Life As We Knew It

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When an asteroid hits the moon, knocking it closer to earth, life as Miranda knew it changed forever. Tidal waves destroy coastal cities, volcanic ash darkens the air, and communication with anyone but your neighbors is all but impossible. Miranda's older brother makes it home from college, but her dad and pregnant stepmom decide to risk traveling and are soon unreachable. She's left with her two brothers, her mom, and their elderly neighbor who is a family friend. At first, things don't seem too bad. Electricity is spotty, but available, and they have plenty of canned and boxed food to survive. But it's the slow unraveling of society that makes this novel special--the steady but sure decline of humanity that would be inevitable if an event like this were to occur. There are a few holes in the world-building, such as stating they were out of natural gas, the electricity is off, and somehow they are cooking dinner. (This is all before they began using the wood stove...) But I guess I can look past all that because this is the kind of book you want to tell everybody about.

The Nest

by Kenneth Oppel

I started this book yesterday, and I finished it yesterday. Talk about intense.

Steve's parents have a new baby, but he's sick. He's in and out of the hospital, and his parents say it's something very rare that the doctors don't know much about. And then one day, Steve gets stung by a wasp and has an allergic reaction bad enough that the ER doctor prescribes him an Epi-pen. That night, he has a dream. A very strange looking angel tells him that she and the other angels will fix the baby. Steve knows it's just a dream, but it makes him feel better, until he meets the "angels" again, and realizes that maybe their intentions are not what they first seemed.

As Steve becomes more aware of what is actually happening, the story gets more and more frightening. Kids will just be terrified of the wasps; adults, and especially parents, will want to give the kids they love an extra hug. Shudder. What a strange and unforgettable ride.

Dumplin'

by Julie Murphy

Aw, Willowdean! You can't help but smile and nod your head as you read this book. Will's dad isn't around, and she has spent her whole life with her mom and her very overweight Aunt Lucy. When we meet her, Lucy has just died of a heart attack, and Willowdean is reeling. She shared a special bond with Lucy, and she misses her terribly. Willowdean has weight issues of her own, and it's never really bothered her before, but then she meets Bo. He's gorgeous, and even though she thinks he's way out of her league, he likes her. All of a sudden, her insecurities rear their ugly heads. She can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Ellen, that Bo has been kissing her behind the dumpster at work, and the secret makes her feel farther and farther away from her tiny, beautiful friend. One day, while going through her Aunt Lucy's things, Will finds an application for the local beauty pageant, and gets a crazy idea--one that will turn just about all of her relationships on their heads.

The best part of this book has to be the characters, and while it's probably billed more as a romance, it's the friendship story of Ellen and Willowdean that steals the show. The group of misfits that Will hangs out with are hilarious and believable. Her flawed but loving mother is perfectly drawn. In fact, the only character who feels a bit flat to me is Bo. Even Mitch, the other third of Will's love triangle, is just so spot on. This book definitely deserves all the praise it's been getting recently!

(This one won't be in our middle school library, but you can find it at the public library or at a bookstore.)

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

by Karen Foxlee

Ophelia, whose mother has recently died, finds a strange boy locked away, who says he needs her help. He's been imprisoned by the Snow Queen, and has been for many, many years. She's supposed to find a sword for him, but it's a dangerous mission. The story is basically Ophelia looking for the sword, dealing with her mother's death, and being puzzled about her sister's strange behavior. This sounded exactly like my kind of book, but I couldn't connect with the characters, or get involved with a plot that seemed a little bit too much like a weird Narnia rip-off. And the ending... What? Was it supposed to be a twist? I was just left scratching my head.

The Hollow Boy

by Jonathan Stroud

There's an outbreak of the Problem in Chelsea, and it's worse than any of the agents have ever seen. All the major agencies are working it to no avail, and as usual, Lockwood & Co. hasn't even been consulted. Lockwood has hired a new assistant for the group, Holly Munro, who is as cute and perfect as she can be. Lucy hates her, and so does the Ghost Jar, which leads to some pretty hilarious sarcastic comments from him. Thanks to George's fabulous research skills, the team does eventually get to work on the Chelsea outbreak, with help from some unlikely people. Is it scary, you ask? Oh, you bet it is. The Whispering Skull somehow lost the edge that I found so appealing in The Screaming Staircase. It was more hard-boiled detective than terrifying ghost story. But the fear factor is all back in The Hollow Boy, and then some. Stroud doesn't talk down to his readers, or pull any punches, and he leaves us with a killer of a cliffhanger. Absolutely on my favorites list, and I can't wait for the next one.

Circus Mirandus

by Cassie Beasley

Micah's grandpa is sick. In fact, he might not have much time left. Micah is devastated, until he finds out that the Circus Mirandus, from the magical stories his grandpa has been telling him his whole life, is real. Long ago, the Lightbender promised Grandpa Ephraim a miracle, and now it's time to collect. But first Micah and his friend Jenny have to find the elusive circus, and then, Micah has to make Jenny believe. He also has to convince the Lightbender to make good on his years-old promise, which won't be easy.

I really could gush about this book for quite some time. Even though I knew long before Micah what Grandpa's miracle had to be, I don't know that kids will figure it out, and even if they do, I don't think they'll care. There are shades of Big Fish, The Princess Bride, and even Harry Potter. There's an inexplicable shivery goodness here that comes with magical realism done right. This is Ms. Beasley's first novel, and I'm putting her on my watch list. I know I would have absolutely inhaled this as a kid, and I think my students will, too. An absolute joy to read.

Sorta Like a Rock Star

by Matthew Quick

Amber Appleton is a strange girl, but to be fair, she has a strange life. She lives on a school bus with her alcoholic mom, and believe it or not, that living situation is an improvement over bouncing from house to house every time her mom changes boyfriends. Somehow, Amber manages to keep her positive attitude, until something happens that might shatter even the princess of hope. This book isn't really about plot, though. In fact, it kind of felt like nothing much happened until halfway through. Still, the characters are so wildly off the wall that you can't help but love them. Just a few include: a mild-mannered marketing teacher, a PTSD-ravaged Vietnam vet, a group of teen boys who would go to the ends of the earth to protect Amber, an autistic boy raised by a hard-driving lady lawyer, and Bobby Big Boy, a scruffy little mutt aka B Thrice. While Amber's sticky sweetness does grate from time to time, her self-centered but well-meaning persona was pretty right on as far as real teenage girl goes.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

by James Swanson

I love most things Civil War related, and this was a detailed and interesting account of the events that led up to Lincoln's assassination, and the chase that ended with Booth's death. While I definitely enjoyed it, it left me wanting a little more. I would have loved to have learned more about Booth himself. There's really very little information here about how he became such a radical for his cause, but in fairness, maybe that's a story for another book.

The Imaginary

by A.F. Harrold

Amanda, sassy and adventurous, has an imaginary friend named Rudger. She found him in her wardrobe, and he has become her constant companion. It's all fun and games until Mr. Bunting shows up, a grown-up who can still see Imaginaries. (This is not the natural order of things, and Mr. Bunting is bad... very bad.) When Rudger and Amanda are separated, Rudger is led to meet other Imaginaries, but they're all in danger unless he can stop Mr. Bunting. Suspenseful, creative, original, and amusing--this book will appeal to a wide audience. The illustrations are absolutely necessary and totally integrated into the story. One in particular scared me so bad that I screamed when I turned the page and it was staring me in the face!

The Cod's Tale

by Mark Kurlansky

A short, pretty interesting overview of the history of cod and how it shaped civilization, from Vikings to modern day. I did learn a few things! The writing was a little choppy, though, and the little side stories and recipes, etc., in the margins didn't integrate well into the story.

El Deafo

by Cece Bell

When Cece was four, she had a serious bout with meningitis, and unfortunately lost much of her hearing. She chronicles the process by which her four year old self realizes she can't hear. It's equally fascinating and heartbreaking. But the majority of her story focuses on her upper elementary years, where she goes through a revolving door of friends, casting off those who talk to her too loudly, try to teach her sign language, and more. (Who can blame, her, though!?) One day, she realizes that the Phonic Ear, her fancy hearing aid, allows her to hear her teacher peeing in the bathroom, and she dubs herself El Deafo, creating for herself an alter ego with super hearing super powers!

This is the first graphic novel I've ever read where I forgot I was reading a graphic novel. The story and the images flowed beautifully. I alternately shook my head at Cece and cheered for her, but mostly, I laughed. A sweetly funny story with a real and flawed protagonist.The picture of Cece in elementary school at the end of the book would melt anyone's heart!

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek

by Maya Van Wagenen

Okay... here's what I like about this book. 1) Her overall message about the pursuit of popularity, and how it's basically something that is unattainable. It's great for teens to see others struggle, and make it to the other side. 2) I was born in South Texas, and thought the Brownsville setting was right on and pretty hilarious. She's right when she says that the story wouldn't have been the same if it had taken place somewhere else. That's about it. I just didn't find her experiment, or the excerpts from Betty's book, charming or funny. I was sad for her friends as she started table hopping in the cafeteria to make new friends, only to alienate the old ones. The fact that this young lady is so focused on becoming popular that she would do something this drastic is slightly disturbing. You might argue that this is simply a voyage of self discovery, but it's clearly not. She really, really, wants to be popular. In fact, she practically shivers with delight when her arch-nemesis tells her that everyone knows her name, and actually calls her popular. If the purpose of this book is to put a great message out there for teens, I'm not sure this is it.

by Sibeal Pounder

Tiga Whicabim doesn't know she's a witch until Fran the fairy shows up in her tiny shed of a home, shows her that her name is an anagram for I AM A BIG WITCH, and takes her down the sink pipes to Ritzy City. There she discovers that witches' hats are only pointy due to the journey up the pipes to our world, that witches love jam, and that she is one of nine girls slated to battle it out in the Witch Wars. The winner of Witch Wars gets to rule Ritzy City as Top Witch, but the stakes are higher for Tiga. If she loses, she'll have to go back to her shed with her horrible caretaker, who feeds her only cheese water. Not to mention the fact that she doesn't know a single spell. She'll have to work hard to outsmart mean girl witches Felicity Bat and Aggie Hoof, but luckily her new friend Peggy vows to help. The young witches, along with the sassy little fairies, make for a colorful and unpredictable cast of characters. Whimsical black-and-white illustrations throughout help readers envision this fantastical locale.

Serafina and the Black Cloak

by Robert Beatty

I'll admit it. I'm a total sucker for a dark and forbidden forest. I just can't resist it. Sometimes those forests deliver the thrills and chills I'm looking for, and sometimes they don't. Serafina delivers, big time.

Seraphina and her Pa live in the basement of the Biltmore mansion, but no one knows they have made their home there, and no one knows Serafina exists. She's a strange little girl for all of her isolation, and believes she is the Chief Rat Catcher for the Biltmore. (She's really good it, actually!) One night, she witnesses a terrifying man in a black cloak pursue, and magically devour, a little blonde girl. He tries to get Serafina, but she manages to escape him. She then makes it her mission to try to help the blonde girl, and keep anyone else from becoming his prey. But to do this, she endangers everything her father has tried so hard to protect.

Forbidden

by Eve Bunting

After Josie's parents both die of the flu in the same week, she is sent to live with her father's brother. Immediately upon arrival, it's clear she's not welcome, and that her uncle and his wife are only taking her in for the money. The whole town has a secretive, creepy vibe, and it doesn't take long for her to realize there is true evil here. Her one source of happiness is Eli, a handsome young man who befriends her. She's falling for him, but his grandmother warns her that Eli is "forbidden."

This novel's greatest strength is its atmospheric setting. You can almost feel the dampness seeping into your bones, and Josie's helpless frustration is palpable as she, and the reader, realize what's actually happening in this town.

Isle of the Lost

by Melissa de la Cruz

All the evil villains of Disney movie fame have been exiled to the Isle of the Lost. A huge dome covers the island, keeping them from using any magic. They are relegated to eating scraps and wearing castoffs of the good citizens of Auradon, ruled by King Beast and Queen Belle. The children of Maleficient, Jabar, Evil Queen, and Cruella De Vil (respectively Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos) don't know any other life away from the island. Every aspect of their existence is focused on becoming more evil, and finding nefarious ways to entertain themselves. When Carlos invents a device that is meant to provide them with more cable channels, he inadvertently opens a hole in the dome, allowing a tiny bit of magic to reactivate Maleficient's scepter, the Dragon's Eye. The four go off on a quest to find the staff, each for their own selfish reasons. All the while, though, the descendants of the most evil villains to ever walk the earth are starting to (gasp!) show signs of caring for each other. And over on Auradon, Prince Ben, son of Beast and Belle, is having visions of a beautiful blue-haired girl he's never met, even though he's betrothed to Princess Audrey, daughter of Aurora. Disney lovers and fairy-tale fans alike will need to get their hands on this book.

In the End

by Demitria Lunetta

Most of this story takes place at Fort Black. Amy arrives there, and again, draws unnecessary attention to herself and finds danger around every corner. She meets a young man named Jacks. She's required by this society to fall under the protection of a man, which we all know Amy doesn't need. (First of all, she's "Guardian trained," AND she has the synth suit. Which apparently just whisks away all moisture, mostly negating the need for a shower, which is mentioned many, many, times. Ew. But I digress.) So Jacks is starting to fall in love with her, but she still has mixed feelings about Rice. She's searching for Ken, Kay's brother, but hasn't had much luck. In the After had this sort of building tension that made all of the plot flaws and kind of annoying moments worth it. This wasn't terrible, and I was glad that everything wrapped up in just two books, but it was a bit of a let down.