The Blitz: London's Longest Night (DVD)

On the night of December 29, 1940 the Germans dropped tens of thousands of bombs on the city of London. This movie is complete with reenactments, actual footage and survivor stories. Of course you probably know the ending of that night, but it is riveting to learn which historic buildings survived as well as stories of some survivors. This PBS Production is not just another boring documentary, it had me gripping the sofa cushions in suspense. DVD 940.54 BLITZ

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Both the male and female ghosts have been 'haunting' for years because they are unable to move on to Heaven. They have no idea why they are stuck here but take over two present day teens' bodies in order to enjoy earth stuff again. In the end, the ghosts find out what is holding them back. When I met Laura at the Texas Library Association she signed in my book "Don't let the walls stop you" and now I know why. A happy ending, a ghost story and a romance...what more could you ask for? YP FIC WHITCOMB

Devil's Playground (DVD)

What a shocking look into Amish teens' lives! During a time called Rumspringa (the Devil's Playground), a period when Amish teens turn 16, they are allowed to live outside the Amish community. They experience all kinds of sins in order to decide if they want to leave the Amish lifestyle or stay in it for good. This documentary follows a few teens as they stumble around in the outside world getting drunk, smoking, and making out. The Amish lifestyle and their ideologies are explained by the teens. I came away from this film with strong feelings...how can the teens think about leaving the Amish community with a chance of success in the outside world with only an 8th grade education? Watch the movie, see what happens to the teens, draw your own conclusions. 392.15 DEVILS

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Finally, it's here! We have Eclipse the book (YP FIC MEYER) and the audiobook (AD YP FIC MEYER). I have been waiting impatiently the third installment of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series ever since I finished the last page of New Moon! Bella, Edward and Jacob are back, and once again Bella is pulled back and forth among the worlds of vampires, werewolves and the humans who live in the deceptively quiet town of Forks, Washington. As usual, wherever Bella goes, danger follows -- nearby Seattle has been plagued with a slew of mysterious killings, and Victoria still seeks revenge against Bella for James' murder. The author keeps the novel racing at a breathless pace, and the love story is riveting, tender and painful.

Stephenie Meyer gives her readers a sneak peek at her upcoming novels on her website -- including a fourth installment in the Twilight series coming in Fall of 2008 and a possible (fingers crossed!) alternate version of Twilight written from Edward's point of view.

She's also publishing a science fiction/romance called The Host that is scheduled to come out next spring. Go Stephenie!

Who Killed Mr. Chippendale? A mystery in poems by Mel Glenn

Mel Glenn writes his books in free verse by having a variety of characters tell the story from their point of view, thus having the plot and truth of the novel unfold as the reader fits the snippets from the characters together. Mel Glenn's books are often a little on the depressing side and this one is no different. Crazy student kills teacher, teacher's faults are revealed and then no one remembers teacher. YP FIC GLENN

The Girls They Left Behind by Bernice Thurman Hunter

Seventeen year-old Beryl keeps a diary while World War II is going on. She lives in Canada and works at several factories waiting for her male friends and her cousin to come home from the war. This book provides a realistic narrative of how it must have been like to live during the war. At one of Beryl's jobs working at De Havilland she was make a forelady although when the war was over and she had to give up her job and go back to school. She was concerned that she would not be able to type fast enough in order to meet graduation requirements! If you have grandparents or elderly relatives that might remember living during WWII this is a good book that you can read together. YP FIC HUNTER

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

This Cinderella story takes place in Ming China with Xing Xing pronounced Shing Shing) as the Cinderella character, Some variations from the original fairy tale is that her fairy god mother is her deceased mother reincarnated into a beautiful carp and she sees herself as important at the end of the novel...not just because of a guy. Some gruesome events take place in the book but they work well in the fairy tale motif. This is a good book for females. Girl power! YP FIC NAPOLI