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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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 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

A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan. Published by Candlewick Press, 2011.

Rose goes to sleep in a stasis tube, expecting her parents to wake her a short time later. Instead, she wakes to a kiss from a boy she’s never seen before. She feels weak and nauseous and disoriented. She is shocked to find out that she’s been asleep more than 60 years! She realizes that her parents and best friend/boyfriend Xavier have been dead for many years.

It’s difficult for Rose to know whom she can trust. People think she is strange. Reporters follow her everywhere. She begins a new school connected to a very wealthy and powerful company- one she now owns. She doesn’t like school. She is behind on the academics and the other students stare at her and make fun of her. Her only friend is Bren, whose family is connected to the corporation. Her parents have been telling Rose that she is not very smart and she now knows it is true.

As difficult as things are at school, life outside of school is even worse. She tries to hang out with Bren and his friends, but most of them aren’t very receptive . She begins communicating with Otto through messages on the computer (he can’t talk because alien DNA was incorporated into him). She and Otto are both outsiders in this society. Otto can communicate with his mind, but he doesn’t like doing this with Rose as he says he can see an abyss inside her and it scares him.

The situation is pretty bad for Rose and it gets even worse when an assassin comes after her. She even considers going back into her hibernation chamber because she can’t cope with everything. She desperately needs friends and help.

This dystopian novel is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Visit Anna Sheehan's website

Island's End

Island’s End by Padma Venkatraman. Published by Penguin Young Readers Group, 2011.

Living on a remote island off India, Uido has had visions several times. As a result of her abilities to enter the Otherworld, she is selected to be her tribe’s spiritual leader. This is a tremendous honor for her and she is excited but also nervous. Uido is disappointed by her older brother’s and her best friend’s reaction to the news. He is jealous and causes a rift in the family.

The visions are often intense and confusing. Strangers have visited the island and offer tempting and exotic gifts. Uido is trying to balance the needs of her tribe while keeping their values and lifestyle alive. She is even more conflicted when her younger brother becomes ill after visiting with the strangers. Uido needs the medicine of the strangers to help heal her brother. At the same time, she knows her brother will be drawn away from the tribe.

Uido must work with the strangers to heal her brother. When he awakens, he likes the technology he sees them using. Uido convinces him to return home with her. When they return to the island, she has a disturbing vision of a tsunami causing devastation of the island. She has to persuade her tribe to quickly evacuate to higher ground. At this critical time, her older brother again challenges her leadership ability.

The tribe’s safety and lifestyle all rest on Uido.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Visit Padma Venkatraman's website

The Pledge

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting. Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011.

Charlaina (Charlie) and her sister Angelina have secrets. Angelina can heal people. Charlie can understand any language, even if she has never heard it before. The two sisters are unique and have to hide their abilities. Life in Ludania is complicated because there are rigid societal class distinctions. Class determines everything- clothes worn, jobs, behavior and even language spoken. Charlie must hide her lingual abilities because it is against the law to speak anything other than the language of her class. Infractions are punishable by death.

Ludania is under attack. Rebels are determined to overthrow the queen and put an end to her brutal laws. She is getting old and won’t live much longer unless she can find a suitable (female) heir. Then she may be able to take over another body and continue ruling. But there aren’t any female heirs because earlier conflicts resulted in the death of the ruling class family.

Charlie goes to a club with her friend Brooklyn. They meet some interesting men at the club. Xander is associated with the club and he seems to be willing to help Charlie but he may be involved in illegal activities. Another new acquaintance named Max is speaking a language Charlie has never heard spoken before. Max seems to have a lot of freedom and he keeps turning up in unexpected places.

When Charlie’s city is attacked, her parents tell her she and her sister must flee the city and avoid any soldiers. Charlie can tell by their behavior they are hiding something from her but she has to protect herself and Angelina.

The stakes are too high for Charlie to get involved with whatever Alex and Xander are doing. But some things may be out of her control.

This dystopian novel has lots of interesting themes and action and will be popular with teens in grades 8 and up.   

Visit Kimberly Derting's website

The Future of Us

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

A new computer and AOL are about to change Josh and Emma’s lives and their futures. They have been neighbors and best friends since they were little. When they share a kiss, things get a little awkward between them.

It is 1996 and Josh’s new computer can go on the Internet (but it uses the same line as the telephone so he can’t go online for too long). Emma and Josh are surprised to see people with their names but it is 15 years in the future. What?? How is that possible? There are enough similarities for them to conclude that this is actually them. This is through some website called Facebook.

Josh seems to have a decent life ahead of him. He has a nice house, a good job, attractive wife, and they go on great family vacations. Emma, on the other hand, is definitely struggling. She doesn’t appear happy with her job or relationships. When Emma discovers changes she makes in her present life can produce good results on her life 15 years from now, she does it. But her changes impact Josh’s future too and he’s not happy. He doesn’t want anything to mess up his life.

Emma and Josh’s 1996 and 2010 selves will have to be reconciled so they can be happy, now and in the future.

 This (mostly) realistic fiction is recommended for all teens grades 8 and up.

Visit Jay Asher's blog

Visit Carolyn Mackler's website

Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best

Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best by Maria Padian. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.

Eva is a ballerina. Henry is a tennis star. The two girls have been best friends for years in spite of (or maybe because of) their wildly different goals. They are supportive of one another, in ways their families and other friends can’t.

Eva has an opportunity to go to New York for the summer with a possible internship during the following year. Eva’s mother agrees to drive Eva in every day because the family can’t afford the room and board. Eventually, an anonymous donor pays for Eva’s summer program so she doesn’t have to commute every day.

Henry goes to Florida with a well-known tennis program. Henry’s father pushes her very hard and he can be pretty aggressive if he thinks she is not being treated well. Henry has a strong physical game but when she overhears a conversation between some of her competitors, she begins to question whether she is the kind of player she should be or if she plays head games to beat her opponents.

Eva is doing some similar self-analysis, but not voluntarily. She is very committed to achieving her dream. Once she is there, though, she starts worrying about her weight and becomes overly critical of herself. She is tired all the time and gets injured easily. She thinks she is making health choices, but everyone around her is obsessed with weight and body shape.

Both young women must determine their dreams for the future, figure out what matters to them and balance it with family expectations.

This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 9 and up.

Visit Maria Padian's website

The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic

The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices From the Titanic by Allan Wolf. Published by Candlewick Press, 2011.

April 14, 1912. The day the Titanic sank. Multiple viewpoints create a vivid account of the disaster. There are many famous books and movies of the sinking with famous people such as John Astor and Molly Brown. This book has 24 narrators, including some unusual perspectives such as a rat, the coroner, and the iceberg.

The individual narrators each have unique voices. Captain E. J. Smith is full of pride that he has such a prestigious assignment as the culmination of his career. The violinist Jock Hume is annoyed that he is not allowed to improvise and share his music with everyone. Another narrator is telegraph operator Harold Bribe, whose increasingly frantic messages foretold the magnitude of the looming disaster. An unusual narrator is the iceberg. It is a cold, dispassionate presence inserted between many of the entries.

The Undertaker, who dealt with the bodies as they were retrieved from the water had a very overwhelming job- try to identify the body and determine cause of death. Each time he was brought a new body, I found myself hoping that it wouldn’t be one of the other narrators who I had grown to care about through the book. Statistically, I knew they were unlikely to survive. The plight of the refugees and the extremely high loss of life among the third class passengers were especially poignant.

This historical fiction with multiple narrators will appeal to a wide audience.  Recommended grades 8 and up.

Visit author Alan Wolf's website

Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Anna is eagerly anticipating her senior year in Atlanta. Her father has different plans. He is enrolling her in a boarding school in France. He believes she should have new experiences in the world, with culture and and develop more fluency in French. Anna thinks he is pretentious.

Anna loses the argument and finds herself starting her new school. She is so nervous- she doesn’t know anyone at the new school and she has never lived so far away from home. But she can’t complain too much- it is Paris after all!

Once she starts settling in, she concludes that she is completely unprepared. Her French is stilted and slow. She isn’t even sure how to get around the campus or the city. She makes some new friends including Etienne the cute guy who is also super nice, friendly and seems to like Anna. The drawback is he also has a girlfriend. The other problem- lots of complications when she goes home for Christmas vacation.

This a quick, fun read for teens looking for light-hearted teen romance with a few problems thrown in. 

This realistic romance is recommended for grades 9 and up. 

Visit author Stephanie Perkins website

Orchards

Orchards by Holly Thompson. Published by Delacorte Press, 2011.

Missed signs of a classmate’s mental anguish. 8^th grade girls labeled as mean. A loss that is forever.

Half-Japanese, half-Jewish American Kana is being sent to Japan after the suicide of a classmate. Although she is bilingual and has met her mother’s family on previous visits, she is unhappy about this sudden plan. She doesn’t want to live with people she barely knows while attending a nearby public school during her summer vacation. Working in the family’s mikan orange orchards will fill any of Kana’s spare time.

Her family isn’t trying to punish her. But she is cut off from her friends, computers and TV. She isn’t even supposed to have her iPod (but she does). The new school is okay but she doesn’t really fit in there and doesn’t make any new friends. Her mother’s family is constantly correcting her manners and posture.

Kana finds the work in the orchards challenging. It is hot and physically demanding but she finds it a good distraction from thinking too much. She has more in common with her family than she expected and is developing good relationships with them. She gains insights about her mother and her grandfather. She knows the high emotional cost of her mother’s decision to leave Japan and move to the United States. Kana also learns about her classmates, her family and herself. Just like her family before her, she loves the rhythm of life working amidst the mikan orchards.

This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 7 and up. 


Visit author Holly Thompson's website 

Desert Angel

Desert Angel by Charlie Price. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Angel’s drug addict mother and her newest boyfriend Scotty get in a screaming fight one night, so Angel decides to sleep outside. In the morning, there is blood everywhere and Angel’s mother and Scotty are missing. Within a short time, Angel finds a shallow grave with her mother body and she knows she must get away before Scotty returns. He’s a vicious, evil man and she is a loose end.

Escaping from Scotty is going to be difficult. He knows a lot about hunting, tracking and survival from his illegal poaching trips. Angel returns to the trailer to get some water and look for weapons. She is shocked by the sudden appearance of Scotty behind her. She is able to trick him into believing she is dead and then she runs for her life.

Angel has no family, no neighbors, no friends, nothing. She has nowhere to go and past experience has taught her she can only rely on herself. Unexpected help gives Angel some hope, but Scotty brutally eliminates everyone. Angel will never be safe as long as Scotty is chasing her. So she decides to become the hunter. 

This action-filled book is a combination of realistic, adventure and survival fiction.  It is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Jack’s parents are furious with him but not for the same reason. His mother is distraught over the destruction of her vegetable garden (he was told to mow it down by his dad). His father is irate over Jack’s mishandling of a forbidden antique rifle. The result for Jack is that he is “grounded for life” by his parents.

A neighbor’s arthritic hands incapacitate her so Jack’s mother decides he should help out. He doesn’t want to do it- Miss Volker writes obituaries for the old-time residents and she is more than a little strange. Jack’s other big problem is with his nose. His nose doesn’t just bleed- it gushes. Stress and lying have immediate and messy results. Surgery could help, but his family can’t afford the cost and no one seems willing to barter anymore.

Obituary writing is surprisingly time consuming. Jack and Miss Volker establish a good routine for their work and Jack finds it fascinating. However, the townspeople become increasingly concerned as one death follows another. Miss Volker is one of several suspects.

Between applying hot wax to Miss Volker’s hands (helps her arthritis) and her surgery on his nose, Jack has to deal with a vindictive policeman and he’s still stuck in the middle of his parents’ feud. He’s beginning to lose hope for having a normal summer but at some point, he’s begun to enjoy himself. Now if he can stop anyone else from dying…

This realistic fiction is recommended for grades 7 and up.

Visit author Jack Gantos website

Paper Covers Rock

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard. Published by Delacorte Press, 2011.

Alex’s life at a boarding school in North Carolina is pretty boring. No girls. Teachers (mostly male) live on campus and eat with the students. There are very few chances to interact with anyone outside of school. Consequently, the boys take any opportunity to have a break in the routine.

One afternoon Alex and a couple of friends named Glenn and Thomas get drunk and decide to go swimming. Thomas doesn’t surface after diving off a rock. After unsuccessfully trying CPR, Glenn stays with Thomas while Alex runs to get help. On the other side of the lake, Miss Dovecott, emerges, but no one can save Thomas.

Alex and Glenn aren’t sure what Miss Dovecott saw, but they know they must hide the evidence of the alcohol or face expulsion. The lie about drinking leads to other lies and many complications. Alex begins to develop feelings for Miss Dovecott. At the same time, he begins to dislike and distrust Glenn. Glenn is a jerk and he blackmails Alex into setting up Miss Dovecott to get fired.

Alex’s poetic side is encouraged by Miss Dovecott and she coaches him with his writing. As he explores famous authors and works to develop his craft, he finds himself reflecting on the truth about what happened that day at the lake.

This realistic, intense novel is recommended for grades 9 and up.

Visit author Jenny Hubbard's website

Queen of the Dead

Queen of the Dead (Ghost and the Goth Series #2) by Stacey Kade. Published by Hyperion, 2011.

Ghost Alona continues to hang around on earth. Alona is evidently still tied to Will who sees lots of ghosts (not just Alona). Everyone has settled into an arrangement that allows Will to help other ghosts without being completely overwhelmed by outrageous demands. School is pretty horrible for Will and his mother still worries about him- no changes there.

Will and Alona go to Mrs. Ruiz’s house to help her move on (the house is scheduled for demolition, which will not go over well with Mrs. Ruiz). Unfortunately, this doesn’t go smoothly. For one thing, Mrs. Ruiz doesn’t want to leave and reacts rather violently and physically to Will and Alona.

Will is also rather stunned to discover another complication in the form of Mina. Mina claims to be part of something called the Order and belittles Will as a “Casper lover”. Mina’s relationship with the Order is convoluted at best. She doesn’t seem enthused about the possibility of Will working with the Order and is extremely jealous of his abilities. Will can’t figure out whether the Order are heroes or villains. Either way, Will’s excited to learn about the existence of other people who can see ghosts- he’s not alone.

Then there’s the whole love triangle. Will likes Alona. Alona seems to like Will, but there is undeniable chemistry between Will and Mina too. And Alona and Mina hate each other. Add in the ghosts and the ghost hunters and that means there’s plenty of action!

This story of ghosts, friends and romance is recommended for grades 8 and up.

Visit author Stacey Kade's website

A Web of Air

A Web of Air by Philip Reeve. Published by Scholastic Press, 2011.

Fever Crumb returns as her usual rational self. She is working as an engineer with a traveling theater company and caring for two orphans. The company arrives in the town of Mayda and as they settle in for the new performances, Fever begins to hear unusual rumors about a man who is building a flying machine. She doesn’t really believe the rumors- where would plans for a flying machine have come from and why would anyone be working on such a thing?

After meeting Arlo, Fever begins to believe that there may be something to the rumors. Arlo is secretive and distrustful of Fever. He seems to think she may be planning to steal his machine or be a spy. They definitely don’t trust one another.

Other people are interested in Arlo’s flying machine, including a scientist, a former love interest named Thirza and an evil cartel. Arlo even communicates with a bird. Fever doesn't know why her Scriven mother is suddenly involved either.

Fever realizes that she can’t trust anyone when Arlo disappears. She wants to keep their dream of flying alive, but she is conflicted about her growing irrational feelings for Arlo.

This dystopian literature is recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Visit author Philip Reeve's website.

The Space Between

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff. Published by Penguin Group, 2011.

Daphne lives in Hell- literally. The daughter of a demon and a fallen angel, she is unsure of her place in the world. She is lonely and bored, doesn’t have much of a relationship with her mother or sisters, but can’t really leave. Her brother Obie is someone she can count on, so she doesn’t know what to do when he says he’s leaving. Daphne knows it’s dangerous, so asks Beelzebub for help but Obie is gone.

Daphne is drawn to Truman, a young man who has been suicidal since the death of his mother. Obie helped him after a hospitalization the previous year. Daphne hopes that Truman can provide some clues as to Obie’s whereabouts. Daphne is warned about new dangers and her sister is murdered. Daphne has special powers but she doesn’t know what they are or even how to use them.

Truman and Daphne find Obie’s baby Raymie (not a typical baby by any means) and they know she is the reason Obie left. Can they save Obie, protect Raymie and still have a chance at love?



Visit author Brenna Yovanoff's website

Payback Time

Payback Time by Carl Deuker. Published by Houghton Mifflin Books, 2011.

Daniel True dreams of a college major in journalism. Being a reporter for the school newspaper is going to help him get there. He is disappointed when the new editor changes his assignment from news to sports (he’s nicknamed Mitch after the Michelin Man due to his short, round stature). A major downside for Mitch is that he is going to be hanging out at sporting events and with athletes. He knows he will appear even shorter and fatter in comparison to all the jocks, so he decides to lose weight and start exercising.

Mitch finds himself enjoying the sports writing. He gets to work with Kimi, a talented and driven photographer. He and Kimi are even able to receive a little money and byline credit as stringers for the local newspaper. Football season is kicking off and Mitch notices a new player on the field. His name is Angel and he is very good. Mitch is puzzled that the coach doesn’t use Angel very much. In fact, Angel seems to hate publicity.

After stealing a look at Angel’s student records, the mysteries pile up- attendance, grades and other records have been removed. They can’t find any pictures of him from his previous schools. Soon, Mitch’s continuing investigation is becoming dangerous for everyone.

This realistic fiction is recommended for teens who like mysteries, sports or writing. 


Visit author Carl Deuker's website