Website Review: American Lynching

AMERICAN LYNCHING is a gripping cultural narrative website chronicling the dark history of lynching in America.

Featuring newspaper accounts from across the United States, this chilling project shares both well-known and lesser known histories of individual lynching events connecting media and race to American history. The website is divided into sections including overview, history, stories, and explore.

Users can examine sample documents, use a map to read statistics, explore history and data, search the records, or read more at the archives.

Librarians will find many teens interested in learning about this sad period of American history. Use this website to jumpstart discussions about public killings, reforms, and race in America.

To visit the website, go to http://www.americanlynchingdata.com/.

Book Review: This is Our Story

THIS IS OUR STORY by Ashley Elston is a gripping, young adult novel exploring friendship, grief, and a search for the truth behind a death.

After a teen is killed while hunting with friends, it’s unclear whether the death was an accident or murder. As an intern in the District Attorney’s Office digs deeper into the investigation, she uncovers evidence leading to the novel’s shocking conclusion. The author does an exceptional job building tension and using changing narrators to keep readers in the dark until the intriguing conclusion.

Librarians will find this powerful suspense to be popular with mystery fans. Addressing a variety of social issues, this work of contemporary, realistic fiction would be a good choice for a book club discussion.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on November 15, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: The Underdogs

THE UNDERDOGS by Sara Hammel is an exciting murder mystery with an unexpected twist.

When popular teen Annabel Harper is murdered at an elite tennis club, Evie and her best friend Chelsea set out to find the killer. From spying on the lead detective to conducting their own informal investigation, the two are intent on solving the crime.

Librarians will find youth re-reading this middle grade book looking for hidden clues to the book’s amazing twist. Ask readers to take a pledge of silence so they don’t give away the unexpected reveal near the end of the book. Although the mystery itself will be enough to keep most readers happy, it’s the unique twist that will keep this title circulating.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.sarahammelbooks.com/.

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux an imprint of Macmillan on May 31, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Teen Frankenstein

TEEN FRANKENSTEIN by Chandler Baker is the first book in the new High School Horror series.

This supernatural thriller is a loose adaptation of the classic Frankenstein story for a contemporary teen audience. Tor and her best friend Owen have been experimenting with dead rats and reanimation. The sudden availability of a dead teen’s body allows them to try out their theories on a human corpse. When the newly arisen creature starts to attend school, other bodies begin to appear kickstarting multiple murder investigations.

Librarians will find that the dark humor combined with the quirky, classic horror tale will be a hit with young adults.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.chandlerbakerbooks.com/.

Published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan on January 12, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

App Review: Spies of Mississippi

SPIES OF MISSISSIPPI: AN APPUMENTARY brings the well-known book and documentary film by Rick Bowers alive for students.

Focusing on the activities of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission from 1956 to 1997, the app explores important stories of democracy, racial segregation, and even murder. The app actively engages users through text, audio, video, maps, photographs, and other historical, primary source materials. After a video introduction, users can watch a summary of the file, listen to a song, examine a visual timeline with photographs and other primary source documents, explore an interactive map featuring key locations, and view excerpts from the film.

In addition, lesson plans and resources for teachers are provided along with discussion questions.

Librarians will find this fascinating app to be an excellent resource for students and teachers exploring the Civil Rights movement in their social studies or history classes.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/spies-mississippi-ap…/id853903402.

Book Review: The Dogs

THE DOGS by Allan Stratton is a fast-paced psychological thriller that blurs reality and the paranormal world.

Cameron and his mother are constantly moving because of fears that Cameron’s abusive dad might find them. When they rent a spooky farmhouse, Cameron is haunted by a mysterious boy with secrets. Soon readers begin to wonder what’s part of Cameron’s growing imagination and what’s reality. Is Cameron sinking into madness or are his worse fears true?

Readers will be mesmerized by Stratton’s engaging writing style. This spine-chilling, young adult thriller will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Librarians will find this murder mystery to be particularly appealing to teens who enjoy secrets, ghosts, and creepy settings. Consider a display that includes paranormal books alongside nonfiction works exploring paranormal activity. A discussion guide is available at the author’s website.

Learn about the author at http://www.allanstratton.com/.

Published by Sourcebooks Fire September 1 2015.

Book Review: Lair of Dreams

LAIR OF DREAMS by Libba Bray is the second engaging suspense in The Diviners series.

Set in the 1920s, this paranormal thriller features an array of fascinating characters from the first novel including Evie, Sam, Jericho, and others. A sleeping sickness is spreading through New York City. Henry DuBois and Ling Chen are diviners who are able to walk in dreams. Will they be able to solve the mystery of this rapidly spreading illness or will they be trapped in the dreamworld? In addition to the dream theme, many subplots will keep readers connected with all the characters and prepare fans for more books to come.

Bray has become a master of blending historical fiction with supernatural fantasy elements. From speakeasies to racism, a wide range of political and social issues are seamlessly woven into the fabric of this haunting story.

Fans will be standing in line for this exciting thriller. Consider a library event that includes period costumes and ghostly decorations.

To learn more about the author, go to https://libbabray.wordpress.com/.

Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette on August 25, 2015. ARC through Edelweiss.

Book Review: After the Red Rain

AFTER THE RED RAIN by Barry Lyga, Peter Facinelli, and Robert DeFranco is a post-apocalyptic YA adventure with a hint of romance.

While out scavenging, factory worker Deedra encounters a strange boy named Rose from beyond their territory. The dystopian story evolves into a murder mystery when the factory overseer is found dead and Rose is accused of the killing. Readers learn about the red rain and the true nature of Rose, but the book concludes with the promise of a sequel that will hopeful answer some other questions.

While some readers may find the science fiction aspects of the story absurd, others will find them fascinating. Although the characters lack the depth of many YA novels, the themes and adventure elements will keep readers interested.

This book seems to be stuck between the children’s and young adult levels. While some aspects such as the rape attempt and violence are clearly in the young adult realm, the simplistic world building and social control feel more like a children’s work of dystopian fiction.

Librarians will find many readers for this quirky, post-apocalyptic YA novel. Because it reads like a movie, fans of the recent dystopian wave will feel right at home.

On a personal level, it reminded me of cross between Soylent Green and City of Ember.

Published by Little, Brown on August 4, 2015. ARC NetGalley and Edelweiss.