Bad Girls Don't Die, By: Katie Alender

By: Katie Alender

Publisher: Hyperion
Publish Date: April 21, 2008
ISBN: 1423108760
Page #: 352 pages
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Ghosts, Family, Fitting In 

Reader's Annotation:  Alexis shows herself to the world as your typical interesting teen with pink hair and a cool photography hobby. The problem is, Alexis is more alone then most teens. Her parents are self-absorbed and she lacks any real companions. Her hobby and her sister are what keep her afloat. Suddenly the things that seem secure aren't. Life is starting to become scary and unexplainable and Alexis must figure it out all on her own.

Synopsis: Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.
When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in. Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore? (Via AMZN)

Notes: Not for readers who are not interested in fantasy or horror. Slightly scary, Bad Girls Don't Die, isn't afraid to push the fictional envelope. Bad Girls Don't Die is an enjoyable debut novel by Katie Alender. It is a page turner that satisfies your need for a bit of a horror-thriller, while at the same time delivering issues of feeling like a misfit and dealing with family issues. 

Stars: 4 Stars
Awards: n/a

Extras:  Author Website: http://katiealender.com/

Discussion Guide (Contains Spoilers):  http://katiealender.com/downloads/BGDDdiscussionguide.pdf
OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER:

ghostgirl, By Tonya Hurley

By: Tonya Hurley
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publish Date: 
ISBN: 0316113573
Page #:  336 pages
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Titles: 

ghostgirl

homecoming (YTBR) Available for pre-order here

Subjects: Popularity & Death

Reader's Annotation: In a story that is about as sweet as death can be, Charlotte Usher meets her maker by choking on a gummy bear. And now that she's dead, she's is hoping she will rest in utter popularity!

Synopsis: Charlotte Usher feels sadly transparent at school, and this is before she dies! Then one day she really is dead. Now that she is truly see-through (and in as cute a way as the cover of this book: because she choked on a gummy bear) she decides she can go about her goals another way. Being in the here after doesn't halt Charlotte from wanting to be the "life" of the party; it just makes her more resourceful about reaching her hopes and dreams. It is true most teens feel everything is life and death in high school, but wait till you meet Charlotte! In this kooky but sweet story, Ms. Hurley makes our life and death experiences with feeling invisible so much more fun to deal with. Have you ever really thought about how far you would go to feel like the life of the party? 

Notes:  "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.And if I should die before I awake, I pray the popular attend my wake." 

Stars: 5 Stars
Awards:
Extras:  R.I.P. - Read In Peace http://www.ghostgirl.com/

NYPL teens talks about ghostgirl: 

A truly Incredible Fan Project:

Marked (House of Night, Book 1) Vol. 1., By: P.C. Cast & Kirsten Cast

By: P.C. Cast & Kirsten Cast
Publisher: New York, New York:
St. Martin's Griffin, A Division of Macmillan.
Publish Date: 2007
ISBN: 0312360266
Page #: 320
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Title: House of Night Series
Four more books follow
Marked: Chosen, Betrayed, Untamed, and Hunted.
Subjects: Fantasy, Vampire

Reader's Annotation: Zoey is marked. In her world vampyres are not fiction AND they are permitted by society. vampyres have a "mark" that identifies them at which point they go to the House of Night school where they become vampyres themselves or they fail to make the change, they cease to exist.

Synopsis: In P.C. Casts new Vampire series, she pens it along with her teenage daughter Kirsten. Marked is marked by the fact that it has actual input from a teen. As a result the series sets itself in a league of its own. Vampires in this narrative are normal until puberty at which point they become selected, by chance, as a candidate for the change. If a teen is selected a group is set out to find them and mark them. The mark is a crescent moon on the forehead (which seasoned fantasy readers will recognize from The Mists of Avalon, and therefore connect the goddess references). Upon receiving their mark, soon to be, but not fully changed vampires get sent to a special school for the training of the undead. The scary part is, if you body doesn’t accept the change you die. And, a special sign has marked Zoey. One that is rare for a vampire so young.

Notes: Speckled with less then clean language and some sexual encounters, the book should be for the older teen. Four more books follow it: Chosen, Betrayed, Untamed, and Hunted.
Stars: 4
Extras: http://www.houseofnightseries.com/
You simply must visit the House of Night's Website.
It's Beautiful and a fan of the series will be in interweb heaven. You can create your own "mark" on this website an explore a "yearbook"  for the House of Night vampyre school!

Blue Bloods, By Melissa De La Cruz

By: Melissa De La Cruz 
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Publish Date: 2006
ISBN: 0786838922
Page #: 320
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Title: Blue Bloods

Masquerade

Revelations

Subjects: vampires, high-society, fantasy

Reader's Annotation:  Schuyler Van Alen is having a hard time fitting in with the too perfect upper elite. Perhaps the high society blood that runs through the upper east side is something darker then societal royalty, and Schuyler may have more in common with them then she thought.

Synopsis: Ok, Gossip Girl fans, I have a vampire book just for you. Those Mahanttan elites are just too perfect right? Well in De La Cruz’s Blue Bloods, the story’s main character Schuyler Van Alen doesn’t fit in. But on her 15th birthday everything changes. She can see a myriad of blue veins in her arms and she finds that although she thought she didn’t fit in, she has more in common with the wealthy elite then she ever knew. De La Cruz broaches teen subject matter’s such as anorexia and social classes in a new, fantatic way. Though somewhat risqué, for language, drugs, & sexuality, De La Cruz manages to “suck” you in anyway. This is the "OMFG" (reference: Gossip Girl’s Advertising Scheme) of Vampire books! 

Notes: Blue Bloods is a Yalsa reluctant reader quick pick.

Stars: 4

Extras: 

Series Website: http://www.bluebloodsbooks.com/

Author Website http://melissa-delacruz.com/index.php/books/title/blue_bloods/

Author Gives Advice to Young Writers: http://melissa-delacruz.com/index.php/info/advice/

Official Trailer: 

Great Fan Trailer: 

Romeo & Juliet (Film), Directed By Baz Luhrmann

By: Baz Luhrmann

Tagline: My only love sprung from my only hate.

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 1996

DVD Release Date: March 12, 2002
ASIN: B000060OFT
Length: 120 minutes
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama, Musical
Age Level: PG-13
Series Title: Part of the Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy (Strictly Ballroom / Romeo + Juliet / Moulin Rouge)
Subjects: Shakespeare, Books-to-Films, Romance, Tragedy, Violence, Family Feud, Musicals

Reader's Annotation: A modern take on Shakespeare's classic love story, Baz Lurhmann delivers stunning modern music and visuals while keeping the original Shakespearian text in tact. 

Synopsis: Romeo is smoking hot. Juliet is a stunning babe. Together they make a beautiful dead couple. Romeo and Juliet as a couple are unquestionably time's most beloved (yet tragic) teen couple. Furthermore, it is one of the most classic love stories ever written (if not the most classic love story). Romeo + Juliet has inspired everything from West Side Story to Twilight. With this in mind, the dream-like director Baz Luhrmann presents his vision of Romeo + Juliet. The appeal to a younger audience is apparent with costumes, music, violence and feuding families (kind of what it may look like if Wallmart CEO's daughter fell for Target's CEO's Son). Rather then butchering Shakespeare Luhrmann presents a window into the depth, poetry, & pertinence of Shakespeare that can rivet even the most reluctant Shakespearian student. 

Notes: Violence, drugs, and sexual references are used throughout the film despite the PG-13 rating. Parental discretion is advised. Foul language is encapsulated by Shakespearian tongue: only English sleuths will catch them. 

Stars: 5

Awards: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/awards
Extras:  Official Movie Website http://www.romeoandjuliet.com/

Read Romeo + Juliet for free online: http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Romeo_and_Juliet/index.html

Wikipedia on Romeo and Juliet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet 

Romeo + Juliet IMDb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/

Juno, By Jason Reitman, Written By Diablo Cody

Directed By: Jason Reitman

Original Screenplay By: Diablo Cody
Company: Fox Searchlight
Publish Date: 2007

Length: 96 minutes
Classification: Non-Fiction
Genre: Dark Comedy
Age Level: PG-13 Older Teen
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: Teen Pregnancy, Growing Up, Adoption

Tag Line: "A comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way."

Annotation: A smart and quirky young girl has an awkward sexual moment that turns into an awkward nine months.

Synopsis: I am sure that a semi-large group of people may have missed the subtle reference to Goddess Juno (who reigned over fertility), but that wouldn't have gotten by Juno. Juno is a clever, teen girl who has a sexual experience with a geeky boy who likes to run a lot. Although a truly likable character, Juno doesn't consider him to be her boyfriend, and even if she did the world that Juno lives is doesn't want a baby. She considers abortion but ends up finding a seemingly perfect couple who can't have children to adopt her baby. Over the next nine months the baby within her isn't the only things the grows and transform. Juno begins to see her life differently, the boy with the sperm differently, and even the perfect family she chose to adopt her child. This is not only a comedy about teen pregnancy, but a comedy that explores growing up, family, and harsh realities. Juno does all this with a laugh through its witty writing and genuinely enchanting cast. 

Notes: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

It has been received with mixed reviews from the conservative side due to it's laissez faire attitude about sex and teen pregnancy, but at the same time it explores options other abortion. 

Without an R rating, it is acceptable for older teens to watch, and may even spark some healthy dialogue about pregnancy, sex, and family.

Stars: 5

Awards: 1 Oscar Win, Diablo Cody, for Best Original Screenplay

Extras: Movie Site http://www.foxsearchlight.com/juno/

Trailer: 

Uglies, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: February 8, 2005

ISBN: 0689865384

Page #: 448

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: Older Teen

Subjects:

Plastic Surgery, Fitting In, Beauty, Adventure, Dystopia

Series Title: The Uglies Series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras

Reader's Annotation: Tally Youngblood is 15 and can't wait to be pretty like her best friend Peris. While waiting to become "Pretty," she meets and befriends another another "Ugly" named Shay and together they wait to become 16 when everything we become perfect, or will it?

Synopsis: In all the books I read over the past year, this series sticks out the most. Why? Although it's simply written, the ideas are penetrating. The notion that most of us feel on display, varying degrees of ugly, and/or constantly striving to be like someone else, can not possibly be new to any of you. Today's society is obsessive with beauty and face forward. Meet Tally Youngblood, a teenage girl in a not so distant, dystopian future where everyone gets a "pretty" operation when they turn 16. They grind, shave, replace, and manipulate your body until you wake up a new, beautiful, perfect you. In the Uglies, after you complete the change, you are officially a "Pretty." You then get to move into a new world where being pretty is your new and only job. Partying, having everything you need, being popular is the perfect existence right? But, what if comes with a price? Does anyone ever NOT want to become a pretty?

Notes: Books Two and Three follow Tally and the Crims through their twisted fates against the powers that be. All three a mindful feast, but a simple, zippy read. You just can't not read these books. Cut out a day or two. It might make you re-think that rhinoplasty.

Stars: 5

**************************************************************************************

Extras: Westerfeld Heaven (Are you a bubble head?)

• The Extras, an unexpected fourth book in the series. Meet Aya and find out what her world is like post-Tally. In her world it's all about fame and nobody wants to be the "extra!"

• There is currently a guidebook called From Bogus to Bubbly available. This companion is a spoiler if you have yet to finish the series.

• Mind-Rain:Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series (Paperback) DUE JUNE 1st!

• Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog

• Uglies discussion questions for your book group: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/?page_id=172

**************************************************************************************

Below are some Fan Made Youtubes that caught my attention as being rather well done! Enjoy!

Godchild, Vol.1 By Kaori Yuki

By: Kaori Yuki

Publisher: Viz Media

Publish Date: March 2006
ISBN: 9781421515366
Page #: 208
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Manga
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Titles: The Cain Saga, Godchild

Subjects: 19th Century London, Fairy Tales, Mystery, Gothic 

Reader's Annotation: Meet Cain, the sexy head of the Heargreaves, his 10 year old sister Marie Weather, and his faitful man servant Riff. Get ready for a dark "wonderland" murder, mystery, and 19th Century London.

Synopsis: Godchild is a stylish, dark addition its manga forerunner the Cain Saga. In the center of the series is Cain, the sexy girl swoon provoking head of Heargreaves noble family and takes cares of his ten year old half sister Marie Weather.  With his Man Servant Riff (whom he seems closer to then any of the swooning girls, he finds himself always in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the center of horrendous crimes, he sets out to solve them. And in the first volume all the stories (of which their are multiple) revolve around famous fairy tales. But it doesn't end their, Cain has a dark secret. Godchild is a beauty to read and will appeal to to those who romanticize fairy tales and even more so when they are soaked in blood and mystery. And what's more is the ink all takes place in 19th Century London affording the characters a gothic appeal that even has me swooning.

 
Stars: 4

Extras: 

Godchild on VizMedia http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?series_id=405

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Cain#Godchild

Twilight, By Stephenie Meyer

By: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown 
Publish Date: 2005
ISBN: 0316160172
Page #: 544

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Age Level: Older Teen

Series Title: 

The Twilight Saga: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn

Reader's Annotation: Bella Swan moves to the small town of Forks, Washington and falls in love with something that wants to eat her. Can anybody resist temptation in this pop culture phenomenon?

Synopsis: The fame of Twilight has gotten by few people in today’s literary world. Stephenie Meyer penned the first book Twilight, in her beloved Twilight Saga quartet, from the idea of a dream she had the night before. Intensely personal and sometimes with the feel of a diary entry, Meyer wrote her first novel with her baby on her lap. The story of Bella Swan, a clumsy self-sacrificing teen leaves her newlywed mother (to let her travel with her baseball player husband) to go live with her father, Charlie Swan. She leaves sunny Arizona to arrive in the small town of Forks, Washington in the rainy Pacific Northwest. Under an near constant cover of clouds, Bella meets Edward, a "vegetarian" vampire (meaning sans human blood), and they quickly fall in love. The love between these two is so intense it is clearly modeled after the dark literary greats such as Romeo & Juliet and Healthcliff & Cathy. mean the grandest kind of love you can image. Evoking the chivalry of yester years, Meyers gives a new, cool name to the literary vampire as well as to reading books without sex or drugs: quite a feat in today’s society. Meyer’s writing may be weak, but her story telling is well done and intensely relatable (at least to girls and women). 

Notes: 

A movie by the same title was released in 2008. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/

Offcial Movie Site: http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

As the sequel to Twilight, the film currently in production to be released November 2009. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/

Stars: 5

Yalsa's BBYA

Extras: 

Are you O.C.D. (Obsessive Cullen Disorder)? Get your fix here: http://twilightersanonymous.com/

Author's web page for New Moon: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/newmoon.html 

The immensely popular fan site for the film & book: http://www.newmoonmovie.org/

Coraline (AUDIO), By: Neil Gaiman

By: Neil Gaiman

Read By: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publish Date: 2002
ISBN: 9780061660160
Length: 3 hours, 3 Compact Discs 
Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy, Horror
Age Level: Children, Teens
Series Title: n/a
Subjects: family, fantasy, kidnapping, parent napping, alternative realities 

Reader's Annotation: Coraline is bored. While her busy, boring parents work she discovers a secret door to another world where everything is better. Or is it?

Synopsis: After moving into a new home, Coraline and her mother and father are forced to do what they do best: Parents work, dad cooks not so yummy food, and Coraline tries desperately to keep herself busy. But while exploring her new home she finds a door that would have connected their side of the house to the next door home in their four-plex building. One day, Coraline opens the door while her parents are gone only to find a new, tastier, prettier world. It's the same, only better! It is complete with her "other" better parents. As Coraline soon finds out, her "other" parents are something "other" all together! Now Coraline has save herself and the world she thought she hated! PS. It's CORALINE, not Caroline!

Notes: The audio book is embellished with the stunning voice work of the author himself which makes the listening experience something all together special. Furthermore, orginal music by The Gothic Archies best known for their music for "A Series of Unfortunate Events" audiobooks.

I couldn't recommend an audiobook more! It's fantastic. 

The film was released in 2009 in both regular format & 3-D by Focus Features.

Stars: 5

Extras: Film Website http://coraline.com/

Author Website http://journal.neilgaiman.com/

Death #1: Death at Death's Door, By Jill Thompson

By: Jill Thompson
Consultant: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Vertigo/DC
Publish Date: 203
ISBN: 1563899388
Page #: 208
Classification: Manga
Genre: Graphic Novel, American Manga
Age Level: Older Teens
Series Title: Death
Subjects: Death, Dreaming, Humanity

Reader's Annotation:

Synopsis: Meet Death, The little sister of the King of Dreams, Sandman. Created from Neil Gaiman's beloved Sandman series, Death at Death's door tells the story of some visiters from hell (literally) who happen to stop by Death's apartment as she was the last person they remembered being nice to them. Having left hell (and an empty hell and a locked door for the Sandman find), the hell-acious servants turn up at Death's Door, and Delirium and Despair (also siblings of the Sandman and Death called the Endless) make a delirious and despairing decision to through a party for them. Not going well, Death is left with the mess to clean up, to save the afterlife, and do what she does best: end things. And in this case, save the waking hours, or in other words: save the day.

Told from Death's point of view, fans of the Sandman are in for a treat, especially if they can't get enough Sandman and are bigs fans of his sister Death. Delirium has her moments were she evokes the Delirium of Sandman but Despair really isn't dark enough. Death at Death's Door was a fun diversion, but for the hardcore fan, it will be a matter of taste. The art takes on the manga genre, totally black, grey, and white, and with The Endless in full manga eye regalia, fans will either throw it against the wall or appreciate it for what it is. It is not comparable to the art of either Death: The High Cost of Living, or The Sandman Series. Rather, it is a journey into somewhere else.

Notes: The story from Death #1 is taken primarily from Gaiman's  Seasons of Mists (Sandman, Volume #4) and translated to the YA audience.

Stars: 4

Extras: Jill Thompson Online http://www.jillthompsonart.com/

Images of Death & Sandman from Gaiman's Original Adult Graphic Novel

http://www.vamp.org/Gothic/Images/death-image.html

Neil Gaiman: http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/Comics/

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3), By Stephenie Meyer

By: Stephenie Meyer

Publisher: Little, Brown
Publish Date: 2007
ISBN: 0316160202
Page #: 640
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Older Teen
Series Title: 

The Twilight Saga: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn

Subjects: Love, Fantasy, Friendship, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Temptation

Reader's Annotation: The saga continues between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and the newly monstrous Jacob Black. In love with Bella, Jacob tapes into his beastly nature to fight for his beliefs while a vampire war is broiling their backyard.

Synopsis: Book three in the Twilight Saga, Meyers continues the story of the star-crossed love of Edward and Bella, and the triangle that was formed with Jacob, Bella’s best friend. Faced with impending attacks by outside non-vegetarian vampires, Jacob & Edward clash for Bella’s affection, but join forces to protect her. The ongoing fate of Bella choice to become part of the Cullen family of undead creates further tension in the love triangle. Meyer doesn’t fail to deliver buddy icon worthy love lives, and the dilemma of where Jacob fits in created a teen craze of Team Jacob & Team Edward, Not to mention extended itself to the rest of the community. (Can anybody say Team anything without thinking of Meyer these days?) Fans of Meyer’s first two books will no doubt adore the third installment. Those who despise it should probably not start here.

Notes: BBYA

Twilight (The highest grossing film on opening weekend for a female director: Catherine Hardwicke) was made into a film and released in 2008, New Moon (Director: Chris Weitz) the second film is due for release in November 2009. Eclipse (Director: David Slade) is in Pre-production, and Breaking Dawn is optioned but unannounced.

Stars: 5

Extras: Author Webpage http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/