The Printmaker's Daughter by Katherine Govier is a fictional autobiography of Oei, daughter of the now-famous Japanese printmaker Hokusai especially known for "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," one of a series:Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Artists Hokusai and Oei documented everyday life of the “floating world,” the entertainment and artistic district of Tokyo in the early nineteenth century before Japan was forced to open up trade with the Western World. Canadian author Katherine Govier concludes that Oei, both a dutiful daughter and an unconventional woman of her time, collaborated with her father at the end of his life, and that some of Hokusai’s later works were conceived and rendered by Oei. Govier brings to life the scenes depicted in the fascinating nineteenth century Japanese art.

Intrigued? Visit the book's companion website for more information.

Check out Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. Nailer works as a ship breaker along the decimated Gulf Coast in a dystopian future devoid of oil. Nailer and his fellow crew of hardened orphans and urchins pick apart old ships in search of bits of copper, brass, and the ultimate scavenge, deposits of oil. His life is dangerous and hard, and his drug-addicted, abusive hustler of a father doesn't make it any easier. When Nailer stumbles upon a pocket of oil in an old tanker, he thinks that life may start to get better. However, when a brutal hurricane washes a luxurious clipper ship ashore, a scavenger's dream, Nailer knows that his luck really is about to change. It's not until he discovers a beautiful and wealthy lone survivor aboard that he begins to question what kind of luck that will be. Can Nita offer him a better life, or will she just lead him to unimaginable danger?

Dystopian science fiction like The Hunger Games continues to stay popular among teen readers, so it's not surprising that the Printz Award, which is given annually to a young adult novel of distinction, was awarded to Ship Breaker for 2011. The gritty setting a post-oil wasteland unfortunately feels somewhat plausible, which makes it more compelling. You can find plenty of news stories about global scavenging, or check out Trash by Andy Mulligan for a fictional account. If you enjoyed the non-stop action of Ship Breaker, stay tuned for The Drowned Cities, with expected publication in May 2012.

Do you enjoy reading and discussing what you read? If the answer is yes, the Edenvale Book Club is the club for you! Come to the fireplace area of the Edenvale Branch Library on Wednesday December 7, 2011 at 6:00 pm. This month, the Edenvale Book Club will discuss The Hunt Club by John Lescroart. Everyone is welcome.

This book is available in three formats:

Hardback Fiction

Large Print Fiction

Downloadable Digital Audio Book (via Overdrive Digital Library)

Do you enjoy reading and discussing what you read? If the answer is yes, the Edenvale Book Club is the club for you! Come to the fireplace area of the Edenvale Branch Library on Wednesday November 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm. This month, the Edenvale Book Club will discuss Lazarus by Morris West. Everyone is welcome.

This book is available in two formats:

Hardback Fiction

Large Print Fiction

The West Valley Book Club had a great time last night discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. They've made their pick for November, so you have a whole month to read and get ready before the holiday season arrives. This time it's a quick read, so reserve your copy today: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, also available as an audiobook. Like last month's pick, this is another story that celebrates the power of books and reading, and this pick comes on the heels of last summer's royal wedding hoopla:

Briskly original and subversively funny, this novella from popular British writer Alan Bennett sends Queen Elizabeth II into a bookmobile in pursuit of her runaway corgis and into the reflective, observant life of an avid reader. Guided by Norman, a former kitchen boy, the queen gradually loses interest in her endless succession of official duties and learns the pleasure of such a "common" activity. With "the dawn of her sensibility... mistaken for the onset of senility," plots are hatched by the prime minister and the queen's staff to dispatch Norman and discourage the queen's preoccupation with books...There are lessons packed in here, but Bennett doesn't wallop readers with them. It's a fun little book. (From Publishers Weekly)

Join us on Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30pm in the West Valley Branch Library's Community Room as we discuss The Uncommon Reader. No royal wedding hats neccessary!

There are so many new experiences, emotions, and responsibilities as you move from childhood to adulthood. Sometimes it feels like you're all alone or that no one really understands what you're going through. For teens that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or maybe still questioning, it can be even harder to navigate through adolescence due to ignorance, bullying, and exclusion. No matter what you may encounter on your journey to self-discovery, don't forget to be true to yourself and love who you are.

Check out these novels featuring LGBTQ characters coming to terms with their identity, falling in love, grappling tough issues, and more. Whether you're gay, straight, or still not sure, reading stories like these will open your eyes to the experiences of others.

Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

The Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge

Bait by Alex Sanchez

Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole

Empress of the World by Sara Ryan

How They Met, and Other Stories by David Levithan

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters

Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger

Skim by Mariko Tamaki

Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend by Carrie Jones

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

If you're seeking additional support, the DeFrank Youth Space is an excellent local resource in San Jose that offers counseling, support groups, classes, volunteer opportunities, and fun events just for teens, such as their annual Masquerade Ball for Halloween.