Duckling Ugly

by Neal Shusterman

Summary: Cara is ugly. Not just any kind of ugly. This is break a mirror when you look in it--literally--kind of ugly. She eats lunch alone every day, except for the occasional guy who stops by to impress his girlfriend with how nice he is by eating with the outcast. But suddenly, the tables turn. Cara is given a gift, but it comes with a price. Will she make the right choice? Would you?

My thoughts: Cara's story is very unusual--it's definitely not like anything you've ever read before. Some of the situations Cara finds herself in will give you real chills. The decision she is faced with is frightening, and it really makes you wonder what you would do in her unusual situation.

The Steps Across the Water

by Adam Gopnik

Summary: Rose has an embarrassing little speech impediment, switching around the beginnings of words. Sometimes she calls her home, New York City, "U Nork" instead. During a trip to Central Park with her father and brother (Oliver, from 2005's The King in the Window), she sees mysterious steps across the water, but no one believes her. Soon after, a "classmate," Louis, reveals to Rose that the steps are real and lead to U Nork, a flip-side New York City where, believe it or not, the pace is even faster and the people are ruder. Louis has been assigned to watch Rose, because she is special to the people of U Nork. Its citizens are in trouble, and it's Rose's face they've been seeing in the sky as the only one who can save them. The rip-roaring plot is laced with original and fantastical characters, who fully enjoy 30-second lunches shot into their mouths with cannons and use giant pigeons as a taxi service. Gopnik's writing is sharp and smart, and U Nork is an exciting place. Young readers will cheer for Rose and her friends with more than an occasional chuckle along the way. Bruce McCall's illustrations were unavailable at the time of review.

My thoughts: This book isn't published yet. I'll get a picture of the cover up as soon as it's available! This is a funny, weird, little fantasy. It definitely won't be for everyone, but I think a few of you will love it, especially if you're a fan of books like Gregor the Overlander!

Living Dead Girl

by Elizabeth Scott

Summary: Alice's name isn't really Alice. As a young girl, she was kidnapped from a school field trip by a man named Ray. She has been his prisoner for so long, that even though he allows her to roam free during the day, she doesn't attempt to escape. She is convinced that he will harm her family if she ever leaves. As Alice grows older, Ray begins to look for a younger girl to replace her. He wants her to help him. She knows this might mean her own death, and is certainly not going to be good for the new girl.

My thoughts: Shudder. This is a horribly sad story made even more sad by the knowledge that, while a rare event, things like this do sometimes happen. Definitely a high school book. I liked Norma Fox Mazer's The Missing Girl much better.

The King Commands

by Meg Burden

Summary: In this rousing, romantic sequel to Northlander, Southling Ellin Fisher is adjusting well to life in the Northlands palace. The new king Alaric and his brothers have welcomed her as a sister and changed the cruel laws that once oppressed the Southlings. Life is full of swordplay, stables, and budding romances, until the nightmares begin that reconnect Ellin to fellow Southling Lev, imprisoned for killing the king a year earlier. Ellin is a Healer, and shares mental connections with some people, so Lev’s nightmares are also hers. She is drawn to the prison in a dangerous effort to help Lev recover from a terrible illness and stop the dreams, which angers Alaric (with whom she is hopelessly in love), and gets her temporarily exiled. Ellin’s adventures are engaging, and there are enough twists and turns to keep readers hooked. However, the real gem is seeing Ellin mature as a character as she faces competition from a beautiful foreign princess, which eventually turns to friendship. Lots of romance intrigues (the princes are a hot-blooded bunch), but the final outcome is impossible to predict. Book Two of the Tales of the Borderlands successfully continues the series and sets up for the next installment, but easily stands alone as plenty of background information is seamlessly integrated into this new tale.

My thoughts: This is another book that I reviewed for School Library Journal. When I opened the package, I groaned. Not only is the cover really cheesy, the plot not really my thing, and it's a sequel to a book I haven't read! But this is actually a really great story! If you liked Graceling, try the Tales of the Borderlands series! (Just do your best to ignore the weird cover!)