True Blue by Deborah Ellis

True Blue by Deborah Ellis is about best friends Casey and Jess and their truly horrific ordeal that resulted after one of the campers they were responsible for goes missing and is found dead.  Casey is arrested and accused of murder.  Jess doesn't know how to react nor what to do.  She knows more than she's sharing but for some reason can't bring herself to talk.  In the mean time, her emotionally unstable mother is spiraling into another one of her collapses which typically end in hospitalization and electroshock therapy.  The rest of the people in town have already decided Casey is guilty and are terrorizing her family.  And, the very group of popular kids at their school who used to shun them is inviting Jess to spend more and more time with them.  As the days lead up to the trial, only a few people (Jess's mother, Casey's parents, and a sympathetic teacher) are still convinced of Casey's innocence.  Even Jess begins to waver in her thoughts about what her best friend might be capable of.

This was a thrilling mystery!  I couldn't put it down!  It is told through Jess's perspective, in both narration and through her camp journal, chronicling the events leading up to the little girl's ultimate disappearance and murder.  Parts of this book reminded me of Mary Downing Hahn's Wait Till Helen Comes, because the character of the little girl (Stephanie) who was killed is so obnoxious and annoying! As a reader, you feel terrible that you don't like her simply because you know she's going to die eventually!  I also really liked the way the author showed the changing relationship/friendship between the girls.  The ending is unexpected and the character who changes most as a result of this terrible experience isn't who you would think.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery or suspense story.

The Fairy Ring or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure

The Fairy Ring or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure is the true story of Frances and Elsie, the two girls who took photos of "fairies" to prove their existence.  While Frances always claimed to see fairies, in order to show the disbelieving adults, the two girls created elaborate cutouts of fairies (and other mythical creatures) to put in their photos.  It was an innocent idea which they never knew would get so blown out of proportion!  See, there was a movement amongst some people in the early part of the 1900s to identify and classify fairies and other creatures, just as real animals are classified by genus and species. Some adults truly believed in the existence of fairies.  When these adults got hold of the girls' photos, they were convinced this was all the proof they needed to show the world!  So, the girls kept their secret... 

This was an amazing story!  I can see how the girls got so caught up in their story that it became difficult, even impossible, to tell the truth.  The book is filled with the girls' photos, as well as pictures of the girls and people trying to prove the existence of fairies.  It is a short and engaging book, perfect for any curious reader!

 

Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif

Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif is about Amira, a 16 year old Muslim who is trying to resist temptation and fast during her family's month-long Ramadan celebration.  Unfortunately for Amira, food is not the only thing she's being tempted with!  This book as friend drama, mean girl drama, boyfriend drama... even family drama! Any teen girl will identify with Amira as she struggles to make her way through high school, accomplish goals, deal with friends and boys, and please her family.

 

Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls

Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls is about two sisters, Molly and Hannah, who go to live with their grandparents after their mother dies and their father needs some time alone.  While Hannah tries to act older than she is and works her hardest to provoke their grandparents, Molly seems to act younger, preferring to escape into daydreams and imagination.  It's because of this that no one really takes Molly seriously when she begins telling them about her new friend.  They think she's made up this man who was being hunted by creatures on horses and who seems to disappear and reappear at will.  As her new friend grows weaker, Molly can see the one who is hunting him grows stronger.  What she doesn't realize right away is that the man she's grown fond of is actually the Holly King and it's the Oak King who is determined to destroy him.  Through stories told by her teacher, Molly learns more about the stories of the winter and summer solstice and the recurring battles between the Holly and Oak Kings.  Molly is convinced if she saves the Holly King, some of his magic can help restore some of the things that have gone wrong in her own life.

This was a really good book.  I enjoyed the way the author wove the story of the solstice kings into the story of Molly and Hannah's family.  I had never heard the stories of the Holly Kind and Oak King, so I felt I was learning right along with Molly.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, fairy tales, mystery, and/or adventure novels.

Nowhere Girl by A. J. Paquette

Nowhere Girl by A. J. Paquette is about Luchi, a thirteen year old girl who was born and raised by her mother in a prison in Thailand.  When her mother dies, the warden allows Luchi to stay in the prison for several months, but eventually, she has to leave.  Luchi doesn't know anything about her father nor any other family she may have except one tiny clue provided by her mother's cellmate: the name Payne Industries.  The warden's nephew, Luchi's old playmate and friend, agrees to drive her to the city where she plans to research what she knows and find some way to reach family.  Unfortunately, Luchi was not well equipped to make it outside the prison.  She speaks the language and knows the customs, but she's a skinny blonde girl who just doesn't fit in.  She gets taken advantage of, stolen from, and left with little hope.  Things start to unravel and Luchi learns about her mother and father's past and exactly what happened to put her mother in jail.  She does meet up with family, but in a most unexpected way.

This was a very interesting story.  I really felt for Luchi, being so naive and alone.  As a reader, I was able to predict what would happen to her that she was unaware was even possible.  Though the story about her mother and father turned this realistic adventure into a murder/mystery story that will appeal to people who enjoy all genres!

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang is about Lucy, a Chinese American girl who thinks she's about to have the best year of her life!  She's an excellent basketball player, is on her way to 6th grade (oldest in the school!), and her older sister is moving out to attend college and leaving her bedroom to Lucy.  Everything changes, though, when Lucy's long-lost aunt arrives in town.  Not only does Lucy have to share her brand new bedroom with this complete stranger, she is forced to go to Chinese school... instead of BASKETBALL!  To top it all off, Aunt Yi Po will be staying with their family for several months!!  Having to deal with these changes would be bad enough, but Lucy also has to battle the school "mean girls" who are out to get her and ruin her chances of coaching the co-curricular basketball tournament, as well as trying to keep know-it-all, but desperately friendly Talent Chang at away from her.  And, of course, there's this boy....

I loved this book!  I really enjoyed seeing how Lucy changed over the course of her 6th grade year.  Despite having to go through some major set-backs, Lucy comes out on top, having learned some valuable lessons about her own culture and values, her family and her friends.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.