Department 19 by Will Hill

I like vampires, I like action, I like the stories of Frankenstein and Dracula.  This book had all those elements.  This is a story of a secret government department that is charged with fighting vampires.  The story is told through a 3rd person narrator that tells us what is happening in present day as well as flashbacks that fill in the back story.  Some of the back story interrupted the action of present day, but helped clarify things.  This book has LOTS of gore and blood so be prepared.  Killing vampires is a messy business, so if gore and flying body parts in not your thing this is not the book for you.  There is a 2nd book in this series that I have just purchased for the library that should be here before the end of the year.

Small Persons with Wings (they hate to be called fairies) by Ellen Booraem

A delightful read.  I remember when my son Sam was little and had an imaginary friend named Oslo.  That is what everyone thinks Mellie is talking about when she tells people that she has a "small person with wings" name Fidius.  Fidius is angry that Mellie tells people about him and leaves.  After this, Mellie throws herself into science and logic and has nothing to do with anything dealing with creativity or imagination.  After a family move, Mellie discovers that small persons with wings DO exist and they need help guarding an magic heirloom.  A great book if you like a light dose of fantasy.

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk

Interesting little mystery.  Will Halpin has always gone to a school for kids who are deaf.  He is an expert at reading lips and wants to try going to the public high school.  On a school trip the star quarterback is murdered and Will teams up with the one kid even less popular than himself to solve the crime.

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

The narrator of this story cracks me up.  He/She continues to make random funny remarks throughout the story.  What a story it is!  This is the story of Hansel and Gretel, but it doesn't end when they escape from the witch as in the original story.  It follows their horrific adventure through 8 other scary fairy tales until they finally return home ALMOST in one piece!!  Their is now a companion book that has been published that I am ordering for the library.

Jerk California by Jonathan Friesen

I have now read this book twice and loved it both times.  This is the story of Sam Carrier.  Sam has Tourette syndrome and is plagued with tics and twitches and verbal outbursts.  High school is a nightmare and his home life with his step dad is NO better.  Sam's stepfather is AWFUL.  This is Sam's story to find out about his real dad and find peace within himself.  Heart-wrenching and wonderful all at the same time!  The author has Tourette syndrome also and understands Sam's stuggle.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me because I have never been a big reader of non-fiction.  This is the story of the 12 day search for John Wilkes Booth, the man who shot Abraham Lincoln.  The author does a great job of capturing the human drama of history.  This is written in a narrative form and the story just pulls you back to 1865. 

Ready Player One by Earnest Cline

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was so sad when I finished it last night.  It takes place in 2044 but has great references to the '80s and since I grew up in the '70s and '80s I really enjoyed them.  Wade Watts lives in a world where almost everything you do, you do online and that is where Wade wants to spend his time.  The creator of their online world has died and left his fortune to whoever can find the hidden "egg" at the end of an elaborate online game that includes the '80s trivia and mysterious poems.  If you love adventure and you enjoy video games or games of strategy you will like this story.  I recommend it for older readers.