TACKYO!

Question of the Day 4-24-2010

2010-04-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

In Pride and Prejudice, what is the name of Darcy's fancy estate?
Post your answer below.

Question of the Day

2010-04-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

In the Hunger Games, what was Katniss named after?
Be the first to post the correct answer in the comments below for a cool treat!

Question of the Day 4-8-10

2010-04-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

In Catching Fire (sequel to Hunger Games) what 2 things did Katniss think President Snow smelled like?
Be the first to post your answer below for a sweet treat.

Pride & Prejudice and Zombies

2010-04-07T11:32:00.001-07:00

COME TO UPSTAIRS CIRC DESK AND PICK UP A COPY OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES BY Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith then come for the fun of VOICEOVER, where we'll do Reader's Theatre over the P&P movie, adding the Zombie scenes! We'll throw in a little Percy Jackson The Titan's Curse, too! Food and Fun! Don't miss it! Wednesday,April 21, 4-6 p.m. DAY AND TIME CHANGE!!

Question of the Day 4-7-10

2010-04-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

In Catching Fire (Sequel to Hunger Games), what is the name of Prim's scruffy old Tomcat?
Post answer below.

Question of the Day 4-6-10

2010-04-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

In Percy Jackson and the Sea Monsters, what classic book did the whole Merriweather Middle School have to read?
Post your answer below.

Question of the Day 3-31-10

2010-03-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

In Sea of MONSTERS, where did Tyson find the powdered donuts??? Truly an important question!
You must post your response to this one on this here blog for a prize.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2010-03-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

The book starts out with a troubled 7th grader, Percy Jackson, who always seems to be getting in trouble. What he will discover changes his entire life. Percy must go on a crazy, fun and dangerous adventure to prove his innocence to a god, or all Olympus breaks loose!
I loved this book because it is a good escape, it combines good fantasy and actual facts and it is great for anybody (like me) who loves Greek Mythology. I have already recommended this book to friends. I give it 4 out of 5 TACKMEN! It is a great book for Middle School students, especially me, because the main character and I are both 7th graders!

Book Review by Jimmy Gregory, 7th grade

Question of the Day

2010-02-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

What is the name of the third book in the Hunger Games series and when is it coming out? Be the first to post the answer below for a sweet treat!

Hunger Games book-Can't Wait!

2010-02-12T09:26:00.001-08:00

http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/2010/02/hunger-games-book-3-cover-revealed.html
See link for the new cover of the eagerly-awaited 3rd book in the Trilogy! To be released August 24. Read the non-spoilers. Very funny.

Question of the Day

2010-02-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

In the Lightning Thief, why might Percy not want to walk behind his Latin teacher?
Be the first to post comment below or tell Ann for a prize!

Percy Jackson Question of the Day

2010-02-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

What was the name of the Private Boarding School in Upstate New York that Percy attended?
Be the first to post the correct comment (answer) or tell Ann for a cool prize!

Question of the Day 1-27-10

2010-01-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

In the Lightning Thief, who goes with Percy on his quest to Los Angeles?
Be the first to post a comment below for a sweet prize!

February 2010 Book Choices!

2010-01-25T10:07:00.000-08:00

Come to the upstairs desk at the Library and sign-out a copy of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lighning Thief, and read it before the Movie Release (Feb 12!), the Movie Release Party at UCMS Activity Friday, 2:30 pm and before the TACKY Book Club Party on Tuesday, Feb 16, 3:30 - 5pm. Be ready for Trivia Contest and prizes!

Also available: College-Bound book Mythology by Edith Hamilton!

TACKY Book Club Books for January 12, 4-5pm

2010-01-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

Fear Street: Best Friends by R.L. Stine

2010-01-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

This story is about Becca, a girl who has has lived at Shay Side Fear Street her whole life. A new girl comes to town named Holly, who claims to be Becca's best friend, although Becca has never seen her before. Then, strange accidents begin to happen to her best friends. Is Holly behind these accidents, or is it something even more evil? You'll just have to read the book to find out!
Review by David Hudson Couser

Book Review: Evermore by Alyson Noel

2009-10-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Evermore by Alyson Noel is about a girl named Ever. After Ever loses her whole family in a horrific crash, she wakes up in the hospital, able to see auras and hear thoughts. She moves in with her aunt in California. As Ever becomes familiar with her new surroundings, Damen moves to California. Whether Ever knows it or not, she knows Damen. How would she know him? Read Evermore to find out.
Book Review by Cassie Blankenship

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

2009-09-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a page-turner! After one of the best first sentences ever, this book takes you through mile after excruciating mile of young Todd Hewitt and his dog, Manchee, and Viola,running for their lives! In a world that seems like the 19th century, at first, where men can hear each others thoughts (Noise) and women have died off or are relegated to the outskirts, the truth unfolds and leaves you at a cliff-hanger, grasping for the second book in the Chaos Walking series:

Book Review: Halo: First Strike by Eric Nylurd

2009-09-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

The epic storyline from the XBOX hit, Halo, continues in Halo: First Strike. For those folks who haven't played the game, the year is 2552 and the human race faces extinction. The Covenant, a bunch of religious nut jobs made from alien races, are hell-bent on humanity's destruction. They believe that their gods, who are actually an ancient race called the Forerunners that became extinct, left behind a portal to the realm of the gods. In reality, that portal is actually Halo. Halo is a giant ring-shaped superstructure that the Forerunners built to contain the Flood, an omniparasitic life-form that turns its host into a very realistic zombie. The Covenant's mission to activate the ring would actually destroy all life in the galaxy, since the Flood has to have a an organism to infect it. The Forerunners studied the Flood but fired the rings after the Flood started to spread and destroy all life within "3.2 radi of the galactic center." Spartan 117, a.k.a. the Master Chief, has just destroyed Halo, and is trying to get back to Earth. Along the way, he picks up other survivors, captures a Covenant flagship, and pilots it to Reach, the planet on which he was trained. Believing he is the last Spartan, he flies towards Reach to see if the rest of his team is alive. After catching a transmission containing a signal that only he and his team know, Chief goes down and rescues his team, what's left of the Command base staff and Doctor Halsey (bearing with her an artifact that the Covenant really wants). After a really bad dogfight, they find out that the Covenant knows the location of Earth. They throw together one of the deadliest missions the Chief has ever taken. Their target: the Covenant battle station, the unyielding Hierophant. Their mission: to blow up an entire armada of over 500 Covenant ships.
Will they make it? It's up to you to find out!
Review by Jacob Dittemore

Oath Breaker: Assassin's Apprentice by SR Vaught & JB Redmond

2009-08-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

A fourteen-year-old boy is born with an incredible mind power to convince people of the truth. The Stone, a guild of ruthless killers, takes the boy. Will he survive the journey to Triune?
I loved this book, because it was full of suspense, detail and action!I would recommend it to a friend, and I give it an A+++++!
Book Review by Skylar C. Gwilt

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

2009-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem with a harsh and cruel Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games--thus the name of the book--which is a fight to the death ON LIVE TV!!! This amazing story is about a girl named Katniss Everdeen who lives, with her mother and younger sister, in the worst district--number twelve. When the Games choose her younger sister, she steps forward and regards it as a death sentence. Without really meaning to, she becomes a major contender and has to start making choices that weigh her survival against her humanity.
I really enjoyed this book and could NOT it down once I started it. I'm waiting impatiently for the sequel in September. I mean could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't see the next morning?
posted by Kayce :)

Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Wellingham

2009-07-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

A revolution is forming with Goldilocks in the lead! Can the Fabletown Loyalists stop it before it is too late?

Graphic Novel review by Alex Griffee

Find graphic novels like this one in the Teen Room if the UC Library! If we don't have the one you're looking for, you can use your Evergreen card to place a hold and have the book brought over to Union County. Books are delivered every Monday and Thursday. Need help? Ask the circ desk to put a book on hold for you.

Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Wellingham

2009-07-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

There's been a murder in FableTown (or has there?)! Can they solve the murder mystery? To find out, read the book!
Book review by Alex Griffee

Fall of the Templar #3, by Derek Benz/J.S. Lewis

2009-07-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Black Wolves have the spear of Ragnarok, which supposed to end the World! Chasing them from the United States to the pits of Hell, can the Templar save the world???
Book Review by Alex Griffee

Rise of the Black Wolf by Derek Benz/J S Lewis

2009-07-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

A recent group of people are creating and breeding werewolves. Can the Templars stop them?
Book review by Alex Griffee

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

2009-07-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

A Russian multi-trillionaire is about to launch Ark Angel, the first hotel in space! What people don't know is that it's secretly a bomb!
Book Review by Alex Griffee

The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov

2009-07-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

This book is also in the future...humans occupy many different planets and the Empire - unlike in The Stars, Like Dust, it's Trantorians instead of Tyrranians who rule the Empire - has already dominated most of the occupied planets, but some still remain free of its control.

At the beginning of this book, a maybe thirty-something year old man is found naked and alone on a farming planet called Florina (not yet under Trantorian control) with absolutely no memory and the mentality of a newborn. There, the local Townman (basically the mayor) places him in the care of a common worker named Valona. She re-teaches him how to speak and walk, and work once the Townman gets him a job where Valona works. They name him Rik, a slang word for "moron."

But, eventually, Rik's memory begins to return, slowly and painfully. But one thing he is sure of is that Florina is going to be destroyed.

This was a good book. My only complaints were the same as for The Stars, Like Dust...sometimes the story is slow to get going, and people talk like they are trying to sound smart, but that seems to just be Asimov's writing style. It isn't distracting at all once you get used to it.

Book Review written by Taylor Tobin

The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov

2009-06-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

This book centers around Biron Farrill, son of the Rancher of Widemos (a planet in the Tyranni Empire), is about to graduate from the University of Earth when he wakes up to the gurgling of the radiation detector in his room. Sander Jonti, whose call had woken Biron that night, got help and rescued Biron. He tells Biron why he suspected there may be an attack of the kind...you see, Biron's father was captured by the Tyranni because of his association with the rebellion, with which Jonti is also involved.

Jonti convinces Biron that he cannot remain on Earth, but he must travel to Rhodia, another planet in the Empire, to convince the Director of Rhodia (a man who is basically a Tyranni puppet) to advise the Tyranni to make Biron the next Rancher instead of the Director himself.

After an interesting flight between planets, Biron arrives on Rhodia and meets the Director of Rhodia, a spineless and frightened man named Hinrik Hinriad, along with his beautiful daughter, Artemisia, and his somewhat crazy cousin Gillbret. Hinrik is immediately suspicious and reports Biron to the Tyranni that very night. And so Biron, along with Artemisia and Gillbret, escapes the Tyranni and the planet...but have no where to go. But Gillbret knows that, somewhere, there is an entire planet of rebels, that they may be able to seek refuge on. But he has no idea where it is.

This was a pretty good book, and surprisingly, not very long. At times he goes in depth explaining different scientific things, and the first couple paragraphs of each chapter may be difficult to get through, but it was worth it. Though the blossoming romance is predictable, the plot most definitely isn't. One thing that bothered me at times was that characters tend to talk like people write when they are trying so hard to sound smart, but as they are supposed to be speaking a different language, it's somewhat understandable.

Review by Taylor Tobin

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (The Last Straw) by Jeff Kinney

2009-06-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (The Last Straw) is about this kid whose name is Greg and he is trying to get this girl (Holly Hills) to like him. But his older brother (Rodrick) keeps messing things up on purpose. Then Greg's father decides to ship Greg off to military school the first day school is out for the summer. But Greg tries to change his father's mind by joining Boy Scouts. Well, Boy Scouts lasts only about a week. But then at the Snella's half birthday party, right when Greg's dad is about to go up on stage, Greg makes a commotion and saves his father from going up on stage. Greg's dad says that he ows Greg one by not sending him to military school.

This is an awesome book.

Book Review by Casey Jo Pierce

The Divorce Express by Paula Danziger

2009-06-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

It is about a girl who has two parents. One lives in New York and the father lives in Woodstock. Then the mom gets married to Dean, and the father has a girlfriend who is the daughter's best friend's mom. Whad do you think will happen next?

Book Review by Casey Jo Pierce

Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught

2009-06-17T14:49:00.002-07:00

Book Review by Brittany Hudson

I had been roaming the young adult section for a long time before I noticed the “new books” section. I decided to see if there was anything worth checking out. Well I came across “Big Fat Manifesto” because the title was interesting and of course the cover was neat (trust me when i say its okay to judge a book by its cover) Anyhow, I read the first chapter and was instantly hooked. Jamie is a senior in high school who has a very busy agenda. She’s starring in a play, studying for the SAT, filling out college applications, trying to get a journalism scholarship and trying to inform the community, through a weekly column that she writes, about being Fat. Jamie is known as the “Fat Girl” but she’s accepted the fact that she is fat…too bad most people have not. Too many people thinkg being fat is like committing a crime. I really liked Jamie because she is so bold, witty, and smart. I love how she’s so dedicated to her column and correctly informing her audience and not holding much back. She bust myths about being fat and exposes discrimination in a popular clothing store. This book was never boring for me. Although its main issue revolves around being fat, Jamie also explores other topics and reveals other qualities about herself. I don’t think this book is just for overweight/obese/fat people..I think it appeals to anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable about their appearance…and that’s everyone right?

2009-06-17T14:49:00.001-07:00

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles

2009-06-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

A girl got a letter from her dead sister, which said that she was coming to visit. When the girl (who was supposedly dead) arrived at their house, the mom thought it was really Jazz (the dead sister)...or did she? Was the girl at the door really Jazz?
I loved this book because it was mysterious. I would recommend this book to a friend. I would give this book 5 Tackymen!
Book Review by Tonya Frisco
Tonya received 1 Tacky Buck to use at the Prize Auction on July 10, 4 pm!

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

2009-06-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is the first of a trilogy which centers around a girl named Vin who grew up in the Underground of the Final Empire. It is ruled over by the powerful Lord Ruler, who is supposedly a Sliver of Infinity...a piece of God Himself. He keeps a firm hand on the Empire with his Obligators and Steel Inquisitors - great creatures who were once human but now are riddled with metal spikes that give them strange powers...including one pounded headfirst through each eye with the tip protruding from the back of the head. Society is divided into Skaa - the lower class workers and slaves - and nobles. Ash falls from the sky and there are routine executions in the town square. Some nobles are born with Allomancy - the ability to burn metals for their power, such as manipulating emotions, increased strength and senses, sensing and hiding others burning metals, and Pulling and Pushing on metals.

The story starts when Kelsier decides to attempt the impossible...he plans to topple the Final Empire and maybe even kill the Lord Ruler himself. He is a Mistborn, which means he can burn any of the Allomantic metals for its power (as opposed to Mistings, who can only burn one type of metal). He recruits a crew of Mistings, including the philosophical Thug (can burn pewter for strength) Hammond, the whiny Soother (can dampen certain emotions in others) Breeze, the grumpy Smoker (can hide others burning metals) Clubs, his quiet nephew and Tineye (enhanced senses) Lestibournes (later nicknamed Spook), and Kelsier's brother and Tineye Marsh. Along with administrator Dockson, Kelsier rescues budding Mistborn Vin from abusive crew leader Camon and makes her part of the group.

As they implement their plan, they are joined by the Kandra, OreSeur, and the gentle Terrisman, Sazed. Through the story, Vin is learning to trust others as she was never able to do in the Underground. She finds her place in their plot and poses and young noblewoman, Lady Valette, to spy on other nobles and gather information. She attends balls and luncheons and meets the intriguing heir to the wealthiest House, Elend Venture, who seems to be sympathetic to the Skaa.

I originally read this book to see how the author, Brandon Sanderson, wrote. (He is writing the last books of another series that I love.) But I found that this book was actually quite good. He is flexible, writing from different viewpoints and he portrays Vin's hesitancy to trust very convincingly.

I also read the next two books in this trilogy, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so if you want to see the reviews for the other two, look on my blog.

Review Written by Taylor Tobin

Fables: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham

2009-06-16T12:48:00.001-07:00

A janitor, named Fly, becomes a fabulous prince and is the sole descendant of the great knight, Lancelot of the Lake. Fly gathers an Army of the Dead and battles the Emporer, who was magically made by the Puppet Master, Gepetto, of Pinocchio fame. Other Fairy Tales come into the story, such as Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood and others, but the stories are all mixed up. For example, Little Red's Grandma is the one who actually tries to poison Snow White, and she is the one in control of Fable Town, which is basically one of the good kingdoms. The conflicts between these characters and kingdoms are confusing, but I enjoy figuring out the chess-like relationships with their powers, restrictions and military strategies.
I give this graphic novel 5 Tackymen and I would recommend to anyone 13 or older, due to some adult graphics.
Book Review by Alex Griffee

Strider by Beverly Cleary

2009-06-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

This book is about two boys who find a dog on the beach and decide to have joint custody of it. Well, that plan doesn't really work out that well, because the boys sort of get mad at each other, since one will have the dog longer than they were supposed to. I personally loved this book. Will you?

Book Review by Casey Jo Pierce

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

2009-06-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

A boy finds a dragon egg and becomes one of the legendary Dragon Riders. It ends up a desperate journey for survival.
I loved this book. I would recommend it to a friend, and I give this book 5 TACKYMEN!
Review by Jacob Dittemore.

Book Review: Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills by Charles W. Henderson

2009-06-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

Marine Sniper is about Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a brave yet extremely unlucky Marine who served 2 tours in Vietnam. He has the most confirmed enemy kills (93) plus perhaps a thousand unconfirmed kills, and he took out one of the Viet Cong’s top generals. He innovated the use of a Browning .50 caliber machine gun as a sniper rifle and he taught “sniper school” in the US. Hathcock’s luck was challenged by (among other things) a nest of pythons, which he avoided by holding very still and crawling so slowly that he moved only 100 meters in 7 days! Also, an AMTRAC (tank/boat/truck) blew up in his face because of an unlucky decision. I loved this book, but I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone, because of the bloody descriptions and graphic detail. I would give this 5 tackymen!
Book Review by Alex Griffee and he gets a TACKY Buck, to use at the Prize Auction on July 10!

Book Review: Stolen by Vivian Van de Velde

2009-06-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

Stolen was about 6-year-old Isabelle, whose older sister, Honey, killed her by pushing her into a very deep hole. A witch took her out of the hole, brought her back to life, healed her wounds, and then turned Isabelle into a baby (so she would not remember anything) and gave her to another family. Six years goes by and Honey kills a new baby sister by dropping her into the same hole! As the witch is escaping from an angry mob, she disguises herself as the 12-year-old Isabelle and brings the second baby back to life and turns her into a goat! Honey then pushes the witch (Isabelle) down the hole, but the witch is able to heal herself and take a tunnel to Isabelle's (now named Raven) second family. The witch (Isabelle) goes to turn Honey into a baby, whom she gives back to her original mother, so that she could be raised again - the right way. Does this work - does Honey grow up to a better person? Do Raven or Honey ever find out who they really are? Does the witch (Isabelle) ever bring the goat back?

I liked this book because it was unpredictable, as it moved from past to present to past to present again! I would recommend this book to a friend. I give this book 5 tackmen.
Book Review by Tonya! She gets a TACKY Buck!

3 ways to post a book review

2009-05-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

OK. Unless we come up with something easier, you can post book reviews 3 ways:

1) Bring in a written review to Ann.

2) Set up a gmail. account. Set up a blog acct @ www.blogger.com/start. Post your review. Let me know, then I'l copy and paste to the tackyo blog (http://ucpl.blogspot.com/

OR 3) send me your review to email address: ucpl.tackyo@gmail.com and I will copy to the blog

summer Book review test

2009-05-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

Book Review Test

Blah book blah derivative blah good blah bad blah words.

Summer Book Reviews

2009-05-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

Summer Book Reviews

To post a blog, you must have gmail account, then you go to www.blogger.com/start, you sign in and go to New Post on Dashboard. You write your book review and then, if I have your google email address, I can copy and paste onto http://ucpl-tackyo.blogspot.com/

Is this way too hard? This is a test.

That worked off my own blog. Do I have to have their email addresses?

Book Review - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2009-05-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

The Graveyard Book
By Neil Gaiman

Newberry Award Winner

If it takes a village...young Bod has a whole graveyard caring for him and protecting him from the "Jacks" that are looking to kill him. The opening seems a bit too gruesome and the symbolism and multi-layers can't be fully appreciated by young readers, but the message of a loving, caring, teaching (if dead) community, which allows young Bod to defeat evil and embrace life, probably also allows young readers to question fear of ghosts and death and darkness. I love the ending & it seems so timely with graduation and young people venturing out into the world.

"Face your life. Its pain, its pleasure, leave no path untaken."

-Ann