Rebecca Purdy

Every January the children and teen services departments of libraries across the country are abuzz with anticipation.  Somewhere in the United States, select groups of librarians are attending closed door meetings to decide which books deserve a variety of awards, from the Caldecott for illustration to the Printz for best book for teens. 

For City of Bones, I would recommend,

Lament (and its sequel Ballad) by Maggie Stiefvater.

On the day of an important music competition, talented but painfully introverted and nervous Deirdre Monaghan is helped to perform by the compelling and enigmatic Luke Dillon and finds herself inexorably drawn into the mysteries and dangers of the faerie world.

Wicked Lovely (and its sequels Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity) by Melissa Marr .

Thirty-eight students in grades 9-12 from Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland county particpated in this year's show.  The talent is immense, the art is phenomenal and difficult choices were made.  Local artist, Johnny Johnson, generously donated his time to judge the grades 11 and 12 contestants.  Those artists experienced the other side of an art show and were the judges for those in grades 9-10. 

Best in Show was awarded to senior, Katy Shepard for "Roman Myths of Love" (shown above)

Five Scenes from David Small's "Stitches" from Stitches: A Memoir... on Vimeo.

As if David Small's graphic autobiography Stitches:--A Memoir wasn't powerful enough on its own, five scenes have been turned into eleven minutes of heart-wrenching video.  If you've read the novel, is it worth it?  Absolutely.  Hearing 'mama's little cough," slamming of cupboards and moving her "fork a half inch to the right" further enhances the viewers understanding of David Small's traumatic, childhood home.  If you haven't read this book, which was nominated for the 2009 Young People's Literature Award by the National Book Foundation, place a hold today!  It's worth enjoying in all formats! 

If you like solving mysteries, you may like these books:

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball by David A. Adler
Cam uses her photographic memory to identify the person who stole a valuable autographed baseball.

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. Available for adults, teens, and kids.  You can browse the book matches here.