In the Library: Recommending Sci-fi

This is my second post in my new recommendation series! Last time, I gave you some of my favorite fantasy books, and this week I come to you with the genre of science fiction. Again, many of these books are apart of series. There is a very wide range of science fiction novels, from dystopian to space stories. Here are so of my favorite in the YA genre. I tried to stay away from The Hunger Games and Divergent, because many people already know of them/read them.

1. THE Lunar Chronicles

It is no mystery that I absolutely love this series. It has really picked up and more people are reading it, but don’t let that lead you away from this story. It is a very unique spin on fairytale retellings, and covers quite a few tales. It has cyborgs and people living on the moon, and it is brilliant. Trying to explain to someone that Cinderella in this book is cyborg is very strange, and may turn people away, but you must give this series a try!

2. THE Darkest Minds Trilogy

Another well-known favorite of mine. This series is definitely unlike any other book. It is set in a futuristic America where all these kids develop this disease. With it, they develop all these “powers” and are sent into the equivalent of a concentration camp. The main gang of this book have some great adventures together as they learn more about this mysterious disease. It has the sci-fi, adventure, action, and even some romance thrown in, so you are sure to find something you like.

3. The Giver

I read this book quite some time ago, but I really enjoyed it. It’s set in this “utopia” like world where everything seems to be perfect. At a certain age, kids are drawn to become an apprentice of sorts, and learn the job they will later do. Jonas starts meeting with The Giver, who holds all the memories in this community. It is very interesting seeing all the things withheld from the society, and seeing Jonas process everything. It’s popular for a reason.

 

3. Ender’s Game

If you are looking for a hardcore science fiction book, this is where you need to turn. It is set in space where children learn to fight the buggers, or the aliens. There are tons of scientific and technological explanations in this book that make everything seem so real. I really enjoyed this book when I read it, and I hope to one day read the rest of the series. Ender is such a great character, and he is one the best of his age. Seeing him on the journey to save Earth is very fun to read about!

There you have it, some great YA sci-fi books. There are many more in this genre that I have yet to read, so another post like this may come up again in the future. Like I said earlier, I stayed away from adding The Hunger Games and Divergent , since they are already so popular and most people have read it. Of course, if you haven’t read either of the series, don’t pass them up, because they truly are great! I’ll be back next week with more recommendations!

 

 

 

In the Library: Recommending Fantasy

Today I come to you with the first post in my new recommendation series “What’s in the Library?” For the first week, I decided to do just a genre, so I went with one of my favorites: fantasy. Since this genre includes some very popular books, some of these recommendations will seem pretty mainstream, but they are still wonderful books nonetheless. Since fantasy books generally are in series, most of these books are in either a completed or on going series.

1. The Harry Potter Series

This has to be one of the most beloved and recommended series in this genre, but there is definitely a reason for it. If you haven’t read Harry Potter, you don’t know what you are missing. The words I use to describe this series won’t do it justice. J.K. Rowling has created a beautiful story about adventurous friends and love always winning, and I am sure it will be read for many years to come.

2. The Throne of Glass Series

This is a fairly new series to me, but it has still jumped to one of my favorite fantasies. In the first book, it takes a while for the fantastical elements to come into play, but once they do, it’s on. The magic in this world has a very creepy twist to it, and the more you learn about it, the better the book gets. I highly suggest continuing in the series if you have read the first book, because it only gets better from there.

3. Percy jackson / Heroes of olympus

This is actually a middle grade series, but you will completely forget once you are so attached to the characters. I know so many people hesitant to read this series since it is made for younger kids and has Greek mythology, but Riordan’s books are really for all ages. In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, you see Percy as he grows into his Son of Posiedon powers and his role as leader. I am convinced that no person could read this series and not want to read the follow-up series, Heroes of Olympus. The spin-off still includes our favorite characters Percy and Annabeth, but Riordan also gives us 5 more to love. These series are packed with adventures, sassy remarks, strong friendships, and growing love. A must read in my opinion.

3. Akarnae

This is the first book in Lynette Noni’s debut series The Medoran Chronicles. I have raved time after time over this book, because it is seriously good. Alex opens up a door to this new world where she finds that she can’t leave without the Akarnae School’s headmaster’s help, who just so happens to be missing. She attends the school intended for extraordinarily-gifted kids, and learns a lot about this world and herself. The world-building and friendship in this book is incredible, and it was a great start to what I know will be a great series.

There are my top fantasy books that I recommend to you! Most of you have probably read these books, but I am hoping that some one who hasn’t will see this post. I’ll be back next week with more recommendations, so stay tuned! And as always, if you have any recommendations yourself, leave them in the comments below!!

In the Library: New Recommendation Series

 

For awhile now I have been wanting to do my own recommendation series, and I am really excited that I am now getting to it. This new series will be called “What’s in the Library” or “In the Library” for short (it’s supposed to reference my name). Every so often I will be posting one of these with a certain genre or theme. I want to have 3-5 recommendations for each topic to give things to choose from. Some recommendations with be popular ones, but I will try and find some unique books that aren’t recommended as often.

I leaning toward putting In the Library on a Thursday schedule so it’s spaced away from other features I participate in. I’m not sure if the will be weekly or every two weeks. I want to see how much material I have and see how long it can go.

Now if you are wondering what sort of topics I will be doing, here are some basic examples that I will be participating in!

• Best Stand Alones
• Best Trilogy
• Best (insert genre)

Those are just a few of the things I have in my mind right now, and I hope to come up with some different ones. I also want to recommend not only books, but also authors. If I can recommend an author to someone, they have the possiblity of being opened up to several new books.

If one any of these certain weeks, you enjoy the topic and have some of your own recommendations, make a post about it! Link it this blog so I can feature your recommendations as well. My goal here is to give book ideas to people, so the more recommendations, the more influence.

In the Library will be starting next week, so be looking for soem recommendatios coming your way!