Sexual orientation is a big part of a teen’s identity and the protagonists in the latest books for young adults grapple with that complex question, including Alyssa Brugman’s Alex as Well, Samantha Hale’s Everything Changes, and an anthology of writings by teens from Harmony Ink Press. Also making waves are clever spins on timeless tales, including Sarah Cross’s Tear You Apart and Althea Kontis’s Dearest. And, horror masters Barry Lyga and R.L. Stine are joined by newcomer Courtney Alameda with her spine-tingling Shutter. The following works are sure to pique teens’ interest and keep them coming back for more.
Fiction
Adrian, Susan. Tunnel Vision. 320p. St. Martin’s Griffin. Jan. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250047922; ebk. ISBN 9781250047915.
Gr 7 U –Jake Lukin has a secret talent: if he holds an object that belongs to a person, he can instantaneously “tunnel” to that person—envisioning them physically, pinpointing their location, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel. After Jake reveals his skill at a high school party, he quickly finds himself on the run from government agents who would harness his talents for their own purposes. This YA novel is a heart-racing thriller set at full throttle from the opening page, and it never decelerates. –Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL
Alameda, Courtney. Shutter. 384p. ebook available. Feiwel & Friends. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781250044679.
Gr 8 Up –A paranormal ghost-hunting story that is a standout in the genre. With the ability to see spiritual auras, Micheline and her tetrachromat crew are the fiercest cadets in the Helsing Corps, an organization with an illustrious history that specializes in dealing with the undead. However, when they aggressively enter a dangerous situation they are unable to control, each of them is infected with a soulchain that will turn deadly if they are unable to break it within seven days. Through detailed scientific processes that are richly explained, Alameda has created a unique world of ghosts, reapers, and exorcisms. Frightening from the first page, this novel is sure to please horror fans, particularly those familiar with ghost and vampire legends.–Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ
Bao, Karen. Dove Arising. 336p. (Dove Chronicles: Bk. 1). ebook available. Viking. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780451469014. LC 2013041198.
Gr 7 Up –Set on the Moon in the not-so-distant future, this series opener follows an introverted teenager who has spent her life working hard and obeying the rules of the Committee, the governing body of the Moon. Water has been scarce and money is tight, but Phaet and her mother always find a way to provide for her little brother and sister since Phaet’s father’s death nine years earlier. When the teen’s mother is quarantined, however, it is up to her to find a way to keep her family out of the filthy, poverty-stricken district known as “Shelter.” Though it means deferring her dream of studying to become a scientist, the protagonist decides to join the Moon’s Militia. Competition is fierce, and Phaet will need to work harder than ever before and learn everything she can from the top trainee, a quiet boy named Wes, who often seems more machine than human. Perceptive readers will recognize a burgeoning romance between the pair. Fans of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game (Tor, 1985), Veronica Roth’s Divergent (HarperCollins, 2011) and Marie Lu’s Legend (Putnam, 2011) should flock to this well-written debut effort by 19-year-old Bao.–Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA
Bliss, Bryan. No Parking at the End of Times. 272p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062275417.
Gr 8 Up –This haunting and elegiac tale opens with Abigail and her family living in a van parked on the San Francisco streets. Months earlier, Abby’s unemployed father took the family from their North Carolina home to follow “Brother John” across the country to a place where they would all meet the end of days together. The world was due to end at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Now it’s January, the world did not end, and Abby, her twin brother Aaron, and her parents still have no home. With no school to attend, Abby and Aaron’s only escape from the close confines of the van is the predatory self-anointed preacher’s “church” (an empty store). Abby wants to continue to be the good girl her parents expect and to protect her brother from getting mixed up in dangerous street drama, but most of all, she wants to go home. Bliss offers a stark portrayal of a family lost and a searing perspective on homelessness. An interesting choice for book discussion and recommended for readers of realistic fiction.–Tara Kehoe, New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, Trenton
Brugman, Alyssa. Alex As Well. 224p. Holt. Jan. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781627790147.
Gr 10 Up –Fifteen-year-old Alex Stringfellow has lived her entire life feeling like she’s two people, male and female. Though previously identified as male, Alex decides to begin living as a female. What Alex doesn’t know is that she was born intersex, and her parents had chosen not to tell her. To make her transition to living as a female easier, Alex enrolls in a new school where she quickly makes friends. While her adjustment is mostly smooth, Alex is concerned about how her friends will react if they find out she’s a lesbian or if they find out about her “noodle.” Her transition at home is less easy. After telling her parents, “I’m a girl,” Alex’s father leaves home and her mother struggles with Alex’s gender identity and often handles it with fits, abuse, and attempts to control her child. Brugman tackles a sensitive issue with grace and grit. The strong protagonist often acts with more maturity than her parents. This work is best suited for fans of problem novels, teens struggling with identity issues of all kinds, and readers looking for a good contemporary fiction title that has teeth.–Adrienne L. Strock, Teen Library Manager, Nashville Public Library
Carey, Janet Lee. In the Time of Dragon Moon. 480p. Penguin/Kathy Dawson Bks. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780803738102; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781101593851.
Gr 8 Up –Uma has always had difficulty finding acceptance within the Euit tribe in which she has grown up. Her father is the Adan, the Euit tribal healer, but her mother is an English midwife. Uma serves as her father’s apprentice and dreams of succeeding him as Adan one day, but Euit tribal law forbids a woman as a healer. When English soldiers invade the village and abduct her father, Uma is taken with him to the royal court at Pendragon Castle, where her father is commanded to provide a cure for the queen’s infertility on pain of death. When she becomes the queen’s designated healer, Uma is soon embroiled in deadly court intrigues involving dragons and the fey folk. Set in the same world as Carey’s Dragon’s Keep (Harcourt, 2007) and Dragonswood (Dial, 2012), this title can be read independently. The author’s world-building is detailed and fascinating, and Uma is a strong, admirable heroine.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ
Carter, Ally. All Fall Down. 320p. (Embassy Row: Bk. 1). Scholastic. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545654746; ebk. ISBN 9780545654784.
Gr 8 Up –As she has been told repeatedly, Grace Blakely’s mother was killed in an unfortunate fire that destroyed the small antiques shop she owned. But Grace was there, and she remembers the gun, the bullet wound in her mother’s chest, a man with a facial scar, and an explosion just before the shop was engulfed in flames. After three years in treatment for post-traumatic stress, the 16-year-old has returned to where she spent her childhood. With her father constantly away on military missions, she’s once again living in the U.S. embassy in Adria, Italy, where her grandfather serves as ambassador. She knows everyone thinks she’s crazy, but the teen is determined to prove that her mother was murdered. As the ambassador’s granddaughter, she is expected to observe embassy protocol, but when she spots a man with the same facial scar she remembers from the antiques shop, her reaction threatens U.S. diplomatic relations with every country on Embassy Row, not to mention Adria itself. Grace’s justifiable anger and spunk are sure to resonate with teens. With its intrigue and clever plot twists, this series opener will leave readers hungering for more.–Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA
Cross, Sarah. Tear You Apart. 384p. Egmont USA. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781606845912; ebk. ISBN 9781606845929.
Gr 8 Up –An otherworldly spin on the “Snow White” fairy tale and a companion novel to Kill Me Softly (Egmont USA, 2012). Seventeen-year-old Viv Deneuve is the Snow White figure in this tale. A dark-haired beauty with blood red lips, Viv is a sitting duck. If her jealous stepmother doesn’t poison her first, then her cursed boyfriend Henley is charged with hunting Viv down and cutting out her heart. Her only chance of survival is to stay as far away from Henley as possible, but that’s hard to do when she is desperately in love with him. When Viv is invited to an underworld club by the same prince who is supposed to break her curse, she wonders if she can leave Henley and her heart behind. But Prince Jasper isn’t Prince Charming. And once Viv enters the underworld, Jasper’s father isn’t going to let her go home. The protagonist decides to take her fate into her own hands. Cross deftly takes the all-too-familiar Disney fairy tale tropes (fair maiden, handsome prince) and turns them on their heads. These tales are dark and sinister (Viv worries her prince has a dead girl fetish) and filled with a diverse cast of characters. A great read for fans of the television show, Once Upon A Time.–Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ
Dickerson, Melanie. The Princess Spy. 304p. ebook available. Zondervan. 2014. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780310730989.
Gr 9 Up –It’s April 1413, and 18-year-old Margaretha, eldest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim, is reluctantly entertaining the pursuit of her latest suitor, Rowland Fortescue, Earl of Claybrook, when a handsome, severely injured stranger, Colin, arrives. The heroine is immediately drawn to the alluring young man and the daunting information he insists that he must share with her father—information that could put her and her entire family at risk, but could also save their lives. Talkative, sheltered, and carefree, Margaretha must undertake the task of spying on Lord Claybrook and his men to learn for herself if what Colin has warned her of is true and if so, how she can save her family from certain death. The story and the characters are believable, and the author seamlessly weaves details about this Holy Roman Empire village and courtly life, while maintaining the narrative’s even pace. An appropriate title for teens who enjoy princess-themed Christian romance.–Susan Harris, Ridgeway High School, TN
Doyle, Arthur Conan. A Study in Scarlet. illus. by Gris Grimly. 288p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062293756.
Gr 7 Up –A great way to introduce young adult readers to Sherlock Holmes. This unabridged version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 novel has been updated with Grimly’s signature dark and stylized illustrations. The artwork suits the sinister, bizarre nature of the tale—the characters have crazy, twisted hairstyles, super skinny necks, and are reminiscent of graphic-novel figures. Readers will quickly become absorbed in the story of the first time that Holmes meets his future partner Watson, who has just returned from an exhausting military stint in Afghanistan. Even though this mystery was originally published in a bygone era, the sinister plot will hook modern-day readers. Hand it to teens and expect them to come back for more literature from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.–Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC
Dunn, Patricia. Rebels by Accident. 320p. ebook available. Sourcebooks Fire. Dec. 2014. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781492601388.
Gr 9 Up –Miriam and her best friend Deanna land in jail following an ill-advised attempt to crash a party shortly before the police arrived. Egyptian American Miriam, always kept on a tight leash by her parents, is convinced her life will end following the party incident. Instead, she’s handed a worse fate; her irate parents send her to Egypt to live with her notoriously strict Sittu (grandmother). Deanna’s mother decides that she should go, too, so they are promptly shipped off together. Sittu, however, strikes little resemblance to the harsh woman described by Miriam’s father and clearly has a few secrets up her sleeve, as they begin to suspect her online activities have something to do with the civil unrest bubbling up around them. Miriam and Deanna’s trip coincides with the dawn of the Arab Spring on the eve of the protests in Tahrir Square. Miriam’s growing self-awareness and reluctant connection to her Egyptian identity and Sittu are the primary focus. A sweet coming-of-age tale that sheds light on the plight of anyone who feels like an outsider.–Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ
Falkoff, Michelle. Playlist for the Dead. 288p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062310507; ebk. ISBN 9780062310521.
Gr 9 Up –Accustomed to operating outside of the major social scene, Sam is disappointed when a rare party he attends is ruined by a fight with his best friend, Hayden. Disappointment fades quickly when he discovers that Hayden killed himself afterward. Rocked by the tragedy, Sam is left puzzling over tracks that his friend left for a playlist and struggling to figure out who he is without Hayden around. Despite the heavy subject matter, the overall tone of the book is less somber than the title would indicate, and it is a quick, engaging read. Falkoff nails the war-zone mentality and painful symbiosis of high school friendships. The mixture of grief, anger, and guilt that Sam works through is realistic and well written, and his reactions to Hayden’s music choices further illuminates not only his struggle but also how their friendship was beginning to change. The strong characters, dialogue and the use of the playlist to structure the book make this a good pick for struggling readers. Hand this to fans of the movie Superbad and Spotify-obsessives.–Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, NJ
Feinstein, John. The Walk On. 368p. (Triple Threat: Bk. 1). Knopf. 2014. lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9780385753470; Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780385753463; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780385753487. LC 2013044495.
Gr 6 Up –This book begins with freshman Alex Myers, a new transplant to Chester Heights, PA, at varsity football tryouts where he meets fellow newbie, Jonas Ellington. Unbelievably, both are superior to the upperclassmen in their positions, quarterback for Alex and wideout for Jonas. Dictated by the quest for another State Championship, and the subsequent scholarship offers for upperclassmen, high school football politics kick in, and Alex finds himself playing backup behind two lesser quarterbacks. The starting quarterback, who happens to be Head Coach Gordon’s son, quickly honors Alex with the nickname “Goldie” in recognition of Alex’s faultless throwing arm. While most of the school blindly cheers the dictates of Coach Gordon, the school newspaper is a breeding ground of investigative reporters, one being freshman Christine Whitford. Football action on the field, suspicious events off the field, combined with modern dilemmas faced by both teen and adult characters, make this coming-of-age story a page-turner for all mystery and sports fans. Feinstein’s latest is an excellent addition to sports-fiction collections.–Sharon Lawler, Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee
Ford, John C. The Cipher. 320p. ebook available. Viking. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780670015429.
Gr 9 Up –Robert “Smiles” Smylie is a slacker who barely gets by in life. He is surrounded by geniuses–from his father, who invented a key encryption code used by every secure website in the world, to Ben, his best friend who is convinced he has solved The Riemann Hypothesis, a virtually unsolvable mathematical principle involving prime numbers. Smiles tries to prove his worth by accompanying Ben to a conference where he hopes to show his father that he is truly worth something. When Ben gets kidnapped by people who don’t want his work to see the light of day, Smiles must use his intellect and street smarts to help his friend, potentially changing the world in the process. Ford has written a unique story involving dense mathematics principles and makes them accessible to a young audience. The thriller aspects of the story are exciting and keep the pages turning. The design of the book enhances the experience; the chapter numbers, for example, are all prime numbers. The Cipher is an exciting tale with a twist ending that teens will enjoy.–Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library
Forman, Gayle. I Was Here. 288p. Viking. Jan. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780451471475; ebk. ISBN 9780698170544.
Gr 9 Up –Cody and Meg have been inseparable since childhood. They planned to leave their small town in Washington and move to Seattle to go to college, but that changed when Meg got a full scholarship to a small, prestigious private college in Tacoma, WA. Having no scholarships or money saved, Cody is now stuck in town, cleaning houses to have a little bit of money to give to her mom toward living expenses and to take a couple classes at the local community college. Those classes have gone by the wayside, though, since news came of Meg’s suicide. Meticulously planned, her former best friend ordered a poison that had a high fatality rate, and sent emails to friends and family on a timed delay so that no one could interfere with her fatal decision. Cody struggles to figure out why Meg took her own life and puzzles over a suspicious line in her friend’s suicide email. The distraught but determined teen begins to encrypt files on Meg’s laptop, which lead her to a suicide support group and posts from All_BS, a Pied Piper–type character who encourages suicide as a way out. As she goes further down the rabbit hole, Cody comes to the realization that she needs to forgive Meg, and, more importantly, herself. Teens will clamor for this latest offering from the author of If I Stay (Dutton, 2009). Have multiple copies in your collection.–Suanne B. Roush, formerly at Osceola High School, Seminole, FL
Gibbons, Faye. Halley. 208p. NewSouth. 2014. Tr $21.95. ISBN 9781588382900; ebk. ISBN 9781603063289. LC 2014933020.
Gr 7 Up –As this historical novel opens, the title character, a 14-year-old girl living in the mountains of Georgia, is recording her father’s recent death in the family bible. After this sad start, things only get harder for Halley, her younger brother, and their mother Kate. They move in with Kate’s parents: a cruel preacher, his put-upon wife, and their youngest son. Kate takes a dangerous job at the local mill, while every action Halley tries to improve their lot—taking on sewing jobs to raise money to buy a gravestone for her father, trying to get accepted to a boarding school for farmers’ children—is thwarted by her vicious grandfather. He steals her savings, whips her brother, intercepts her mail, and tries to stop his children from marrying the people they love. Gibbons perfectly captures the cadences of Georgia hill country speech; it is rhythmic and lovely, even when the characters are speaking of hard, rough things. The plot is compelling as the author adeptly covers loss, coming of age, and small-town attitudes and values without sugarcoating. Gibbons expertly depicts the complexity in “simple” mountain life. With shades of Richard Peck in this novel’s DNA, Gibbons’s tale features a strong and unique voice.–Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT
Hale, Samantha. Everything Changes. 264p. Bold Strokes/Soliloquy. 2014. pap. $11.95. ISBN 9781626393035.
Gr 9 Up –For several months, 17-year-old Raven has become increasingly aware that she is not attracted to boys. No member of the opposite sex has ever caused her heart to flutter. Then Raven meets Morgan, an art student at a nearby college, and she experiences fireworks for the first time. When the older girl offers to help Raven prepare for her art history midterm, she accepts the offer. The tutoring session concludes with Raven giving Morgan an awkward kiss, and the two later express their mutual attraction. Morgan, who is openly gay, offers patience and reassurance to the teen, agreeing to keep their relationship secret until she feels comfortable telling others. Raven discovers that in order to live her life, she must be honest with everyone about her sexual orientation. Readers will feel Raven’s anguish as she wonders if the comfort and pleasure of acceptance from family and friends will evaporate once she opens up to them. Hale’s novel will be enjoyed by all teens, but especially those experiencing life decisions similar to Raven’s. An honest and sympathetic portrayal of coming to terms with one’s sexual identity.–Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State University, NH
Hand, Cynthia. The Last Time We Say Goodbye. 400p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Harper. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062318473.
Gr 8 Up –For Lex, since her brother committed suicide, questions about their last goodbye have haunted her. Filled with regret, she ponders their last words and not being able to show him how much she loved him while he was still alive. The narrative unravels in perfect pacing, drawing readers into this emotional story. With a rocky home life in a small town in Nebraska, Lex begins pulling away from her friends, breaks up with her boyfriend, and struggles with life in general. When her therapist, Dave, assigns her the task of writing down her thoughts in a journal, flashbacks of the siblings’ relationship and the protagonist’s interactions with their parents fill in the gaps. Raw, emotional, and gripping, this book is Hand’s first realistic fiction title, and fans of her popular “Unearthly” series (HarperCollins) will follow her genre change willingly. An excellent and thoughtful exploration of grief.–Stephanie Charlefour, Wixom Public Library, MI
Harmonious Hearts: A Harmony Ink Press Anthology. 294p. Harmony Ink. 2014. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9781632161864; ebk. $6.99. ISBN 9781632161888.
Gr 9 Up –In the publisher’s first Young Author Challenge anthology, the authors of these LGBTQ short stories range in age from 16 to 21. The stories share common themes of hope, love, acceptance, and happiness. The entries include many genres, such as fairy tales, the supernatural, science fiction, fantasy, and realism. Standouts include “Tess” by Becca Ehlers. Here, girlfriends Sam and Tess reassess their relationship when Sam, who is not yet ready to be out, heads to New York for college. In “Paranormal Honor Society” by Leigh Taylor, Andi, who prefers the pronouns “ze” and “hir” and calls hirself “gender fluid,” starts a new school and is immediately embraced by the paranormal club. The teenagers work to solve the mystery of who has been killing women in their town, certain something supernatural must be behind the deaths. Some club members wonder if Andi could be the murderer, though as one humorously points out, “You’re confusing gender fluidity with werewolves again.” Other narratives cover coming out, opposites attracting, careless insults, a wish granted, and a boy who never speaks. What the selections may lack in sophistication, they more than make up for in spirit in this wonderfully diverse collection.–Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Apollo High School Library, St. Cloud, MN
Holmes, Kathryn. The Distance Between Lost and Found. 320p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Harper. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062317261.
Gr 7 Up –When high school sophomore Hallelujah attends a church camping trip in the Great Smoky Mountains, she does not expect much. Over the past few months, her life has been reduced to a series of negatives. She used to have friends. She used to be confident. She used to sing. She used to be good friends with Jonah. She used to have faith in God. Now she is sad, quiet, insecure, and lonely thanks to the ruthless slandering and bullying campaign headed by the handsome and seemingly perfect preacher’s son, Luke. When Hallelujah, Jonah, and another girl, Rachel, become separated from the group while hiking, the trio become lost. As hours pass and then days, the teens find that staying alive is only part of their struggle. In addition to the cold weather, torrential rain, hunger, and sundry health crises, the characters deal with a host of emotions involving their pasts—guilt, resentment, fear, forgiveness, hate, and love. This is a perfectly balanced novel wherein the heroine wrestles with survival of not just her body but of her spirit as well.–Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC
Howell, Simmone. Girl Defective. photos by Henry Beer. 320p. ebook available. S. & S./Atheneum. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442497603.
Gr 9 Up –Australian author Howell brings stateside her intriguing story of a coming-of-age summer for 15-year-old Skylark Martin. The teen lives above the family record store in a small Melbourne suburb with her home-brewing, stuck-in-the-past father, and endearing younger brother, Gully, whose social issues have manifested as an obsession with being a detective and near-permanent wearing of a pig-snout mask. Sky is blunt in her depictions of them and her mother, who left the family to reinvent herself as performance artist Galaxy Strobe. Flawed but likable Sky is drawn to the 19-year-old, enigmatic, worldly Nancy, who introduces her both to recreational drugs and underground parties. There’s an element of mystery to the story, with posters around town of a girl who died and has some connection to both those parties and the record store’s attractive new hire, Luke. But while Nancy is outrunning her past, and Luke seeks to make sense of his own, Sky finds a future that holds some promise. Howell’s writing is engaging and well suited to the pacing of the story, and the Aussie references are part of the charm.–Amanda Mastrull, Library Journal
Kantor, Melissa. Better Than Perfect. 336p. ebook available. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062279231.
Gr 9 Up –Juliet has a charmed life. She is a high school senior with a perfect family, boyfriend, and most likely a perfect score on her SATs. Juliet wants to go to Harvard and has the perfect plan to achieve her goals. Then a bomb goes off in the teen’s life. Her father moves out, and her mother ends up in psychiatric hospital. Then the protagonist meets the less-than-perfect Declan, whose family encourages her to join their band. Spending time with Declan and the band has Juliet questioning her life choices. Perhaps there is a future for her that is “better than perfect.” Kantor poignantly captures what a broken marriage can do to the whole family. The characters are well developed, and readers experience Juliet’s pain as she realizes her parents’ fallibility. The narrative skillfully reflects the protagonist’s ups and downs.–Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX
Khoury, Jessica. Kalahari. 368p. ebook available. Penguin/Razorbill. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781595147653.
Gr 9 Up –Having grown up traveling the world with her zoologist parents, Sarah doesn’t have many friends that are human, let alone her own age. Now her mom is dead and it’s just Sarah, her father, and their research assistant Theo camped in the middle of the Kalahari. Enter Avani, Joey, Sam, Miranda, and Kase, five teenagers signed up for an educational safari led by the teen’s father. But when he and Theo leave the others on the first night in pursuit of dangerous poachers and never return, Sarah is left to keep herself and the visitors safe while simultaneously searching the desert for her dad and Theo. It doesn’t take long for the group to discover that they are dealing with something far bigger than poachers as they come across a silver lion and a murdered Theo. They become the prey after they discover a top-secret laboratory that has unleashed a deadly virus. Khoury’s latest novel is enthralling and filled with suspense, taking readers on a roller-coaster ride. This story is a entertaining and will capture teens’ attention.–Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY
Kontis, Alethea. Dearest. 288p. (Woodcutter Sisters: Bk. 3). ebook available. Houghton Harcourt. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780544074071. LC 2014000737.
Gr 7 Up –Kontis continues to artfully interweave fairy-tale plots and nursery-rhyme references, as Friday (who is, true to form, loving and giving) sews patchwork outfits and tends to the refugee children in the kingdom of Arilland, now ruled by Sunday and ex-frog Rumbold. While investigating a tower, she almost falls into the sea, rescued from certain death by seven swans, who can return to their human forms only at night. One swan in particular, Tristan, captures her heart, and with the help of Rampion (an enchanted servant and sister to the swans) and others, Friday sets out to break the spell and save Arilland from destruction by the evil Mordant, Gana, and the Infidel. Readers will enjoy spotting storybook references from many sources (helpers named Wendy, John, and Michael; a town called Hammelyn). Magical adventure, occasional humor, and moments of gentle romance make this a good choice for younger to mid-teen readers.–Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX
Laurie, Victoria. When. 336p. Disney-Hyperion. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781484700082.
Gr 9 Up –Maddie has always seen the date people will die, but does not realize what she is seeing until one day, in first grade, her father is killed on a date she told him about two years prior. The tragedy sends Maddie’s life spinning out of control: her mother can no longer function without alcohol, they leave the city to live in a small community, Maddie’s ability challenges her facility to make friends, and her mother cannot hold down a job. They survive on her father’s wrongful death settlement. Maddie, now 16, also makes ends meet by charging a small fee to tell people their death dates. A mother comes for a reading for her youngest son, but Maddie notices that the woman’s older son will die in a week instead. When the older boy goes missing a week later, FBI agents show up at the protagonist’s school because they suspect Maddie and her best friend, Stubby, of foul play. The plot is filled with false turns, which will keep readers engaged until the surprising ending.–Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH
Lidh, Jessica. The Number 7. 272p. Adams Media/Merit. Dec. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781440583063; ebk. ISBN 9781440583070.
Gr 7 Up –Louisa and her sister are brought to Pennsylvania by their widowed father to live in the home of his once-estranged, now-deceased parents. Louisa soon begins receiving calls from her dead grandmother through an old telephone in the attic. The calls share family secrets and events that took place in Sweden during World War II. It is through these phone calls that the narrative jumps between present day to the past. Louisa is a sweet-natured, somewhat introspective teenager who is still grieving from the loss of her mother, trying to figure out how to open up to her father and sister. She is in the center of a fairly innocent love triangle and is well adjusted to the idea of her father dating someone new. The main character of the historical sections, Gerhard (Louisa’s grandfather), is fleshed out, and the tension in those historical chapters builds well. He is only slightly older than Louisa’s 16 years, and the severity his circumstances versus her “which-boy-to-choose” situations eventually hits home for her. The story is interesting and highlights a part of World War II history that isn’t often addressed. Strengths include a light romance, some interesting historical references, and strong pacing.–Heather Massa, East Rockaway Public Library, NY
Lyga, Barry. Blood of My Blood. 480p. (I Hunt Killers: Bk. 3). ebook available. Little, Brown. 2014. Tr $18. ISBN 9780316198707. LC 2014003643.
Gr 9 Up –Jasper “Jazz” Dent is locked in a storage locker with two dead bodies, trying to nurse his own bullet wound in the dim light of a fading cellphone. Picking up (without pause) from the cliff-hanger ending in Game (2013), Lyga’s series about the 17-year-old son of escaped killer Billy Dent continues as he tries to aid the police in his father’s recapture. Unaware that his girlfriend Connie has been lured by Billy to a Brooklyn tenement house and imprisoned with Jazz’s mother, and that his hemophiliac friend, Howie, has been attacked, Jazz faces his demons alone—including repressed memories with sexual undertones, and the creepy voice of Billy educating his son on the acumen required to be a good serial killer (appearing in italics). The worrisome genetic factor plagues Jazz yet propels him in the right direction to foil some copycat killers and elude authorities long enough to solve his own life’s mysteries. Obstructing the law, the teen follows clues that take him back home to Lobo’s Nod for the chilling climax and surprise ending, despite red herrings thrown in the readers’ path at every turn. As a trilogy wrap-up, this gory winner with raw appeal requires having read the first two titles.–Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland
Napoli, Donna Jo. Hidden. 384p. bibliog. S. & S./Paula Wiseman Bks. Dec. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442483002.
Gr 7 Up –Readers who enjoyed Donna Jo Napoli’s Hush (S. & S., 2007) and wondered about the fate of eight-year-old Brigid finally have their answers. The author uses her amazing ability to find the bare bones of an old story and flesh them out into a rich, living tale. This time, it is the story of Alfhild, feared female pirate of 10th-century Norse lore. Brigid survives her plunge into icy waters when escaping the slave ship she and her sister Melkorka were aboard. Upon realizing that Mel did not escape with her, she is determined to find her sister, no matter the long odds. But how to find one beautiful slave girl possibly traded anywhere in Europe? Brigid, or Alfhild as she comes to be called, ponders this question as she learns, grows, and thrives. Brigid is a fictional character but Alfhild is an actual historical figure—this blending to fit a historical framework produces continued good fortune, which lends the work a folktale feel at times. Napoli seamlessly weaves cultural, mythological, and historical information together, immersing the readers in Norse life.–Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI
Nichols, Amy K. Now That You’re Here. 304p. (Duplexity: Bk. 1). Knopf. Dec. 2014. lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 9780385753906; Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780385753890; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780385753913.
Gr 7 Up –Danny Ogden was trying to blend in with the crowd before he was jolted from his universe to that of Eevee Solomon’s. Lucky for Danny, Eevee is intrigued by this sudden change in demeanor and personality from the Danny she knew. She enlists the help of her best friend Warren and together—with the help of their physics teacher —the three explore the scientific explanations for Danny’s universe jumping. Danny and Eevee develop feelings for each other and when they arrive at a possible answer, they have to come to terms with what might happen if Danny stays or goes. This science-fiction tale takes place almost entirely in present day. Its short chapters in alternating voices lends it a quick pace. Eevee is a strong lead—smart, grounded despite her parent’s divorce, and secure with her strongest friendship. Although we never get to know the Danny originally in Eevee’s universe, the parallel Danny is empathetic, thoughtful, and very trusting considering what had just happened to him. Nichols adeptly simplifies the complex concepts of string theory and parallel universes without condescending to readers. The short chapters develop into a mystery set against a sweet romance that will envelop teens. –Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL
Oliver, Lauren. Vanishing Girls. 368p. ebook available. HarperCollins/Harper. Mar. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780062224101.
Gr 9 Up –Different as night and day, sisters Nick and Dara are practically joined at the hip. Nick is perpetually the cool and calm older one who calls the shots. Dara is always tagging along, longing to be in the spotlight. That was before the accident that left Dara injured and Nick shaken to the core. Now, the siblings barely speak to each other; they live together but never cross paths. Nick gets a job at a local amusement park and begins to interact with people again, mostly with her longtime best friend, but also with her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Parker. As the summer continues, a young local girl goes missing and Nick finds herself getting more involved with the ensuing drama than she ever expected. Oliver’s characterizations and background stories are well-developed and compulsively readable. The relationship between Nick and Dara drives the plot and is very realistic. The twist the author incorporates at the end is dramatic without being absurd and was completely unexpected. Recommend to teens looking for a well-written work with a juicy ending. They will not be disappointed.–Morgan Brickey, Marion County Public Library System, FL
Payne, Mary Jennifer. Since You’ve Been Gone. 216p. Dundurn. Feb. 2015. pap. $19.99. ISBN 9781459728189.
Gr 8 Up –Fifteen-year-old Edie is no stranger to starting over. She and her mother have been evading her abusive father for longer than she cares to remember. This time however, things are different. Edie doesn’t just have to move to a new town and make new friends. She is forced to relocate to London, leaving her beloved cat behind at a moment’s notice. As if adjusting to a new country weren’t enough of a challenge, Edie finds herself at the center of a missing person case when her mother does not return home from her new job. With the help of unlikely ally and romantic prospect Jermaine, Edie’s search for her mother takes her all over the city. It is on this journey that she realizes it’s time to stop running and start living. This realistic novel is a quick read abd readers will enjoy this fast-paced sojourn through London. For fans of Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes (HarperCollins, 2005).–Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR
Salisbury, Melinda. The Sin Eater’s Daughter. 320p. Scholastic. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545810623; ebk. ISBN 9780545819732.
Gr 7 Up –Seventeen-year-old Twylla has a gift and a curse as the embodiment of a goddess on Earth: she is worshipped and she can kill men in seconds with the briefest of touches. Twylla’s mother is a Sin Eater, one who eats symbolic foods of the deceased person’s sins at their grave site; Twylla is set to pursue this path until the Queen of Lormere takes her from her home to become the goddess Daunen Embodied. Every month, the teen ingests a poisonous substance that reinforces her position as the goddess’s personification and the kingdom’s executioner, and every month Twylla becomes more isolated. Her only hope of escape lies with her future marriage to Lormere’s prince, Merek. Possible deliverance comes in the form of a new guard who joins her service—Lief is different from the others. As the protagonist grows closer to Merek and Lief, she becomes more aware of how truly trapped she is in her role with the Queen—and how much she will have to sacrifice to break free. Salisbury’s luscious world-building and mythology make this fantasy a worthy read. Twylla is strong and sensible, and teen fans of royal intrigue titles will be rooting for her.–Amanda C. Buschmann, Atascocita Middle School, Humble, TX
Santopolo, Jill. Love on the Lifts. 272p. (Follow Your Heart). Penguin/Speak. Jan. 2015. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780147510938.
Gr 7-10 –Your boyfriend was just caught kissing another girl. But you get to escape the embarrassment and post-breakup social slump by traveling with your family on an annual trip to the Galaxy Ski Resort. Your older and more experienced sister, Angie, has hatched a plan to help you get over your philandering boyfriend in less than a week: fall in love on the lifts or, at the very least, kiss a boy. As soon as you accept the plan as exactly the remedy your broken heart needs, Angie is plowed over by a skier and you have some choices to make. Should you stick with your sister while she recovers from her minor injuries or should you choose from one of the 11 different boys who could be a new romance? In this “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure”–style book, readers gets to select the path of the story by making decisions at various points in the plot’s development. This is a quick, breezy tale with with very light character development. The interactive format is the true attention-grabber.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD
Smith, Daniel. Big Game. 272p. Scholastic/Chicken House. Mar. 2015. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9780545766357; ebk. $6.99. ISBN 9780545766364.
Gr 6 Up –In Oskari’s Finnish mountain village there is a tradition known as the Trial. On the eve of a boy’s 13th birthday he spends the night on the mountain. Whatever game he brings back indicates the kind of man he’ll be. Oskari’s father, a fearless hunter, brought back a bear when he was just 13. Oskari is small and doesn’t even have the strength to fully draw back the string of the traditional bow in order to shoot an arrow straight. Everyone in the village, including Oskari himself, doubts that he will be able to kill anything. While on his Trial, Oskari comes across a strange metal pod in the woods. Out of it emerges the President of the United States whose plane, Air Force One, has just been shot out of the sky. The president’s would-be assassins are hunting him and, by association, Oskari as well. It soon becomes clear that Oskari’s mission is not to hunt and kill, but rather to use his knowledge of the wilderness to save the president. Initially the assassins appear to be terrorists, but Oskari and the president soon learn that the nefarious plan is far more complicated and insidious. This fast-paced page-turner will appeal to fans of action-packed plots and is recommended for reluctant readers.–Ragan O’Malley, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY
Shepherd, Megan. A Cold Legacy. 400p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062128089; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062128102.
Gr 9 Up –The final volume of the “Madman’s Daughter” series (HarperCollins) accomplishes something too often lacking in trilogies—a third volume that is as compelling and well-written as the first installment. In this entry inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Juliet, Lucy, Montgomery, Balthazar, and Edward have escaped from their pursuers to the Scottish estate of Juliet’s friend and benefactor, Elizabeth von Stein. They find the isolated estate inhabited by a number of young women and girls, “wards” of Elizabeth, and one very strange male child named Hensley, Elizabeth’s son. Juliet also discovers that the secrets of the rich woman’s ancestor Victor Frankenstein have been preserved by the family, and with no legitimate heirs, Juliet has been chosen to receive the knowledge of “Perpetual Anatomy.” In addition to the outer turmoil, Juliet continues to worry whether or not as her father’s daughter she, too, has the “madness” gene. The skillfully drawn and well-developed characters face their emotional upheavals and outside dangers with aplomb. Fast-paced and romantic, this page-turning volume results in mixed emotions—contentment with the ending, but still a desire for more.–Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas
Stetz-Waters, Karelia. Forgive Me If I’ve Told You This Before. 304p. Ooligan Pr. Nov. 2014. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781932010732.
Gr 10 Up –It’s 1989, and the state of Oregon is attempting to pass legislation against gays, and Triinu Hoffman’s high school principal makes no secret about how he feels on the issue. The teen knows she is a lesbian, understands that she might be up for a challenge. Classmate Pip Weston has bullied her for years, but she doesn’t let that stop her from continuing to discover who she is. The principal does not make it easy for Triinu and neither do the girls she encounters in her quest for companionship. This is a true coming-of-age novel that is open and honest as relationships develop between Triinu and several love interests. High schools will not be able to keep this book on the shelves as it intertwines a variety of issues and challenges that teens endure. There are some sex scenes as the protagonist develops relationships with different young women and strong language that is organic to the situations in which they occur. A good discussion starter for mature teens.–Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI
Stiefvater, Maggie. Blue Lily, Lily Blue. 400p. (The Raven Cycle: Bk. 3). Scholastic. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780545424967; ebk. ISBN 9780545662901.
Gr 9 Up –Having inhaled the first two installments in this thrilling series about four Virginia schoolboys on a quest to find a legendary Welsh king, teens will be anxious to see where Stiefvater next leads Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah. The volume picks up directly after The Dream Thieves (Scholastic, 2013) and the quest takes some bizarre and dangerous twists. Blue Sargent and the psychically talented women of 300 Fox Way take center stage this time. Blue’s mother Maura has disappeared, and it’s not immediately clear if she wants to be found. Despite the fact that “time and space were bathtubs that Maura splashed in,” Blue and Mr. Gray, Maura’s ex-hitman boyfriend, begin to think she’s underground and in trouble. Informed by several mystical and live sources that there are three ancient sleepers in the nearby mountain caves, one of which is not to be awakened, the young people are hurled toward a subterranean encounter of the weirdest kind. Throughout, the prose is crisp and dazzling and the dialogue positively crackles. Blue and the Raven Boys come into their own over the course of the novel and realize their individual strengths and the power of their collective bonds, making them unstoppable. –Luann Toth, School Library Journal
Stine, R.L. Party Games: A Fear Street Novel. 288p. ebook available. St. Martin’s/Thomas Dunne. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781250051615.
Gr 9 Up –Lurking on Fear Street are many more page-turning (albeit formulaic) horrors from the beloved author. This first installment of the revamped series has the classic Stine recipe: told from one character’s point of view in a linear chronology, with a focus on plot over character or context development. Each chapter is a cliff-hanger and readers can anticipate the type of scare they’re in for—until the final twist. The novel is written from the perspective of contemporary teenager Rachel, who is delighted to be invited to her crush Brendan Fear’s birthday party on his remote private island. The cursed Fear family and has a terrifying reputation, and when teenagers start being murdered at Brendan’s party, it seems the curse is becoming a reality. The simple language and horror themes will appeal to many readers, including reluctant ones. A volume that proves why Stine’s books endure.–Lisa Nowlain, Darien Library, CT
Stirling, Tricia. When My Heart Was Wicked. 192p. Scholastic. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545695732; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9780545695756.
Gr 9 Up –Debut novelist Stirling has written a delightfully dark and twisty story for those who never quite outgrew fairy tales. Removed from the custody of her abusive, dysfunctional mother when she was 13 years old, Lacy has spent the past three years with her loving father and free-spirited stepmother. But following the death of her father to prostate cancer, her mother, Cheyenne, insists that Lacy leaves her stepmother’s home in Chico and moves to Sacramento with her. Adding to the stress of going to a new school and making new friends, Lacy grows increasingly aware that something is very wrong with her mother and that she, herself, is being pulled into darkness. This enigmatic novel will keep readers guessing from the first page to the last. No clear answers will frustrate and delight readers. Stirling is an author to watch.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
Thorne, Bella with Elise Allen. Autumn Falls. 224p. Delacorte. Nov. 2014. lib. ed. $21.99. ISBN 9780375991615; Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780385744331; ebk. ISBN 9780385385237.
Gr 7 Up –At the start of this realistic novel by the Disney Channel actress, Autumn Falls’s father dies in a car accident. Already planning to move to Aventura, Florida to take care of Eddy, their grandmother, the grieving family settles in the quiet town. Switching to a new school gets even harder for Autumn, when on her first day at Aventura High, her brother runs his skycam into her, which leaves a giant bump on her forehead. Someone takes a photo and posts it on the student portal. The pranks continue to make her adjustment period difficult. Autumn begins to write in a journal that Eddy gave her, and magical things occur. Every time the protagonist writes “I wish” in her journal, she receives her wish, just not always how she expects it. A feel-good book with believable and well-developed characters and an evenly paced plot. Its discussion of bullying, death, friendship, and family makes it a timely and resonant read.–Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA
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