Author: Daisy Whitney
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Number of Pages: 288
Source of Book: eARC from publisher on NetGalley

Seventeen-year-old Julien is a romantic—he loves spending his free time at the museum poring over the great works of the Impressionists. But one night, a peach falls out of a Cezanne, Degas ballerinas dance across the floor, and Julien is not hallucinating.
          The art is reacting to a curse that trapped a beautiful girl, Clio, in a painting forever. Julien has a chance to free Clio and he can’t help but fall in love with her. But love is a curse in its own right. And soon paintings begin to bleed and disappear. Together Julien and Clio must save the world’s greatest art . . . at the expense of the greatest love they’ve ever known.
          Like a master painter herself, Daisy Whitney brings inordinate talent and ingenuity to this romantic, suspenseful, and sophisticated new novel. A beautifully decorated package makes it a must-own in print.

First Thought: I got to spend a little more time in Europe – the setting reigns in this book!

In STARRY NIGHTS Daisy Whitney has written an ode to artists and their famous artwork, to those who are well-loved and to those who just love to create. It instantly transports the readers to the streets of Paris, the museums housing the masters, and the heart of the pieces they lovingly created. It’s a touch of whimsy, a touch of romance, a touch of friendships, a touch of secret underground societies, a touch of travel guide, a touch of art history, a touch of unrequited love, a touch of kisses, a touch of mystery, a touch of art heists, a touch of a tour of the greatest art museums around the world. The twisty bits as we uncover what is really going on as Garnier races to figure out how to fix these most famous art pieces before they are destroyed adds an element to the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of my most favorite parts of the story were the after-hours in the museum with the artwork coming to life elements along with how real the setting became for me. I love Paris and Daisy Whitney transported me right back there with this novel. STARRY NIGHTS is a fun read with a sweet romance and a mystery to figure out that will keep readers intrigued and looking up artwork from the Masters. It’s a bit Night at the Museum + Heist Society + some kind of romance story.

Final Thoughts: Daisy Whitney is one of my favorite authors, and STARRY NIGHTS doesn’t disappoint. Although very different from her previous books, it’s a whimsical read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Title: FRACTURE
Author: Megan Miranda
Publisher: Walker & Co. (a Bloomsbury imprint)
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Number of Pages: 272

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy
waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her
heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.
And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly
fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone
wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she’s far from normal.
Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney finds
herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death,
or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with
similar abilities. At first she’s reassured to find someone who
understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon
discovers that Troy’s motives aren’t quite what she thought. Is their
gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a
fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the
fine line between life and death.

Student #1:

     I love Fracture by Megan
Miranda. It literally felt as if I were in the book, feeling the character‘s
emotions. This story had the perfect combo of a thrilling romance mystery, with
a thickening plot. While reading this, I never really knew what to expect
because the main character, Delaney, was just thrown into this whole lifestyle
that seemed absolutely terrifyingly creepy.
     Although
Delaney had become one of my favorite characters, there were some points in the
book where I just couldn’t stand her. Like when she befriended Troy. He was
just so creepy, how could you not sense the danger and trouble that would come
with him or when she got angry at Decker for dating someone else while she did
the same thing. Delaney’s mother was messed up too. She reminded me of a witch,
evil! I mean, who drugs their own child so they don’t wake up and have
‘hallucinations’, as she put it. Anyways, I would recommend this book to
someone who likes a good thrilling, mystery, romance book. I rate this novel
five stars.

Title: MIND GAMES
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Number of Pages: 256
Source of Book: ARC loaned to me from my fabulous teacher friend, Lea

Fia was born with
flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always
exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around
her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped
in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for
corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over
between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking
each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times
bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick,
edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters
determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

MIND GAMES is a compulsively readable story that shows a completely different side to Kiersten White than her PARANORMALCY series did. It was awesome and unexpected, while still having some of the trademark Kiersten White easy, contemporary style of writing that I love of hers. But this character is so different from what she has written before. The structure of this story built upon itself to drive the suspense to a climactic moment that I never saw coming. White has built a world of girls with psychic powers intertwined in a thriller of a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was an unputdownable pageturner. I have so many thoughts after reading this engaging, twisted, emotional, intriguing, thought-provoking, kick-butt novel, and all of them are good.

I really love reading books with strong girl characters, and when they’re a little bit broken as Fia is, it makes it that much more relatable. Fia is kind of my new hero after reading MIND GAMES. She is conflicted, but knows what’s most important to her. She is broken, but strong. She is scared, but fearless. She is hopeless, yet determined. She is the strength of this novel. Between Fia, the world that Kiersten White created, the mysterious thriller aspects, the relationships, and the back and forth timeline of the story, I never knew where it was going to end up. MIND GAMES was an excitingly thrilling novel and I enjoyed every page of it. I can’t wait for the next one to find out what happens next!

Title: CRASH (Visions, book 1)
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 256
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules
lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells
like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food
truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle
that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts
her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and
explode…and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is
everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only
one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees.
The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do.
Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s
someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she
can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality.

This is a must-get book – I can’t wait to get this into the hands of teens because I think they’re going to eat it up. I adore Lisa McMann and have enjoyed all of her other books, so I was excited to see she’d be signing advanced copies at NCTE this year. Ever since I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I wanted to read it…and it totally lived up to, and exceeded, my expectations. The great thing about Lisa McMann’s young adult books, just like in the WAKE trilogy, is the ease with which she writes that makes for a fast read and in a style that engages my more hesitant student readers as well. CRASH was unputdownable and I read it in one day, which was good because I was dying to know what would happen and how it would all turn out.

The plot of this story is suspenseful and fast-moving. There are layers to what is going on with family and school and the visions and romance and everything that’s happening that keep the reader going. The reader goes along with Jules as she tries to figure out what exactly is happening to her, and we find out more about her home life as we go along as well as what’s happening to her at school and with the boy she’s been in love with since she was a kid. This all comes to a head in the last third of the book as the visions become more insistent and Jules realizes time is running out for her to figure out what’s happening and save the people she cares about.

I so enjoyed the characters in CRASH. Lisa McMann has written relatable, entertaining, and endearing primary and secondary characters in this story. The voice of Jules is fantastic, especially the sarcastic top 5 lists throughout. I’d want to be friends with her for sure. There is also so much humor in this story, especially in her interactions with her family, that kept me engaged throughout. Her family situation is not always the best, but her sibling relationships are something everyone would hope for. She has an incredible older brother in Trey, who happens to be gay, which is handled in such a subtle, matter-of-fact, honest, realistic way which I really loved. I really felt like I was reading about real teens and real things that would happen to them, with the added context of the fantasy elements of the visions added in.

CRASH is a book for readers who like romance, quick-reads, suspense, mystery, science-fictiony/fantasyish predicitons of the future, family stories, and those who just want an engaging, fun, exciting read.  I’m super happy to hear that there are going to be four books in this series. I definitely want more of this story and engaging world Lisa has created in the Visions series!

Title: PIVOT POINT
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Number of Pages: 320
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at NCTE

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison
Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is
faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes.
It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought.
When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has
to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the
paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is
staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as
it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the
future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is
adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high
school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands
her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in
school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When
Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s
unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she
holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which
reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live
without.

I loved this book so much. It’s fresh and original and unexpected. It’s an amazing book that was entertaining and engaging. It has characters I wanted to be friends with, lines of text that I read repeatedly because I wanted to soak up and remember them, a uniquely original world built upon a science fiction/supernatural base that reads like a contemporary, a layered storyline being told of two divergent paths that are interrelated, twists that kept me on my reader toes, and a writing voice that I connected with and felt comforted by and made me want to keep spending time enveloped in this prose. PIVOT POINT is the debut novel by Kasie West (who is repped by Michelle Wolfson, the same agent as Kiersten White and Daisy Whitney, whose new books I also love), and it is one that I think teens are going to love. I know I did. This is the kind of book that left me still thinking about it the next day wondering what was happening in those character’s lives next and wanting to go back and reread it again right away.

One of the details Kasie West included that I really loved in PIVOT POINT was the way that Addie loves books so much, and all kinds of books, but real paper books. There are many times throughout the story it comes up, and it made me happy to read it each time. Addison also has the kind of personality that I love in my main characters – a little bit spunky and sassy, with an intelligence and caring behind all she does. Her attitude is great, and there were many moments throughout where I laughed out loud at something she said. In regards to gym class in a new school: “Nobody should be forced to do physical exercise on Mondays.” Him: “My bookcase is all yours.” Her: “I’ve just decided those are my five favorite words in the world.” And many, many more that I wanted to hold onto to remember on another day. *All lines quoted from an uncorrected proof.

Another element that is incredibly strong is the twistedness of the plot and the way the two directions the story goes are interwoven together. The links are there to see how it might go with either choice in the same situations, and the alternating chapters stop at just the right point every time. There is a history to this world that is intriguing and fully thought out, but that still seems to have more to discover. There is also a depth to this story that delves into the true repercussions of choices we make and the path to get to what we may want might not always be easy. It’s about figuring out who is meaningful and necessary in her life, and what she can do to keep them there. And I can’t talk about this book without mentioning the boys. Duke and Trevor both have their charms, and they were written in such a way as to make the reader adore both of them, and not be sure which way you want the story to go yourself. Which is exactly how we should be feeling because that’s how Addie would be feeling. I also claim this book has one of the best first kiss scenes ever, but everything stays clean enough that I could hand it to my middle school students without a concern. In fact, I think they’ll love it, too.

This is the kind of book that leaves you contemplating at the end because either choice has its good sides and its bad, so it’s hard to know which one you’d want the character to choose. It does end with a definite decision and ending; however, I found out there will be a sequel, so I’m very excited to get to spend more time with these characters in this world and read more of this fresh voice in YA. Please go get PIVOT POINT in February, or preorder it now, and read Kasie West’s debut novel. You won’t be sorry.

Title: THE LIAR SOCIETY: LIES THAT BIND
Author: Lisa and Laura Roecker
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Number of Pages: 320

Just when Kate Lowry
thought she had life at elite private school Pemberly Brown figured out,
she cracks open a fortune cookie to find a message from her best friend
Grace–who’s supposed to be dead.

Another Sister Gone

A
classmate has gone missing, and Kate soon realizes that the
disappearance is tied to the secret societies that rule her private
school. Her best friend died for their secrets, and there’s no way
she’ll let them get away with it twice. It’s up to quirky outsider Kate
to get some answers, but in a school where every answer leads to more
questions and nothing’s as it seems, who can she trust?

Guest post generously provided by Sourcebooks.

Thanks to Sourcebooks (love them!), I get to giveaway one copy of THE LIAR SOCIETY: LIES THAT BIND. Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: ALTERED
Author: Jennifer Rush
Publisher: Little, Brown
Release Date: January 2, 2013
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: ARC requested from publisher

When you can’t trust yourself, who can
you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father
works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and
administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below
their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s
heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape,
killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following
Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes
her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs.
There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living
in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon
discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them
expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the
clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all
away.

I had no idea what to expect when I opened ALTERED by Jennifer Rush; I just knew that the summary sounded really good. I had just finished two other incredible books, so I was hesitant to start one I hadn’t heard much about yet for fear I would be disappointed, but I had no reason to be worried with ALTERED. I was hooked on this heart-pounding story from the first page. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop reading. This was a one day read for me because it was so action-packed and surprising that I just wanted to keep going to find out what was actually happening until the very end. ALTERED has all the best of the medical alterations sci-fi intrigue, secret organization, on-the-run types of stories, with a uniquely interesting backstory of how these boys and Anna got there.

ALTERED is an addictively good, completely intriguing story. I loved the journey I was taken on from the start of learning about the lab, to the escape, to being on the run, to the mystery of their past, to the unexpected reveals, to the relationships built and broken and repaired, to the place the characters are left at the end. Jennifer Rush has given the reader an exciting blend of family drama, relationship building, hot boys, guns and weapons, action-packed fighting sequences, mystery, suspense, and outmaneuvering of the organization chasing them. There were several scenes when I literally gasped out loud. The whole group of core characters has a dynamic that is endearing, and their interactions are so engaging. Love those boys! ALTERED is a twisty novel full of gasp-worthy moments, action, loveable characters, and a little bit of a romance to tie it all together.

I’m so glad to hear that there will be another book following this one! There is a definite ending, so I wasn’t sure because it could have been that this story is complete, but it is left at a spot that had me hoping there would be more time with these characters and more to discover at this point in their story. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the follow-up book from Jennifer Rush to spend more time with Anna, Sam, and the boys!

Title: PARTNERS IN CRIME (Sleuth or Dare Book 1)
Author: Kim Harrington
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 179
Source of Book: Bought the paperback from Scholastic Book Clubs

Whodunit?

When
best friends Darcy and Norah have to create a fake business for a
school assignment, they come up with a great idea: a detective agency!
Darcy loves mysteries, and Norah likes helping people, so it’s a perfect
fit.

But then their pretend agency gets a real case.
Someone is missing, and it’s up to Darcy and Norah to take on the
search. Unfortunately, there’s someone else out there who doesn’t want
the two detectives stirring up any trouble. . . .

With the help of hidden clues, spy gadgets, and trusted friends, can Darcy and Norah crack the case in time?

I really enjoyed Kim Harrington’s young adult debut book, CLARITY, also a mystery book, so when I saw that she had a middle grades mystery series also, I made sure to get it right away. Part of the reason is that so many of my students liked CLARITY also, so it’s always nice to have a favorite author in the classroom, but also because some of my students aren’t ready for the maturity of the young adult book yet, so I was hopeful that the SLEUTH OR DARE series would be a good fit for my other readers, and I’m sure it will be.

PARTNERS IN CRIME is a perfectly middle grades book. The writing level and complexity of the subplots and main mystery are all right in that sweet spot. The mystery was a bit obvious to me, but again, I’m not the age or ability level of the intended audience. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book at all though. One thing that is really nice is that the mystery is such that it’s a great fit for younger middle grades students who want to try mystery but aren’t ready yet for more complex novels.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. There was quite a bit about their relationships with their families, and the arc the characters take to accepting and appreciating their own families is a nice message.  In addition, the two main characters are not the popular girls, but instead each have their own interests aligned with their intelligence and abilities. It’s nice to see a story with these characters who are into astronomy and technology being the strong leaders of the book, and even though they’re not popular, they still have good relationships and confidence in themselves. There are some subplots relating to bullying and typical middle school dynamics that are handled well also.

Once again Harrington has struck just the right voice. The book is written with a strong female lead and in such a way that it sounds like she’s talking right to the reader. This allows us to get insights into what’s happening, but also stay fully engaged in the story. Overall PARTNERS IN CRIME is a fun, quick mystery with heart. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series: SLEEPOVER STAKEOUT and FRAMED & DANGEROUS and handing these off to my students.

Title: EVE & ADAM
Author: Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (a Macmillan imprint)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 304
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at IRA Convention

Sixteen-year-old
Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother,
EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure,
Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really
questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is
that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is
exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster
than physically possible.

While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s
lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if
off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like
Evening, he’s never questioned anything… until now. Solo drops hints
to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it.
Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship
project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of
Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world
completely.

EVE & ADAM had a premise that sounded really interesting to me, and with two powerhouse authors (who are married-I didn’t know that before!), I definitely had to give it a shot. I’m really glad that I did, and it was a page-turner for sure, but it wasn’t as high of a quality of a story as I expected. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but it was more of a down and dirty action movie type of book to me, as opposed to a thoughtful exploration of the medical/genetic scientific experimenting. I think that comes from it being so plot and action driven as opposed to character driven like some other books. But I did like the characters of Evening and Solo quite a bit. I really just wanted to hang out with them and create trouble.

Michael Grant (of GONE fame) and Katherine Applegate (THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN), team up well and have written a book that will appeal to both guys and girls. It’s fast-moving and plot-driven, involves conspiracy theories and villains, medical miracles and experimentations, questionable good guys and bad guys – who may change depending on the perspective, has a bit of romance and lots of action. I read this book in one day. One of the things I really enjoyed was the way that this world was imagined. It’s a normal world, but inside Spiker Biotech, is a whole other story. EVE & ADAM is suspenseful and mysterious and an enjoyable, quick read. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what happens in the sequel, ADAM & EVE.

Title: FLIRTING IN ITALIAN
Author: Lauren Henderson
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (a Random House imprint)
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: Hardcover for Book Divas review & NetGalley eARC

In Flirting in Italian, Lauren Henderson, bestselling author of Kiss Me Kill Me, follows four girls’ unforgettable summer in the magnificent Italian countryside.


     Four girls. One magical—and possibly dangerous—Italian summer.
Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the
stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

When Violet sees the painting at the museum that looks exactly like herself, she knows she must find out more about it. Since her dark Mediterranean looks have never looked like her Scandinavian and Scottish parents, it makes her start questioning how she could look so similar to this Italian painting. Thus begins Violet’s desire to get to the castle in Italy where this was painted to try to find out some answers. When she finds a two month summer “school” program that will teach her the language, culture, and art history (her prospective college major) – along with a visit to this castle – she knows she has to go. Arriving in Italy, Violet finds Kelly, another Brit, and Kendra and Paige from the United States, having no idea what the four of them are in for. Their initial impressions of each other grow and change as they get to know each other better and bond through their classes. And the focus turns to seeing how Italian teens interact and flirting with the cute boys they find. But there’s still the mystery of what is going on at that castle and why Violet looks so much like the girl in the painting-and when visiting, the people there see the resemblance right away. Who will she get to know and what will she find out during her summer in Italy?

The first thing I noticed in this book is that it is written/narrated from a British perspective, which I hadn’t realized going into it, so some of the slang and terms took some getting used to. It starts off with this mystery of how Violet is connected to this castle, but it seems as if that ends up taking a secondary storyline once she actually gets to Italy-it’s always in the background, but doesn’t get resolved. Once in Italy, it turns into Americans vs. British vs. Italians and the constant comparisons of the differences, which began to seem a little stereotypical and repetitive instead of growing from it. I felt that this book was missing a little bit of the understanding of why people were acting the way they were. Why is the daughter of the school runner so nasty to the four girls? Why is Luca so hot and cold to Violet? As much as I enjoyed the bonding of the four girls in the school and seeing their friendships grow and their support of each other, there are hints to backstories and motivations that I didn’t feel were fully developed in this book. It ended up reading more like a boarding school/travel/party and flirt kind of book, rather than what I was expecting. I did appreciate the personality of Violet and her attitude toward what she wants, but (as I suppose the title should have suggested) it was more about the girls flirting with and finding Italian boys-but there was some growth Violet had to go through in discovering more about herself, her motivations, and how she wants to be perceived.  The ending seemed to come quickly and felt unfinished to me, and then I saw the note that there is a companion book, so it really did seem as if it’s a part one of a story because the mystery is left hanging and it seemed to end right in the middle of a climactic moment.

Title: CAPTURE THE FLAG
Author: Kate Messner
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: July 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 240
Source of Book: ARC from IRA Convention

Three kids get caught up in an adventure of historic proportions!

Anna,
José, and Henry are complete strangers with more in common than they
realize. Snowed in together at a chaotic Washington D.C. airport, they
encounter a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a
rambunctious poodle named for an ancient king. Even stranger, news
stations everywhere have announced that the famous flag that inspired
“The Star-Spangled Banner” has been stolen! Anna, certain that the
culprits must be snowed in too, recruits Henry and José to help catch
the thieves and bring them to justice.

But when accusations start
flying, they soon realize there’s more than justice at stake. As the
snow starts clearing, Anna, José, and Henry find themselves in a race
against time (and the weather!) to prevent the loss of an American
treasure.

I absolutely adore Kate Messner’s writing. I really enjoyed EYE OF THE STORM and CAPTURE THE FLAG was no disappointment either. One of the things I like most about Kate Messner’s books is that she writes smart, honest, real characters. In this book they read, they write, one is a genius at video games, but they all have many layers to their characters without getting overly emotionally involved as would happen in more young adult books. Her cast of characters is also multicultural allowing more kids to relate to the teens they’re reading about in the books. I also appreciate that although there is a main female character, there
are two male characters in prominent roles also, so there is
gender-neutral appeal to this book.

Another great thing about her books is the cross-curricular connections she makes. Especially in CAPTURE THE FLAG where there are many social studies/history ties to be made. In this book she has written a multilayered story with an intriguing mystery. I figured it out early on, but it is written for 3rd-7th graders, and I think it will appeal to them-especially if they’re fans of heist stories. It’s a fun story as the group is stuck overnight in an airport and as the kids band together to try to find the stolen flag, scene after scene builds up tension and humor as they find their way into all sorts of hidden places within the airport. It also has an exciting secret society aspect to it. I could see this turning into a great series. I know there’s a sequel, but I hope there will be more than just one more book in this series. These could be characters who could solve these National Treasure (the movie) type mysteries in all different kinds of situations and meet other members of the society.

Kate Messner just has great writing. There are wonderful descriptions of things and exciting scenes/action, but still written at a level that middle schoolers will easily understand. CAPTURE THE FLAG has a great title and cover design sure to appeal to the intended audience. If you haven’t read a Kate Messner book yet, and you’re interested in middle grades books, I encourage you to do so soon, and CAPTURE THE FLAG would be a great start!

Title: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin (a Simon & Schuster imprint)
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Number of Pages: 488
Source of Book: ARC from publisher at ALA

In this riveting debut,
a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new
world–before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Twelve-year-old
Sophie has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades
and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not
comfortable with her family, either. And Sophie has a secret–she’s a
Telepath, someone who can read minds. But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a
mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a
Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is
that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth,
and almost instantly she is forced to leave behind her family for a new
life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

But
Sophie still has secrets, and they’re buried deep in her memory for
good reason: The answers are dangerous and in high-demand. What is her
true identity, and why was she hidden among humans? The truth could mean
life or death–and time is running out.

*I was going to hold off on this review until a little bit closer to the release, but I’m so excited to share my love of it that I just couldn’t wait! And, since it’s my first Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post, it’s only appropriate that it’s Shannon Messenger’s book. It could have all just been gush, gush, gushing recommendation, but I tried to format it in a little bit more productive way.

A few months from now you’ll be able to get this book, and you should (especially if you live or work with middle schoolers in any capacity)! KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES blew me away. I knew I really liked Shannon Messenger from following her on twitter and on her blog, and then when I heard she had a middle grades and a young adult book coming out as her debut, I was really looking forward to reading them-especially when I read the summary of each. As a middle school teacher, I was hoping I would like KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, and I am happy to say that I loved it! I would definitely recommend this middle grades magical fantasy to fans of HARRY POTTER and THE UNWANTEDS. It is a long book, but as it is written so well for the middle grades level, it isn’t overwhelming. There is something just so engaging and fun and entertaining in Shannon Messenger’s third person, descriptive, writing style, and I devoured this book in two days and didn’t want to stop reading until I knew what would happen to these characters and world I wanted to be a part of.

Let’s talk about Setting: Shannon Messenger has created an astoundingly creative fantasy world within KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from the summary alone, and I never expected the “place that is vastly different form what she has ever known” to be so well-developed and thought out. As I was reading an advance reader copy, it was missing the map artwork, so I look forward to getting a finished copy to enhance the reading experience even more. The world of the elves (and not what you ever pictured elves to be) is filled with fantastical creatures (especially love Iggy!), magically evolved elements, and cities built with beyond-this-world materials. This parallel world is such a discovery, not only for Sophie, but for the reader as well. The way it is described made me want to go live there as well. Beyond the Lost Cities within the elven world themselves, there is also Foxfire, which is the school for the nobility that Sophie ends up in. It is a school where she will be trained in her special ability and where she discovers people, places, things, strength, and friendships beyond what she ever would have imagined, and what I would have imagined as well.

We have to talk about Characters: KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is full of interesting, multidimensional characters. The only thing that threw me a little bit as I read this book was the
number of characters because their names are not ones we’re used to
hearing, so it did take awhile to keep track of who was who in the
beginning. Not only do we get Sophie who has to make some tough decisions and look for people to support her, but we also get Fitz and his family, along with a multitude of other characters throughout the elf world. We see some of the most interesting jobs as Sophie meets these characters which adds to our understanding of how this world works. As she goes to school, we also meet Dex and Keefe among other classmates, and these two become some of the most entertaining characters to interact with Sophie. I kind of adore Keefe myself. He is the snarky guy who brings the humor that Sophie so desperately needs as she adjusts to her new life, and deep down, he is a really good, caring boy. We get some hints as to deeper things going on with Keefe, and I hope we get more of him in the next book. I also really adore Sophie. She has core values that I admire and fights for what she believes and knows is the right thing, even if it means she might get into trouble. I rooted for her as she is a young girl with so much strength and determination to do the right thing and help those she cares about. She is a strong character for the audience of this book.

Talking about Family is important: Sophie has to leave her family to join this hidden world where she actually belongs, and that means she is in a new place, realizing everything she thought she knew is not the way the world actually works, and has no family to rely on and call her own. When she gets placed with guardians to take responsibility for her, she has a whole new set of relationship dynamics to work on. In the end, the storyline with Sophie searching for family and her understanding of loss, adds such depth to the character and the overall book, and adds a dimension that I think many kids will relate to. I know these elements of searching for family to love her and support her and call her own brought some of the most poignant moments of the story for me. Because what child doesn’t want a family to feel safe with and loved by? There was much more of an emotional element to this book than I expected going into it, and that’s a great thing.

Now let’s talk about Plot: While all of the subplots going on in this book add depth and interest to the story, the overall conflict at hand is a mystery as to why Sophie was living in the human world. Unfortunately, as Sophie is so young, the adults looking into things don’t want to include her in the search, but as the clues build up, Sophie has to take it upon herself to try to find out what’s happening and why and who is behind it. Messenger has written a novel with a tightly woven plot strongly balancing small elements, character development, descriptive details, world-building information, and enough action to keep things moving at an engaging pace.

I want to talk Sequel: I know a sequel is coming, and I can’t wait to read it! Although I knew there would be a book following this one, I still feel that this book wrapped up its storyline in a satisfying way. There are no major cliffhangers here, but it still sets up where the second book will go for the next school year. I appreciate this so much because I don’t feel like I’ve been left hanging, but I’m left with enough of a love for this book/world/characters that I definitely want to get my hands on the next book asap, and I hope you’ll feel that way about this one, too!

I think this book will be a big middle grades hit for those who like fantasy and mystery books. From the Preface at the very start, I was hooked on the story as I was instantly pulled into what would have happened to get Sophie to this point. As the story wound it’s way toward that time near the end, it became even more engaging. I think if you are a teacher or librarian or parent of middle school age kids, you and they will feel the same. I absolutely recommend you get KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES in October.

Title: THE RAVEN BOYS
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Number of Pages: 416
Source of Book: ARC from ALA

“There are only two
reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said.
“Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every
year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the
soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this
year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His
name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at
Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away
from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But
Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it
all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much
more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven
Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege
around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and
Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but
says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been
warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this
would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the
strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races,
comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and
the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I’m a huge Maggie Stiefvater fan. I’ve read all of her books and was eagerly anticipating THE RAVEN BOYS from the minute I heard about it. This was the first book I went to find at ALA and it was the first one I read on the plane when I flew home from the conference. I was not disappointed. I can say, without hesitation, that this is my favorite Maggie Stiefvater novel so far. She has once again outdone herself with an utterly original world, characters, and storyline that left me clamoring for more.

I’ve always appreciated Maggie Stiefvater’s lyrical writing style, and it continues in this book; however, it almost seemed a little more accessible in this book, but with the typical Maggie flourishes and beautiful descriptions. I get lost in the world of her writing. Maggie has again created a setting that comes alive in the magical town of Henrietta, Virginia. There are places in this town that have more to them than what appears at first glance, and exploring them is part of the fun of this story. Discovering the supernaturally magical elements of this story is even more fun. I appreciated how seamlessly these magical elements were woven into the thread of this narrative and town and characters, and that made them seem so normal and realistic that I never questioned any of the things that were happening to or around them. Everything is explained just as much as I need it to be for me to understand and go along with it as it was happening. Ultimately, there is a type of quest to this story that I believe is going to carry through the whole series. Although this book is clearly setting up the series in a strong way, it still felt like a complete story on its own and I never felt like it was just exposition for the whole series. I was left with questions, but even more so, I was left with wanting to spend more time with this characters and find out what will happen with them next.

Once again Maggie Stiefvater has written characters that I love spending time with and discovering more about. Blue is a strong female character who is confident in herself and doesn’t let what anyone thinks bother her. She is her own person and owns it. She also has some issues within her family she has to come to terms with as she learns more throughout this story. The Raven Boys from Aglionby Academy; Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, are each endearing in their own way, and they’re all a little bit broken. I truly felt for the boys in this story. Their bond and way of looking out for and supporting each other was admirable, yet they didn’t always do what I hoped they would, but they did what seemed so right for their characters. Oh, how I adored these boys. I just really wanted to swoop in and fix everything for them. There is so much more depth to them than there at first seems, and it is revealed so slowly and masterfully as to make me feel for them even more. There is a bit of a romantic element to this story what with Blue not being able to kiss her true love or he will die, and some interest with a couple of the boys, but I think part of what I loved about this book is that it was about so much more than that. Because of everything else going on with the magical elements, and the boys’ backstories, and the mystery elements, it became about so much more. And all that more was really great.

THE RAVEN BOYS is a unique book, and it’s one that I dearly hope other readers will fall in love with as much as I did. There was just something about this one that struck a chord with me, and I hope it will for many more readers as well. I’ll leave you with one important warning if you are a person who typically peeks at the end of a book before you start-don’t do it in this one! The last line is brutal-both revealing a major secret/revelation, but also making me just want to keep reading-unfortunately, there’s not another book yet (although there will be four in the series). I will be eagerly anticipating book two in The Raven Cycle, as I hope you will too after reading THE RAVEN BOYS when it comes out in September.

Title: NEW GIRL
Author: Paige Harbison
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Number of Pages: 304
Source of Book: NetGalley ARC

They call me ‘New Girl’…

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy,
that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose
picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going
missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And
everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At
least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s
gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes,
when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better
than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back

OK, this is one of those books that I kept reading hoping I would like it more, but unfortunately, it never quite hit the mark for me. Now, part of that is because of the context from which I come to reading books. As a teacher, a part of my brain as I’m reading is always engaged in thinking about if I would put a book in my classroom, and to which students in particular I want to “hand sell” it. From my point of view, NEW GIRL is not appropriate for middle school students. There are quite a few mature scenes with parties and relationships. There are no consequences for the sex in the book, and it’s not really thought out ahead of time, which, for me, makes it something I can’t recommend to young teens. So because of those content concerns, it made it hard for me to enjoy the book because it didn’t feel totally realistic to me.

Then there were the intense characters. I kept reading to find out what would happen, but I didn’t really like the characters – that made it difficult to like the book overall. I didn’t connect with either of the girls (in fact one is pretty difficult to like at all); however, I actually liked the guys quite a bit. I wish there had been more of them – I think I would have liked the story better if it was actually their story.

The story is told from the points-of-view of the two girls: the new girl and the one she’s replacing. To distinguish between the two characters, the new girl’s chapters are told in first person and Becca’s chapters are in third person. It made it clear, but honestly, for me, it was a little jarring each time I have to mentally switch between POVs. In addition, the way in which the story jumped around was a little difficult for me to follow. Time would pass, and I wasn’t always able to understand it right away.

Overall, it’s an interesting mystery and the way the two stories were intertwined was intriguing. This story really shows how one manipulative person can really impact a community. The ending has an in your face wrap up and explanation of the lesson that isn’t my preference for writing style. I appreciate more when the lessons are more subtly included. Ultimately, I did finish the book, and I read it in only two days, which shows how much the plot grabs the reader and makes you want to keep reading to find out what the true story is behind it all.

Title:  CLARITY
Author:  Kim Harrington
Publisher:  Point (a Scholastic imprint)
Release Date:  March 1, 2011
Number of Pages:  242
Source of Book:  ARC from my bookseller friend

When you can see things others can’t, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity “Clare” Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It’s a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare’s ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case – but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare’s brother – who has supernatural gifts of his own – becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

I had heard so many positive reviews of this book that I was eagerly anticipating reading it, and it didn’t let me down. Once I looked at the first page to see how it sounded – I was gone for the next two days reading it every chance I got. “You don’t want to kill me,” I said. “Of course I don’t, Clare. But I have to.” And a paragraph later, “…On my right was the crumpled body of a guy I hadn’t fully realized the depths of my feelings for until I saw a bullet rip into him.” OK – I was hooked – there was no chance I was putting this book down.

Clarity (Clare) Fern is a psychic from a family of psychics, and not the kind you normally think of as the scammers, but the real kind. She, her mother, and her older brother all have different psychic abilities, and they use them to entertain the tourists in their Cape Cod town. I loved Clare – she is full of snark and sass and wit in a Veronica Mars type way – and I totally want to be her friend. She doesn’t take any crap from anyone, and is fiercely loyal to her family. She’s been hurt, but she still has hope for finding a good guy (and there are a few to go around apparently!) Plus, she’s just really likeable the way she’s written. This book, and her character, reminded me of other favorite mystery books THE LIAR SOCIETY and DEATH BY BIKINI, all with kick butt, tell-it-like-it-is girls who are smart, but vulnerable and whose mysteries are sometimes usurped by their teen relationships with family and boys.

The secondary cast of characters in this book was fun, as many small town novels tend to be, and I enjoyed seeing Clarity struggle with the boys she was surrounded with. Although it was a little predicatble in the end (as I did guess earlier on who might be the culprit), it still kept me guessing throughout and I was never quite sure if my guess would turn out to be right or not. The mystery kept me on my toes, and Clare’s realtionships kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next.

CLARITY was a fun, light read, even though there were some serious elements with the mystery, the murder, and the people trying to figure everything out, and I would definitely recommend it to students who are looking for a mystery, and even to students who maybe need to be exposed to a mystery book. It’s got a great main character, an interesting mystery, and lots of snark and sass and laugh out loud comebacks, with a touch of vulnerability. I also appreciated the underlying story of not judging people before you know them and know the truth, and Clare’s battles to stand up for herself and be confident even when others are doubting her.

I’ll be eagerly waiting on the sequel, PERCEPTION, coming March 1st, to find out what Clare decides to do and what happens to her next.

Title: TIMEPIECE (sequel to HOURGLASS)
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont USA
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Source of Book: Borrowed ARC from bookseller friend Rani
Author’s Website: myramcentire.blogspot.com

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking…
    
Kaleb Ballard’s relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers,
the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before
disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to
see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the
mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb’s powers expanding, or is
something very wrong?
      Then the Hourglass is
issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he’s stolen
on the time gene, or time will be altered with devestating results. 
    
Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no
choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they
even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough…
    
The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science
fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where
every second counts.

My first recommendation is
that you go back and reread HOURGLASS before starting TIMEPIECE (or at
least the end of the first book with all of the reveals). If I had done
that, I probably wouldn’t have felt as confused by this sequel. The
backstory that Myra has created in this series about time travel is
extensive, which is a great thing to keep me thinking, but it also
requires that I pay attention so I can follow along with what’s
happening. At the end of the first book which Emerson narrates, the
Hourglass organization and the time-travel aspects were explained
clearly, but I read that one awhile ago, so as I was thrown right back
into the middle of it with TIMEPIECE, I was feeling a little bit lost
because there were some specific details I couldn’t remember that were
referenced often in this book as they were the impetus for everything
that happens. So, go reread the end of the first book and then jump
right into the continuing plot in this one.

Since the
second book starts right in the middle of the action, it makes it even
more exciting than the first one because the characters and reader now
know the basics of the time-travel aspects and the “battle” that is
going on with the villains (or are they?). This book is nonstop action
and suspense as the Hourglass kids try to figure out what is really
going on so they can fix the time-space continuum that is a little off
kilter right at the moment. This is all done within the context of the
quaint setting of this small town of Ivy Springs again with some of the
same loveable cast of characters.

However, (and I
didn’t know this going into it) this second book has a narrator switch,
and this time we get to hear Kaleb’s voice talking us through the story.
I loved this change as he is an entertaining (and highly snarky) and deeply layered
character who is often misunderstood. Seeing his empathy abilities from
his perspective created depth to this book that added an emotional core
to the science-fiction story. I loved getting to know him better and
feeling for him and his situations even more. Emerson’s best friend Lily
also plays a larger role in this book which was fun because she’s a
great character too. Myra has a distinct ability to make us fall in love
with her characters and to fall in love with others as they do in the
story. It seems so realistic because we’re enmeshed in the emotion with
them as they struggle with their feelings and we take the journey with
them.

This book has lots of reveals, lots of suspense,
lots of entertainment, and lots of thinking to it, and I enjoyed reading
it. There is a feeling of an ending to this book, but it also sets
things up for the next book really well at the end. Although this is a
second book, it still had action and resolution to things so avoided
that “second book in a trilogy” drudge that some trilogies I’ve read
have. I’m intrigued to see where this story will go, and especially who
might be narrating the next book in the series. Definitely add this one
to your summer reading list.

Title: WAKE / FADE / GONE (trilogy)
Author: Lisa McMann
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 3/4/08, 2/10/09, 2/9/10
Number of Pages: 210, 248, 219
Source of Book: Had the first one on my shelf and bought the next two at an author signing event.
Author’s Website: http://lisamcmann.com

Goodreads Summaries:
WAKE
     For seventeen-year-old
Janie, getting sucked into other people’s dreams is getting old.
Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and
the sex-crazed dreams. Janie’s seen enough fantasy booty to last her a
lifetime. 
     She can’t tell anybody about what she does they’d never believe her,
or worse, they’d think she’s a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe,
cursed with an ability she doesn’t want and can’t control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the
bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone
else’s twisted psyche. She is a participant.

FADE
SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

     
For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams.
They’re just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no
such luck.

     
Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody’s
talking. When Janie taps into a classmate’s violent nightmares, the case
finally breaks open — but nothing goes as planned. Not even close.
Janie’s in way over her head, and Cabe’s shocking behavior has grave
consequences for them both.

     
Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability —
and it’s bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a
dream catcher sealed, but what’s to come is way darker than she’d
feared….


GONE
     Janie thought she
knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it.
But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

     She knows he
will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing.
And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he
deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.
     Then
a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie
once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than
she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of
two evils. And time is running out. . . .

*************************

I decided to talk about the whole WAKE trilogy together because I read them in such a short span of time. I started the first book knowing that I was going to see Lisa McMann speak, and I very quickly got hooked into the story. I got the next two books and flew through them as well, finishing the last one in under four hours. A combination of the writing style, the pacing and suspense of the plot, and the length of the books led to them being fast reads for me.

One of the things I liked the most, but took me a little bit to get used to when I started, was Lisa’s use of a spare writing style that was a little bit jumpy at times (in a good way) and almost had a free verse feel to it in various parts. They are written in third person but sometimes switch perspectives from Janie to what the other characters would be thinking. When I heard her talk about her books, she said that her own daughter was a reluctant reader, and so that was her audience for this series, and I think the writing style fits that really well. She also uses date and time stamps to separate the progressing events in the stories, which I liked, although sometimes I had to look back to see what day I had been on to see how much time had passed to the next one.

I really liked Janie and Cabel quite a bit. They are both scarred characters who need someone who can be there for them, but each struggle with being that person for each other as well. Their journey and maturity is one of my favorite parts about this series. These books also have a portrayal of a child with an alcoholic parent, and the stress and responsibility that puts on Janie. Parts of the books in the dreams of others can be a little creepy, but the uniqueness of the ability and how it is used to help for good was very interesting to read. There were some great supporting characters as well that added to the story and showed that family isn’t always made up of those you’re born with.

I really enjoyed the first book as Janie figures out her abilities and things with Cabel, there are some pretty mature scenes and content especially in the second book, and the third book did not have as much action, but led up to a necessary conclusion for Janie’s story with Cabel and puts them in a good place by the end.

 

And remember to check out this week’s other Mara Mondays offerings and comment away to be entered in Lori’s contest at Pure Imagination.
The Secret Life of a Avid Reader – Miami post
Greads – Quote graphics post

It’s been three months since I first posted my
review/thoughts on THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER, so I wanted to share it
again for those of you who may have missed it, and to remind you of all
of the reasons that you want to get your hands on this book when it
releases next week!
  *This review originally posted in June. 

OK…I
know this is a really early review, but I needed to process my thoughts
about this book – and that’s why I have a book blog – to share my
thoughts!

Title: HOURGLASS
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Number of Pages: 397
Source of Book: Bought the hardcover in it’s release month (had to go to three different stores to find it in stock!)
Author’s Website: http://myramcentire.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Summary:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .
 
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

I really, really loved HOURGLASS. It reads like a contemporary with science-fiction (and somewhat supernatural) elements, but also has a little mystery and a little suspense and a little romance and a little bit of family stories thrown in. It’s a well-rounded story, and hard to describe or pinpoint exactly what the main focus is because all of the parts are so enjoyable. There’s just a good feeling to this story – the setting and vision elements are well described – and I love the little town they’re living in.

I liked the main character, Emerson, a lot. She’s not in a good place because of the traumatic events of her past and the visions she’s seeing, but she’s working through it. She’s tough and strong and earnest and looking to feel like she’s not crazy. Once she learns about and meets other people who have “abilities” she starts to find a place for herself where she can feel she belongs and is somewhat normal. Who can’t relate to wanting to feel like you belong?

The whole time travel aspect of the story is really interesting and unique. The Hourglass is mysterious – in fact I want to know more about it – I’m still not sure I understand the organization after the first book. The author did a good job of explaining the physics and the elements of time travel without confusing me and in a little bit at a time way that helped me to absorb it, just as Emerson needed to. Towards the end, there was lots of action and unexpected twists and turns; however, I did feel that it almost went a little too fast at the end (there were so many game changer type things that happened) – I didn’t have time to soak in each thing that happened before the next twist – maybe because I was reading it too fast because I wanted to know what would happen?

And, of course, there is romance. There’s Michael and then there’s Kaleb. I don’t want to say too much about them or what their abilities are, but I can say, I can see Emerson’s draw toward both of them. One seems way more obvious than the other to just be the good friend, but with the time travel elements, it seems we never know what is going to happen, and both boys are looking out for Emerson.

Secondary characters were great in this book. I loved the relationship Emerson has with her older brother Thomas who has basically had to take care of her, and his wife Dru is one of my favorite characters in the whole story. I’m also waiting for the sequel for Emerson’s best friend Lilly to be fleshed out a little bit more – I know there’s something we haven’t learned about her yet that is going to be important.

Overall, I wanted to jump into this book and live with these characters. I liked them all that much. And the writing made it easy for me to spend a little time with them, although I did feel some parts were a little rushed, but I think because I wanted to savor this story a little longer. I should also mention, it has pretty short chapters, so it is easy to find stopping points, although you won’t want to put it down! Overall, I really liked it, but it did feel like a first book to a series, so I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series in 2012!

For almost two years (and through the course of ten books), I’ve been following the story of fourteen-year-old Amy and eleven-year-old Dan Cahill, and all of their relatives, as they’ve traveled the world learning about all sorts of famous people and events throughout history as they’ve fought to search for their family’s hidden clues that would lead to power.  They’ve learned much about history, themselves, family, how to work together, survival, outwitting others, how to be there for each other, and most importantly, what family really means. These books are quick, fast-paced, exciting, easy reads which kept me guessing until the very end. Finally, I’ve read the culminating book in THE 39 CLUES series: INTO THE GAUNTLET, and I’m glad I went on this journey.  I truly enjoy a good mystery, spy, or heist book and this series combines all of those with adventures, double-crossing, and excitement.


The 39 Clues is a series of ten books, written by various fantastic young adult authors, that all tell the story of what happens to Amy and Dan after their grandmother dies and her will leaves them (as well as members of the other four branches of the Cahill family) one million dollars or the first of 39 clues that will lead them to a source of power.  They take the clue and the adventure begins.  Along the way, as they decipher hints to lead them to the main clues, they learn how many famous people in history were actually members of the Cahill family and involved in the clue hunt: Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhardt,  and Mozart just to name a few. 


I liked how the series ended and felt satisfied with how the hunt ended up.  I enjoyed the bits about William Shakespeare in this final book, and how Amy and Dan were able to mature and become the strong people they are by the end of this journey.  I appreciate books where the brother and sister are portrayed as real as these two are: they have their fights are arguments, but ultimately, it’s all about protecting and looking out for each other.  I’m glad I got the chance to follow their journey throughout this series as they all discovered more about themselves and who they really are, and would highly recommend it to middle school readers.  It’s a series with a lot of adventure, suspense, sticky situations, clues to figure out, mysteries, loyalties to be tested, and assumptions to be questioned – it’s a great amount of fun!


5 Stars for THE 39 CLUES series

Book 1: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Book 2: One False Note by Gordon Korman
Book 3: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis
Book 4: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson
Book 5: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman
Book 6: In Too Deep by Jude Watson
Book 7: The Viper’s Nest by Peter Lerangis
Book 8: The Emperor’s Code by Gordon Korman
Book 9: Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park
Book 10: Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 
I love Sherman Alexie’s voice – I’ve loved his writing and movies for a long time, so I was excited to finally read this book.  It is a fabulous book – I can see why it won the awards it did – a must-read! Handles issues of race issues, adolescent boys, high-school, friendships, family, etc in a humorous and sensitive way. I will recommend this to all of my students to read with a caution of some mature concepts.  5 Stars


My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park  by Steve Kluger
For the more mature reader – great book told from multiple points-of-view with three high-school friends who are the main characters. They are almost seniors, and writing an English paper on their most excellent year – all three write about their freshman year and the flashback part of the story is told through their journal entries from freshman year English class.  I really like the voice and methods that the story was told in with letters and emails and instant message chats and journals. Deals with coming out of a gay character in a realistic and sensitive way. It’s a book about relationships and discovering who we really are. Made my top books list for the year.  5 Stars

Gone by Michael Grant
I expected this to be a dystopian along the lines of Lord of the Flies; however it threw me off with the supernatural parts of it that I wasn’t expecting. I enjoyed the basic storyline of a town where everyone over the age of 14 disappears one day, and how the kids survive, but didn’t like the supernatural parts of it so much – they distracted me from the main plot. I will probably read the sequel though because I did get drawn in by some of the main and secondary characters. 3 Stars

NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward
I really, really wanted to like this book about a girl who sees a string of numbers every time she looks at a person’s eyes. On the day her mother died, she learned that the numbers stand for the day that person is destined to die.  I knew going in that it was a book from England, so some of the words would be different. However, I wasn’t quite expecting it to be such an on-the-run story, and I wasn’t hooked into the love interest storyline, which became more of a focus at the story moved on.  Overall, I was disappointed in the twist at the end. Several times I wanted to abandon, but forced myself to finish it. Overall, it’s an OK book for me. 2 Stars

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
I’ve like John Grisham’s adult books, so I was really intrigued to read this one.  There’s just something about series books that are obviously intended to be a series from the start so the ending feels a little incomplete that throws me off sometimes, and this is one of those.  Overall, the story was cute with Theo and all of his knowledge of the law and his ability to be in with the judges and other court workers when a big trial is starting. There is quite a bit of law speak in this book, but it is explained pretty well. The plot kept moving fairly well and kept me interested. Overall, I think this is a book for those students who like to watch the procedural shows on TV and would be interested in trial stories and a new series. 4 Stars

Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
I love, love, love Maggie Steifvater’s writing!  I first discovered her when I heard her speak at a conference and got an advance copy of Linger, so of course I had to go buy Shiver and read it right away (stories with werewolves). As soon as I read them, I knew she was one of my favorite authors, and I recommended the series to all of my students and coworkers.  So, this summer I wanted to go back and read her first books (stories with faeries), Lament and Ballad.  I really enjoyed both of these books: the writing drew me in, I was invested in the characters and what would happen to them, the suspense in the plot and wondering how these human characters would deal with the faeries kept me reading, and I was eager to read the second once I had finished the first.  All of these things are what I want in a book. i enjoy reading books with paranormal/fantasy romance aspects, especially ones by Maggie Steifvater, and these didn’t disappoint!  5 Stars


The Last Thing I Remember (The Homelanders) by Andrew Klavan
I picked this book up because I saw the cover in the bookstore and the back summary made me think this might be a good suspense/adventure series that would engage eighth grade boys. Mostly I think it will, but I was a little disappointed. I felt that the beginning, when Charlie wakes up in a room being held prisoner, all beat up, doesn’t know what is going on, and doesn’t remember how he got there was a great start especially as he’s trying to escape and figure out what’s happening. It flashes back to the last day he remembers in alternating chapters. The problem that I had was that after he escapes and is on the run it got very slow for me.  It wasn’t until almost the end that the plot picked up again and we started to get answers on who these terrorists were. By the end I was a little disappointed because I didn’t get as many answers as I would have like on how Charlie ended up there.  I will probably recommend it to boys looking for adventure books, but ask them to read the second one in the series and let me know how it is.  3 Stars

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins 
Re-read these two for the second time in anticipation of Mockingjay‘s August release, and so glad I did.  It was nice to catch back up on the story of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale after one and two years since I read them, and reminded me of why this is one of my all-time favorite series! 


This series is one of the best dystopian stories I’ve read – a story taking a country similar to ours and putting it in a near future in which the world has changed in some way in which is is supposed to be better and is controlled by a different leading organization than our current governmental structure. 


In The Hunger Games, the country is run by The Capitol – the only area of the country in which they have enough money and food to live a good life. To remind the twelve districts of the failed rebellion from years ago and to make sure they don’t rebel again, they hold the annual Hunger Games, a televised event that everyone in the country watches, in which one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12-18, from each of the districts, enters the game world and fights to the death. The winner is set for life and gets food for his or her entire district. When Katniss goes to the games, things change not only for her, but for the entire country of Panem. If you’ve been waiting to read these books, now that the third one will be out, it’s time to read them all in a row.  5 Stars

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
I loved Perfect Chemistry so much that I definitely wanted to read the sequel and learn Carlos’ story. Overall I liked it, it’s a good romance escape novel, but was pretty similar in storyline to the first book. (See full review blog post)  4 Stars

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Enjoyed the new series with Egyptian mythology from the author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. (See full review blog post)  4 Stars