Saturday, May 5, 2012

Dystopia!


So you read The Hunger Games (and loved it)? Stuck on what to read next? Well worry not, here is a list of some of our favourite dystopian young adult novels.








Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld


In Tally’s world, everyone is turned into a “Pretty” at the age of sixteen. This means an operation to make you supermodel beautiful. Pretties go to all of the hottest parties and live a life of glamour and fun. When Tally meets the Smokies – a group of people living on the outside, she realises there is more to being Pretty than meets the eye.



The Declaration Trilogy by Gemma Malley

In the year 2140 old age does not exist. A new drug called Longevity cured illness and lets you live forever. The problem? Overpopulation. Childbirth is illegal unless you opt out of immortality at the age of sixteen. Anna is one of these illegal children, a Surplus. She lives in Grange Hall, a workhouse where Surpluses learn to be servants to the immortal Legals. Anna is a good Surplus, she does exactly what she is told. So when a boy called Peter arrives at the hall and tells her about life on the outside, she slowly starts to question everything she has been told.




Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

Beatrice lives in a world where society is divided into five factions based on personality traits. These factions are: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). All sixteen year olds are faced with the choice of which faction to live in. Beatrice is conflicted - should she stay with her parents in Abnegation, or forge a new path? Once she has made a decision, there is no turning back. The third book is due next year.



Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

Prentisstown isn't like other places. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Todd Hewitt is a month away from the birthday that will make him a man. He and his dog Manchee (whose thoughts Todd can hear too) stumble upon an area of complete silence. Which is impossible. They have found a secret that will make them run for their lives... 



The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in a lift the only thing he can remember is his name. His memory has been completely wiped. When the life doors opens he finds himself in the Glade, a large open space surrounded by an immense stone labyrinth, with several other boys who also have no memories. All they know is the Maze. Each boy has a job to do but none more important than the Runners. Every day they go out into the Maze to document its paths and to try to find the way out. The Runners have to be quick because at night when the stone doors close, the monsters come. Book Three is due on the1st of June.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

I used to be someone. Someone named Jenna Fox. When Jenna Fox wakes from a year-long coma she can't remember anything. Her life, her friends, her family, even basic words are a mystery to her. She has to learn everything again. But why is she recovering so quickly? And why is her family acting so strange? Her grandmother seems to hate her. Her mother is being so fiercely protective that she's hardly allowed to leave the house. As Jenna starts to remember things, nobody wants to answer her questions. Why? What is happening to her?

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Exciting New Picture Books!

Remember the Pigeon? Famous from his stellar appearances in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Pigeon Wants a Hotdog, and Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late? Of course you remember the Pigeon! He is HILARIOUS. And he returns in The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? which will disappoint neither the hardcore Pigeon fans nor the newly introduced. Fab. 


You may also remember the delightfully furry Splat the Cat (and his best friend Seymour the Mouse). In this new and exciting adventure Splat goes secret agent as he attempts to solve the mystery of the disappearing mice. 


The Hueys in The New Jumper is the first in a new series by the marvellous creator Oliver Jeffers. "The thing about the Hueys was that they were all the same. Until the day one of them knitted a nice new jumper..."


 And finally, The Birthday Cake Mystery by The Tjong-Khing is a wonderful, wordless, detective story, perfect for whiling away the winter hours. 


Monday, April 23, 2012

Extraordinary Endangered Animals

by Sandrine Silhol, Gaelle Guerive and Marie Doucedame (Abrams). 


Visually stunning, this book is full of facts and photos of endangered animals from around the world. With entries on everything from Komodo Dragons to Tree Kangaroos, standouts include the Amazon River Dolphin (did you know these dolphins have a brain capacity 40% larger than that of humans?!) and the particularly adorable Sea Otter (when the otters get sleepy they wrap themselves in algae so they don't drift away on the tides!). 

Animals are just so wonderful! And this book does them justice. 



Friday, April 20, 2012

Saturday is Party Day!

X
*Dave Gorman is no longer coming, and Mark Thomas will begin his Extreme Rambling at 3pm, not 4.30*

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Extra Yarn




Do you know how to knit? Annabelle knew how, and she had a box of never ending yarn, so she knit jumpers for everyone and everything in her town. This book is beautiful, and creative and magical. It was written by Mac Barnett, and Jon Klassen did the pictures... He is the fellow who made 'I Want My Hat Back', another truly wonderful picture book. Extra Yarn will leave you wanting to better the world by making something lovely! 






Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Rosie Flo is branching out!

Do you remember Rosie Flo's lovely, lovely colouring books? The ones where you just add heads, legs and arms? 


Well. 

Now there are Rosie Flo's Colouring Postcards!

Not to mention Johnny Joe's Colouring Postcards! 

Just add heads, legs and arms. 
Then colour them in. 

Wonderful!


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Feeling Frenchy

At the Younger Sun, we love lots of books, but considering two of our staff are about to pop off to Paris, France, Europe for a wee holiday, we particularly are loving things of the Parisian persuasion!

Consider these titles if you are in need of some French fodder for the young!

Henri's Walk to Paris Text by Leonore Klein, Illustrated by Saul Bass 
(First published in 1962, this reprint is a new release! YAY!)


Mr Chicken Goes to Paris by Leigh Hobbs
(Probably one of the best books ever written, ever)





Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
(A young adult romance novel with a twist of humour and wit!)




Nicholas 
By Goscinny & Sempe (A French children's classic chapter book about a French School boy, from the writer of Asterix!)

Lonely Planets' NOT FOR PARENTS Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about PARIS
The perfect guide for younger travelers or junior Franco-philes with facts about history, art, architecture, food and science.