Amusement Parks July 18th

 

I miss KiddieLand.  When I was a kid my Grandma lived right down the street from Kiddieland and she never missed the opportunity to take me there and to talk about taking my dad there when he was a kid.  I lived for the tilt-a-whirl, the merry-go-round, the train ride, and the little dipper roller coaster.  I went to Great America a few times, the last being in the early 2000s. I went to King Dominion in Virginia back in 1995 as well as Cedar Point in Ohio.  Those are all categorized as amusement parks (though Great America may try to claim otherwise).  As far as theme parks go; I've never been.  I never had a desire to go to Disney.  The only thing I find to be at all tempting about Universal is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I am curious about Sesame Place and Hersheypark though.

Abandoned: Hauntingly Beautiful Deserted Theme Parks by Lawless, Seph

"Through more than two hundred gorgeous and elegiac photographs, Abandoned details Lawless's journey into what was once the very heart of American entertainment: the amusement park. Lawless visits deserted parks across the country, capturing in stark detail their dilapidated state, natural overgrowth, and obvious duality of sad and playful symbolism. Previously self-published as Bizarro, this updated edition of Lawless's photographic tribute to decaying American amusement parks contains new content and a new foreword"--Page 2 of dust jacket.

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World : The Official Vacation Guide 2022

Walt Disney World honors its fiftieth anniversary with "The World's Most Magical Celebration," an incredible 18-month event that begins October 1, 2021. As the resort celebrates and continues to grow and evolve, trust Birnbaum as your 2021-2022 guide...

After Disney : The Other Orlando by Monaghan, Kelly

This comprehensive guide to the attractions of Central Florida covers all the major theme parks EXCEPT Walt Disney World, including Universal Orlando (with Harry Potter), SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, Busch Garden Tampa, Kennedy Space Center and the new Legoland. Also covered are lesser attractions, dinner shows, water parks, zoos, the arts, sports, hot air balloon rides, miniature golf, shopping, and the great outdoors.

Action Park : Fast times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park by Mulvihill, Andy

Often called "Accident Park," "Class Action Park," or "Traction Park," Action Park was an American icon. Entertaining more than a million people a year in the 1980s, the New Jersey-based amusement playland placed no limits on danger or fun, a monument to the anything-goes spirit of the era that left guests in control of their own adventures--sometimes with tragic results. Though it closed its doors in 1996 after nearly twenty years, it has remained a subject of constant fascination ever since, an establishment completely anathema to our modern culture of rules and safety. Action Park is the first-ever unvarnished look at the history of this DIY Disneyland, as seen through the eyes of Andy Mulvihill, the son of the park's idiosyncratic founder, Gene Mulvihill. From his early days testing precarious rides to working his way up to chief lifeguard of the infamous Wave Pool to later helping run the whole park, Andy's story is equal parts hilarious and moving, chronicling the life and death of a uniquely American attraction, a wet and wild 1980s adolescence, and a son's struggle to understand his father's quixotic quest to become the Walt Disney of New Jersey. Packing in all of the excitement of a day at Action Park, this is destined to be one of the most unforgettable memoirs of the year.

The Echoes by Montgomery, Jess

"As July 4, 1928 approaches, Sheriff Lily Ross and her family look forward to the opening of an amusement park in a nearby town, created by Chalmer Fitzpatrick-a veteran and lumber mill owner. When Lily is alerted to the possible drowning of a girl, she goes to investigate, and discovers schisms going back several generations, in an ongoing dispute over the land on which Fitzpatrick has built the park. Lily's family life is soon rattled, too, with the revelation that before he died, her brother had a daughter, Esme, with a woman in France, and arrangements have been made for Esme to immigrate to the U.S. to live with them. But Esme never makes it to Kinship, and soon Lily discovers that she has been kidnapped. Not only that, but a young woman is indeed found murdered in the fishing pond on Fitzpatrick's property, at the same time that a baby is left on his doorstep. As the two crimes interweave, Lily must confront the question of what makes family: can we trust those we love? And what do we share, and what do we keep secret?"--. Provided by publisher.

Lifetime Passes by Blas, Terry

Sixteen-year-old Jackie Chavez loves her local amusement park, Kingdom Adventure, maybe more than anything else in the world. The park is all she and her friends Nikki, Daniel, and Berke--although they aren't always the greatest friends--talk about. Kingdom Adventure is where all Jackie's best memories are, and it's where she feels safe and happy. This carries even more weight now that Jackie's parents have been deported and forced to go back to Mexico, leaving Jackie in the United States with her Tía Gina, who she works with at the Valley Care Living seniors' home. When Gina tells Jackie that they can't afford a season pass for next summer, Jackie is crushed. But on her next trip to Kingdom Adventure, she discovers a strictly protected secret: If a member of their party dies at the park, the rest of their group gets free lifetime passes. Jackie and her friends hatch a plot to bring seniors from Valley Care Living to the park using a fake volunteer program, with the hopes that one of the residents will croak during their visit. The ruse quickly gets its first volunteer--a feisty resident named Phyllis. What starts off as a macabre plan turns into a revelation for Jackie as Phyllis and the other seniors reveal their own complex histories and connections to Kingdom Adventure, as well as some tough-to-swallow truths about Jackie, her friends, and their future.

Good Girls Die First by Foxfield, Kathryn

Ava is one of ten people invited to the abandoned amusement park on Portgrave Pier. The invitation makes it clear that a someone knows her secret, and as the night wears on it's clear that each of the ten has something to hide-- and something to fear. When fog and magic swallow the pier, they must depend on each other-- and their mysterious host. An unseen evil compels the ten to turn against one another. As it reveals their darkest secrets, the deaths begin. How far will Ava go to be the last one standing? -- adapted from back cover.

Hide : a novel by White, Kiersten

Fourteen contestants, including Mack, a homeless shelter resident who lost everything, embark on a seven-day competition and the chance to win $50,000 if they can successfully play hide-and-seek in an abandoned amusement park without being found and eliminated.

All the Pretty Things by Arsenault, Emily

For Ivy, summer means hanging out at the Fabuland amusement park with her best friend, Morgan. Then Morgan finds a dead body-- a former classmate and coworker, Ethan. And a few days later Morgan is taken to a hospital psych ward. The police claim that Ethan simply took a bad fall, but Ivy isn't convinced. She finds that some people aren't being honest about Ethan's last night at Fabuland-- including Morgan. -- adapted from jacket

Curious Toys: a novel by Hand, Elizabeth

"In the sweltering summer of 1915, Pin, the fourteen-year-old daughter of a carnival fortune-teller, dresses as a boy and joins a teenage gang that roams the famous Riverview amusement park, looking for trouble. Unbeknownst to the well-heeled city-dwellers and visitors who come to enjoy the midway, the park is also host to a ruthless killer who uses the shadows of the dark carnival attractions to conduct his crimes. When Pin sees a man enter the Hell Gate ride with a young girl, and emerge alone, she knows that something horrific has occurred. The crime will lead her to the iconic outsider artist Henry Darger, a brilliant but seemingly mad man. Together, the two navigate the seedy underbelly of a changing city to uncover a murderer few even know to look for.-- Provided by publisher.

Embrace Your Geekness Day

 

July 13th is Embrace Your Geekness Day!  A day for going full-tilt for your fandoms, living it up for your LARPing, and clamoring over your comic collections. A day to let your geek flag fly.  Don't let anyone try to fool you into thinking that being a Geek is anything but awesome.  After all, according to  https://bigthink.com, 66% of millennials view the term "geek" as a compliment.  

Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir by Wheaton, Wil

The celebrated actor, personality, and all-around nerd revisits his 2004 collection of insightful and humorous blog posts, presents additional later writings, and offers all-new material in which he opens up about his life, from his abusive childhood to finding his true purpose.

The Geek's Cookbook: Easy Recipes Inspired by Pokémon, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and More! by Lecomte, Liguori

"Binge-watching your favorite season of Dexter, Breaking Bad, or The Walking Dead? Planning a Pokémon Go gaming party or a Harry Potter viewing party? Need sustenance to fuel your attempt to achieve the impossible and watch all six Star Wars movies in a row? Enter The Geek Cookbook, your guide to cooking all sorts of treats and goodies to nourish your inner (or outer) geek. Send your taste buds to another world with over thirty recipes from your favorite series, TV shows, and video games. Experience the supreme taste of the Matrix Burger or the Sauron Tarts, succumb to the Dagobah Marsh in Herb Crust or the Karadoc Crunch. Top it all off with some Minecraft Cookies or Meringue Pokéball, and you've got yourself a meal fit for Geek royalty. Also featured inside are recipes inspired by Game of Thrones, Zelda, The Big Bang Theory, Batman, Final Fantasy, and many more!"--Provided by publisher.

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook: Sweet Treats for the Geek in all of us by Pansino, Rosanna

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook combines two things Rosanna Pansino loves: geek culture and baking. Her fondness for video games, science fiction, math, comics, and lots of other things considered "nerdy" have inspired every recipe in this book. You'll find the recipes for many beloved fan favorites from her internet baking show of the same name, such as Apple Pi Pie, the Chocolate Chip Smart Cookie, and Volcano Cake; as well as many new geeky recipes, such as Dinosaur Fossil Cake, Moon Phase Macaroons, and the Periodic Table of Cupcakes.

Geek Ink: The World's Smartest Tattoos for Rebels, Nerds, Scientists, and Intellectuals

"Exhibiting cutting-edge designs from the most sought-after and acclaimed contemporary tattoo artists worldwide, Geek Ink presents magnificent ideas for tattoos on themes from science fiction and fantasy, as well as a wide range of topics across science, mathematics, literature, and philosophy. With commentary from creators of the Inkstinct project--which connects people with the finest tattoo art from 380,000 studios worldwide and has an Instagram fan base of more than 1 million--as well as interviews with world-renowned masters like Eva Krbdk (460K followers), David Cote (232K followers), and Thomas Eckeard (169K followers), this is the definitive tattoo inspiration sourcebook for hipsters, bookworms, scientists, academics, engineers, and, of course, geeks!"--ONIX annotation.

Tokyo Geek's Guide : Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols & More by Simone, Gianni

This is the most comprehensive Japan travel guide ever produced which features Tokyo's geeky underworld. It provides a comprehensive run-down of each major Tokyo district where geeks congregate, shop, play and hang out--from hi-tech Akihabara and trendy Harajuku to newer and lesser-known haunts like chic Shimo-Kita and working-class Ikebukuro.

Geektastic : Stories from the Nerd Herd

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside)and Cecil Castellucci(Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr. With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley,Geektasticcovers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek,Geektasticwill help you get your geek on!

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy : A Hhandbook for Geek Girls by Maggs, Sam

"Fanfic, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs and RPGs and MMOs and more - it's never been a better time to be a girl geek. The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy is the ultimate handbook for ladies living the nerdy life, a fun and feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. With delightful illustrations and an unabashed love for all the in(ternet)s and outs of geek culture, this book is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes, including how to make nerdy friends, rock awesome cosplay, write fanfic with feels, defeat Internet trolls, and attend your first con. Plus, insightful interviews with fangirl faves, like Jane Espenson, Erin Morgenstern, Kate Beaton, Ashley Eckstein, Laura Vandervoort, Beth Revis, Kate Leth, and many others"--Adapted from distributor's description.

Theater Geek : The Real Life Drama of a Summer at Stagedoor Manor by Rapkin, Mickey

Before there was Glee or American Idol, there was Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp in the Catskills where big-time Hollywood casting directors came to find the next generation of stars. It s where Natalie Portman, Robert Downey, Jr., Zach Braff, Mandy Moore, Lea Michele, and many others got their start as kids. At age thirty-one, Mickey Rapkin, a senior editor at GQ and self-proclaimed theater geek, was lucky enough to go, too, when he followed three determined teen actors through the rivalries, heartbreak, and triumphs of a summer at Stagedoor Manor.

Geek: Fantasy Novel by Archer, E.

What happens when a science geek and magic collide?Be careful what you wish for. Really. Because wishes are bad. Very bad. They can get you trapped in fantasy worlds full of killer bunny rabbits, evil aunts, and bothersome bacteria, for example. Or at least that's Ralph's experience. He's been asked to spend the summer with his strange British relatives at their old manor house in order to set up their Wi-Fi network. But there's much more to it than that, of course. It's just that nobody told Ralph. He's a gamer, sure. But this game is much stranger--and funnier--than anything to be found on his Xbox. He is a geek. This is his story.

Geekerella : a novel by Poston, Ashley

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watchingwith her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a newStarfieldmovie, she has toenter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet withthe actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from hergig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad's old costume), Elle's determined to win...unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons-before he was famous. Now they're nothingbut autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he's ever wanted, butthe Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon drawsnear, Darien feels more and more like a fake-until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy talefor anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.

Get a life, Chloe Brown : a novel by Hibbert, Talia

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. She's come up with seven directives to help her "Get a Life", and she's already completed the first: finally moving out of her family's mansion. She's ready to enjoy a drunken night out, ride a motorcycle, and other adventures. But it's not easy being bad, and Chloe knows just the man to help her complete her list. Redford 'Red' Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and sex appeal, who paints at night but hides his work. When she enlists Red to help her rebel, she discovers what really lies beneath his rough exterior. --. Adapted from back cover.

Anti-Boredom Month

 

Stuck in the Doldrums? 

Daily Repetition have you feeling stuck?

Are you, dare I say it, BORED???

In the 1980s, Alan Caruba founder of The Boredom Institute decided that July should be "Anti-Boredom Month" due to the lack of any exciting activities after the 4th of July.  

  (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-anti-boredom-month-july-2/). 

So how do we break up the monotony?  One way to cure boredom is by reading a book and luckily, we have lots of those.

Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Zomorodi, Manoush

"It's time to move 'doing nothing' to the top of your to-do list. In 2015 Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC's popular podcast and radio show Note to Self, led tens of thousands of listeners through an experiment to help them unplug from their devices, get bored, jump-start their creativity, and change their lives. Bored and Brilliant builds on that experiment to show us how to rethink our gadget use to live better and smarter in this new digital ecosystem. Manoush explains the connection between boredom and original thinking, exploring how we can harness boredom's hidden benefits to become our most productive and creative selves without totally abandoning our gadgets in the process. Grounding the book in the neuroscience and cognitive psychology of 'mind wandering'-what our brains do when we're doing nothing at all--Manoush includes practical steps you can take to ease the nonstop busyness and enhance your ability to dream wonder and gain clarity in your work and life. The outcome is mind-blowing. Unplug and read on."--Dust jacket flap.

Unlock Your Imagination

Provides instruction for games, crafts, performances, puzzles, and other activities from running a lemonade stand to starting a newspaper.

The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Price, Catherine

"In our always-on, productivity-addicted lifestyles, we tend to think of the pursuit of fun as being indulgent, even immature and childish. When we do find the time to relax or care for ourselves, we tend to turn to activities that are not actually restorative: binging Netflix, scrolling through Twitter, or indulging our FOMO on Instagram. Through years of research, journalist Catherine Price has learned the truth: far from being frivolous or a distraction, fun is actually the secret to achieving our goals. If you reorient your life around what you personally find fun-true fun-you will be happier and healthier. You will be more productive, less resentful, and less stressed. You will have more energy, for yourself and for other people. You will find community and a sense of purpose. You will feel alive again"--. Provided by publisher.

Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Richardson, Patric

"Patric Richardson, aka the "Laundry Evangelist," reveals his revolutionary methods for cleaning clothes--and making laundry loads more fun. Doing laundry is rarely anyone's favorite task. But to Patric Richardson, laundry isn't just fun--it's a way of life. After years of running Laundry Camp at the Mall of America for thousands of eager learners, he's ready to share his tips, tricks, and hacks--bringing surprise and delight to this commonly dreaded chore. Sorting your laundry? It's not all about whites and darks. Pondering the wash cycles? Every load, even your delicates, should be washed using express or quick-wash on warm. Facing expensive dry cleaning bills? You'll learn how to wash everything--yes everything--at home. And those basically clean but smelly clothes? Richardson has a secret for freshening those too (hint: it involves vodka, not soap). Changing your relationship with laundry can also change your life. Richardson's handy advice shows us how to save time and money (and the planet!) with our laundry--and he intersperses it all with a healthy dose of humor, real-life laundry stories, and lessons from his Appalachian upbringing and career in fashion. Laundry Love will make you wonder why you ever stressed about ironing, dry cleaning, or (god forbid) red wine spills on your new couch. No matter the issue, Richardson is here to help you make laundry miracles happen-wrinkles and stains be damned"--. Provided by publisher.

Forest Club Summer: A Season of Activities, Crafts, and Exploring Nature by Hirschmann, Kris

A visually stunning book of outdoor activities and crafts that ties into the burgeoning interest in forest schools and rewilding the child, with the aim of reconnecting children to nature and the outdoors. Focusing on summer, this beautifully illustrated and informative book provides a resource of inspiration for families, designed to spark children's imagination. While all crafts and activities are designed to be carried out outside, these are interspersed with factual pages about forest flora and fauna, which can be enjoyed at home or used as a field guide while out and about. With crafts, activities, and outdoor exploration there is always with something new to see and learn about.

The Unplugged Family Activity Book: 60+ Simple Crafts & Recipes for Year-Round Fun by Jepson Wolf, Rachel

"The Unplugged Family Activity Book is your guide to exploring the natural world as a family, with dozens of outdoor and indoor activities, recipes, and crafts!"-- Provided by publisher.

A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (and know nothing about) by Carlsen, Spike

"On his regular walk one morning, Spike Carlsen realized there was an entire world outside his front door that he knew nothing about. How does that fire hydrant work, he wondered? Why are street lights shining more brightly than ever before? And, on a more personal level, why does an easy stroll around the neighborhood always leave him feeling more creative and spry, better able to take on the day? A simple walk around the block set Carlsen off on an investigative journey to discover everything he could about every thing we take for granted in our everyday life, from manhole covers and recycling bins to pedestrian crossings and bike lanes. Leading readers on a spirited adventure through his hometown, and other environs, Carlsen explains with wit and erudition the engineering marvels, unheralded utilities, and secret economic and health benefits hiding in plain sight. Like how the addition of a front porch reduces crime and increases property value. And how planting a $10 boulevard tree cuts air-conditioning costs by 20 percent, while generating approximately $30,000 worth of oxygen and $31,000 worth of erosion control. Or how a simple walk, in addition to reduce your chances of a stroke (20 percent), cardiovascular disease (30 percent), and broken bones (40 percent), can increase creativity by 60 percent. Engaging, entertaining, and informative, A Walk Around the Block is a narrative celebration of all the seemingly random stuff we encounter at any given moment"-- Provided by publisher.

Get a Hobby! : 101 All-Consuming Diversions For Any Lifestyle by Barseghian, Tina

Is your daily grind taking the joy out of life? Don't get glum--get a hobby!

In this entertaining, information-packed guide, journalist and ReadyMade contributing editor Tina Barseghian invites you to explore 101 thoroughly absorbing diversions, from conventional to downright wacky, that'll satisfy every taste, talent, and timetable. The bonus: Practicing a hobby boosts your all-around mental and physical health, as longtime family practitioner Dr. Miguel Figueroa reveals in the Foreword.

Are you an independent, nature-loving, outdoorsy type? Consider beachcombing, caving, or mushroom hunting. Crafty, meticulous, and patient? You might enjoy needlework, knotting, or growing bonsai. Just take the personality quiz to identify those hobbies that best match your aptitude, interests, and even your mood, then it's on to the hobbies. Each hobby entry provides a playful mix of information: overviews, histories, and sample projects to help you get your hobby on, plus profiles of dedicated hobbyists and resources that'll help take you to the next level. Get a Hobby! might just be the inspiration you've been looking for.

Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability by Michaud-Skog, Summer

"In the tradition of Workman's Every Body Yoga, we're bringing a proud, plus-sized, body-positive attitude to the world of hiking and outdoor recreation. Summer Michaud-Skog, founder of the Fat Girls Hiking community, offers a book brimming with heartfelt stories, practical advice, personal profiles of FGH community members, and trail reviews. It all serves to spread the Fat Girls Hiking message of inclusivity in the outdoors. Equal parts empowering and impassioned, personal and practical, this book adds an important voice to the conversation about diversity in the outdoors, raising visibility of hikers who have too long been marginalized. As the Fat Girls Hiking motto goes, "Trails Not Scales!""--. Provided by publisher.

175 Science Experiments To Amuse and Amaze Your Friends: Experiments, Tricks, Things to Make by Walpole, Brenda

Instructions for 175 experiments, tricks, and creations that illustrate the principles of light, water, movement, and air.

https://leecountyfun.com/events/

Alien Encounters

 In the Summer of 1947,  reports of a flying saucer near Roswell, New Mexico before W.W. "Mac" Brazel found wreckage on his property. The Roswell Army Air Field "released a statement, writing, 'The many rumors regarding the flying disc became a reality yesterday when the intelligence office of the 509th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force, Roswell Army Air Field, was fortunate enough to gain possession of a disc through the cooperation of one of the local ranchers and the sheriff's office of Chaves County.'” (https://www.history.com/news/roswell-ufo-aliens-what-happened) A story that was reversed and altered through the years.

When it comes to aliens, I refer back to my "Life in the Universe" final and the question of wether or not we believe there are other life-forms out there and my belief that if there are, we are 100% the planet that other planets warn each other about. 

Light Years From Home by Chen, Mike

Fifteen years ago on a family camping trip, Evie and Kass Shao's father and brother vanished. Their dad turned up days later, dehydrated and confused-- convinced he'd been abducted by aliens. Their brother, Jakob, remained missing. Kass became the rock of the family. Evie traded academics to pursue alien conspiracy theories, always looking for Jakob. When Evie's UFO network uncovers a new event, she goes to investigate-- and discovers Jakob is back. He's older, stranger, and talking of an intergalactic war. Now the FBI is after Jakob. And if their brother is telling the truth, possibly an entire space armada, too.-- adapted from jacket

Taken : a novelization by Cook, Thomas H.

This epic novel spans sixty years of American history as the lives of three people are changed in an instant--and the consequences are played out over three generations of harrowing encounters and unexplained events. While the government lies, and a nation doubts, three families know they have been touched, know that something has been taken from them . . . something that will change their lives forever.

Diablo Mesa : a Nora Kelly novel by Preston, Douglas J.

Responding to the promise of a hefty donation from an eccentric billionaire with space travel ambitions, the Santa Fe Archaeological Institute excavates the site of the 1947 Roswell incident and immediately uncovers two unknown murder victims.

We are the Ants by Hutchinson, Shaun David

Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: the world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button. Only he isn't sure he wants to. Life hasn't been great for Henry: his mom is held together by a thin layer of cigarette smoke; his brother is a jobless dropout. And Henry is still dealing with the grief of his boyfriend's suicide last year. Weighing the pain and the joy that surrounds him, Henry can choose to save the planet... or let it be destroyed.

The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away by Smith, Ronald L.

After something strange happens during a camping trip, twelve-year-old alien-obsessed Simon suspects he has been abducted, but was it real or just his overactive imagination?

Losing the Girl by MariNaomi

As Blithedale searches for a missing girl, rumored to be abducted by aliens, a group of high school students experiences a series of romantic relationships and their effects on friendships.

Bent Heavens by Kraus, Daniel

Iowa. Two years ago Liv Fleming's father claimed he had been abducted by aliens-- and shortly after disappeared. Liv has accepted that he's dead, but every Sunday she and her friend Doug Monk continue to check the "alien traps" her father had set us. When they discover a creature so inhuman it can only be one thing, they choose to take matters into their own hands instead of turning him over to the authorities. -- adapted from jacket

Ashfall Legacy by Lore, Pittacus

Syd Chambers knows that there's life on other planets because he's descended from it. His father was from a distant world called Denza and has been missing-- presumed dead-- for years. When Syd discovers a device his father left behind which shows not only that he's alive, but where he is, Syd must set out on a mission of his own. Along the way he discovers a deadly, unbearable secret that could destroy Denza, Earth, and the universe. -- adapted from jacket.

Strange Days by Singer, Constantine

"When inexplicable events begin to occur, Los Angeles native Alex Mata uses his special ability of time travel to save the world from alien invasion"-- Provided by publisher.

The Truth Lies Here by Klingele, Lindsey

Arriving for a summer in her Michigan hometown, aspiring journalist Penny learns that her father, a tabloid journalist, is missing and charred dead bodies are being found in the woods.