Hidden Gems

This is a new feature of the blog highlighting fantastic books which have been around for a while but aren't as well known as they should be...

Red Sky in the Morning by Elizabeth Laird

Anna's cares and concerns are those of any teenager - until her baby brother Ben is born handicapped. At first Anna is confused because she loves Ben but she can't bring herself to tell her friends at school about him. Anna learns to accept her feelings about Ben but other problems lie ahead. Can Anna look after Ben while coping with the other concerns in her life - school, a Saturday job and changing relationships with her friends? And will Anna's family remain together?

Book of the Week

The Medusa Project: Hostage by Sophie McKenzie

Fourteen years ago, four babies were implanted with the Medusa gene - a gene for psychic abilities. Now teenagers, Nico, Ketty, Ed and Dylan have been brought together by government agents to create a secret crime-fighting force - The Medusa Project. But now Ketty's brother Lex has stumbled into a dangerous game involving his boss and a hidden bomb. It's up to Ketty to save him without letting on what she knows to the rest of the team. But can she control her psychic visions, and her feelings for Nico, without getting the team's cover - and herself - blown sky high?

Read a review at http://www.wbqonline.com/review.do?bookid=6735553

Aye Write Book festival

The Aye Write book festival takes place in the Mitchell Library from Friday 5 - Saturday 13 March. Pick up your free copy of the programme in libraries and other outlets across the city, or check details at http://www.ayewrite.com/. The events often sell out quickly so make sure you don't miss out on your favourite author!

Waterstone's Children's Book Award 2010

The shortlist for the Waterstone's Children's Book Award 2010 has been announced. Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/yhdqfew

The winner of the prize will be announced on Wednesday 10th February. Previous winners include The 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison and Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls.

Channel 4 TV Book Club

The creators of the Richard & Judy Book Club are bringing a new book club to your screens this January. Airing on More4 and Channel 4 from January 17th, The TV Book Club is presented by a team of celebrity reviewers and will feature ten new books.

The Library has the following books from the show currently in stock:

• Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne


• The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters


• The Way Home by George P. Pelecanos


• The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick


• Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant


• Blacklands by Belinda Bauer


• Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby


• The Rapture by Liz Jensen

Please contact a member of library staff if you would like to borrow any of them.

Book of the Week

The 13 Curses by Michelle Harrison

Sequel to The Thirteen Secrets which won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.

When fairies stole her brother, Red vowed to get him back. Now trapped in the fairy realm, she begs an audience with the fairy court where she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned - but only if she can find the thirteen charms of Tanya's bracelet that have been scattered in the human world. Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms now have twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent...and the longer they are missing the worse the consequences will be. Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?

Book of the Week

.

The Kites are Flying by Michael Morpurgo

Travelling to the West Bank to witness how life is for Palestinians and Jews living in the shadow of a dividing wall, journalist Max strikes up a friendship with an enigmatic Palestinian boy, Said. Together the two sit under an ancient olive tree while Said makes another of his kites. As Max is welcomed as a guest, he learns of the terrible events in the family’s past and begins to understand why Said no longer speaks.

Find out more from The Bookbag at http://tinyurl.com/y9cmau6