The Leaving

by Tara Altebrando

This book has a really intriguing premise. Intriguing enough that when I pulled it out of the Follett box it immediately jumped to the top of my TBR pile. And it started out with a bang! Six kindergartners go missing, and eleven years later, they all come back. Except for one. I was dying to know what happens! About a quarter of the way through, we were still going strong. The story is told in alternating points of view, and I enjoyed getting to hear each kid's story. It turns out, though, that we don't get all the kids' perspectives, and the rest are literally just spares. I couldn't figure out why they were even in the story at all. Did six just sound better than three? I kept going, because I held out hope that finding out what happened to Max would be worth it. It wasn't. The ending was rushed, and  completely unbelievable.

The Borden Murders

by Sarah Miller

Anyone who knows me at all knows I have a bit of an obsession with true crime, and this murder is one of the most famous unsolved cases in history. I really didn't know much about the story before reading this book, but I always sort of assumed Lizzie did it. Now I'm not so sure. The author did a great job keeping her own ideas out of the mix. The examination was completely impartial to either side, and at the end, you're really left still scratching your head. Unfortunately there's just not that much verifiable information on the case that has survived, so it felt a little like the author was stretching for material. The best part of the book was the end, as the author described Lizzie's life after the trial. She truly was a strange woman, and the Bordens were an unusual family. Did she do it? Maybe. But the results of the trial were fair. There was in no way enough evidence to convict her.

The Creeping Shadow

by Jonathan Stroud

After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy finds herself freelancing for different agencies around the city. Her life is sort of sad. The skull is basically her only friend. She works, eats, sleeps. Until one day, Lockwood appears at her door with a proposition for her. Penelope Fittes needs Lucy's listening skills, and would like to hire them all to work an especially gruesome case. The Ealing Cannibal brings the group back together, at least temporarily, but when someone starts stealing relics, Lockwood & Co. needs to keep working as a team to find out who, and more importantly, why.

I just can't get enough of these books. The fact that I'm frantically turning pages in fear for these characters I've come to love so much, and laughing at the same time, is just a great reading experience.

And the cliffhanger on this one! AHHHH!

Fever 1793

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Mattie Cook's father passed away when she was little, so it's just Mattie and her mom left to run the family coffeehouse together in 1793 Philadelphia. Mattie is irritated by typical teen problems, like feeling overworked by her mom, and trying to hide her crush on Nathaniel. But when she finds out a girl her age from down the street has fallen ill and died within 24 hours, her world suddenly takes a dramatic turn. Yellow fever has taken over the city. Bodies are thrown in the streets, and neighboring towns refuse anyone passage. Mattie was a strong, multilayered character, and her grandfather, the Revolutionary War soldier, was hilarious. I enjoyed reading about the historical differences between the American doctors and the French doctors, too. A fun way to learn about a really interesting time in American History.

Darkstalker

by Tui T. Sutherland 

Thousands of years before the time of the Dragonet Prophecy, Darkstalker is born to parents from warring tribes-Arctic, an Icewing; and Foeslayer, a NightWing. Arctic is an animus, a rare dragon so powerful and dangerous that some tribes don't even allow them to live. Each time an animus uses magic, he loses a piece of his soul. Darkstalker has inherited his father's magical ability, along with the gift of prophecy. He knows his future involves a NightWing named Clearsight, and she, a seer herself, is also aware that their fates are entwined. Far away in the SeaWing kingdom, a terrible tragedy brings another animus, Fathom, into their lives. Fathom is tasked with controlling the carefree and arrogant Darkstalker, who casts spell after careless spell, putting the dragonets, and all of Pyrrhia, at risk. This first book in the "Legends" series is a prequel to "Wings of Fire" and is middle grade high fantasy at its most fun. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as the dragons face dangerous situations, cast enchantments, and even fall in love. Fully fleshed-out worlds, sarcastic dragon humor, and an intriguing backstory will more than please the many loyal fans of the original series.

What Waits in the Woods

by Kieran Scott

Callie is the new girl at her school. She's surprised herself with somehow making it into the popular crowd, AND getting a cute popular boyfriend. She hates all things outdoors, but thinks she has to agree to this camping trip to maintain her popular status. At first, the trip is okay, but soon her friends tell her the story of the "Skinner," a crazy serial killer at work in those same woods in the 80's. Then weird things start to happen to her group--crazy laughing, glimpses of a white shirt between the trees, and crude voodoo dolls fashioned from twigs. Something is very wrong in these woods, and they won't all make it out alive.

While no great piece of literature, this book was really fun. It reads exactly like a teen horror movie, complete with lots of dumb teen decisions and drama.  I really was surprised by the resolution--I was totally on the wrong track, and I love that! I think you guys will really enjoy this one!

Cuckoo Song

by Frances Hardinge

When Triss wakes up from an illness, she's confused, disoriented, and has a fuzzy memory. Her little sister hates her, and since she has nothing but love for the girl, she can't figure out why. The "why" is something you'd never guess in a million years, and I love that about this wonderfully weird story. As it unfolds, it continues to be a surprise at every turn.

Frances Hardinge is a genius. This is historical fiction, a commentary on war, an exploration of grief and sibling rivalry, a twisted fairy tale, and a horror story. I absolutely loved every minute. I can't wait to use this as a read-a-like right next to The Thickety in the  library. Creepy, thought-provoking, and incredibly well-written.