Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

Chris decides to go for an epic bike ride across the country with his friend Win.  They have been best friends forever and this will be their graduation gift from their parents.  Their goal?  All the way to Seattle.

Chris learns things about himself and Win along the way.  They argue a lot (sometimes even physically).  They can be self-sufficient- sleeping in their tent on fields in the middle of nowhere or a picnic table at a park.  Their muscles develop quicker than they could have believed.  At the same time, there are secrets between them.  Why does Win always claim to be broke so Chris has to pay for groceries when in reality Win is carrying around a large amount of cash?  Why doesn't he call home very often?  Why isn't he calling his uncle in Seattle about their arrival?  When the two young men have an argument and split up, Chris can't find Win in Seattle and comes home alone.

College is starting out well for Chris.  Girls seem to be impressed by his bike ride and independence.  But Win's powerful and controlling father keeps calling and asking where his son is because he never returned.  Then an FBI agent starts coming around and issuing vague (and some not so vague) threats. Did Chris do something to Win?   Everyone has questions.  Chris doesn't have any answers...

Jennifer Bradbury's website

Buy it on Amazon

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

Joel attends a prestigious academy but he is a charity case (his father was a lowly chalkmaker and his mother cleans for the school).  He admires the rithmatists who can make chalklings come to life but didn't pass the test to become one.  The battle against the chalklings out in Nebrask is frightening as the chalklings are almost winning the battle
but it's never impacted his life- until now.  Students begin disappearing and chalklings appear to be the culprits.  The targets are rithmatists, but that's changing too.  Nothing is as it appears.  Joel doesn't trust the new teacher, but no one else seems to share his concerns.  Joel and his friend Melody decide they have to tackle this mystery with the help of their professor.  But it's a dangerous path they undertake.

This fantasy is written by well known author Brandon Sanderson.  It is very reminiscent (okay- wildly similar to) Harry Potter.  However, it is engaging with vivid characters.  Will Joel be able to become a rithmatist somehow?  Can they stop the chalklings?  Who is the villain?  Are the students alive?  The combination of fantasy, mystery and steampunk actually works well together.

Visit Brandon Sanderson's website

Buy it on Amazon

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

This is the true story of an amazing young woman.  Her name is Malala Yousafzai and she has spent most of her life (she is 17) advocating for education. 

This is the story of Malala's long and challenging journey.  Her father had a school and believed very strongly that everyone should have an education.  Malala, her father and the rest of her family were threatened many times by the Taliban.  They took precautions and tried to be prudent, but they refused to give in to the Taliban or anyone else who tried to deny people's rights to an education.  Interviewed by television stations, writing a blog (under a pseudonym) and putting a public face on the need for women's education, Malala was very brave to be so vocal.  One day, gunmen boarded her school bus and asked for Malala by name.  She was shot in the head and was not expected to live.

The second half of the book is about her recovery and ongoing efforts to continue to advocate for education.  She has received recognition from the international community and has become an eloquent speaker at many events including at the United Nations.

The story is a little slow in some places with details about political issues in Pakistan and other areas, but overall it's a terrific biography of an amazing woman.

I raise my voice not so that I can shout but so those without a voice can be heard. Malala's organization


Buy it on Amazon

Circle of Blood by Alane Ferguson

Cameron Mahoney's father is the coroner for a small town in Colorado.  Cameron helps her father out in all aspects of his work from the paperwork to the autopsies.  She frequently becomes embroiled in mysteries and in this third book of the forensic mystery series, Cameron's life becomes even more complicated by the return of her long-lost mother.  Cameron and her mother pick up a young woman hitchhiking and Cameron senses that there is something going on with the girl.  She is definitely hiding something and seems nervous.

Later on, the woman is found dead with a gun in her hand.  Was it a suicide?  Was Cameron's mother involved in some way?  Or is there something sinister happening?

This book is recommended for teens and adults who enjoy mysteries or forensics CSI type shows.   

Buy it on Amazon

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Parker Fadley went from being the girl who wanted everything to be perfect to the girl who wanted nothing to be perfect.  If anything is going well, she makes sure she ruins it.  She alienates friends, fails classes and gets caught drinking in school.  The question is why.  Why does she have to sabotage everything? 

New student Jake asks Parker for directions to class.  She is rude to him and won't help him.  When they meet again the next day, she is still nasty.  In spite of her behavior, he is intrigued by her.  He's curious about everything, and constantly questions Parker about different aspects of her life. 

Parker is also pushing ex-boyfriend Chris away too.  Chris clearly still loves her, so Parker sets him up with her enemy Becky.  Parker probably hates Becky more than anyone else at school.  Becky has terrific grades, good behavior and she is now the captain of the Cheerleading Squad.  Yes, Parker really hates Becky.

This book has lots of tension, some sexual situations and explicit language.  The tension of the characters who are drawn to and yet pushed away from Parker creates a strong story. 

Cracked Up To Be on Amazon