Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein - 346 Pages

In a historic novel that perfectly depicts the extreme measures that humans will go to in order to survive, Elizabeth Wein delivers an extremely heart-wrenching and inspiring account of life during World War II in a concentration camp. When pilot Rose Justice is captured by the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force, she is sent to Ravensbruck, the treacherous women's camp. Accustomed to the easy American lifestyle, Rose faces the near impossible, doing whatever she can to keep herself alive. While Rose is in the camp she meets a remarkable group of women: a jailed French novelist who is everyone's mother figure, a young Polish girl who was the victim of the Nazi medical experiments, and a headstrong Russian Air Fighter. Along with her fellow prisoners who become like her family, Rose attempts to endure the hardships she faces, and hopes she can survive through the winter. This novel perfectly captured the perseverance of humanity and the amazing bonds that can be formed even during the worst times. As a history enthusiast, I would recommend this novel to anyone hoping to get a better understanding of World War Two and life in concentration camps.

To see if this title is available, click here.

All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry - 274 Pages

Growing up in the extremely isolated town of Roswell Station, Judith thought no harm would ever befall her. All of that changes, however, when she disappears without a trace. She returns two years later, but she is horrible mutilated: someone has cut out her tongue. Shunned by her peers, Judith spends most of her time locked in her house with the secrets of her captivity. When Roswell Station is attacked, Judith may have to reveal the secrets she has in order to save both the one she loves and Roswell Station. This novel is based in the early 1800's, and Julie Berry writes these characters in a way that is surprisingly easy to relate to. I read this book int he course of two days and could not put it down. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you with a very satisfying ending.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

To see if this title is available, click here. 

My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt - 241 Pages

This flawless book is written in verse, creating the hauntingly beautiful voice of Angel, a sixteen year old girl who has been pulled into a sex trafficking circle by her abusive boyfriend, Call. Struggling with both an addiction to drugs and to Call, Angel has almost lost sight of who she is when she's forced into a prostitution ring in Vancouver's East Side. Suddenly, Angel's friends begin to go missing, and when Angel realizes how little people care about girls like her, she begins to want to leave the twisted world she's stuck in, but it too afraid to. Not until Call brings an eleven year old girl named Mellie home and instructs Angel to "teach her the ropes", Angel has never taken control of her life. Now she has to, before it's too late for both Mellie and her. Written about the all too true sex trafficking and murders that go on in Vancouver's East Side, Martine Leavitt's work will pull at your heartstrings and raise your awareness. I recommend this book to anyone looking to read something realistic, but would not advice people who are sensitive to graphic content to read this.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson - 226 pages

After her mother disappears, Ricki is staying with her father, who has the unorthodox life of a bounty hunter. Unhappy and unwilling to be travelling all over the country tracking escaped parolees, Ricki's life becomes even stranger when Ian Burnham, the latest parolee her father is tracking, crashes into her life. Ignoring her father's many warnings that this dark-eyed stud is a dangerous criminal, Ricki finds herself entangled with Ian and all the problems he comes with. Ricki, however, believes she's entirely in control of Ian and the situation, but will she find out how wrong she is before it's too late? This book wasn't a particularly challenging read, but I found it extremely entertaining and a perfect novel about both relationships with your parents and incorrectly judging people. This is a great book for anyone looking for an easy read!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Hold Still by Nina LaCour - 229 Pages

When people lose a loved one, the pain is something that is nearly impossible to capture, however, in Nina LaCour's "Hold Still", the emotions are perfectly conveyed. Wherever Caitlin went in life, her best friend Ingrid followed her. But when Ingrid unexpectedly takes her own life, Caitlin's entire world shatters. As Caitlin begins her life without Ingrid, she discovers the journal her best friend left behind, written for her. While Caitlin sifts through the final days of Ingrid's life, she learns to put her own back together and become whole again. Nina LaCour begins this novel by breaking your heart, and every page you turn slowly puts it back together. This book really spoke to me and left me content with the ending. 

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

After by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (354 Pages)

When most people think of the words "dystopia" and "apocalypse", the thing that most often comes to mind is zombies, right? In "After", a multitude of different scenarios are presented, each as chilling and enthralling as the next. The special thing about these stories, however, is that they capture what happens AFTER the apocalypse comes about, and how humanity is coping with it. Some people are flourishing, while at times others are suffering. Even though these stories are extreme fiction, they are an extremely insightful look into how human beings feel and act when they are faced with the worst. These stories were really entertaining and I would especially recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Barry Lyga's heartstopping debut novel "I Hunt Killers" will take hold of you and refuse to let go even after the book is finished. Jazz Dent wants to be a normal teenager but it's difficult when you're the son of Billy Dent, the world's most notorious serial killer. From the time Jazz was born he was exposed to the horrors that his father committed, and once his father was finally apprehended Jazz was free of his father. The trouble is, now that Jazz is separated from his father, bodies are piling up again. People are being murdered in Jazz's hometown again, and the crimes resemble his father's motifs. Can Jazz stop the killings before it's too late? This book was very entertaining and kept me on my feet until the last possible second. I highly recommend!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Winger" by Andrew Smith (439 pages)

Ryan Dean starts off his junior year in O-Hall at Pine Mountain, a boarding school for rich kids. O-Hall is the dormitory saved for the delinquents of Pine Mountain, a punishment dorm. As a 14 year old “skinny-b*tch-*ss”, Ryan Dean can’t help but feel a little out of place. Rooming with one of the biggest jerks in the school, a senior named Chas, doesn’t help his situation too much. The story revolves around Ryan Dean as he tries his best to deal with the loss of friends, becoming close friends with a gay guy (while trying to convince everyone he is also not gay), his rugby team, unrequited love, hormones, and many other unexpected changes. He deals with his stress in the best way possible- with humor. This book was a breath of fresh air; it was definitely one of the funniest books I have read in a long, long time.  I fell in love with all the characters, even the jerk named Chas.  I cannot stress enough how funny this book was! I found myself several times laughing really hard out loud, with people around me probably thinking I was insane. It was a heart-warming, humorous, authentic story that I wish I could have been a part of longer, because even though the book is a fairly decent size, it took me a very short time to read. I recommended this book to anyone who is interested in the genres of humor, sports, LGBT, or bildungsroman ( the moral growth of a character).

Reviewed by Alexis Merrill

"What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?" by Ben Nemtin, Dave Lingwood, Duncan Penn, Jonnie Penn (224 pages)

Named after a poem by Matthew Arnold, and dedicated to a friend who took his own life at the age of 17, four friends create “The Buried Life”.  Jonnie, Dave, Duncan, and Ben realizing that life is short, compile a list of 100 things to do before they die. The list includes things from learning how to play an instrument to playing basketball with the President. With the help of MTV, they’ve been able to make many things on their list, and strangers’ lists, come true. The Book “What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?” consists of stories of how they made things on their list come true. The book also includes artistic images sent in by fans of things they would like to do, like a mother wanting to hear her autistic son tell her he loves her to getting over their fear of the dark.
It was very enjoyable to sit down and read this, it really made me think of what I would like to do before I die and how ever I could accomplish it. I recommend this book to everyone! It’s a very, very quick and stimulating read, and it’ll really inspire you to think of what you want out of this life.

Reviewed by Alexis Merrill

White Oleander by Janet Fitch - 390 Pages

In a novel that perfectly captures the perseverance of humanity, "White Oleander" follows Astrid, the daughter of a brilliant poet who is jailed for murdering man ex-lover. Upon her mother's departure to prison, Astrid is sent to a series of foster homes where she meets new families, both good and bad, who shape the way Astrid grows and influences who she becomes. This book was wonderful, beautifully written and filled with enlightening snippets about growing up. It will teach you about the difficult relationship between mothers and daughters, the value of friendship, and the power of loving oneself. It sometimes can be graphic, but if you can get past that you'll love it!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Birthmarked" by Caragh M. O'Brien (361 pages)

I must confess that I am not a person who usually would read a book of this genre,  as I am not a big fan of dystopian fiction. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, though. It was easy to get into, and after a few chapters, I found myself really caring about the main character.  The book is set in a future in which the world has been “baked dry” by the sun, making things like water and crops scarce. Society is divided  between those who live inside the wall, and those who live outside the wall.

Gaia, lives outside the wall, and like her mother, she becomes a midwife, delivering her first baby by herself at the beginning of the book. The babies Gaia births do not get to stay with their parents outside the wall, but get “advanced” into the the more privileged  society within the walls of the Enclave. When both of Gaia’s parents are arrested by the Enclave, she starts to question the authority she has been brainwashed into serving and takes saving her parents from the Enclave into her own hands.

This book is the first book of the "Birthmarked" series. You’re left wondering what will happen next. I recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian fiction, science fiction, or fantasy.

reviewed by Alexis Merrill