Picture the Dead

Jennie feels the tingling presence of something unnatural in the house now that Will is dead.

Her heart aches without him, and she still doesn't know how he really died. It seems that everywhere she turns, someone is hiding yet another clue. As Jennie seeks the truth, she finds herself drawn ever deeper into a series of tricks and lies, secrets and betrayals, and begins to wonder if she had every really known Will at all. A ghost will find his way home.

This was a unique book in that it included items from the narrator's scrapbook to help tell the story.  A historical ghost story with a bit of mystery.  I found the subject of Spiritual Photography very intriguing.

Author: Adele Griffin
Illustrated by: Lisa Brown
Published: February 2012
Pages: 272
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Source: Sourcebooks Fire
Finished: 3/18/12


This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Olivia and Sourcebooks and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Everybody Sees the Ants and Blood Red Road

Lucky didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their dysfunctional family is fine. And he didn't ask to be the target of Nader McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

But Lucky has a secret - one that helps him wade through the daily mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos - the prison his grandfather couldn't escape - where Lucky can be a real man, an adventurer, and a hero. It's dangerous and wild, and it's a place where his life might just be worth living. But how long can Lucky keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside?

WOW the author delivers another enjoyable, heart breaking at times, brilliant coming of age book. Quirky characters that you can't help but love. If you are not standing on your feel applauding for Lucky, you have no heart. I LOVED it.

Author: A.S. King
Published: October 2011
Pages: 280
Genre: YA Fiction
Source: Library
Finished:1/7/12
4 Bears

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she’s a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Once you get used to the language of the book and the characters style of speech you are sucked in and dragged off into their world. Adventure galore, suspense some of it brutal, and just when you thought it could not get any worse, it does! A fantastic debut. I look forward to the next book in this series because I need more of Saba and Jack! If you loved the Chaos Walking series, read this book!

Author: Moira Young
Published: June 2011
Pages:459
Genre: YA Speculative Fiction
Source: Library
Finished: 1/8/12
4 Bears

Young Adult Titles

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

AROUND THE WORLD, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth has grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

MEET KAROU. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands;” she speaks many languages — not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers — beautiful, haunted Akiva — fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Wonderful characters and great adventure all make for a page turning story that leaves you wanting more!  Glad I listened to the recommendation of other bloggers and read this book!

3 Bears

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist’s apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will’s mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

Reading the Author's Note touched me so much that I had to read this book. It was magical, emotional, but sensitive to its targeted younger readers.

3 Bears

The Long Drive Home by Will Allison

Life can change in an instant because of one small mistake. For Glen Bauer, all it takes is a quick jerk of the steering wheel, intended to scare a reckless driver. But the reckless driver is killed, and just like that, Glen's placid suburban existence begins to unravel. When Glen realizes no one else saw the accident, he impulsively lies about what happened--to the police, to his wife, even to his six-year-old daughter, Sara, who was in the backseat at the time of the crash. But a tenacious detective thinks Sara might have seen more than she knows, or more than her parents will let her tell. And when Glen tries to prevent the detective from interrogating Sara, he finds himself in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that could end in a lawsuit or prison. What he doesn't see coming is the reaction of his wife, Liz--a panicked plan that threatens to tear their family apart in the name of saving it. But what if the accident wasn't really Glen's fault? What if someone else were to blame for the turn his life has taken? It's a question Glen can't let go of. And as he struggles to understand the extent of his own guilt, he finds himself on yet another collision course, different in kind but with the potential to be equally devastating

An emotionally touching story that causes you to think, "What would I do?"

3 Bears

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott

Abby accepted that she can't measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.


Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby's life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she'd never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

This author has long been on my must read list, but this book is not my favorite. I had "it" figured out way too early.

2 Bears

Young Adult Book Thoughts

The Iron King by Julie Kawaga

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl—smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end—a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan's side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Told in Ash's POV as he journey's to gain what he needs to join Megan in the Iron Kingdom. A good finale to the series.

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

Nora and Patch are back fighting to do all they need to do stay together. The story continues. This third book was better (for me) than the second book and I will read the fourth.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Loved the characters and plot of this book.  It is a page turning, action-packed gem. Definitely on my best YA list of 2011. Can't wait for the second book Insurgent

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The most powerful advisor to the King of Sounis is the magus. He's not a wizard, he's a scholar, an aging solider, not a thief. When he needs something stolen, he pulls a young thief from the King's prison to do the job for him.

Gen is a thief and proud of it. When his bragging lands him behind bars he has one chance to win his freedom-- journey to a neighboring kingdom with the magus, find a legendary stone called Hamiathes's Gift and steal it.

The magus has plans for his King and his country. Gen has plans of his own.

Award winning book with a surprise ending.  Well worth the read.

Shelter by Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

An adult fiction author that has successfully ventured into the YA genre. A fast paced mystery that had me turning the pages and looking forward to more of Mickey's adventures.

My Big Mouth 10 Songs I Wrote That Almost Got Me Killed by Peter Hannan

Davis Delaware is not from Delaware. But try telling that to everyone at his new school. When you move in the middle of ninth grade, people are going to think whatever they want about you. If they pay attention at all.

Blending in is fine with Davis. He just wants to doodle in his notebook. Make a few friends. Not rock the boat.

Easier said than done.

Because when he starts a band called The Amazing Dweebs with beautiful Molly and nerdy Edwin, Davis rocks the boat big-time. And all that rocking gets the attention of school bully Gerald the Butcher Boggs. Now Davis is suddenly king of the school -- and the Butcher's next target.

This can't end well.

A Humorous with awesome illustrations that enhance the story. Younger readers will enjoy this book.

Young Adult Catch-Ups

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

A disappointing ending to a wonderful series. For me the book dragged a bit coming to the conclusion that was too open ended. I wanted more resolution and closed the book with too many unanswered questions. Others may like the way it ended to draw their own conclusions.  Overall I would still recommend this series.

Theodore Boone, The Abduction by John Grisham

Theodore Boone is back in a new adventure, and the stakes are higher than ever. When his best friend, April, disappears from her bedroom in the middle of the night, no one, not even Theo Boone--who knows April better than anyone--has answers.


As fear ripples through his small hometown and the police hit dead ends, it's up to Theo to use his legal knowledge and investigative skills to chase down the truth and save April.

This book is definitely for young adults. While enjoyable, I did not like it as much as the first book, but will pick up the next book.

Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

Three armies march on New Prentisstown, each one intent on destroying the others.


Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape.


As the battles commence, how can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there be peace when they’re so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await?


But then a third voice breaks into the battle, one bent on revenge…

A fantastic wrap-up to an awesome series. I was caught up in the action, adventure and tension right away that does not stop until the roller coaster ride is over. I totally loved the third voice!  A few tissues were needed.  This series will be going on my all time favorite reads list.

Red Glove by Holly Black

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth—he’s the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hand can transform anything—or anyone—into something else.


That was how Lila, the girl he loved, became a white cat. Cassel was tricked into thinking he killed her, when actually he tried to save her. Now that she's human again, he should be overjoyed. Trouble is, Lila's been cursed to love him, a little gift from his emotion worker mom. And if Lila's love is as phony as Cassel's made-up memories, then he can't believe anything she says or does.


When Cassel's oldest brother is murdered, the Feds recruit Cassel to help make sense of the only clue—crime-scene images of a woman in red gloves. But the mob is after Cassel too—they know how valuable he could be to them. Cassel is going to have to stay one step ahead of both sides just to survive. But where can he turn when he can't trust anyone—least of all, himself?


Love is a curse and the con is the only answer in a game too dangerous to lose.

Another page turner in this unique series. I was surprised when the killer was revealed and look forward to the next book.

The Iron Fey Series

The Iron King

MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET
DESTINY – ONE SHE COULD
NEVER HAVE IMAGINED.


My name is Meghan Chase.


In less than twenty-four hours I'll be sixteen. Countless stories, songs, and poems have been written about this wonderful age, when a girl finds true love and the stars shine for her and the handsome prince carries her off into the sunset.


I don't think it will be that way for me.

Winter's Passage (novella ebook)

It takes place between THE IRON KING and THE IRON DAUGHTER and follows Meghan and Ash on their perilous journey deep into the heart of Winter.


The Iron Daughter

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

The Iron Queen

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

Summer's Crossing (novella ebook)

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand,bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court.

It is always a dilemma deciding whether to read a series as the books come out or wait until they are all released and read them back to back.  With this series I really did not have a chance as I did not catch the buzz until the third book was released.  For me, the series would have been better reading them one by one as they were published.  Reading all 5 stories (3 books, 2 novellas), became too much battles/fighting for me and I've realized, I do not like battle after battle with hardly any resolution to them.  I would have liked more drama/romance/conflict between the characters without all the battles. With that said, I loved these characters and was captivated by their stories/lives and I do wonder what will happen next..  I will read The Iron Knight when it comes out in a few days.

Author: Julie Kagawa
Published: 2010-2011
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Library
Finished: 8-14-11

The Blood Lie

September 22, 1928, Massena, New York. Jack Pool's sixteenth birthday. He's been restless lately, especially during this season of more-times-at-the-synagogue than you can shake a stick at. If it wasn't Rosh Hashanah, then it was Yom Kippur, and if it wasn't Yom Kippur, it was the Sabbath. But temple's good for some things. It gives him lots of time to daydream about a beautiful but inaccessible Gentile girl named Emaline. And if she isn't on his mind, then he's thinking about his music and imagining himself playing the cello with the New York Philharmonic. Yup, music is definitely his ticket out of this remote whistle-stop town—he doesn't want to be stuck here one more minute. But he doesn't realize exactly how stuck he is until Emaline's little sister Daisy goes missing and he and his family are accused of killing her for a blood sacrifice.

With sensitivity and insight, The Blood Lie, takes its place among the slim number of YA novels dealing with hate  crimes.  It was inspired by a real bood libel that took place when a small girl disappeared from Massena, NY in 1928, and an innocent Jewish boy was called a murderer.

This is a short but powerful story about how rumors, not knowing/understanding enough about someones faith or just plain meanness can lead to all sorts of awful behaviors. I can see the book being a great tool to use for school discussions with it's themes of faith, forgiveness, prejudice. I am appalled that this false myth is still believed today.

Author: Shirley Reva Vernick
Published: October 2011
Pages: 141
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Source: Author
Finished: 10/2/11

Check out the website for more information.



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Shirley Reva Vernick and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

I'll Be There

Sam Border wishes he could escape. Raised by an unstable father, he's spent his life moving from place to place. But he could never abandon his little brother, Riddle.

Riddle Border doesn't talk much. Instead, he draws pictures of the insides of things and waits for the day when the outsides of things will make sense. He worships his older brother. But how can they leave when there's nowhere to go? Then everything changes. Because Sam meets Emily.

Emily Bell believes in destiny. She sings for her church choir, though she doesn't have a particularly good voice. Nothing, she feels, is mere coincidence. And she's singing at the moment she first sees Sam.

Everyone whose path you cross in life has the power to change you--sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in ways greater than you could have ever known. Beautifully written and emotionally profound, Holly Goldberg Sloan's debut novel deftly explores the idea of human connection.

I had so many books on my library stack that this book almost went back to the library without being read. I am SO glad that it did not. What a delightful, heartwarming, magical debut. You will love these characters.  A wonderful debut book.

Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan
Published: May 2011
Pages: 392
Genre: YA
Source: Library
Finished: 8/3/11

Thoughts on a few Young Adult Books

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee — whose thoughts Todd can hear, too, whether he wants to or not — stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden — a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives. But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

This books makes me glad that I choose to read out of my comfort zone  a couple of years ago, as I would never had reached for science fiction.  A fast, paced incredible read.  I look forward to book 2.

The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order.

But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer?

And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...

The Ask and the Answer is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure.

Book 2 picks up right where the last one left off.  We are treated this time to the POVs of Todd and Viola.  Another page turning, enjoyable read that makes me wish I had book 3 on my stacks!

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

What a wonderful written heartbreaking story. At times hard to imagine, but important to remember and a great book for teachers.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limited time she has left.

I usually wait to read a book that is getting a lot of buzz or one that everyone is reading.  I am glad I did not with this one as it had me mesmerized from start to finish. 

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

I picked up this book because it was on the Michigan Libraries Top 20. Dash and Lily are great characters that we get to know by their writing back and forth. Sweet and delightful.

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Published:  October 2010
Pages:  260
Genre:  Fiction YA
Source:  Library
Finished:  5-2-11
3 Bears

In Zanesville

The beguiling fourteen-year-old narrator of IN ZANESVILLE is a late bloomer. She is used to flying under the radar-a sidekick, a third wheel, a marching band dropout, a disastrous babysitter, the kind of girl whose Eureka moment is the discovery that "fudge" can't be said with an English accent.


Luckily, she has a best friend, a similarly undiscovered girl with whom she shares the everyday adventures of a 1970s American girlhood, incidents through which a world is revealed, and character is forged.


In time, their friendship is tested-- by their families' claims on them, by a clique of popular girls who stumble upon them as if they were found objects, and by the first, startling, subversive intimations of womanhood.


With dry wit and piercing observation, Jo Ann Beard shows us that in the seemingly quiet streets of America's innumerable Zanesvilles is a world of wonders, and that within the souls of the awkward and the overlooked often burns something radiant and unforgettable.

This book was a flashback to my teens in the 70s. So much was familiar and spot on! I found myself relating to the narrator, nodding my head at the things she said and experienced. This book is laugh-out loud funny, emotionally touching and understandable to readers of all ages. We don't learn the narrator's name except that she shares the name of one of the girls in Little Women.  After the first few pages, I did not even notice as the book was so well written, and I was fully engaged.

Author: Jo Ann Beard
Published: April 2011
Pages: 287
Genre: Fiction
Source: Hachette Book Group
Finished: 5-25-11



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Hachette Book Group and in no way influenced my review of this book.  These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.”

Where She Went

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

I recommend reading If I Stay before reading this book as it is the story of what happened to Mia. Told from Adams point of view, we learn how he got involved in music and how he met Mia. The grief and devastation he goes through is felt and at times I wondered how healing would come. This book had me on the edge of my seat because I thought I was not going to get the ending that I wanted.

Author: Gayle Foreman
Published: April 2011
Pages: 264
Genre: YA Fiction
Source: Library
Finished: 4-7-11
4 Bears

Moon Over Manifest

Abilene Tucker feels abandoned. Her father has put her on a train, sending her off to live with an old friend for the summer while he works a railroad job. Armed only with a few possessions and her list of universals, Abilene jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was.

Having heard stories about Manifest, Abilene is disappointed to find that it’s just a dried-up, worn-out old town. But her disappointment quickly turns to excitement when she discovers a hidden cigar box full of mementos, including some old letters that mention a spy known as the Rattler. These mysterious letters send Abilene and her new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt, even though they are warned to “Leave Well Enough Alone.”

Abilene throws all caution aside when she heads down the mysterious Path to Perdition to pay a debt to the reclusive Miss Sadie, a diviner who only tells stories from the past. It seems that Manifest’s history is full of colorful and shadowy characters—and long-held secrets. The more Abilene hears, the more determined she is to learn just what role her father played in that history. And as Manifest’s secrets are laid bare one by one, Abilene begins to weave her own story into the fabric of the town.

I picked up this book because it was the 2011 Newberry Award Winner and was on display at the library. What a delight! A historical (1936) book that looks to the past (1918) for answers.  The mystery Abilene is trying to uncover is unfolded slowly.  A wonderful debut and a great book for young readers.

Author: Claire Vanderpool
Published: October 2010
Pages: 347
Genre:  Tween Historical Fiction
Source:  Library
Finished:  6-13-11
4 Bears

Mini YA Reviews

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

*Spoiler Alert* - If you have not read The Dark Divine, this synopsis may contain spoilers.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

I devoured the first book in this series, The Dark Divine. This one did not have the pull and charm of the first book (for me), but still was an enjoyable enough read that I look forward to the next installment.

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The Fallen by Lauren Kate (audio)

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

I chose this audio book based on the reader. Justine Eyre is one of my favorites. Honestly, I am not sure I would have stuck with the book if I was reading. It took awhile for the story to get going. Not sure if I will continue with the series.

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Beat The Band by Don Calame

Cooper Redman has one thing on his mind: tagging as many bases as possible by the end of sophomore year. He’s already picked out a prime target: the divine Prudence Nash, whose sexy serpent tattoo haunts his dreams. But when Coop is paired with the infamous “Hot Dog” Helen for a semester-long Health project on safe sex, his hopes of making it to the Majors are suddenly DOA. It’s going to take something totally epic to resuscitate his reputation. Something like winning The Battle of the Bands with his best buds Matt and Sean. There’s just one problem: they suck.

Last year I surprisingly liked Swim the Fly. I laughed my way through this one as well. This book was told from Cooper's point of view.  I hope that means there is one more book told from Sean's POV!  Caution:  does contain high school boy humor and language.

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Sorta Like A Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom’s boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). But Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. Instead, she focuses on bettering the lives of her alcoholic mother and her quirky circle of friends: a glass-ceiling-breaking single mother raising a son diagnosed with autism; Father Chee and The Korean Divas for Christ (soul-singing ESL students); a nihilist octogenarian; a video-game-playing gang of outcasts; and a haiku-writing war vet. But then a fatal tragedy threatens Amber’s optimism—and her way of life. Can Amber continue to be the princess of hope?
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I love it when books totally surprise me. I picked up this book not knowing what it was about, had an idea and was totally wrong. Once I got used to Amber's voice, I was hooked to the end. Heartwarming, hilarious, emotional, a must read!

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.


Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

This storyline is intriguing. This does not have the action/suspense of other YA Dystopian novels of late, but still is a great story with book 2, Crossed, due in November.

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The Last Good Place of Lily Odilon

Abducted? Runaway? Murder victim?

Lily Odilon—local wild child from a middle-of-nowhere town—has vanished after spending the night with her boyfriend, new kid Albert Morales. Suspected in her disappearance, Albert sets out with Lily’s prickly younger sister, Olivia, to discover what really happened to Lily—and to keep the promise he made to her late one night.

A strong debut YA novel. It reminded me of Paper Towns. Albert is a great character, there were times I rooted him on and other times I wanted him to turn around a just go home! The story is told with flashbacks, that are easy to follow. The end sorta leaves me wondering if there is a follow-up book as Lily need some justice.

Author: Sara Beitia
Published: October 2010
Pages: 310
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Library
Finished: 4-22-11
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Exceptional Young Adult Books

Like a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac, Elisa ghostwrites love notes for the boys in her school. But when Elisa falls for Theo Moses, things change fast. Theo asks for verses to court the lovely Lila—a girl known for her beauty, her popularity, and a cutting ability to remind Elisa that she has none of these. At home, Elisa's father, the one person she feels understands her, has left on an extended business trip. As the days grow shorter, Elisa worries that the increasingly urgent letters she sends her father won't bring him home. Like the undercover agent she feels she has become, Elisa retreats to a pond in the woods, where her talent for ice-skating gives her the confidence to come out from under cover and take center stage. But when Lila becomes jealous of Theo's friendship with Elisa, her revenge nearly destroys Elisa.

Elisa is an unforgettable character.  This is a beautifully written story of courage, the importance of words and the ability to communicate them. 

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Life is about choices, and Natalie Sterling prides herself on making the right ones. She’s avoided the jerky guys populating her prep school, always topped honor roll, and is poised to be the first female student council president in years.

If only other girls were as sensible and strong. Like the pack of freshmen yearning to be football players’ playthings. Or her best friend, whose crappy judgment nearly ruined her life.

But being sensible and strong isn’t easy. Not when a prank nearly gets her expelled. Not when her advice hurts more than it helps. Not when a boy she once dismissed becomes the boy she can’t stop thinking about.

The line between good and bad has gone fuzzy, and crossing it could end in disaster . . . or become the best choice she’ll ever make.

Another nominee in Michigan's Thumb's Up Top 20 for 2011 award. Readers will find themselves identifying with these characters, understanding the complexities of knowing what you want and the journey to get there. The cover does not do the book justice. It is more than a teen romance.

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Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home—her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power—and the courage to fight her own inner demons?

A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

This is a short novel (178 pages), about an important subject.  The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse caught my attention and I was interested to see how they would relate. There is a lot we don't know that was frustrating for me.  The ending while rushed was not all tied up with a bow and very realistic. I think this would be a great book to get discussion going between parents/teens, teens/teens, etc.

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