NextReads @ HPL

New and Recently Released!

Pretty Dead - by Francesca Lia Block

Publisher: HarperCollins
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780061547850
ISBN-10: 0061547859

Dark Fantasy. Charlotte Emerson has been a "V word" since 1925, when the utterly amoral vampire William transformed her. Now living alone in California, Charlotte has a glamorous yet empty existence that is brightened by her human best friend, Emily...until Emily commits suicide. As Charlotte grieves with Emily's boyfriend, Jared, the two of them grow closer, and Charlotte inexplicably begins showing signs of mortality. More about the torturous feelings that accompany immortality than the rules of the vampire universe, this sultry, romantic, and hypnotic novel will quench the thirst of readers who like their vampire yarns packed with poetic writing and psychological tension.

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Going Bovine - by Libba Bray

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/22/2009
ISBN-13: 9780385904117
ISBN-10: 0385904118

Fiction. Supreme teen slacker Cameron Smith just wants to coast through his life...until he learns that its end is frighteningly near. After he is diagnosed with mad cow disease, Cameron meets a punky, pink-haired angel who convinces him that he must not only find a cure, but also save the world. This launches a full-bore-looney road trip adventure during which Cam and his pot-smoking new acquaintance Gonzo encounter a happiness cult, rescue a Norse god disguised as a yard gnome, and puzzle over secret-police types bearing snow globes. Mixing physics, fire giants, and Don Quixote into a delectably surreal brew, Going Bovine is just the thing for fans of profound absurdity.

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Sacred Scars - by Kathleen Duey

Publisher: Atheneum Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/04/2009
ISBN-13: 9780689840951
ISBN-10: 0689840950

Dark Fantasy. In this 2nd volume of the "exquisitely suspenseful" (Horn Book) Resurrection of Magic trilogy (following Skin Hunger), Sadima and Franklin work together to thwart the dangerous ambition of evil magician Somiss, who is attempting to bring back the ancient magic that has been all but eradicated. Two hundred years later, Hahp, a student at the wizardry school that results from Somiss' efforts--where torture is a common teaching method--plots at great risk to destroy Somiss' evil once and for all. This riveting and mysterious story will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the final volume.

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Ruined - by Paula Morris

Publisher: Scholastic
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/31/2009
ISBN-13: 9780545042154
ISBN-10: 0545042151

Fiction. When her father departs on an extended business trip, 15-year-old Rebecca Brown must leave her beloved New York City to live temporarily with a family friend in New Orleans' posh Garden District. Rebecca doesn't fit in at the snobby prep school she attends, and she feels isolated until she meets and befriends Lisette--a ghost who has haunted a local cemetery for more than 100 years. As Rebecca learns Lisette's disturbing story, she is drawn into a dark web of family secrets, culture wars, voodoo curses, and vengeance. Redolent with vivid descriptions of New Orleans, this horror-tinged novel will please fans of Kim Antieau's similarly atmospheric Ruby's Imagine.

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Shiver - by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 08/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780545123266
ISBN-10: 0545123267

Paranormal Romance. As a young girl, Grace was attacked by wolves but saved by one yellow-eyed member of the pack. Years later, she obsessively watches the woods for "her" wolf when the pack returns each winter. When a local tragedy sends the townspeople hunting the wolves, a wounded boy with yellow eyes shows up on Grace's doorstep. He is Sam, human in the summer and a werewolf during the colder months, and he has longed for Grace from afar. Sam knows that the next winter when he changes form, he'll remain a wolf forever--so he and Grace don't have much time. Twilight fans who like strong female characters and creative twists on monster lore will adore this poetic, unhurried love story told from both main characters' points of view.

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Leviathan - by Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 10/06/2009
ISBN-13: 9781416971733
ISBN-10: 1416971734

Science Fiction. At the brink of worldwide war between the Clankers and Darwinists in 1914, Archduke Ferdinand and his wife are assassinated and their son Prince Alek flees from their enemies in an enormous, walking war machine. Meanwhile, young Deryn Sharp disguises herself as a boy so she can enlist in the British Air Service and fly one of its genetically engineered, living warships. Alek's and Deryn's fates intertwine when circumstances land them both aboard the Leviathan, a whale airship. This action-packed steampunk alternative history will delight fans of Philip Reeve (the Hungry City Chronicles) and Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke).

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Focus on: Native American Authors

Flight: A Novel - by Sherman Alexie

Publisher: Black Cat
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2007
ISBN-13: 9780802170378
ISBN-10: 0802170374

Adult Fiction. In this tragic, hilarious, and unapologetically graphic story, part-Irish, part-Indian foster kid Zits has an out-of-body experience (several, in fact) just as he is about to commit a horrendously violent act. Spun through time and successively into the bodies of a white FBI agent in the 1970s, an Indian child during the battle of Little Big Horn, a 19th-century Indian-tracker, a homeless alcoholic, and finally an airline pilot, Zits emerges from his journey transformed. Fans of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five or Octavia Butler's Kindred will be mesmerized by this brutal yet ultimately hopeful novel.

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Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today - by Lori M. Carlson

Publisher: HarperCollins
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2005
ISBN-13: 9780066239576
ISBN-10: 0066239575

Short Stories. These ten stories written by contemporary Native American authors--including Cynthia Leitich Smith, Louise Erdrich, Richard Van Camp, Joseph Bruchac, and National Book Award-winner Sherman Alexie (for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)--are beautiful and intense. With themes ranging from painful tales of divorce, poverty, and addiction to proud celebrations of American Indian identity, strength, and humor, this collection "reminds us that the American Indian story is far from over."

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Genocide of the Mind: New Native American Writing - by MariJo Moore

Publisher: Thunder's Mouth Press/Nation Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2003
ISBN-13: 9781560255116
ISBN-10: 1560255110

Adult Nonfiction. This collection of essays by Native Americans from more than 25 different nations explores the experience of "urban Indians," people who struggle to live in the two different worlds of their traditional heritage and modern society. Writing on topics ranging from Native identity and languages to Indian mascots and misconceptions of what it means to be Native, the contributors to Genocide of the Mind bring serious current issues into stark focus and yet also offer hope and ideas for the future.

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The Trap - by John E. Smelcer

Publisher: Henry Holt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2006
ISBN-13: 9780805079395
ISBN-10: 0805079394

Adventure. Ahtna Athabascan poet and author John Smelcer spins a tale of survival in the cruelly beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Native Alaskan Johnny Least-Weasel's stubbornly traditional grandfather Albert has gone out to check his trapline, and he's been gone far too long. Johnny's grandmother urges him to go looking for her husband, but Johnny's uncles on the tribal council aren't concerned. Meanwhile, Albert Least-Weasel has his leg caught in one of his own traps and must fend off wolves, hunger, and bitter cold. This taut, suspenseful story will keep you turning the pages.

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Eternal - by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 2009
ISBN-13: 9780763635732
ISBN-10: 0763635731

Dark Fantasy. When Miranda's guardian angel, Zachary, breaks protocol in an attempt to save Miranda from a vampire, he fails and is demoted. Insecure, unpopular Miranda--with whom, by the way, Zachary is hopelessly in love--gets turned into a vampire by none other than Dracula himself. Before long, she's callously killing people and living the glamorous life in the Master's castle. Zachary has only one chance to redeem himself: he's got to save Miranda's soul and foil Dracula's plans for world domination. Fans of author and Muscogee (Creek) tribal member Cynthia Leitich Smith's previous fantasy novel Tantalize will not want to miss Eternal--and they'll also be eager for the next volume, in which the characters from the previous books will meet.

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In This Issue

New and Recently Released!
Focus on: Native American Authors
Contact your librarian for more great books!

Events

Arts & Crafts

Braided Friendship Bracelet
11/10/2009 4:00 PM
Smith Neighborhood Library
Enjoy making friendship bracelets for your friends. Ages: 12-18.

Citizenship Week: "Celebrating the Many Faces of Houston" Craft for Kids & Teens
11/17/2009 3:30 PM
Collier Regional Library

Craft
11/4/2009 4:30 PM
Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
11/11/2009 4:00 PM
Walter Neighborhood Library
11/27/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library

DIY Revolution
Thursdays 7:00 PM
Central Library
Enjoy the latest DIY craze that is hitting the scene. Teen Room 4th Floor - Ages 13-18.

Sand Jar Art
11/16/2009 5:00 PM
Hillendahl Neighborhood Library
Make a clever, beautiful art piece with multi-colored sand arranged in a jar. For Teens.

Teen Art Craft
11/5/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
Want to learn the basics of art? Fun new mediums? Finger painting... you know you still like to finger paint.

Yarn People
11/9/2009 12:00 PM
Central Library
Meathead Hat Knit-a-long - Make and design your own pointy hat. Ages: Adults & Teens.

Clubs, Hang-outs & Homework

After School Zone
Mondays-Thursdays 3:00 PM
Smith Neighborhood Library
Mondays-Thursdays 3:30 PM
Carnegie Neighborhood Library
Laptops, homework help, books, games, movies and other cool stuff for teens will be provided.

Anime
Mondays 4:00 PM
Kendall Neighborhood Library
Discuss and watch anime films, eat yummy snacks, read anime books, and play anime video games.

Fashion 101
11/19/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
Do you want to be a fashion designer? Do you love clothes, can you draw, do you spend your day looking at fashion magazines? Join an introductory class to teach you the tools on how to get started to break into the fashion industry.

Homework Help
Tuesdays-Thursdays 2:00 PM
Central Library
Tuesdays-Thursdays 3:30 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
Students are welcome to bring their homework and receive help from a librarian.

Otaku Society Anime Club
11/30/2009 7:00 PM
Central Library
Teens watch, review and discuss anime... maybe some manga too. Ages: Teens 13-18 only.

Pink Ladies Meeting
11/3/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
A Girl's Club for ages 9-17 intended to promote self-esteem, academia, social awareness and leadership.

Teen Advisory Board
11/4/2009 6:30 PM
Central Library
11/5/2009 6:00 PM
Meyer Neighborhood Library
TAB meets every month to talk face to face about library programs for teens!

Writer's Workshop
Mondays 5:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
Children and teens work on features, poetry, fiction, opinion pieces, comic strips, and book review for the Express Yourself bi-monthly newsletter. Ages 8-17.

Young Adults Book Club
11/16/2009 & 11/30/2009 5:30 PM
Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
Talk about books you have read and see what others suggest!

Computers & Technology

Pictures of You!
11/12/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
Create a fun digital pictures of yourself with a digital camera or sometimes a MacBook.

Reel Teen Film Fest Editing
Mondays 6:00 PM
Central Library
MacBooks will be available to use to edit your movie entry for the 2nd Annual Reel Teen Film Fest. Teens 13-18 only. Teen Room Fourth Floor.

Gaming

Board Games/Chess
11/10/2009 3:30 PM
Collier Regional Library
Open chess play and instructions for beginners and advanced players. Other board games available. Ages: Teens.

PS2 Games
Thursdays 4:30 PM
Flores Neighborhood Library
11/19/2009 4:00 PM
Vinson Neighborhood Library
Relax and enjoy games with other gamers.

PS3 Games
Thursdays 4:00 PM
Walter Neighborhood Library
Enjoy PlayStation3 video games. Up to four can play at once, plus more online with WiFi. Ages: Teens and Children.

Teen Gaming
Mondays 3:30 PM
Park Place Regional Library
Thursdays 3:30 PM
Collier Regional Library

Us v. U
Fridays 2:00 PM
Central Library
Challenge Robyn, Ruby, Craig or Melody to any game of your choice. Teen Room 4th Floor - Ages. 13-18 only.

We're Getting the Band Back Together...
Tuesdays 3:00 PM
Central Library
Guitar Hero, or Rock Band... Step up! Teen Room 4th Floor - Ages: 13-18 only.

Wii Games
11/9/2009 5:00 PM
Hillendahl Neighborhood Library
11/19/2009 6:00 PM
Meyer Neighborhood Library
Have fun and meet new people while playing fun and exciting Wii games.

Movies

Sunday Throwback Movies
Sundays 2:00 PM
Central Library
The 80's are back! Sit back and watch some of the best movies the 1980's have to offer, the Brat Pack, ghost busting and cute furry monsters that you don't want to get wet! Teen Room 4th Floor - Ages: 13-18 only.

Teen Movie
11/3/2009 & 11/24/2009 3:30 PM
Collier Regional Library
11/6/2009 4:00 PM
Young Neighborhood Library
11/13/2009 4:00 PM
Morris Frank Library A HPL Express Library
11/13/2009 4:00 PM
Walter Neighborhood Library
11/14/2009 3:30 PM
Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
11/20/2009 3:45 PM
Smith Neighborhood Library
Join us for a great movie and snacks. Funded by a Loan Star Libraries Grant authorized by the Texas Legislature and awarded to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to the Houston Public Library. Ages: Teens.

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