and loss are so beautifully and genuinely portrayed.

5. The mysteries Maisie investigates resolve at the close of each book, yet the recurring characters' development and the emotional arc of the entire series feels continuous and organic.

6. Maisie spent time as a nurse in France during WWI, and the author writes compellingly of the medical details, the physical conditions, and the emotional reality of Maisie's experience there.

7. The pace of each title is measured and thoughtful, just like Maisie herself. I love that unraveling the mystery is still satisfying without being hyper-suspenseful.

8. Maisie feels like a very real person dealing with very real griefs; everything doesn't fall into place in her life all at once, or even at all. She is a work in progress, just like we are.

9. At the close of the 7th book, the author introduces a couple of game-changing possibilities, allowing her to move the series in a fresh direction with the next title.

10. Maisie owns an MG and drives it too fast.

A Noble Radiance

2010-04-26T10:24:00.006-06:00

If a trip to Venice is a little out of reach right now, pick up any of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti mysteries. The setting of the books is on their best features giving you a view of Italy that is far removed from the tourist view but every bit as enticing. Leon has lived in Italy for years so she knows what she is talking about.

Another great feature of the books are the characters. Brunetti is intelligent, charming and a man of great integrity. Most fans of the books are equally enthralled by his relationship with his college professor wife, Paola, and with the remarkable secretary, Elettra.

The mysteries are not too violent and as in Noble Radiance often explore themes of justice and morality as well as details of the crimes.

Did I mention the food? Unbelievable descriptions of fabulous meals abound, and the library has just ordered Brunetti's Cookbook if you want to try these meals out at home.

Cradle and All by James Patterson

2010-04-21T13:13:00.006-06:00

What more is there than a story that tests the forces between good and evil? James Patterson writes Cradle and All with such intensity, that it breaks the limits of the conventional scheme. It possesses a wonderful blend of mystery and suspense through the apocalyptic journey between science and faith.

It embarks on the life of two young girls who are both pregnant and both virgins. According to legend, one will carry the child of Christ, while the other will carry the spawn of Satan. As humanity becomes frightened in the all the chaos, the Catholic Church seeks the help of a former nun turned detective who must solve this obscurity before the entire world either witnesses a great miracle or suffers at the hands of evil.

The story keeps you griping the pages of the book up to the very end and even then you are surprised at the twists that Patterson lays before you.

Get the book on CD.

Mystery Showdown

2010-04-21T08:24:00.002-06:00

Take a look at our mystery nominees. We're starting to post reviews for our favorites--and you can vote for your favorite starting May 9th.

Watchmen and Time Traveler's Wife Tie!

2010-04-18T07:08:00.002-06:00

Thanks for participating in our April showdown of Time Travel books! May is our mystery competition. Check back May 3rd to see the nominees!

April - Time Travel

2010-04-05T10:00:00.008-06:00

It's time to start our April Sizzling Showdown! We will be discussing our favorite time travel books as part of Arapahoe Library District's Into the Future themed programs.

What are some of your favorite time travel books? Take a look at our nominees--what do you think? Did we leave some out? Let us know by commenting below! Be sure to vote April 11 - 17 for your favorite.

We are battling it out with 7 titles aimed at adults, but we have great time travel books and dvds for all ages!

Watchmen by Alan Moore

2010-04-05T08:31:00.007-06:00

Watchmen, an alternate-history graphic novel set during Nixon’s ongoing administration in 1985 America, gives an obvious nod to Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. The same themes of predestination (fate) and lack of free will are presented in both works. In Watchmen, Dr. Manhattan (one of many characters in this polyphonic novel) exists simultaneously at all points in time.

His story, as he lives and relives his life experiences in a similar fashion to Vonnegut’s Billy Pilgrim, is the thread that ties the other stories together, and eventually leads to the climax of the novel. Dr. Manhattan is nearly god-like in his powers, but, like Pilgrim, is still a puppet of fate. One of the major differences between the two characters is Moore’s allowance for Dr. Manhattan to be naïve for a time after his transformation into a nearly all-powerful being, then oblivious to his future at times.

In relation to Slaughterhouse-Five, Moore takes a somewhat faltering step when Dr. Manhattan agrees to be part of a plot to save humanity by providing it with an extra-dimensional antagonist. In essence, Moore allows for the idea that humanity can be “saved”, while still allowing us to go to war. It is this allowance that makes Slaughterhouse-Five a more philosophical novel in the anti-war camp. It is also why Watchmen will appeal to readers who are not looking for philosophy in a quick read.

As mainstream science-fiction involving crime, politics and superheroes, Watchmen is faster paced, and a more entertaining read than Slaughterhouse-Five, but it still allows for a richer experience for the more introspective reader.

Time and Again by Jack Finney

2010-04-05T08:07:00.000-06:00

Time Travel is my favorite genre and it’s all Jack Finney’s fault!

Si Morley is a photographer in 1970 (when the book was written) Manhattan. He gets recruited into a government sponsored time travel project and returns to Manhattan in 1882. The descriptions of the city are phenomenal: New York at that time was comprised of either the very rich or the very poor; Morley, as a visitor, is in the very rich group. Most people live in the southern tip of Manhattan and the brand new Dakota apartment building (where John Lennon lived and died) is considered so far away (Central Park West) it may as well be in the Dakotas. This is a New York where young men take their dates on horse drawn carriage rides through Central Park (chaperoned of course). A snow storm can shut the city down. The tallest building is the Trinity Church near Wall Street. And one of my favorite pieces of trivia – the New York Public library doesn’t exist yet. The Croton Reservoir was at that site.

The book blends time travel, historical fiction, mystery, and a romance. Like pictures? Si takes photos and these are in the book. Interspersed throughout the book are so many facts about New York and the United States in the late 1800s that you end up with an unintentional history lesson – if all history could be taught in this manner, Social Studies would probably be the favorite subject of most High School students.

My only complaint about the book is a somewhat slapstick case of mistaken identity that leads to a police chase. Beyond that, this book is so good that I’ve read it repeatedly from the late 80s, when I first discovered it, to my last time which was about five years ago. But in thinking and writing about this book, I’m getting the urge again…

The Time Traveler's Wife by Aurdrey Niffenegger

2010-04-04T19:44:00.011-06:00

Not only is this my favorite time-travel book, it is my favorite book book.

It is clever, thoughtful, sexy, funny, and heartbreaking--I’ve read it and listened to it (the audio is very good, by the way) 4 times and cried each time.

You’ll find no time machines here. Just a chrono-impaired Henry DeTamble who can disappear into another time at any given moment, leaving only his clothes—and his wife—behind.

And Henry is a librarian! Upon meeting Clare for the first time--the first 28-year-old time--he says, “Lord only knows what I have said, done, or promised, to this luminous creature, so I am forced to say in my best librarianese, 'Is there something I can help you with?'"(!) That is what makes this book fabulous—besides the great character development—Henry has been meeting up with Clare since she was a little girl, but he was older, so his 28-year-old self does not know her. Trying to figure out the whens and the wheres of Henry make the story so intriguing and Audrey Niffenegger does an excellent job of keeping it all straight and the story flowing.

Read it, love it--again and again.

To Say Nothing of the Dog or, How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last by Connie Willis

2010-04-03T15:08:00.010-06:00

Things go terribly wrong when an Oxford historian attempts to save a cat destined to be drowned in the river. The space-time continuum is in trouble and if someone doesn't fix the rift…all hell could break loose.

It's all Lady Schrapnell's fault. At her request, every historian is being sent back in time to search for the Bishop's bird stump (which disappeared during the Nazi bombing raid of Coventry Cathedral). As a result, they're all suffering from time lag sickness.

Ned Henry is sent to Victorian England to return the cat, and hopefully, mend the rip in time. Unfortunately, Ned is also suffering from a horrible case of time lag . Travelling down the Thames with his new friends, Ned is unsuccessful in getting the rest he truly needs. He must cope with séances, church jumble sales (frou-frou penwipers?) and a love sick young man who quotes Tennyson. To say nothing of the dog!

In the spirit of such authors as Robert A Heinlein and Jerome K Jerome, Colorado author Connie Willis writes an award winning novel featuring comical time traveling historians from Oxford. While some of "Doomsday Book" characters make an appearance, this book is much more light-hearted. Not a science fiction fan? That's okay, because this book has a perfect blend of historical fiction, romance and comedy.

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

2010-04-02T16:24:00.002-06:00

The Doomsday Book, which won both of science fiction’s highest awards, is a brilliant novel with appeal for all types of fiction readers.

Kivrin, a history student at Oxford in 2048, travels back in time to Christmas Day in a 14th-century English village and becomes stranded. Unable to return to the future, Kivrin becomes increasingly absorbed in the complex lives of the kind family who takes her in. The compelling characters and detailed depiction of everyday life make you feel as if you’ve been transported to the Middle Ages.

The setting in the future is equally gripping, as the desperately worried time-travel scientists at Oxford fight to rescue Kivrin and also battle with a deadly problem of their own.

Local Colorado author Connie Willis blends the two story lines seamlessly, and you grow to care deeply about the characters’ difficult struggles both in the past and the future. Many readers say The Doomsday Book is not only the best time-travel book they’ve ever read, it’s one of their all-time favorite novels. Check it out—I’ll bet you’ll agree.

The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman

2010-04-01T14:27:00.004-06:00

The Accidental Time Machine follows MIT student Matthew and his pet turtle. One night in the lab, Matthew (by accident, of course) makes a machine capable of disappearing for 12 seconds. The next time he tries it, it’s gone for longer. After a series of tests, Matthew finds that the machine disappears for an exponentially longer amount of time each time the button is pressed. Matthew’s poor turtle is attached to the time machine and sent into the future. He comes back unscathed. Matthew decides it is time for a human subject…

Much like H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine and many other classic time travel books, the moral question of this book is: should mankind challenge the laws of space and time? Will man be better or worse off with this technology? Matthew encounters everything from arrests to affairs in his time traveling escapades.

The Accidental Time Machine is a great time travel book for those who like their science fiction on the softer side. Instead of bogging readers down in details about space time continuums and vortexes and such, Haldeman focuses on an engaging story that recognizes some of the absurdity of time travel. This is why The Accidental Time Machine is the best time travel book.

Eyre Affair

2010-04-01T07:20:00.002-06:00

The Eyre Affair is about , um well, it is impossible to say. The author, Jasper Fforde described it as "a literary detective thriller with romantic overtones, mad-inventor uncles, aunts trapped in Wordsworth poems, scheming evildoers, an excursion inside the novel Jane Eyre, dodos, knight-errant-time-traveling fathers, and the answer to the eternal question: Who really wrote Shakespeare's plays?"

There is certainly "traditional time travel" in this series because Thursday's father is a member of the Chronoguard which polices time travel and its problems; and Thursday herself is involved in a temporal disturbance. The larger part of the plot really revolves around the idea that people can travel in and out of literature.

Traveling in and out of books presents many of the same issues facing your more standard time travelers. Are you dressed appropriately, knowledgeable of correct language and customs, not too confused about your circumstances…

And of course the BIG ISSUE, what happens if you change something? In the Eyre Affair, someone kidnaps Jane from Charlotte Bronte's original manuscript and all over the world people's copies of the book go blank from that page forward. In a society which takes its literature very seriously (riots break out over who really wrote Shakespeare's plays), this is a most serious crime.

Why is this the best time travel book nominee? Because it is inventive, funny and in the grand tradition of time travel leaves you completely confused about reality.

Alyson

Time Travel Showdown

2010-03-22T13:31:00.013-06:00

Read these nominees, travel through time, and check back April 5th to see the real competition begin. We're debating the best time travel books and letting you decide which one wins--voting begins April 11th!

Summer Showdown Over

2009-09-02T09:12:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to our winners!

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hunger Games
In a Sunburned Country
Unaccustomed Earth

Let us know what you thought of Summer Showdown. Was it too long? Did it go well with Summer Reading or did it conflict with staff time? Was it confusing to vote OFF a book? Would it work if we moved the showdown to around National Library Week in April? Should we limit the nominees to the past year? Let us know!

Unaccustomed Earth By a Nose!

2009-08-21T07:29:00.004-06:00

Well, after much debate amongst the Summer Showdown committee, we've selected Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth!

It's been an exciting journey--hope you liked voting, commenting, and learning about good books. We did! Thanks for everyone's participation. We're looking forward to another great selection of books going head-to-head next year!

In a Sunburned Country Wins!

2009-08-20T07:14:00.002-06:00

Congrats to Bill for hanging in there to the very end!

The Adult Fiction competition is very close. Who will win? Continue to vote--you have one day left!

Hunger Games wins teen summer showdown

2009-08-19T07:33:00.004-06:00

Hunger Games is the last one standing in the first annual Arapahoe Library District Summer Showdown. If you haven't read the book yet, reserve it today. You can listen to it on CD or Playaway. Also, make sure you get your hold in for Catching Fire, which comes out this September.

Thanks to all who voted!

Harry still the "Chosen One"

2009-08-18T06:11:00.006-06:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the chapter book Summer Showdown champ. The newer Mysterious Benedict Society series probably just doesn't have the readership to take on Harry.

Did you know that Harry Potter was first published eleven years ago (eleven being a very significant birthday for Harry)? Come to the library and celebrate at a Harry Potter party

Dinosaur Wins

2009-08-17T07:15:00.011-06:00

I didn't think anyone would beat the Pigeon, but Dinosaur was confident and already had a page for "Dinosaur Wins."

Farewell to Skeletons at the Feast

2009-08-14T07:30:00.003-06:00

Our very own JoAnne Pulcino reviews Skeletons at the Feast as a "bittersweet, heartrending story of a love triangle and the exodus of refugees in the waning months of the Second World War." Sounds like the makings for a great book! However, sadly, it's been voted off in our Summer Showdown poll.

We're left with the short stories of Jhumpa Lahiri and Jeffrey Archer's suspenseful murder mystery. Who will be left standing?!

The Glass Castle has been eliminated!

2009-08-13T07:03:00.007-06:00

This is the deciding week--we've now got Bill Bryson's travel memoir up against Diane Ackerman's war story.

Who will be the winner? Predictions, anyone?

PS As a concession to The Glass Castle, here's a little promo for Jeanette Walls's upcoming true-life novel, Half Broke Horses: Lily Casey Smith, the author's grandmother, survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. This is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults. Half Broke Horses will transfix readers everywhere. Due out in October.

Sorry Percy

2009-08-12T08:04:00.003-06:00

Final week and it's down to two: Hunger Games and Graceling. Personally, I'm hoping that Hunger Games wins big! Which do you predict will win? Comment below with your thoughts.

Click for a review of all eight Summer Showdown Teen Books nominees.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Voted OFF!

2009-08-11T07:01:00.003-06:00

This week, Hugo is gone and it's up to Reynie, Kate, Constance, and Sticky to take on Harry!

Who will be the winner? Tell us who you think will win and don't forget to vote!

Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny...

2009-08-10T07:02:00.003-06:00

to get you for voting him off Summer Showdown. Well, okay, maybe not, but he'll be coming in November!

We're finally down to two books! Which picture book will be your favorite? Do you like pigeons or dinosaurs? Keep on voting!

Not Enzo!

2009-08-07T05:56:00.002-06:00

I'm speechless...

Goodbye to the Restaurant Critic

2009-08-06T08:41:00.004-06:00

It was so close--Bill Bryson just barely beat out Ruth Reichl. This group seems to like a little drama with their nonfiction!

Will the more serious books continue on? We'll find out next Thursday--check back and keep voting!

Little Brother was beaten up

2009-08-05T07:59:00.003-06:00

It was a close one but in the end, Marcus was beaten up by Katsa, Katniss, and Percy.

Who will go down in next week's Summer Showdown Teen Books? Take the poll on the right and help eliminate this week's choice.

Was it too Wimpy?

2009-08-04T08:04:00.007-06:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is off. Now we're down to three - Which do you think will be eliminated in this next week: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Mysterious Benedict Society or Invention of Hugo Cabret?

It's Lights Out for House in the Night

2009-08-03T08:36:00.002-06:00

This calm, beautiful books gets no respect in the first annual ALD Summer Showdown. We're down to three rollicking picture books!

Who's off next week? The dinosaur, the dust bunnies, or the pigeon?

Travelin' On...

2009-07-31T05:52:00.005-06:00

Another really popular book bites the dust! I'd like to know what you were thinking...I loved this book and can't wait for the movie!

Who's next?

Me Talk Pretty One Day--Gone!

2009-07-30T09:23:00.002-06:00

Oh, David, I'm sorry, but we're moving on without you!

We're down to four adult nonfiction titles--which one will we lose next week? Are you more into history? Travel? Cooking? Dramatic biography?

Only time will tell...

Rumor is, no Splendor for Luxe

2009-07-29T07:50:00.005-06:00

Put the Luxe against Little Brother, Graceling, Hunger Games, and Lightning Thief and I guess it doesn't have even a Rumor of Splendor!

What's next for the remaining four nominees in the Summer Showdown Teen Books? Take the poll on the right and help eliminate this week's choice.

No more Magyk

2009-07-28T06:42:00.007-06:00

Unfortunately this morning I had to cast the deciding vote between Magyk and Invention of Hugo Cabret. I choose Hugo because it is the one stand alone title left and also such a unique format. Magyk fans or those who have not read it - try the CD or playaway narrated by Allan Corduner, who was so fabulous in Book Thief.

What are your thoughts on the rest of the chapter book nominees?

Zen Shorts eliminated

2009-07-27T07:25:00.007-06:00

No doubt Stillwater will have some wise words on handling defeat to pass on. If you would like more quiet moments in a fun picture book try Zen Ties.

The quiet books continue to have trouble in the Showdown. Can House in the Night use that Caldecott Medal to knock out the competition? or will the rowdy characters of the other picture book nominees prevail?

Bye-Bye Maisie!

2009-07-24T08:46:00.002-06:00

Maisie appears to be a terribly competent private investigator, but she is this week's loser!

Who will get it next in the adult fiction category?

Down with Dewey!

2009-07-23T08:48:00.007-06:00

While Dewey is a very cute cat--and an avid library user--are we just plain done with the whole pet biography genre?

What are your thoughts about who gets voted off next week? Garlic and Sapphires, The Glass Castle, and The Zookeeper's Wife had the same number of votes this week. I'm guessing it will be a close round next time!

Savvy's apparently not so savvy

2009-07-22T08:04:00.006-06:00

Savvy is the biggest loser in this week's race. We're now down to five books. Check out the nominees for the Summer Showdown Teen Books. Take the poll on the right: which will be eliminated this week?

I find it interesting that last week Hunger Games was very close to losing and this week it got no "loser" votes. Comment below to make a prediction for which book you think will be the last one standing.

Clementine Out

2009-07-21T06:29:00.007-06:00

Clementine is one of many feisty young heroines in kid's books. Check up on Ramona, Junie, Anastasia...as well as Clementine with these reads.

Which chapter book do you like? Harry Potter has not been doing well, but has the latest movie renewed interest? Magyk, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Mysterious Benedict Society all have sequels arriving this fall, so there is current interest. Will the unigue format of Invention of Hugo Cabret help it as the only stand alone title?

First the Egg Eliminated

2009-07-20T07:24:00.003-06:00

The picture book nominee aimed at the youngest audience, First the Egg has been eliminated. What are your predictions for the rest of the picture books?

Stephenie Meyer Given The Boot!

2009-07-17T08:49:00.002-06:00

Poor Stephenie (ignoring the fact that all copies of The Host are checked out with a wait list and that she's taking up a lot of room on Amazon.com's bestseller list)! Was it the science fiction element or the relationship to The Twilight Saga that did it?

Keep on voting! What will be your favorite adult fiction book?

NOT a Social Epidemic?

2009-07-16T08:44:00.004-06:00

Wow! The Tipping Point voted off? This was my favorite book of the bunch--I read this book when it first came out 9 years ago and have been recommending it to people ever since. All copies at ALD are checked out with many holds. What's the deal?

Okay--we're down to 6 adult nonfiction books. I'm waiting with bated breath--who gets it next?

Graveyard Book is this week's loser

2009-07-15T07:04:00.002-06:00

So, first it was Twilight that got voted off! Now, it's The Graveyard Book.

Which is next to be eliminated this week? Check out the nominees for the Summer Showdown Teen Books.

Oliver Olson out of the running

2009-07-14T06:14:00.008-06:00

The "perfect 100 page book" as Melissa called it has been voted off the competition. My theory is that at the smallest page count, it did not have enough substance to compete against the big boys. How Oliver Olson Changed the World is also the newest book on the list, maybe enough people have not read it. Well, you should read it along with every 3rd grader and over protective parents everywhere!

If Oliver was small, Clementine is not much bigger at 136 pages. (The remaining chapter books have an average of 374 pages.) Can she beat out the hefty chapter books that are left?

Holy Guacamole! El Skippito voted off!

2009-07-13T06:25:00.009-06:00

No doubt Skippyjon will consol himself by venturing back into his closet to discover a new adventure. The first easy reader Skippyjon Jones book arrives soon, so fans can look forward to that.

What is up next for picture books? Can the subtle House in the Night compete against a roaring Dinosaur? Is Zen Shorts a little too zen? Who's tougher a Rhyming Dust Bunny or the Pigeon? Will the quiet First the Egg win out?

Not Very Quixotic!

2009-07-10T08:28:00.003-06:00

Was Don Quixote just too darn long? There have been no comments as to why he has been so rudely removed from the running!

What adult fiction book gets it next? This is a tough one...

No Love for Eat, Pray, Love

2009-07-09T08:52:00.003-06:00

The consensus seems to be that it was hard to get past the author's self-centeredness. What do you think? Did this one inspire you or leave you unenthused?

What book will be voted off the adult nonfiction island in the next week? The restaurant critic? The traveler? The cat? Only time will tell!

Twilight is OFF!!!

2009-07-08T07:25:00.007-06:00

We never thought this would happen -Twilight is off! Gone. Eliminated.

So, we're wondering... was that intentional or did you all not get the gist of Summer Showdown? You're supposed to vote OFF your least favorite book each week. The last one standing is the winner.

We're down to 7. Take the poll for this week and vote off the next Teen Book.

Warriors: Into the Wild out of the competition

2009-07-07T06:57:00.006-06:00

Into the Wild, the first book in the Warriors series has been eliminated. Like the first picture book to leave, Fancy Nancy, I wondered if they are wildly popular with kids, but less so with parents, teachers, librarians... A quick check of circulation statistics show that the Warriors books have circulated 3560 times! Maybe the fans were too busy reading to vote.

Will popular books continue to drop off? What chapter book is at risk this week?

Fancy Nancy Eliminated!

2009-07-06T07:30:00.002-06:00

Fancy Nancy has been eliminated from the competition. How disheartening! (that's a fancy word for sad). Are the books too pink for some people's taste? Nancy is not unpopular. In fact, 194 various Fancy Nancy books are checked out and the hold list is growing for Fancy Nancy Tea Parties.

The seven remaining books are up in the new poll. Remember to vote to ELIMINATE a title and hope your favorite will remain.

Adult Fiction Voting Starts Today

2009-07-03T07:45:00.003-06:00

Our final group of contestants are the adult fiction nominees.

This is the final group to go through Round 1. Take a look at Picture Books, Junior Books, Teen Books and Adult Non-Fiction. Any surprises in what's currently being voted off? Vote off a book if you haven't already.

Monday starts Week Two. Now we'll be down to 7 contestants in our Summer Showdown book competition.

Adult Nonfiction Nominees

2009-07-02T08:00:00.001-06:00

Today starts the voting for the adult nonfiction nominees.

Vote off your least favorite. Next week we'll be down to seven choices.

For more information on Summer Showdown, see the Details posting.

Voting on Teen books starts today

2009-07-01T01:22:00.001-06:00

Today's the day to voting on Teen Books. Which do you plan to vote off the Summer Showdown competition?

What are your predictions? Can anything beat Twilight? Or are you so sick of it, you plan to vote it down immediately?

Chapter Books Voting

2009-06-30T07:09:00.004-06:00

You can start voting on Chapter Books today. Which do you think is the one that should get voted off Summer Showdown?

What are your predictions for this category? Can a new lesser known book like Oliver Olson take on a Harry Potter?

Voting Begins!

2009-06-29T07:20:00.011-06:00

The voting on Picture Books starts today. Remember to vote for the book you want out of the competition. The poll will be up for one week, then a new poll of 7 books will be up. Tomorrow the voting on chapter books begins.

Any predictions about the picture books? The most commented on is Pigeon Wants a Puppy, while 2009 Caldecott winner, House in the Night has no comments.

When Do We Vote?

2009-06-17T09:53:00.004-06:00

The voting on Summer Showdown has not started yet. We want people to have more time to read more of the books. Starting on June 29th the polls will go up and you can begin voting ONE BOOK OUT of the competition.
In the mean time read, comment, scold us for picking the wrong books...

Adult Fiction

2009-06-12T08:28:00.002-06:00

Our final group of contestants - the adult fiction nominees. What are your thoughts on these? For more information on Summer Showdown, see the Details posting.

Skeletons at the Feast

2009-06-12T00:00:00.028-06:00

by Chris Bohjalian
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The tragic and brutal consequences of war, especially among civilian populations and innocents forced into slavery, are compellingly revealed in this fine novel. This impressive tale is rich in romance, terror, and tragedy.

Very different from Bohjalian's other books, but riveting...

The Art of Racing in the Rain

2009-06-12T00:00:00.027-06:00

by Garth Stein
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A book from a dog's (Enzo) perspective about his life with his family. His owner Denny is a race car driver. His wife Eve has a child, Zoe, but then develops brain cancer. While she is alive they live with Eve's parents. After Eve's death, her parents try to sue for custody of Zoe claiming he committed an outrageous crime. This story is told from Enzo's perspective on observing human behavior and interaction. He has some very interesting thoughts and ideas on us humans.

This unique tale draws you in with humor, heartbreak, and an ultimately uplifting message. One of the best we've read in some time...

The Time Traveler's Wife

2009-06-12T00:00:00.026-06:00

by Audrey Niffenegger
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A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of a passionate love affair that endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap.

A marvel of love, time, destiny and loss...(Coming to the movies August 14!)

Maisie Dobbs

2009-06-12T00:00:00.025-06:00

by Jacqueline Winspear
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Maisie Dobbs, our delightful young British heroine, has worn many hats: as a domestic servant, as a student, and as a WWI nurse. Now, she's a detective, and her first case is one of marital infidelity, which leads her to...a graveyard full of simple tombstones marked only with first names??? Hmmmmm...very interesting...

Mystery, history, and romance...what's not to love about Maisie Dobbs?

Don Quixote de la Mancha

2009-06-12T00:00:00.024-06:00

by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra; translated by Charles Jarvis
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Don Quixote, first published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, is one of the world's greatest comic novels. Inspired by tales of chivalry, Don Quixote of La Mancha embarks on a series of adventures with his faithful servant Sancho Panza by his side. The novel has acquired mythic status and its influence on modern fiction is profound.

A classic that is well-worth the effort of 1100 some-odd pages or 35 CDs. Get on it before the summer is over!

The Host

2009-06-12T00:00:00.023-06:00

by Stephenie Meyer
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The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. But Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Take a break from The Twilight Saga to enjoy this great stand alone book.

Unaccustomed Earth

2009-06-12T00:00:00.019-06:00

by Jhumpa Lahiri
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From the internationally best-selling, Pulitzer Prize–winning author, a superbly crafted new work of fiction: eight stories—longer and more emotionally complex than any she has yet written—that take us from Cambridge and Seattle to India and Thailand as they enter the lives of sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, friends and lovers.

Lahiri's ability to convey the earnestness and upheavals of human lives, no matter where they started out, is sometimes humorous, sometimes heart wrenching.

A Prisoner of Birth

2009-06-12T00:00:00.015-06:00

by Jeffrey Archer
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A Prisoner of Birth is the newest novel by the English novelist who long ago gave us an amazing book - Kane and Abel. Now Jeffrey Archer has outdone himself with his brilliant retelling and updating of Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo. This is a story about two very different men and how they become friends and allies against injustice and betrayal. Mr. Archer takes literary license in some of his plotting, but it certainly doesn't interfere in this great read. Mr. Archer is a master storyteller and sets this book in absolutely pitch perfect.

A Prisoner of Birth takes place in London, and is absolutely brilliant! As in Dumas' classic, an innocent man, Danny Cartwright, is framed and sent to prison for 22 years for a murder he did not commit. Danny manages to escape, and seeks revenge against the four guilty perpetrators. They had best watch their backs…Don’t miss this one...and don’t peek at the last page!

The Zookeeper's Wife

2009-06-11T00:00:00.015-06:00

by Diane Ackerman
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When Germany invaded Poland, bombers devastated Warsaw--and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into the empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants and refusing to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, even as Europe crumbled around her.

All at once, lovely, haunting, thrilling, terrifying, and tender...

The Glass Castle

2009-06-11T00:00:00.014-06:00

by Jeannette Walls
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Jeannette Walls, her brother, and two sisters are the children of a would-be artist/writer mother and a would-be inventor father, neither of whom aspires to being parents. By wit, determination, and luck, Jeannette survives her mother's rationalizing (if it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger) and her alcoholic father's self-destructive behavior. Mother, an "excitement addict," thrills at living in new places, as she and her husband roam across the country, following impulse after impulse, while the children brave Phoenix heat and West Virginia cold, learn to stick together when town bullies gang up on them, and plan together to live lives of their own in New York City as soon as humanly possible.

Jeannette Walls rises from the ashes!

Garlic and Sapphires

2009-06-11T00:00:00.013-06:00

by Ruth Reichl
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Editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, Ruth Reichl, writes about her tenure as food critic at The New York Times. To preserve her anonymity when dining at restaurants, she creates elaborate disguises, complete with wigs, outfits, and credit cards with assumed names. Reichl discovers that her personality changes as she assumes each identity—often with humorous results!

Plus! Recipes! Yum.

Me Talk Pretty One Day

2009-06-11T00:00:00.012-06:00

by David Sedaris
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Sedaris tells a most unconventional life story. From budding performance artist to "clearly unqualified" writing teacher in Chicago, Sedaris's career leads him to New York and eventually, of all places, France. Whether describing the Easter Bunny to puzzled classmates, savoring movies in translation (It Is Necessary to Save the Soldier Ryan), or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other.

Hilarious, but dark...

Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat...

2009-06-11T00:00:00.011-06:00

by Vicki Myron
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Dewey is the heartwarming story of Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa, as told by his owner and companion of nineteen years, Vicki Myron, the librarian who found him on a frigid January morning when he was abandoned as a kitten in the book drop slot. Right away Dewey worked his way into both staff and patrons hearts.

We loved the way Dewey's story, Vicki's story, and the story of the town were interwoven.

Eat, Pray, Love

2009-06-11T00:00:00.010-06:00

by Elizabeth Gilbert
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Meet Liz, a thirty year old woman whose defining moment involves lying face down on her bathroom floor sobbing because she has realized she does not want children and no longer wants the husband and life she has built for herself. She decides to spend a year traveling and finding herself after her very ugly divorce is final. What she finds along the way are great friends, peace and hope for a life of passion and spirituality.

This book is so full of beautiful life lessons and amazing imagery, a truly wonderful and inspiring book.

The Tipping Point

2009-06-11T00:00:00.009-06:00

by Malcolm Gladwell
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New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Ideas, behavior, messages, and products, he argues, often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. These are social epidemics, and the moment when they take off, when they reach their critical mass, is the Tipping Point.

Little things CAN make a big difference!

In a Sunburned Country

2009-06-11T00:00:00.004-06:00

by Bill Bryson
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A truly outrageous tour Down Under, revealing hundreds of entertaining eccentricities about the world's largest island--and about himself. Leaving no Vegemite unsavored, readers will accompany Bryson as he dodges jellyfish while learning to surf at Bondi Beach, discovers a fish that can climb trees, dehydrates in sweltering deserts, and tells the true story of the rejected Danish architect who designed the Sydney Opera House.

LOL!

Little Brother

2009-06-10T02:57:00.002-06:00

by Cory Doctorow

After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

We picked this book for the competition because this book has appeal for boys, girls, and adults.

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Graceling

2009-06-10T02:52:00.004-06:00

by Kristin Cashore

Lady Katsa is born with a Grace (super talent) of killing and her uncle, the king, makes her his brute squad. When she meets Po, a rival kingdom's Graceling, she becomes more powerful as a woman of justice, self knowledge, and romance.

A prequel, Fire, will be released in October. Graceling is a not-to-be missed read!

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