Graffiti: July 2007 Archives

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July 31, 2007

New This Week @ your library, July 31st 2007

New on DVD for July 31^st300
Based on a graphic novel of an epic battle in 480 B.C., where 300 Spartans halted the advance of the Persian army numbering 1 million soldiers. With David Wenham, Gerard Butler, Lena Headey. (2007, 116 minutes, rated R)

Firehouse Dog
The world's most famous (and Hollywood's most pampered) pooch is separated from his owner and ends up as the mascot of a hapless fire station. There, he helps a boy and his father, a veteran fire chief, turn the station into the city's finest. With Bill Nunn, Bruce Greenwood, Josh Hutcherson. (2007, 111 minutes, rated PG)

Hot Fuzz
A London police officer with an incredible arrest record is sent to a sleepy crime-free village to work, when he is making the other officers on the force look bad. With Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Nick Frost, Simon Pegg. (2007, 121 minutes, rated R)

Pathfinder
The heroic story of a young Norse man raised by Native American Indians who wages a personal war against the Vikings that barbarically raided his tribe. With Karl Urban. (2007, 99 minutes, rated R)

Look for these titles on DVD Express!

Posted by Daniel at 06:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 26, 2007

Raising the Curtain

Jeff West High School is going all out in their theater department with the production of Raising the curtain courtesy of cjonline “Beauty and the Beast”. The theater department at Jeff West has been an on again, off again organization but now has a full time theater teacher, Shawn Beuchat. Holli Cope, a senior, has been in every theater production since she was a freshman. “Everyone is really dedicated and it is a step up for us” said Holli. The theater participants hope this production will be the start of something big at Jeff West. Read more

Posted by Gayle at 09:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So Whaddya Think? Gratitude

It’s the little things in life—the things we encounter each day– that are the hardest to see.
Reflecting upon the things in your life that are meant to make you smile, give you peace, or instill a feeling a joy—those little things that are rarely acknowledged– should give you a sense of gratitude.
Expressing gratitude on a daily basis helps us to keep perspective in difficult times and reminds us of our bountiful joy during good times. Take a few minutes to feel your gratitude for what is wonderful and beautiful in the world.
BONUS: Check out this new book -- Thanks: how the new science of gratitude can make you happier by Robert Emmons

So Whaddya Think? What are you grateful for?
Post your comment below.

Posted by Lissa at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

July 24, 2007

VOTE now - the poll is open

Posted by Lissa at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Walk Chalk Friday is coming!

Sidewalk Chalk in front of the library. Have you ever wanted to take a couple of minutes and explore your artistic talents? This summer Robert Hubbard, and Artist and Youth Services Specialist at our library, has set up shop outside the library and invited children and adults of all ages to express their creativity on the sidewalk with chalk.

Sidewalk chalk at the library! Chalk Walk Fridays are a huge hit and required no advanced advertising. The creative art as people walk in the building is advertising enough! So far, the Friday art events have drawn 50-100 people to express their creativity on the sidewalks.

So if you a have a few minutes and want to join us for our next chalk walk it is Friday, July 27, 9:30-11:30.
Chalk decorates the library sidewalk Sidewalk Chalk brightens the sidewalk in front of the library.

Posted by Lissa at 08:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New movies July 24th

^{Opened last weekend in movie theatres:
Hairspray
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
And look for these titles in DVD Express at the library!

The Host
A family mourns the loss of a child that has been eaten by a hideous monster living in the local Han River...until they find that she is still alive and living inside the sewer! (2006, 119 minutes, rated R)

The Number 23
A mysterious novel turns a man's normal existence into a torturous one when he thinks it is written about his death and the death of his loved ones. With Danny Huston, Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen. (2007, 95 minutes, rated R)

Perfume: the Story of a Murderer
A young Frenchman born with an extraordinary sense of smell strives to create the perfect scent, which leads to a very dark secret surrounding the ingredients. With Alan Rickman, Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman. (2006, 147 minutes, rated R)

Zodiac
Four investigators are obsessed with the case of a serial killer on the loose in San Francisco in the '60s and '70s, who leaves cryptic letters regarding the unsolved murders. Based on actual case files. With Anthony Edwards, Chloe Sevigny, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey, Jr. (2007, 158 minutes, rated R)}

Posted by Lissa at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 23, 2007

Show Us How Smart You Are

Who doesn’t love a chance to show how smart they are? Answer the 15 questions below, plus the super bonus question for a chance to win AWESOME PRIZES!
You have until 3 pm on July 27^th to get your answers in.
By the way, this contest is only open to our wonderful library users ages 11-17.

Winners & answers will be announced next Monday.

Good Luck!

Which rap mogul has a cameo in Rhianna’s “Umbrella” video?
Name the 7 Harry Potter books?
What British super couple recently moved to LA?
Which member from 98° was married to Jessica Simpson?
Name the 2007 song whose lyrics include: “A thousand miles seems pretty far/But they've got planes and trains and cars/I'd walk to you if I had no other way/Our friends would all make fun of us/and we'll just laugh along because we know/That none of them have felt this way”.
Name the 3 VH1 shows Flavor Flav has appeared on.
The Spice Girls recently announced a reunion tour, in what year did they originally break up?
Brandon Routh played the title character in Superman Returns in 2006, who played Superman in the original film in 1978?
What MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) became the most popular one of its kind, boasting 8.5 million players worldwide, in early 2007?
What 1984 Prince movie had an album released of the same name?
In Spiderman 2, who is Spidey’s main nemesis?
What video game by Red Octane involves players using a plastic guitar to shred some famous and some not so famous songs?
This trilogy of books was written by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the television show) was set in what fictional town?
Who is Gwen Stefani married to?

Bonus trivia:

What did Gary Dahl create in the 1970’s that turned him into an overnight millionaire?

Email your answers here.

Posted by Katie at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

July 21, 2007

Mystery Reading List: Historical

The Summer Reading Program theme for 2007 is “You Never Know,” and it features mysteries. This week’s reading suggestion list focuses on historical mysteries, with characters as diverse as samurais, slaves and orphans seeking answers to deadly mysteries.

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Dorothy Hoobler
In 18th-century Japan, fourteen-year-old Seikei, longs to be a samurai, although he knows that this is an inherited honor he can never hope to attain. While on a business trip, Seikei and his stern father take shelter at the Tokaido Inn where a cruel and oafish samurai, Lord Hakuseki, is also staying. A precious jewel is stolen from the lord, and a young girl whom Seikei has just met is accused of the theft. He risks his life by speaking out to defend her and Judge Ooka, called in to solve the crime, is taken with the boy’s bravery and enlists his help to solve the mystery.

Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde
Wrongly convicted of murder and punished by being sealed in the tomb with the dead man, seventeen year old Selwyn enlists the help of a witch and the resurrected victim to find the true killer in this medieval mystery.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, this coming-of-age novel weaves together romance, history, and a murder mystery. Mattie Gokey struggles with the fresh pain of her mother's death and the burden of raising her sisters while her father struggles with the farm work. Mattie dreams of finishing high school, going to college in New York City, and becoming a writer.Her life is turned even more upside down when the drowned body of a young woman turns up at the hotel where Mattie works.

Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
In 19^th century London, sixteen-year-old Sally, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby and clues to explain her father’s death. Pursued by villains at every turn, the intrepid Sally uncovers two dark mysteries and realizes that she is the key to both. (first in a trilogy)

The Case of the Missing Marquess: an Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer
When Enola Holmes, sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, discovers her mother has disappeared, she quickly embarks on a journey to London in search of her. But nothing can prepare her for what awaits. Because when she arrives, she finds herself involved in the kidnapping of a young marquess, fleeing murderous villains, and trying to elude her shrewd older brothers all while attempting to piece together clues to her mothers strange disappearance. Amid all the mayhem, will Enola be able to decode the necessary clues and find her mother?

The Printer’s Devil by Paul Bajoria
Twelve-year-old Mog works for as a printer’s apprentice. He enjoys printing off the wanted posters, but he recognizes one of the faces. With the help of his new friend, Nick, the two are soon on the trail of murderous thieves in Victorian London.

The Callender Papers by Cynthia Voigt
In 19^th century Massachusetts, orphan Jean is employed to sort out the family papers of a reclusive artist and becomes curious about the mysterious, long-ago death of his wife and the subsequent disappearance of their young child.

Something Upstairs by Avi
When 12-year-old Kenny Huldorf moves with his family to Providence, Rhode Island, he

finds himself embroiled in the century-old murder of a teenage slave named Caleb. Not only is Kenny haunted by the injustice of the murder, but also by the ghost of Caleb himself, who summons Kenny back in time to the early 19th century, where the boy must solve Caleb's murder to return to his own century.

The Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks

On a storm-ravaged night, a 19-year-old girl is kidnapped, raped, and killed. Three days later, her two younger brothers set out in search of her murderer. Cole, 17, is a dark-eyed devil who doesn't care if he lives or dies, while Ruben, 14, is a strange child who sometimes, feels and knows things that only his siblings have experienced. This is the story of the boys' journey from their gypsy home in London to the ghostly moors of Devon, where they hope to find the truth about their sister's death.

Posted by Michelle at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 20, 2007

thesistermaria in concert!

Live band: thesistermaria
End of Summer Reading Party

Thursday, July 26, 2007
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Marvin Auditorium

Don’t miss the rock band thesistermaria! Pop and popcorn will be provided after the first set. Awards and prizes for YA Summer Reading will follow the final song.

This program is for people 12-18 years old. No registration is required.

"thesistermaria" is the solo project of singer/songwriter Martinez Hillard. A Topekan for the last 15 years, he draws inspiration from his town to create his eclectic yet accessible melodies rooted in folk, new wave, dark pop and rock. He spent 2005 performing regionally in support of his two latest releases: "Let Go of/Hold On to the Gold" and "Mister Sister & the Sister Family." He will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalists Phil Canty, Jeff Milberger and Brett Resnick.

Posted by Lissa at 09:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 18, 2007

Like a grindylow needs water.

Posted by Meghan at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 13, 2007

Mystery Reading List: Paranormal

The Summer Reading Program theme for 2007 is “You Never Know,” and it features mysteries. This week’s reading suggestion list focuses on mysteries involving the unexplained-including ghosts, psychics, and aliens!

Ninth Key by Jenny Carroll
"There's no such thing as ghosts." At least, that's what the scientific community believes. High school sophomore Susannah Simon wishes she could agree. She's only lived in sunny California for two weeks, and already her life's a whirlwind of pool parties, excellent hair days, and new friends. Oh, yeah...and her stepbrothers. But otherwise, things are going fab. Until the ghost of a dead woman shows up at her bedside, screaming and begging Suze to find "Red" and tell him that he isn't responsible for her death. Tracking down a murderer isn't exactly easy, especially when the clues that Suze pieces together lead straight to the father of Tad Beaumont, the cutest and richest boy in school...and the first boy who's ever asked Suze out.

Spirit Seeker by Joan Nixon Lowry
To prove that her friend did not brutally murder his parents, Holly enlists the help of a clairvoyant.

Secrets by Melinda Metz
Rae Voight has a problem. Thoughts are running through her mind that are not hers. Is she going crazy? Or could something else-something even stranger—be going on? As Rae unravels the mystery of where these thoughts are coming from, she also unlocks terrifying secrets of her past, including the truth about her dead mother. But knowing the truth may not be a good thing for Rae. If she's not careful, it might get her killed.

Premonitions by Jude Watson
Grace has premonitions. They've haunted her since her parents' death. She doesn't know how to deal with them, and doesn't want to. She never knows whether she's seeing the past, the present, or the future. It just comes to her. Then Grace's best friend disappears. And suddenly the premonitions that have been the bane of her existence become the only way to solve the mystery of where the friend has gone -- and how she can be saved in time.

Gilda Joyce, Psychic Detective by Jennifer Allison
Ever since her father died two years ago, Gilda has been sharpening her psychic skills, both in an attempt to communicate with him and to solve spooky mysteries. The summer before ninth grade, she invites herself to San Francisco to visit relatives she's never met who live in a brooding Victorian mansion, complete with a ghost in the tower. Lester Splinter, her distant cousin, seems to be hiding something about his sister's suicide years ago, and Gilda is determined to find out what it is, with the help of his lonely, hostile, teenage daughter. Gilda's bravery, bluntness, and willingness to try anything help bring Juliet out of herself.

Death at Deacon Pond by E.M. Alexander
Kerri Langston has psychic visions, and since her father's supposed suicide, she has been deemed the town freak because of them. She knows her father did not kill himself, but no one will listen to her. Late one night, she and her friend Seth Roberts, the son of her father's former colleague on the police force, are attending a party at the local teen hangout when Kerri literally stumbles across Mark Travers, who died falling off a cliff near the pond. The visions start all over again, and Kerri realizes that, like her father, Mark Travers was murdered.

Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti
Elisha and Elijah and their parents are part of a secret government program known as the Veritas Project. Their current assignment is to infiltrate a high school where student bullies have been stricken by a mysterious form of madness. Elijah and Elisha must befriend the various cliques at school, and help their parents solve the mystery of Abel Frye (a name the sick kids mutter in their delirium).

The Truth Out There by Celia Rees
Thirteen year old Josh begins digging into the mystery of his Uncle Patrick, an autistic boy who died at Josh's age while investigating the crash of the flying saucer, and a terrible family secret is uncovered.

The Dead Connection by Charlie Price
Murray can talk with the dead, and he knows most of the people in the graveyard. But who is this new voice he hears, and why is she so upset? (Graffiti review)

Lily's Ghosts by Laura Ruby
The strange things happening at Lily's great uncles's summer home draw Lily and a new friend into a mystery involving lost treasure, a fake medium, and ghosts all sizes, shapes, and dispositions.

Dust by Arthur Slade
A mysterious stranger arrives in a dustbowl farm town in the 1930s, performing tricks and promising to bring rain. Eleven year old Robert is the only one who can help when at the same time children begin to disappear.

Posted by Michelle at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 11, 2007

Learning to fly...in a lawn chair

Not sure how to spend the rest of your summer vacation? You can always follow in the footsteps of Oregonian, Kent Couch, and fly to Idaho...in a lawn chair.

From cnn.com:

BEND, Oregon (AP) -- Last weekend, Kent Couch settled down in his lawn chair with some snacks -- and a parachute. Attached to his lawn chair were 105 large helium balloons.

Destination: Idaho.

With instruments to measure his altitude and speed, a global positioning system device in his pocket, and about four plastic bags holding five gallons of water each to act as ballast -- he could turn a spigot, release water and rise -- Couch headed into the Oregon sky.

Nearly nine hours later, the 47-year-old gas station owner came back to earth in a farmer's field near Union, short of Idaho but about 193 miles from home.

"When you're a little kid and you're holding a helium balloon, it has to cross your mind," Couch told the Bend Bulletin.

"When you're laying in the grass on a summer day, and you see the clouds, you wish you could jump on them," he said. "This is as close as you can come to jumping on them. It's just like that."

Keep reading the article here.

Posted by Katie at 08:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 10, 2007

Bad Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

Bad Girls by Jacqueline Wilson.

This book is about a girl name Maddy. Her mom treats her like a baby. She wears baby clothes and her mom only lets her wear her hair in braids. Girls at school make fun of Maddy because she is a baby. When a new girl moves in next door Maddy is considered cool! Tanya is considered another "bad girl" to Maddy's mom. Once Maddy hangs out with Tanya things start turning around. Until... You will have to read to find out. I liked this book alot. I strongly recommend this to any girl.
By Kristen Thiessen

Posted by Gayle at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 09, 2007

Now I can almost afford the PS3...

From cnn.com:

FRANCISCO, California (Reuters) -- Sony has cut the price of the PlayStation 3 by $100, or 17 percent, in the United States, a move that should boost the video game console's lackluster sales.

The PlayStation 3, which includes a 60-gigabyte hard drive and a Blu-ray high-definition DVD player, will now cost $500, or $20 more than the most expensive version of Microsoft's Xbox 360.

The PS3 still costs twice that of Nintendo's Wii console, whose $250 price and motion-sensing controller have made it a best-seller despite its lack of cutting-edge graphics and hard disk.

"Our initial expectation is that sales should double at a minimum," Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said in an interview.

"We've gotten our production issues behind us on the PlayStation 3, reaching a position to pass on the savings to consumers, and our attitude is the sooner the better."

The price drop Monday was widely anticipated by industry analysts despite Sony President Ryoji Chubachi telling Reuters last week that the company had no immediate plans for one.

Go here to finish reading the article.

Posted by Katie at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So-Called Book Club

Let’s talk about books!

What are you reading right now?
What kind of books do you like?
What is your all-time favorite book?
What book do you want to read next?
Who is your favorite author?

Are you looking for a good book? Check out this informal, fun group on the second Monday of the month at David J’s Place (the teen room) at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Great book for teens!

Monday, July 9, 6:30-7:30 pm
Monday, August 13, 6:30-7:30 pm

All kids and teens are welcome! If you can’t come to the So-Called Book Club in person, join us online anytime at http://graffiti.tscpl.org. Book Club by Lissa (librarian) and Daulton (teen).

Posted by Lissa at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Big Video Game News!

So, what’s the big video game news?

On Friday July 6, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library began circulating Xbox 360 video games. Collections are located in both the Young Adult and Children's Areas. All games that are rated T (for teen) will be located in the Young Adult collection.

Where are the Xbox games at the library?

The Young Adult collection are located along the south wall of David J’s Place next to the new materials and the Children's collection are along the north wall of the entrance room to the Children’s Area, at the end of the entertainment videos.

Xbox games for checkout in David J's place

How long can I check out the game?

Xbox games check out for 3 weeks and you may place a request in the library’s catalog if the title you want is not currently available. Plus, some copies of each game have an Express sticker and only checkout for 7 days.

7 day express should be on the shelf, or place a request for a regular 3 week checkout copy

How many games can I check out at a time?

You may check out one regular and one express game on your library card.

How can I search for Xbox games in the library’s catalog?

You can now see a list of all of the Xbox 360 games by doing a subject search for "Xbox 360 - Video games". Search the catalog at http://catalog.tscpl.org.

Posted by Lissa at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 08, 2007

What If Your Sister Become Your Teacher?

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck
Russell and his younger brother tried to enjoy the last days of summer in 1904 knowing that school would start soon. They weren't looking forward to seeing old Miss Arbuckle, especially since they still had to do their farm chores, wear their dress up clothes, and spend so much time thinking that their brains would start hurting! But things started to look up the night Russell learned that ole Miss Arbuckle died, and the one room schoolhouse might close down. Russell started imagining all the fishing, camping, and fun they could have until his big sister, Tansy, stepped in and ruined everything. The school board let her become the new teacher even though she was still finishing high school. Now it was going to be the worst year ever unless Russell could pull enough pranks to frustrate his sister and make her quit.

Posted by Michelle at 05:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 03, 2007

Bad Boys and Good Girls.

Warning: that super cute boy you’ve had your eye on? He’s only going to break your heart.

Freshman (or “freshmeat” as the senior boys like to call her) Josie can’t believe that the cutest Senior in her school is actually interested in her. He’s always saying the sweetest things (“you’re so soft” and “God, you’re so beautiful”), offering her rides and showing up to make-out at her locker before class. He wants her so badly and keeps insisting that she wants him just as bad. She thinks she might—but she’s not willing to give in to him to find out for sure. Frustrated that Josie won’t put out, TJ breaks up with her over “wanting different things.” Yeah, right.

Crushed and embarrassed for falling for this Bad Boy, Josie warns all the other girls in the school that TJ is up to no good. It’s already too late for some (“He took me to the dugout too! What a loser!”) and others don’t heed her warnings. Nicolette falls under his spell and ends up with a being known as the school slut. She’s dumped for Aviva who believes that he could be The One, but ends up discarded as soon as she gives in to his wishes. All of TJ’s discards try to comfort each other, telling each other that from now on they’ll be stronger and wiser when it comes to Bad Boys.

If you like Sonya Sones's books (What My Mother Doesn’t Know and the sequel What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know) or other books written in verse, try A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone.

Posted by Meghan at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Teen Crafts

Be artistic, create a masterpeice or learn something new. Artistic, creative people will be available to Flip Flops courtesy of sxc.hu help you learn new and unusual crafts. Decorate flip flops, make ice cream, paint a birdhouse, design unusual jewelry & create scented candles.

12-18 years
Thursday, July 5
2:00-4:00 pm
Marvin Auditorium

Posted by Gayle at 09:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 01, 2007

Mystery Reading List: Thrillers

The Summer Reading Program theme for 2007 is “You Never Know,” and it features mysteries. This week’s reading suggestion list focuses on thrillers--books that will keep up on the edge of your seat!

The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan
Tracy, a high school junior, becomes embroiled in the problems of a strange boy, who asks her assistance in "snatching" his half-sister from her father who has allegedly kidnapped her.

Tightrope by Gillian Cross
To everyone in her run-down neighborhood, 14-year-old Ashley seems like a good kid. No one knows about her alter-ego, "Cindy", the daring graffiti artist known for leaving her tag in the most unreachable places. But a mysterious stranger discovers Ashley's secret and starts leaving her threatening notes-and worse-at home, addressed to Cindy. Ashley seeks protection with a neighborhood and becomes friendly with one of the young members, hoping to find help in unmasking her stalker.

Wolf Rider: A Tale of Terror by Avi
On an ordinary evening, just as he's about to leave for a party, 15-year-old Andy Zadinski receives a phone call from a stranger that changes his life. The caller, Zeke, confesses to the murder of a young woman named Nina Klemmer. Andy immediately calls the police, who shrug it off as a gag or a crank call. But Andy persists when he happens to meet Nina, who is just as Zeke described her. She takes his warnings as harassment, however, and everyone now thinks that Andy himself made up the call. His attempts to ferret out Zeke and protect Nina, while compromising his own safety, make for an exciting tale of the terror lurking beneath everyday surroundings and behind ordinary events.

In the Middle of the Night by Robert Cormier
Eight years before Denny Colbert was born, his father was involved in a tragic accident that killed 22 children. Now Denny is 16, and all he wants is to be like other kids his age. But he isn't allowed to answer the telephone or have a driver's license, and his family is constantly moving from town to town--all because people can't forget what happened long ago. When Denny defies his parents one afternoon and answers the telephone, he finds himself drawn into a plot for revenge which may prove deadly.

Acceleration by Graham McNamee
Seventeen-year-old Duncan is haunted by the fact that he was unable to save a drowning girl a few yards away one fateful afternoon the previous September. This summer he has a job working underground at the Toronto subway Lost and Found. When business is slow, Duncan spends his time rummaging through dusty shelves and boxes of unclaimed items. During one of these sessions, he uncovers a strange, leather-bound book that turns out to be the diary of a would-be serial killer. Unable to tear himself from the gory descriptions of tortured animals and arson, he discovers that the writer has started to stalk women on the subway. When the police seem disinterested, the teen takes matters into his own hands, and with the aid of his two best friends, tries to track and trap the murderer before he can strike.

Coverup: a Novel by Jay Bennett
Brad awakens with a fierce hangover after attending a drinking party with his best friend, Alden. His clouded memory tells him that something terrible has happened. Although Alden denies any wrongful occurrence, Brad begins to search for evidence that leads him toward a possible car accident and a missing man. He meets Ellen, who is searching for her missing father, and they discover that they are both on the same trail. It soon becomes clear that this trail leads to a coverup initiated by Alden's father, a less than scrupulous but very powerful judge. Despite dark and oppressive mood, Ellen and Brad manage to find a little romance.

Tenderness by Robert Cormier
Eighteen-year-old Eric has just been release from juvenile detention for murdering his parents. Now he's looking for tenderness--tenderness he finds in killing girls. Fifteen-year-old Lori has run away from home again. Emotionally naive and sexually precocious, she is also looking for tenderness--tenderness that she finds in Eric. Will Lori and Eric be each other's salvation or destruction?

The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence
In 1799, a storm rages and a ship is lured onto the rocky Cornwall coast by those who live off the plunder of wrecked ships. John, who was sailing home after his first trading voyage with his merchant father, is apparently the only survivor. Hunted by the ruthless wreckers, he is protected by Simon Mawgan, whom he believes to be their secret leader, and befriended by Mawgan's niece, Mary. When John discovers that his father is alive and held prisoner, he must try to rescue him without knowing who can be trusted to help.

The Shadow People by Joyce McDonald
A tense psychological thriller about four teens united, not by ties of friendship, but by their rage. Gabriel is haunted by the specters of the thugs, still at large, who murdered his brother Ben. Lydia is stifled by her hypercontrolling father, who holds her entire family in his viselike grip. Alec wants revenge on all the authority figures who turned him into a loser high school drop out. Hollis wants to get back at "the system" that counted out his genius just because it was encased in a small pudgy body that no one would take seriously. This troubled quartet is drawn to the idea of the damage they can do if they pool their strengths. But then Gem Hennessey unknowingly enters into the equation. Gabriel and Alec are both in love with her. Lydia is seethingly jealous of her (since she wants Gabe for herself). And Hollis sees the destruction of all his great plans if he doesn't get rid of her--permanently.

Also check out Joan Lowery Nixon and Caroline Cooney who normally write thrillers.

Posted by Michelle at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)