Library Ninja: Cover Lover

Yup. It's Friday. And you know what that means.

Publisher's Summary: On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt: the giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory. But no matter how spectacular it is, Sham can't shake the sense that there is more to life than traveling the endless rails of the railsea–even if his captain can think only of the hunt for the ivory-coloured mole she’s been chasing since it took her arm all those years ago. When they come across a wrecked train, at first it's a welcome distraction. But what Sham finds in the derelict—a series of pictures hinting at something, somewhere, that should be impossible—leads to considerably more than he'd bargained for. Soon he's hunted on all sides, by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.

From China Miéville comes a novel for readers of all ages, a gripping and brilliantly imagined take on Herman Melville's Moby-Dick that confirms his status as "the most original and talented voice to appear in several years."

Why we love it: It's China Mieville. The End. Just kidding. I do enjoy Mieville's writing, but I will be the first to admit that he is not for everyone. Still, I hope that the fantastic cover and Publisher's Summary earn him some new readers! I like the idea that the railroad tracks that stretch across a country are referred to as a "railsea". How cool is that? Yet...I can't help but see something sinister about the train. I blame this on Stephen King. After reading about Blaine the Mono in The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, sometimes I think of trains as a bit creepy.

Again, my love for book covers with the gray colors wins out. The title of the book look as if someone twisted pieces of metal and suspended them just above the tracks. In the distance we see what I imagine to be a fast-approaching train. In the foreground, just to the right and hidden a bit, is something with wheels that is sparking along the side of the tracks. I have absolutely no idea what it is (if you do, let me know!), but I hope it gets out of the way before the train hits that part of the tracks!

We don't yet have this book at APL, but we do have it on our list to order, so keep your eye on our catalog.

Publisher's Summary: Chuck Taylor’s OCD has rendered him a high school outcast. His endless routines and habitual hand washing threaten to scare away both his closest friend and the amazing new girl in town. Sure he happens to share the name of the icon behind the coolest sneakers in the world, but even Chuck knows his bizarre system of wearing different color “Cons” depending on his mood is completely crazy.

In this hilariously candid debut novel from comedian Aaron Karo—who grew up with a few obsessions and compulsions of his own—very bad things are going to happen to Chuck. But maybe that’s a good thing. Because with graduation looming, Chuck finds himself with one last chance to face his inner demons, defend his best friend, and win over the girl of his dreams. No matter what happens, though, he’ll have to get his hands dirty.

Why we love it: Some of the library staff (i.e., ALL OF THEM) like to make fun of me because on most days I wear at least one item of clothing  - a shirt or socks - that is striped. I don't know when or how it started, but I have a thing for stripes. I also really like posters and flyers that have really bright colors like orange. This book cover has both! Huzzah! Add to that a Chuck Taylor shoe is green (my favorite color!) and I am a happy, happy girl when I look at this book.

The font is fairly generic, but treated well with a blue outline and some slight drop shadowing (the slight black behind and around the text). But the letter O's! There is the real fun with a Chuck Taylor star imbedded in the word Con in order to represent Converse. And the O in Lexapro? Well, Lexpro is a drug used to treat anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I've seen at least one reviewer online who was upset at the possible product placement of both Converse and Lexapro, but I still think the cover is clever and I can't wait to read this when it comes in at the library!

Publisher’s Summary: When Rachel crosses The Line she leaves behind everything she has ever known and enters a strange new world: Away. Life there is hard, and survival is never guaranteed. Bizarre, wild creatures roam the forests, and people--the same people she's always been told are dangerous and untrustworthy--have gifts she's never thought possible.

Rachel has to rely on Pathik, the boy she risked her own life for, to help her navigate the strange customs. He's exasperating, but she thinks she can trust him, and she hopes he'll lead her to answers about her father. As it turns out, he leads her to more than she bargained for, and Rachel finds herself on an adventure filled with life and death choices, dark conspiracies, and unthinkable sacrifice.

In a place with no technology, no electricity, no medicine, and very little hope, Rachel discovers that only one thing makes life worth living. If only it's not too late.

Why We Love It: Dystopian books are WAY big right now and I have to say that I like this trend. The Hunger Games series is an example of this kind of book (a future where the world looks grim) and has become one of my favorites right up there with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. (P.S., The Hunger Games movie is amazing and you should watch it…). Teri Hall’s The Line also has an awesome cover, but her sequel Away has a cover that just seems so… dystopian! The beautiful world with a blue sky is shattered to reveal the dead, blood orange landscape of the book’s reality. Doesn’t it make you want to strap on your post-apocalyptic crossbow and look for a source of water? 

by Amanda P.

Similar Books You Might Enjoy

Publisher's Summary: Maggie McKay hardly knows what to do with herself. After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and rough-housing with her older brothers, it’s time for Maggie to face the outside world, all on her own. But that means facing high school first. And it also means solving the mystery of the melancholy ghost who has silently followed Maggie throughout her entire life. Maybe it even means making a new friend—one who isn’t one of her brothers. Funny, surprising, and tender, Friends with Boys is a pitch perfect YA graphic novel full of spooky supernatural fun.

Why We Love It: Comics = awesome.  Just imagine that you've never been to public school...ever.  No elementary school, no middle school. After years of homeschooling Maggie McKay is plunked into public high school.  Craziness will ensue!  I love seeing Maggie on the cover looking up to a pile of people who look like they're hanging onto the ceiling.  I feel like this really shows a few things.  Firstly, Maggie seems to want to get up to that level with the group on the cover.  I believe some are her brothers who have also had the frightening "first day" at high school.  From the picture, they seem to have acclimated!  Secondly, I think it shows perfectly how upside-down Maggie's world is now! Her world so far has been home and her brothers.  Now its gone topsy turvy!  The only thing we're missing is the ghost.  I guess we'll have to read it to find out how she fits into the story.