Forbidden by Syrie James - ESSENTIAL

James, Syrie and James, Ryan M. Forbidden, 410. Harper Teen, 2012. $8.99 Language PG-13(50 swears), Sexual Content G; Violence PG; Claire has finally settled in at her new school and is silently praying that her mom will find some reason to stay put. Claire loves it here, she loves her school and friends and when a new guy shows up she wants to stay even more desperately than before. When Alec arrives at school he plans on just blending in and making no strong connections with anyone. That was his plan until he saw Claire. When the two find out who each really is angel and half angel, their love explodes but they must keep is a secret. How can they do that though when everyone is after Clair's life pushing Alec to try to protect her. But how far is too far? 

Forbidden is a wonderfully amazing story that I absolutely adore. A love story that explodes off the page making me and all other readers unable to exit this world that we've been transported into. An ending that laves readers itching for more. MS HS - ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: KU

Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate - ESSENTIAL

Kate, Lauren Fallen in Love, 200 p. Delacorte Press, 2011.  $16.  Content: G.  Of all of the Valentine’s Days that have passed since Lucinda and Daniel have been on their eternal quest, there has only ever been one where the two of them have been together, knowing each other, and able to love – but it will take Shelby, Miles, Arianne and Roland to make it work.  There is more than one set of hearts involved in this Valentine novella.  

Kate has written a very nice intermediate novel as we all anxiously await summer and the publication of book #4 in the Fallen series.  Your girls will love it.  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - ESSENTIAL

Garcia, Kami and Margaret Stohl Beautiful Chaos, 513 p. Little, Brown, 2011.  Language: PG-13 (24 swears, 0 ‘f’); Lena Caster has done the impossible – she has claimed herself for both the light and the dark.  The price, however, is being paid by the entire world, as a curse seems to have descended upon Gatlin, turning winter into one continuous dry autumn.  In order for the balance to be destroyed and for Abraham Ravenwood to be defeated, “The One That is Two” must be sacrificed on the eighteenth moon.  But with so many characters who have dual natures, no one is sure who the prophecy refers to.  Lena and Ethan and all of the friends, relatives and enemies have a lot of work to do before that moon.  

At first I was kind of put off by how slowly everything was developing within the book, but then I got to thinking about it like a train wreck or a car accident – you know it is about to happen, you can see it happening – you know it is going to be really bad when it does happen.  You know you shouldn’t look, but you just can’t make yourself stop watching as everything seems to proceed in slow motion.  Though I wasn’t happy with the ending (no spoilers here), I was glad that I continued reading – now I have to twiddle my thumbs and worry until book #4 appears.  

THERE HAD BETTER BE A BOOK NUMBER FOUR – do you hear me Kami and Margaret????  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Everneath by Brodi Ashton - ESSENTIAL

Ashton, Brodi Everneath, 384 p. Balzer + Bray (Harper), 2012.  Content: G.  For 100 years (or six months in human time), Nikki has been caught in the Feed.  She should have wasted to almost nothing, but somehow she managed to stay almost the same as when she went in.  Instead of going straight to the Tunnels for eternity, she has been allowed to Return – to go to her home, where she has six months (100 years in EverNeath time) to say goodbye.  But to return home means she has to confront everyone she left behind – her best friend Jules, her boyfriend Jack – her heart.  When she is finally able to trust again, maybe, just maybe, there is a way for her to defeat the Tunnels and remain with those she loves.  But Cole, the Everliving she Fed, is not willing to let her leave; he will sabotage or coerce her in any way possible to get her back.  

Let's face it - there have been WAY TOO MANY paranormal romance books published lately.  So, I was very ready to be all skeptical as I started another paranormal romance with a “girl in a gown” on the cover.  Instead I was literally swept away into an amazing story.  Yes it is romantic, but it is not just romantic.  Yes it has supernatural beings, but it is the humans that remain in control.  Bravo Brodi Ashton!!  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - ESSENTIAL

Clare, Cassandra Clockwork Prince, 498 p. Margaret K. McElderry (Simon), 2011.  $20.  Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f’), Violence: PG-13, Mature Content: PG-13.  Tessa has been freed from the clutches of the Dark Sisters, but now she knows that her brother is a traitor.  The Magister is still pursuing Tessa, but more importantly, if Tessa and the rest of the London Enclave do not find the Magister in two weeks, they will lose control of the house to Benedict Lightwood.  Meanwhile, Tessa is still torn between the affections of Jem, who obviously adores her and the intrigue of Will, who seems to be angry at the entire world.  Clare again serves up magic, danger, intrigue and romance in spades.  Fans will NOT be disappointed!  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Passion by Lauren Kate - ADVISABLE

Kate, Lauren Passion, 420 p. Delacorte (Random), 2011. $18.  Language: PG-13 (15+ swears, 0 ‘f’).  Luce’s and Daniel’s love affair goes back further time than she ever suspected.  After she dives through the Announcer in order escape the pressures being applied by Daniel, Cam, Miles and all of the Outcasts, she realizes that journeying back through her lifetimes may give her the clues she needs to decide for herself what her destiny actually is.  She’s joined on her journey by a small gargoyle who tells her to call him Bill.  Every step she tales, every life she experiences. Puches her further back in time – could she be going back to the ultimate beginning.  Her only hope is that at the end, she will have the knowledge she needs to choose her future for herself.  Luce finally comes into her own in the final book of this trilogy.  I was actually able to forgive the first two books for their flaws, as they setup a great ending.  HS - ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher