Lena Gonzalez-Berrios

This readalike is in response to a patron's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you.

Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree
Growing up in the flamboyant 1980's, Tracy Ellison is a smart and charming teenager who uses her good looks to attract any boy she wants. With a life of promiscuity as she approaches womanhood, she learns valuable lessons that impels her to examine her reckless lifestyle.

If you like Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree you might like:

Boss Lady by Omar Tyree (follows Flyy Girl)
Rescued by now successful filmmaker Tracy, Vanessa finds herself immune to Hollywood's parties and smooth-talking players. She is at the top of her game, thoroughly in charge, and taking life strictly on her own terms. She tries to persuade Tracy to film Flyy Girl, and Tracy is prepared to do anything to make sure it's done right. (Adult Fiction)

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
Ghetto-born, Winter is the young, wealthy daughter of a prominent Brooklyn drug-dealing family. Quick-witted, sexy, businessminded, and fashionable, Winter knows no restrictions. No one can control her. She's nobody's victim. And her Pops lets her know she deserves the best. No slum jewelry, cheap shoes, or knockoff designer stuff ... Winter knows the Brooklyn streets like she knows the curves of her own body. She maneuvers skillfully, applying all she has learned to come out on top, no matter how dramatically the scenes change. But a cold Winter wind is about to blow her life in a direction she could never have expected. (Adult Fiction)

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Sixteen-year-old Bobby and his girlfriend, Na, had planned to put their baby, Feather, up for adoption, but Feather becomes impossible to relinquish. (Young Adult Fiction)

A Girl Like Me by Ni-Ni Simone
She's got a voice like Keisha Cole, attitude to burn and is the body-rockin', Bebe-sporting girl everyone in her high school wants to be...or be with. But in real life, sixteen-year-old Elite has a crack-addicted mother, no father in sight, and is secretly raising her sister and two brothers on her own. Now a radio contest has put her up-close-and-personal with mega-hot singer Hanseef and their chemistry is too sizzling for Elite to stop pretending. And as the clock ticks down fast for this hood Cinderella, she has only one shot to save her family and make all of her dreams come true. (Young Adult Fiction)

Glitter by Babygirl Daniels
Asia Smith is still reeling from her rich father's death, but she looks forward to starting high school with her best friend, Tracey, until she loses Tracey in a fight over a boy who subsequently gets her pregnant and dumps her. (Young Adult Fiction)

This year marks the 65th anniversary of one of the most disastrous and tragic events in the history of humankind. Hiroshima Day is observed in many parts of the world with special vigils and peace marches. It is held to commemorate the dropping of the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Watch this video of a survivor describing the Hiroshima bombing. Three days later a second bomb fell on the city of Nagasaki. "Peace Day" was declared on the first anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima by the Japanese to try to ensure that the horrendous, enduring effects of nuclear warfare would never be repeated.

Do you love Japanese anime? Join the club! Anime enthusiasts meet at the Salem Church Library every month on the 1st Monday, 6:30-8:00PM at the Salem Church Library. Watch anime episodes, show off your anime-inspired artwork, cosplay your favorite characters, win door prizes and hang out with lots of like-minded fans. See you there!

Come vote for your favorite of the 3 pumpkins that library staff members decorated. There's "Some Pig," a tie in with Charlotte's Web, a Day of the Dead jack-o-lantern, and a howdy partner cowboy pumpkin. This is just one of the many fun things you can do @ your local library.

Thanks for visiting our website and for your Book Match request. I’m glad you enjoyed Into the Wild by Erin Hunter (the first in the Warriors series). I have some suggestions for other books in series that you may enjoy.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.
After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world. If you like this title, then there is a sequel called Rebel Angels.

BOOKS

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu.
After her cousin Zee arrives from England, thirteen-year-old Charlotte and he must set out to save humankind from denizens of the underworld, Nightmares, Death, Pain, and a really nasty guy named Phil. The world of Greek Mythology comes to life (or death)!

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli.
Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating
chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince, and delves into the psychological motivations of the characters.

I have a few to suggest to you that I hope you will enjoy, too.

Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Eighteen-year-old Ash wants nothing to do with senior prom, but when
disaster strikes and her desperate friend, Nat, needs her help to get it
back on track, Ash's involvement transforms her life.

My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin.

Let me tell you about a few others that might appeal to
you.

What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones.
Meet Sophie. She sees herself as the too-tall "Mount Everest of teenage
girls," who, along with her friends, often suffers from "lackonookie
disease." She's dating smoky, sexy Dylan, covertly chatting online with
"cybersoul"-mate Chaz, and secretly nursing a crush on sweet, geeky
Murphy. If you like this one, it has a sequel called What My Girlfriend
Doesn't Know.

After reading about the book, it seems like the author does a good job of balancing the grief and sorrow that Dulcie feels with a sense of hope and humor. Based on this, I came up with some titles that I hope you will like.

Julia’s Kitchen by Brenda A. Ferber.

When her mother and younger sister are killed in a house fire, Cara struggles to find a way to deal with her emotions and to reach out to her grieving father.

Rules by Cynthia Lord.