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.