"Delirium" by Lauren Oliver

When Lena turns 18 she will be given the "cure." She is counting down the days until this happens. Her mother committed suicide due to delirium and Lena does not want the same thing to happen to her. This is the world she knows and this is what she expects to happen.

Everything moves towards this day in an orderly fashion until she meets Alex at a party her best friend has talked her into attending.

As things happen, Lena and Alex fall in love. This is what the "cure" will prevent. The society they live in wants them to experience the world in a practical manner, not in a loving one.

This dystopian novel will appeal to both middle schoolers and high schoolers who are looking for a romance novel with a twist of adventure and excitement. Due out in February 2011.

"Beautiful Darkness" by Kami Garci and Margaret Stohl

Book 2 in the Caster Chronicles is another fast-paced exciting read. This time Lena must choose between light and dark and her boyfriend Ethan, a mortal, cannot help her make the choice.
In this story, Lena is pushing Ethan away as she continues to struggle with the death of her uncle. She feels as if it were her fault and she can't seem to overcome the choices. She starts hanging around her dark cousin Ridley and a new boy named John.

Once again we travel between Caster world and mortal world and see how closely the two are intersected. Ethan and Linc still work and play together as they work to figure out how Ethan's visions are playing a part in all that is going on.

Can use in middle school but readers must have read "Beautiful Creatures" first or this second book will make little sense.

"Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White

Evie works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Her job is to capture vampires, werewolves and the like and contain them. One of her gifts is that she can see through the paranormals' glamours. This is what helps her make her captures. She is 16 years-old and Evie thinks her life is perfectly normal. Her best friend is a mermaid and her ex-boyfriend (if you can call him that) is a faerie. Just another day....

Things change quickly for Evie when a shapeshifter named Lend is brought to the facility. While he is there paranormals are being killed. Searching for the killer brings to light a whole new set of problems and challenges. While the IPCA wants to contain, they don't kill.

This incredibly fast-paced read is filled with both romance and on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrills. Perfect for middle and high school. In fact, instead of any swear words there is only "bleep." Perfect.

"Accomplice" by Eireann Corrigan

Imagine if you and your best friend concoct a plan to stage the kidnapping of one of you. You both work out all of the details, go over everything step by step so there will be no mistake. Yet, one of you doesn't know all the details like she thinks she does.

This is the premise for this story. Finn and Chloe are going to fake Chloe's disappearance. They truly believe it will give them name recognition for their quest for the perfect college. Everything goes off without a hitch, until Dean (Chloe's supposed boyfriend) is arrested for her murder.

That's when things start to unravel. There is more to Chloe's plan than even Finn knows about.

A fast-paced, stay on the edge of your seat story.

"Sprout" by Dale Peck

When a gay teenage with green hair moves from New York City to Kansas you expect the gay part or even the green hair part to be the big deal. Neither of them are. The big deal is that Sprout is a talented writer, leaving with a drunk father, who has lost his mother to cancer, has a working friendship with an older English teacher, and attempts to find himself in the midst of all that surrounds him.

His secrets are in plain sight but the decisions he makes along the way are what shapes and molds him into who and what he is.

Imagine trying to find a boyfriend, having a secret fling with a jock who is now your best girlfriend's boyfriend and you have a recipe for success.

Add to that the voice of a young man who is an excellent writer and manages to use words and sentences in a way that entices the reader to continue.

A wonderfully told story of a young man's search for true identity.

Definitely belongs on high school shelves.

"The Space Between Trees" by Katie Williams

Evie delivers papers on an early morning. It is her opportunity to see Jonathan-the older boy she has a crush on. One morning as she waits for him to come out of the woods, she sees him coming with police and realizes there is a dead body. Jonathan has discovered the dead young girl in the woods. Her name is Zabet and she is Evie's friend from childhood.

At the funeral Evie meets Zabet's father and manages to connect with him with a story she shares about their "supposed" friendship. Zabet's true friend, Hadley, knows she is lying and it is then when the complication begin.

Evie and Hadley begin a unique relationship that has them searching for Zabat's killer.

A unique and interesting book that would be most appropriate in the high school setting.

"iDrakula" by Bekka Black

Who knew that a book made up of text messages and emails could be so much fun! Mina and Jonathan are boyfriend and girlfriend. Lucy is her best friend. Somehow the three of them managed to get entwined in the life (or death) of Count Drakula. The story unfolds quickly and in manner that will hook YA readers. The suspense is heartpounding and the storyline will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

A fun, entertaining read that will appeal to readers and reluctant readers alike.

"Strings Attached" by Judy Blundell

Kit Corrigan leaves her Rhode Island home for New York City. She wants to see if she can make it as a singer and a dancer. City life is hard and when you are not dancing on Broadway money can be tight.
Kit had been involved with Billy Benedict-a boy from back home who has recently enlisted in the army. A huge fight shatters their relationship and that's what makes her head to the big city.
Once there, she struggles to make ends meet. In comes her savior and benefactor, Billy's father-Nate Benedict. He is a lawyer for the mob and his connections to them runs deep and tight. He offers Kit an apartment. Her obligation is now to Nate and he wants her to contact him after she contacts Billy and reconciles.
Kit and Billy reconcile but it is her ties to Nate that will once again drive them apart. Consequently we see her struggles with her job, her personal life, and her family.
An interesting story that takes place during World War II. It will intrigue readers and keep their attention. For anyone who liked "What I Saw and How I Lied" pick this up in March 2011 when it becomes available.

"After the Moment" by Garret Freymann-Weyr

Leigh Hunter falls in love with the most unlikely of girls. Her name is Maia Morland and her issues are far more encompassing that Leigh has ever encountered. But love does not know those kind of boundaries and Leigh cannot help himself.

The story escalates during the weekend Leigh returns to New York to break up with Astra-his girlfriend from home. Maia is totally lacking in confidence and self-assurance and makes a huge mistake while he is gone-A mistake that will ultimately change the course and destiny of both of their lives.

The book reads quickly although the story is powerful and painful. Neither of these characters will walk away from their time together without having been changed in one way or another.

"Breathless" by Jessica Warman

Katie and her brother Will are close. The one thing that separates them from a seemingly perfect brother/sister relationship is Will's mental illness. It is only getting worse. When Will attempts suicide Katie's parents decide that sending her to boarding school is the only way they can shelter her from Will. At the boarding school Katie finds her only solace is in swimming-it is in the pool that she can breathe and forget the realities of her life.

The boarding school, however, comes with temptations and troubles. There are the peer relationships, school, drinking, sex, smoking and boyfriends. All of these combined together sometimes make for some poor choices on Katie's part.

The rawness of the emotions, the story, the mental illness of Will all combine for a powerful novel. I wanted it to end. I didn't want it to end. Warman does a fantastic job of pulling the reader in. I look forward to reading her new book- "Where the Truth Lies."

"Trapped" by Michael Northrup

When seven students are trapped at their high school during the worst storm in years, the tension begins. It begins there and does not stop. Northrup has taken a simple premise and made it complicated. Scotty and his two best friends are stuck with 4 other students-two boys and two girls in a life or death situation. There is no power, no water and the roof has started to collapse. The pressure mounts and a decision has to be made. This decision will have an impact on the rest of the survivors at the school.

A well-written, fast-paced book that will appeal to both readers and non-readers alike. "What if?" seems to be the prevailing question and in some ways it's answered and in other ways there continues to be a ton of questions.

This book will be published in Febrary 2011 by Scholastic.

Pick it up- especially if you are a fan of his first book, "Gentlemen."

"Bright Young Things" by Anna Godbersen

When Cordelia and Letty get on the train to NYC they have no idea what the big city has in store for them. They have their hopes and dreams and that is all that matters to them.

When they get to New York a disagreement sends the two girls on paths of their own-Cordelia to find her long-lost father, and Letty to try to become a singer.

The start of this series is very similar to Luxe-only it's set in a different time period. However, if readers liked that series they will like how this one begins.

Two girls....two futures...and a period of time that was filled with passion, dishonesty, dreams, hopes and money.

"Rosie and Skate" by Beth Ann Bauman

Rosie and Skate are as different as two sisters can be. They don't even live in the same house right now. Their mother is dead and their alcoholic father is in jail. Their story is told in alternating chapters. Each one of them looks at the world a little differently. Although the book is relatively short the growth of the sisters is shown. Each learns how to cope with their dad, their relationships, and how to address their weaknesses. A charming story that doesn't end neatly yet addresses many issues that are being faced by teens today.

"illyria" by Elizabeth Hand

A haunting story of Maddie and Rogan-two first cousins who share both an emotional love and a physical love. They also share a love of the theatre and of acting and singing. It is their discovery of a cardboard theatre in the attic of his house that draws them into the magic of what is and what could be.

The story is filled with magic from beginning to end. The short novel does an excellent job of showing the differences and the similarities between Maddie and Rogan. It is also a book that you would only put on a high school shelf.

Beautiful, passionate, and of course, tragic...three words to describe the characters and their story.

"The Defense of Thaddeus A. Ledbetter" by John Gosselink

When Thaddeus lands in in-school-suspension for his part in his own "safety drill" the fun begins. He uses his time in there to write to Mr. Cooper-the middle school principal-stating his defense.
The book is filled with discipline notices, emails to his lawyer uncle, letters to Mr. Cooper, letters from his church's pastor, notes from classmates, word definitions and drawings.
It is a cleverly done book and the appeal is all middle-school. It is exactly how they think and act and it is from their perspective. Some of Thaddeus' ideas are clever and well-thought out.
In fact, his enthusiasm and the way he "annoys" certain teachers can be understood and appreicated by both students and adults.

"Revolution" by Jennifer Donnelly

I really loved this book! The juxtaposition of the present combined with the past made for an intriguing read.
The story begins with Andi and her mom both wallowing in their depression following the death of Andi's brother Truman. They are co-dependent and neither can function in a positive way. Andi is about to be expelled from school and her mother paints pictures of Truman all day. Andi's father (who has left the house) demands that Andi come with him to Paris. He is going there on business and Andi must go with him.

The trip turns out to be the change factor in everything. There, Andi discovers her thesis subject and also a diary that belonged to a young girl living during the French Revolution.

The book is well-written and the story doesn't end neatly with everyone living happily ever after. Andi must come to terms with who she is, the death of her brother, the choices of both her mother and father, and how life is not one big neat package-and it never has been.

"The Scorch Trials" by James Dashner

When Thomas drifts off to sleep after talking to Teresa in The Maze Runner we know we are headed towards a sequel. And what a sequel it is! It starts out with a bang and off we sprint. The book is filled with twists and turns and some of our questions from the first book are answered but many are still left wide-open. We come to learn that there was more than one group involved in this experiment. Thomas and his group are required to leave the safety of where they are and head across a burned out section of the world called the scorch. Along the way they encounter many challenges and face many difficult situations.
As it ends, I would like to say that all my questions were answered. And even though the front of this book says "sequel" I feel as if there is one more book to come. I guess we will just be patient and see what Dashner has it store for us.

"Extraordinary" by Nancy Werlin

Aren't we all extraordinary in one way or another? This book poses that question in a modern version of a faerie tale. Phoebe, a Rothschild, befriends the new student at school. Her name is Mallory and she is unlike any one else that Phoebe has ever met. There is a reason for that-Mallory is a faerie and she has come to collect on a debt made years and years ago by one of Phoebe's ancestors. Coming with Mallory is Ryland-her brother-who treats Phoebe like she has never before been treated by a boy. Another interesting component to this story is Phoebe's childhood friend Benjamin who always knows the truth and is always willing to speak it. Phoebe grows as a person from beginning to end and comes to realize what we all should at some point-that she too is extraordinary and no one can take that knowledge away from her.

"A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park

When Salva's school in Sudan is attacked, he and his classmates run. Salva ends up without any of his family. On his journey to a refuge camp in Ethiopia he finds his uncle. Salva is thrilled to be with family but saddened by the fact he is told everyone is dead because his village has been destroyed. Meanwhile, in a story that is told in future time, Nya must spend her days walking back and forth to the pond to get water for her family's survival. It is a grueling job-but important one. Salva is eventually adopted by a family in Rochester, NY. It is while he is here that he comes to find out his family is alive and well back in Sudan. It is his trip home that makes his heart cry out to the Sudanese people still living there. He then makes it his mission to bring wells and water to the people.

The lost boys of Sudan stories are both heartbreaking and hopeful. Their strength and adversity make for a beautifully told story and one that will stick with readers for a long, long time.

"Lighter Side of Life and Death" by C.K.Kelly Martin

When friends Mason and Kat lose their virginity to one another after drinking a party, the dynamics of their friendship totally changes. They no longer really talk and there is much tension between them. Because he is 16, and unsure of himself, Mason begins an affair with Colette, a much older woman. This only adds to his confusion. The emotions and feelings shown by the two girls and Mason are honest and painful. This book rings true to teenage angst and also shows the pain young men feel too in the midst of confusing relationships.

"The Knife that Killed Me" by Anthony McGowan

When Paul, a nobody, is bullied by Roth to deliver a package for him his life begins a course he cannot change. The dynamics of the characters in this book are wonderful. We learn so much about how Paul thinks and feels and why they knife he is given by Roth is such power to him. The knife, however, also has consequences and ultimately they are much more powerful.
The cover of the book will initially attrack YA readers, but the storyline will keep them intrigued.

"The Gardener" by S.A. Bodeen

When Mason befriends a young girl named Laila, he is totally unaware that she is part of a huge corporation's science project. At the "Greenhouse," instead of growing plants, the scientists there are growing humans. This is to preserve our future. Resources are growing scarce and people are trying to come up with ways to feed our future generations. Like several books that have come out lately, this one tackles our environment and resources. Bodeen does a good job of keeping the pace moving and taking on this issue. It was an enjoyable, quick read and I can see the appeal for teen readers.

"Scarlett Fever" by Maureen Johnson

Scarlett Martin is back in another funny adventure in New York City. She is still working for the theatrical agent, her brother is still auditioning for roles he never seems to get, her sister is still broken up with Chip and working retail, and her younger sister seems nice. The hotel is still falling about and rarely has guests. In the midst of all this we come to adore Scarlett, her attitude and her resilience. She is smart, strong and self-reliant. She also discovers a new love interest-Max. However, Johnson ends the book not in the way we might expect. Lola flies off to Las Vegas to marry the rich ex-boyfriend and Scarlett finds that her first love from "Suite Scarlett" is back and he still loves her. But how does Scarlett feel? The door has definitely been left open for a third book to answer all the questions. Perfected suited for middle schoolers.

"Numbers" by Rachel Ward

When I finished reading "Numbers" by Rachel Ward I was left with that thought in my mind-that's it? But after reflecting on it for a day or two I realize that my initial reaction wasn't quite accurate.

The book is the story of 15 year-old Jem who has an amazing secret- when she looks in your eyes she sees the numbers that represent the day of your death.

As if this wouldn't be enough for any teenager to cope with, she is now on the run with her boyfriend Spider. They were on their way to ride the London Eye when Jem realized many of the people on their way there all had the same number. Fearing danger, she and Spider take off running just as a huge explosion rocks the London Eye.

This book isn't so much about the numbers. What it is about is a young teenager who comes to realize that life is not about dying, but life is about living. This is an intriguing read although due to language and sex it would find a much better home in high school.

"Guardian of the Gate- Prophecy of the Sisters Book II" by Michelle Zink

Just finished this yesterday. In this sequel to "Prophecy of the Sisters" we journey with Lia to the island of Altus. She is still in search of the missing keys that will help her solve the prophecy. It is a story of courage and of fate. It includes adventure, fear, love, hate and jealousy. If my feelings are correct, the third book will be Alice's story and the resolution of the twin sister's fight. Look for Michelle Zink's new book in August 2010!

A New Adventure

One of my goals has always been to keep track of all the YA books that I read. I have not been very successful and often times I find myself frustrated because I cannot remember what I've read, who wrote it, the characters and why I liked or didn't like a particular book. I hope to change all that. I plan on reviewing (even if they are incredibly short reviews) all the books that I read. This way I will have a documented list to go back to in order to jog my memory. So, here's to day one and the beginning of a new challenge for me and my reading.