New Books

FIC SON Notes From The Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

After drinking and crashing his mother's car Alex Gregory is ordered to serve 100 hours of community service visiting the meanest, crankiest resident at a nursing home. As Alex gets to know Solomon Lewis and learn about his life, he also learns something about the guitar, respecting the elderly, and taking responsibility for his actions. Sonnenblick, a former middle school teache,r has created an interesting cast of characters and an enjoyable story.

FIC RIO The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

In the third book in Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, Riordan continues to enliven ancient mythology with wit, contemporary staging, and teenage heroics.

FIC SCH Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This is the story of the mishaps and adventures of Holling Hoodhood's 7th grade year. On Wednesday afternoons, the Jewish and the Catholic students leave for religious instruction. Holling happens to be Presbyterian so stays at school and is convinced his teacher hates him as she gives him chores which include cleaning the erasers, washing the chalkboard, cleaning the cage of the classroom's pet rats, and doing extra worksheets. One afternoon, Mrs. Baker begins reading Shakespeare with Holling. At first he thinks it's just another way she's found to torture him but he finds that what he learns from Shakespeare can apply to everyday life.
Even though the story is set in the 60's, most of it still applies to today's situations.

FIC ALE The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (National Book Award Winner)

Junior looks around at the others on the Indian Reservation and realizes that he needs to go 23 miles to the "white" school if he wants to get anywhere in life. His parents drive him there when they have enough money for gas but some days he has to find other ways of getting there, even if it means walking the entire way. Once he makes the decision to go he's no longer accepted by his old friends on the reservation and, of course, he doesn't easily fit in his new school.

FIC STR The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

The Amulet of Samarkand -- The golem's eye -- Ptolemy's gate. Follows the adventures of Nathaniel, a young magician, as he makes a rapid rise through the government of an alternative Britain with the help of witty and wisecracking Bartimaeus, a djinni he first summons to assist him in a plan of revenge, and who later plays an important role in saving London and the entire country.

598.47 STE Penguins by Rebecca Stefoff

Penguins look like little people wearing tuxedos, walking upright and waddling about. In recent years scientists have learned much about these birds and this book, full of colored photos, makes some of that new knowledge accessible to the student.