Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman is about Green, a 15 year old girl whose family was killed by a terrible fire that raged through the nearby town where they had gone to sell their vegetables. Green finds herself living alone, trying to survive her guilt over being the only survivor in her family, trying to fend off looters, and dealing with her grief at the loss of her sister.

I really liked this book. It was short and a quick read, but one that was extraordinarily through provoking. It reminded me a little bit of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It was easy to understand the changes Green went through during her experiences after losing her family.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen is about Ruby, a seventeen year old girl who lives alone with her mother. Ruby is left to fend for herself when her mother unexpectedly leaves and doesn't return. After months of living with no heat, water, and little money, child services places Ruby with her older sister, who Ruby and her mother hadn't heard from since she went off to college ten years prior. Cora is now married and lives in an enormous house. She and her husband take Ruby out of the huge public school she'd been attending and put her in a small private school. Everything changes for Ruby.

I really liked this book. Ruby changes so much from the beginning of the story where she is angry and isolated to the end of the story where she is starting to allow people in to her world. This is the third book I've read by Sarah Dessen, and I've liked them all!

A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound by John Irving

A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound by John Irving is a horror story about Tom and Tim, brothers who are awakened in the middle of the night by a strange sound. Their father assures them that it is just a mouse crawling around inside the walls. Tim, who is only two, doesn't know what a mouse is and continues to believe there is a monster in the walls long after Tom goes back to sleep.

I have read several of John Irving's novels written for adults, and really enjoyed them. This book was given to us as a gift, and our whole family enjoys it. The idea that poor Tim is lying in bed terrified of something he doesn't understand makes this book one of the scariest stories I've ever read!

Jungle Gym Jitters by Chuck Richards

Jungle Gym Jitters by Chuck Richards is about a boy named Jerry whose father creates a jungle gym in their backyard. George, Jerry's father, keeps building and adding until it is enormous, complete with roller coasters and zoo animals! Jerry is terrified of this monstrosity until he overcomes his fear in order to save his sister when the structure catches fire during their backyard celebration.

This was written and illustrated by my parents' neighbor in Ames, Iowa. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see the illustrations before the book was ever published! The story is clever and the pictures are phenomenal. I find something new in every one each time I read the book!

The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman

The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman is about Lucy, the only one in her family that actually believes that there are wolves in the walls of her family's home. But, one night, the wolves come out of the walls, forcing her mother, father, brother and Lucy to sleep outside the house. The wolves eat the family's food, watch their tv and play their video games! Eventually, the family decides to move back into their house - in the walls! When they've had enough of living in the walls, they hatch a plan to drive the wolves out. It works, but soon Lucy realizes that something else (and much larger) is inhabiting their walls.

I bought this book for my son and husband to read together. My husband is a big fan of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (the illustrator), having read their graphic novels. We all enjoy this book. The illustrations are very cool, and the story is totally engaging, for all ages!

Poison by Chris Wooding

Poison by Chris Wooding is about a girl who named herself Poison as a teenager. She lives with her father, step-mother, and two year old sister in the Black Marshes. When her sister is stolen by the Phaerie Lord and replaced with a changling, Poison leaves the village she's always called home in an attempt to restore her family. Through a series of adventures, including nearly being eaten by the Bone Witch, escaping the spider lady, Asinastra, and outfoxing the Phaerie Lord in his attempt to trick her, Poison finds herself running out of time in her quest. All seems lost when she ends up at the Heirophant's Palace and realizes something about all of the worldly realms and her own humanity.

I really liked this book. It was a great fantasy adventure. I found myself easily relating to Poison. I read this book because of how much I loved The Storm Thief. Again, I am impressed with this author! I will be reading more books by Chris Wooding.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was written in the 1950s about the future. Guy Montag is a fireman, but rather than put out fires, he sets them. Montag's job is to burn books and the homes where they are found. In this distopian society, the government's will is for everyone to be and stay happy all the time. In order for this to happen, all books have been deemed illegal - they wouldn't want anyone getting any ideas or thinking for themselves! Montag's life is turned upside down after meeting a strange girl, Clarisse, who talks with him about things no one else has ever mentioned. His life is further changed when he ends up burning a woman along with her books and home. Things escalate for Montag when his employers find out that he's been hiding and reading books.

I read this book as a part of a book club set up for my daughter's Honors English summer reading. I really enjoyed it. The discussions prompted by the ideas of censorship, technology, conformity and ignorance were really interesting. I read The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury when I was in high school, but I don't think I got as much out of it as the girls reading Fahrenheit 451.