Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Yes, we have a copy of the latest Harry Potter (thanks to the PTSA)! The waiting list is long, so hopefully we'll get more soon. What's it about? You'll have to read it to find out, but here's what one reviewer had to say:

"Undoubtedly Rowling's crowning literary achievement, this triumphant final installment not only answers any and all questions surrounding integral characters like Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Severus Snape, Neville Longbottom, and Draco Malfoy but also brilliantly deals with some decidedly adult themes -- mortality, faith, duty, honor, etc. -- with a lyrical simplicity that will touch the hearts of readers of all ages. ("Do not pity the dead...pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.") Rowling definitely saved the best for last in this saga; HP7 will exceed the expectations of even the most demanding Harry Potter fan."

Your favorite books/authors

Here is a list of favorite books and authors, from the survey I did of students in May 2007.
Dragon Ball Z
R.L. Stine III
TTYL I
Dream Saga
J.K. Rowling
Belle Prater’s Boy
Hey Idiot
Twilight III
Fairy tale books
Kara First Love
The Fairy’s Mistake
What Kind of Love
Beet the Vandal Buster
Telling by Marilyn Reynolds
Just Stupid
Sports, NBA
Virginia Hamilton
Someone to Love Me
Yoko Kawashima Watkins
Real ghost, horror books, comedy books
Whistle v. 1-20
Spider Man comics
WWE Smackdown or Raw
Teen drama
Mystery
Like The Giver
Manga
Fruit Baskets III
Do or Die
One Piece II
Lauren Miracle
We Beat the Street
Waiting for June, Uglies
Death Note I
Eragon
Spiderman
Natsumi Anda
W Juliet
Hey Lil D
Crazy and funny stuff with pictures
Day My Butt Went Psycho II
Dav Pilkey/Captain Underpants IIII
Spawn and Marvel
Case Closed
America’s Most Wanted
Elsewhere
The Girls, A Child Called It II
Gary Paulson
Stormbreaker
World records
Cat Kong, Dogzilla
Knitting and drawing
Gangs
Origami
Basketball/NBA I II
Sweet Saint Louis
Skinny Girls are Evil
Echiro Oda/ One Piece
The Three Investigators
Initial D
Books about war III
Black rights
Medieval times
Stephen King, Christine
Walter Dean Myers
Warriors (animals one)
Stan Lee/superheros: Batman, Spiderman, the Flash, Avengers
Scary books III
Madison Finn I
Icefire
Chris D’Lacey
Mary Kate & Ashley books
Harry Potter I II
Inu Yasha
Tears of a Tiger
Judy Blume, Anne Mazer, Suzy Kline
The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes
Cheaters (Eric Jerome Dickey)
Vampire Kisses series
Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Tsubasa Chronicles I
Jason & Kyra, Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Clique series
Romantic novels
Superheroes and sports
Barbara Park I
Naruto, Pokemon, Dragon Ball Z
Hobbies
People & Disney, Seventeen, celebrities
Dr. Seuss II
Gertrude Chandler Warren
Project Chick
Hold You Down – Keisha Irvin
Imadoki
Roald Dahl II
Eyeshield 21
Football, wrestling
Chobits, Peach Girl
EB White
Yu Gi Oh
Yu Wase, Stephenie Meyers (Eclipse, New Moon)
Rhymes with Witches
Hana Kimi manga series I
Venom, Hulk, Spiderman III, Marvel, Ironman, Batman
Shaman King
Jrr Tolkien
So You Want to Be a Wizard
Books about Go
B-More Careful, Using What You Got
Urban legends
Superheroes, superman
Riddles, jokes II
Forged by Fire
Am I the Princess or the Frog?
Akira Toriyama
Flyy girl
Coldest winter ever I
Imani all Mine
Anchors Aweigh by Jean Lee Latham
Bluford series
Runaways
Series of Unfortunate Events IIISharon M. DraperSharon Flake
Gary Soto
Clamp
Just Listen (Sarah Dessen)
Marilyn Reynolds books
Eric Nylund
Bleach III
The Good Earth
Urban fiction IIIII
Inkheart, Inkspell I
Secrets in the Shadows
Anne Frank
Hoops
Junie B. Jones
Iono-sama
Mike Lupica
Cars
Monster
Loch
Wolf’s Rain
Holes II
Absolute Boyfriend
Fushigi Yugi
Yu Watase, Rumiko Takahashi, Ai Yazawa
Babysitters Club
Sonic
Dance/singing
Amber Brown
Make Lemonade
Money Hungry
Arts and crafts
Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
Magic By the Lake
Peanuts
Star Wars, Starship Troopers (comics)
1001 Ways to Bug Your Teacher
Because of Winn-Dixie
First Part Last
Spanish soap operas
Dr. Slump
Nicholas Sparks I
The Sunita Experiment by Mitali Perkins
The City of Ember
Pretties I
The wish
Ella Enchanted
How to be Popular
Alice 19
Fushigi Yugi
Child Called it
Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball z
Spider Man, Marvel, DC
Ruroni Kenshin
One Child
Books about abused kids
Nancy Drew
Dear Dumb Diary
So B. It/Sarah Weeks
Naruto, One Piece, Prince of Tennis, Mars
Bruce Coville/My teacher is an alien
Million Dollar Shot/Dan Gutman
Drawing books II
Sarah Dessen/Truth about forever I
Ocean Apart, A world away
Tyrell
Uglies, Pretties, Specials
Lisi Harrison, Meg Cabot

FREEDOM WRITERS DIARY

Straight from the front line of urban America, the inspiring story of one fiercely determined teacher and her remarkable students.As an idealistic twenty-three-year-old English teacher at Wilson High School in Long beach, California, Erin Gruwell confronted a room of "unteachable, at-risk" students. One day she intercepted a note with an ugly racial caricature, and angrily declared that this was precisely the sort of thing that led to the Holocaust--only to be met by uncomprehending looks. So she and her students, using the treasured books Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl and Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo as their guides, undertook a life-changing, eye-opening, spirit-raising odyssey against intolerance and misunderstanding. They learned to see the parallels in these books to their own lives, recording their thoughts and feelings in diaries and dubbing themselves the "Freedom Writers" in homage to the civil rights activists "The Freedom Riders."

ESTRELLA'S QUINCEANERA

Estrella Alvarez is turning fifteen, and she's not happy about it. For as long as she can remember, her mother has been planning an elaborate quinceañera, complete with a mariachi band, cheesy decorations, and a hideous dress. Estrella is so over it. She'd much rather have an understated dinner party at a posh restaurant downtown -- that way, she can invite her two best friends from private school, who have no idea Estrella lives in the barrio. Even though Estrella tries to keep her home life a secret from her school friends, things get even more complicated when she falls for Speedy, a cholo whom her new friends -- and her parents -- would definitely disapprove of.
Caught between her family's wishes and the allure of her sophisticated friends, Estrella is forced to make some tough choices. This funny, touching book follows one girl's struggle to figure out who she really wants to be.

Gangs

In such chapters as, "How Can Gang Violence Be Reduced?" the issue is presented viewpoint by viewpoint, with an introduction and the author's credentials provided for each essay. Thought-provoking queries are given under the headings, "As You Read, Consider the Following Questions" and "Evaluating the Author's Argument." "Fast Facts" are also included. The book is heavily illustrated with color photos, cartoons, and tables.

WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN GANGS?

Packed with clear, no-nonsense information, this book will help readers learn about the danger of gangs. Issues such as participating in violent and illegal activities, becoming addicted to drugs, doing prison time, and ultimately, losing one's future--or life--are presented with stunning directness. Life is full of choices, and making decisions is a part of growing up. For young people, faced with difficult situations and no clear answers, this book is a starting point that will help them make informed decisions about tough issues.

UNDER THE SEA ORIGAMI

A friendly dolphin, a pretty seahorse, a slithery electric eel and a fierce barracuda: get ready to dive beneath the blue paper waves with origami master Duy Nguyen. With his simplified techniques, and the many detailed drawings that carefully show each fold and cut, kids will soon find themselves crafting a wide variety of colorful, marvelous sea creatures. There's no need even to use traditional, specialized origami paper: regular computer or colored crafting paper will do, as will giftwrap. The fantastic creatures range from a Humpback Whale, King Crab and Octopus, to a Baby Tiger Shark, Swordfish and Stingray. There are Angelfish, Lionfish, Flying Fish, and Coral Fish, too. For extra effect, arrange them in an aquarium for an undersea scene.

TEENAGE BLUEZ : A COLLECTION OF URBAN STORIES

Stories about the real-life problems of urban teens, including pregnancy, eating disorders, romantic drama, and more.

TEARS OF A TIGER

After a car accident kills Robert, Andy's best friend and teammate on the Hazelwood High Tigers, Andy doesn't know if he can go on. He's consumed with guilt for driving the night of the accident after a long evening of drinking and partying. With perceptiveness and compassion, Draper portrays an African-American teenager who feels driven to consider suicide in the wake of a devastating tragedy.

STORKY : HOW I LOST MY NICKNAME AND WON THE GIRL

Michael Pomerantz doesn't have great expectations for high school-people are still calling him "Storky," his mom is dating his dentist, and his father can barely sit through their Sunday night dinners. The only bright spot so far is his weekly Scrabble game with an old-timer at the Senior center-not very encouraging. But over the course of the year, things start to pick up for Michael. A new friend introduces him to the joy (and misery) of social drinking, a sophomore with great legs seems unfathomably interested in him, and Dr. Berman the dentist turns out to be an okay guy. But then a startling announcement from Mom threatens to destroy all of Michael's progress. Like a boy Georgia Nicholson transplanted to San Diego, Storky is a hilarious journal of teen trials and tribulations written with incredible depth and sensitivity. In no time, you'll be rooting for Storky to lose his nickname and win the girl.

SPIDERS IN THE HAIRDO : MODERN URBAN LEGENDS

Hey, did you hear the one about the lady who had her beehive hairdo sprayed so hard that spiders started to nest in it? Of course you did, it happened to your next-door neighbor's cousin. Or was it your cousin's next-door neighbor?

ORIGAMI ON THE MOVE : CARS, TRUCKS, SHIPS, PLANES & MORE

There's no end to Duy Nguyen's ingenuity, and that's why origami enthusiasts--and those who love trains, planes, and automobiles--will welcome this new all-color collection. It features 17 cleverly constructed vehicles--enough modes of transportation to go around the world and back...and to provide hours of fun. Want a Minivan or SUV? Perhaps a high-flying B-2 Bomber? Even a Spanish Galleon? With all the basic folds and forms simply explained, it's easy to make all these, plus a NASA Space Shuttle, Apache Helicopter, Side-Panel Flatbed Truck, and a Snowmobile complete with its own trailer.

ORIGAMI BOXES AND MORE

This book presents a new collection of origami boxes and bowls, highlighting 25 original projects that are sure to please children and adults alike. Become an expert in origami, with projects including the classic Japanese Box, the Five Happiness Bowl, the Star Candy Dish, the Money Basket, the Gift Envelope, and many more. These fascinating, yet easy-to-fold, projects provide great ideas for gift-giving, decoration, or entertaining.

MORE SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK

All those who enjoyed shuddering their way through Alvin Schwartz's first volume of Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark will find a satisfyingly spooky sequel in this new collection of the macabre, the funny, and the fantastic.
Is it possible to die -- and not know it? What if a person is buried too soon? What happens to a thief foolish enough to rob a corpse, or to a murderer whose victim returns from the grave? Read about these terrifying predicaments as well as what happens when practical jokes produce gruesome consequences and initiations go awry.
Stephen Gammell's splendidly creepy drawings perfectly capture the mood of more than two dozen scary stories -- and even a scary song -- all just right for reading alone or for telling aloud in the dark.

LIFE IN PRISON

"The true stories I've written in this book are my living nightmares. My greatest hope is that the lessons the stories offer will help you make better choices than I did." Stanley "Tookie" Williams, cofounder of the notorious Crips gang, is a death-row inmate. But in his two decades of incarceration, Williams has also become a respected author and activist whose dedication to ending gang warfare in the lives of inner-city children has earned him a 2001 Nobel Peace Prize nomination. In this award-winning book which has drawn praise from educators, government leaders, and families alike Williams describes the brutal reality of being an inmate. He debunks myths of prisons as "gladiator schools" with blunt, riveting stories of overwhelming homesickness, the terror of solitary confinement, and the humiliation of strip-searches. Williams' words are a frank challenge to adolescent readers to educate themselves, make intelligent decisions, and above all, not to follow in his footsteps.

Knitgrrl

Knitting has become a trendy thing to do. Instructions are provided here for 15 attractive projects, such as a faux-fur stole, a stripey scarf, an alpine headband, a messenger bag, text-messaging mittens, and a variety of hats and leg warmers. This small book is loaded with lots of basic information about various needles, reading patterns, knitting abbreviations, how to cast on and continue stitching, joining new yarn, and working with both circular and double-pointed needles, along with many important tips for working with various types of yarns. The photos help take the mystery out of knitting.

Juvenile

Photographer Joseph Rodríguez spent several years following a dozen youths, from arrest, counseling, trial adjudication, and incarceration, to release, probation, house arrest, group homes, and thesearch for employment and meaning in their lives. Additionally, Rodríguez documented some of the people who work in the juvenile justice system: judges, public defenders, district attorneys, probation officers, and social workers. Many of these kids face great obstacles, including a criminal justice system with decreasing political interest in offering second chances for renewal. Through the power of his photographs, Rodríguez shows us how these kids struggle and how they fight to change their lives.

Jade Green

While living with her uncle in a house haunted by the ghost of a young woman, recently orphaned Judith Sparrow wonders if her one small transgression causes mysterious happenings.

DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN

He's a "lemon drop wrapped in licorice": tall, dark, handsome, and as smooth as his silk shirts and leather jacket. He can discuss everything from art to world events, he's traveled the world, and he owns a Jeep, a condo, and a jazz CD collection. But best of all, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan Hathaway, the new track coach and the principal's son, has his golden eyes set on Keisha Montgomery.
In her senior year of high school, still recovering from the suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Keisha's thrilled to have someone treat her like a woman rather than a girl. As Jonathan tells her, she's a butterfly ready to try her wings -- much too mature for high school boys, whose only deep thoughts are words from rap songs. Jonathan makes her feel alive again; he seems like the answer to all her dreams and the cure to all her nightmares.
Gifts wrapped with silver ribbons begin to mysteriously appear on her doorstep, and Keisha is swept off her feet. But events take a terrifying turn, and suddenly darkness overwhelms her life.... As Keisha struggles to put her world back in perspective, she learns the power and the danger of silence, and discovers the secret gifts that had been waiting for her all along.

CREEPY CRAWLY ANIMAL ORIGAMI

From ants to open-mouthed alligators, from turtles to tarantulas, make a magnificent origami menagerie using only some simple paper folds! The instructions are all laid out in detail in generous, full-color illustrations. Practice the kite, valley, mountain, squash, inside and outside reverse folds, and four others to use as a base. Big bright diagrams continue to guide you through the 14 projects, like the lobster that has quite a realistic looking shell; the eight-legged grasshopper; the gecko with claws and long tail; the winged dragonfly; plus a scary scorpion, komodo dragon, mosquito, praying mantis, and wasp.