Alienated

Alienated by Melissa Landers      

Cara has mixed feelings about hosting a student from the planet L'eihrs.  On the good side- it will provide her with tons of opportunities.  She will get a scholarship for college.  Her blog is getting lots of hits.  She has even has press engagements!  The downside- most of her friends can't stand the thought of aliens on the planet, much less in school.  When Cara meets her exchange student Aelyx, she is even less sure how she feels.  He's handsome.  And articulate.  And smart.  And also arrogant.  And secretive.

Then Cara and Aelyx begin to develop feelings for each other but he is still hiding something from her.  Their respective planets have a lot riding on this exchange program being successful and there is intense scrutiny from the media.  Cara finds herself fighting with her boyfriend and her best friend.  Next thing she knows, there are protestors outside of her school and she has to be escorted everywhere for her own safety.  Now, Cara and Aelyx find themselves together on an uncertain path.

This has romance, mystery, and conflict.  What would you give up for your planet?  For love?

 

Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

Vidya has a happy life with her parents and brother Kittya.  She loves her school and is an excellent student.  She's proud of her father, who is very progressive and believes Indians should be free of British rule.  This all changes in a heartbeat when she and her father wind up in the middle of a protest.  In the excitement, Vidya is separated from her father and she sees him being beaten when trying to help a protester.  He has permanent brain damage.  As a result, Vidya and her family must go to leave in the home of her grandfather and uncles.  They live a completely different lifestyle in their new home.  Vidya's new teacher is not very nice.  Vidya doesn't get along with her cousins.  Vidya's father is called "the idiot" and she never sees her brother anymore- Men and women are housed on separate floors

Vidya's only escape is when she is taking care of her niece and climbs the stairs to the library. Here, she enters the world of words and education.  She discovers authors and philosophers.  She even meets a somewhat mysterious and interesting young man.  Will Vidya be allowed to continue her education or will she be forced to abide by her family's old fashioned expectations?

Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin

Mutiny!  Discrimination!  Explosives!

All of these words are at the heart of this powerful book by Steve Sheinkin.  During World War II, sailors were working on the Navy base at Port Chicago, California.  The men were not supposed to be segregated, but in fact the only men required to work on the munitions were black men.  The goal for the work they were doing was to safely load munitions onto the Naval ships to prepare for battle.  This was dangerous work, but there was tremendous pressure to go faster and get the work done more quickly.  Eventually, this became an unsafe situation.  The men warned the commanders that the encouragement to be faster led to safety issues.  This was ignored and there was a huge explosion.  Over 300 men were killed and dozens more were injured. 

You would think this tragedy would result in changes so things would be safer, but the black sailors were told to report back to the dock and resume the munitions work.  They knew this was too dangerous and so they refused to go back.  The problem was that they didn’t have the right to refuse to go back because they were sailors in the Navy.  This meant that they could be (and were) charged with mutiny.  This could mean serious results- many years in prison.  The sailors knew there was no real choice in the matter- they could lose their lives if they had to go back to the munitions work without any changes made to ensure safety.  This is the story of what the men did and how they were treated as a result of their decisions.  

Steve Sheinkin did an excellent job of making the reader aware of how dangerous this work was and the consequences for the men.  There is a sense of imminent danger and the despair because of the men's lack of choice.  They asked questions like if this work wasn't dangerous why were only black men doing it?  The danger and civil rights rights violations were at the heart of the issue.  

Fairest by Marissa Meyer

Fairest
Marissa Meyer


This fourth installment in the Lunar Chronicles was a short novel, almost more of a novella.  Though the book was 150 pages long, the story is only 113 pages, with a excerpt from the next novel, Winter, at the end.  Obviously disappointing!  For this novel, we are thrown back in time to when Queen Levana was Princess Levana.  The novel opens to her parents dying and her sister being crowned as Queen.  It was a great look at the background of a queen that we know as an evil dictator.  She wasn't always the person that we have come to know in the first two books of the Lunar Chronicles.  Though it was a letdown that we didn't hear more of the story of Cinder and her crew of misfits, it was fascinating to see how a villain becomes the person we all hate.  This prequel could even be read before the other three books without it giving away too many important details from Cinder, Scarlet, or Cress To hear the final installment of Cinders story, we have to wait until the fall.  This is a good novella to tide fans over, but definitely leaves the reader wanting more.

Unwind series

Unwind Series- Neil Shusterman

Dystopian Series

1.       Unwind

2.       Inwholly

3.       Unsouled

4.       Undivided

In a post Heartland War society, unwinding is now legal.  This means, if you are an unruly teenager between the ages of 13 and 17, you can be sent to a facility where they will give every part of your body to a person who needs it.  You will not technically be dead, because all your parts will be alive in someone else’s body, but you will no longer be yourself- “a divided state”.  This is what is supposed to happen to Conner and a group that he unwillingly thrown in with.  This four book series will lead you through an adventure of survival and a grassroots uprising of change.

The first book in the series, Unwind, was a fantastic ride.  The three hundred page book flies by, giving you twists and turns.  You can read the first book as a standalone book and feel as if you got a complete story.  The second and third books, Unwholly and Unsouled respectively, while interesting, do not hold the allure of the first.  They are more labored and not as quick to get through.  The final book, Undivided, does offer you the answers and drama that the middle books lack, and it brings back the excitement of the first.  Readers will be satisfied with the ending and give you a glimpse into what the future holds for the main characters you have come to love so much. This is being made into a movie that will be out in 2016!

An amazing Youtube video

 

The Caged Graves by Dianne Salerni

Verity Boone is returning to her hometown to meet her fiance and get married.  It's 1867 so travel is a little difficult.  She hasn't met her future husband but feels like she knows him through his letters and gifts he has been sending her.  She is upset when she learns that her fiance had help writing his letters to her and selecting her gifts.  Now she's questioning- does she really know him?  He seems stiff and distant.  Not at all who she imagined. 

She also finds that there are secrets.  She left when she was a baby and her mother died.  She doesn't know why her father sent her away and he just says it was for the best.  She had a happy childhood but loves her father and doesn't understand his reason for sending her to Massachusetts.

What is more disturbing is the discovery of two graves completely enclosed in iron.  Her mother's and her aunt's graves!  Who did this?  Why?  Some people imply that there was black magic involved.  Others talk about treasure.  When Verity is attacked, she realizes that she can't trust anyone.  Everyone is hiding things from her.  Including her father.

The Caged Graves has it all- romance, mystery, a strong setting and believable characters.  Highly recommended. 

Buy it on Amazon

Read Dianne Salerni's blog about the real caged graves that inspired the story

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys                      

Josie has a hard life in New Orleans.  Other people may enjoy the drinking, partying and brothels, but she has to clean up after all of that.   As the daughter of a prostitute, she is discriminated against by everyone.  Kids make fun of her and call her names.  Even adults are mean to her and make

assumptions that she will never amount to anything.  If that isn't enough, Josie's mother is a mess.  She has lousy choice in men- usually scary men that are in and out of jail, so Josie lives on her own.

In spite of all this, Josie has a plan to get out of New Orleans.  She is saving up money from her work at the brothel and her other job at the bookstore.  Then she meets a nice man who makes different assumptions about Josie.  That she must be smart.  She must be going to college.  She is educated.  Josie likes this man at the bookstore and is appalled when he is found dead just a few hours later.  Other bad things start happening and Josie's future begins to crumble before her eyes.

This is a great mystery.  I really enjoyed the historical setting- the seamy side of the French Quarter in 1950.  Josie is an unusual character- a sad childhood but some unusual and loyal friends.

A video about the novel with an introduction by the author

 Buy it on Amazon

Visit Ruta Sepetys's blog

Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Chloe fell asleep in study hall.  She does this sometimes (yes, she should be doing her schoolwork, but a quick nap never hurt anybody).  Next thing she knows, she wakes up and it's dark outside.  No one is in her classroom, not even her teacher.  In fact, the building is silent and dark.  Where is everyone?  Then school bad boy Adam shows up and says that she called him.  She can't imagine that.  Why would she have done that?  Why is there snow on the ground? 

Other weird things are happening too.  She has turned into a brain- big time!  She may become valedictorian.  Her grades are excellent and good colleges are recruiting her.  She has always liked Blake- he's cute, nice and an athlete and now he's her boyfriend!!

Of course, there are lots of bad changes too.  Her best friend Maggie isn't speaking to her. They've been inseparable forever. Chloe tried to explain the loss of memory to her parents but they think she is a headcase and take her to see a psychologist.  Chloe has been a little defiant in the past so the changes in her are thrilling them.  Six months have gone by and she doesn't remember a thing.

This book is excellent!  A good mystery with plenty of twists.  Chloe, Maggie, Blake and Adam are all strong characters that I really cared about- I wanted Maggie to tell Chloe what happened to their friendship.  And what's up with the "study" group?  Something is strange about it too.  Who can Chloe trust?

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

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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


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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

Rush for the Gold by John Feinstein

Rush for the Gold by John Feinstein.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.

Stevie and Susan Carol are off on another adventure in this new mystery.  Fans of the teen sleuths will enjoy this newest offering, but the roles are a little different this time.  Stevie is still investigating and reporting, but Susan Carol is swimming competitively.  In fact, she is in the World Championships and she has to concentrate on her races rather than doing any detecting. 

Susan Carol loves swimming and she is even more excited to compete against the top swimmers in the world.  Unfortunately, she is quickly discovering that this level of athletic talent brings many people who want something from the athletes.  There are PR and marketing people who want to sign the athletes as clients.  There are also major companies who want the athletes to endorse products.  This all amounts serious sums of money.

Susan Carol is both excited and overwhelmed by all the attention.  She knows that her family can use the money for college for her and her siblings.  At the same time, she thinks her father is being misled about some of the proposals being presented to him.  She is angry and hurt by his unwillingness to listen to her concerns, particularly since much of the focus of the marketing is about her looks and she doesn’t want to be promoted as a sex symbol. 

Stevie is suspicious.  Is something illegal or at least shady is going on with the marketing and PR people or is this the way things are in the big leagues of professional athlete endorsements?  Even the reps for Susan Carol are unpleasant and are trying to interfere in their relationship. 

John Feinstein again delivers a book that will be popular with both athletes and teens that enjoy a good mystery.  The conflict is a little slow to develop, but it is worth the wait. 

Visit author John Feinstein’s website.

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miler

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller.  Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011.

Are you familiar with the story of the Russian princess Anastasia?  Probably.  However, much of your knowledge probably comes from movies and children’s stories.  The Lost Crown is both an engrossing story and an excellent addition to the historical fiction genre. 

This is the story of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.  It is told from the perspectives of the four daughters- Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia.  Initially, it may be difficult to separate the multiple narrators, but their personalities become distinct through the development of the novel.

The girls are depicted with different personalities, quirks and dreams.  At the beginning of the novel, they lead lives of privilege with numerous servants, social engagements, elaborate gowns and jewelry.    The turmoil in Russia causes drastic changes in the family’s lives. 

Royalty and other members of the aristocracy become targets of the revolutionaries, so the girls and their parents are moved.  Initially, it’s difficult for them to know if they are being protected or jailed but this becomes clear as their treatment worsens and they become more and more isolated from friends and other family members.  The bewilderment of the girls, who are a little naïve about the politics exploding around them, makes the tragic ending of the story even more affecting. 

Photos, facts in the author’s notes and an extensive bibliography, strengthen this historical fiction.  

Visit author Sarah Miller's website. 

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Ashfall by Mike Mullin.  Published by Tanglewood Press, 2011. 

No one believed that there could be a global extermination of people similar to what happened to the dinosaurs.  But after a super volcano in Yellowstone Park erupts, life changed for everyone in the United States. 

Alex was home alone for the weekend.  His parents and sister left to visit his uncle after Alex had yet another argument with his mom.  He was enjoying having the house to himself.  No one to boss him around or nag at him- no one to tell him to stop playing video games. 

He ignored the weird rumbling noise.  He felt the house shake a little, but nothing major.  Then the power went out, the floor tilted and the walls started falling down.  Trapped beneath a desk and bookcase, he could smell something burning and knew he had to get out. 

Now,  Alex is trying to survive. No one has power and everyone is afraid.  Alex’s neighbors offer to help him and he goes home with them.  But everyone is terrified when the earthquakes continue along with unceasing, deafening noise.   They all know they can’t count on any help.  There are fires all over the neighborhood and the fire and police departments are overwhelmed.  

Alex realizes he has to try to get to his parents and sister on his uncle’s farm in Iowa.  With ash everywhere, he has to find inner resources and be creative and strong if he’s going to survive.   Along the way, he’ll experience terrible things but also find love.  

Visit author Mike Mullin's website.

The Mermaid’s Mirror by by L. K. Madigan.  Published by Houghton Mifflin, 2011

Lena loves the ocean.  She spends hours walking up and down the beach.  An excellent swimmer, Lena longs to learn to surf.  But after her father nearly drowned several years ago, he has forbidden her to surf.

Lena is turning 16 and has decided what she wants to do- surf!  She has friends who have said they will help her and even loan her the necessary equipment.  Lena feels drawn to the water by a powerful force.  Can she believe her eyes when she sees a woman with a silver tail?

Lena’s father is behaving strangely.  Her mother disappeared (or left) years ago and she left behind a void in the lives of Lena and her father.  Lena is taking dangerous risks in her quest to surf and she knows her father will be furious with her when he finds out. 

This unusual book is a combination of realism, magic, mystery and even romance that will appeal to many teens.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Visit L. K. Madigan's website.  

Silence of Murder

The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2011

Hope loves her brother, Jeremy.  She knows he is a little different- he hasn’t spoken in twelve years.  He collects empty jars and keeps them all over his room.  He seems to understand what’s going on around him sometimes, but other times completely tunes things out.  He’s really important to Hope, who tries to help him.

Her family life isn’t exactly normal.  Her alcoholic mother can be quite cruel and doesn’t take care of Hope or Jeremy.  She comes home from work and drinks herself into a stupor (on a good day).  Controlling her temper isn’t a priority, so Hope has learned to avoid her mother as much as possible.

The police come to the house and arrest Jeremy.  He’s a suspect in the baseball coach’s murder.  Hope doesn’t believe he would hurt anyone, but there is quite a bit of evidence against him and Jeremy can’t help defend himself.  Who can Hope turn to for help?  She gets some assistance from unexpected new friends.  But she isn’t sure she can trust them.

This murder mystery has numerous twists and unexpected plot developments.  Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Visit Dandi Daley Mackall's website
 

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Sunny is almost used to being different. She lives in Nigeria but was born in New York. She looks West African but is an albino with blonde hair, white skin and hazel eyes. She is athletic but can’t go outside to play sports because of her skin. Her classmates and even her brothers make fun of her.

Now, Sunny is learning things about herself that explain some of these contradictions. She has magical abilities and is a “free agent”. Although she is powerful, she hasn’t been educated in the use of magic. She has to quickly learn (she is only twelve years old, but she is behind) shape-shifting, dimensional travel and spell casting.

The tricky thing is, she has to do all this while keeping it a secret from her family and classmates. She now has magical schoolwork to do in addition to her regular work. She has to practice her new skills and she goes with her friends on trips (some of which are pretty dangerous).

This is all very exciting until Sunny and her friends are asked to find a serial killer. A serial killer who has already passed the highest level tests which have increased his power. A serial killer the adult authorities haven’t been able to kill. A magical, powerful killer who may threaten all of their existence!

Recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Visit Nnedi Okorafor's website.

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle. Published by Harper Teen, 2011.

Laurel is busy studying and chatting with her friend on the phone when there is a knock on the front door. She is nervous answering the door because she is home alone. Her family went out for ice cream with the neighbors. She is completely unprepared for the person in her doorway- a police officer. He tells her the devastating news that her entire family was killed in a car accident.

David lives next door and he is the son of the man at the wheel during the accident. David’s mother was killed and his father is in a coma. David and Laurel aren’t friends, but the accident draws them together as they both try to cope with changing relationships with friends, trying to figure out how to continue with their lives, survivor’s guilt and this terrible loss.

An unexpected friendship (and maybe something more) develops between Laurel and Joe, a fellow high school student who works in the family garden. He lost his father to cancer and can relate to Laurel. She is able to talk to him about her confusion and uncertainty and know he can understand. When their relationship begins to become romantic, they both have mixed feelings.

Laurel has well-meaning friends who try to help her and ask her how she is doing, but she doesn’t know what to say. She is glad her grandmother moved in with her, allowing Laurel to finish her school year, but then what? Laurel gets a job at a veterinary office and revels in the anonymity of no one knowing her or anything about her family tragedy. David is struggling even more because he has no family at all to help him. He suddenly goes off on a trip across the country, leaving Laurel to care for his dog.

Laurel and David both have to figure out how to get on with their lives in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Teens who are Sarah Dessen and Laurene McDaniels fans reading and those who are interested in reading about grief will be drawn to this book.  Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Visit Jennifer Castle's website