City of Bones by Cassandra Clare- 485 Pages

In her spellbinding debut, Cassandra Clare throws us into the world of Shadowhunters, a race of highly skilled people who keep humanity safe by hunting and killings demons. Clary Fray joins us on the plunge into the world of Shadowhunters. Upon the discovery that she, too, is a Shadowhunter; a decade old plot unrolls, revealing things she never imagined. With the assistance of her best friend, Simon, and the devilishly attractive Shadowhunters Jace Wayland, Clary must question everything she knows to keep her and her loved ones safe. Now a series, "City of Bones" kept me at the edge of my seat and wanting more.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (192 Pages)

A book that you can't put down, "Story of a Girl" is a coming-of-age story that leaves us with the question- do we really have to live with your mistakes forever?
     Deanna was thirteen when her father caught her in the back seat of a car with Tommy Webber, her brother's seventeen year old best friend. From that point on, her reputation is destroyed, the subject of ridicule and gossip in her school. The summer before her junior year she becomes determined to change all that, sending her on a journey to change herself. This was definitely one of the best books I've read, I would recommend it to anyone who if a fan of realistic fiction.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Intentions by Deborah Heiligman (259 Pages)

Beautifully realistic, "Intentions" is a story about fallen heroes and coming to terms with the realization that your heroes are human. Fifteen year old Rachel has worshiped the ground her rabbi has walked on for as long as she can remember, but when she finds out a dark secret about him it completely shatters his perfect image. Reeling from that, she must learn to come to terms with herself, her surroundings, and the betrayal she feels. The character development could have been better, but I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the topic.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Beyond Courage by Doreen Rappaport (204 Pages)

Telling the heroic stories of countless Jewish people during World War II, "Beyond Courage" is both chilling inspiring. Ranging from brothers who lead Jewish people into the woods where they preserve and survive being hunted by Nazi's, or a small boy who risked his life to pass information onto a group of rebels, this book is a testament to those who is the face of danger, refused to be oppressed and give in. If you enjoy history then you'll love this book; I could not put it down.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Fracture by Megan Miranda (262 pages)

Delaney Maxwell is an all-around normal girl with a normal life, normal hair, normal body, and a normal brain; until she falls through the ice and plunges into an arctic environment. It took 11 minutes for her best friend, Decker, to pull her out. Being engulfed in freezing water, death is certain to occur in 10 minutes, so she should have been dead. Well, she was; her heart wasn’t beating, her skin was icy blue, and she wasn’t breathing. After a little while, she wakes up from a coma in the hospital and everybody says it’s a miracle. Maybe it is a miracle, but Delaney knew better. After seeing cat scans showing the brain damage she has, but not having any symptoms, strange things start happening. She begins to have a magnetic pull to anybody who will die within the next 24 hours. And then, against all odds she begins to be drawn to a strange boy, who has the same problem she has. This book is thrilling and adventurous with a twist of science-fiction and could make you question science itself.

Reviewed by Jazmin Straffin

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcin and Margaret Stohl, 563 Pages

In this half romantic thriller, half dark fantasy, you are thrown into the story of star-crossed lovers Ethan Wate and Lena Duchannes. Lena is new to town, the niece of the local shut-in. Immediately Ethan feels a strong connections to her, and as the two get closer and closer, it becomes evident that Lena is not an ordinary girl. As the two descend further and further into the supernatural troubles of the Duchannes family, Ethan becomes willing to sacrifice everything, even his life, to be with her. I couldn’t put this book down, and savored every page up until the ending. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf (370 pages)

School is supposed to be a safe place. Being surrounded by friends and caring adults, you would assume it’s the safest environment to be in. But anything can happen, and for Megan, that “anything” is a gunman entering her daughter’s school and holding an entire classroom of kid’s hostage. Thankfully, Megan’s 12-year-old daughter was at her dad’s; far away from the chaos unfolding at her elementary school. Although Megan was happy about her child not being involved, plenty of other kids where stuck in that building, with no way out, not to mention all of those worried-sick parents who would do just about anything to get into that building. This book is suspenseful and can definitely put a tear on your face. 

By Jazmin Straffin

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (292 pages)

Tiger Lily had always been taught to fear Peter and the lost boys. All of Neverland had stories about Pan and the men he’s killed. But when Peter leaves a mysterious note on her pillow one night, her curiosity overpowers any doubt. An unwanted engagement and a disapproving tribe gives her even more reason to stray from her own village and strengthen her strange bond with the lost boys. They introduce her to a life of childlike fun and adventure. To Peter and Tiger Lily, it feels like forever until they are suddenly entangled in a web of betrayal, broken promises, and life-threatening battles. Though Peter has grown large in her heart, she realizes she must make a choice. This, a mesmerizing tale of Neverland before Wendy, fills in some of the gaps of Peter Pan’s story. It gives insight into the minds of the boys and girls who never grew up.

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin (259 pages)

Matthew’s life was never all that simple. In fact, every day of his life was a constant struggle to keep him and his sisters safe from his abusive and irresponsible mother, Nikki. One day, he and his sister Callie went to a local Cumberland Farms and saw a man defending a little boy who had been falsely accused of stealing. Instantly, he thinks that this is the guy who can save him and his sisters from his wretched mother. Before he gets a chance to contact the guy (Murdoch) and ask for help, his mom approaches Murdoch and they start dating. Everything begins to get better for a little while. Matthew and his sisters were hardly getting beatings, they were spending time with Murdoch, and it almost starts to become a family. But after a bad break-up, all hell breaks loose. I would highly recommend this book to pretty much everybody. It’s a good story of family, safety, and old-school love.

Reviewed by Jazmin Straffin

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk (247 pages)

Welcome to Hell, it’s really not as bad as it sounds, and you’ll never guess who’s here. If you guessed Hitler or anyone who’s ever thought about practicing law, you are correct. If you guessed Charles Darwin, Judy Garland, or Jackie Kennedy Onassis, you are also correct. After overdosing on a generous amount of marijuana, 13-year-old Madison Spencer finds herself damned for eternity. With her new friends in tow, a blue-haired punk, a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, a cocky football star, and a counterfeit fashionista, the dead breakfast club makes their way around the rotting geography of Hell. Among the flames and sickening stench, little Maddie manages to seduce a giant demon, campaign for the underworld, and attempt to quit that awful habit of hoping. With Chuck Palahniuk’s graphic details and unpredictable plotline, Hell has never sounded so fascinating. Although it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, I am positive anyone who’s enjoyed other books by this author will love it too.

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott- 170 Pages

                

               A chilling thriller not for the faint of heart, “Living Dead Girl” throws us into the life of Alice, a girl who was kidnapped by a man, Ray, who abuses her more than most would think imaginable.

                After five years of torture, Alice finally can see a way out of Ray’s clutches, but will she be able to have the courage? Scott holds a grip on you much like the hold Ray has on Alice, and does not let go until the climactic ending.

               Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Phoenix: A Brother's Life by J.D. Dolan (192 pages)

J.D. Dolan gives us a glimpse into the life of the Dolan family in this incredible memoir of his older brother, John. John Dolan is the second of five children. With a quiet intelligence and a strong presence, he became a role model throughout J.D’s life. He never failed to fuel his younger brother’s childlike curiosity, teaching him how to shoot a BB gun or ride through the desert dunes on his loyal Honda 55 motorcycle.  J.D strived to follow in John’s heroic footsteps even more so than his own father’s. Unfortunately, there was a history of stubborn silence that runs in the family. Now both well past their 20s, the two brothers’ refusal to speak to each other has been ongoing for several years, over an issue J.D. can’t even remember. After a terrible accident leaves John in the hospital with severe burns all over his body, his silence frustrates J.D. more than ever. This is a heartfelt biography that will pull you in from the first page. John’s story will teach readers that the ties between family members are stronger than anger.

 

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (183 Pages)

             

   

Brought together by a strange twist of faith, Nick and Norah must pose as boyfriend and girlfriend in order to trick Nick’s ex-girlfriend and Norah’s friend Tris. Their night quickly turns into a great adventure through the streets of New York, filled with a raunchy version of the “Sound of Music”, punk rock shows, and running in the rain. “Nick and Norah’s” is a love story that will make you laugh and leave you with a feeling of satisfaction once you end.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (372 Pages)

In a heart-stopping thriller, “The Name of Star” follows Rory Deveaux, a Louisiana teenager making the move to a boarding school in London, England. The day Rory arrives to her new home, a horrific murder occurs, executed nearly the exact way Jack the Ripper’s first murder was. Soon, more murders happen, mimicking the Ripper to the exact day and hour. London is in a panic, and Rory is the only person who has seen the man who is believed to be the Killer.

                Thrown into something she doesn't quite understand, Rory must race against the clock to help stop the killer before she becomes the next victim.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick (391 pgs)

Nora Grey’s life was never really all that normal. Her dad died from homicide, her mom was almost never home, and there was something, or someone, watching her. She assumed that it was just her dad watching over her. Boy was she wrong. Then, she meets Patch. He seems kind of rough around the edges, the typical bad-boy type. Nora ends up being stuck with Patch to be his lab partner in Biology, and that’s when things start to get weird. He starts watching her, following her, and knowing what she’s doing. She’s freaked out at first, but once she finds out his real intentions, her safety relies on Patch . This series is suspenseful, action-based, and has a nice twist of forbidden love. Once you begin to read the first book, you become attached to Nora’s attitude, Patch’s bad-boy image, and so much more.


Reviewed by Jazmin Straffin

Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (300 pages)

It feels like just yesterday Carter was enjoying the summer of eighth grade, riding bikes and swimming in the Merrian Pool with EJ. But before he knows it, Carter is catapulted into a world of sex, lies, and hallway fights. Even with advice coming at him from all directions, his big mouth still manages to get him into some humiliating situations. Carter will charm (and stutter) his way through awkward moments, vicious fights, and teenage victories. And maybe between the fog of his ADD clouded mind and the tender bruises of organized sports, even Carter will learn something about life. It’s hard to find books that give a truthful perspective of a high school experience, but I think Brent Crawford told it well. This is a hilarious view into the meaningful and sometimes disturbing thoughts of an average high school boy.

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan (211 pages)

A quick-paced, heartbreaking, yet amusing read, “The Lover’s Dictionary” tells the story through the eyes of an anonymous person. He uses words to describe his relationship, giving each word a special definition, based on his experience, making the book an actual dictionary, telling the story of the twists and turns of his relationship.

This is a feel-good book, a love story that gives you insight into a perfect relationship, while at the same time telling the very realistic story of a relationship that may or may not have fallen apart. “The Lover’s Dictionary” will leave you very satisfied in the end, so much that you’ll want to start all over again.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

"Perfect" by Natasha Friend (172 pages)

“But maybe underneath all that perfect it’s not so great for them. You can’t always tell just from looking,” said pretty, perfect Ashley Barnum one night in Group. Coming to Body Image Therapy Group was now Isabelle Lee’s punishment ever since her sister found her with her face in the toilet and her fingers down her throat. With a dead father, a depressed mother and her snitching little sister, it seemed like group therapy was the last thing Isabelle wanted to deal with right now. She was sick of pretending that everything was “fine.” This is the kind of story that gives people hope and I think anyone who reads this will be rooting for Isabelle all the way to the end.  The author, Natasha Friend, did a great job of capturing the rather painful thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl and teaching us readers that sometimes the toughest decisions are the ones that change things for the better.

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Former child prodigy Colin Singleton has been dumped by nineteen girls, all of them named Katherine. After Katherine XIX left him aching in misery on his bedroom floor, his carefree friend, Hassan Harbish, put the only logical plan he could think of into action: road trip. From Indianapolis, Indiana to Gutshot, Tennessee in an air-condition-less car known as “Satan’s Hearse,” Colin decides his last hope to really matter is to finish his theorem. The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability that will allow him to mathematically predict the outcome of any potential relationship. With the help of a motherly but powerful woman, Hollis, and her intriguing daughter, Lindsey, maybe Colin really will make some discoveries about the future. This was another excellent book from John Green with honest and relatable characters and an unpredictable series of events. I think anyone who enjoys any kind of realistic fiction books will like An Abundance of Katherines as much as I did.

Review by Madeline Mayor

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Expert novelist John Green comes back brighter than ever with The Fault in Our Stars, bringing us into the life of Hazel, a sixteen year old girl with thyroid cancer. Although she is terminal, she has been somewhat of a medical miracle with a tumor-shrinking drug she was put on. Living with this disease has never been easy for her. It’s filled with depressing moments and bursts of anxiety, and she’s come to the conclusion that the Cancer Support Group her mother sends her to is the last straw.

That is, until Augustus Waters comes into the picture. Augustus is a cancer survivor, kind, beautiful, and smart. He sweeps Hazel off of her feet and shows her a world she’s never known, stuffed to the brim with life lessons, poetry, and champagne. The Fault in Our Stars will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and when you turn the last page you’ll want to reread it, taking in every last detail.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Shine By Lauren Myracle

“Shine” is an intense novel by Lauren Myracle which is set in a very small, backwoods town in the south. After her former best friend falls victim to a hate crime where he is beaten half to death and thrust into a coma, Cat faces her own fears and sets off to find the perpetrator. When she finds herself in the middle of a much larger story full of drugs, sex, lies, and hate, Cat ends up being a target for next victim. In this book Cat learns that everything and everyone she thought she knew is not as they seem. This novel is incredibly gripping and a great suspense. I loved every second of “Shine,” it was a story of hate, bravery, and self-discovery. I recommend this book to anyone who can get their hands on it.

Reveiwed By Cheyenne Newberry

Awake at Dawn By C.C. Hunter

“Awake at Dawn” is the second novel in C.C Hunter’s “Shadow Falls” series. The “Shadow Falls” series bases itself around Kylie Galen, a girl who once thought she was just a normal girl who happened to see ghosts. When she arrives at the Shadow Falls summer camp, she soon learns otherwise. In book one, “Born at Midnight”, Kylie finds out she has supernatural talents but is given no indication to what she is. Her first few weeks are not easy at the camp. Kylie constantly plays peer mediator to her cabin roommates, finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, and has to deal with her ghosts  and the mysterious dead animals showing up. “Awake at Dawn” picks up where Kylie left off in the first book; stuck in a love triangle and still without a clue of what she is. In “Awake at Dawn” Kylie’s powers intensify as do her problems. With a new ghost following her, Kylie must save a loved one from death, sort out her feelings, and figure out what she is. I love the “Shadow Falls” series. C.C Hunter has created a relatable character with a sense of humor that had me laughing every page. If you’re a fan of the paranormal genre this book has a little of everything; from vampires to fairies, were-wolfs, and shape shifters. Great Read!  -Reveiwed By Cheyenne Newberry

Beneath the Meth Moon By Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson’s “Beneath the Meth Moon” is written from the perspective of 15-year-old recovering meth addict, Laurel Daneau. In this gripping novel Laurel is writing an elegy to her past in an attempt to gain control of her life again. I devoured every word in “Beneath the Meth Moon.”The novel is a quick read of only about 200 pages and sucks you in from the very first. I believe that Woodson has created a book that appeals to readers of all kinds; I especially recommend this book to those who are fans of Ellen Hopkins’ books.

Reveiwed by Cheyenne Newberry

The Last Exit to Normal by Michael Harmon

Ben Campbell was fourteen when his father announced he was gay. Ben’s mother left and Ben spiraled down a dark path of drugs and anarchy. Three years later Ben runs into trouble again which pushes his dad to the breaking point. His dad decides that the only way to keep Ben out of trouble is to get him away from the city. Next thing Ben knows he’s packing his bags to go live with his “momdad’s” mother in rural Montana. If being a skater-punk with two dads in back country Montana wasn’t bad enough, Ben soon discovers how even little towns can hold very dark secrets. It is a very deep and entertaining book that brings up several contentious issues. For example, what it’s like to have a parent come out and how it can completely change a family. The book definitely does a great job illustrating how a mixed up punk from the city deals with and integrates into a rural society.

Reviewed by David Downes

The Knife and the Butterfly by Ashley Hope Perez

Martin Arevalo, or Azael as his gang calls him, is a Salvadoran immigrant's son living in the projects of Houston. He has made a name for himself in the local sect of the infamous MS-13. With his knack for graffiti and his ability to be a strong ally in battle he fits in well with the gang and represents it with pride. However, one day he wakes up in a cot behind bars. To make matters worse, no matter how hard he tries he can't remember how he got there and no one is willing to give him a straight answer. The last things he can recall are vague images from a gang fight in the park. All he knows about his case is that it has something to do with the fight and this girl the prison keeps making him observe while her case gets figured out. Inspired by true events, Azael gives you a fascinating look into the real hardships and consequences of living on the street today.

Reviewed by David Downes

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

     Rick Yancey's sequel to The Monstrumologist once again follows the exploits of Doctor Pellinore Warthrop and his "indispensable" assistant Will Henry. This time however the monster they face based on legend instead of science. Will Henry and his master are brought to the edge of sanity and back making them question what is myth, and what is reality. The Curse of the Wendigo brings in a whole new set of characters, each with their own backstories, and takes a deeper look into the human side of Doctor Warthrop. Rick Yancey once again delivers a captivating read that ties mystery, action and morality into one neat package.

Reviewed by David Downes

“What Happened to Cass McBride?” is a chilling novel by Gail Giles. Giles created an intense thriller that kept my full attention. In alternating views of the kidnapper, the kidnapped (Cass McBride), and the detective, this book is a quick read and good for all types of readers with its short chapters and alternating views of female and male. “What Happened to Cass McBride?” is about popular girl, Cass McBride who only dates popular boys. When a boy named David Kirby kills himself after being turned down by Cass, David’s brother, Kyle, blames Cass for David’s suicide. Kyle seeks revenge in way that will make Cass hurt as bad as David did. I was sucked right into this book; it is so raw yet so real, it left me thinking about it for days.

Reviewed by Cheyenne Newberry

Melissa Marr’s “Faerytales and Nightmares” is full of short stories of things that go bump in the night and follow-ups on characters from Marr’s “Wicked Lovely” series about the lives and politics of faeries living amongst humans. I thoroughly enjoyed reading what the characters I loved from “Wicked Lovely” were doing after the last book in the series “Darkest Mercy.” The mini tales of nightmares and fairytales were nice little breaks in between the short stories. If you love to read fantasy books I highly recommend this one and others by author Melissa Marr, though I do suggest you read the “Wicked Lovely” series first or else you may not understand some things in the “Wicked Lovely” short stories.


Reviewed by Cheyenne Newberry

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls is a compelling and deep story centered around a young boy, Conor, and his mother’s fight against cancer. Conor’s mother is not accepting her treatments very well and Conor will very soon have to come to terms with a very likely outcome. Then one night Conor is visited by a monster, a monster that means not to harm Conor, but to help him. The story is inspired by an author who was not able to write the book herself which makes it that much more captivating and powerful. The book is very imaginative and paired with the ominous and intense illustrations it feels like reading during story-time again.

Reviewed by David Downes

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

Victor Mancini is a sex addicted med-school dropout who pays for his mother’s deteriorating condition by working at a colonial theme park and with money that he scams other people to give him. His risky scam includes intentionally choking on food at restaurants so that someone will save him and then, feeling responsible for his life, start sending him money. He justifies it by making those people feel better about themselves by giving them a sense of heroism. He also plays savior at the hospital his mother stays at, however he doesn’t use his medical training to do it, for this is a different kind of hospital. This hospital takes care of the elderly who have lost their minds. Thinking he is the person who ruined their lives, they unload their burdens by blaming him to give closure to their problems. Chuck Palahniuk shows his brilliance, once again, at orchestrating an edgy novel with multiple subplots that all culminate into a mind-bending, psychological thriller based on cognitive reality.

Reviewed by David Downes

In Kelly Keaton’s Sequel to “Darkness Becomes Her”, “A Beautiful Evil” follows up on Ari Selkirk’s journey to overcome the curse that was put on
her family so long ago by The Greek Goddess Athena. While trying to keep her powers under control, Ari travels to Mt. Olympus where she is set on
destroying Athena, but In order to beat Athena, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s trying to keep inside: The power of Medusa.

Review By Cheyenne Newberry

The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark

Jay Baker is having a very complex and interesting freshman year. His parents are finally having a “trial separation” after months of a noticeably failing marriage. He is caught between feelings for his best friend since grade school, Cameo, and his new dream girl, Caroline. On top of that he is constantly in trouble at school because of his former friend who is adamant on finding new ways to express his belief about Jay’s sexuality and Jay is fed up with it. It’s a great novel with many pop-culture references and many fun made-up words. Jay is a very relatable teen surrounded by a diverse slew of characters that help remind you that your life may not be too different from others’.

Reviewed by David Downes

Water for Elephants

Jacob Jankowski is asked to step out of class. With only a few weeks until his final exams at Cornell University, after which he will graduate with the class of 1931 and join his father’s veterinary practice, he is nervously wondering what he might have done wrong, even fearing expulsion. However, the true reason he is standing before Dean Wilkins is far worse. Both of his parents were killed in a car accident.

After burying his parents, Jacob finds out the bank has taken ownership of his parent’s home. He returns to Cornell for his exams, but does not complete them. Instead, with no place to go and not a penny to his name, Jacob runs away.

Unwittingly altering his life forever, Jacob, hungry and with feet covered in blisters, jumps aboard a passing train, having no idea that it is, in fact, the train of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a circus. Once he meets Uncle Al, the boss, Jacob becomes the circus’ veterinarian, caring for all of the animals, including lions, tigers, giraffes, and the horses belonging to the beautiful Marlena, a star performer. Immediately enamored, Jacob soon finds out he must be very careful- Marlena is the wife of August, the equestrian director with a violent reputation.

Only a few months later, Jacob stands shocked and terrified in the menagerie tent, his eyes desperately seeking out Marlena, but equally fearful they might land upon August, disgruntled and dangerous. All the animals are loose- tigers chasing people, zebras and giraffes stampeding in fear.

Culminating in the terrifying fall of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth and told from the perspective of a ninety-three year old Jacob, living in a nursing home after
his wife precedes him in passing and none of his five children offer to have him move in with their families, this novel written by Sara Gruen is a remarkable
must-read.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Catching Fire

Catching Fire, written by Suzanne Collins, the second installment of the Hunger Games series, picks up where we last left Katniss and Peeta- their return to District 12. Although she is now living comfortably in her new home in her district's Victor's Village, she and Peeta will soon embark on the Victory Tour, visiting the districts of each of the fallen tributes from the 74th Hunger Games, all of which will be expected to meet these two victors with admiration and applause, another cruel display of the Capitol's power and control. However, a startling and threatening visit from President Snow leaves Katniss desperate. She must prove that she and Peeta are truly in love or else the consequences for themselves and all the people they care about will be disastorous. As a result of her fateful decision in the arena, taking out those nightlock berries, a fire has started among the other districts, a fire that reeks of potential rebellion, one that Katniss may not be able to stop.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

The Carbon Diaries

The Carbon Diaries, a two-book series written by Saci Lloyd, begins in the year 2015. Rising temperatures and environmental disasters cause the UK to make a drastic change- carbon rationing. In an effort to lower carbon emissions, each citizen is given a carbon card and is limited to 200 points per month. This limits how much fuel and electricity you can use and has far reaching effects on everyday lives. This pre-apocolyptic fiction novel, told through the diary of Laura Brown, a london teenager, is a scary possibility of what the future might hold.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

William Henry just passed away in a retirement home. No one knew his age, he had no friends or relatives, and they couldn’t even tell if Will Henry was his real name. The only thing he left behind was his diary. However the diary seems more like a work of fiction. It claims that Will was born in 1876, over 120 years before his death. Also the stories themselves do not seem real. They depict a young Will Henry who is an orphan in service to an eccentric doctor. The doctor took in Will after his parents died and is now exposing Will to the world that very few wish to see, the world full of monsters. Like his father before him Will learned the study of monstrumology becoming “indispensable” to the doctor. After a year of servitude, a knock on the back door pushes Will away from endless nights of dissecting deformed carcasses and sends him on the hunt for real living beasts. The hunt leads them to multiple people with a horror story to tell, and they make a few horror stories of their own. It’s a book full of interesting characters and side stories that leave you guessing until the very end.

Reviewed by David Downes

Everybody Sees The Ants by A.S. King

Reviewed by David Downes

Imaginary Girls

Imaginary Girls, a novel by Ren Suma, is a story wrapped in mystery and suspense. Chloe, a fourteen year old, lives with her older sister Ruby, a girl whose fiercely independent attitude and attraction no one in their small town seems able to resist. These sisters have an incredibly close bond, but when a typical summer night swimming with friends in the nearby reservoir goes terribly wrong, Chloe is sent away. When Chloe finally returns home, she senses a dark secret Ruby is determined to keep hidden, but how far is Chloe willing to go to find out the truth?

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

The book that made the movie that inspired a cult following. Follow the life of an insomniac whose illness has more to it than he ever imagined. The book gives a much more in depth look at what really happened to turn a successful businessman into a beat-up, hardened terrorist leader. Learn how he really meets Tyler Durden. Discover the truth as to why Marla Singer was such a major role in the protagonist’s path of destruction. Find out the real way Tyler was killed. The book is extremely well written and easy to read, especially if you’ve already seen the movie. It’s exciting, full of action and a deep psychological read. “If I could wake up in a different place, at a different time, could I wake up as a different person?” (33). If you have never read this before or seen the movie definitely start with the book. There is a lot that the movie doesn’t explain as well but both should come with the label: “WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME,” you could get into trouble.

Reviewed by David Downes

World War Z by Max Brooks

“World War Z” is set ten years after the events of a zombie outbreak. The world is a much different place as people still shiver at the memory. The story of the war is told through the eyes of the people who lived through the war. The interviewees range from children who lived during the war to military soldiers to the vice president at the time. You get an in depth look at the politics that went on pre-war, the mass hysteria during the outbreak, what people did to survive and how people dealt with the aftermath. Any fan of anything zombie related would love this read. You get a very realistic idea of how the entire world (not just America) would deal with an outbreak like this and get to experience how persons of different cultures would react. The events are so vivid and detailed it makes you wonder whether or not it is really a work of fiction.

Reviewed by David Downes

Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke up, a novel by Daniel Handler, shows exactly why hindsight is 20/20. Min, short for Minerva, our funny, intelligent narrator, is a junior in highschool. During her relationship with Ed Slaterton , a star basketball player and popular senior at her school, Min, who many people call "arty" or "different," can't help but keep a collection of "treasures" from their relationship in a box. Now, after Ed and Min are through, she decides to finally go through her box. Writing to Ed about each item, choosing to give him these treasures and finally put their relationship behind her, Min shares with us their story and the real reason why, in the end, they broke up.

A fresh, colorful novel filled with illustrations by Maira Kalman, Why We Broke Up is great for readers looking to change things up.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Blink & Caution

Blink & Caution, a novel written by Tim Wyyne-Jones, is a story jam-packed with suspense. The novel's main character, a teenage boy known as Blink, finds himself in a classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Living on the streets, Blink's best technique when it comes to getting breakfast is discreetly taking leftovers from outside hotel rooms, eating the remnants of someone else's meal. Today, however, Blink stumbles upon a mysterious crime. Four suspicous men leave room 1616 and toss the room key aside on their way out. By entering the trashed hotel room and taking over five hundred dollars and a Blackberry left inside, Blink involves himself, a street punk and a thief, in a web of intrigue he couldn't possibly imagine. Very soon, a seemingly chance meeting with Caution, another teen running from a past she'd rather forget, will change everything for Blink.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Breaking Night

Breaking Night, a memoir by Liz Murray, tells the harrowing story of Liz's own "journey from homeless to Harvard." Growing up, there are many nights Liz and her older sister, Lisa go to bed hungry in their Bronx apartment after their parents' money goes to drugs instead of food. By the time she reaches high school, Liz has already been placed in a group home once because she will not attend school. Never wanting to go back, Liz decides to leave home for good, sleeping on the subway or in hallways when she is not staying with friends. After her mother loses her battle with AID's, Liz realizes she needs an education. Hoping to change her life for the better, Liz applies and is accepted to an alternative high school where she completes four years of high school credits in only two years, while homeless. Well on her way to success, Liz isn't finished yet. Determined to reach her goals, she applies to Harvard and for a New York Times scholarship. An incredible true story, Liz Murray's childhood and teen years are quite a rollercoaster ride. I highly recommend this book to anyone in need of some inspiration.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Stolen
By Lucy Christopher
Gemma didn’t want to go on another trip, in another airport, to another city that wasn’t home in Great Britain. A simple escape to get coffee and get rid of her parent’s expecting gaze turned into the worst decision of her life. Coffee with a handsome stranger in an unfamiliar surrounding led Gemma to her kidnapping.
When Ty steals Gemma from the airport and takes her to the Australian outback, Gemma expects the worse; solitude, rape, murder. What she gets in a surprising relationship with a man she is supposed to hate. Through loneliness and curiosity, Gemma tries to overcome her fear and learn about her kidnapper, so she can try to escape. But what if she doesn’t want to anymore?
Follow Gemma through a suspenseful, heartbreaking journey to a barren wasteland she learns to call home, with someone she wishes were a monster. Though it is wrong and scary, you and Gemma will become close to Ty and his sandy paradise, until the inevitable happens. You will be emotional fixated to Stolen so you feel like you’re getting kidnapped too.

Reviewed By Sydney Bernier

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely
By Melissa Marr
Aisilinn has three rules when it comes to faeries. Don’t stare at invisible ones. Don’t speak to them. And don’t attract their attention. Her gram has warned her since she could understand her Sight of invisible faeries that they are dangerous creatures not to be messed with. She has given them their space and they have ignored her, until now.
Aisilinn begins to notice faeries following her, even to her safe-haven at her best friend Seth’s house. When one named Keenan approaches in a glamour, or human disguise, and tries to woo Aisilinn, she knows this can’t be just a random faery seduction. Another faery, Donia, and her faery dog, Sasha, take interest in her as well, trailing her everywhere. They want her for something and won’t stop until they get it.
Quickly Aisilinn realizes that the rules she has played by all her life no longer apply and won’t keep her safe. Keenan and Donia know the new rules and will use them against Asilinn to achieve their opposing goals. Seth works with Aisilinn to try to keep her safe and away from the Summer King’s temptations, but mortal love can only go so far. This novel about folk lore faeries and love twists the reader’s heart and can’t be put down.
Reviewed by Sydney Bernier

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Impossible
By Nancy Werlin
There are three tasks that the daughters of Fenella must complete in order to break their curse: make a sweater without seams or needlework; plow an acre of land between salt water and sea strand with a goat’s horn; and sow the land with one grain of corn. Each generation has failed, and now it is Lucy’s turn to try, or succumb to the madness that has taken her family’s minds.
Lucy Scarborough has everything going for her, despite a crazy mother who abandoned her the day she was born. Her best friend Zach is coming back from college, she has a prom date and possible boyfriend, and loving foster parents. But everything changes when she finds herself pregnant at seventeen and realizes she must do the impossible tasks given to her to save not only herself, but her child from eternal misery.
Impossible by Nancy Werlin is a beautiful novel that shows how strong love and family can be, even when being confronted by an ancient foe. Lucy, Zach and her step-parents try to prevent the inevitable to save the next generations of Scarboroughs from going insane and becoming a slave to evil.

Reviewed by Sydney Bernier

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Darkness Becomes Her
By Kelly Keaton

Ari Selkirk has always been different. She survived the hurricane in New Orleans as a child, has moved between foster families, and has silvery-white hair and teal eyes. Ari finally fits into a foster family that really cares for her, but can’t shake the feeling something is wrong, so she begins to unravel secrets to her past.

Ari travels to a mental hospital in Louisiana to collect her mothers’ personal belongings. She finds a message from her dead mother warning her to run away and never look back; never figure out who she really is. Ari knows all the clues in this box are pointing to their old home in New Orleans, and even further, to the desolate, abandoned area beyond called the Rim. Upon her arrival there Ari meets many strange characters that make her realize all the stories and rumors about the Rim are true.

Ancient and powerful families, curses, and even Greek gods are threatening Ari in this gripping novel where voodoo and mythology collide. As Ari and her new friends from the Rim work to figure out her curse, you will become entranced in the beauty of the deep south and fall in love with Ari’s harsh sarcasm and bravery. But just how far will friendship and vengeance take Ari when a force of nature is trying to cut her down and win her power?
Reviewed by Sydney Bernier