Barry Lyga

The first book in this thrilling, terrifying series by New York Times bestselling author Barry Lyga is perfect for fans of Dexter. It was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful field. Except for the body. Jazz is a likable teenager. A charmer, some might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, "Take Your Son to Work Day" was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminals' point of view. And now, even though Dad has been in jail for years, bodies are piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod. Again. In an effort to prove murder doesn't run in the family, Jazz joins the police in the hunt for this new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows? From acclaimed author Barry Lyga comes a riveting thriller about a teenager trying to control his own destiny in the face of overwhelming odds.

Youâ??re seventeen years old and your father is the most notorious serial killer America has ever produced. So even though Dear Old Dad is safely behind bars, when the killing starts all over again, you are the first person the police come to seeâ?¦They donâ??t know whether itâ??s nature or nurture.

Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is. Five years ago, Josh's life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town--seems like the world--thinks they understand. But they don't--they can't. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago. She's back, and she's determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there's Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he knew what the truth was . . .

This ultimate guide to collecting and using graphic novels in a school library is written by an elementary librarian out of her experience as a teacher librarian who uses graphic novels in her library media center for instruction and to advance pleasure reading. Her husband and co-author is employed by the comic book industry and is very knowledgeable about the history and development of this increasingly popular type of book. The book contains lesson plans linked to school curriculums for all ages plus a discussion of why graphic novels are useful with certain types of readers, particularly boys and reluctant readers. It feature helpful information and lists for collection development including reviews, reviewing sources, jobbers, Web sties and publisher contact information and posits reasons to help the librarian defend the use of graphic novels with students. Chapters about partnerships with local comic book stores and interviews with librarian users add to this title's usefulness. Illustrated with pages from popular graphic novels, this book will pique the interest of librarians and teachers who just love to read.