Luminous by Dawn Metcalf - OPTIONAL

Metcalf, Dawn Luminous, 367 pgs. Dutton, 2011. Language - PG-13 (43 swears, 1 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; After an embarrassing episode at the store, Consuela is relaxing in the tub when she finds out she can take off her skin. She enjoys the feeling of being a free skeleton for a moment before discovering she can make a replacement skin of air, water, and more. Consuela finds herself in a whole new world and takes a role in saving other peoples' lives, but there is a killer in this world, too. Will any of them survive his wrath? 

When Consuela first took off her skin, it freaked me out and I almost jumped out of my own it scared me so much. After that first time, though, it was easy to accept it as part of her and continue on with the story. However, there were some more frightening parts throughout the book. I do not recommend this to the faint of heart. Luminous isn't all horror, there were some very funny and heart-warming scenes as well. Overall, it was a very good read. 

HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen ADVISABLE

Gaughen, A.C. Scarlet, 292 pgs. Walker Childrens, February 2012. Language-PG; Sexual Content-PG; Violence-PG-13.

A telling of Robin Hood through the eyes of one of his Merry Men, Scarlet. Who happens to be a girl pretending to be a boy, but only the Merry Men know the truth. It is a very gritty and violent telling of Robin Hood's exploits in robbing from the rich to give to the poor, and Gisbourne's efforts to catch him.

There was a lot of adventure and fighting and gore, which made for an exciting story. However, Scarlet spoke in commoner-slang (for lack of a better word) and it got rather tedious to read after 100 pages or so. She also seemed much younger to me than seventeen, her actual age. But overall, an exciting book. Though there is Robin Hood and fighting, Scarlet is definitely a very feminine narrator, so it might be a hard sell to boys. Sad.

HS, ADVISABLE. Rebekah, youth services librarian

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern OPTIONAL

Halpern, Julie Don't Stop Now, 224 pags. Feiwel and Friends, June 2011. Language--PG-13 (30 swears); Sexual Content--PG-13; Violence--PG.

Lillian's sort-of friend, Penny, fakes her own kidnapping on the day after high school graduation. Lil and her best friend Josh decide to take the situation into their own hands, and instead of telling the police, decide to take a road trip to Washington to figure out what she was thinking. Most of the book is from Lil's POV, but Penny does have a few paragraphs every couple of chapters to give background and perspective.

I usually really enjoy "road trip" books. But this one, I didn't get. Periodically I'd ask myself, "What is the point of this novel?" and I never had an answer. By the end of the story I decided it was Lil and Josh's relationship, since that is the question asked on the cover. But even at the last page, where their relationship stands is still up in the air, so again, I had to ask, "What was the point?" And going after Penny seemed a really flimsy excuse behind the road trip. I found it a rather pointless book.

HS--OPTIONAL. Rebekah, youth services librarian

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman - OPTIONAL

Shulman, Polly The Grimm Legacy, 325 pgs. Putnam, 2010. Language - G, Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG; Elizabeth is excited to get a job in hopes that she will finally be able to gain friends. However, she finds a whole lot more than that. Magic and a mystery are now part of Elizabeth's formerly boring life and she's knee deep in trouble, too. With everyone pointing fingers and arguing, it's hard to get anything accomplished, can they over come their differences long enough to save each other and the magic? 

Once you get into it, this book is intense, but everything seems to be worked out too fast and easily. It's still cute and exciting with new magic at every turn. 

MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac - ADVISABLE

Bruchac, Joseph Dragon Castle, 333 pgs. Penguin Group, 2011. Language - G, Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG; Prince Rashko is the only sensible member of the royal family. Unfortunately, his older brother Prince Paulek is in charge when questionable guests arrive and he lets them right in. Now the guests are using enchantments to control Paulek and are abusing their freedom to reek havoc within the castle walls. It's up to Rashko to save the kingdom from the evil plans of their guests by using the power of his ancestor Pavol. But first he has to get back into the castle. 

It was slow at first, but after the evil-doers showed up it finally picked up. I liked switching between Rashko's story of saving the kingdom versus his ancestor Pavol's own heroic story. The last chapter put a fun twist on the story that made it end on such a good note that I already want to read it again. 

MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH

The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder -- ADVISABLE

Wunder, Wendy The Probability of Miracles, 357 pgs. Razerbill, December 2011. Language-PG-13 (about 30 swears); Sexual Content - Pg-13; Violence-PG.

After struggling with cancer for five years, doctors tell 17-year-old Cambell that there's nothing more they can do. What she needs is a miracle. So her mother packs Cam and her younger sister up and they make their way to Promise, Maine, a town known for it's miracles.

It took me 100 pages to really get into the book, and about as long to like Cam. Probably because I knew that she was going to die, since she had terminal cancer, and I didn't want to get attached. But I did. Cam is very sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor. She grows a lot over her summer in Maine. Overall, it was a good book. One I think teens would enjoy. Definitely one for high school.

HS -- ADVISABLE. Rebekah, youth services librarian

Throat by R.A. Nelson - ADVISABLE

Nelson, R.A. Throat, 453 pgs. Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Language - PG (61 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG-13; Emma hates her curse, who wouldn't? Getting seizures is not the most enjoyable experience, but during a run in with a creepy guy in Georgia, the curse saves her life. Unfortunately, the creepy guy isn't finished with her yet and is tracking Emma down. This forces Emma to leave home, make new friends, and become a criminal, but it's better than the alternative: loosing everything worth living for. 

When I picked up Throat, I didn't expect the tight grip it would have on me--I was expecting to be disappointed with it. It was thrilling to go on the run with Emma and run into new people. It was scary to fight the bad guy and his goons. It was heart-wrenching to leave Emma's family crying. This book has it all, and you couldn't ask for a stronger heroine. 

MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff - OPTIONAL

Zadoff, Allen My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies, 282 pgs. Egmont, 2011. Language - PG (45 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - G; Adam has family issues, social issues, and self-confidence issues. Adam is a behind-the-scenes guy--literally and figuratively. He can't bring himself to stand up to his brother or Derek, no way is going to get up and stand up to himself and admit he needs to make changes. Adam needs to get his act together and stand up for something in his life, but how can he when everything is falling to pieces? 

Adam's inner conflict causes most of his outer conflicts; I love how real Adam's story is and how you can relate to it. Getting lost in the chaos and drama of Montclair High's thespians is easy and overwhelming. I loved being apart of Adam's growth and gaining some of his strength myself. I only wish I didn't have to be apart of Adam's typical teenage boy thoughts. 

MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

The Dark City by Catherine Fisher - OPTIONAL

Fisher, Catherine Relic Master: The Dark City, 372 pgs. The Penguin Group, 2011. Language - G, Sexual Content - G; Violence - G; Raffi is the pupil of a reckless keeper, Galen Harn. Although they should stay in hiding, Galen leads them into another risky situation, and this one is a trap. Half by force of their trappers and half of their own will, Raffi and Galen are going to the city where their enemies rule. What could go wrong? 

Adventure, despair, betrayal, and surprises, this book has it all. I was not captivated in the beginning, but it has a way of drawing you in slowly. By the end of the book, I was caught hook, line, and sinker. Now I just need the second one. 

MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Evil Roots by Andrew Nance - OPTIONAL

Nance, Andrew Return to Daemon Hall: Evil Roots, 240 pages, Henry Holt and Company, 2011. Language: PG (less than 5 swears, 0 "F") Sexual content: PG, Violence: PG 13. It's been a year since the contest that changed Wade's life forever. A year since the horrifying night spent in one of the most haunted locations in the world. But now there's a new contest. New players, new location. Wade is sure that this time, with Daemon hall burned to the ground, it will be a safe one, but he couldn't be more wrong, and this time, there may be more than just one tragedy.

This book honestly chilled me to the bone. It had a lot of twists that kept me reading until the end, and terrified of the dark long after I turned the last page. Return to Daemon hall was extremely well written and captivating, and Nance did well to keep it, for the most part, teenager friendly. But overall, the plot was much too demonic and had a bad energy to it, especially for someone who believes in evil spirits. As much as I loved the stories and the way it was written, the dark feeling almost makes me want to hide the book in the back of my basement and never think about it again. Of course, for someone who doesn't believe in or is not affected by spirits or demons, it would be an awesome read.  

MS, HS - OPTIONAL Student reviewer: BT

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf - ESSENTIAL

Wolf, Jennifer Shaw  Breaking Beautiful  Walker and Company $16.99, 2012. Rated PG-13 for mature content. When Allie and her boyfriend Tripp are involved in an accident leaving Tripp dead, all eyes turn to Allie since she’s the new girl in town and Tripp is the most popular boy at school. Allie’s amnesia about the night of the accident seems rather convenient and a detective from another city is brought in to investigate. 

I’m what you would call a reluctant reader and I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve recommended it all my teacher friends and they too have read it quickly and liked it. I hesitated to recommend it to everyone because it does deal with Tripp beating up Allie on a regular basis.  The text is not graphic and written in a way that leaves the imagination to infer the more graphic violence. With that being said I give the recommendation of 

ESSENTIAL - MS, HS. Shauna, reading teacher.

The Galahad Legacy by Dom Testa - ESSENTIAL

Testa, Dom The Galahad Legacy, 292 p. TOR, 2012.  $18.  Content: G.  The Galahad is going to explode – if nothing else changes, all of the hard work and sacrifice of the tens and their families and all of Earth will be for nothing.  But Triana has come winging back through the wormhole – bringing with her a visitor.  An alien visitor with an offer and with an ulterior motive.  The offer may save them all, but the motive may tear them apart.  Before they can step foot on the planet of their destination, they have choices to make and heartache to face. 

For all of the teen melodrama of the first books, it was well worth it to reach this last (?) book in the series.  This will never be a big seller – unfortunately science fiction never is – but I thoroughly enjoyed it at its end.  And Testa sets up plenty of wiggle room for many more books, so should he be so inclined.  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Sharpshooter by Chris Lynch - ADVISABLE

Lynch, Chris Sharpshooter (Vietnam 2), 185 p. Scholastic, 2012.  $17.  Violence: R.  Once there were four friends – but that was before the war.  Now they are each somewhere, somewhere they can’t be together.  Ivan has always been the one eager for war – and straight he goes into the Army and straight into training as a sharpshooter.  On the ground in Vietnam is much different than picking off targets, but Ivan is in pursuit of his sniper dream.  On his days off, however, he heads out voluntarily with an elite group of marksmen – and what he does there will change him forever.  

Right up to the last seven pages, I was happy – gritty, but happy – and then my dreams were dashed.  Lynch made that step from implied violence to graphic violence – the step that takes this particular book from the upper elementary right past it older middle school or high school.  This may be a good series for your struggling high school readers, but war is a hard subject to make palatable for the younger ones.  MS - OPTIONAL; HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Blizzard of Glass by Sally M. Walker - OPTIONAL

Walker, Sally M. Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917, 140 p.  Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2012.  NON-FICTION.  In 1917, a ship loaded with munitions for the war in Europe collided with another boat and exploded – strewing debris and leveling building through large swaths of Halifax, killing nearly 2000 people.  But students today know nothing about this devastation. 

If you have a solid non-fiction collection or regional interest, this piece of WWI history is well worth the investment.  A bit dry leading up to the actual explosion – events are riveting afterwards.  MS, HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

Forgiven by Janet Fox - ADVISABLE

Fox, Janet Forgiven, 257 p. Speak (Penguin), 2011.  $8.99.  Content: PG (implication of brothels – nothing explicit).  Kula Baker has lived a rough life with her father and his gang in the wilds of the west.  When trouble comes, however, Kula is sent to live in faraway San Francisco, with only a few mysterious clues to follow.  For all that it is a city, in the early 1900’s San Francisco is plenty wild.  Besides worrying about her old friend Min who is indentured to Kula’s nemesis – a bounty hunter who is determined to see Kula’s father hang, she is also intrigued by the not-quite-men whom she is meeting for the first time.  David Wong, a Chinese who is handsome, soft-spoken and very attentive, and Will Henderson, the gorgeous son of a wealthy banker, who can show Kula the fine side of life.  Both boys vie for Kula’s attention, just at the advent of an unforeseen disaster. 

Just like Fox’s Faithful, let yourself be drawn into San Francisco just before and after the great earthquake.  HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Unforsaken by Sophie Littlefield - OPTIONAL

Littlefield, Sophie Unforsaken (Hailey Tarbell Series #2), 288 pgs. Random House Children's Books,  2011 (October). $11.98. (Language-PG (Swear count: I don’t remember any, Violence-PG13; Sexual Content-PG) Hailey is descended from a long line of healers who came to the United States from Ireland.  This story continues from the first book, Banished.  Hailey, her aunt Prairie, and her little brother Chub have fled from General Prentiss who is trying to force them to use their powers to create zombies from those that have just died.  The three have gone to Milwaukee, changed their names and assumed new lives.  For the first time in Hailey’s life she seems normal – regular clothes, regular friends, a regular life.  But Hailey misses her boyfriend Kaz who is a seer.  They devise a plan to stay in touch with each other.  They are careful, just not careful enough.  Their scheme is found out; the General is after them.

 The story is told primarily in Hailey’s voice.  However, other voices show up throughout the story.  The story is built around the conflict of Hailey & Kaz fighting to be free from the General and his evil plans.  While I think girls will like the story I didn’t really connect to the characters until the final scenes.  There are some scenes that contain some moderate violence – bombing, shootings, etc. and that is why I gave it a PG13 for violence.

 HS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: W. Child - Cyprus High Library Media Specialist

Once by Anna Carey

Carey, Anna Once, 368 p. HarperCollins, JULY 2012.  $18.  Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex).  For months Eve has been safe, hiding in a community of women across the bay from the old San Francisco.  But when she hears rumors of Caleb hurt and dying, she risks going in search for him – and walks right into a trap.  Now she has been taken to the City of Sand, before the King, who she finds out is her real father.  He plans for her to take her place beside him as he works to rebuild the old America, being the pretty figurehead as his troops hunt down rebels – including Eve’s love, Caleb.  Eve is stuck between a rock and a hard place as she tries to find her way in this new world – or how to find a way out.  

Book 2 in this series brings forth a few answers but MANY questions and A LOT of anxiety as the story continues to unfold.  Now I have to anxiously await book #3.  I feel sorry for everyone who has to wait until JULY to read this gem.  This is what Kiera Cass was trying to do with her book, but Anna Carey succeeded.  MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge - ADVISABLE

Kittredge, Caitlin The Nightmare Garden, 432 p. Random House, 2012.  $18.  Language: R (60+ swears, 0 ‘f’).  Aoife (Ee-fah), 16, Has discovered that the necrovirus is a hoax perpetrated by the Proctors who want to keep Magic for themselves.  As the Half Human/Half Fey who unleashed destruction upon her city, however, she is a fugitive – one who is determined to return to her city, no matter the cost, and release her mother from her imprisonment in iron – the iron that has been driving them all crazy.  

All along her way, however, Aoife will make the same mistakes all head-strong characters seem to make – leaping before looking.  She will leap into traps set by her enemies; she will leap into mistakes that could have been avoided had she just taken a moment to think.  For all of her mistakes, however, you have to admire Aoife’s grit.  I just hope that in the next book she actually makes some choices – maybe dangerous ones – but choices, instead of being used by everyone around her.  I am not sure why the swear count shot up so high in this one – make it hard to justify it for a middle school.  HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

A Plague Year by Edward Bloor –OPTIONAL

Bloor, Edward A Plague Year, 320 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012. $12.79. (Language-PG, Violence-PG13; Sexual Content-PG; Drinking & Drug Use.)
Tom is a teen that lives in a small town. He works hard at school so that one day he can go to an out of state college. Tom thinks its unfair that he has to work at his dad’s grocery store –for free. When he starts to take part in a therapy group for teens and they start discussing drugs, it opens Tom’s eyes to the drug problem in his community. Meth has started to take over; theft at the grocery store reaches epic proportions and even people he knows start to become zombie’s from it. This is the story of how one community struggles against a plague of addiction.
I think drug use and its expanding effects are an important topic. I really wanted to like this book, having known a meth addict -and seeing how it effected his life. But this book was sort of bleak, boring, and had an extremely dated feeling. I am not sure what I was supposed to take away from this book, but I think there might be some murky lessons hidden somewhere. I was rather irritated reading some of the solutions/coping mechanisms the characters and the community came up with. For example: if your store carry’s items that are continually stolen for meth –keep selling them, and allowing theft without prosecution, until eventually you get an employee shot in the process. The bottom line is that teen readers would be bored to tears, especially with the main character, and I am not sure they come out of reading this any different than they were before.
OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie MLS graduate.

Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber - OPTIONAL

Strieber, Whitley Melody Burning, 215 p. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2011.  Language: R (70 swears, o ‘f’); Violence: PG-13.  Many years ago, Breseford was with his father at the top of a new building and was witness when the strange man pushed the father to his death.  Since that day, he has hidden with the passages, shafts and ceilings of the high-end condominiums, existing quietly off of the residents.  Melody is a rising singing star – with a stage mother who is bent of controlling Melody’s every move.  But Melody can hear Breseford within the walls of her home and is duly freaked out by his quiet presence.  When the two meet however, it begins not only an unlikely romance, but also a deadly man-hunt, as the building’s owner – the original murderer – is determined to hunt down Breseford for his own nefarious purposes.  

While there are some very tender, sweet moments here, the premise is so from left field that in the end it is almost hard to take seriously.  I can totally see this as a Disney TV movie – so much drama and saccharine.  This would be great in paperback as a summer beach read. HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher