The Whispers

by Greg Howard

Oh my goodness. This book. It's funny, sweet, sad, shocking, moving, suspenseful, heart-breaking and heart-warming.

Riley. He's an 11 year old South Carolina southern boy. He loves his dog, his mama, Jesus, being outside, and his grandma's cooking. He also has a major crush on the farm boy down the road, but only his best friend Gary knows about that. Life is pretty good, until his mama goes missing. Riley's world is turned upside down. It doesn't help that his older brother is a real jerk, and since his mama went away, he can't think of the last time his daddy even said his name. He thinks it's his fault his mama is gone, and he's convinced the cops are idiots and it's up to him to bring her home. He remembers a story she used to tell him about creatures called the whispers. If you bring them a tribute, they will give you your heart's desire. Riley thinks if he can just find the right offering, maybe the whispers can help him bring mama home.

Long Way Down

by Jason Reynolds

Will's brother Shawn has just been murdered. He thinks he knows who did it, so he gets his own gun, steels himself to do what needs to be done (revenge is the rule in his neighborhood), and gets on an elevator. As the car goes down, he's joined by people he once knew. When they were alive. Each visitor clues him in to something he didn't know about his family, his neighborhood, himself.

I'm late to the Jason Reynolds party. I know, I know. And now I know what all the hype is about. Beautifully written text and a compelling story with a timely message. What's not to love?

I listened to this on Overdrive, and Mr. Reynolds himself provides the narration. He has a beautiful voice--I highly recommend the audio version.

Cinder

by Marissa Meyer

We all know the general plot here, cause, obviously, it's Cinderella! Honestly, I've been avoiding this one for years. I hate the cover, and it just seemed like another cheeseball fairy tale retelling. I was wrong again! Yes, it's Cinderella, but it's so much more! It's Cinderella as a cyborg, and it's wonderful! I'm not sure how one introduces plot twists into this age-old story, but Meyer has done it. Mystery, suspense, a frightening dystopian future, and a stepmother even more evil than the original all team up to make this one fun read. Sure, there a few annoying plot holes every now and then, but not enough to really distract from the experience. The middle school girls love this series--I need to be better about trusting my readers. So glad I finally picked this one up!

A Matter of Days

by Amber Kizer

The Bluestar virus has wiped out the world as we know it. Nadia and her little brother Rabbit were given a super-secret vaccine by their Special Forces uncle, so they are the only people they know who survived. Their Uncle Bean gave them specific instructions to try to get their mom to take the vaccine (she was too stubborn to take it, and therefore croaked pretty quickly) and then try to get to West Virginia. He claims he'll be there waiting for them with their Pappy, whom they've never met. Since they're starting in Seattle, this turns into a quite a trip. They meet a few other survivors along the way, who happened to have a natural immunity to the virus.

This is a pretty simple story of a journey, and focuses more on how these two survive than anything else. It was interesting, but not one I'll rave about. For you people out there who just can't get enough of the end of the world.

This is What Happy Looks Like

by Jennifer E. Smith

When Graham Larkin accidentally hits one key too many and sends Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig by mistake, she can't pass up the opportunity to respond. They begin an email friendship that quickly turns flirtatious, and pretty soon, they're emailing every chance they get. They never exchange numbers, or even names, for fear of ruining the magic, but they know they live all the way across the country from each other--Graham in California, Ellie in Maine. There's something Ellie doesn't know about her pen pal, though. He's a movie star. Like, the hottest teen star in the country.

Graham finds out that his newest film project needs to be set in a quiet beach town, and suddenly he knows just the place. He suggests to the producers that they work in Ellie's hometown, and when he gets there, he sets out to try to find her. When he does, the connection is immediate, but Ellie has a secret of her own. Will they be able to get past all the drama in their lives and be able to be together?

This is not normally my kind of book, but I had heard so many good things about it I just had to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! Funny, sweet, and hopeful in all the right ways.

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake

In post-Civil War Wisconsin, one of the most interesting things that happened in town was the huge (miles wide) flock of Passenger Pigeons coming through their area. This event attracted "pigeoners" from all over the country, who sought to make money off flesh, feathers, etc.These were not always trustworthy men.

Georgie's sister Agatha was everything Georgie wanted to be--brave, smart, and beautiful. But when the pigeoners came through Placid, Agatha disappeared. A few weeks later, a body was brought to Georgie's family. Or rather, what was left of it. A few scraps of the beautiful blue-green dress that belonged to Agatha, and a bit of skull with flaming red hair. The clues are all there. Agatha has been murdered and left for the animals to tear apart. But Georgie won't believe it. She sets off in the same direction as Agatha on a mule named Long Ears. She means to find Agatha, but ends up finding much more.

A great mystery, really good writing, and a very interesting story about these now-extinct pigeons that I bet you've never heard before.

The Tragedy Paper

by Elizabeth LaBan

When Duncan goes back to his small private boarding school for his senior year, he can't believe his misfortune. He's been assigned the worst possible room on the boy's hall. Each year, the senior who lived there the previous year leaves a "treasure" for the new resident. Sometimes it's cash, sometimes a puppy, sometimes it's nothing more than junk. Duncan finds a pile of CDs, and thinks his treasure falls into the junk category, until he begins to listen.

Tim, the previous resident of Duncan's room, has recorded his story. How he came to the school in his last semester, and how he fell in love with one of the most popular girls in the class in the airport on the way there.

We hear the story from two viewpoints, Tim's and Duncan's, but it's Tim that I most connected with. He is an albino, which means he has no pigment in his skin or hair. He struggles mightily to not let this condition define him. As a reader, you can feel his love for Vanessa, who unfortunately is in a relationship with a boy who doesn't treat her well. She loves Tim, too, but we wonder if she will ever be able to see past Tim's albinism.

As Duncan listens to the CDs, we begin to realize that something horrible happened at the end of Tim and Vanessa's senior year. The suspense waiting to find out what it is was almost unbearable. I loved this book. The writing, the characters, the story, were all spot-on, and I think it will stick with me for a long, long time.

Flipped

by Wendelin Van Draanen

When Bryce moves into Juli's neighborhood in elementary school, she immediately falls head over heels in love with him. She comes on a little too strong, though. Bryce can't stand her perky personality, and that fact that she practically drools over him every time he walks by. Juli doesn't realize how she's coming across. She just wants Bryce to like her. One day, though, she realizes that Bryce isn't who she thinks he is. He's just a pretty face. He hasn't been kind to her. And she's done, just like that. Unfortunately for Bryce, this is right about the time he realizes that he's been wrong about Juli, and can't stop thinking about her.

What a sweet, fun, romance! In the beginning you ache for Juli, and at the end you want to cry for Bryce. You'll have to read it to find out if they are able to work it out!

Paper Covers Rock

by Jenny Hubbard

It's 1982. Alex goes to a preppy boarding school, where he has always been a good student. He's not the kind of guy who causes problems. One day, he and his friends decide to have a little fun, and something horrible happens. To save themselves, and their reputations, Alex and his friends lie to administration. One lie turns into another lie, and soon, Alex and his friends find themselves in an impossible situation. This novels makes us think about just how far we would go to save ourselves.

This book reminded me of the movie Dead Poets Society, maybe just because of the boarding school setting, but also because of the heart-wrenching, senseless tragedy at the story's center. Great writing, and a plot that makes your stomach turn. This one is only at the high schools.

Every You, Every Me

by David Levithan

Ariel, Evan's best friend, is gone, but we, the readers, don't know why. (It's not clear if she's dead, missing, or in treatment somewhere until the very end of the story.) He begins to find photos everywhere, that seem to be taunting him. He can't figure out who is behind the mysterious images, but they're driving him crazy. This book reads like you're inside Evan's head while he's having an internal conversation with Ariel. Much of the text is crossed out, showing his self-doubt.

I was really excited to read this. The photographer sent the author one photo at a time and let him build the novel around the pictures, so it was an interesting and unique premise. However, I honestly wasn't that intrigued by the photos, and the mystery, while compelling, was kind of a let down when all was revealed.

This one is at the high schools only, so if you do want to check it out, you'll need to hit the public library.

The Death Cure

by James Dashner

This third and final book in the Maze Runner trilogy begins where the last book left off, with Thomas and the other Gladers (those who survived the Scorch Trials) at WICKED. I hate spoilers, so I won't say more about the plot, but you will definitely get your questions answered. Full of the same excitement and tension we've come to love from Dashner, The Death Cure will not disappoint.

Jasper Jones

by Craig Silvey

Charlie doesn't know Jasper Jones, the local boy with a bad reputation. But when he knocks on Charlie's window asking for help one night, Charlie feels compelled to go. When they arrive at their destination, Jasper lets Charlie in on secret, one that will change both of their lives forever.

The story is set in 1960's Australia, during the Vietnam War. I didn't realize the extent of Australia's involvement there before reading this book. Jasper Jones is beautifully written, with unforgettable characters you can believe in. The tension is almost unbearable as Charlies tries to bear the burden of his secret, help his Vietnamese best friend deal with pervasive racism in their small town, and solve the mystery that haunts Jasper Jones.

Texas Gothic

by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Amy Goodnight is a coed at UT, but she's gone home to Barnett for the summer to care for her Aunt Hiacynth's farm while her aunt is away. Her sister Phin is there to help, too, but the Goodnight Farm is no ordinary Texas ranch. Aunt Hiacynth is a kitchen witch, and her dead husband still hangs around the house in ghost form. The discovery of centuries-old bones on neighboring land brings a group of anthropology students from UT, and Amy and Phin can't resist checking out what they've found. Their interference doesn't please Ben, the hot cowboy whose family owns that land, and the sparks fly between him and Amy. Add to the tension an old legend of a ghost called Mad Monk, and the fact that Amy's being haunted, and you have quite the mystery on your hands.

The story started out slow for me, but picked up quickly. This is a light, fun, mystery with great Texas references scattered throughout. (The author is from Arlington, so she got it right!) Definitely a good choice for CSI fans, who want a little drama and a little romance with their forensics!

Slob

by Ellen Potter

Owen is bigger than your average middle schooler, and it's all his classmates see. He's constantly mocked and bullied for being overweight, and even worse, it's not just by other students. His gym teacher has it out for him. He's the biggest bully of all, and makes Owen's life miserable.

Owen's trying to diet, but it's hard. He gets three Oreos in his lunch, and he looks forward to them every day. Until one day, they're gone. He thinks it's the new guy, Mason. Rumor is, he's a bona fide psycho and carries a switchblade in his sock.

Owen wasn't always overweight. You see, something terrible happened to Owen. He's got to figure out how to deal with it, but it won't be an easy ride. Also, he's kind of an inventor. He has a machine he's working on, and he's hoping it will let him see a moment, just a glimpse, from the past. Maybe, just maybe, he'll get the answers to help him move on.

This book is told in Owen's voice, and he's funny, and cool, and real. You've got several little mysteries here. Who stole the cookies? Will the gym teacher really get away with this? What terrible thing happened to Owen? And what does the green piece of paper with the word SLOB printed on it mean?

The Space Between Trees

by Katie Williams

When Evie sees a body being pulled from the woods behind her home, she's already intrigued, but when she finds out her childhood friend Elizabeth (nicknamed Zabet) is the murder victim, she becomes oddly obsessed with the case. While she and Zabet were best friends as kids, she knows little about who Zabet was as a person. She attempts to contact Zabet's current best friend, Hadley, who at first blows her off as a weirdo. But Evie's obsession grows, and at the funeral, a little white lie she tells to Zabet's father gets her closer to her dead ex-friend, and to Hadley, than she ever thought possible. As she and Hadley hunt for the killer, their own frighteningly dysfunctional relationship grows, causing awkward tension up to the very end.

This is a psychological thriller. Don't expect high action, or blood and guts, or a smash-bang ending. The creep-out factor is all about what's going on in Evie's mind, and what Hadley is going to do next. While I didn't love this book, it had an odd appeal for me. Evie's clearly a nut job, but she's sympathetic. You know/hope/think maybe she means well, but you're not really sure, and that makes for a compelling read.

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 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.

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.

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!