Pick of the Week- I Hunt Killers

is I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.  This crime thriller will delight fans of the TV show Dexter. Seventeen year old Jasper, or Jazz, is the son of one of the most notorious serial killers of all time. He lives with his elderly grandmother in the same small Florida town where is father grew up, but he was raised by his father. Jazz believes his mother is dead (killed by his father) but isn't sure.  When a woman is found dead in the sleepy Florida town, he feels a responsibility to help solve the crime. Though his father wanted Jazz to follow in his footsteps, he is committed to battling his demons and constantly strives to do the right thing.  But his traumatic history follows him as more people are murdered and it becomes clear that there is another serial killer bent on a reign of terror.  Can Jazz live down the reputation of his father and make amends to the world? 

Pick of the Week- Darth Plagueis

Ms. Y's pick of the week is Darth Plagueis by James Luceno.  For fans of the Star Wars universe, this novel will add color to the story of victory of Sith over the Jedi.  Darth Plagueis is mentioned briefly in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and this novel traces his career and mostly his training of Palpatine.  For fans of the Star Wars prequels, this novel will explain the Sith plot in more detail and provide more context to the plot to destroy the Jedi.

Pick of the Week- When I Was the Greatest

Ms. Y's pick of the week is the award-winning When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds.  First-time author Reynolds creates engaging characters who confront raw emotion related to abandonment, violence and true friendship.  The narrator, Ali, lives in a Brooklyn brownstone with his mother and sister.  He becomes friends with two brothers nicknamed Noodles, who acts tough but secretly loves to draw comic books and Needles, who has Tourette's Syndrome.  Though they are neighbors, Ali and brothers have vastly different families- Ali's mother is a social worker who is loving and nurturing to her children while Noodles and Needle live in a dilapidated building with a neglectful mother.  Though the three teenagers stay away from the drugs and gangs that surround their Bed-Stuy neighborhood, they get drawn into a conflict that rock their friendship and test their character.  This novel offers a window into inner city life- showing the challenges and strength of the community.

Pick of the Week- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

is the The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  As we finish banned books week, it is fitting that my pick this week be one of the most challenged books of this century. Basketball fans will love Alexie's semi-autobiographical novel about growing up on a reservation in Washington state.  The conflict Arnold feels between loyalty to his home and the mostly white high school he attends brings to light many of the social issues faced by young Native Americans today. Don't miss this modern classic.