"Funny how you notice how beautiful things are just when you're about to leave them." ~ from Laura Ruby's Bone Gap
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We'd like to know what you think... - How do you rate Christchurch City Libraries?
- What are we doing well?
- What can we do better?
The survey is open between 1 April - 17 May 2015.
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New and Recently Released!
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| The cemetery boys by Heather BrewerOutsiders aren't welcome in the insular community of Spencer, Michigan. Yet after Stephen's mom is institutionalised, he and his dad have no choice but to move in with Stephen's grandmother in Spencer. The only things that lighten the claustrophobia of small-town living are Stephen's romance with punk girl Clara and his friendship with her popular twin brother, Devon. But as Stephen gradually learns the bloody local legends about "the Winged Ones," he begins to fear that the twins know more than they're telling. Fans of author Heather Brewer's Slayer Chronicles won't want to miss this tense, twisty horror story that's just gory enough to keep you awake at night. |
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| Breaking sky by Cori McCarthyChase Harcourt has a reputation. Not only is she known for her recklessness and swagger, she's also regarded as one of the best cadet pilots in the United Star Academy. Chase (call sign "Nyx") is one of two American pilots training to fly the experimental Streaker jets which might give the U.S. an edge in the looming war against global superpower Ri Xiong Di. But after she uncovers a military secret, Chase's career (not to mention her personal life) is thrown into jeopardy. Set in the year 2048, this near-future thriller will take flight among readers who love captivating characters and breathless, high-speed action. |
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Mark of the thief by Jennifer A. NielsenForced to enter a sealed cavern that reputedly holds the lost treasures of Caesar, slave boy Nic discovers an amulet imbued with divine power and finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor War. By the best-selling author of the Ascendance Trilogy.
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Snow like ashes by Sara RaaschRaised by her defeated land's general after being orphaned, Meira secretly trains to become a warrior while harbouring a love for the heir to the throne and a determination to regain the magic that will free her people.
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| Bone Gap by Laura RubyRoza, a stunning, strong-willed Polish girl with a gift for gardening, arrives in Bone Gap, Illinois, covered in injuries which she refuses to explain. Not long afterwards, she disappears under equally mysterious circumstances. Though Roza's friend Finn insists that he witnessed her being kidnapped, he's unable to describe her abductor. Alternating between Finn's struggle to understand Roza's fate and Roza's struggle to escape her unearthly captor, Bone Gap offers a modern (and sometimes disturbing) take on an ancient myth. Older readers who enjoy the sophisticated magical realism of A. S. King and Alice Hoffman will be mesmerised by this lyrical tale that challenges the meanings of beauty, power, and love. |
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| Black dove, white raven by Elizabeth WeinFrom the celebrated author of Code Name Verity comes another story of war, aviation, and devoted friendship. This time, the setting is 1930s Ethiopia. Teo is black and Emilia is white, and they were raised together by their mothers, who were stunt pilots and best friends. After Teo's mother died, the small family moved from the U.S. to Ethiopia, where Teo faced less prejudice. Now, however, war looms between Ethiopia and Italy, threatening Teo's future and prompting Emilia to take a wild risk. Flight logs, letters, and school essays help round out this unusual and vividly detailed historical novel. |
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Whether you're about to graduate or you've still got years to go, you can enjoy these realistic, moving books about the uncertainty and exhilaration of the last year of high school.
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| Winter town by Stephen EmondHigh school senior and Ivy League hopeful Evan is looking forward to the annual winter visit of his best friend, Lucy, who moved away after her parents divorced. Usually, the two of them pick up right where they left off, but this year, Evan is shocked when Lucy shows up with goth hair, a nose ring, and a surly attitude. Unfolding from both characters' perspectives (and including Evan's comic-book style illustrations), this will-they, won't-they story of friendship and romance is filled with believable tension, emotion, and angst and is a good pick for fans of Mariko Tamaki's Skim or Natalie Standiford's How to Say Goodbye in Robot. |
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| Gabi, a girl in pieces by Isabel QuinteroDuring her tumultuous senior year, Gabi Hernandez's journal becomes her lifeline. In it, she can experiment with her blossoming poetry skills, as well as spill the details of her complicated home (where her mom nags her about her weight and her dad can't kick meth), her best friends Cindy and Sebastian (who are each dealing with their own challenges), and her confusion about love and dating. Filled with "vulgar humor and raw honesty" (Kirkus Reviews), Gabi's insights into family, culture, sexuality, and identity are messy yet utterly authentic and hopeful. For another memorable Latina character weathering a tough year, try Meg Medina's Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. |
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| Divided we fall by Trent ReedyInstead of focusing on football and auto tech classes, 17-year-old Daniel Wright is spending his senior year trying to prevent a second American Civil War. As a member of the Idaho National Guard, Danny is sent with his unit to keep the peace at a protest of a controversial Federal ID card law. There, a single accident on Danny's part causes fatal and far-reaching consequences, forcing a stand-off between the state and the Federal government, and forcing Danny to choose where his loyalty truly lies. Deep political intrigue and bursts of military action will keep you turning pages throughout this trilogy opener, which is followed by Burning Nation. |
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| The spectacular now by Tim TharpThe party doesn't start until Sutter Keely walks in… and for Sutter, the party never stops. High school is winding down and his classmates are making plans for the future, but Sutter lives only for the present, which is riddled with raunchy jokes, risky decisions, short-term girlfriends, and endless alcohol (he's never without his flask). When he connects with awkward misfit Aimee after passing out in her yard, Sutter unexpectedly feels inspired to help improve her social life. But is Aimee really the one who needs help? Find out in this darkly funny and unsettling book, which was made into a 2013 movie starring Shailene Woodley. |
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| This full house by Virginia Euwer WolffIn this conclusion to the trilogy that started with Make Lemonade, smart, hardworking LaVaughn is still determined to make it to college and out of the Projects. While continuing to babysit her friend Jolly's two children, LaVaughn also attended summer science classes for two years running and, as a result, lands a spot in the WIMS (Women in Medical Science) after-school programme. A bright future looks more certain for LaVaughn than ever, but when a shocking secret that touches the lives of people close to her is revealed, she struggles to decide - and do - what's right. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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