#11--Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

It is a good thing I'm ahead of schedule, since it has been two weeks since my last post.  I knew this time of the year was going to be hectic this year, but didn't realize just how crazy. 

One of the PE teachers at my school is a self-proclaimed "non-reader."  Over the years I have handed him a few books to try out, some have been hits and others have been misses.  This year, I think we have found his niche....sci-fi/fantasy with a little post-apocalyptic/dystopian thrown in for a little extra something.  He flew through the entire Hunger Games series in about two weeks and came in the library looking for something else.  It just so happened that Incarceron had just been checked in and I offered it to him, telling him that it was about a prison that was alive.  He jumped on it and within a few days, was back asking for the sequel Sapphique--which he finished in a few days as well.  When he found out I hadn't read Incarceron yet, he informed me that I had to read and after I did, he wanted to talk about it.  I started it last weekend and he and I had a brief conversation during the week, but he didn't want to give anything away.  Well, I finished it last night and I can't wait to talk to him about it this week!!

Many years ago, the king decreed that there would be no more progress--life would actually regress back to roughly the middle ages in dress, technology, science, medicine, etc.  All prisoners would also be shipped to a new prison called Incarceron with wise leaders, called Sapients, in order to create a perfect society.  What wasn't planned for was the eventual overthrowing of the system by the prison itself.  It began to generate life from those who died inside it as well as think and react of its own volition.

Finn, a prisoner in Incarceron, believes that he came from Outside--he doesn't remember anything before waking up in a cell three years prior.  Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is pledged to be married to Caspar, the crown prince--a boorish oaf who she can't stand.  Her father has been grooming her for this position her entire life.  Claudia and Finn are both desperate to find an escape--Finn from Incarceron and Claudia from her arranged marriage. 

I won't say any more, for fear of giving away the good stuff!!  This is definitely a must-read if you like fantasy/dystopian fiction!!

Happy Reading!!

#10--Vulture's Wake by Kirsty Murray

I often booktalk books for my students in an effort to entice them to read something maybe a little different than they would normally.  Because of the large number of booktalks I end up doing over the course of the year, I do not have time to read them all before I tell my students about them.  Today's book is one that I have been telling my students about since we got it last year.  It alwasy sounded interesting, but just never had the chance to pick it up myself.  After several of my students raved about it, I decided that it was my turn to read it. 

Callum is a boy in a world where females are extinct....or are they.  He meets Bo after he has run away from his kidnappers, when she finds him during her daily hunt for food.  Bo and Callum are on a mission to get across the dangerous continent and to the "safe" city of Vulture's Gate, and away from the Outstationers who are out for Callum's blood.  When they finally arrive at Vulture's Gate, nothing is like Callum remembers it and they must both fight for survival. 

This is a post-apocalyptic novel set roughly 40 years in the future.  Not only is it a great story, that is screaming for a sequel, but it is also a commentary of sorts on the world and humans' treatment of it.  I finished it late last night and I'm still mulling it over in my mind...how can we improve things now so we don't end up like Callum and Bo.....

This title was previously published as Vulture's Gate, in case the story sounds a little familiar to some of you.

Happy Reading!

#9--Talking Bones: The Science of Forensic Anthropology--Peggy Thomas

Currently, one of my favorite TV shows is Bones, which is about a forensic anthropologist who works with the FBI to solve murders.  While forensic science completely fascinates me, I know I would never have the stomach to do it in real life, so I get my kicks vicariously! 

I happened to pick up today's book as it came into the circulation desk yesterday morning.  It sounded interesting, and I needed something to read at lunch.  It was a relatively quick read, and very interesting.  It gives a basic outline of what forensic anthropology is and how it came to be.  Some of the cases discussed were intriguing and made me want to learn a little more about them.  This title was published in 1995, so I'm sure that much of the technology has changed in the 17 years since it came out, but the basics and history are still the same.  It is geared to a middle/high school audience, but doesn't talk down to the reader.  Overall, not too shabby!

Now I'm in the mood for some Bones.

Happy Reading!