A Curse Dark as Gold

by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Summary: Have you ever wondered why exactly Rumpelstiltskin wanted the miller's daughter's firstborn child? So did the author of this retelling of the famous Grimm's fairy tale, so she set out to answer it herself. Charlotte, the oldest Miller sister, is left in charge of the wool mill, called Stirwaters, after her father's death. She's certain she can run the place, until her Uncle Wheeler shows up with plans to sell it. Misfortune after misfortune continues to befall the Millers as Charlotte tries to save Stirwaters. Just when she thinks all is lost, a strange man, who calls himself Jack Spinner, appears, and claims he can weave straw into gold. The price he asks is ridiculously small, so Charlotte accepts. But soon she finds herself owing Spinner a debt she cannot possibly pay. Can she break the Stirwaters curse, or will she have to pay an unspeakable price?

My thoughts: If you've been reading this blog you'll know that this is one of my favorite genres--the retold fairy tale. A Curse Dark as Gold is a long, epic story that is creepy, absorbing, and mysterious. It's very loosely based on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, but don't think that just because you know that story that you'll know this one.

Bonechiller

by Graham McNamee

Summary: Danny lives in a tiny Canadian town, in the middle of a snowy expanse of nothingness. One night he encounters what he at first thinks is a bear, but soon realizes it is a terrifying creature he has never seen before. It "bites" him, leaving a tiny blue mark on his hand. He hopes he has imagined the encounter, but unexplainable footprints, and the next night, a similar attack on his friend Howie, convince him that what he has seen is real. Soon the two boys begin experiencing strange symptoms, and discover that they have a limited time to save themselves from an unimaginable death.

My thoughts: This story is based on the Native American legend of the Windigo, which makes it extra creepy, because there are actual people in this world who think this creature really exists. There is a terrifying feeling of hopelessness for these characters throughout the book, which forces you to keep reading into the wee hours of the night. Truly chilling!

The Amaranth Enchantment

by Julie Berry

Summary: When Lucinda's parents are killed in a carriage accident, she is forced to live with her uncle and his wife, and work in their jewelry shop. She endures all kinds of abuse from her aunt, and when her uncle dies, she has no safe place to go. A woman comes into the shop with a strange stone to be set, and when Lucinda tries to return it to her, she finds it has been stolen. She soon finds it's no ordinary stone, and it leads her on adventures with princes, witches, pickpockets, magic, and her own mysterious past.

My thoughts: Lucinda is a strong, smart, brave female character, and I love her! You might think you know where this book is going, but I bet the ending will surprise you! (Recommended to me by Laci, a senior at Lewisville High School!)

Envy

by Anna Godbersen

Summary: The drama of the Hollands and the Hayes continues! Penelope arranges a train trip to Florida with her new husband's money, and invites Diana, Elizabeth, and Lina along for her own personal entertainment. Will she have the last laugh?

My thoughts: This one starts out a little slower than the others, but about half way through you won't be able to put it down! There is one more book to go in this series!

Box Out

by John Coy

Summary: Liam lives to play basketball, but when he makes varsity as a sophomore, he realizes the varsity coach has a different way of running things. He is forcing the varsity players to attend prayer meetings and to lead prayers, no matter what their religious background. He also makes racist comments to an African American student who is the star player on their team. When that student quits, Liam has to make a choice--stand up for what he believes is right and lose everything he cares about, or go along with the crowd?

My thoughts: This book has it all: drama, controversy, sports action! John Coy gets what it's like to be a teenager. Liam's feelings and way of speaking are so realistic, you almost feel like it was written by a teen. Great story!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney

Summary: Greg Heffley is trying very hard to be cool in middle school, but he just can't seem to catch a break. This hilarious story is told with text and pictures, and in Greg's very authentic sixth-grade-guy voice.

My thoughts: This is one of the most popular books in the library. It's a fast-paced, fun story that everyone who has ever been in middle school can relate to! The first in a series.

Wake

by Lisa McMann

Summary: What if you could never fall asleep in the same place as another person, because if you do, you fall into their dreams? Or worse yet...their nightmares? This is Janie's gift and her curse. She's never told anyone her secret, until now. But who can she really trust?

My thoughts: The premise of this novel alone is very unsettling. One scene that stood out to me was her falling asleep on a bus on a school trip, and being bombarded with all of the dreams of the many other people sleeping around her. It's an interesting and original concept, and this is a kind of weird, kind of creepy story. The sequel is called Fade.

View the book trailer here!
http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=86034&title=Wake

Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli

Summary: Leo doesn't quite know what to think when he meets the new girl at his school. Her name is Stargirl, and she has been home schooled her whole life. She's a strange person, who sings Happy Birthday in the cafeteria, dresses like a hippie, and joins the cheerleading squad only to cheer heartily for the other team. Even though Stargirl's antics embarrass Leo, he finds himself drawn to her, and fascination slowly turns to love. But Stargirl is a free spirit, and Leo may find that the best thing about her is what she teaches him about himself.

My thoughts: Stargirl is a little too "out there," to be realistic, but if you can get past that, this is a really fun, funny, story about popularity, school, and conformity.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi

Summary: When their mom and dad get divorced, the Grace siblings move into their great aunt's Victorian mansion that has many, many secrets. They find an old book left by Arthur Spiderwick, their great aunt's father, which describes a fantastical world of fairies and other magical creatures. The book only leads to trouble, and the kids are on their own when one of them is captured by evil magical creatures.

My thoughts: This is actually five separate, short books, but you'll need to read them all to get the full story. If you like fairies and goblins and brownies, this is the tale for you!

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

by Marjane Satrapi

Summary: Persepolis is an autobiography (true story of the author's life) about her childhood in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. The events she witnesses are truly shocking, and this is an interesting inside view on a part of our world that many of us know very little about.

My thoughts: This book deals with very serious topics, and is a high school book. If you like Maus, by Art Spiegelman, check this one out at the public library.

Paper Towns

by John Green

Summary: Quentin (or Q, for short) has had a crush on Margo for as long as he can remember. But she's one of the beautiful people, and he's just a regular guy. One night she climbs through his bedroom window and takes him on the wildest adventure of his life, which includes lots of prank-playing and an illegal trip inside Sea World. When Margo disappears the next day, Q thinks she wants him to find her, which leads him to follow what he thinks and hopes are clues to her whereabouts. What he finds is that he never really knew Margo at all.

My thoughts: I love John Green! All of his books are hilarious, smart, and really hard to put down. (This is my least favorite of his, but I still loved it!) Remember, you'll have to go to the public library or bookstore for this one.

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf

by Jennifer L. Holm

Summary: This story is told entirely through the little scraps of paper and other "things" that make up our lives: notes, receipts, poems, stickers, calendar entries, etc. It simply describes the life of an ordinary seventh grader, Ginny, throughout that school year.

My thoughts: The plot of this book isn't anything terribly exciting, but it's fun to piece the story together yourself in this unusual book.

Keturah and Lord Death

by Martine Leavitt

Summary: Keturah is well-known for her storytelling in her village. One day, she wanders too far into the woods, and encounters Lord Death, who wants to take her away. She weaves a tale so good it convinces him to give her one more day, because he must hear the end of the story. Each day, she continues to meet him and draw out the story, until Lord Death loses patience and requires her to bring the true ending and directs her to find her true love. Will Keturah find her love in time to save her life?

My thoughts: What a great story, with a shocking ending!

Incantation

by Alice Hoffman

Summary: Estrella lives in sixteenth century Spain, during the Spanish Inquisition. She has been raised Catholic, because during this time, to practice another religion could mean torture and/or death. As she grows older, she begins to realize her family is different, and discovers that they have been practicing Judaism secretly for many, many years. As her grandfather trains her in the faith of her ancestry, she begins to fall in love with the boy her best friend Catalina intends to marry. When Catalina finds out, she uses her knowledge of Estrella's secret to her owns ends, with devastating results.

My thoughts: I am fascinated by all things Spanish, so thought I would like this book more than I did. It's written in a sort of poetry form, which I found a little hard to follow. There are not many books for young adults about the Inquisition, though, so it is interesting to learn more about that shockingly cruel time in world history.

First Kiss (Then Tell)

edited by Cylin Busby

Summary: Popular young adult authors share their first kiss experiences. Some are funny, some romantic, and some just weird or gross! But they're all true, and give us an interesting little sneak peek into the lives of the authors as teens.

My thoughts: A light and easy read. Some of the stories were definitely better than others, but for the most part it was pretty cute. A few of the authors are men, and it was fun getting the teenage guy's perspective on kissing!

The Devouring

by Simon Holt

Summary: Reggie works at a used book store, and finds a mysterious hand-written journal in a new shipment. Without telling her boss, she takes it home. What she reads describes a young girl's experiences with entities she calls "Vours," who steal souls on the night of the Winter Solstice, from anyone who is afraid. Reggie and her friend Aaron don't take the story seriously, and in an attempt to have a little fun, accidentally summon the Vours, who possess her little brother. Can they save this innocent little boy, or will the Vours have his soul forever?

My thoughts: A truly scary story. I had to stop reading it a couple of times and turn something happy on tv so I could sleep! If you like horror books and movies, you have to try this one!

Elsewhere

by Gabrielle Zevin

Summary: When fifteen year old Liz is hit by a taxi and dies, she discovers that the afterlife is a place called Elsewhere. It's very much like our world, with love, animals, jobs and relationships, but here, people age in reverse until they become infants again and are sent back to Earth. Liz is angry at first, but starts to learn to truly live in this strange new world.

My thoughts: You'll laugh and cry with Liz as she tries to navigate this place, and her emotions about her death and her new "life." Beautifully written and startlingly different.

What Happened to Cass McBride?

by Gail Giles

Summary: When Kyle's brother David kills himself, he blames Cass McBride, and a rejection letter that David received from her. So he decides to kidnap her and bury her alive...

My thoughts: Giles plays on one of humanity's greatest fears--being buried alive, and makes it feel real. Find this one at your public library in the teen section.

The Last Olympian

by Rick Riordan

Summary: Percy's 16th birthday is quickly approaching, and Kronos is planning an attack on New York City. Despite the prophecy, and Percy's fear for his own life, he sets out to try to stop it.

My thoughts: This book answers all of our questions, from what camper must die to fulfill the prophecy, to Percy's love life. A great conclusion to a fantastic series. Best of all, a new prophecy hints that there may be more books to come!

The Battle of the Labyrinth

by Rick Riordan

Summary: Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson head into the Labyrinth to help Grover on his quest to find Pan, but they discover along the way that Luke is trying to raise Kronos, who wants to overthrow the gods. The group must try to stop him, but of course, meet many monsters along the way!

My thoughts: Another great adventure!

The Titan's Curse

by Rick Riordan

Summary: New half-bloods are found, and the goddess Artemis disappears.

My thoughts: This is the third book in the exciting Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! This might be the most dramatic of the five!

Book of a Thousand Days

by Shannon Hale

Summary: Dashti is a lady's maid. It is her job to serve the Lady Saren, who has just refused a proposal arranged by her father. Saren wants to marry Khan Tegus, a much less financially desirable choice. Her father is so angry that he locks Saren and Dashti in a tower as punishment. The confinement is for seven years, and they are supposed to make their food and water last for that entire time. Their only contact with the outside world is a tiny window, and Khan Tegus eventually comes calling. But Saren is weak in both mind and body, and sends Dashti in her place to speak to him, and in spite of her best effort, she begins to have feelings for him. How will Dashti and Saren survive the tower, and will either of them ever find true love?

My thoughts: This is definitely my favorite Shannon Hale book, and is truly one of my very favorite books ever! Another retelling of a Grimm's fairy tale.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

by Maureen Johnson

Summary: When Ginny is 17, her favorite aunt, a wild and free spirit, dies of brain cancer. She leaves Ginny a "will" of sorts, in the form of thirteen letters and a nice chunk of cash. Each letter contains a task, and the next letter cannot be opened until the task in the previous letter is completed. The letters lead Ginny all over Europe, where she finds adventure, love, and her herself.

My thoughts: I love to travel, and have been to most of the places that Ginny goes in this book. It was like visiting each country all over again! As you read, you're dying to find out what's in each envelope, and it's never disappointing. Inside scoop: I just read on Maureen Johnson's blog that she is currently working on a sequel!

The Sea of Monsters

by Rick Riordan

Summary: Grover is in big trouble, and Percy and Annabeth must try to save him. Percy also meets a new friend who has an exciting connection to him!

My thoughts: The second book of five, and my personal favorite in the series!

Perfect You

by Elizabeth Scott

Summary: Kate's dad quits his job to pursue his dream of owning his own business. Unfortunately, he does this by renting a kiosk at the mall and trying to sell vitamins, and his sales tactics often involve ploys that are very, very embarrassing to Kate. He asks her to work for him, so she ends up spending a lot of time at the mall, the same place Will works, a guy she tries really hard not to like. When he actually shows interest in her, she can hardly believe it. It seems like he doesn't want to go out with her, just kiss her by the dumpsters every day. Her best friend from the year before isn't helping matters. She's suddenly popular and won't talk to Kate anymore. As her dad's career choices start to wear on her mother and brother, Kate has to deal with how she feels about her boyfriend, her family, and her ex-best friend, and start to accept those who really love her for who they are.

My thoughts: This story took me back to middle school. Girls, if you're looking for a portrayal of life as you know it, this is it. It made me sad, though, how hard Kate was on herself. At many points I wanted to reach through the pages and yell at her to just be nice to herself! (Recommended to me by McKenna Brown!)

The Summoning

If the video doesn't work, try this link. http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=122980&title=The_Summoning

by Kelley Armstrong

Summary: Chloe is going through a difficult time. Her mom has passed away recently, so when she sees a horrifying ghost at school one day, everyone, including Chloe, thinks she may just be having a mental breakdown. Her aunt sends her to Lyle House, where she meets other teens with supposed psychiatric disorders. One of the guys who lives in the house begins to drop hints to Chloe about "necromancers," people who talk to the dead. Chloe slowly begins to realize that maybe things aren't what they seem to be at Lyle House, and that "crazy" might actually mean "supernaturally gifted..."

My thoughts: Check out the book trailer above! (I made this one myself!) :) This is a really fun book! My only complaint is that it's a series, and it ends on a major cliffhanger! We'll all just have to wait for the sequel, The Awakening, to see what happens!