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!

Shelter

by Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar's dad has just died in a car accident, and his mom is in rehab for drug addiction. He's moved to a new town so he can stay with his Uncle Myron while his mom gets healthy. At school, he meets Ashley, and he realizes he's quickly falling for her. Then one day, Ashley's gone. No call, no text, no goodbye. His search for her leads him on one wild goose chase after another, and he begins to uncover secrets that could cost him, and the people he loves, everything.

I tore through this, turning pages as fast as I could, and it seemed like the end of every chapter had another jaw-dropping surprise. BUT.. then I got to the ending, and it just didn't jive for me. It was way too far-fetched, and the timeline didn't make any sense. I'll still recommend it, though, since the rest of it was so good. If you read it, come talk to me about the ending--I'm dying to know what you think!

A Tale Dark & Grimm

by Adam Gidwitz

This is the story of Hansel and Gretel...like you've never heard it before. Narrated by the author in a hilarious, slightly sarcastic, and somehow also creepy voice, the famous fairy tale turns into something completely unique.

Beheadings, dragons, evil witches, and poor parenting haunt these two unfortunate siblings, leaving you guessing until the end whether or not they can overcome their bad luck.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

by Georgia Bragg

This book is exactly what it sounds like it is--the stories of the deaths of famous people. The author recounts the morbid, weird, controversial, and fascinating deaths of 19 people, from King Tut to Albert Einstein. Warning: some of the things doctors used to do in the name of trying to cure people were pretty disgusting, and here those things are described in great detail. While the author does list an extensive bibliography, from which she researched, her qualifications as a historian are never listed, and a factual mistake in the Henry VIII chapter further places this book strictly in the entertainment category. A fun, interesting read, if you take it with a grain of salt.

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?