With works by heavy hitters such as Scott Westerfeld, Gregory Maguire, Andrew Smith, Katherine Paterson, Garth Nix, Jacqueline Woodson, and Maggie Stiefvater, this month’s column is chock-full of upcoming YA and nonfiction titles that will have teens adding to overflowing TBR piles. There’s something below for reluctant readers (Peter Jay Black’s Urban Outlaws), history buffs (Timothée De Fombelle’s Vango), aspiring actresses (Dahlia Adler’s Behind the Scenes), wannabe scientists (Sandra Markle’s The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bat ), and Game of Thrones enthusiasts (The Kiss of Deception).
Adler, Dahlia. Behind the Scenes. 360p. Spencer Hill. 2014. Tr $9.95. ISBN 9781939392978; ebk. ISBN 9781939392985.
Gr 9 Up–Everyone Ally Duncan knows is jealous of her best friend, Hollywood star Vanessa Park, but Ally is not. Van has always wanted to be an actress, and Ally couldn’t care less about living that life. But when her father’s medical bills threaten her ability to attend Columbia in the fall, Ally knows that she needs to find a way to make money, fast. Van hires her as an assistant, and the protagonist finds that life on the set is just as superficial as she suspected, until she gets to know Van’s costar, Liam. As Ally starts to find herself attracted to Liam, Van’s publicist convinces the actors to pose as a couple to attract more publicity for their new show. Overall, this is an enjoyable pick that merges a handful of topics—family, illness, friendships, and relationships—successfully.–Kelly Jo Lasher, Middle Township High School, Cape May Court House, NJ
Akins, Karen. Loop. 336p. St. Martin’s Griffin. Oct. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250030986; ebk. ISBN 9781250030993.
Gr 9 Up–Bree is a Shifter, one of the lucky few born with the ability to travel through time. For Shifters in the 23rd century, history exams are hands-on affairs. When Bree’s midterm sends her to the 21st century, she bungles it magnificently. The teen manages to kidnap a boy named Finn, lose a valuable device belonging to a temporal smuggler, and earn a ‘D’ for her trouble. Later, when she returns to retrieve the contraband, she accidentally transports Finn back to the future with her. The intricate plot circles back on itself, exploring themes of inevitability and predestination. Akins avoids many of the paradoxes that plague time-travel stories, laying out the rules of Shifting, then tweaking those rules without breaking them. Loop is time well spent.–Tony Hirt, Hennepin County Library, MN
Angelini, Josephine. Trial By Fire. 384p. (The Worldwalker Trilogy: Bk. 1). ebook available. Feiwel & Friends. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781250050885.
Gr 8 Up –Lily Proctor knew she shouldn’t have gone out on Friday night with her best friend, and now boyfriend, Tristan. Lily has powerfully debilitating allergies, can’t handle even a sip of alcohol. When the vodka slipped into her soda sends Lily into a fever-induced seizure, she is transported into another world, Salem, by an evil version of herself. Salem features Crucibles (witches who control technology) and monsters that haunt the shadows. Lily must befriend Rowan Fall, a moody yet irresistible man who becomes her guardian, and train with Rowan and his friends, Caleb and Tristan, to become the strongest witch Salem has ever seen. Meanwhile, the cruel Lillian is doing everything in her power to stop any scientific advances, and will stop at nothing to see the downcast Outlanders that Lily has allied with completely destroyed. Much like Anna Jarzab’s Tandem (Delacorte, 2013) and Shannon Delaney’s “Weather Witch” books (St. Martin’s), Angelini’s latest series opener combines the best elements of a magical fantasy with hints of sci-fi, history, and romance.–Eden Rassette, Kenton County Public Library, KY
Bellin, Joshua David. Survival Colony 9. 336p. ebook available. S. & S./Margaret K. McElderry Bks. Sept. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781481403542. LC 2013034595.
Gr 7 Up –Fourteen-year-old Querry Genn is a member of Survival Colony Nine, the last remaining human group on a war-ravaged Earth. The colony is nomadic. They must move at the slightest hint of danger or risk being attacked and consumed by the Skaldi, an alien creature that invades and mimics a human host until they eat the person from the inside out. No one lives through a Skaldi attack except for Querry, who miraculously survived—minus his memories. Now, the protagonist’s father, a domineering man who has led the colony all over the desert, is desperate for his son to recover his past for the sake of the colony’s survival. The novel’s premise feels like a mix of Stephenie Meyer’s The Host (Little, Brown, 2008) and Justin Cronin’s The Passage (Ballantine, 2008). The Skaldi are terrifying creatures, but perhaps not as terrifying as the desolate landscape that Querry and the colony must traverse. There’s only survival. Survival Colony 9 will appeal to sci-fi fans who will anxiously await the planned sequel.–Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ
Black, Peter Jay. Urban Outlaws. 320p. Bloomsbury. Oct. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781619634008.
Gr 5-8–Heads up, fans of Alex Rider: here’s the next thing. Five British tweens use their advanced skills in hacking, thievery, and deception to take from the powerful and give to those in need. In this first book of the series, the Urban Outlaws (Jack, Charlie, Obi, Slink, and Wren) investigate a villain who uses a supercomputer for nefarious purposes. The gripping plot twists through underground lairs, rooftop break-ins, shadowy government interrogations, and more—almost all at night—with all the fancy tech gadgetry, disguises, and awesomely dangerous athletic skills readers could want. Characters, while distinguished primarily by their independent skills, show off their individual personalities with ready-for-television snappy dialogue. A fun, fast pick worthy of every middle-grade collection, this may even catch the attention of older reluctant readers.–Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC
Bond, Gwenda. Girl on a Wire. 360p. ebook available. Amazon/Skyscape. Oct. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781477847824.
Gr 7-10 –The Garcias and Maronis, two prominent circus families, have been feuding ever since Nan Maroni had been accused of cursing her fellow performers decades earlier. Not believing in old feuds or magic, 16-year-old Jules Maroni, Nan’s fearless high-wire walker granddaughter, convinces her family to take a gig with Cirque American. The Maronis are greeted with icy stares by the performers, especially the Garcias, but it is not until strange things begin to happen—objects from the past appearing and causing similar accidents as the last time the two families worked together—that Jules begins to take her family’s history seriously. The heroine teams up with an unexpected ally, the handsome and talented Remy Garcia, to uncover the truth before it is too late. With a thrilling mystery, a hint of magic, and a touch of romance, Girl on a Wire takes readers into the fascinating world of circus performers. The characters’ motives are believable and the resolution does not feel contrived. Jules and Remy have a relationship of equals, with each pushing the other to better their performances. There are some sweet scenes between the two, but this is not a romance novel. The excellent quality of the narrative makes it a solid choice for readers seeking a unique setting and a strong female protagonist.–Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ
Boyle Crompton, Laurie. Adrenaline Crush. 192p. ebook available. Farrar. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780374300616.
Gr 9 Up–Dyna is a young daredevil and outdoor challenge junkie who loves nothing more than reveling in the mountains and forests of her mid-Hudson Valley home. The teen comes by her thrill-seeking naturally from tattooed and free-spirited parents and an older brother whose addiction is skydiving. A fast and flirty bike ride with a guy from school turns dangerous: Her impromptu cliff climb leads to a desperate fall into a shallow part of the swimming hole—and a splintering open break on her ankle. Doctors warn that it may not ever be right again. Jay, then just an afternoon’s diversion, was there to get her help, maybe even save her life, and the two become romantically involved as Dyna attempts to recover. He is a little tame for wild-girl Dyna, but the chastened and more subdued daredevil likes him just fine. Her mom forces Dyna to sessions at a wellness center for physical and mental therapy, and that brings Pierce into the picture. A young injured veteran, who lost his leg in the course of saving another soldier overseas, Pierce assists Dyna’s therapy group and challenges her assumptions about where her life will go next. Thoughtful teens will enjoy this satisfying read with well-crafted characters and a nice sense of place.–Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA
Brown, Rachel Manija & Sherwood Smith. Stranger. 432p. Viking. Nov. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780670014804; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781101615393.
Gr 7 Up–Intrigue, feuds, hypocrisy, and a love triangle fill the pages of this dystopian tale narrated by a diverse cast of characters in alternating chapters. After a solar flare, all electronic devices are useless. A mysterious, wounded stranger wanders into Las Anclas (formerly Los Angeles) with a secret; Ross has narrowly escaped the diabolical ruler Voske, who desires a rare book that Ross possesses. Mia’s family shelters Ross as he heals and receives warrior training from 16-year-old Jennie, Mia’s best friend and the town’s teacher. Both teens are attracted to the newcomer, and he can’t decide between them. Authors Brown and Smith create a village in which flora and fauna exhibit flesh-eating powers and symbiotic relationships with select people. Some humans remain “Norms” while others are “Changed,” and therein lies the only prejudice; no one looks askance at homosexuality and all races are appreciated. Stranger is a fresh story with well-developed characters, fast-paced action, a fantastical world, and a hint of romance.–Laura Falli, McNeil High School, Austin, TX
Chang, Leonard. Triplines: An Autobiographical Novel. 236p. Black Heron. 2014. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781936364091; ebk. ISBN 9781936364107.
Gr 8 Up–A thought-provoking story of a Korean American boy growing up in Long Island with an abusive, alcoholic father. Lenny observes his parents’ marital troubles and financial stresses, tries to avoid his father’s rages, and sympathizes with his hard-working mother. Though his father has few redeeming qualities, young Lenny does try to understand the source of the violence and drinking—perhaps it was his father’s difficult childhood, or brutal experiences in the South Korean Navy. Readers will root for the precocious protagonist. He’s teased at school by racist bullies, but because he doesn’t speak Korean, he also has trouble fitting in with his mother’s church group and communicating with his grandmother. The story really takes off when Lenny gets involved with an older pot-dealing teen. Sal offers to pay Lenny to guard a patch of marijuana hidden in a swamp, and then help harvest it. The protagonist soon discovers library research as a means to learn about everything, from cultivating marijuana to descrambling cable TV signals. The ending is harsh but satisfying. This is a welcome addition to a multicultural library collection. Teens will relate to Lenny’s desperate wish to understand his father, and his eventual realization that some things will never change.–Miranda Doyle, Lake Oswego School District, OR
Chupeco, Rin. The Girl from the Well. 304p. ebook available. Sourcebooks Fire. Aug. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781402292187.
Gr 9 Up –This tale continues and reimagines the Japanese folktale of “Okiku and the Nine Plates.” The title character is a ghost wandering Earth to free the souls of murdered children who live chained to their murderers. The author delivers on this interesting premise, which lends itself to some creepy moments, as the protagonist avenges the murdered children. A human teenage boy, Tark, catches her attention because she can sense something in him, tied to the strange moving tattoos his mother gave him when he was five. As she gets to know more about Tark and his disturbed mother, a friendship forms as they travel to Japan to figure out his story. A dark novel that will appeal to horror fans, lovers of Elizabeth Scott’s Living Dead Girl (S. & S., 2008), and also potentially to teens interested in Japanese culture.–Sarah Jones, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, MI
Cooner, Donna. Can’t Look Away. 272p. Scholastic/Point. Aug. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545427654; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9780545634014. LC 2013049369.
Gr 9 Up–Torrey Grey (Beautystarz15) is a YouTube teen sensation. Her videos on fashion and shopping “hauls” have earned her articles in Teen Vogue and a league of online worshipers. Younger sister Miranda could not care less about beauty or fashion; her main interests lie with comics and superheros. While accompanying Torrey and a friend on a video shoot, Miranda is killed by a drunk driver while standing in the middle of a crosswalk. Sympathy for Torrey is quickly changed to blame when a video of an argument between Torrey and Miranda, recorded shortly before the accident, is posted. Newspaper articles about the accident and aftermath and tips from Torrey on fashion introduce chapters. Thoughtful messages about regret and the price of fame are poignant without being heavy-handed. Day of the Dead customs are significant aspects of the story, which makes for a unique multicultural twist. The portrayal of the impact of a child’s death on a family is authentic. The protagonist’s pain and remorse are raw and deeply defined. Although Torrey’s story is atypical, common themes of fitting in, boy-girl relationships, and sisterhood are universal.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA
de Fombelle, Timothée. Vango: Between Sky and Earth. tr. from French by Sarah Ardizzone. 432p. ebook available. Candlewick. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780763671969. LC 2013955696.
Gr 7 Up–A thrilling historical adventure set in the mid-1930s, this novel opens with a dramatic scene in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris where 19-year-old Vango is about to become a priest. Just before he is ordained, he is falsely accused of a murder. After scaling the Cathedral, the teen’s exploits unfold across rooftops, on land and sea, and even by the Graf Zeppelin airship. Vango’s journey takes him from the Sicilian Islands, where he was raised by a nanny under mysterious circumstances, to Germany where Nazi power is on the rise. He remains just one step ahead of a determined—and somewhat comedic—police superintendent and several other characters whose obsession with capturing Vango leads to more questions than answers. With numerous characters and a winding and often complicated story, this breathtaking tale is guaranteed to keep teens on the edge of their seats, and will appeal to confident readers who enjoy intricately plotted tales.–Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA
Ewing, Amy. The Jewel. 368p. ebook available. HarperCollins. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062235794.
Gr 9 Up–Violet lives in a city divided into five concentric circles; with the poorest in the farthest outlining ring (The Marsh) and the wealthiest (The Jewel) at the center. The women of the Jewel are unable to produce healthy babies, so every year girls from the Marsh are tested and purchased to become surrogates; surrogates who demonstrate skills and are able to control the way the baby looks and special talents the child might have. Violet was tested at age 12 and taken from her family to be trained and sold after her 18th birthday. In this corrupt circle, Violet falls in love with an escort who has been hired to teach Violet’s mistress’ niece how to be a woman; a love that is ill-fated. Ewing writes a fast-paced story that takes readers into the inner workings of a society that is obsessed with power and perfection. Fans of Lauren DeStefano’s “The Chemical Garden” trilogy (S. & S.) will enjoy this YA debut.–Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH
Fehlbaum, Beth. Big Fat Disaster. 288p. Adams Media/Merit. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781440570483; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9781440570490.
Gr 9 Up–Colby is fat, and her family never lets her forget it. Her family appears perfect on the outside—politician father, beauty-queen mother, two perfect sisters. Her father is in the midst of an important campaign when Colby accidentally discovers a photograph of him with another woman. Once her father’s affair and misuse of campaign money are exposed to the media, the image her family has tried to maintain is destroyed. After her father abandons them, Colby, her sisters, and their mother have no choice but to move into a trailer behind her estranged aunt’s house in Texas, and the family blames her for their misfortune. Fehlbaum focuses on many of the issues that teenagers deal with today: body-image shaming, eating disorders, domestic violence, bullying, rape, depression, victim blaming, and suicide. Colby’s story can be emotionally upsetting and frustrating; this book is best suited for mature readers.–Annalise Ammer, City of Rochester Public Libraries, NY
Feuer, Stephanie. Drawing Amanda. illus. by S. Y. Lee. 292p. ebook available. Hipso. 2014. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780988739444; ebk. $6.95. ISBN 9780988739451.
Gr 7 Up–The aptly named protagonist Inky Kahn attends an exclusive international prep school in New York City. Introverted and artistic, Inky connects with a game developer online and is given a drawing assignment. The teen uses his crush as the model for the project, not realizing that the site is run by a creepy pedophile. The main character and his friends use their unique skills to take justice into their own hands. Feuer expertly leads readers into a deep dive through real and raw issues that young adults face: a parent’s death, overcoming grief, friendship issues, and Internet security. Although there are heavy concepts throughout the story, the topics are handled in an age appropriate way. Lee’s intermittent illustrations help pull readers into Inky’s the plight. A debut novelist to watch.–Chad Lane, Easton Elementary, Wye Mills, MD
Finnegan, Amy. Not in the Script. 368p. (If Only). ebook available. Bloomsbury. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781619633971; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781619633988.
Gr 9 Up–Emma Taylor is a Hollywood starlet who is used to living her life in front of the camera. In the tabloids, she’s developed a reputation as the good girl who falls for bad boys. When she is cast in a lead role on the television show, Coyote Hills, with reformed Hollywood bad boy Brett Crawford, both of their reputations are on the line again. While the media concocts a romance between the two, Emma is secretly falling hard for another castmate, fashion model-turned-Hollywood newcomer Jake Elliott. Mystery surrounds Jake’s family life. Their under the radar budding relationship is threatened when the tabloids reveal footage of a kiss between Emma and Brett. Teens will appreciate the behind-the-the-scenes look at celebrity life and the entertainment industry. The drama between Emma and her childhood best friend Rachel, as well as between the protagonist and her manager mother is realistic and relatable. Emma’s wit and humor will keep readers with her right until the end.–Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, CT
Forman, Gayle. Just One Night. 40p. Viking. 2014. ebk. $.99. ISBN 9780698184893.
Gr 9 Up–Forman adds the final puzzle piece to Allyson and Willem’s happily-ever-after in this euphoric e-novella connecting Just One Day and Just One Year (both Dutton, 2013). After spending one life-altering day in Paris with free spirit and charming Shakespearean actor Willem De Ruiter, homebody American good girl Allyson “Lulu” Healey was separated from her Dutch fling and spent the first volume trying to locate him, while ultimately finding herself. In the second book, readers are given Willem’s perspective of that same year. In this slim digital volume, the pair first makes tentative steps toward each other, as they slowly fill in the gaps for each other and anxious readers. As much a comedy of errors as an exhilarating romance, misunderstandings are unraveled, new and old characters are introduced, and twists of fate are wholeheartedly embraced. Fans will devour this enthralling epilogue to the duology.–Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal
Grace, Amanda. No One Needs to Know. 240p. ebook available. Flux. Sept. 2014. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780738736259.
Gr 9 Up–Olivia and her twin brother, Liam, are wealthy latchkey kids who don’t see their parents much. Zoey is a working-class girl helping support her single mother and little sister in their rough neighborhood near Seattle. When Liam falls for Zoey, Olivia and the other girls at her school don’t approve, since Zoey has a reputation as a notorious boyfriend-stealer. But when Liam invites Zoey to come with him and Olivia to their lake house, Olivia and Zoey discover a mutual attraction. It’s a surprisingly sweet take on two girls falling in love and struggling with their feelings, their families, and their baggage, but not with any homophobia—not even from the jilted brother, who is surprised but approving. Told in alternating viewpoints, readers see Olivia and Zoey navigate their feelings and their complex social situation with clear writing and a well-paced plot. There is some language and drug usage, but the general message of love and support among different people shines through brightly.–Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City
Grant, Michael. Messenger of Fear. 272p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062207401; pap. $12. ISBN 9780062354440; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062207425.
Gr 9 Up –Mara wakes up one day in a strange place. She is confused and scared by her mist-shrouded, grass-covered, pitch-black surroundings. She is soon approached by a beautiful young man who emerges from the mist and calls himself the Messenger of Fear. He demands justice for those who can not speak for themselves by observing their lives prior to their moment with him and playing a simple game of life and death. Mara travels with the Messenger across this unfamiliar universe to confront the truth of why she is in this unique world and what is her purpose in it. Grant’s new series starts off with a bang and never lets up. Mara is a strong, relatable character who stands up for herself, while also regretful of some of the things she has done in her past. The games the Messenger of Fear plays with his victims are gruesome and graphic, which will delight those readers who enjoy a little gore and horror in their books. Even though the twist ending will probably be guessed by those readers who pay close attention to the text, it is still a satisfying one. A promising start to a series with a truly unique concept.–Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library
Gray, Claudia. A Thousand Pieces of You. 368p. ebook available. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Nov. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062278968.
Gr 9 Up–An engaging first book in a new trilogy by the author of the popular “Evernight” series (HarperCollins) that focuses on the possibility of multidimensional travel and its implications. The novel grabs readers from the first page: Marguerite Caine is hot on the trail of her father’s suspected murderer. She and two graduate assistants are able to travel between dimensions using “Firebird” lockets that her scientist parents developed—the theory being that one can only jump into a dimension where a version of oneself already exists. As Marguerite unravels the truth and discovers more about herself with each leap, further questions arise: Is it ethical to hijack another body—even if it’s an alternate version of yourself? Are there cycles of betrayal? Does fate really exist? Background information is weaved seamlessly in this well-blended mix of adventure, sci-fi, and romance that will appeal to a wide audience.–Sherry J. Mills, Hazelwood East High School, St. Louis, MO
Griffin, Adele. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone. 350p. Soho Teen. Aug. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781616953607; ebk. ISBN 9781616953614.
Gr 8 Up –Everyone knows who Addison Stone was, even if they didn’t know anything about her. Addy was a small-town girl with dreams of artistic immortality. Her talent was incredible, and she landed an agent almost the moment she set foot in New York at the age of 17. Soon her life became a whirlwind of parties, love affairs, and bursts of creativity. But Addison was keeping secrets, and burning too brightly. This fictional biography of a visual and performance artist Addison Stone is compelling and tragic from the very first page. Griffin tells the teen’s story through compiled interview excerpts from those who knew, loved, and hated her. The media, which include texts to and from her friends, paint a picture of a brilliant artist full of life and potential, but also reveal the young woman’s unbalanced mental state and her loved ones’ concern. Interspersed are photos and reproductions of the protagonist’s artwork, magazine covers and articles, and interviews with Addison herself for various publications, layering level upon level of reality to the story. Readers will be caught up in the drama right up to the end.–Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL
Gurevich, Margaret. Making the Cut. illus. by Brooke Hagel. 384p. (Chloe by Design). Capstone. Aug. 2014. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781623701123. LC 2013050317.
Gr 6-8 –Sixteen-year-old Chloe Montgomery is a self-described fashion addict. Not only does she devour fashion magazines and TV shows, but she is also an aspiring fashion designer. When her favorite fashion reality show, Design Diva (think Project Runway), offers teen designers an opportunity to audition for the teen version of Design Diva, she decides to apply. With the support of her parents, best friend Alex, and a few inspirations, she makes the final cut and lands a spot on the show. Much to her chagrin, her nemesis, Nina, also gets a spot. Filming in New York is more difficult than Chloe anticipated, and the competition is fierce and intimidating. Chloe has difficulty conquering her self doubt and her suspicions about Nina’s true intentions. The fun and frothy plot reads quickly, and the fashion sketches add to the enjoyment of the book. This will find a fan base with fashion and reality TV show addicts alike.–Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL
Hidier, Tanuja Desai. Bombay Blues. 560p. Scholastic/PUSH. Aug. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780545384780; ebk. ISBN 9780545633871.
Gr 10 Up –In this lengthy sequel to Born Confused (Scholastic, 2002), 19-year-old, American born NYU student, Dimple Lala travels to Bombay with her Indian parents and her longtime DJ boyfriend, Karsh Kapoor, to attend the wedding of a cousin, Sangita. As Dimple immerses herself in family, culture, photography, music, love, and a search for self, Karsh embarks on his own spiritual journey, which draws him away from her. Traditions begin to falter when Sangita abruptly announces she is not marrying but instead pursuing a burgeoning art career. Sangita’s sister, Kavita, opens up to the family about her homosexuality. While Dimple struggles to understand her unraveling relationship with Karsh, she has a spontaneous sexual affair with a “Cowboy” she just met. The protagonist and her remarkably progressive desi parents help Sangita and Kavita’s traditional parents accept the liberated lives of their daughters. Visits to Bombay locales, temples, and landmarks add vivid authenticity to this middle-class story of self-discovery. Dimple narrates the ups and downs of her spiritual, cultural, sexual, and social journey in a challenging, often rhythmic “blues” style of inventive words, elliptical phrasing, colors, music, and artistic references. For Dimple, exploring Bombay becomes a liberating metaphor for expressing passions and establishing beliefs.–Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC
Hutchins, M. K. Drift. 400p. Lee & Low/Tu Bks. 2014. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781620141458; ebk. ISBN 9781620141465. LC 2014002568.
Gr 7 Up –Tenjat is a farmer who wants more than a life of planting cassava on the shores of hell. Hell is their ocean, which is filled with naga monsters that feed on people who get too close to the shore. The teen wants to be a Handler, one who fights the nagas and helps support their island—a massive Turtle on which the islanders live. He does not want to be a farmer or a father who slows down the island by bearing children. In spite of the pleas of his sister, Eflet, Tenjat refuses to get married, and joins the Handlers, even though the group might have been the cause of his parents’ death years ago. Eflet has many secrets of her own though, and they could change the way Tenjat has understood their world. As the protagonist hones his fighting skills, a budding romance with his trainer complicates his internal conflict. This book has an interesting premise rooted in Mayan folklore. The world-building is clear and well-developed; details about the setting’s mythology are deftly integrated into Tenjat’s story and will engage high fantasy fans. Themes of marriage, family, friendship, and loyalty are evident throughout and are not overly done.–Kristyn Dorfman, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY
Johnson, Alaya Dawn. Love Is the Drug. 352p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545417815; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9780545662895.
Gr 10 Up –Her mother calls her Emily, but she calls herself by her last name, Bird, and so does Alonso, known as Coffee, the strangely compelling drug-dealer and diplomat’s son who attends Bird’s private Washington, DC, school. When Bird wakes up after eight days in a coma to discover she was drugged at a party and left with no memory of what happened, she turns to Coffee for help—even though the authorities, including the mysterious Roosevelt, insist that he was the one who poisoned her. But Emily suspects that Roosevelt, her boyfriend Paul, and possibly even her scientist parents are involved in a conspiracy: a conspiracy that is connected to the Venezuelan flu, a virus planted by terrorists that is currently killing hundreds of thousand around the globe. The author of The Summer Prince (Scholastic, 2013) writes beautifully. The story is strongest when following Bird, a self-described “assimilated” DC black girl, as she tries to stay true to herself amid not only the terror of the quarantine, but also the restrictive expectations and assumptions of her family and classmates. Teens looking for a fast-paced tale with diverse characters will find it in Johnson’s latest offering.–Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA
Johnston, E. K. The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim. 312p. Carolrhoda Lab. 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781467710664; ebk. $12.95. ISBN 9781467724067. LC 2013020492.
Gr 7 Up –Siobhan is a typical teenager. Her hobbies include composing music, hanging out with friends, and driving her first car. Her biggest conflict is whether or not to tell her parents that she would rather pursue music than go to a university. All of that changes when she meets Owen Thorskard, currently failing algebra and potentially the nation’s next great dragon slayer. Owen, nephew of famous Slayer Lottie Thorskard, goes to high school by day and trains to protect the rural town of Trondheim by night. The two teens become friends when it becomes painfully evident that Owen needs a math tutor. Little does Siobhan know that she’s signing up for a lot more than tutoring. Soon she finds herself working as Owen’s personal Bard. Johnston seamlessly blends fantasy with realistic fiction; readers will have a hard time remembering that dragons aren’t an everyday aspect of life. Suggest this title to reluctant readers as the fast-paced plot and witty dialogue will keep them turning pages until the tale’s exciting conclusion.–Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR
Knudsen, Michelle. Evil Librarian. 352p. ebook available. Candlewick. Sept. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763660383.
Gr 8 Up –If Louise Rennison and Christopher Moore had a bibliographic love child it would be this cheekily narrated supernatural offering. Cyn is initially thrilled when her teasing BFF Annie finally shows signs of infatuation, until she discovers the object of Annie’s affections is the new school librarian. Mr. Gabriel’s attention to Annie unsettles Cyn and readers alike. At first suspecting the creepy Gabriel is a manipulative and inappropriate authority figure (awful enough), Cyn learns that he’s a horned and winged demon. He wants brainwashed Annie for his human consort, when he returns to his realm to fight for the throne with the life essence he’s poached from her classmates. Musical theater crush, Ryan in tow, Cyn fights to save her best friend; enlisting help from the ill-fated, the duped, and the demonic, all while struggling to keep her hormones in check and trying to create a kick-ass barber chair for the school’s production of Sweeney Todd. The protagonist is the most developed character. Her narrative voice and the novel’s dialogue make it worth the read. Occasional swearing, a dash of romance, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments round out Knudsen’s enjoyable comedic tale, reminiscent of the original “Buffy” film.–Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ
Lane, Lindsey. Evidence of Things Not Seen. 240p. Farrar. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780374300609.
Gr 9 Up –Tommy Smythe is brilliant, awkward with people, and missing. His classmates haven’t seen him, his father can’t find him, and no one knows where he could have gone. As the days tick by with no sign of him, Tommy’s fascination with theoretical physics and science leads some to wonder if Tommy has managed to do the impossible—to step through a portal or pass into another dimension. The story unfolds through interviews with witnesses, scraps of scribbled notes from Tommy himself, and private moments between seemingly unrelated people. Tommy’s disappearance is at the forefront of some stories, at the back of others. Chapters are arranged by lead-characters or items, some more hard-hitting than others, but the picture of a small border town caught up in a mystery and bound by its secrets is an intriguing one that Lane does well. Some chapters do deal with more adult subject matter (drug use, teen pregnancy, racism, prostitution) and adult language is prevalent throughout, but isn’t gratuitous.–Clair Segal, Horace Mann School, New York City
Little, Kimberley Griffiths. Forbidden. 400p. ebook available. HarperCollins. Nov. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062194978.
Gr 9 Up –In this novel set in ancient Syria at the time of Hammurabi, 16-year-old Jayden is betrothed to Horeb, future king of her tribe, a contract she views with apprehension. When her mother dies in childbirth, Jayden, her sister Leila, and her father are left behind to bury the dead. While mourning at her mother’s gravesite, Jayden meets a mysterious young man from the south who tells her his name is Kadesh and that he has been stranded in the desert after an attack on his trading caravan. As Kadesh travels with her and her family, Jayden falls in love with him, a forbidden romance because of her betrothal to Horeb. When Horeb turns violent, Jayden must find a way to save herself, her family, and Kadesh. Middle Eastern dance is a major part of this story. The protagonist and the women of her tribe dance to celebrate betrothals, to ease childbirth, and to mourn death. This is a fast-paced, entertaining choice which will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance, as well as readers interested in this dance form.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ
Lupica, Mike. Fantasy League. 304p. Philomel. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399256073.
Gr 5 Up –Charlie “The Brain” Gaines may be an average seventh grader in most respects, but he possesses an uncanny knowledge about football teams and a sixth sense about game strategy. A so-so linebacker for his own Pop Warner team, the Culver City Cardinals, Charlie would much rather be on the sidelines, calling plays along with the coach. Best friend Anna Bretton shares Charlie’s passion for football, as it is in her blood—her grandfather and uncle own and manage the Los Angeles Bulldogs. She invites Charlie to meet Grandpa Joe and Uncle Matt at a game, and it isn’t long before Gramps is captivated by Charlie’s commentary. His advice to replace the quarterback with an older and relatively unknown player named Tom Pinkett helps to turn around their losing record. Signing Pinkett to the team turns out to be a winning idea, and when word gets out that the call was made by a 12-year-old, Charlie is hounded by the media and thrust into a spotlight he isn’t sure how to handle. Nearly losing his friendship with Anna, Charlie learns a lesson about fame and valuing relationships. This will be devoured by young football fans, who appreciate intricate game details and won’t mind a touch of heartwarming sentiment.–Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland
McBride, Susan. Very Bad Things. 240p. Delacorte. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780385737975; lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780385907040; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780385371025.
Gr 7 Up –Katie has mostly recovered from the tragedy of her father’s suicide and is excited about her future: graduation and college with her boyfriend Mark, a popular hockey athlete. She attends a prep school on scholarship and has found a best friend in her roommate Tessa. Katie’s senior year takes a sudden turn, though, when a mysterious package arrives at the dorm for her and contains a gruesome object within. Soon she’s questioning who she can trust and trying to piece together a story from a hazy night of partying that resulted in the death of an innocent teen girl. Fans of Sara Shepard’s “The Pretty Little Liars” series (HarperCollins) will appreciate the high drama and plot twists.–Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Maguire, Gregory. Egg & Spoon. 496p. Candlewick. Sept. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780763672201; ebk. ISBN 9780763675820.
Gr 7 Up –With one brother conscripted into the Tsar’s army and another bound to serve a local landowner, Elena is left alone to care for her widowed and ailing mother in early 20th-century Russia. When an elegant train bearing a noble her age rolls through their barren village, Elena and her counterpart, Cat, accidentally swap places. Twin journeys to restore their former stations in life lead to encounters with murderous kittens, royal families, and even the famed witch Baba Yaga, and the challenges that lie ahead go far beyond a simple mix-up. Maguire marries the traditional “Prince and the Pauper” narrative to the Russian folktale of Baba Yaga with his trademark wit and aplomb. His lyrical descriptions of the drab countryside are equally detailed and moving as the charmed, floating courts of the Romanov dynasty. Each character is well-drawn and fascinating, whether its the prim, terrified governess to young Ekaterina or Baba Yaga herself, a cannibal with a heart of gold constantly cracking wise in her enchanted, walking house. Egg and Spoon is a beautiful reminder that fairy tales are at their best when they illuminate the precarious balance between lighthearted childhood and the darkness and danger of adulthood.–Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, NJ
Martinez, Jessica. Kiss Kill Vanish. 432p. HarperCollins. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062274496; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062274519.
Gr 9 Up –Wealthy Valentina is taking a chance with falling for her father’s 24-year-old employee, Emilio. It’s a chance that seems absolutely worth it until the night when, while hidden in a closet, she sees him shoot a man point-blank while her father stands and watches. Terrified and confused, the teen flees to Montreal, leaving behind the comforts her father’s success in the art trade have brought her—the yachts, the Klimts and Picassos that adorn her Miami mansion, and the freedom to never have to think about money. Her reality up north is radically different. Accompanied only by Emilio’s mandolin, under the simple moniker Jane, she busks for money, barely making enough to eat, when an encounter with Lucien, a spoiled and cocky artist, lands her a job as his muse and model. She manages to coast by until a run-in with Emilio at an art show spirals her back into his arms. From the heat of Miami to the cold streets of Montreal, Martinez’s modern-day film noir is a wild ride for romance and thriller fans alike.–Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City
Nix, Garth. Clariel: The Lost Abhorsen. 400p. HarperCollins. Oct. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780061561559.
Gr 7 Up –Over a decade has passed since Nix’s last Old Kingdom novel, Abhorsen (HarperCollins, 2003), but he has lost none of his skill in depicting this fantasy realm. Nix sets Clariel 600 years before his other Old Kingdom novels, in a time when the king is old and weary and the current Abhorsen prefers to hunt game rather than Free Magic creatures and necromancers. Clariel is a young woman who is close kin to both the King and the Abhorsen but with little knowledge of either. She has reluctantly come to the capital city of Belisaere with her mother, Jaciel, who has been declared a High Goldsmith. Clariel would prefer to roam free amongst the forest near her childhood home of Estwael and seeks any way to escape the odious city with its lifeless streets and political squabbles. Clariel’s instructor in Charter Magic, Magister Kargrin, promises his help to leave the city in return for her aid in capturing a Free Magic creature that he believes is in league with Governor Kilp. Little does she realize the effect that the touch of the creature will have on her or the depths to which Kilp will stoop to assuage his ambition. Nix pens a compelling character in Clariel while his skill in rendering both politics and magic is strong. This excellent work can be enjoyed independently of the other Old Kingdom novels, but will certainly draw readers to those works.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Novak, Ali. My Life with the Walter Boys. 384p. ebook available. Sourcebooks Fire. 2014. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781402297861.
Gr 8 Up –Jackie is used to high-rise apartments, the big-city life, and the prestige of attending a private school. Then, catastrophe strikes and her parents and sister are killed in a car accident. Jackie’s nearest living family member isn’t equipped to take care of her so he ships her off to her mother’s childhood friend, Katherine Walters, in Colorado. Katherine lives on a horse ranch with 12 kids (11 boys and one girl). Jackie arrives to the house to a pretty cold welcome, especially because her new bedroom was Katherine’s sanctuary and art studio. Six of the brothers attend the narrator’s school where the attractive Walter boys are sought after by all of the girls. As she struggles to make friends and acclimate to her new environment, she begins to embrace her newfound siblings. Especially confusing for the protagonist is the palpable chemistry that grows between her and one of the brothers. Ultimately, life with the Walter boys helps Jackie cope with the loss of her family while embracing another one, and pushes her to discover who she really is in this coming-of-age novel.–Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR
Ostow, Micol. Amity. 368p. Egmont USA. Aug. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781606841563; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9781606843802.
Gr 9 Up –Can a house be evil? Connor and Gwen know that it can. Two families, separated by 10 years, both move into Amity. Once they do, the house will not let go until it’s wrenched every bit of terror out of them. Connor’s vivid nightmares haunt him even in the daylight. Gwen, brought to Amity by her family to recover from her mental breakdown, senses the danger her family is in, but can’t get them to believe her. Ostow’s YA horror novel, inspired by the true-crime history of the Amityville Horror house, is told in two distinct voices in alternating sections. The thrilling plot keeps the pages turning and provides a few genuine gasps along the way. Steer teen horror fans who aren’t quite ready for Stephen King, Peter Straub, or John Ajvide Lindqviste to this one.–Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta
Pearson, Mary E. The Kiss of Deception. 496p. (The Remnant Chronicles). ebook available. Holt. Jul. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780805099232.
Gr 9 Up –This genre-bending novel begins with 17-year-old Princess Lia, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan, about to undergo a ceremony of preparation for her wedding to the prince of Dalbreck, a man she has not yet met but already loathes. Rather than follow the demands of her father and the expectations of her mother, Lia and her maid, Pauline, slip away before the wedding can take place and travel to the coastal town of Terravin. Disguised as tavern maids, the teens manage to remain hidden until two strangers come to town; young men, each with their own agenda—one the prince Lia should have married, one an assassin bent on killing her. Pearson, author of the popular “Jenna Fox Chronicles” (Holt), has created the first in a marvelous new fantasy series that is sure to find an audience with devotees of Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games” and John Flanagan’s “Ranger’s Apprentice” books (Philomel). Romance, adventure, mysticism—this book has it all and it just may be the next YA blockbuster.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
PERKINS, Stephanie. Isla and the Happily Ever After. 352p. Dutton. Aug. 2014. RTE $17.99. ISBN 9780525425632.
Gr 9 Up– When Isla, loopy on medication after a dentist appointment, finds herself in the same Manhattan café as her crush object, Josh, she’s able to do something she’s never managed in the three years they’ve attended the same boarding school in Paris: talk to him. Lo and behold, it turns out that he likes her too, and once they’re back in France, a relationship blossoms. Alas, the course of true love never did run smooth, and pressures both internal (Isla’s self-doubt) and external (Josh’s father’s Senate reelection campaign) force them apart. Is their love strong enough to bring them back together? Fans will relish appearances by characters from Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss (2011) and Lola and the Boy Next Door (2013, both Dutton) in this sweet, charming series third that will make readers feel like they’re in Paris too. Realistic characters, spot-on dialogue, and a truly delightful romance make for a novel that will delight the author’s fans and win her legions of new ones.–Stephanie Klose, Library Journal
PHILPOT, Chelsey. Even in Paradise. 368p. HarperCollins/Harper. Oct. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062293695; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062293718. LC 2013047956.
Gr 9 Up –Julia Buchanan is an enigma with a famous name—thanks to her father, a former senator. When she arrives at St. Anne’s boarding school in her junior year, the other students observe her from a distance, assuming they know everything about her because of what they’ve heard. Charlotte Ryder, a scholarship student, doesn’t even give much thought to Julia until a random act of kindness brings them together. The girls quickly form the kind of close friendship that, to the outside world, looks like they’re falling in love. Being Julia’s best friend introduces her to a new normal: sneaking out of the dorms at night, spending summers in Nantucket, and keeping dark secrets. As Charlotte spends more time with Julia and the rest of the Buchanans, she begins to love them all as though they were her own family, and they come to rely on her to keep Julia from falling apart. There is tragedy in the Buchanan past, and Charlotte’s need to know the truth—and her growing feelings for Julia’s older brother, Sebastian—threaten to disrupt a delicate balance. Philpot’s debut is a mournful meditation on the intensity of love in all its forms: familial, platonic, and romantic. Inspired by Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the text blends elements from these novels to create something that is a modern romance and classic tragedy.–Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York City
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. The Red Pencil. illus. by Shane W. Evans. 336p. Little, Brown. Sept. 2014. Tr $17. ISBN 9780316247801; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780316247818.
Gr 5-7 –Set during the early years of the Darfur conflict, this stunning collaboration between Coretta Scott King Award winners Pinkney and Evans tells a moving story of the scarring effects of war but also brings a message of hope and inspiration. Twelve-year-old Amira wishes to attend school, but her mother, “born into a flock of women/locked in a hut of tradition,” does not support the girl’s aspirations and expects her to only marry and bear children. In contrast, Amira’s father praises her talents and gifts her with a special “turning-twelve twig” that she uses to sketch her dreams in the goz (sand). These dreams are brutally shattered when the Janjaweed militants invade and cut a swath of terror through her village. After enduring a heartbreaking loss, Amira and her family must rally their strength in order to make the treacherous journey to the Kalma refugee camp. There, the girl is given a red pencil; this simple gift reveals a world of endless possibilities and imbues the tween with a strong sense of agency. Amira’s thoughts and drawings are vividly brought to life through Pinkney’s lyrical verse and Evans’s lucid line illustrations, which infuse the narrative with emotional intensity.–Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA
Portes, Andrea. <span