Why read 1 when you can read 3 or 4 or 5; that's right we're talking about series.

With March being the third month in the year we decided to talk about trilogies and series. If you notice in our earlier post we listed titles that were very enjoyable, many of these titles are series. Why is it that we like series so much? Well, when you get attached to a character in a book it can be almost painful not to know the end of their story even though the novel is over. This is one of the great things about children's and Young Adult literature, more often then not there is a chance for a hopeful future. Even with this bright and sunny future you still wonder --Will this character travel elsewhere? What happens after middle school? Will they marry the character they fell in love with in this novel? When you are reading a series you get to live out the characters lives a little longer and there is a better chance that your questions will be answered.

While we love many series we only talked about five on March 17 at the Books and Snacks meeting.

*We will only give an annotation of the first book of each series so as not too give away to much.

Ember Saga written by Jeanne DuPrau

City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, and The Diamond of Darkhold

Over 200 hundred years has passed after a unspecified holocaust and the people of the city of Ember have lost the history of anything beyond their own area. All they know is the city they live in and all else is darkness (literally!). Now things are getting scary because even with constant rationing of supplies like clothes, food, and light the city is running out of everything and there are frequent power failures that are lasting longer and longer. When Lina, a young messenger, finds a damaged document from the mysterious Builders that describes a way out, she and her friend Doon decide that this is the only way to save the people of Ember. Unfortunately being children, most people don't take them seriously and those who do are out to stop Doon and Lina. Read The City of Ember and join in the excitement of Doon and Lina's adventure for survival.

The City of Ember was made into a movie in 2008 and both the movies and the book can be borrowed from the Paramus Public Library.

His Dark Materials Trilogy written by Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass

Other related works are Lyra's Oxford and Once Upon a Time in the North.

Lyra Belacqua lives in a world where magic is an ordinary fact of life and people's souls live outside thier bodies in an animal form known as daemons. After Lyra's friend is kidnapped, she learns that there are strange events happening up north that involves children and their daemons's she decides to travel to the north to save her friend and the rest of the children who are being taken and experimented on. Along the journey she meets Bear Kings, witches and many other interesting and scary characters.

The first novel from this trilogy was also made into a movie and can be found at the Paramus Public Library.

Secret Series written by Pseudonymous Bosh
The Name of this Book is Secret, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, and This Book is Not Good for You. Scheduled for release on September 21 2010 This Isn't What It Looks Like.

Everything about this book is a secret, from the characters names to the name of the town they live in which they live, even the title of this book is secret and can cause major trouble for you. The author even suggests that you forget about the story as soon as you read (if you are that brave). So what is this story about might you ask- - well we can't tell you because we do not need that kind of trouble.

What? Your really want to know? Okay but we are going to have to whisper.

This is the story about two eleven year- old kids who get mixed up in magic, mystery, and kidnapping.

That's it, we don't want to say anymore; its just not safe. If you are feeling brave you might want to check out this series yourself, but don't say we didn't warn you.

The Underland Chronicles written by Suzanne Collins

Gregor the Overlander, Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, Gregor and the Marks of Secret, and Gregor and the Code of Claw

When Gregor agreed to take care of his sister, Boots, for the day he had no idea how hard it could be. While down in the laundry room Gregor tries to save Boots from being sucked down a vent, but instead of saving her they find themselves both falling for what seems to be forever. When they finally hit the bottom things really get out of control. Gregor and Boots are greeted by giant sized cockroaches who insist on bringing them to the humans. Gregor is told by the humans that he is there to fulfil their prophecy that will save them. All Gregor can think of is getting Boots and himself back home but when he finds out that his father might be held captive by the Rats he was asked to fight, Gregor decides that he can't just leave his father down in the Underland to die.

Shadow Children Series written by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Hidden, Among the Impostors, Among the Betrayed, Among the Barons, Among the Brave, Among the Enemy, and Among the Free

In the distant future where it is punishable by death to have more than two children, twelve year- old Luke Garner lives his life as a shadow child. While Luke can't go to school like his brothers or go to town with his dad life isn't that horrible for him because his family lives out in the woods. Things change though when the government seizes all the land around Luke's house and cuts down the trees to make room for houses for government officials know as the Barons. Now Luke is forced to stay inside all of the time, keep the curtains closed at all times, and eat dinner while sitting on the floor so no one can see three children through the shadow of the curtain. Luke cannot bare it and he takes to looking out a tiny attic window. One day he notices someone moving around in the house after the family left for the day, he can't believe another shadow child might be living right next door. Curiosity gets the better of Luke and he decides to leave the house when no one is home so he can break into the Barons house. Pick up the Among the Hidden at the Paramus Library to find out what Luke does during his break in.

Benedict Society Trilogy by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

After answering a newspaper ad that reads "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Four children find themselves strangely grouped together. The man who posted the ad in the newspaper is Mr. Benedict and he has recruited these children for an important mission. Their mission is to infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened because it is believed that the founder of the institute is sending hidden messages and hypnotizing the world to do as he wishes. So what are four children who seem to have nothing in common going to do about this? Read The Mysterious Benedict Society and come to our next Books and Snacks program on April 21st at 7:30pm to discuss their adventure.

If you would like to join us for our discussion of The Mysterious Benedict Society on April 21st at 7:30 stop by the library and pick up a copy of the book and sign up at the Youth Services Desk. For any questions please call 201-599-1309.