Free Audiobook Downloads

From the Yalsa Listserv:

Please forgive the cross postings - here's some good news! Each week, from today until September 1st, you can download two totally FREE audiobooks through SYNC http://www.audiobooksync.com/! Anyone may participate, there's no required sign-up or personal info or credit card needed, the titles are in MP3 format compatible with ANY digital player or computer, and the choices are top titles from the best audiobook producers - how much better could it get?!? There's even great printable materials so that you can promote your own library or school audiobook collection! Feel free to add links to your library website, email to your library discussion groups and friends, post on Twitter & Facebook, and build displays & listen-alike lists to entice new listeners to take advantage of your library's audiobook collection. And as the downloads are handled through OverDrive, it's a terrific way to introduce new users to your library's digital resources. There's even an entire social community where SNYC participants may interact with authors, narrators, and audiobook producers! SYNC has been developed to promote audiobook listening to teens ages 13 and up through the unbranded open forum Audiobook Community http://www.audiobookcommunity.com/. But it's not just for teens! Each week, two new titles will be available for download - one a current teen favorite, one a classic with a similar theme. What a great way to experience classics on your summer reading list, discover great YA literature, or download perfect family listening for a wide spectrum of ages. Check out the entire list of titles at the bottom of my email. It's summertime and the listenin' is easy - and FREE - with SYNC!







Happy listening!


Mary Burkey


Liberty Middle School






mary.burkey@gmail.com


http://audiobooker.booklistonline.com


Contact Me FacebookTwitter






SYNC Titles


Audiobook downloads available as MP3s


Summer 2010






Available July 1 - July 7


The Angel Experiment by James Patterson


Frankenstein by Mary Shelley






Available July 8 - July 14


Over the End Line by Alfred C. Martino


The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay






Available July 15 - July 21


Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer


Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson






Available July 22 - July 28


The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor


Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll






Available July 29 - August 4


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


The Lottery by Shirley Jackson






Available August 5 - August 11


Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah


A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith






Available August 12 - August 18


Beastly by Alex Flinn


The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson






Available August 19 - August 25


Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston


A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare






Available August 26 - September 1


Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Myers


Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Miley Cyrus To Star In WAKE

Miley Cyrus To Star In WAKE

Alien Feast

Alien Feast: Chronicles of the First Invasion by Michael Simmons

First in the series about comical and hungry aliens who invade earth, in this Roald Dahl-styled sci-fi story. Violin-playing orphan, William, fellow classmate Sophie, and Williams’ quirky Uncle Maynard are trying to locate Sophie’s kidnapped “scientist-parents,” figure out the Willoughby Mayor’s connection to the aliens, and save civilization. The next book will most likely have William off on his own searching for his older brother. Fast paced story with themes of friendship and perseverance.

A Nest for Celeste

A Nest for Celeste: by Henry Cole is a sweet story centered around an industrious mouse, Celeste, who resides in Colonial 1821 New Orleans, and inspires John Audubon’s early work on aviary exploration and documentation. A terrific historical fiction novel, which embodies the values of true friendship, determination, and ingenuity. Cole uses pencil drawings to enhance the drama and create great setting and character development throughout the book. While the novel is 352 pages in length, it truly is a story for younger readers since there are many beautiful illustrations and the format consists of larger font on smaller sized pages.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Is anyone going to do anything to commemorate the 50th anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Popularity of Dystopian Novels

This recent article in the New Yorker dissects the current craze for dystopian novels, such as The Hunger Games and Uglies, among teens.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/06/14/100614crat_atlarge_miller?currentPage=1

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Never having read any Ruiz Zafon novels I was unaware of his style. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to discover his very gothic nature, here translated into a YA novel. The Prince of Mist was first published in Spain 15 or so years ago and has only recently been published in the US.

The novel opens with the Carver family moving to a small seaside town to escape the war (we don't know which one). Max Carver and his sisters Alicia and Irina find various amusements to entertain themselves, but when Max meets Roland he and Alicia become instant friends with the young and handsome native and he leads them on various adventures around their new town.

The first half of the novel was very eerie with strange discoveries and happenings occurring in their home, including the appearance of an evil cat . The second half of the novel is action packed with life-threatening situations plaguing the Carvers' and Roland. The cause of all of the disturbance in their lives is revealed by Roland's grandfather, the lightkeeper on their coast. He relates the story of an unbelievably strange man who has haunted him since he was a boy and is now intent on destroying Roland. But why? You'll stay up much too late to discover the secret of The Prince of Mist.