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.