Batman No. 1: The Court of Owls

Snyder, Scott. Batman Volume 1: The Court of Owls. 2012. New York, NY: DC Comics. Print. ISBN: 9781401235413 Pages: 176 Hardbound US $24.99

Awards

#1 New York Times Best Seller! 

Annotation: Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman, are trying to return Gotham City to its prior shimmer and glory. While fighting the good fight, the hero encounters a historic, secret villain that almost has him beat.

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Batman No. 1: The Court of Owls
by Scott Snyder

Graphic Format

According to its residents and villains Gotham City is “damned, cursed, murderous, villainous,” and “hopeless.” But Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman, know that Gotham City is the home that he’ll protect and return to pristine glory. 

Scanned from Batman No. 1: The Court of Owls

Batman believes himself to be the oldest institution in the city; little does he know that a dark, centuries-old presence has been keeping tabs on the city and the Caped Crusader since the beginning.  

Scanned from Batman No. 1: The Court of Owls

Betrayal, destruction, fast-paced action, and awesome graphics make this new comic a must-see.

Click here to see if this book is available at Ericson Public Library!

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Check out the full trailer for the New 52 Series!

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Praise for Batman No. 1: The Court of Owls!

“A+. The hero's got personality (and is unafraid to release a quip as sharp as a Batarang), a horde of supervillains, gumption to spare and a whole host of high-tech gadgetry to suitably impress longtime fans and those new to the Dark Knight.” USA Today

“This is one of the best comics of the week.” The New York Times

“[Writer Scott Snyder] pulls from the oldest aspects of the Batman myth, combines it with sinister-comic elements from the series’ best period, and gives the whole thing terrific forward-spin by setting up an honest-to-gosh mystery for Batman to solve.” Entertainment Weekly

“Scott Snyder, already the company's greatest asset over the last four weeks, spins a stack of plates immediately…. Too often Batman comics focus heavily on the hero persona … Snyder sets up equal amounts of conflict for both Wayne's public and private personas.” Time Out Chicago

“A stunning debut…. Snyder knows these characters, sets up an intriguing mystery, and delivers some action that Capullo realizes stunningly. This is definitely in the top rank of the revamp. The Onion AV Club

Click here to visit the DC Comic's website for the New 52 Series of comics!

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Zelah Green

"Zelah Green, Queen of Clean!"
Curtis, Vanessa. 2009.  Zelah Green. London: Egmont, 2010. Print. ISBN: 9781405255059 Pages: 246 Paperback US $7.99

Awards!

None yet!

Annotation: Zelah, a young, British, teenager doesn’t realize how serious her Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is until she it sent to an unconventional rehabilitation center. She begins to heal, discovers truths about herself, and discovers true friendship.

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Zelah Green

by Vanessa Curtis

  

         “Could things get any worse?” Zelah wonders at the outset of this British import. On top of being a “cleanoholic,” and having a seriously evil stepmother, her dad seems to have gone missing. But things get a lot worse before they get any better for Zelah. She winds up at an unsanitary, disorganized, completely bonkers home for kids with emotional problems. Will she see her dad again? Can Zelah possibly live on constant “germ alert?” Will she be able to overcome it all and see the big picture? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Click here to see if this book is available at Ericson Public Library!

A note from the author!

“I got the inspiration for Zelah firstly from a signpost on the way down to Cornwall - Zelah is a small village on the road towards Penzance - and secondly from watching a documentary about adults with OCD which got me wondering how a child would cope with it. OCD in adults is widely talked about in the press - David Beckham's got it, as has Justin Timberlake - but kids with OCD as so often, get overlooked. As a writer of books for children I feel kind of compelled to write about the issues that are buried beneath our so-called perfect lives. 'Zelah Green' is actually a play upon a classic fairy tale. I took the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and rewrote it (radically) by setting it in a home for angsty children with behavioural problems who aren't so assured of a happy ending. One of these kids is Zelah Green.”   

Praise for Zelah Green!

"With her light touch, convincing dialogue and sparky humour, [Curtis] makes self-harm, anorexia, attempted suicide, depression, cancer and alcoholism all palatable for a young audience without being patronising or employing self-improvement gobbledygook. She also makes it funny."  —Scotland on Sunday

"reluctant readers will enjoy Zelah’s conversational style, which keeps serious issues on the lighter side."—Booklist

"a highly accessible story with appeal for reluctant readers." —School Library Journal

"unique, fast and grabbing...a great way to spend an afternoon."—"Shut Up! I'm Reading" blog

Click here to check out Vanessa Curtis' website for news, events, and information!

If you enjoyed Zelah Green, you'll LOVE

Zelah Green: One More Little Problem!

Image from boone.lib.ia.us "Once again the snappy [Zelah Green] balances life’s dark secrets with her breezy tone and light humor."  —Booklist

Click here to see if this book is available at Ericson Public Library!    

Curtis, Vanessa. Zelah Green: One More Little Problem. London: Egmont, 2011. Print. ISBN: 9781405240543  Pages: 256 Paperback US $7.99 

The Chocolate War

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Cormier, Robert. 1974.  The Chocolate War. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. Print. ISBN: 9780275829871Pages: 253 Paperback US $8.95

Awards!

ALA's Best Books for Young Adults

School Library Journal's Best Book of the Year

Kirkus Review's Choice

New York Times' Outstanding Books of the Year

Cormier recieved the Margaret A. Edwards Award (1991)

Annotation: A powerful, secretive organization called The Vigils controls the student body of Jerry Renault’s new school. He gets caught in the middle of a war of pride and power and winds up the victim of violence, fear tactics, and intense bullying.

Snap n' Read

The Chocolate War
by Robert Cormier

       Jerry Renault just wants to play football, go to school, come home, and play more football. When he doesn’t follow the understood school hierarchy his life becomes more complicated. A single choice has made him the target of powerful bullies and to get even with Jerry they’re throwing out all the stops.

“Jerry hunched his shoulders, cocked his fist. He had been waiting for this moment, ever since Archie’s voice had taunted him on the telephone. But he hesitated now. How could he hit anyone, even an animal like Janza, in cold blood? I’m not a fighter, he protested silently.” But fight he does. Violence, fear, and a battle of wills and pride culminate into The Chocolate War.

Click here to see if this book is available at Ericson Public Library!

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Watch the trailer for the 1988 movie adaptation!

Look out for some totally awesome 80s hairstyles!

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Click here to go to the movie's IMDb page!

The Chocolate War is one of the most controversial and most frequently censored books ever published! Does that make you want to read it even more?!?! 

Praise and Criticism for The Chocolate War!

“Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful.”—The New York Times Book Review

“The characterizations of all the boys are superb.”—School Library Journal, Starred

“Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

Click here to read why one blogger thinks this book has been so controversial and sometimes considered "dangerous."

Withering Tights

"Boys, snogging, and bad acting guaranteed!"

Rennison, Louise. Withering Tights. New York, NY: Harper Teen, 2011. Print. ISBN: 9780061799310 Pages: 274 Hardbound US $16.99

Awards!

2010 Roald Dahl Funny Prize

Annotation: Tallulah Casey is a precocious yet awkward teenage girl; Withering Tights is the first in a series of stories about her rollicking, outrageous adventures at  an English Performing Arts high school. 

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          Withering Tights

by Louise Rennison

First in the Misadventures of Tallulah Casey!

   

Tallulah has had glamorous, outrageous day dreams about her first kiss or “snog” as she calls it. However, she hadn’t prepared for it to feel like a tiny bat was bumping around inside of her mouth. “Was that his tongue!?!?” That wasn’t part of her daydream!

What if all of your wildest dreams came true? Tallulah is certain she’s on the right track. She’s going to find her inner artist, make a wildly posh new set of friends, and leave behind her old, gangly self and become the desire of all of the boys in Yorshire Dales! And it’s all going to start with a summer performing arts program.  Of course, everything isn’t going as planned. How will Tallulah make it all work out?







Click here to see if this item is available at Ericson Public Library! 

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Watch the official book trailer!

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Louise Rennison talks about Withering Tights!

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Praise for Withering Tights!

“I don’t know how, but Louise Rennison has done it again. Tallulah is even funnier, warmer, and sweeter than her cousin Georgia Nicolson. I fell in love with Withering Tights, and you will too!” (Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries and Abandon series)

“Louise Rennison has created another superbly realistic and hilarious young teen heroine, a younger Georgia Nicolson, in the first book of a new series. Tallulah’s wry comments on her life and her dreams are sure to enchant girl readers who will laugh and cry with the spunky, hopeful entertainer.” (Voice of Youth Advocates)

“Tallulah is a vivacious and hilarious character who will speak to every girl. This is a wonderful start to a new series that will attract Georgia’s many fans as well as bring in new readers, who will fall in love with Tallulah and all of her quirks.” (School Library Journal )

“Fans of Georgia Nicolson will be thrilled to meet her cousin Tallulah in Printz Honor-winner Rennison’s new madcap melodrama. Undeniably entertaining; Georgia would be pleased.” (Kirkus )

“Absurdity is a key point here, and it’s richly delivered by Tallulah’s exploits. Ideal for readers seeking a high-spirited silly British romp.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books )

“Tallulah is an effervescent protagonist who will keep fans of YA Brit lit laughing until the very end.” (Publishers Weekly )

“A bright, breezy, and very funny take on life. Good fun!” (Booklist )

“A jolly and faintly raunchy read.” (Wall Street Journal )

“This Brit lit romp through the moors will leave readers looking forward to next term and more Tallulah.” (The Horn Book )

“Expect lots more of Rennison’s unique brand of teen angst, snogging and shenanigans.” (The Sunday Times )

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Don't miss the next book in the series:

A Midsummer Tight's Dream!

Available June 2012!

Click here to see if it is available at Ericson Library!
Click here to see if it is available at Ames Library!

Rennison, Louise. A Midsummer Tight's Dream. New York, NY: Harper Teen, 2012. Print. ISBN:  9780061799365 Pages: 256 Hardbound US $17.99