Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman is about twins, Bronte and Tennyson.  Things haven't been great in their family since their father's affair and now their mother's retaliation affair.  Things get even worse between the twins when Bronte begins dating Brewster.  Brewster, known as the Bruiser by everyone at school, is a big, menacing boy who has made it a priority to steer clear of everyone else.  He lives with his alcoholic uncle and younger brother in a dilapidated old house, with a giant bull as a pet.  He is the brunt of much bullying at the hands of his schoolmates, but he bears it and shrugs it off.  Once Bronte enters his life, things change.  After his initial resentment, Tennyson gets to know Brew and they all become friends.  That's when things get hard for Brewster.  He has a strange gift... he has the ability to take pain and injury away from those he cares about and transfer the damage to himself.  That's why Brew has always made it a point to never get to know anyone but his family very well.  Once he begins dating Bronte, Brew is thrown into her world of friends, parties, and even her family.  Despite the consequences, he begins caring about many different people and his body suffers greatly.  When he and his brother become foster children and move in with Bronte and Tennyson's family, things get worse for Brew, but much better for the twins.  They learn that Brew's ability extends to emotional injury as well as physical - taking its toll on Brew when he's thrown into the dysfunctional life at the twins' home.

This was an awesome book.  In fact, I've never read one by Neal Shusterman that I haven't loved!  I really liked thinking about the personal consequences of Brew's ability and how I might deal with a friend or family member with such a power.  It's really an ethical dilemma, as the twins discovered in the story.

Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan

Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan is based on the true story of the author's experience taming a wild dog.  In the novel, Charley is recovering from a terrible car accident which shattered her leg.  She is also recovering from the loss of her mother.  She died in a plane crash on her way to take pictures as a professional photographer of nature.  Charley and her father are doing their best to deal with these two tragedies, but things are tough for them both.  That is, until Charley sees Coyote for the first time.  He's wild, and he's been hanging around the lake where they live, playing with the local dogs.  No one has been able to get close to Coyote, but Charley makes it her mission to tame him and make him her pet.  Although it takes much longer than she thought, Charley is slowly finding success with Coyote.  Unexpectedly, she's also finding success in working through her mother's death, rehabilitating her broken leg, and reestablishing a relationship with her father.

I loved this book.  At first I didn't want to read it because I was certain the adorable dog on the cover (which happens to look JUST LIKE my own dog) was going to meet some horrible fate.  Thankfully, I needn't have worried!  I especially liked the author's note at the end which told about her own experience with a dog like Coyote, and even showed pictures of them together.  At right is a picture from Stephanie S. Tolan's website of herself and the dog on which this story is based.  I would recommend this book to anyone!

Getting Air by Dan Gutman

Getting Air by Dan Gutman is about 13 year old Jimmy, his younger sister and his two best friends, flying across the country to California to see the X Games.  The boys, who created their own skateboarding club, the Woodpushers, are convinced they'll get sponsored if they attend the event.  Unfortunately, some extremist terrorists had other plans.  Jimmy, his friends, an old lady on her way to a knitting convention, and one young flight attendant are all that survived after their fight to regain control of the plane after the terrorists disabled it.  This group of very different people must stick together and survive in the Canadian wilderness!  Thankfully, Jimmy's sister Julia knows a lot about survival from her experiences in Girl Scouts.  They are able to build a shelter using part of the plane, they find food, start a fire, and are surviving reasonably well.  This takes its toll on the group however, and there is noticeable tension... until Jimmy decides to build a 1/2 pipe out of the airplane!

This was an action-packed, exciting quick read!  This book has everything!!  I really liked how Julia, the younger sister, ended up being as much of a hero as the boys who stopped the terrorists because of her knowledge of wilderness survival.  I also liked the way the group of very different people all came together in order to ensure the survival of everyone.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George is based on a folktale from Norway.  It tells the story of woodcutter, Jarl Oskarson's youngest daughter.  When she was born her mother was very unhappy about having another girl and refused to give her a name.  Thus, she was known only as 'pika', meaning 'girl'.  Being youngest, most of her siblings had moved out and on to lead their own lives.  Her older brother, Hans Peter, however, came back after years aboard a merchant ship, injured and broken.  He and Pika became very close.  Hans Peter was dismayed when a giant polar bear came seeking Pika, asking her to live with him in an ice castle in the north for one year, in exchange for wealth and riches for her family.  Pika agrees, at the encouragement of her greedy mother.  Pika could never have realized that Hans Peter knew much more about this situation than her let on.  During her year stay with the polar bear, many strange things happened to Pika, including a nightly visit from a strange man who wouldn't speak to her.  When her curiosity got the best of her, Pika lit a candle to get a good look at her visitor.  Unknowingly, this act ruined the deal the man had made with the evil Troll Princess.  Now, despite Pika and the stranger having fallen in love over the course of their time together, he was forced to marry the troll!  So, Pika calls upon all of her strength to travel into the trolls' realm and challenge the princess, risking her life and limb to save her true love.

When I read this book, I couldn't help but feel as though I already knew the story.  About half way through, I realized it was the folktale I was familiar with, not this particular version of it!  I really liked this book.  It was a great fantasy adventure.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books by Shannon Hale.

On the Volcano by James Nelson

On the Volcano by James Nelson takes place in 1855 in the Great Territories.  Sixteen year old Katie and her father have lived an isolated life on the side of a volcano her whole life.  She has only seen one or two people other than her father.  One of those people is traveling nurse, Lorraine.  She comes to stay with the MacDonalds periodically.  On one such occasion, Katie asks her father if she can accompany him on his trip to Badwater for supplies.  He is resistant, knowing Badwater is a dangerous, nearly lawless place, and doesn't want to expose Katie to this.  The girls convince him, though, and they make the three day ride into town, careful to remain invisible so that no one knows about their volcano home.  Unfortunately, Katie's disguise as "George" fails and she winds up getting in trouble with a boy named Jess.  They quickly retreat back to the volcano, but not before arousing suspicion with some of the people in town... including the new sheriff and deputy, Adam (who Katie develops an instant crush on!).  Soon after returning home, Jess shows up intent on finding the gold Katie's dad often exchanges for paper money on his trips to town.  He finds Katie alone and tries to attack her.  Katie's father sees this and kills Jess.  Not knowing what to do, they hide his body in a deep crevice on the side of the volcano.  When Jess doesn't return to town, it causes quite a stir, prompting the sheriff and eventually Jess's father to come searching for him.  Will the MacDonalds ever find peace on their volcano?

This was a great adventure!  I could imagine myself living in a cabin isolated from the rest of the world.  I liked seeing the town of Badwater through Katie's innocent eyes.    I also liked the way the author showed the extreme differences between Katie's father and Jess's father - both of whom loved their children very much.

Football Genius by Tim Green

Football Genius by Tim Green is about twelve year old Troy, who wants nothing more than to share his gift of analyzing and predicting football plays with the Atlanta Falcons.  Unfortunately, the only people who seem to appreciate Troy's gift are his best friends, Tate and Nathan.  They would do just about anything for Troy, including help him break into star linebacker, Seth Halloway's yard to steal a football.  Troy's mother recently received a job with the Falcons and Troy is certain this will be his chance to prove himself to the team.  However, Troy's tenacity just keeps getting him into deeper and deeper trouble.  Eventually, he wins over Seth Halloway, but getting the crotchety defensive Coach Krock, who is purposely calling bad plays so he can take over the head coach position, won't give Troy a chance.  Will Troy and Seth manage to take control and lead the Falcons to a winning season?

I have to admit, I usually do not like sports books.  This one, however, was awesome!  This story was about achieving your dreams and the importance of honesty and integrity (with a little football thrown in... okay, a lot of football thrown in!).

The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz

The Brooklyn Nine by Alan Gratz is the story of nine different generations of the same family.  Each person's story is organized in three chapters, so it's almost like a book of short stories.  All of the nine are tied together somehow by baseball.  The first inning begins in 1845 with a young immigrant from German, working to earn enough money to bring the rest of his family to America.  The ninth inning takes place in 2002, and features a boy who is working to learn what he can about each item in a box of old baseball artifacts, not knowing that each item had, at one point in history, belonged to each of the previous generations in his family.

This was a really cool book.  I'm not a big baseball fan, but that didn't matter at all.  Each of the nine stories was independent of the others, yet all were tied together in some way.  I loved the organization of the book and the author's note at the end explaining the true historical moments on which each of the nine stories was based.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver is about Liesl, a little girl that lives a tough life.  After her father dies, Liesl's step-mother locks her in the attic.  She's been there for over a year!  But, one evening a strange little ghost named Po appears and they become instant friends.  This book is also about Will, an alchemist's apprentice who has secretly admired Liesl through her attic window for as long as she's been imprisoned there.  Will makes a terrible mistake one evening, unknowingly exchanging the box of powerful magic he was supposed to be delivering with a box full of Liesl's father's ashes.  Thus begins an adventure for Liesl, Po and Will that changes everything for them all!

This was an AWESOME story!  There were many different side stories that all came together by the end.  This is not your typical fairy tale/fantasy novel!  All in all, a fantastic middle grade novel.

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone

A Scary Scene in a Scary Movie by Matt Blackstone is about Rene, a fourteen year old boy with OCD.  Rene is convinced bad things happen as a result of him washing his body parts in the wrong order, stepping on cracks, picking up coins that are face down, and even moving when the numerals in the time of day add to 13.  These quirks practically rule Rene's life, until he meets Giovanni.  Gio, as his friends call him, is new and he breaks all the rules Rene has lived by his whole life.  One afternoon, the worst thing happens... Rene's emotionally abusive and controlling father Phil, who left when Rene was six, returns!  Desperate for help with this situation, Rene invites Gio for dinner.  The dinner is a disaster, and in the end Rene and Gio run away to New York for several life-changing days!

This was an awesome story.  I sometimes have a hard time reading about kids who are bullied because of their differences.  This book was inspiring because of the friendship Giovanni and Rene shared and Gio's acceptance of Rene's quirks.  I would recommend it to more mature readers who enjoy funny, yet powerful stories.

The Vision by Jen NadolThe Vision by Jen Nadol

The Vision by Jen Nadol is the sequel to The Mark.  In this book, Cassie has moved to Chicago and is living with her friend, Petra. Although she's made some friends, Cassie's real purpose in leaving everyone in Pennsylvania behind after her grandmother dies is to find out more about her special ability.  Cassie can see "the mark" on a person who is going to die with in 24 hours.  Believing there must be more like her, Cassie asks Petra, who works in a mental hospital, to identify anyone who fits the description of her mother.  That's how Cassie meets Demetria.  Despite the fact that Demetria doesn't talk to Cassie, she is convinced that they share the same power and Cassie visits her often.  At school, Cassie begins dating a bad boy, Zander, who knows more about Cassie than she even knows about herself.  At work (in a funeral home), Cassie tries to learn as much about death and different religious customs as possible, thinking there may be a link between that and her ability.  Cassie's real struggle is knowing whether or not to save one person who is marked for death, risking the life of another.

This was a really interesting book.  I haven't read the first one, The Mark, but I was able to understand the story just fine.  I may go back and read The Mark so I can learn the back story, though.  I like the inner struggle Cassie faces as she tries to determine how to decide who is worth saving.  I also like the references to Greek mythology and various religious belief.

Split by Swati Avasthi

Split by Swati Avasthi begins when Jace finally escapes his abusive father and ends up half way across the country, knocking on his brother's apartment door.  Christian had escaped the abuse six years earlier and is shocked to see Jace.  Both are still terrified and angry at their father, but deal with it in different ways.  And, Jace has a secret he's trying to cope with which links him to his father more than he's ready to accept.  This story is about Jace and Christian coming to terms with what happened to them and their own, separate decisions to get out.  It's also about both brothers starting new lives on their own and finding ways to deal with their pasts.

This was a very powerful story.  I really liked the way the author described how difficult it was for their mother to leave and the things the boys did to try to convince her.  I also liked the way Christian became a mentor to Jace, teaching him a new way to deal with his anger and frustration - running.  Even though this story was about something terrible, the ending was positive and happy.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is based on the true story of Salva Dut, a young man from Southern Sudan.  There are two main stories within this novel.  The first is of Salva beginning in 1985 when he is forced to flee from school when war rages nearby.  Salva had to run from his family and his village just so he could be safe.  Salva spent the next 11 years either walking toward refugee camps or living in terrible conditions in the refugee camps in both Kenya and Ethiopia, never knowing what happened to his family or village but fearing the worst.  Eventually, Salva is taken in by an American family and is brought to New York.  It is there where he has a fantastic idea that would lead to great changes in his home country of Sudan and to a very welcome and unexpected surprise!

The second story is of Nya, a young girl living in Southern Sudan in 2008.  The only thing she does every single day is walk to the water supply and bring water back to her family.  She is able to make two trips each day, carrying the full water container across the desert on her head.  Things are not good in Nya's village because their water supply is tainted.  Many people become sick from the water, including her younger sister.  Then one day, strange men show up in the village and begin work digging for water.  Nya is certain they will never find water there, but watches in fascination as their well eventually fills with cool, clean water!  It turns out, a very special person was responsible for this well being brought to Nya's village, and to other villages across Southern Sudan.

This was an incredible story!  It was based on the life of Salva Dut, a friend of the author.  This is a story I would recommend to everyone.  Not only is it the story of bringing water to the remote villages of Sudan, and the journey and struggles of an amazing man, it is a story of perseverance and strength of character.  This story reminds me of the book, Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate, another story about a boy from Sudan.

We Want You to Know by Deborah Ellis

We Want You to Know by Deborah Ellis is a compilation of stories told by kids who were bullied and bullies.  In each of the five sections, kids from ages 10 through 19 share their experiences and the ways bullying impacted their lives.  This was a very powerful book.  As a result of reading these personal stories, I have decided to make some changes in the way I work with my homeroom students.

Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Babymouse: Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm is about Babymouse and her quest for popularity.  She is convinced if she gets an invitation to Felicia Furrypants's slumber party, they'll become best friends.  So, Babymouse tries just a bout everything to get an invite... she bakes cupcakes, recommends books, and even gives Felicia her book report!  Finally, she receives an invitation!  But, it turns out to be the same night as her movie party with her best friend Winston.  Knowing Winston will understand, Babymouse attends the sleepover instead.  What she finds out is that in her quest for becoming queen of the world, Babymouse overlooked the fact that her life was pretty darn good to begin with!

This was a cute story that just about any girl who's attended school will be able to relate to.  Poor Babymouse doesn't realize that she has everything she ever wanted because she is so focused on hanging out with the popular kids.  This is a graphic novel and a quick read.  I'd recommend it to girls from 4th grade through 6th grade.

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret is the story of a babysitting job gone horribly wrong.  Amy is called at the spur of the moment to fill in for Mrs. Edgerton's usual nanny who has gone on vacation.  Amy is having a lot of fun playing with 3 year old Kendra.  While Kendra takes her nap, Amy relaxes by the family's pool.  An hour and a half later, Amy goes to check on Kendra and finds her missing.  When she runs out into the street, she sees Kendra with two strange men... kidnappers.  Once they see Amy, they decide to change their plan and take her too.  Their plan is to ask Kendra's wealthy family for ransom after holding the girls for one week.  Smokey and Hugh hadn't bargained on Amy's unique survival skills, though!  She begins sending messages through the DVDs the kidnappers are recording of the kids!  Hoping that this is enough to lead the police to them, Amy does her best to continue taking care of Kendra.  She's terrified about the 7th day, however, because the kidnappers never talk about her and what will happen when they return Kendra to her family.  Fearing the worst, Amy looks for every opportunity to lead the two of them to safety.

This was a great story and a quick read.  It's short, but full of action and suspense throughout.  I really like the way the author wove in little side stories about characters who had come in contact with the kidnappers and the kids.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel that isn't too scary.

The Mystic Phyles Beasts compiled by Stephanie Brockway and Ralph Masiello

The Mystic Phyles: Beasts, compiled by Stephanie Brockway and Ralph Masiello, is Abigail Thaddeus's journal.  Abby has lived with her crazy grandmother and her very strict grandfather ever since her parents died when she was a baby.  One day, Abby is contacted by a "Devoted Friend" through a letter delivered by a black cat!  The letter advises Abby to begin researching mythical beasts - some common, such as Bigfoot, unicorns and dragons, but some uncommon such as giant flying bats known as ahools, the bunyip, and the giant spider tsuchigumo.  She has to sneak around to do this research because she knows her grandfather would never approve.  Strange things begin happening as Abby and her close friend Charley delve deeper into the secrets of these beasts.  Abby begins to suspect that her grandfather is keeping some sort of secret and that her grandmother knows more than she's letting on...

This was a really fun read.  I loved the way the story was told through Abby's research and the diary entries about her daily life.  I also really liked the way the story unfolded, and we learned more about Abby, her grandparents, and their connection to the mythical beasts she's been studying.  I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about cryptozoology (the study of strange creatures) and those who enjoy a diary/journal style novel.

The Dead by Charlie Higson

The Dead by Charlie Higson takes place just over a year prior to his first novel, The Enemy.  This is when the dangerous disease that turns anyone over the age of 16 into a decaying, flesh eating zombie is just taking over all of the adults.  This story follows a group of boys from a private school as they fight to escape their teachers, and make their way through the streets of London, trying to find safety.  Along the way, they pick up several other kids who have had their own struggles dealing with losing their parents and friends to this terrible disease.  Whether they're called zombies, strangers, sickos or mothers and fathers, the diseased adults are the walking dead - covered in pus filled boils and oozing blood.  The only thing they seem to want is children... for dinner!  For the children, survival seems bleak and some simple give up.  Others create their own religion to give them solace, and still others just take everything one step at a time, becoming leaders despite believing they never could.

This was just as awesome as the first book!  It is filled with excitement, suspense, horror, adventure - everything you could want in a good sci fi action thriller!  I really liked the way the author took a closer look at the disease and developed theories for the driving force behind the sickos' need for human flesh.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has a strong stomach (definitely for more mature readers who can handle the violence) and who enjoys a good thriller.  Fans of The Hunger Games Series and The Maze Runner Series will enjoy this!

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin is about a puzzle solving maniac named Winston.  His interest in  solving complicated puzzles has always been a fun past time for Winston.  He could never have predicted it would come to serve him well in a real-life treasure hunt!  It all started when Winston bought a neat little keepsake box for his sister at his favorite antiques/curiosities shop.  When she opened it on her birthday, Kate found a hidden compartment with a puzzle clue.  This clue brought him to the town's librarian, the sister of the previous owner of that box.  Violet, Kate, Winston, and two professional treasure hunters embark on the hunt of their lives, in search of a fancy ring worth a lot of money.  Plagued by mysterious burglar, the group works through a series of clues only to find they didn't actually possess everything they needed to make it to the final destination... and the one who ends up with the final piece of the clue will shock and surprise you!

This was a really fun read!  The entire book is filled with a variety of different kinds of puzzles to solve, in addition to the clues that lead to the treasure.  As a reader, I enjoyed stopping to try to figure them all out.  They were challenging enough to take a while to solve, but not so hard as to make them impossible (although, I did have to peek at the answers on a few!).  I would recommend this book to mystery lovers as well as anyone who likes a fun read.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt is about Holling Hoodhood and his 7th grade year at Camillo Junior High in 1967.  Holling is the only student in Mrs. Baker's class who does not attend Hebrew School or Chatechism on Wednesday afternoons.  Because Mrs. Baker loves it, Holling is assigned to read Shakespreare!  Little does he know his extra time with Mrs. Baker will lead to Holling playing a fairy in a community theater production, the escape of two giant rats, the entire class receiving fresh baked cream puffs from the local bakery, a new track star, and Holling learning more about himself and about life than he ever could have imagined.  All of this is set to the backdrop of the United States's war with Vietnam, the fight for civil rights, and America's favorite past time - baseball!

This book was awesome!  It was absolutely hilarious in some parts and sad in others.  Even though it is set during the 1960s, Holling deals with a lot of things kids are dealing with now - bullies, girls, homework, family, etc.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a funny book with a good message.

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

Bitter End by Jennifer Brown is about high school junior Alex.  All Alex wants is to someday get to Colorado with her two best friends, Bethany and Zack.  Colorado was her mother's ultimate destination the night she left her family and was killed in a car accident.  Alex is convinced that she will find a missing connection with her if she can make it to the mountains.  The "Three Headed Monster" (Alex and her friends) have been planning the trip since they were 8 years old.  Every Saturday night they had a standing date to get together and plan.... that is, until Alex starts dating the new (and very attractive) senior, Cole.  Cole seems to be the perfect guy.  He's got it all:  looks, charm, athleticism, etc.  However, he does not get along with Bethany and Zack.  Feeling compelled to spend more and more time with Cole, Alex ends up alienating herself from the people she cares about most, blowing off their planning sessions and forgetting about previous commitments.  But, the worst part is, Alex is beginning to see a nasty side of Cole.  He can become downright mean, even violent, in an instant.  Alex tries to wrap her mind around the different sides to Cole, knowing she shouldn't be with him, but feeling as though she can't be without him.

This was a very powerful story.  It really takes an in-depth look into the mind of someone who is being abused.  It makes you think about what you would really do if you were in a situation like Alex's - just how difficult it would be to leave.  I would recommend this book to pretty much any teen.  It is for a more mature reader due to physical situations, violence, and some language.

Fire Will Fall by Carol Plum-Ucci

Fire Will Fall by Carol Plum-Ucci is the sequel to Streams of Babel and picks up immediately where the first book ends.  In this story the Trinity Four (brothers Owen and Scott, Rain, and Cora) are sent to an historical house in New Jersey to continue their recovery after having been poisoned by terrorists.  Recovery is difficult due to the amount of medication each takes and because of the continuing symptoms like painful headaches, sore throats, and fatigue.  The teenage v-spies (hackers), Tyler and Shahzad, who constantly search for chatter among the terrorists stumble upon a new plot by the same group of extremists.  This time, it has to do with a terrible strain of the very same disease the hackers were infected with when they crashed the terrorists meeting.  Except, this new strain actually burns the victim from the inside leaving nothing but a pile of goo and bones.  The race is on trying to find the terrorists before they can infect an entire aeronautics convention and hundreds of innocent bystanders with this awful WMD while trying to keep the Trinity Four healthy and safe - from both the terrorists and from themselves.

This was a great sequel!  I really liked the way everything was wrapped up with the Trinity Four and with the hackers.  All of the problems were resolved nicely and all of the questions were answered.  I would recommend this book to older and more mature readers due to language, innuendo, and violence.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hate List by Jennifer Brown is about Valerie, a high school senior who has never quite fit in.  She has been the victim of the meanest school bullies since she started dressing and acting differently in middle school.  Valerie found a soul mate in Nick when he moved to town when they were both freshmen.  Together, they could weather the bullying.  Valerie started the Hate List in a red spiral notebook as a way to vent about being constantly picked on my the other students at school.  Each time something happened, she'd write down the bully's name.  Eventually, the list grew and grew, with names on the list multiple times.  Valerie always thought of the list as a way to get out her pain, but Nick took it to a different level.  On May 2nd of their junior year, Nick brought a gun to school and shot several of the students on the Hate List.  Valerie, once she realized what Nick was doing, threw herself in front of the last victim and took a bullet in her leg.  Immediately after accidentally shooting Valerie, Nick shot and killed himself.  Now, Valerie is left to deal with her injury, the loss of a boyfriend she truly loved, and the accusatory attitude of most of the people in her small town - including her own parents.  Bravely, Valerie returns to her high school in the fall, only to find that her friends have abandoned her.  She does, however, find a friend in the most unlikely place.  It takes her awhile to accept it, but Valerie eventually becomes friends with the girl she took the bullet for - the queen bee of the school, the one who was at the top of the Hate List due to her constant bullying and nastiness.  With the help of her psychologist Dr. Heiler, her art instructor Bea, and a new notebook filled with her sketches, Valerie learns a lot about herself and her classmates, and realizes that she has never quite looked at anything in her life in a way that allows her to "see" what is really there.

This was an awesome book.  I really liked the way it alternated between Valerie's current reality, her relationship with Nick, and the newspaper clippings.  After reading the Author's Note at the end, I realized that I read the story exactly the way she intended it - as Valerie's story, not the story of a school shooting.  It truly is the story of Valerie's survival and growth as she works through what happened.  I would recommend this book to mature readers who like the works of Sarah Dessen and Jodi Picoult.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is about Finn, a prisoner in a unique prison, and Claudia, the prison warden's daughter.  In this future, the government has forced changelessness on the society, forcing them to live as people lived hundreds of years earlier.  One hundred years ago, Incarceron was conceived.  It was meant to be an experimental prison that most people in regular society thought was somewhat of a paradise for the prisoners.  This couldn't be further from reality.  Finn awoke in the prison when he was about 12 with only snippets of memories.  He immediately fell in with a band of thieving, murdering, partying gang and became oathbrothers with Keiro, a strong but somewhat untrustworthy boy.  When one of their raids produces a strange key, the boys set out to find escape with a healer/teacher, a Sapient, named Gildas.  Tagging along is a small slave girl who owes her life to Finn.  They are following the old stories of Sapphique, the only person (a Sapient) who has ever escaped the prison.

Claudia, while raiding her father's study with the help of her personal Sapient, Jared, finds a matching key.  There is a direct link between the keys and Finn and Claudia meet.  Claudia is promised to the younger half-brother of the former prince of their land.  The first born prince, and true heir died in an accident several years prior.  Claudia does not want to marry Caspar, but know she must follow "Protocol".  However, Claudia is also convinced that Giles, the rightful heir died under strange circumstances and is determined to learn the truth, without attracting the attention of her father and the evil queen.  Together, Finn and Claudia work to find escape from Incarceron, rid the world of the Protocol rules, and find out the truth about what happened to their kingdom.  Will they succeed?

I absolutely loved this book!  I cannot wait to read the sequel, Sapphique!  I loved the way the book alternated between Claudia's story and Finn's story, and how the two came together in the end.  I also liked the idea that the prison was its own living entity and completely in charge of the prisoners and completely unaware of what happened on the outside.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good science fiction, fantasy or adventure novel.

The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh

The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh is set at the Crowfield Abbey in 1347.  Will is an orphan who has taken refuge at the abbey in exchange for working in the kitchen for the monks.  While gathering firewood one afternoon, Will comes across a very small, injured creature in an animal trap.  He is a hob, and Will has never seen anything like him.  Will decides to take him back to the abbey in hopes that one of the monks will be able to heal him.  Will must be careful, though, because he knows most of the monks would not approve of such a mysterious creature.  Through his healing, Will becomes friends with the hob, whom he calls Brother Walter, and learns bits and pieces of a secret the monks in at Crowfield have worked very hard to conceal for more than 100 years.  One winter Prior Ardo, the monk in charge while Abbott Simon's health is dwindling, allows two strange and unexpected guests to lodge at the abbey.  Will knows they are not human, but can't quite figure out what they are doing at the abbey.  That is, until Will learns a little too much about the secret the monks are so desperate to keep and finds out about the Crowfield Curse.

This was an awesome book!  I absolutely loved it!!  It kept me wanting to come back for more and more - I had a hard time putting it down.  I really liked the characters of Will and Brother Walter.  I especially liked the fantasy elements of the story and how most of the monks were so sheltered from that side of the world, despite being entrenched in it.  I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo is about Nora, a 14 year old growing up on her family orchard in Cedula, Mexico. Three years ago, Nora's father left for Texas, hoping to earn money to keep the orchard going, leaving Nora with her mother and grandmother. Every day since then, Nora has longed for her father's return. Her weekly trip to the bank to receive her fathers' telegrams and money turns sour one day when nothing arrives. After a fight about what to do, Nora and her mother use their savings (meant to pay their taxes) to purchase bus tickets to the border and to pay a coyote, someone who helps people get across the U.S. border illegally. Their 10 hour trip aboard a mango truck was miserable, but they made it alive. Once in Houston, Nora takes charge. She finds them both an apartment and jobs, all the while asking around about her father. As Nora's 15th birthday approaches, she begins to suspect that her special quinceanera may not be as special as she always hoped it would be, especially since in seems less and less likely that they'll ever find her father.

This was a great book! It reminded me a little of La Linea by Ann Jaramillo. Both show how desperate people can be to take care of their families and how important family truly is. They also show the dangers in crossing the border illegally and the lengths people will go to get across.

Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan

Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan takes place in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Sam and her mother move to Jackson to be near Sam's paternal grandparents after her father is killed in the Vietnam War. Sam's mother is an art history professor at a college, while Sam attends 9th grade at a Jackson high school. Things begin to heat up in Jackson as the fight for black rights begins to unfold. Sam finds herself right in the middle of the fight when her mother speaks at a college for all black students. Suddenly, they are being watched and harassed by the Citizen's Council, which was described as the KKK without the sheets. Sam's mother's new "friend", Perry is a photographer who is committed to capturing Mississippi life on film. He teaches the art to Sam, even giving her one of his cameras. As things turn more and more violent, Sam finds herself even more in the mix when she finds out that the boy she's been seeing is somehow involved with the Citizen's Council and may have even played a part in an unspeakable crime. Through the lens of the camera, Sam begins to see things differently. She learns a lot about right and wrong, love and hate, black and white.

This was an incredible book! I especially appreciated the author's note at the end, describing her own feelings about growing up in Mississippi. I've read other books set during this time period (The Watson's Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Fire From the Rock by Sharon Draper, and Mississippi Trial, 1955 by Chris Crowe) but this book takes on the perspective of a white teenage girl - completely different from the other books. I really liked the way the novel unfolded and the way Sam changed and grew throughout the story.

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan is about best friends, Finn and Chloe. Both girls are looking ahead to their future: college. Unfortunately, despite their good grades, extracurricular activities, and positive attitudes, the girls are afraid they don't have anything to write their application essays about that will make them stand out amongst the other applicants. So, they hatch a plan to get them noticed. They will fake Chloe's disappearance. While Chloe hides out in Finn's grandmother's vacant house, the rest of their small town begins a manhunt to track down her kidnapper. This leaves Finn to deal with all of the police and news crews who show up to help. Throughout the entire ordeal, Finn nearly cracks. She finds some solace in Dean, the boy who had recently become Chloe's boyfriend and is now the prime suspect in her disappearance. Finn visits Chloe in secret when she gets an opportunity, and is convinced they need to call off the plan. As things get more and more heated in town and their plan begins to change, Finn can't seem to get past the need to come clean, while Chloe remains resolved to see it through. In the end, Finn learns some things about Chloe and her plan that she never would have suspected and she begins to wonder how solid their friendship was in the first place.

This was a really interesting book. Every guess I had about what would happen next was wrong! It kept me reading just so I could find out how everything was resolved. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good suspense novel or mystery - this ISN'T a mystery, but I think mystery lovers will like it!

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby tells the story of three different kids living in the United States during the late 1800s. Hannah works as a maid in a hotel; the only person in her family who can earn money after her father, a former stone mason, has a stroke. Giuseppe was sold to the evil Stephano by his uncle in Italy and forced to play music on street corners, earning money for his padrone. Frederick was given to an orphanage by his sick mother and eventually saved by a clockmaker to be trained in the art. The three kids all come together through extraordinary circumstances as each tries to solve his/her own problems. They all realize that they'll need help (from one another and from some surprising sources) if they ever hope to get out of their predicaments and live happy lives.

This was an awesome story! I loved the way the three kids all eventually came together and the strength each showed through their hardships. I also really liked the way each character grew and changed over the course of the story.

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

The Enemy by Charlie Higson takes place in London about a year and a half after a terrible disease has sickened all of the adults over the age of 14. This disease rots the brain, leaving the adults unable to talk or really even think. Their skin is covered in infected boils and sores. Worse yet... they eat children. The children of London have banded together in different areas to try to continue living and hiding from the grown-ups. One group lives in an old grocery store. They have a pretty good system for scavenging food and supplies, and keeping everyone relatively safe. One afternoon, a strange boy shows up at the store, followed by a vicious band of grown-ups. Jester tells the Holloway kids about a new colony of kids who are living at Buckingham Palace. They are growing food, raising animals, and are really making a good life for themselves. Jester's job was to travel around London, searching for other groups of kids to join the Palace group. (Unfortunately, Jester left with a party of 5 and was the only one who made it alive.) Arran, the Holloway group leader and Blue, another group's leader confer and decide to band together and head to Buckingham Palace, following Jester. On the way, they meet many groups of grown-ups who seem to be behaving differently - they are "hunting" and grouping together, almost as if they are communicating and following some sort of plan. They also meet up with a group of kids who have been living on the streets. In a skirmish, one of the girls accidentally shoots Arran and he dies. This leaves Maxie, Arran's second in command the leader of the Holloway kids. Things seem too good to be true once the group finally makes it to the Palace. After a few days, however, Maxie and Blue begin to see David's (the Palace kids' leader) true plan - to take over and rule all of the kids in London. They try to make a plan to escape, but David catches them and locks them up. Now it seems all the kids they were supposed to be protecting will fall under the dictatorship of David and his minions with no chance of escape.

WOW! What an amazing book! It reminded me a little of I am Legend combined with The Scorch Trials and Lord of the Flies. I read this one in a day because I just had to find out what happened. Now I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel - this one definitely has a cliffhanger ending!! There is some pretty gory violence, so I would recommend this to a more mature audience. Anyone who liked The Maze Runner/Scorch Trials, The Hunger Games Series, or just enjoys a good science fiction book will really get into this book!

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb

I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb is about Oliver, a dumb, 7th grader who isn't who everyone thinks he is. He's actually a genius who just so happens to be the 3rd richest person in the world. Even his parents don't know about Oliver's vast empire, all of his minions, inventions, and secrets. Oliver has never really cared for his father, who runs the local public television station. His father's big claim to fame was winning his class election for presidency of his middle school. When Oliver's class election rolls around, he gets nominated to run as a joke. At first, he declines, but then he changes his mind. Oliver decides this is the perfect opportunity to show his father that even he, a stupid, fat, idiot could win a class election. Thus, his father would feel worthless, and Oliver would have a renewed sense of power over his father. Things don't play out the way Oliver thought they would, however. He bribes, bullies, and rigs his way through the entire process, all in effort to tear his dad down. What happens in the end is both a wonder and a surprise!

This was a really interesting book. Oliver has everything he could possible want, and if he doesn't have it, he has people who can get it for him. What he doesn't have, is the respect of his father, which turns out to be more important to him than he ever could have imagined. I'd recommend this book to just about any middle schooler!

Birth of a Killer the Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan

Birth of a Killer the Saga of Larten Crepsley by Darren Shan is a prequel to the Cirque du Freak series. This book tells the story of a young Larten Crepsley and how he came to be a vampire. It begins when Larten and his cousin, Vur Horston, work for an evil boss (Traz) at a silk factory in their home town. One day, Traz snaps and attacks meek and timid Vur, drowning him in a vat of boiling water. Seeing this fills Larten with rage and he stabs Traz and kills him. Knowing his life is over is he is caught, Larten flees the city, seeking refuge in a graveyard. Here, he meeds Seba, a vampire. Seba offers to make Larten his assistant, and seeing no other options but truly believing this is his destiny, Larten accepts. Seba tests and trains Larten as a human for many years before changing him. When Seba goes to attend the summit at Vampire Mountain, he leaves Larten in the care of Mr. Tall at the Cirque du Freak. During this time, Larten meets Wester, another human boy who reminds him of his cousin, Vur. Larten takes Wester under his wing when he realizes that a strange version of vampire (vampaneze) has murdered Wester's family. Together they try to slay the vampaneze, but are unsuccessful. As a result, Larten and Wester return to Cirque du Freak. When Seba returns, he agrees to take Wester as his assistant as well. Once they are both vampires, Larten's and Wester's training continues until they are allowed to go the the next summit at Vampire Mountain. Following this, the trio goes back to traveling, but Larten begins to feel some unrest. Eventually, the two young vampires break from Seba, preferring to take part on more humanly pleasures - at least for the time being. This is when Larten Crepsley is noticed by Desmond Tiny...

This was a great prequel to the Cirque du Freak series. I've read the whole series, so I really enjoyed learning the back story of Larten Crepsley. It was interesting to learn about his family, how his hair became such a vivid shade of orange, and how he grew up. This book does have a little gore, so it may be for more mature readers. I recommend Birth of a Killer and the Cirque du Freak series to anyone who enjoys a good horror novel!

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Cloaked by Alex Flinn is about Johnny, a seventeen year old boy who lives with his mother and runs his family's shoe business in a South Beach, Florida hotel. Things have been tough for Johnny and his mother since his father mysteriously disappeared when Johnny was only two years old. During the summer of his 17th year, Johnny spends almost all of his time working at the shoe shop - partly to earn money for his family, but partly to escape his apartment where the electricity has been shut off due to lack of payment. One summer day, Victoriana, the Princess of Aloria checks into the hotel. It is the talk of the staff and Johnny desperately wants to see her. Not only does he see her, she offers him a secret mission! Victoriana plans a secret meeting with Johnny and offers him an unbelievable quest: to find her brother, who has been turned into a frog and is somewhere in the Florida Keys. In exchange, she'll marry Johnny! Thinking about the money this marriage will bring to him and his family, Johnny accepts, convinced Victoriana has gone crazy. That is, until she gives him a magic hearing device that allows Johnny to hear the speech of animals who were once men, and a cloak which will transport him anywhere he wishes. Armed with these devices and with the help of his best friend, Meg, Johnny sets out on his journey. Along the way to saving the prince, Johnny encounters witches, giants, deadly scorpions, talking geese and rats and fox, a golden bird, and... the love of his life - who isn't who he thought it might be!

This was an amazing book! It's the kind of story you just want to hug when you shut the back cover. I loved the way the author wove many fairy tales into the story. I especially liked the author's note that summarized each of the less familiar fairy tales so I could make connections to the story itself. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, fantasy, and/or romance novels.

The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen

The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen is about Mason, a teen who lives with his single mom. In Mason's town, just about everything is run by TroDyn, a company that does biological research. Mason has been offered a chance for an internship with TroDyn, which would pay for his schooling in return for his promise to work for them after college. His mother is opposed to anything that has to do with TroDyn, but Mason doesn't know why. One evening when Mason's mom is at work, he looks through her drawers and finds a secret she's been keeping about his father and her own involvement with TroDyn in the past. Mason goes to the nursing home where she works to confront her, but finds something unexpected - she cares for teens who are in a catatonic state. While waiting for his mother, Mason pops in a video tape of his father reading a story. This causes one of the teens to awaken, terrified! Not knowing what else to do, Mason helps her escape to his friend's cabin in the woods. This starts a search that Mason could never have predicted. They are on the run, seeking help from the most unlikely places, including an author who used to work for TroDyn! It turns out that his new friend is actually an experiment! The biological engineers at TroDyn have altered her DNA so that she can produce her own food from the sun! The only problem is, she needs to be returned to TroDyn because she has a symbiotic relationship with the rest of the kids who were experimented on. Mason is reluctant to do this, but with help, is able to save her. In the process, Mason learns more about TroDyn's experiments, and his absent father, who is more involved in the TroDyn experiments than he could have imagined!

This was an AWESOME book! I couldn't put it down. I knew I'd like it after reading The Compound by S. A. Bodeen. This book made me really think about the hunger crisis in the world and the ethical implications of testing "good" ideas on humans. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure novels and/or science fiction.

The World We Live In By Susan Beth Pfeffer

The World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer is the third book after Life As We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone. Just as in the previous two, the story takes place after a meteor has hit the moon, knocking it closer to the Earth. This causes a change in the moon's gravitational pull, which causes natural disasters of all types on Earth. There is a constant haze hanging in the air and little sunlight. Miranda's family (her mother and two brothers) has made it through the winter. Miranda's mother gives her two brothers permission to go to a nearby river to catch fish for several days - it is the first time any of them has been away from the isolation of their home in months. When they return, they bring along Syl, Matt's new wife! Their mother is not pleased, but allows Matt and Syl to remain as husband and wife. When they begin to settle into a new routine with their new family member, a knock sounds at the front door. It's Miranda's father, step-mother, their new baby, Alex and Julie (from The Dead and the Gone), and a new friend, Charlie. Knowing they do not have enough food stored up to allow them to stay long, they hatch a plan. Miranda's father will pretend to be their dead neighbor's son and family so that they can begin receiving food rations from city hall. Their plan works, and soon the new extended family moves into Mrs. Nesbitt's neighboring and abandoned farmhouse. Everything seems to be running smoothly, but not for long... to find out what happens to these families as they try to survive in this strange new world, read The World We Live In by Sysan Beth Pfeffer.

This was a really good story. I liked the way the two families from the first two books come together. It's fun to reconnect with characters from other novels. I also liked the way the author didn't "solve" the problem of the Earth/moon. It doesn't end with a neat and tidy "happily ever after". The ending was sad and unexpected.

Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn is a love story about two people who meet over and over through multiple lives from prehistory through the present time. Amazingly they are able to find one another in each life, their story growing with each lifetime. Through every lifetime, both characters bring something of their former selves and are easily able to recognize one another, even though they don't exactly know why. Each part of the story ends tragically, with their love never quite working out, with the exception of the final story, in which they find one another and are together even now!

This was a really cool way to tell a story. It was almost like a compilation of short stories that all had a common thread. It was fun to read about the same couple through different times and places in history. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good love story that ends happily ever after!

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass is the story of Amanda's and Leo's 11th birthday. Ever since they were born, Amanda and Leo celebrated their birthdays together with one big, fantastic party. That is, until their 11th birthday. During their 10th birthday party, Amanda overheard Leo saying some very hurtful things about her to some of the popular boys at their school. Ever since, Amanda has refused to even speak to Leo. On the morning of their 11th birthday, Amanda awoke to her alarm like usual, startled to find a giant SpongeBob balloon floating near her bed. From that moment on, Amanda's day got worse and worse - beginning with having to ride the bus to school because her father was sick, and ending with a costume party that everyone left early (or didn't even show up) to go to Leo's party instead. Thankful the day was finally over, Amanda went to bed. Surprised, she woke up to her alarm the next morning, even though it was Saturday. When she saw the SpongeBob balloon, Amanda realized something wasn't quite right. Everyone was acting as if it was Friday again! Amanda was being forced to live her 11th birthday over and over again!! After several days of this, Amanda realized that Leo was the only other person who knew what was happening. Together, they had to figure out what to do so that Saturday would finally come!

This was a really cute story. It was fun to see how both Amanda and Leo grew as people through their experiences living that same day over and over. It was also fun to see the changes they both made each time the day began again. This is a great read for anyone who ever wanted a do-over and for anyone who ever had a misunderstanding with a good friend.

Owly, Volume 1 : The Way Home and the Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton

Owly, Volume 1 : The Way Home and the Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton is a graphic novel about the sweetest little owl named Owly. All he really wants is to make friends. When he's out one day in the rain he hears a cry for help. Following the cry, Owly comes across a little worm who is trapped in a puddle of water. Owly saves him and makes his first friend! He nurses his worm friend back to help and they set out to find the worm's family. At first, the worm's mom and dad are scared of Owly, but then they find out that he's a vegetarian and share their dinner with him! Sadly, Owly has to leave the worm family, but his new friend decides to come home with him! They live together, gardening and bird watching until one day when a new bird begins zipping past them! Owly and the worm do some research and find out that it's a hummingbird. They buy some plants especially for the hummingbird and make TWO new friends! When the weather turns cold, the birds have to migrate to a warmer climate, but luckily they return the following spring.

This was a very cute little story. There are very few words - the story it told almost solely through the amazing artwork. This is the first book in the Owly series. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a quick but sweet story and anyone who enjoys graphic novels.

Shantorian (Trackers Series #2) by Patrick Carman

Shantorian (Trackers Series #2) by Patrick Carman is the second book in the Trackers Series. This time, Adam Henderson and his team of high tech hackers/trackers are being investigated for stealing billions of dollars by moving it around and hiding it on the Internet. It all starts when Adam and his friends are approached by Lazlo and Zara to join forces in finding the mysterious hacker, Shantorian. Through a game Adam designed and Zara perfected, the group contacts Shantorian and sets up a meeting. Shantorian wants the trackers to help him steal billions of dollars from banks all over the world, but Lazlo's plan is to catch Shantorian in the act! Everything seems to be going as planned... until it isn't anymore! Turns out, enemies are lurking in the closest spaces, while friends aren't always who they seem.

This story is told through the dialogue of Adam Henderson and a detective questioning his team in connection to the missing money. It is also told through videos Adam and his team took through their experience in working with and hunting down Shantorian. Transcripts of the videos are in the back of the book, so watching them on the Internet is not necessary (but, it is fun!!). I liked this book just as much as the first Trackers book. I love reading and pausing to watch the videos! It's a fun way to read!!

Independence Hall (I, Q Series, Book #1) by Roland Smith

Independence Hall (I, Q Series, Book #1) by Roland Smith is about teens Quest (Q for short) and Angela. Q's rocker mother marries Angela's songwriter father after the duo's band became extremely successful. They decide to go on tour across country in a giant tour bus, bringing the kids along. Little did they know that Angela and Q were delving into Angela's deceased mother's old occupation: secret service agent and spy! When an ancient old roadie named Boone suddenly appears just when the family needs them, things really begin to get strange. It turns out, Boone isn't who he says he is, and he's got some information about Angela's mother - not only might she not be dead, she might be a terrorist... and Boone and his team are not the only people who know. Angela and Q are being tracked by a team of known terrorists and it's Boone's job to protect them, while making sure that Q's mom and Angela's dad don't find out.

This was an action packed read! I really liked the story about the two parents and their successes in the band together as well as the other story about Angela's mom/aunt and the terrorists. This is the first book in the I, Q series - book #2 is called The White House.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is the sequel to The Maze Runner. This book begins right where The Maze Runner ends, with Thomas and the other Gladers having been rescued and taken to a building where they are fed, clothed, and allowed to sleep. Their elation at being out of the Glade and Maze quickly turns to panic as they are nearly attacked by people possessed by the debilitating disease called the Flare, trying to get into the windows of the dormitory they're in. Things turn even worse when Thomas goes to check on Teresa and finds that not only can he not communicate telepathically with her anymore, she's been taken away and in her place is a new boy, Aris. They find out that there was another experiment, exactly the same as their own Glade/Maze, but with a group of all girls and one boy (Aris) rather than what the Gladers had - all boys with Teresa as the only girl. While they're trying to work out exactly what is happening, they notice new tattoos on each other's necks. Minho's tattoo proclaims him the leader of the group, while Thomas's says he will be killed. The sign that had been on Teresa's door labeled her as the betrayer. Eventually, they boys are told by a mysterious figure in white who literally appears out of thin air that in order to be free of WICKED and receive treatment for the Flare (they've all been infected), they must survive for two weeks in the Scorch, traveling 100 miles to the Safe Haven. On this journey the boys will be attacked by foes both familiar and unfamiliar. They will be plagued by the Flare and those infected who are slowly losing their minds. And, they will constantly be asking themselves if any of this is worth it.

This book was amazing! Just like The Maze Runner, it was action packed from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down! I especially liked the different twists and turns the author added in to throw the reader off. I can't wait for book 3 to come out!!! I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good science fiction novel. Fans of The Hunger Games series would really like this series as well.

Bloody Times by James L. Swanson

Bloody Times by James L. Swanson tells the true story of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and his 1,600 mile funeral procession and the subsequent manhunt for the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis. This is a young people's adaptation of Swanson's adult book, Bloody Crimes. The book goes back and forth between Lincoln's story and Davis's story, showing common threads between two men who were seemingly completely different.

I really enjoyed this book, mostly because I didn't know a lot about what happened after Lincoln's assassination and I didn't know much of anything about Jefferson Davis. I was surprised to learn about the train ride Lincoln's body took, visiting city after city and mourner after mourner, before being delivered from Washington D.C. to his hometown of Springfield, IL. I was equally surprised to learn Jefferson Davis's story, especially the descriptions of his character and the fallacies about him that remain to this day. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and nonfiction.

Hero by Mike Lupica

Hero by Mike Lupica is about fourteen year old Zach Harriman and his evolution into a hero. In the beginning of the story, Zach's father dies unexpectedly in an accidental plane crash. But, Zach doesn't believe it was an accident. Desperate to find out what really happened to his father, Zach begins investigating. Zach's best friend, Kate, who's mother is the Harrimans' live-in housekeeper, know him better than anyone else alive and can tell something is not quite right with him. Zach's, who normally tells Kate everything, has been keeping a secret from her. Ever since his father's accident, Zach has begun to develop super powers. He can run faster, jump higher, and 'sense' things that he couldn't before. And, he's had a visit from a strange old man who insists that Zach must take over for his father. Zach finally begins to realize his destiny as a hero when he saves the future president of the United States from assassination!

This was a very exciting story! I don't usually like action books, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I liked the way the author mixed in real issues for teens (girls, bullies, school, sports) with the action and adventure. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Alex Rider series AND anyone who likes action!

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is a graphic novel of the story of what happened when the author broke her front teeth in 6th grade. Poor Raina can't catch a break. One her way home from Girl Scouts one night, a friend challenges her to a race. Raina trips and falls, knocking out both top front teeth. Thus begins the painful (both physically and emotionally) middle school experience for Raina. She endures one dental treatment after another in an attempt to recreate the appearance of healthy, normal front teeth. Throughout her three years of middle school and all of these procedures, Raina is plagued by a mean group of friends. While she feels like she fits in with them, they go out of their way to tease Raina and make fun of her. Once, even de-pantsing her in front of the entire school! Fortunately, when she enters high school, Raina is at the end of her dental procedures and close to a perfect smile and she finds a new group of friends who accept her for who she is - crazy teeth and all!

I absolutely loved this book! The author and I are about the same age, so it was easy for me to slip into Raina's shoes. My favorite part of the book was when they were showing off their retainers and Raina's friend had one with a picture of Joey McIntyre imprinted on hers. That's how I knew we were in middle school at the same time period - Joey was my favorite New Kid on the Block, too! My husband and I took turns reading a chapter a night to our son, and all three of us really enjoyed the story. I would recommend it to anyone who is in (or has ever been in) middle school.

Hothouse by Chris Lynch

Hothouse by Chris Lynch is about Russ, a high school student who has just suffered a terrible loss: his father, and the father of his best friend DJ, have died fighting a fire. The entire small town is celebrating these two men as heroes, which trickles down to the two boys. It's almost as if they are celebrities. That is, until some terrible news comes out of the investigator's report about the fire. Suddenly, Russ and DJ not only have to deal with the loss of their fathers and their own heroes, but also the wrath of the town who only days before had celebrated their existence.

This was a very interesting and sad story. I really liked the way the author showed how much people want to believe in heroes, but also how quick they are to tear them down. The story stayed very true to life, rather than true to traditional "happily ever after", feel-good fiction. This book is for more mature readers due to language and some content.