Teens

Shutter is the debut novel of author Courtney Alameda. If you ever played the cult video game hit Fatal Frame then this is the book you didn’t know that you were waiting for.

Earlier this week, I finished watching the first season of Graceland, a current television show about a group of undercover federal agents living and working out of a government-seized beach house in California. The show is addictive, suspenseful and smart, with secrets and lies in every storyline. By the end of the season, my opinions about each character had changed so many times that I wasn’t quite sure who to trust. 

The world of undercover cops and federal agents has long been a source of inspiration for filmmakers. Audiences are fascinated by the idea of cultivating an undercover identity and infiltrating the criminal underworld. There is danger at every turn, secrets to guard and to uncover, and even the smallest misstep can lead to the very real possibility of exposure. Movies about undercover work not only give us a sneak peek into the criminal world, but into the psychology of what it might be like to live a lie. In nearly every undercover movie, there is a point where viewers worry the character might have crossed over the line and is in danger of becoming the very person they are trying to catch. It is this delicate balance between good and evil that invites filmmakers and audiences to explore the world of undercover cops time and again.

Of course, not every movie about undercover cops is dark and suspenseful. Some of them, like Miss Congeniality and 21 Jump Street, take a funnier, more light-hearted approach to undercover work. These movies may not delve as deeply into the psychology of undercover, but they certainly have their place.

If you’re in the mood for an undercover movie this weekend, browse the HCPL catalog and request one today!

The Fault in Our Stars. If I Stay. Divergent. Are you noticing a trend at the movie theaters?

Of course, that’s just some of what’s come out in theaters this summer. Hollywood has been adapting YA novels at a rapid-fire pace pretty much ever since Harry Potter made it cool. And a little quick googling will bestow many hits upon thee if you’re searching for what book-to-movie might just be the next Hunger Games. Here are just a few promising adaptations still in early stages of production giving you plenty of time to catch the book first - if you haven't already read them!

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs      
Status: In Development                             Release Date: March 6, 2016

Director: Tim Burton (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory) 

Heist Society, Ally Carter

Producer: Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect, The Hunger Games)

Hear that? That’s the sound of a jillion school kids—from kindergarten to college—sighing. It's back to school time again. Book Hunters can’t do anything about that, but we can suggest these books so at least you don’t feel alone in your pain.

Here are some cool reads--perfect for a day soaking up the sun with the sand between your toes.