Summer Reading Club

The YA Summer Reading Club--officially known as Time Twistin' TTR.09 (that's Texas Teens Read 09)--flyers are available to pick up at the library in the Teen Zone or at the Children's Desk. We've got a great line-up of events, so be sure and join us. We're also reviving the online book club for the summer. Pick up a copy of our selection at the first program YA Bookshelf on Thursday, June 11th at 2:00 p.m., post your thoughts here on the blog, then join us for the movie on Thursday, July 9th at 2:00 p.m.

Featured Review: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

I just finished reading Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta last night and couldn't wait to blog about it! Since it was the winner of the Printz Award for Young Adult literature, I had high expectations for this novel. And I must say that it far exceeded them -- It is probably the best book I've read in quite a while! Very impressed!

Jellicoe Road is the beautifully written story of Taylor Markham, a girl who doesn't remember much of her past except for being left at a 7-11 by her mother and is visited in her dreams by a beautiful boy. Who is he? Why do both her mother and Hannah leave her? Will Taylor be able to keep the Townies and Cadets from gaining more territory from the boarding school students? I felt really connected to the characters, and the end of the book left me in tears. And, I didn't even mind that I had the whole story figured out way before any of the characters did!

I loved how Marchetta weaves two storylines together, how the past eventually comes to explain the present! Amazing storytelling! This novel is truly deserving of the Printz Award, and I'd highly recommend it. However, I must caution that it does contain some content that may make it more appropriate for older readers.

If you've read Jellicoe Road, tell us what you thought!