The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer is the companion novel to Life as We Knew It. Both are about the catastrophic natural disasters that plague the earth after a meteor hits the moon and knocks it out of its natural orbit. While Life as We Knew It focuses on a family in a more rural setting, The Dead and the Gone focuses on how these disasters affect the people of New York, specifically, the Morales family - Alex (17), Briana (15), and Julie (13). The moon's new position causes major flooding due to high tides and tsunamis. The subway system floods, killing thousands of people who were trapped. Alex's father was in a small coastal city in Puerto Rico and is presumed dead. Their mother was probably on the subway on her way home from working at the hospital. Alex finds himself in charge of his younger sisters as the city deteriorates. Soon, food becomes scarce and Alex finds himself doing things to ensure his and his sisters' survival that he never believed himself capable.

This book was as good as Life as We Knew It. I would recommend reading Life as We Knew It first, however, just because it is easier to follow what is happening with all fo the natural disasters in the Dead and the Gone - the author doesn't describe them quite as clearly in this one. Both novels end on a cliff-hanger, leaving the reader to imagine what he or she thinks will happen in the future. I strongly recommend both!

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a story told by two separate narrators: Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide, and Clay Jensen, a boy who knew her. Hannah had many terrible events in her young life snowball out of control, leading to her decision to commit suicide. Before taking too many pills, she recorded each event on one side of an audio tape. Each side of 7 audio tapes was dedicated to one person - the one who was responsible for the event leading to Hannah's downfall. Her only request was that each person named on the tapes pass the tapes on to the next. Clay's name came up in the middle. When he got home from school one day, a box of tapes was waiting for him at his door with no return address. Clay had to listen to the entire collection before finally realizing what had happened to Hannah, the girl he had secretly loved since she moved to town.

This was a really interesting book. As I read, I really felt like I was in Clay's shoes as he listened to the tapes for the first time. The story was told through the tapes as well as Clay's reactions to them. I went through all of the emotions Clay experienced as he listened - anger, frustration, confusion, compassion, regret. This novel was very compelling. It makes me really think about how I will treat other people and about the consequences of my actions. This book is for a more mature audience.

Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman

Antsy Does Time by Neal Shusterman is the sequel to The Schwa Was Here. This one features Antsy (post-Schwa) working at his parents' new restaurant, Paris, Capisce?, and living the life of a typical freshman. While rushing to the Thanksgiving Day parade to watch as the Roadkyll Raccoon balloon flies out of control, Antsy learns some disturbing information about his friend, Gunnar Umlaut: he is dying of Pulmonary Monoxic Systemia. Antsy is so moved by how brave Gunnar appears, that he wants to do something for him. Thus the idea of donating time is born. Antsy writes up a contract donating one month of his own life to tack on to the end of Gunnar's. Unbelievably, the idea catches on and soon Antsy is busy writing and rewriting contracts for everyone from kids at school to the superintendent! Everything falls apart, however, when Antsy discovers that Gunnar isn't actually sick. He made it all up. Antsy has to work on a way to resolve his problem, all while dating Gunnar's older and beautiful sister, earning back his family's trust after a disasterous evening at Paris, Capisce during which Antsy poured a pitcher of water over a New York senator, and entertaining his awful Aunt Mona. Just when things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, they do...

This book was hilarious. I laughed out loud numerous times. Neal Shusterman is a really funny author. His humor is as much in the little side remarks as in the story itself. The idea of donating time is so unique! I really liked the way Antsy worked through his own issues as he learned about and helped Gunnar and Kjersten through their own. It was fun to read about this character again!

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Madapple by Christina Meldrum is about Aslaug, a fifteen year old girl who lived alone on the outskirts of a small Maine town with her mother. Aslaug and her mother lived almost solely off the land, foraging for greens and roots, and only going in to the neighboring towns periodically. Maren, Aslaug's mother, was afflicted by a strange illness, for which she medicated herself with different plants. One of these plants was madapple, or jimson weed. This weed is poisonous if taken in large enough amounts, but Maren used only enough to dull the pain of her cancer. Eventually, Maren dies, and Aslaug is seen trying to bury her in the yard. She is arrested for her own mother's murder, but later sent home when it becomes apparent that her mother died of cancer. Aslaug finds some secrets about her family in some of her mother's things, and ends up finding her aunt Sara and cousins Rune and Sanne in a nearby town. All of these relatives have different stories about Maren and about Aslaug and her birth. It is a mystery of faith and science.

This was an interesting book. Every other chapter is the back story, explaining what happened to Aslaug and her family, while the opposite chapters are from within Aslaug's trial for the murders of her mother, aunt, and cousin. The mystery slowly unravels, leaving the reader wanting more! I read this in two days - I couldn't put it down! The author entertwined many ideas about different religions and science, along with a lot of interesting facts about regional plants and their medicinal qualities.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is about Marcus, a teenager who lives in San Francisco. He and his friends are technology wizards - they can hack just about anything. One day when they are skipping school to play a game, the Bay Bridge is bombed by terrorists. Because Marcus and his friends are in the wrong place at the wrong time, they are all arrested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), questioned, and tortured for days. Daryl, Marcus's closest friend was stabbed during the aftermath of the bombing, and they don't even see him again. Eventually, days after being detained, Marcus and two of his friends are released and sent home. Everyone believed they were dead, so it was a big surprise when they returned. Marcus was so upset about his experience, and about Daryl (believing he was dead) that he launched his own war agains the DHS. Just as the DHS was clamping down on security measures - tracking people's movements on the public transportation systems, stopping people who looked suspicious, tapping phones, and even invading Marcus's own room and electronics - Marcus sets up Xnet, a way for teens to commuicate without being traced. This leads to more and more ways to thwart the DHS, resulting in several "riots" and even to Marcus being arrested again.

This was a great book. It is not my typical genre, but I heard about it at a reading conference and decided to give it a try. It was really interesting to see the types of things people have come up with to stay private. It makes me a little nervous about the types of information floating around about me! This book is definitely for a more mature audience - probably high schoolers.

One False Note (The 39 Clues Series #2) by Gordon Korman

One False Note (The 39 Clues Series #2) by Gordon Korman is the second in the series. It is about teens Amy and Dan Cahill and their continued adventures, trying to solve the 39 clues and become rich, famous, and influential. Most of this book takes place in Europe and deals with the correspondence back and forth between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Benjamin Franklin (the key to solving clue #1). The rest of the Cahill cousins are all still after Dan and Amy and are close on their trail through the entire story. They don't make any alliances in this book and don't have too many violent run-ins with the rest of the family, but they are always somewhere in the background.

This was another fun adventure! This series is going to keep a lot of people hunting for clues and solving mysteries for a long time. The 3rd book comes out in March, and I will be first in line to read it!

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn is about Molly and Michael, siblings whose mother recently remarried. Their new step-sister, seven year old Heather, is determined to ruin their new family by telling lies about how Molly and Michael treat her. It is obvious to them that Heather is trying to break up their parents. The family moves to an abandoned church one summer, hoping the fresh air will do the kids some good. Heather just grows stranger and stranger, going out to visit the small graveyard behind their new "house" and pretending to visit a girl named Helen. Every time Molly and Michael try to stop her, she makes up a story about how mean they are being to her and Dave, her father, takes her side. Molly, however, is sure she's seen a ghost-like figure with Heather and is determined to get to the bottom of it. Michael and Molly do a little research at the local library and learn that the old, dilapidated house behind their own house used to belong to a family, 100 years ago, but every one of them died in a fire - including their seven year old daughter Helen. This is all the proof Molly needs. Michael doesn't believe in ghosts until strange things begin happening inside their own house and Heather claims it is Helen's doing. Meanwhile, their parents are being split further and further apart by the constant battles between Molly and Michael and Heather.

This books was an excellent ghost story! It was scary, but not so scary that I'll have nightmares. I was SO angry at Heather on behalf of Molly and Michael - that's how I know this is a good book! When an author is able to make me care so much about a character that I actually feel emotions, I know I'm hooked on the story!

Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett

Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett is about Dee Dee, an adolescent year old girl who idolizes her older brother, David. After their father is turned down for a promotion he thought he was getting and injures his back, their family is really hurting for money. Especially since their Meemaw is in an expensive nursing home. Dee Dee's dad seems to take out all of his frustrations on her, but David is always there to make things better. One day, however, David meets Jayne, and they become a couple. Dee Dee is so jealous of the time with David "the J-word" takes away from her, that she lets it ruin her own birthday party! As a result, David is in an unexpected accident and dies. His organs are donated to people all across the country. After a long bout of depression, Dee Dee finally enlists the help of her best friend Sam, and they set off on an adventure to Florida, searching for the person who now has David's heart.

This book was a quick read for me. It was completely engaging! I loved it!! It was touching and sad, and even funny at times, and everything came around full circle. The ending was perfect!

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch is the sequel to The Name of this Book is Secret. In this one, Cass and Max Ernest are desperately trying to prove that they have what it takes to be members of the Terces (secret spelled backwards) Society. Through their adventures, they find a mysterious ball that allows them to hear sounds clearly, even if they are being made far, far away. Cass is able to use this ball to call the homunculus, a strange little creature that was created over 500 years ago. A mean old guy named Lord Pharaoh grew the homunculus in dung! When Lord Pharaoh died, the homunculus buried him with all of his his secrets. So, of course, the evil members of the Midnight Sun are after them! The only way to the secrets is through the homunculus, and the only way to him is through Cass and Max Ernest!

This book, just like its prequel, was hilarious! The author is REALLY funny!! There is a little mystery and a little adventure - enough to make a fun and interesting story. I highly recommend both books to anyone!