The Name of the Star

by Maureen Johnson

When Rory's parents accept a teaching job in Bristol, England, she takes the opportunity to spend her senior year at a boarding school in London. As soon as she gets there, some strange murders begin to occur in the neighborhood around her school, which is the area where Jack the Ripper committed his terrible crimes years ago. The killer is recreating the Ripper's crimes, but when caught on video the knife is visible--the killer isn't. Rory finds herself in the middle of a bizarre world, where she can see ghosts, and one of them is trying to kill her.

Love me some Maureen Johnson! She's one of those writers who I imagine writes how she talks. She's witty, clever, and super sharp. This book is a rare treat. You'll laugh out loud at some parts, and be terrified a few minutes later. I also learned a few things about Jack the Ripper I didn't know, and I always find him fascinating. This is the first in a series, but even though there's a bit of a cliffhanger, the ending was still great. Definitely check this one out!

Dragon Seeker

by Anne Forbes

Dragonslayer, a sword with a personality and voice of its own, is dedicated to killing dragons. For centuries it has slumbered with its knight, buried in the depths of Edinburgh Castle. Lord Jezail, a magician, decides he wants to wield Dragonslayer himself, and releases it from its grave. Its grip on him is more intense than he realized. Now the sword and Jezail want to kill Arthur, a kind-hearted dragon, and they begin a mad quest for power. Clara, a human child featured in the previous five novels of the Dragonfire series, has memorized the Book of Spells, and the duo sets out to kidnap her. They need those spells to bring their murderous plans to fruition. Once she’s captured, her brother Neil and their magical friends must work to outsmart Jezail and the sword to save her. The plot-driven story moves quickly, and has enough twists and turns to keep readers involved, but an over-reliance on exclamatory statements is distracting. Those who haven’t started the series may have trouble connecting with the characters, but the tale wraps up neatly, and fans of the previous books will find a satisfying ending to their journey.

I'll Be There

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Brothers Sam and Riddle are drifters. Their father is a petty criminal, who simply runs to the next location when he feels the law closing in. They don't go to school, have never used a cell phone, and eat what they can, when they can. When by chance Sam meets Emily Bell, he feels a strong connection to her, and she to him. As their unlikely friendship grows, Emily introduces Sam and Riddle to her upper middle class family, who have never seen the likes of these boys. Slowly, and in unexpected ways, the two become entwined with the entire Bell family. To say any more would spoil the suspense as this novel takes a turn from light romance to nail-biting adventure, and a story of physical and emotional survival.

Thanks to Mrs. Smolka for recommending this one to me!

Once Was Lost

by Sara Zarr

Sam is a preacher's daughter, and she's afraid that's all anyone in her small town knows about her. It seems like all the kids in her youth group thinks she's a pillar of faith, but she's not sure what she believes about God these days. Her mom is in rehab after a drunk driving accident, but her dad can't seem to say the words from the pulpit, so everyone is just left to speculate on her whereabouts. To make matters worse, Sam's dad seems to be getting uncomfortably close to the pretty, 26 year old youth group leader. Nick, one of the cutest guys in the group, asked her to dance once last year, but otherwise doesn't seem to know she's alive. Sam's world is already falling apart, and then Jody disappears. Jody, Nick's sweet 13 year old little sister. The town unites to try to find her, and Nick inexplicably reaches out to Sam. Is Jody gone forever? Is Sam's dad lying to her? Will her mom ever come home? And then there's Nick... Does he want to be more than just her friend, or does he have something to do with Jody's disappearance?

Being a preacher's daughter myself, this book resonated with me on several levels. Zarr's writing is solid, and the questions and doubts Sam experiences feel authentic. The mysteries keep you guessing the whole way through, so I was forgiving when they all wrapped up just a little too neatly.

Okay for Now

by Gary D. Schmidt

When Doug's father loses his job, he uproots their entire family to small, seemingly boring Marysville, New York. His dad and two older brothers are borderline abusive, and Doug is miserable with the move, and life in general. But soon he finds a little comfort at the library. Not in the books, but in a display of the works of John James Audubon, a famous painter and naturalist. As he begins working with the librarian, who helps him with his art, and begins a friendship (plus a little more) with Lil Spicer, life starts to look up. But every time something good happens to Doug, something else always seems to come along to mess it up.

This is a story of a young man making something of himself under very difficult circumstances. His struggle is both original and familiar. Doug is a character you won't want to leave. The writing is almost flawless. Schmidt has Doug's voice pinpointed so well that it's hard to believe he's not a real person. I picked this up because I've heard so much about it being a contender for the Newbery Medal. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't at least win an Honor. Just read the first chapter and try to put this down. And while it's not really a sad story, you might just shed a few tears along the way.

The Son of Neptune

By Rick Riordan

***SPOILER ALERT!*** (Don't read this is you haven't read The Lost Hero yet!)

No one does cliff-hangers like Riordan. In this second installment of The Heroes of Olympus series, he jumps off the one he left at the end of The Lost Hero and hits the ground running. Percy Jackson makes a long-awaited reappearance on page one, with almost no memory of his identity, except hazy recollections of a girl named Annabeth. He's in San Francisco, home of Camp Jupiter. It's the other camp for demigods, only here, the gods appear in their Roman forms. Most of the campers are suspicious and scared of Percy, but misfits Hazel and Frank welcome him to camp. The demigod world is in an uproar. Monsters keep reappearing after they're killed, and the campers discover it's because Thanatos, better known as Death, has been chained by Gaea, goddess of the earth. They must go on a quest to free him, and the heart-pounding adventure amps up even more. Riordan's ability to create characters readers care about is extraordinary. Hazel, daughter of Pluto who leaves precious gems jumping from the ground in her path, and Frank, son of Mars, who just might be the key to everything, are some of the most endearing demigods we've met so far. The vernacular of today's teens is captured masterfully, making the writing fresh and funny. These characters practically leap off the page. The ending will make readers smile, even though the wait for the rest of the story can't come soon enough.

The Lost Hero

by Rick Riordan

In this spin-off series by Rick Riordan, we'll meet some new characters, and, thankfully, reconnect with old friends. Jason wakes up on a bus with a bunch of demigods who seem to know him, but he has no idea who or where he is. Before too long he's at Camp Half Blood, and meets Annabeth, who is searching for the missing Percy Jackson. A prophecy from Rachel Dare sends the new campers on another quest, where Jason hopes he'll save the world, and learn his identity. I won't say too much more, just in case you haven't yet finished the Percy Jackson series. The ending of this book ROCKS, and set us up for Son of Neptune beautifully. You'll never guess the twist Riordan throws at us, and I can't wait to see what happens to all of our hero friends, new and old.

Down the Mysterly River

by Bill Willingham

Max the Wolf, who is not a wolf at all but a Boy Scout who likes to solve mysteries, has suddenly found himself in the middle of a very big one. Awaking in a forest, he has no memory of how he got there. Encountering a talking badger named Banderbrock further distresses Max, for obvious reasons, but also because the badger is equally confused. As the two attempt to determine their whereabouts, they pick up a feisty barn cat named McTavish and a bumbling but lovable bear sheriff, Walden. This unlikely group soon finds themselves under attack by a band of vicious men and women called Blue Cutters. Their magical swords hack away at victims, changing their personalities until they no longer resemble the person (or animal) they once were. Max has to find out why they're all in this strange land, all the while dodging, fighting, and trying to outsmart the Cutters. Readers will cheer for this motley crew, and the crazy McTavish is good for more than a few laughs. While the ending is slightly predictable, it doesn’t diminish the enjoyment readers will feel when the mystery is solved, and they’ll race through it to get there. Mark Buckingham’s simple but effective black and white illustrations give faces to our friends at the beginning of each chapter. Willingham has skillfully created an imaginative fairy tale world, and an adventure quest with heart.

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

Lena lives in a world where love is forbidden. In fact, it's considered a disease. Symtoms include sweating, nervousness, stomachaches, and lack of ability to make decisions. The Book of Shhh, the manual all citizens live by, even declares that, left untreated, it can cause death. Lena's mom died of the disease.

At the age of 18, everyone is given "the procedure," which renders them incapable of love. They still get married and have families, but really couldn't care less who they end up with. They just live their lives; calm and drama-free. But there are people, they say, who live in the Wilds. People who have run from the procedure and chosen to live outside of society. The very thought terrifies Lena, until she meets Alex, who turns her world on its head.

Lauren Oliver rocks! This is her second novel, and while I didn't love it like I loved Before I Fall, it was still definitely a page-turner. A few unanswered questions left me a little annoyed--it is the beginning of a series, after all, but for the most part it was a fast, intense read that I really enjoyed. I'll be in line for the sequel. If you liked Matched, by Allie Condie, you have to give Delirium a try.

Wish You Were Dead

by Todd Strasser

When Madison gives classmate Lucy a ride home one night, she never suspects she'll be the last person to see her before she goes missing. As the town panics searching for Lucy, another high schooler disappears, and then another... But this isn't your average serial killer story. Every person that disappears has been wished dead on a blog kept by a person at Madison's high school. Add this to the fact that Madison herself has a cyber-stalker, and you've got a twisted mystery that comes at you from every angle.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

For as long as he can remember, Jacob's grandfather has told him stories of the Welsh home he lived in as a child, populated with "peculiar" children. Children who can do strange and wonderful things. Hover off the ground, hold light in their hands, become invisible, make plants grow before your eyes. He never believed these tales, until his grandfather is murdered in his own back yard, and Jacob thinks he sees the monster who did it. His parents assume he's had a mental break down, and send him to therapy. When the therapist agrees it might be good for him to go to Wales and find the home where his grandfather lived, Jacob and his father set out for the Welsh countryside. The house is there, but not in the way you would think. And the children? They're real, too. There's adventure, danger, mystery, and romance all woven into this well-written book. One of the best stories I've read all year.

The Tanglewood Terror

by Kurtis Scaletta

Things are far from perfect in Eric Parrish’s quiet Maine town. He’s been wrongly accused of being the school bully. His little brother, Brian, is super annoying. His dad has moved to Boston to pursue a mid-life crisis. Mom works at a boarding school for troubled girls and is completely preoccupied with finding Mandy, one of her students who has run away. There are also some very strange, glowing mushrooms in the woods behind the Parrish house, and they’re spreading quickly. Eric feels there’s something sinister about those mushrooms. When he accidentally discovers Mandy’s hiding place, he keeps her secret, because she also thinks the mushrooms are dangerous. Their sleuthing leads to a painting in a local museum that seems to be depicting the town, 200 years ago, overrun by mushrooms. Legend has it that the whole town actually disappeared. Eric and Mandy set out to make sure that never happens again, but how do you fight an evil fungus? Scaletta takes what could potentially be a silly, unbelievable premise and manages to create a distinctly unsettling feel, as the mushrooms quietly sneak through the floorboards of the Parrish’s home, across the football field at the school, and overrun the lives of the residents of Tanglewood. Eric’s parents, especially his father, are fully fleshed out characters, and Brian goes beyond the typical frustrating little brother to downright heartwarming at times. A good mystery without ever getting too, too scary!

The Monstrumologist

by Rick Yancey

Will, a young orphan, has been taken in by Pellinore Warthrop, a self-proclaimed "monstrumologist," or one who studies monsters. The disturbing opening scene shows Will and the monstrumologist with his latest find, a terrifying creature with a dead girl in his grasp. At first Will thinks the monster is a large, headless, man, but soon finds it's an Anthropopagi, human-like creatures whose mouths are in their chests. The monsters have somehow made it to North America, and Will is carried away in an exciting adventure to study, track, and put a stop to these horrors. If you're looking for blood, guts, and gore, you've come to the right place. These creatures love nothing more than to tear humans limb from limb, and Yancey describes it in great detail. In fact, some parts actually made my stomach turn! Enjoy!

The Orphan of Awkward Falls

by Keith Graves

When Josephine and her parents move to Awkward Falls and she explores the crumbling old mansion next door, she finds a parentless boy living there, Thaddeus. He claims to be the grandson of the late Celcius Hibble, a famous local scientist. Thaddeus eats mainly chocolate and his companions include a robot butler and a cat that he’s raised from the dead. All very interesting, but relatively harmless—until Fetid Stenchley, a hunchbacked cannibal imprisoned in the Asylum for the Dangerously Insane, escapes. He’s been locked up for murdering Hibble, who was his mentor, and he is terrifying and unpredictable from page 1. He’s got an insatiable taste for human flesh, and a strong desire to return to the scene of his most heinous crime, the mansion Thaddeus calls home. Crazy surprises abound, and every few chapters a jaw-dropping new twist emerges. You name it, it’s in here: cloning, immortality, even a substantial nod to Frankenstein. A little scary, a little funny, and awfully suspenseful, this strange, campy tale will be a hit with fans of Greg Taylor’s Killer Pizza. Purposefully spare black and white sketches by the author add to the book’s frenetic feel. Deliciously creepy.

The Darkening

by Maggie L. Wood

Willow is finally settled and content in Mistoreal, helping to raise the evil fairy Nezeral, whom she magicked back to infancy in Captured. She’s also happily dating her sworn knight Brand, although she wishes he’d be a little less formal, and not freak out about the shorts and tank tops she chooses over princess dresses. The peace doesn’t last long, though. The Faerie Queen Cyrraena requires her to play a new game in Clarion. She is supposed to go alone, but when Brand rashly and secretly tags along, he breaks the rules, and they end up in a creepy faerie prison/zoo. Faery twins Dacia and Theon anger their father the king by visiting and helping his human pets, and a new game is their punishment. The four are sent into the Gauntlet, facing all kinds of frightening magical creatures. While the game itself is engaging, many readers may lose interest before they get there. The mix of medieval and modern references are awkwardly placed and ineffective, and Willow is too whiny to elicit much sympathy when her romance with Brand goes south. There are a lot of faery stories on the market these days—unfortunately this one just doesn’t distinguish itself from the crowd.

Captured

by Maggie L. Wood

When Willow’s Nana starts talking about a “summoning,” she assumes her grandma is having some sort of mental breakdown. It wouldn’t be the first time. Willow has been listening to Nana’s stories of another realm that involves magic, castles, and the crystal on her nightstand for as long as she can remember, but always thought they were just meant to entertain her. Unfortunately, the night Nana gets excited about the summoning is also her last, and after Willow calls 911, she sees the crystal glowing, grabs it, and wakes up in another world. In Mistoreal, she’s a princess. A spell has been cast over the citizens, forcing them to play in a human chess game. Willow’s parents have been captured, and it’s up to her to save them. The plot loses a little steam after the set up of the chess, and the too large cast of characters falls flat. However, as a light, fun, fantasy, it serves its purpose. Loose ends are tied up neatly even though this is the first of a planned trilogy. Fans of fantasies with modern ties, such as City of Bones, may find something here.

Countdown

by Deborah Wiles

Eleven year old Franny Chapman lives outside of Washington, DC, with her family in the summer of 1962. Her military father is stationed at Andrews Air Force base, so the events of that year are particularly scary for her. This is the age of the Cold War. She does air raid drills at school, her neighbors are talking about bomb shelters, and she's not sure what all of this means for her. Her older sister is acting weird--she has a secret, and her best friend seems to have decided she doesn't want to be her best friend anymore. Gives a close-up view of what it must have been like to grow up in this scary time in our nation's history. The cool thing about this book is its "documentary" style. Throughout the book you'll find photos, speeches, song lyrics, and more, that give us an authentic feel for the time period. This looks like a really long book, but make sure you flip through it before you dismiss it because you think it's too long! Definitely worth a read, and it will give you something to talk to your grandparents about!

Imaginary Girls

by Nova Ren Suma

Chloe's older half sister Ruby is one of those people everyone is drawn to. She's stunningly beautiful, and fiercely loyal. One night she dares Chloe to swim all the way across the lake to show off at a party, and halfway across, Chloe makes a grim discovery--one of their classmates lying lifeless in a canoe. After the tragedy Chloe is sent to live with their dad, and misses Ruby terribly. One year later, Ruby, now college-aged, comes to get her and act as her guardian. But things are different in their little town. Strange. At their first party after Chloe's return, she sees something...someone...who takes her breath away. I won't ruin the rest of the story by telling you any more! This was my kind of book! Subtly creepy and super suspenseful! Ruby is one of the most complex, interesting characters I've met in a long time, and I was fascinated by what she could do. This book is reviewed for grades 9 and up, so you can find this book in the teen section at the public library or the bookstore.

Miles From Ordinary

by Carol Lynch Williams

Lacey lives alone with her mother, and at 13, has far too much to deal with. Her mentally unstable mother isn't able to hold a job, or maintain a relationship, even with her own sister. Lacey's social life has suffered, and she longs for friends and a normal life. When her mom gets a job at the Winn Dixie grocery store, Lacey hopes that maybe this time things will be different. Unfortunately her mom runs away from work and disappears, leading Lacey on a frantic search. This mom is so crazy that you're terrified for Lacey the whole time you're reading. There is definitely suspense to the very end of this short, intense read.

I really like this author, and this was a great book, but I don't think it was as good as The Chosen One. If you like real-life drama, and/or sad stories, this is the book for you.

Cryer's Cross

by Lisa McMann

Nothing exciting ever happens in Kendall's small farming town, Cryer's Cross, until one of her classmates mysteriously disappears around the same time new kid Jacian moves in. The cops question angry, brooding, Jacian, but no one can prove he was involved in the girl's disappearance. Life starts to go back to normal for Kendall, but then her boyfriend, Nico, starts to act strange. When he also goes missing, the town goes on lockdown, and Kendall finds herself forced to spend more time with Jacian. Maybe he's not as bad as she thought. But then there are those voices she keeps hearing in her head. They sound like Nico. What secret is Cryer's Cross hiding?

I read this really quickly--I was dying to know what happened, but when I finally got to the end, I must say it was kind of disappointing. A quick, fun, pretty scary read, but it will leave you sort of scratching your head. I didn't quite get the answers I was looking for.

The Silver Bowl

by Diane Stanley

Adventure, magic, subtle romance, betrayal, and monstrous curses take this book far beyond the typical scullery-maid-makes-good tale. Peasant girl Molly sometimes sees things before they happen, a fine enough reason for her unloving and poverty-stricken father to get rid of her. At age seven, she is abandoned at the door of Dethemere Castle, and luckily finds work in the kitchen. After years of hard labor, “Gentleman Servant” Thomas takes her under his wing, promoting her to silver polisher, where she is tasked with shining the most beautiful, intricately designed bowl she has ever seen. The minute she touches the bowl, she is filled with intense warmth, and see visions of the demise of the royal family. The rumors of a curse are true. It’s becoming more and more powerful, and only she can stop it from destroying the royals. Stanley blends historical fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and her clear, rich language envelopes and transports. Molly’s relationships with the handsome prince and the kind-hearted stable boy are textured and layered with emotion and dutiful devotion. Her no-nonsense attitude is balanced by her big heart and a sweet, sharp sense of humor, making her a heroine readers will relate to and cheer for to the satisfying end. This book will be published in June.

Matched

by Ally Condie

In Cassia's world, the Society controls everything. Clothes are brown and plain, food is delivered in specified portions at specified times. Your spouse is chosen for you. Everyone dies at age 80. Only 100 pieces of art and 100 poems from throughout time have been deemed worthy of keeping. The Officials keep a tight reign on the people.

When Cassia's childhood friend is chosen as her match, she's elated, until a glitch in the system reveals to her that another boy, Ky, could also have been her match. This revelation, along with some contraband poetry given to her by her grandfather, make Cassia start to question. And in the Society, asking questions is the worst thing you can do.

There has been so much hype about this book that I couldn't wait to read it, and I did really enjoy it. Good story, well written, and I'll read the sequel, Crossed, which comes out in November. I have to be honest, though. I was hoping Matched might be the next series that can compare to Hunger Games, but alas, I'm still waiting...

If I Stay

by Gayle Forman

Mia is a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a cellist bound for Julliard, until a terrible car accident changes everything. Her body is comatose, lying in a bed in the ICU, but her spirit is there, watching. Listening. What if most of the people you love in life are gone? What if you'll never be the same? Would you want to leave? Or would you stay?

This is a high school title, so you'll have to go to the bookstore or public library to get it, but it's worth the trip. A total tearjerker, in the best kind of way--there's not a single cheesy moment. You'll want to curl up in a ball and cry for Mia, but you'll also feel uplifted and hopeful by the end.

The Quicksilver Faire

by Gillian Summers

Goblins, unicorns, fairies, elves, dwarves, dragons, dryads, talking cats, and evil jesters are just a few of the characters/creatures that make up the cast in this sequel to Shadows of the Redwood. Keelie, half human, half elf, is charged with helping the elves and the fairies resolve their differences in the Fairy High Court. She’s accompanied on this journey into a Canadian forest by her boyfriend, Sean, and her frenemy, Elia, a pregnant elf. Herne, the ruler of the dark fae, has just lost his love of over 500 years, and competes with Sean for Keelie’s affections. This is one of the multiple plot lines that cloud the story, but none, unfortunately, come to any real resolution. Really didn't like this one at all.

Chasing Brooklyn

by Lisa Schroeder

Brooklyn loses her boyfriend Lucca in a terrible car accident. A year later, she's still grieving. Then Gabe, the boy who was driving the car when Lucca died, committs suicide. Gabe begins haunting her, and at the same time Lucca starts haunting his brother Nico. Lucca is begging Nico to help Brooklyn, to save her, but Nico has no idea she's being haunted, and no idea what Lucca wants her to save him from. Nico's a runner, and tries to help Brooklyn the only way he knows how--by asking her to train with him for a triathlon. As they train they grow closer...and closer. But how far are either of them willing to go to lose their ghosts?

We read this in 7th grade Book Club, and everyone really enjoyed it. It's a novel in verse, so it's a short, easy read, and we all want to read everything else she's written now!

Fat Cat

by Robin Brande

Cat decides, for her science project, to go back to the time of the hominims, or cave people. She really, really wants to win the science fair. Her ex-best friend Matt is competing against her, and she can't stand to lose to him. She decides to use herself as an experiment, and go back, as close as possible, to eating and living as cave people did. No processed food, no technology, no cars except in case of emergency. An added benefit? Cat, a junk food junkie, begins to lose weight. She feels better, and guys start noticing her. So why isn't she happy? Why is she still thinking about Matt? And why does she hate him so much anyway?

This book is by the same author who wrote Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature, a story I really love, and I love this one, too. The love story will keep you guessing, and the experiment will almost make you want to give up fast food!

Girl, Stolen

by April Henry

While Cheyenne waits in the car for her stepmother to get her medicine for her pneumonia, someone jumps in and drives the car away. He doesn't realize she's there, but when he does, it's too late for him to go back. She's sick, she's been kidnapped, and...she's blind. The kidnapper, Griffin, is a young man who only wanted to steal the car to impress his criminal father. He's horrified at what he's done, and hopes that they'll be able to let Cheyenne go. But when Griffin's father realizes who Cheyenne's father is, all hope is lost, and Cheyenne has to try to find her way out of this.

Scary, scary! Cheyenne's predicament is unimaginable, and really, so is Griffin's. An interesting insight into the world of the blind, and a great mystery.

Tuck Everlasting

by Natalie Babbitt

When Winnie comes across a young man sipping from a stream in the woods behind her home, she's immediately fascinated by him. She wants to drink from the stream, too, but he panics when she tries, and does everything he can to try and stop her. Soon the rest of his family arrives, and they carry her off against her will to their cabin. She knows she should be afraid of these "kidnappers," but somehow she feels right at home. They explain to her that the stream has powers. Drinking from it makes you live forever. Of course, there's also an evil man looking for the stream, willing to go to any lengths to profit from its magic. Can Winnie and the Tucks protect the stream? And will Winnie decide to drink its waters?

I first read this book when I was in elementary school, and must have read it ten times while I was growing up. It was definitely one of my favorite books of all time. After re-reading it as a grown-up, I discovered it still is! What a beautiful, timeless story.

You

by Charles Benoit

15 year old Kyle is "you." Literally. He's called "you" through the whole book. It's weird, but it works. You, the reader, see through Kyle's eyes. You're a "hoodie." An outcast at your high school. When you find a wallet in the hallway and pick it up, just to look at it, you get jumped by a football player with a heightened sense of entitlement. Three days of suspension, then more anger and outcast behavior from you. You meet the new kid in the library, who is strangely fascinating. Maybe he'll be your friend. Maybe he won't. Either way, this isn't going to be good.

You is a super fast read. The suspense is killer. Loved it.

I am Number Four

by Pittacus Lore

John Smith looks like your average teenager, but he's really an alien from the planet Lorien. When he was young, the evil Mogadorians destroyed Lorien, and only nine children, along with their guardians/mentors, escaped. They are numbered, and can only be killed in order. The Mogadorians are relentless, and when John realizes number three has been killed, he knows he's going to have to be extra careful about hiding his whereabouts. But he's just moved to Ohio, and made a friend, and there's this really pretty girl...

This novel has a fun, adventure-filled plot, but the writing is only so-so. It's been made into a movie, and is in theaters now. I haven't seen it, but I suspect this might be a rare case of the movie actually being better than the book.

A Wreath for Emmett Till

by Marilyn Nelson

Emmett Till had a problem with stuttering. When he was young, his mother taught him to whistle when he got nervous and wanted to slow down his speech. In 1955, he took a trip to the south from his home in Chicago, and was accused of whistling at a white woman. He was abducted, brutally beaten, and murdered. When his body was returned home, his mother insisted on an open casket, so the world could see what racism did to her baby. The white men were taken to trial, but acquitted of the crime. They bragged openly about the murder for the rest of their lives.

This is a short, powerful book of sonnets, written in a Heroic Crown, which means the last poem is a poem made of the first line of all the other poems in the book. Invest 15 minutes in this little book. It will touch your heart.

Smells Like Treasure

by Suzanne Selfors

Homer Winslow Pudding, nephew of the late, great treasure hunter Drake Pudding, received, upon his uncle’s untimely demise, a dog named Dog and a gold membership coin for L.O.S.T., a secret treasure hunting organization. When a letter from L.O.S.T. arrives, stating simply, “Your time has come,” Homer can’t wait to get started. His membership in L.O.S.T. will help finance his search for the treasure of legendary pirate Rumpold Smeller, and Dog will get to use his secret skill—smelling treasure, which is the only thing he can, in fact, smell. Unfortunately, attempting to claim his seat in L.O.S.T. turns out to be more difficult than he imagined. His one-time friend, Lorelei, stole the membership coin in 2010’s Smells Like Dog, and now she’s back, claiming Drake actually bequeathed the coin to her. She demands that L.O.S.T. let her challenge Homer for the seat, and alas, the bylaws support her request. What follows is a funny, suspenseful, adventure that stretches the borders of the imagination. A heartwarming and quirky cast of characters add to the fun. Rumpold Smeller’s tale is woven throughout Homer’s, a story within a story with its own delightful surprise ending. Homer and Dog are a strange, silly, and loveable duo.

This one isn't published yet. It will be out in May!

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

One night Clary witnesses a murder, and the next her mother disappears. All at once her world is turned upside down as she discovers she's a Shadowhunter, which means she's able to see and kill demons. She's got to find her mother, and the Mortal Cup, a magical item that can turn humans into Shadowhunters, and only her mother knows where that is. There's also a pretty intense (and somewhat creepy) love triangle going on. The magical, arrogant, Jace, who does little but insult her, and her very sweet, very human friend Simon, both hoping to win Clary's heart.

This is an epic tale, with pretty much every magical creature you can think of thrown into the mix. The Mortal Instruments series has a very devoted following, and lots of people love it. I just don't happen to be one of them. Maybe I'm just over supernatural romances right now, so if you're not, give it a try!

Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters

by Natalie Standiford

The Sullivan girls have a love/hate relationship with their grandmother. For one thing, they call her Almighty, because that's how she behaves. She declares that the entire family has been written out of her substantial will because someone has offended her, and she won't reinstate them until the guilty party confesses. Each girl thinks it MUST be her, and what follows is the story of the sins of each sister--always a juicy read!

You get three stories in one with this book. It's funny, fresh, and touching. If you like The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (one of my faves) you'll enjoy this novel with strong female voices and an ending that will make you cry laughing!

The Grimm Legacy

by Polly Shulman

Summary: When Elizabeth's teacher recommends her for a part-time job as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository, it doesn't take long for her to realize that this is no ordinary place. Rare and amazing things are stored there, like Marie Antionette's wig, and lucky patrons may borrow these items. After earning the trust of the librarians, she is given a code (a silly little song), and a key (which actually looks nothing at all like a key) that leads to the Grimm Collection. As in the Brothers Grimm. And guess what's there? All of the magical items from the fairy tales! Snow White's mirror, the shoes of the Twelve Dancing Maidens, and so much more. But items have started to disappear. The other pages are all pointing their fingers at each other, but they have to work together to solve the mystery.

My thoughts: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! Like I haven't loved a book in a long time. I finished it almost all in one sitting, and only put it down (reluctantly) because I had to go somewhere! This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved in middle school. You'll be swept away by the magic in the Grimm Collection!

The Poison Diaries

by Maryrose Wood

Jessamine's father is an apothecary (sort of an old-school pharmacist). She's become quite gifted at growing and handling his plants, but there is a locked section of the garden that he will not even let her enter. It's where he keeps the poisonous plants, and he seems afraid even at the mere mention of her entering. She respects his wishes, but one day, a young man who is extremely gifted with plants himself, is dropped off at their house and left in their care. Weed has a secret, and as he reveals pieces of the mystery to Jessamine, they fall in love. What does Weed know about the poison garden? Can he be trusted, or is he simply too dangerous for Jessamine to love?

What an interesting concept! The idea for this book came from an actual poison garden kept by the Duchess of Northumberland in England. To tell you what makes this story different would give too much away.

The Christopher Killer

by Alane Ferguson Cameron's dad is the county coroner, and she can't wait to follow in his footsteps. Her dream is to be a forensic pathologist, and she convinces him to hire her on as his part-time assistant. Unfortunately, her first case, and first autopsy, turn out to be on her friend Rachel, who is brutally murdered right after Cameron starts her job. She's the victim of a serial killer, who leaves a St. Christopher medal as his calling card on all of his victims.

This is a fast read, with some twists and turns that will keep you guessing about the killer's real identity. It's sort of like CSI. What happens isn't always realistic, but it is entertaining!

Before I Fall

by Lauren Oliver 

This novel opens with Samantha, her friends, and a horrible accident. Then Samantha wakes up. At first she thinks the accident was a terrible dream, but as she goes through her day, her horror grows. She has already lived this day. At first she thinks shes going crazy, but when she wakes the next day, and the next, and she takes the same tests, and has the same conversations, she realizes it's not all in her head. Each redo of the day, while similar to the last, is subject to change, based on her decisions and actions. Samantha and her friends are basically shallow, selfish, popular girls, who care little about the feelings of others. Reliving the same events over and over makes her see things in a different way. The author is able to show how Samantha comes to realize how awful she's been without sounding preachy, and keeps you guessing to the very end about whether or not Samantha actually survived the accident. The endless plot twists, and the unguessable outcome will drive you crazy until you finish! This is the most engaging, suspenseful book I've read in a long time. It's rare that you come to care so much about characters you hate in a book, but it happens here. You WILL NOT like these girls. Not. One. Bit. But you'll love them all the same. A note: this is a high school book, so look for it at the public library or bookstore.

The Secret of Rover

by Rachel Wildavsky

Katie and David’s mom and dad are no ordinary parents. They, along with Mrs. Bowden’s reclusive brother Alex, are the designers of “Rover,” a top-secret spying device recently purchased by the U.S. government. The sale of Rover brings the family a financial windfall, so they are finally able to afford the third child they have always wanted. The kids are thrilled when their parents share that they are adopting a little girl. Baby Theo is from the war-torn, and author-imagined, nation of Katkajan, which is clearly meant to resemble a middle-eastern country. The night before leaving to pick up Theo, the Bowdens introduce Trixie, a Katkajanian nanny who will care for Katie and David while their parents are away. Unfortunately, Trixie’s not a nanny, but a member of a gang of insurgent Katkajanians. Her counterparts in Katkajan kidnap the Bowdens and Theo as soon as they arrive, while the kids become prisoners in their own home. A daring escape leads them to their reclusive uncle Alex in the mountains of Vermont. A breath-taking cat and mouse game follows as the kidnappers pursue them relentlessly, and they fight to save their parents and sister. David and Katie’s relationship is realistically and amusingly portrayed as a sibling rivalry and a friendship. Their smarts and moxie are tempered with just enough rash teenage impulsiveness to make them believable. Fans of Roland Smith’s I.Q series will love this fun, intelligent, political page-turner.

This book won't be out until March 2011, but I can't wait for you guys to get to read it!