Anna Dressed in Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. Published by Doherty, Tor Teen, 2011.

Cas is a ghost hunter/killer. It’s kind of a family tradition- his father did the same thing until he was murdered by one of the ghosts. Cas wants to continue his father’s legacy, so he and his mother- a white witch - move from town to town in search of dangerous ghosts.

He is a bit young for this work (he’s still in high school), but he’s been training for most of his life and he knows what he’s doing.

As soon as Cas meets Anna, he realizes that she is not a typical ghost. He saw her kill people and knows she is very dangerous. Yet he also senses she feels regret about her actions and doesn’t want to murder people. She doesn’t seem to be in control- something is compelling her. Anna even warns Cas to leave her house before he gets hurt.

Cas and his friends begin to investigate the legend about Anna. It was a tragic situation- she was murdered by her mother’s boyfriend and then trapped by a spell so she can never leave her house. Feeling strangely attracted to Anna, Cas finds himself trying to protect her.

How can he help Anna but prevent her from murdering anyone else? He knows he must find a way.

Between Shades of Gray

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Lina is Lithuanian. Her family is forced from their home by Soviet soldiers. Lina has no idea where her father was sent or even if he is alive. Lina is sent with her mother and younger brother to a work camp in Siberia. Conditions are terrible- they work numerous hours and they don’t get enough food. They aren’t even given enough wood to stay warm. When people get sick, they are sent to an isolation house, and rarely return.

Lina is a wonderful, perceptive young lady. She nicknames people based on their personalities- for example the man who repeats everything said is called The Repeater. She is determined to protect her family and others in her hut, even at great personal risk. Lina and her mother strive to make conditions around them better for everyone.

Her artistic nature is clear through her interpretations of things around her. She is a huge fan of Edvard Munch and refers to his work frequently as she draws the horrific events around her.

This is a standout in the field of historical fiction. It tells the story of some of the people who were political prisoners during the brutal reign of Joseph Stalin. It is based on the author’s own family history.

Flyaway

Flyaway by Lucy Christopher. Published by Scholastic, 2011.

Isla and her father love swans- watching them, tracking migration patterns, and observing the habitats. When Isla’s father collapses and must be rushed to the hospital, Isla and her brother begin spending more time with her grandfather. Isla initially finds her grandfather difficult and moody, but as she begins to understand him better, she learns about herself and her family.

While visiting her father at the hospital, Isla meets Harry, a cancer patient. Harry seems to understand Isla’s love of the swans, especially when they discover an injured swan at a nearby pond. The gradually developing romance between Isla and Harry mirrors the growing bond with the swan. Isla believes that if she can save the swan, maybe she can save her father and Harry at the same time.

This novel will resonate with readers who enjoy nature, but the storyline will appeal to a broad audience. The main character’s determination to show her love for her family and the swans as well as her determination to stand up for herself create a strong story.

The Running Dream

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.

Jessica lives to run. She has loads of potential and hopes to be a track star. Coming back from a meet one day, there is a tragic accident. Jessica loses her leg and one of her teammates is killed.

As Jessica slowly recovers, she struggles to come to terms with her loss. She is athletic and adapts to the crutches fairly well. But she hates the stump and the prosthesis. Jessica’s return to school is difficult. Her friends and classmates don’t know what to say to her so some of them just ignore her. However, she finds unexpected support from Rosa, a student with cerebral palsy. Jessica can confide her worries and fears in Rosa. As Rosa encourages Jessica to achieve her dream of running, Jessica decides to help Rosa with her own dreams.

Clarity

Clarity by Kim Harrington. Published by Scholastic, Inc., 2011.

Clare comes from a psychic family. Her visions make her kind of a freak in school and she can’t control them. She can’t always see what she wants to see and sometimes sees things she doesn’t want to see- like her boyfriend cheating on her.

When Clare’s brother Perry is accused of murder, Clare knows she has to investigate. She may be getting too much help, though between ex-boyfriend Justin, Stephen (from a powerful political family), and hot new guy in town Gabriel. Conflicting visions of the murdered girl provide another distraction for Clare. In fact her brother is implicated by both her visions and by the murder victim herself. Clare’s investigation seems to be putting her in danger too. On top of all that, the family’s business is suffering because what tourist wants to vacation in a town with a murderer on the loose?

This psychic murder mystery will appeal to many teens.

Stick by Andrew Smith

Stick by Andrew Smith. Published by Feiwel & Friends, 2011.

Stick and his brother Bosten are best friends. They are trying to survive living with abusive parents and pretend their lives are normal. Stick is bullied because he is missing an ear and Bosten has always defended him. When they are told that school vacation is going to be spent with their aunt in California, they have mixed feelings. To their surprise, life is good there. Their aunt provides an abundance of food, clothing, a stable home, and unconditional love.

When they return home, Stick realizes that his brother must leave before their father discovers the truth about Bosten’s sexuality and to escape their father’s sexual abuse. But Stick can’t imagine a life without Bosten.

This is a powerful story about the love of two brothers and their will to not only survive but save each other.

What Happened to Goodbye

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Mclean and her father are constantly moving to new towns. With each move, McLean creates a new persona. She changes her first name, behaves differently and develops new hobbies and interests. All of this helps her avoid family issues like her damaged relationship with her mother and the lack of stability at home.

Things are changing with the new town of Lakeview. She is putting down real roots, likes the restaurant her dad is overhauling, has lots of friends and a blossoming romance with Dave. But roots are dangerous- she knows that they will have to move soon and she is not always truthful with her friends about her past.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2011.

Karou is an unusual young woman. Her hair is blue, she speaks numerous languages and she can do magic. When she isn’t at art school, she is working for Brimstone. She buys teeth for him- yes, it is disgusting and no, she doesn’t know what he does with the teeth. In order to acquire the teeth, she must deal with unsavory people and beings and goes back and forth between her art school world in Prague and the fantasy world inhabited by her unusual “family”. The sudden appearance of black handprints on doors coincides with the loss of Karou’s “family” and leaves her bereft. Finding that there is an ongoing war between the chimaera and the seraphim, Karou begins questioning everything she knows, trying to figure out who can be trusted. During her search for the truth and meets the beautiful (and forbidden) angel Akiva, but knows she must maintain her focus on solving the mystery or lose her friends and family forever.

This is an excellent fantasy/mystery novel with a strong setting and unusual characters. I look forward to the rest of the books in the series.

Ashes

Ashes by Ilsa Bick. Published by Egmont, 2011.

Alex is trying to deal with her medical problems and decides to go for a hiking and camping trip. Shortly after encountering an older man and his granddaughter, they all double over in pain and lose consciousness. When they wake up, the man is dead, cell phones aren’t working and Alex finds herself in charge of the little girl and her dog. They meet another hiker, Tom, who has some theories about what might have happened and the magnitude of the disaster. They know they must get help. Dead bodies and and seeing some kids eating people brings a whole new level of horror to their situation. Alex gets separated from Tom and Ellie and knows she can't survive on her own. Admission to the town of Rule seems to be Alex’s salvation, but something about the town scares Alex.

If this sounds like a zombie book, it kind of is- but it is so much more. It is also about the end of society as we know it, survival, and friendship.

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks. Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011.

In World War II Canada, Marie-Claire is a typical teenager. She gets annoyed with her little brother, does chores and wants to go to dances. Her excitement when Oncle Gerard moves in with the family is tempered by concern for him when he gets sick with tuberculosis. When she and her brothers are also diagnosed with TB, life changes. Her days are now contained in the walls of a sanitorium. Fearful about her illness and becoming weaker every day, she misses her family desperately. Unlike her roommate Signy, Marie-Claire cannot pretend that everything will be all right.

Marie-Claire is a strong young woman who is determined to overcome her illness, resume a normal life and find love. Most people today know very little about treatments of TB in the 1940s, making this an unusual historical setting.