Cassia lives in a very strict, very regulated society. In the past, choice and option left the people in chaos, so now, there are no longer any choiceCassia lives in a very strict, very regulated society. In the past, choice and option left the people in chaos, so now, there are no longer any choices. There are only 100 songs you can hear, 100 books you can read, 100 poems left to recite. At 17 you are Matched to your future spouse, you marry, have children, and on your 80th birthday, you die.
Cassia has never had a reason to question the world she lives in until on his 80th birthday, her grandfather gives her a stanza from a poem that is not a part of the legal 100 poems people are allowed to read. Confused by this small piece of contraband, Cassia begins to wonder about her grandfather, and then about her society. Only the night before she had “accidentally” been Matched to two boys — one her best friend, and the other a distant neighbor. She has been assured that the distant neighbor has been a mistake. For various reasons the boy isn’t even eligible to be Matched. But as Cassia begins to know both of her Matches better and begins to look at what her society may be keeping from her, Cassia realizes that the state may not be as infallible or as ideal as it may seem.
This book is a fairly complex dystopia. Unlike other teen dystopias like The Hunger Games, in the beginning the society does indeed appear to function, and function well. People are generally happy — many without resorting to the use of a special pill. The Matching system works. Because it’s a kind of eHarmony/genetic test gone mad, it really does find the best possible candidate for each person. It’s only when Cassia goes beyond the surface that she realizes that perhaps her world is not a utopia but something else. This book makes it great for discussions, especially for bookclubs. I also think that many teen girls will enjoy and appreciate the love triangle that forms around Cassia. Who wouldn’t want two perfect boys vying for her heart?
We would recommend this book for ages 13 & up. We don’t remember any sex, but these are teens so they do get “up to no good” so to speak....more
When the earth’s climate changes and the seas rise, people have to explore new options for survival, like settling and farming at the bottom of the seWhen the earth’s climate changes and the seas rise, people have to explore new options for survival, like settling and farming at the bottom of the sea. Ty was the first human baby born to the settlers down there, and now he’s about to turn 16 , old enough to claim his own farm. But with a vand of outlaws growing more and more bold and a pushy girl from the surface making him break the rules, nothing is certain — especially in light of all the rumors about how being born underwater might be making kids evolve . . .
This is a great book for kids 9 & up. There is so much exciting stuff happening in this underwater space-opera-style story. The stark contrast between above and below sea living is both great world-building and a chilling reminder of what our future may hold. And the action and adventure should appeal to even the most reluctant of readers. Besides being a great midgrade book, we also highly recommend it for teens. ...more
The creator of Black Hole gives us this previously unreleased graphic epic in brilliant color. The first in a series, X'ed Out is an unnerving comic mThe creator of Black Hole gives us this previously unreleased graphic epic in brilliant color. The first in a series, X'ed Out is an unnerving comic masterpiece....more
Fans of starcrossed soulmates and timeless romance will adore this second installment in the addictive Fallen series. it took an eternity for Luce andFans of starcrossed soulmates and timeless romance will adore this second installment in the addictive Fallen series. it took an eternity for Luce and Daniel, her fallen angel boyfriend, to find one another. But now, with a pack of outcast immortals targeting Luce, she and Daniel are being torn apart yet again. Thrust into hiding, Luce starts learning even more about the Shadows and their link to her past lives. And not everything she's learning matches up with what Daniel has been telling her....more
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine's diary, she recognizes something in her words and is movTwo girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine's diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. Spanning centuries and vividly depicting the eternal struggles of the human heart, Donnelly's sumptuous novel is a feast for historical fiction fans and modern music lovers alike. Add a dash of time travel linking 21st century New York with 18th century France, and this intriguing story offers a little something for everyone....more
During the early Victorian Era, young Mary Quin is rescued from hanging for burglary and sent to a school for young women. On completing her educationDuring the early Victorian Era, young Mary Quin is rescued from hanging for burglary and sent to a school for young women. On completing her education, Mary is offered the chance to join The Agency, a network of elite female private investigators/spies. For her first mission, Mary is sent to live as a paid companion to the daughter of a man The Agency and Scotland Yard suspect of smuggling Opium and valuables from India.
This book with it’s strong female spy, interesting male collaborator (love interest?), fast paced plot, and general intrigue is a fun fast read. Although technically found in the teen section, the book’s content is appropriate for kids as young as 10 — that is if you don’t mind them reading a little murder. My brother and I both started reading Agatha Christie when we were 9, and the violence in this book is no more graphic than anything you would find in one of those. In fact, the style of these novels reminded me quite a bit of an Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers mystery — without the French or literary references. ...more
Set a few hundred years after the fall of our own civilizations, London is still recovering from the revolution which freed the commoners of the oppreSet a few hundred years after the fall of our own civilizations, London is still recovering from the revolution which freed the commoners of the oppressive rule of the Scriveners, a slightly mutated form of human. In this world, Fever Crumb is the first female to ever live in the prestigious Order of Engineers, known for their aesthetic lifestyle and adherence to logic. She has never much left the Order’s home until a former Engineer, Kit, requires her help at an archeological dig. For some reason, he thinks she has Scrivener knowledge in her memories — something that should be impossible.
By far, the best thing about this book is the world building Reeve has done. Don’t get me wrong. The characters are well-developed and the action is well paced, but the world is just fascinating. As the tale progresses, we can see where Reeve sees our own civilization going as well as his vision for the future after that.
And that future is still recognizable. In Reeve’s world, the technology may be disappearing and man may be moving down a different path than the one we’re on now, but the people still remain the same as folks now.
I would recommend this for older readers, ages 10 & up. The world Reeve creates is a harsh world and may be a little to much for younger or super-sensitive readers. However, this is a fascinating piece of science fiction which I would recommend right up there with the great hard science fiction writers of the past. ...more
In Deadline, Ben is given some horrific news right before his senior year — he has a rare form of cancer, he’s going to die from it fairly soon, and tIn Deadline, Ben is given some horrific news right before his senior year — he has a rare form of cancer, he’s going to die from it fairly soon, and treatment will only extend his life by a few months. Not good. Ben decides that instead of doing the nasty chemo — that won’t make much of a difference anyway — he’s going to live the year of his dreams. However, he doesn’t think he can live it if anyone knows he’s ill. So, first he doesn’t tell anyone he’s sick. Then, he goes out for the football team despite his size. And then, since he literally has nothing to lose, he goes after the girl of his dreams. The result is, literally, a killer senior year.
This book is brilliant, and touching, and a great reminder of how we can find happiness in the small things in life. Ben doesn’t do anything drastic like drop everything and go to Europe. Instead, he intensely lives everyday of his ordinary life in an extraordinary way. And the book reminds us not to take anything for granted. After all, we all are living on a deadline.
Because of some of the subject matter, this book is definitely a teen book. Although the topic of dying is relevant at any age, some of the other issues brought up might be things parents would prefer to not discuss with younger kids. I would recommend this book for ages 13 & up, with a stress on the up. I really think this is a great book for adults to read. ...more
It all begins when Amy’s mom decides to move her family to New England after Amy’s father’s death in a car accident. Mom wants Amy to bring her car toIt all begins when Amy’s mom decides to move her family to New England after Amy’s father’s death in a car accident. Mom wants Amy to bring her car to her from California, but Amy is not comfortable driving since the accident. So, Amy’s mother arranges for a friend’s son — who Amy hasn’t seen in years — to drive the car and Amy on the most boring, Mapquest plotted road trip ever. Almost immediately Amy and Roger decided to deviate from the plan and go their own way. The epic detour thus begins.
This book is not about the road trip but about Amy’s and Roger’s individual journeys into accepting loss. In Roger’s case he’s coming to terms with the end of his first college relationship. For Amy, she has to accept and start to understand her grief over her father’s death. At each stop, the two become closer both to each other and to their own personal peace.
This book is a wonderfully written, touching story for teens. Due to some situations (and some sex), most parents would not find this appropriate for the under 13 set. Still, this is a lovely story that should appeal to girls, and hopefully the romance level, which is pretty minimal, will appeal to boys as well. Again, I would recommend this book for ages 13 & up. ...more
I like that there are all sorts of issues sneakily raised by the book. The main premise of the book is that a person is either born a hero or a villaiI like that there are all sorts of issues sneakily raised by the book. The main premise of the book is that a person is either born a hero or a villain — it’s in their genes. So, Damien is problematic since he actually gets to choose. He’s actions will ultimately determine his eventual designation, not just his genes. And Damien fights this.
Also, because people are considered to be genetically determined, no one is able to fight the designation given. So, that means that some unpleasant, decidedly unheroic people are considered heroes, but unevil villains are just villains regardless. In fact, in many ways the heroes and villains live in a very rigid caste system with no interaction except during the commission and thwarting of crimes. And this could lead to some very interesting discussions with kids who have read the book.
So, I would recommend this book for kids ages 13 & up because this book is definitely a teen book. Although Damien may not be a true villain, he definitely isn’t a hero. Also, sex is liberally discussed if not shown, and it’s violent. Still, I liked it and think others will too. ...more
The hero of this story is narrating his tale onto tapes in a sort of audio journal to make his mother happy. His tale of woe begins when he does sometThe hero of this story is narrating his tale onto tapes in a sort of audio journal to make his mother happy. His tale of woe begins when he does something very, very bad, and as a result must spend time volunteering in a soup kitchen as punishment. There he finds himself in the middle of a battle between the rich and the poor over the future of the soup kitchen. And our hero could not possibly care less. He has no interest in civic duty or social activism or much of anything else. His only goal is to serve his time, so to speak, and get on with his life. Then, he makes a discovery about the soup kitchen that changes his perspective. Suddenly the place and the battle has meaning, and our hero decides to enter the fray and become the hero he never meant to be.
This is a great story for what many people consider to be our rather apathetic times. It teaches a variety of lessons — that people won’t care about something unless it means something to them, that even the most cynical and disinterested of people can be moved to greatness, and that, yes, one kid can make a difference. There are so many different things that can be discussed with this book that makes it a great choice for book clubs or classroom discussion. I would recommend this for any kid 13 & up. ...more
KJ lives in a small town just outside Yellowstone National Park where her father owns a successful outdoors-store and hunting/fishing guide business. KJ lives in a small town just outside Yellowstone National Park where her father owns a successful outdoors-store and hunting/fishing guide business. Although not exactly content to stay in the background, she has no intention of ever seeking the limelight. Then for the school newspaper, she is asked to write a series of articles about the controversial wolves that have been reintroduced into Yellowstone. She intends for the series to be balanced, but when the first article is pro-wolf, and when she becomes involved with a visiting pro-wolf student, the town turns out to be anything but balanced. Violence erupts, and KJ’s world turns inside out.
This would be another well-written, fascinating book about a reluctant activist being drawn into a world of ecological awareness she had never previously considered. It’s also a tale that shows how little it can take to bring deep seeded hatreds flying back to the surface. In this case, the spark is a single newspaper article written in a high school paper — not normally a catalyst for social change.
But at it’s heart this book is really more about a girl trying to find her own feelings on the subject. KJ loves the wolves but she can see the ranchers’ perspective. She likes and is drawn to the boy, Virgil, but she can see how he might be too much for some of her classmates. Kj is trying to find herself, but she’s doing it not through thinking constantly of herself, like in many teen books, but by mirroring her self-discovery onto the issue of the wolves. In many ways the division of the town over the wolves is a metaphor for the division in KJ herself.
I would recommend this book for kids 15 & up or really advanced readers 13 & up. Nothing in the book is unsuitable for younger teens (despite some violence), but the book is a harder read literature-wise than many teen books. It is a deep book that makes you think and consider with very few lighthearted moments to break the tension. However, it is also a brilliant book that should be read by all teens at some point if only to remind them that divisive issues do exist and that sometimes we must make a painful choice. ...more
An interesting twist on the whole vampire/werewolves/witch interpersonal dynamics, Wereling has Trey, a boy who one day wakes up to a completely trashAn interesting twist on the whole vampire/werewolves/witch interpersonal dynamics, Wereling has Trey, a boy who one day wakes up to a completely trashed room. Before he can really get in trouble his mysterious, long lost Uncle Lucien shows up and takes him home. Only Lucien has some strange powers, a weird home, and a different (but beautiful) daughter. Turns out that Lucien is a vampire, his daughter is half vampire/half witch, and Trey is a werewolf with some dangerous people out to kill him.
I know that there are tons of vampire/werewolf books out there right now, but this one was an enjoyable light read that I just zoomed through in one day. And in this book the dynamic between good and bad, werewolf and vampire isn’t as simple as in other books. After all, Lucien the vampire is trying to protect Trey the werewolf. It’s an intriguing book for kids 13 & up. ...more
In Linger, Sam and Grace are celebrating Sam’s new lease on life. If anything, Sam is almost overwhelmed by a human future that includes winter — or fIn Linger, Sam and Grace are celebrating Sam’s new lease on life. If anything, Sam is almost overwhelmed by a human future that includes winter — or for that matter that he has a future as a human at all. Grace is just content to be with Sam; at least, until she is forced to face something she has never encountered in her whole life. She starts getting sick. No one can figure out what is wrong with her, but something definitely is.
This book has all of the suspense of the first one, yet still manages to throw in a few surprises. The first is a few new first person characters, like Isabel (from the first book) and Cole. He is one of the new wolves that Beck recruited at the end of the first book. Cole is an interesting character not only because he chose to become a wolf, but also because he had been a famous rock star at one point. This brings a whole new level of danger to the werewolves’ secret.
I would recommend this book to anyone 13 & up with the obvious caveat that this book cannot be read if you haven’t read the first one. This book is too reliant on events from the first book for someone to merely pick this one up and understand what is going on. However, since I enjoyed (and recommend) the first book, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to just read this book as a stand alone. ...more
Right as her junior year at the prestigious Themis Academy boarding school begins, Alex finds herself doing the walk of shame back to her dorm after aRight as her junior year at the prestigious Themis Academy boarding school begins, Alex finds herself doing the walk of shame back to her dorm after a long night of drinking and, well, Alex isn’t sure what else. As the drunk memories begin to come back to her, Alex realizes that she was the victim of date rape. She now has to decide what it is she is going to do about it. Since the school has proven incompetent in every instance when it comes to reprimanding discipline problems, they’re out. And Alex, like most people, is reluctant to go to the police. Her only choices then are to keep silent or to go to the Mockingbirds, an unsanctioned student judicial board that tries and punishes the students of Themis. Alex isn’t sure how many people she wants to know about the incident, but as the school year progresses, she becomes unsure how much longer she can keep silent.
This book is a well-written, sobering, at times hard to read book. It’s not the kind of thing you pick up for some light reading on a rainy day. However, it is also thought and discussion provoking, and rivals Speak in its excellent handling of a difficult topic. Alex’s musings, grief, guilt, and horror over her experience are handled in a sensitive and delicate manner. And the book does a good job of hammering home the concept that, yes, Alex was stupid to have gotten that drunk and most certainly shouldn’t have done it, but, no, that doesn’t mean that she deserved what happened to her.
Where the book becomes controversial in the discussions I’ve had with people is the choice to use date rape as the crime to be judged by a student vigilante system. My view is that date rape is the most dramatic thing that could conceivably be tried by the Mockingbirds. (I mean as clueless as the school administrators are, surely they would have noticed a murder.) When writing a book you go for the subject that will generate the most conflict for the story. You don’t get much more conflict than the he said/she said nature of a date rape case. Therefore, I’m not sure the book could have tried anything else.
Others, however, feel that date rape is already one of the most under reported crimes. By having Alex not report the crime and instead use a secret student run judicial system, could students get the message that perhaps this is a crime that adults should not be told about? They feel that a different crime, perhaps one of the Mockingbirds’ previous cases mentioned in the book, could have been used to create an equally compelling tale.
So what is the correct answer? I don’t know. I’ve talked to people who support both views. But I do know that this book has started numerous thought-provoking conversations with authors, publisher reps, other booksellers, and hopefully in the future, customers. And if all of these discussions haven’t been a great recommendation for how compelling this book is, I don’t know what is....more
In Charles Benoit's new teen book, You, the entire story is told in the second person. This makes perfect sense since the narrator, Kyle, is reexaminiIn Charles Benoit's new teen book, You, the entire story is told in the second person. This makes perfect sense since the narrator, Kyle, is reexamining the last school year to see what could have led him to the point where the novel begins. Something terrible has just happened, and someone appears to be dying. From there Kyle, through talking to himself, begins to piece together his rather wasted life.
It's an incredibly thought-provoking book. Kyle never does one big thing, merely a series of seemingly inconsequential actions that lead him into trouble. No one action alone is particularly tragic, but taken all together they create a portrait of a teen in trouble. As you read the book, it's not hard to imagine plenty of other Kyle's wandering around, lost, without the ability to reconnect with others.
Because at the heart of this novel, it's a story about disconnect. After all, Kyle is so disconnected from himself that he seems to view himself as a whole other person - hence the use of the pronoun you instead of I. Watching him struggle to try to connect the person he would like to be to the person he actually is can be a difficult thing to read. At the same time though, the book is a gripping, suspenseful tale as you try to figure out why someone was dying at the beginning of the book.
Due to material, BookPeople recommends this book for ages 13 & up. There is underage drinking, discussions of sex, and of course the dying person thing....more
Loading...
