A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable

 

Title: A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable
Author: Dane Gable with Scott Schulte

Genre: Autobiography

Pages: 132

Publisher: University of Iowa Press

Reviewed by: 

From the Publisher

What does it take to be an Olympic gold medalist and to coach a collegiate team to fifteen NCAA titles? In A Wrestling Life: The Inspiring Stories of Dan Gable, famed wrestler and wrestling coach Dan Gable tells engaging and inspiring stories of his childhood in Waterloo, Iowa; overcoming the murder of his sister as a teenager; his sports career from swimming as a young boy, to his earliest wrestling matches, through the 1972 Olympics; coaching at the University of Iowa from the Banachs to the Brands; life-changing friendships he made along the way; and tales of his family life off the mat. A celebration of determination, teamwork, and the persevering human spirit, A Wrestling Life captures Gable's methods and philosophies for reaching individual greatness as well as the incredible amount of fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from working as part of a team.

Whether we are athletes or not, we all dream of extreme success and are all looking to make our future the best it can be, but along the way we will undoubtedly need time to recover and rejuvenate. Let these stories inspire you to find your path to strength and achievement along whatever path you take.

American Sniper

 Title: American Sniper

Author: Chris Kyle

Genre: Autobiography

Pages: 377

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishing

Reviewed by: 

From the Publisher

The #1 New York Times bestselling memoir of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, and the source for Clint Eastwood's blockbuster movie which was nominated for six academy awards, including best picture.

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. His fellow American warriors, whom he protected with deadly precision from rooftops and stealth positions during the Iraq War, called him "The Legend"; meanwhile, the enemy feared him so much they named him al-Shaitan ("the devil") and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle, who was tragically killed in 2013, writes honestly about the pain of war—including the deaths of two close SEAL teammates—and in moving first-person passages throughout, his wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their family, as well as on Chris. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle's masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

Trial by Fire: A Raised by Wolves Novel

Title: Trial by Fire: A Raised by Wolves Novel

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Genre: Wolves, Fantasy,

Pages: 357

Publisher: Egmont

Reviewed by: Amazon.com

Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

Plague: A Gone Novel

Title: Plague

Author: Michael Grant

Genre: Good vs. Evil, Fantasy, Supernatural,

Pages: 492

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Reviewed by: Library Media Connection (October 2011)

It's been eight months since the adults and older teens disappeared from Perdido Beach, and things are not going well. Food and clean water are running out, and power struggles between the "normal" kids and those with strange new powers are a common occurrence. There's a nasty, often fatal flu-like bug going around that even the teen healer can't stop. A group sets out to find a new water source; the lake is there, but so is a horde of mutant bugs that can lay its eggs inside a human host, leaving the hatchlings to eat their way out. The story is fast-paced and engaging, but the large cast of characters can be confusing. If you don't have the earlier books in this series, Gone (HarperCollins, 2008), Hunger (HarperCollins, 2009), and Lies (HarperCollins, 2010), get those first; this book will baffle readers unfamiliar with the story thus far. Fans of the earlier books will likely gobble this one up, though. Susan A.M. Poulter, Cataloguing Librarian, Nashville (Tennessee) Public Library. RECOMMENDED

Trackers

Title: Trackers (Book 1)
Author: Patrick Carmen
Genre:  Action, Adventure, Mystery, 
Pages: 224
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc
Reviewed by: Amazon.com 
Bestselling author Patrick Carman pushes the vbook to the next level with this thrilling book/video/web experience.

In the 21st century landscape of bits and bytes, everyone leaves a digital footprint ... even the most advanced cyber criminals. And that’s where the Trackers come in. Four tech-savvy kids armed with high-tech video cameras and esoteric coding skills, the Trackers can find almost anyone, anywhere. Told through a collage of videos, text, and websites, Trackers #1 follows Adam, Finn, Lewis, and Emily as they become entangled in a high-tech, high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Shantorian, the world’s most dangerous hacker. At least, that’s who they think they’re tracking....

Since You've Been Gone

Title: Since You've Been Gone
Author: Morgan Matson
Genre:  Dating, relationships, friendship
Pages: 449
Publisher: Scholastic, In\
Reviewed by:  Publishers Weekly (February 24, 2014)

Emily Hughes's best friend Sloane has disappeared without a trace-Emily has called, texted, and driven by her house, but it's as though Sloane and her family have ceased to exist. Then, one of Sloane's famous "to do" lists mysteriously shows up, with 13 directives for Emily, including "Kiss a stranger," "Go skinny- dipping," and "Dance until dawn." In Sloane's absence, the list-full of things she knew Emily would find fun, but a challenge, too-defines Emily's summer, helping her meet new friends (including cute Frank Porter), come out of her shell, and find a way to hang on to Sloane. Despite the novel's missing-friend hook, Matson (Second Chance Summer) primarily focuses on Emily's progress with the list (the resolution of the question "What happened to Sloane?" is the weakest part of an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable story). Matson's characters feel like familiar, comforting friends, even Sloane, who readers glimpse in periodic flashbacks. It's a sweet, leisurely read with a title that, thanks to Kelly Clarkson, begs to be shouted out loud. Ages 12-up. Agent: Emily Van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

What Waits in the Woods

Title: What Waits in the Woods
Author: Kieran Scott
Genre: Action and Adventure, Mystery, Survival
Pages: 270
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Reviewed by: Kirkus Reviews (January 15, 2015)

A camping trip turns deadly for a group of friends as a cackling stalker creeps among the trees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. City girl Callie Valasquez agrees to go camping only to impress her new, popular girlfriends, Lissa and Penelope. After moving from Chicago to upstate New York, she's hoping to foster new friendships like the ones she left behind. Inviting her new boyfriend, Jeremy, doesn't hurt either. As the group surrounds a glowing fire, Lissa relates the tale of the Skinner, a murderer who committed atrocities in the very woods they sit in and was never found. Of course, it isn't long before things begin to go awry. Jeremy and Penelope topple off a bridge into a river, losing their supplies and barely making it out alive. Then a charming stranger appears, offering to help. But can he be trusted? As the group falls apart, and trust begins to crumble, a watcher in the woods creeps in. Callie and her friends teeter on the cliched, with Lissa acting as the over-the-top alpha and Callie as the frightened new girl finding her footing. But Scott weaves palpable tension and masterfully ramps it up toward a truly thrilling conclusion. Cinematically paced, it's tough to put it down. Readers will be kept up late, shocked to discover the depth of the darkness that lies in the woods.

Deep Blue/ Rogue Wave (Books 1 & 2 Water Fire Sage)

Title:Deep Blue ( Book 1 Water Fire Saga Series) 

Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural
Pages: 324
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Reviewed by:  Booklist (May 15, 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 18))

Grades 7-11. Just when Sera, the heir to the throne of a vast underwater mermaid matriarchy, is basking in the success of perfectly performing the rites of ascendancy, her city is ambushed, her parents are killed, and—now officially but reluctantly Regina—she’s on the run from powerful forces seeking to destroy much more than just her city. If that weren’t enough, Sera’s been having terrifyingly vivid dreams, which summon her and five other teenage mermaids to a mysterious coven of river witches in order to decipher an ancient prophesy and unlock their hidden powers. Best-selling Donnelly (Revolution, 2010) builds an alluring mermaid civilization and history, filled with painterly descriptions of Sera’s underwater palace and its unearthly architecture, her sumptuous wardrobe, and the menagerie of half-human, half-marine animal denizens. There’s also plenty of romantic tension with handsome mermen, strife between merls (that’s girl mermaids) from rival regions, and some powerful female friendships amid the fast-paced plot, filled with wondrous magic. This series opener raises far more questions than it answers, but it lays a promising groundwork for the forthcoming volumes. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This $500,000 marketing campaign features TV spots, a national author tour, and even an original song. This series will be a part of your world.

Title:Rogue Wave ( Book 2 Water Fire Saga Series) 

Author: Jennifer Donnelly

Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural

Pages: 297

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Reviewed by:  Booklist (March 15, 2015 (Online))

Grades 7-11. After Sera learns about her destiny at the end of Deep Blue (2014), she and the other mermaids depart to track down the mystical talismans that will help them defeat Abbadon, a monster with the power to destroy the world’s oceans. Sera and Neela separately return to their kingdoms only to discover that Traho’s nefarious control extends farther than they ever imagined, while simultaneously using their newfound magic skills and knowledge of their realm’s history to figure out where the talismans are hidden. Donnelly’s rich world building is as enticing as ever, though much of the plot seems like stage setting for the forthcoming trilogy ender. Additionally, certain elements of Sera’s ocean life are baffling—how does a mermaid drink hot tea from a cup underwater, for instance? Most readers probably won’t mind that quibble, however, and will instead immerse themselves in the twisty tale of betrayal, intrigue, and steamy romance. A compelling cliff-hanger ending will likely guarantee interest in the next volume. Familiarity with the first book is a must.

Th Only Thing to Fear

"What if Hitler had won World War II?"

Title:The Only Thing To Fear
Author: Caroline Tung Richmond
Genre: Action and Adventure, Dystopian
Pages: 280
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Reviewed by:  Library Media Connection (March/April 2015)

This book asks the question "What if Hitler had won World War II?" The answer is terrifying. Zara St. James is a 16-year-old girl who, like most citizens, is under the constant scrutiny of the Nazis. She is also yearning to be part of the rebellion hoping to overthrow them. However, the Nazis have been conducting experiments on prisoners and have crafted the "Anomalies"-genetic mutations resulting in humans with special powers. But Zara has a secret of her own that might prove to be the deciding factor for the rebellion's success. The plot is fast-paced and will appeal to both historical fiction and science fiction readers. Valerie Jankowski, Library Media Specialist, Washington (Missouri) Middle School 

The Running Man

Title: The Running Man
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Survival Fiction
Pages: 317
Publisher: Signet Novel
Reviewed by:  From the Publisher (2009)

In the year 2025, the best men don't run for President, they run for their lives….

Ben Richards is out of work and out of luck. His eighteen-month-old daughter is sick, and neither Ben nor his wife can afford to take her to a doctor. For a man with no cash and no hope from the poor side of town, there's only one thing to do: become a contestant on one of the Network's Games, shows where you can win more money than you've ever dreamed of—or die trying. Now, Ben's going prime-time on the Network's highest-rated viewer participation show. And he's about to become prey for the masses….

With an introduction by the author, "The Importance of Being Bachman"

Seventh Son (Books 1 and 2 in the Last Apprentice Series)

Title: Seventh Son (Books 1 and 2 in the Last Apprentice Series)
Author: Joseph Delaney
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Supernatural
Pages: Book 1- 294  Book 2-389
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Reviewed by:  From the Publisher(2005)

Book 1 and Book 2 of the best-selling fantasy adventure series that inspired the forthcoming major motion picture Seventh Son! Read Book 1, Revenge of the Witch, and Book 2, Curse of the Bane, in one volume! A major motion picture phenomenon and an international bestseller, The Last Apprentice will haunt you—and terrify you—and keep you coming back for more.
This volume includes Book 1, Revenge of the Witch, and Book 2, Curse of the Bane, of the Last Apprentice series. Only the Spook has the knowledge and skill to face ghosts, bind witches, and bargain with boggarts. Now he needs an apprentice—Tom Ward, who is the seventh son of a seventh son. Other apprentices have come before. All have failed, or fled, or died. Will Tom learn what they could not? Can he trust anyone, even his one true love? He will find out—and soon, for the dark is getting powerful, and the Spook's time has come. Will Tom survive to carry on his master's battle? Will he be the Last Apprentice?
Soon to be a major motion picture, Seventh Son, starring Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia Williams, Antje Traue, Djimon Hounsou and Julianne Moore as Mother Malkin. The Last Apprentice series is "tantalizingly creepy" (Publishers Weekly), and "anything but tame" (Horn Book). But don't read it after dark!

The Future of Us

Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Genre: Fiction, Friendship
Grade Level: 8 +
Pages: 356
Publisher: Razor Bill
Reviewed by:  Kirkus Reviews (October 15, 2011)

If you had the chance to see what your life would be like 15 years in the future, would you take it? High-school students Emma Nelson and Josh Templeton were best friends until a misguided kiss last November made things between them awkward at best. But when Josh's mother forces him to give Emma a CD-ROM for America Online, the two discover that, for better or for worse, their destinies are intertwined. While installing the CD, Emma stumbles upon her Facebook page. The problem is, it's 1996. Facebook hasn't been invented yet. Emma shares her secret with Josh, and the two quickly learn that everything they do in the present has an immediate impact on their lives in the future. Unfortunately, they don't always like what they see. Can the two teenagers rewrite the future? Should they try? Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why, 2007) and Mackler's (Tangled, 2010) fantasy, told from both Emma and Josh's perspectives, makes for an entertaining but ultimately disappointing read. Focusing almost entirely on the teens' future love lives, the authors neglect 1996-era subplots involving the teens' friends and families that might have given the story additional depth and immediacy. Without question a page-turner, it's nevertheless unlikely to linger long in readers' minds. 

The Body in the Woods

Title: The Body in the Woods
Author: April Henry
Genre: Mystery
Grade Level: 7 and up
Pages: 263
Publisher: Scholastic Press 
Reviewed by:  Kirkus Reviews (May 15, 2014)

In a fast-moving and well-constructed mystery, three teen volunteer members of a search-and-rescue team track a serial killer targeting homeless teen girls in Portland, Oregon. An experienced SAR member is supposed to accompany every search party, but an error lands new volunteers Ruby, Nick and Alexis alone together on their first call. Other team members quickly locate the man who is the target of their search, but the three teens find something else: the body of a recently dead girl. Each teen comes from a unique and compellingly drawn background, expressed with impressive effectiveness given how quickly the plot moves. Nick, whose father died in the Iraq War, has joined SAR in hopes of both living up to his father's legacy and impressing girls. Timid but capable Alexis pushes others away to stop them from discovering that she spends most of her time and energy managing her mother's mental illness. Ruby in particular stands out. Her socially unacceptable but genuinely felt exuberance at participating in a murder investigation is frowned upon by parents and police but lovingly conveyed through enthusiastic dialogue and narrative asides. Short, obsessive chapters from the unidentified killer's point of view add to the suspense, and enough clues are dropped as to the killer's identity that astute readers will be able to solve the puzzle before the final, high-stakes climax. A quick, thrilling read that doesn't skimp on characterization. 

Adrift By Paul Griffin

Title: Adrift
Author: Paul Griffin
Genre: Action/Adventure, Survival
Grade Level: 9-12
Pages: 228
Publisher: Scholastic Press 
Reviewed by:  Booklist (September 1, 2015 (Online))

Matt and John are spending the summer before senior year working on Long Island in the tony Hamptons. The boys are best friends from childhood who happen to share a tragedy that cost the life of John’s father. Both are goal-oriented and driven, and the last thing either of them expects is to be stranded in a poorly equipped boat with three other kids from wealthy families. One of the girls, Estefania, has a serious injury. Her boyfriend, JoJo, is in denial. And her cousin Driana is just trying to hold it together. Matt and John are the only two at all equipped to survive, but Matt, the narrator, is beginning to wonder whether he really ever knew John. Griffin keeps the pages turning; he has a gift for drawing out the suspense and immersing the reader in the story. At the same time, his characters are complex, unpredictable, and entirely authentic. Dispatches from rescue units heighten the suspense. It’s a great summer read—as long as you stay on dry land.