Great Series Alert: Violet on the Runway

Violet Series by Melissa Walker

This is a great series for readers that might be a little shy but it doesn't stop them from having big dreams.

The three books in series follows Violet Greenfield's rise to fame in the fashion industry as a top model. In high school, Violet was very shy and embarrassed by her height (6'1'') and they fact that she was very skinny. She was shocked when she is discovered by a modeling agent while she was at her job at the movie theatre. Violet was immediately flown to New York and caused a splash at New York fashion week. While in New York, she can't help thinking about her two best friends Julie and Rodger, and the simple life she left behind in North Carolina. More of Violet's modeling life is chronicled in Violet by Design and Violet in Private picks up when Violet is trying to balance romance, modeling, and college.

Living Dead Girl

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

There is a news story that broke out recently about a girl who was abducted 18 years ago by a sexual predator. Her parents thought she was long dead and were shocked to find that she had been held captive by this man for almost two decades and had two children with him.

The story is horrifying and shocking and you can't help thinking about what his girl, now a woman, went through. It reminded me of a book that I had read a couple of months ago, Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott.

Living Dead Girl is the story of Alice, a fifteen year old who has been held captive for five years by Ray, a pedophile who says he's in love with her. Alice lives with Ray in an apartment about 4 hours away from where she lived with her parents, and she is terrified to leave because Ray threatens to kill her family if she does so much as lie to him. Alice is also afraid to grow up, because she knows that Ray's "Alice" before her was killed once she got older.

One morning Ray decides that they need to find a new girl, a younger girl and Alice is the one that has to find her.

Scott's story is haunting and terrifying. I couldn't put it down, all the time wondering if Alice would find a bit more strength to be able to find a way out or if she is capable of forcing another child into the life that she has. If you are interested in true crime or survival stories, this would be a fascinating read.

Paper Planes!

Paper Planes was a blast! Thank you to everyone who came!

And congrats to S. who's plane flew the furthest!

(Brian, a librarian, attempting to make a plane)

Cool New Series Alert!

The Gifted Series by Marilyn Kaye

The series is about a class of gifted students at Meadowbrook Middle School. Instead of extra homework and reading, these students are learning how to control their gifts. Each student has a special power, from body-swapping to mind control.

The first book focuses on Amanda, the mean "queen bee" of the eighth grade. Under her perfectly crafted image she's hiding a deep secret. She has the power to swap bodies with those she feels sorry for. Amanda learned at an early age that she had to block her compassionate feelings if she wanted to stay in her own body and by the time she turned 13, she is the most feared student in her school. After a run in with Tracy Devon, a quiet girl in her class that everyone ignores, Amanda starts to feel some pity. When she wakes up in the morning, she's Tracy and is stuck as Tracy much longer than her last body swaps.

This is a really great series for readers who like mainly realistic problems (friendship, parents, grades, etc.) but love a supernatural twist. Think the X-Men in middle school.

New Magazines this week

(from Nylon Magazine)

This just in! New issues of:

Nylon

WWE

Hype Hair

Wizard

and ESPN

Come and take a look!

Paper Planes!

No, not the hit M.I.A. song...

This friday, come to the Muhlenberg Branch to compete in the world's greatest sport, paper plane throwing. Prizes for the planes that go the distance...and prizes for those that don't make it so far.

Friday, August 14th at 4Pm

On the 3rd floor

Ages 12 and up (younger kids can come if they are with a teen)