Altered

Title: Altered
Author: Jennifer Rush
Pages: 323
Language: PG13/R (15+ swears, 8 "f")
Content: PG13/R (violence)
Level: High School
Recommendation: Good read, but optional

Summary: They were made to forget. But they'll never forgive.Everything about Anna's life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch, at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There's Nick, solemn and brooding; Cas, light-hearted and playful; Trev, smart and caring; and Sam . . . who's stolen Anna's heart. On the run, with her father's warning in her head, Anna begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about herself. She soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they're both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

Review:  Although told from Anna's point of view, this story has enough action, adventure, mystery, and violence for a male audience.  The story captivated me from the beginning, and I had to finish the book!  The plot kept twisting and turning, and I found myself hoping to find out more information about the characters and their past.  I would love to recommend this book to readers galore, if only there weren't so much violence (shooting) and swearing.

Tokyo Heist

Title: Tokyo Heist
Author: Diana Renn
Pages: 364
Content: PG
Language: PG
Level: Upper Middle/High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: The perfect mystery for fans of Ally Carter's Heist Society. When sixteen-year-old Violet agrees to spend the summer with her father, an up-and-coming artist in Seattle, she has no idea what she's walking into. Her father's newest clients, the Yamada family, are the victims of a high-profile art robbery: van Gogh sketches have been stolen from their home, and, until they can produce the corresponding painting, everyone's lives are in danger—including Violet's and her father's.  Violet's search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery thickens, Violet's not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to solve the mystery—before it's too late.

Review: Refreshingly clean!  Great book for kids who love Manga or mystery!  Twists and turns in the plot keep the reader guessing.  Well written and fun to read.

Edenbrooke

Title: Edenbrooke
Author: Julianne Donaldson
Pages: 255
Content: PG
Lanugage: G
Level: Upper Middle/High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: When Marianne receives a letter from her twin sister, she is languishing from boredom in Bath with her grandmother and spinster aunt. After convincing her grandmother to let her go to her sister's aid, Marianne's idea of a restful country summer helping her sister snag the handsome Lord of Edenbrooke is transformed into a thrilling adventure filled with intrigue, romance, and, yes, even a bit of twirling. With just a touch of Austen-esque charm, Julianne Donaldson creates an endearing Regency romance filled with misunderstandings, perilous rescues, and a love letter that will melt readers' hearts.

Review: Refreshing and delightful debut novel.  Great to have a book that grabs attention, gives character insight, has twists and turns, and little bit of romance to boot!!!

Don't Turn Around

Title: Don't Turn Around
Author: Michelle Gagnon
Pages:310
Language: PG13
Content: PG13
Level: High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary:  Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.

Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa's talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation called AMRF threatens his life in no uncertain terms. But what Noa and Peter don't realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who'd stop at nothing to silence her for good.

Review:  This novel has a lot of chase scenes, and street-wise Noa uses her brain and hacking skills to get away!  She is headstrong and truly independent.  The plot was interesting, with a new disease to conquer, but I didn't  have a lot of emotional connection to either of the main characters.   YA readers who want a novel with a bit more mystery and excitement would enjoy this book.  There is  a little language (no "F"s) and a few graphic images that are discussed.

Never Fall Down

Title: Never Fall Down
Author: Patricia McCormick
Pages: 224
Language: PG (sh** a lot)
Content: PG13
Level: High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: The only way to truly survive is to "never fall down." Arn learns this lesson at the age of eleven when his village in Cambodia is invaded by Khmer Rouge troops. The entire population is marched into the countryside and forced to live in labor camps. Arn finds ways to use his "smarts" and some luck to escape the worst problems. He manages to make friends, learns to play an instrument, protects others and survives against all odds. But he has plenty of struggles after the regime is conquered as he deals with his horrific memories, the guilt of many of his actions, and adjusting to a new life in America. Despite being teased and having difficulty learning English he again rises above his circumstances to become an advocate for his homeland and his people.

Review:  Tough but important subject matter, this book is a great way to learn about the Khmer Rouge.  Though there are still plenty of instances of violence, rape, and murder the worst takes place off-page or is handled deftly conveying the horrors without dwelling on them. Well-written but heartbreaking, and not for the faint of heart.

Masque of the Read Death

Title: Masque of the Red Death
Author: Bethany Griffin
Pages: 319
Language: PG
Content: PG/PG13ish
Level: High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: Everything is in ruins. A devastating plague has decimated the population, and those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles around them. So what does Araby Worth have to live for? Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery makeup . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Review: Although I found myself confused several times in the book, I enjoyed this book.  I think the author expected us to know more about the characters than he gave us, I found myself wishing for some kind of prologue to explain some of the characters and their relationships.  That said, the book was intriguing, a new twist on the dystopian genre.

The Nigh She Disappeared

 Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: April Henry
Pages: 229
Language: PG
Content: PG
Level: Middle/High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary:Gabie drives a Mini Cooper. She also works part time as a delivery girl at Pete’s Pizza. One night, Kayla—another delivery girl—goes missing. To her horror, Gabie learns that the supposed kidnapper had asked if the girl in the Mini Cooper was working that night. Gabie can’t move beyond the fact that Kayla’s fate was really meant for her, and she becomes obsessed with finding Kayla. She teams up with Drew, who also works at Pete’s. Together, they set out to prove that Kayla isn’t dead—and to find her before she is.

Review: Very interesting book.  The reader's attention is grabbed from the first page and doesn't stop.  Told through alterating characters, the reader gets just enough of a glimpse into each character to get some insight, but keep the mystery going. 

Rebel Fire

Title: Rebel Fire
Author: Andrew Lane
Pages: 335
Language: G
Content: PG (some violence)
Level: Middle/High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: Fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes knows that Amyus Crowe, his mysterious American tutor, has some dark secrets. But he didn’t expect to find John Wilkes Booth, the notorious assassin, apparently alive and well in England—and Crowe somehow mixed up in it. When no one will tell you the truth, sometimes you have to risk all to discover it for yourself. And so begins an adventure that will take Sherlock across the Atlantic, to the center of a deadly web—where a friend is in peril and a defeated army threatens to rise again.Andrew Lane’s exciting second case for the teenage Sherlock leads the young detective to America, straight into the heart of a shocking conspiracy.

Review: A great sequal to a good book. I enjoy Sherlock's character a lot!!! This book is packed full of adventure and mystery, and the guys will love it! Full of old fashioned adventure!!!!

Michael Vey, Prisoner of Cell 25

Title: Michael Vey, The Prisoner of Cell 25
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Pages: 326
Language: G
Content: PG
Level: Middle/High School
Recommendation: Must Read

Summary: My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story. To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.

Review: I was hesitant to read this new series from Richard Paul Evans, as it is quite a departure from his normal work. I was pleasantly surprised. The storyline was interesting, and it was refreshing to read a fantasy book that departs from all the rest. Great book for boys and girls alike.

Outlaw

Title: Outlaw
Author: Stephen Davies:
Pages: 286
Languge: PG
Maturity: PG
Level: Middle School, High School
Recommendation: Good Read

Summary: A high-tension, high-tech thriller with an African setting. Jake and his sister, Kas, whose father is the British ambassador to Burkina Faso, are abducted, bundled into a van, and driven into the unknown. In smartphone contact with his father, Jake learns that the kidnapper with the spider web tattoo is the remorseless outlaw Yakuuba Sor, who is connected to an international terrorist organization. But is he the real Yakuuba Sor? And is Sor really a dangerous criminal? In this fast-paced tale laced with trickery and murder, Jake and Kas discover that with the corrupt local government and British Intelligence arrayed against them, survival in the African desert may be the least of their problems. Includes an afterword.

Review: Good read. I enjoyed the plot in this book. I just wish I had read it on an e-reader to look up pronunciations and definitions of a lot of the African words used in this book. The cover may throw a lot of people off, but the book really is a good read, especially for boys.

Dead To You

Title: Dead To You
Author: Lisa McMann
Pages: 243
Language: PG13
Maturity: PG13
Level: High School
Recommendation: Optional

Summary: Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It’s a miracle…at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn’t going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he’d be able to put the pieces back together. But there’s something that’s keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable...

Review: This realistic story had me involved from the start. I enjoyed the story, and how each character came to terms with the issued they had been dealing with when Ethan was abducted and shows back up.

Girl of Fire and Thorns

Title: Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Pages: 432
Language: G
Mature Content: PG
Level: Middle/High School
Recommendation: Must Read


Summary: Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.Elisa is the chosen one.But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.Most of the chosen do.

Review: I truly enjoyed this book. The main character really has to dig deep and discover who she is and what she is made of, and learn who and what is truly important. Through perilous war times, kidnappings, and tight situations, she remains true to herself. What a GREAT heroine!!! What a GREAT page-turning book!!