Going Bovine

by Libba Bray

Cameron, a lazy, underachieving, high school pot head is diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease. The disease is terminal, there is no cure, he's done. However, at the hospital, he is visited by a pink-haired punk rock angel named Dulcie who tells him his only chance of survival is to find Dr. X.  Thus begins the craziest road trip every conceived. 

Along with Gonzo, Cameron’s hypochondriac hospital roommate, and a garden gnome who is actually the Norse god Balder, Cameron sets off across America looking for the mysterious Dr. X. Although Cameron is initially not particularly likeable, his character grows throughout the book until you eventually find yourself rooting for this unsuspecting hero. A series of seemingly random, hilarious mishaps later, the story comes to an amazing ending, tying all these random events into a truly unforgettable climax. 

Libba Bray’s humour and wild imagination make for an amazing read filled with churches of perpetual happiness, snow globes, and countless laugh out loud moments. This social satire is well worth the read, carrying with it a clear message to live life to the fullest.  

Warning: Strong Language used. Intended for older teen audience.

Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper

By Daniel Jose Older

Here is an urban fantasy set in the magical city of Brooklyn. Shadowshaper follows artist Sierra Santiago during a summer of discovery. Sierra's family has been keeping a secret from her but with the help of her friends she will find out what a special soul she truly is. Sierra and her friends know the streets of Brooklyn well and Older describes the city with such colour and love that the reader feels like they have been transported. Older has brought us a diverse cast of characters with an inspiring lead in Sierra an Afro-Latina youth who speaks her mind and holds her own even when things start to get chaotic she can gather herself and take charge.
Sierra finds out that she has a family history that allows her to see the souls of the dead, she is a legacy of a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers. She has the power to connect with spirits of people who have passed through her artwork. With a swirl of paint, in some graffiti, even a simple side walk chalk drawing Sierra can bring forth and call upon the energy of the dead.
This book was recommended to me because I enjoyed some of Cassandra Clare's work. I have to say that Shadowshaper's is far superior writing with much more relatable and interesting characters. Two thumbs up from me!


Shadowshaper is available in audio format on Hoopla and e-Book on Overdrive.

As Dead as it Gets

As Dead as it gets

By Katie Alender

I'll be completely honest I was waiting for the first book in this trilogy and I got tired of waiting so instead I decided to start at the end. Here at the library we often find ourselves unable to find the first book in a series and we don't always know if the books can be read out of order. Will the story stand on its own? I decided to see if this was the case with As Dead as it gets book 3 in the Bad Girls Don't Die series.

I was pleasantly surprised. I did not need to read the first two books to be able to follow along as Alexis tries to get her life back to normal after witnessing the death of a friend. Alexis has a special, if not annoying, ability. She can see and communicate with ghosts. Some may think this would be a wonderful ability but ghosts are everywhere and some can be really intrusive and even life threatening.

This story is filled with thrills and chills as an angry ghost named Lydia seams to be trying to exact revenge on our poor Alexis. Just when Alexis is starting to fall in love and settle into year book committee her life is turned upside down when young girls from school start going missing and turning up dead. If you are looking for a creepy and haunting read with a little romance thrown in then check out As Dead as it gets today also available through Hoopla streaming audio book.

Here is the book trailer too. Enjoy! Supernatural