@ your library (R) ......by Paige Turner, March 17, 2005 New Books Arrive for Young Adults Several new books for young adults have been added to the library collection. Recent additions (descriptions compliments of Nathan and amazon.com) include: "Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen, Young Adult (grades 7-9), 224 pages. The first time she saw him, she flipped. The first time he saw her, he ran. That was the second grade, but not much has changed by the seventh. She says: "My Bryce. Still walking around with my first kiss." He says: "It's been six years of strategic avoidance and social discomfort." But in the eighth grade everything gets turned upside down. And just as he's thinking there's more to her than meets the eye, she's thinking that he's not quite all he seemed. This is a classic romantic comedy of errors told in alternating chapters by two fresh, funny new voices. Wendelin Van Draanen is at her best here with a knockout cast of quirky characters and a hilarious series of misunderstandings and missed opportunities. But underlying the humor are two teens in transition. They are each learning to look beyond the surface of people, both figuring out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be with. "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata, Young Adult (grades 4-6), 244 pages, Newberry Medal Winner. Kira-Kira (kee' ra kee' ra): glittering; shining. Glittering. That's how Katie Takeshima's sister, Lynn, makes everything seem. The sky is kira-kira because its color is deep but see-through at the same time. The sea is kira-kira for the same reason. And so are people's eyes. When Katie and her family move from a Japanese community in Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia, it's Lynn who explains to her why people stop them on the street to stare. And it's Lynn who, then 38 people the next evening at Rick Jali's slideshow of Patagonia. Yes, yes, yes! We really do need a new library! TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who said, "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: What library holds the largest collection of books? The Chicago Public Library, with a collection of more than 2 million books.