In the After (455 Pages)

Demitria Lunetta has written her first YA book and it is filled with edge-of-your-seat reading! Amy is by herself, at home, watching TV, when she learns that the world has been attacked by "Them." This is how she refers to the creatures who have killed anyone not protected by electronic fences or some other protection device. Amy's mother works for the government in what sounds like it could be the CIA. As a result she has made sure that their home is safely guarded by the latest protective devices. She believes that her mother and father are dead as both were out of the house, and the creatures feed on living humans (or any other protein they come across.) As days go by, Amy ventures from her home being careful to avoid the creatures. One day, she goes into a grocery store and finds a baby. She scoops her up and takes her home. Baby and Amy live together for several years. Because the creatures are lured by even the slightest sound, the girls develop their own signing language. Baby has become very adept at moving silently and so they are able to get canned food and other supplies without being attacked by the creatures. Eventually, they are picked up by a silent helicopter and brought to a secure "town" known as New Hope. Life there is very safe, yet Amy finds that safety can be a facade and should not be trusted. This is an interesting, fast paced debut novel.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl (223 Pages)

This is the first book I've red by Tanya Lee Stone. I often give my books to former students who are trying to build a classroom library. This book I'm going to keep. I want my grand daughters to read it.  And I want to talk to them about all of the messages in it. Three girls who all students at the same high school are all approached by the same boy at different times. The first girl is Josie, and she is a freshman swept away by the idea that a senior football player who is so good looking and popular- that he would be interested in her- seems beyond understanding. But Josie is a special girl because she finally refuses to allow this young man to "nail" her as his buddies call it. She takes everything one step further. She goes to the library and finds Judy Blume's book Forever and at the back of it are 4 blank pages. She writes a warning to other girls who may fall prey to his desires. She never mentions his name, but gives plenty of hints. Not all of the girls follow the same path as Josie, but they all learn valuable lessons about themselves and about choices they may be faced with in the future. This book includes some description of the kids making out- touching, etc. Therefore, I think it may not be a book for a classroom library, but it sure is a book for those of you who are mothers and have daughters who eventually may face some of these "choices." It is an easy read, and is written in free verse poetry.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (418 Pages)

I've never read anything by Laini Taylor. After this, I may never read anything else by her....I think. This is a long book about characters who never seem real. I guess that is what bothered me most. I am a character driven kind of reader. After about 275 pages, I started talking to Laini. "Where the hell are you going with this story? I feel like you're starting a new story all over again, without resolving the first.!" And that is exactly what she was doing. By the end of the novel, both stories join to make sense of the entire plot. That said, I just can't identify and/or become attached/care for characters that are part human part animal.Some students might enjoy it; I didn't.

Allegiant (526 Pages)

This is the third and final book of the Divergent, Insurgent series. In this book, Veronica Roth has chosen a format of alternating point of view between Tris and Tobias. The story told here includes both Tris and Tobias ( and several others) escaping from Chicago. Wanting freedom from the faction divided society, they end up in a compound outside the fence surrounding the city. Here, they find that people live in comfort, with plenty of food and care. However, they soon discover that the compound is able to monitor everything going on in Chicago. A room with multiple monitors are keeping tabs on the residents of Chicago 24/7. Every person, every faction can be seen and their activities are constantly monitored. The sound is turned down because there are so many monitors, that it would be difficult to hear if they were all on simultaneously. It is here that Tris and Tobias learn that the compound is part of a large government study of genes. Following a Purity War, people are divided into two groups: Genetically Damaged ) GD and those whose genes are pure GP. This future distopian society has been using genetic engineering to modify the citizens making some of them "genetically pure." In order to prevent a war between the factions in Chicago, the big-wigs in the compound decide to use a memory serum on the residents living there. This will erase almost all of their memories. Tris and Tobias are infuriated at this idea, and with some of their friends, they plan a way of preventing this. It is a fast paced read!

See You at Harry's ( 310 Pages)

Katie, a former student, current friend and YA book junkie, like me, suggested this book to me. Aside from the fact that it hit very close to home and left me weak with tears, it is an incredible read. Author Jo Knowles has written a wonderful book that deals with so many of the issues that arise with the unexpected death of a child. What kept me reading is the fact that all of the emotions and "issues" that a young teen experiences are so real. And this is true of her parents and siblings. Then, just about the time they all hit bottom, they begin to surface realizing that it is OK to be happy, it is OK to live life as fully as possible. And I was able to see everything clearly. Time does heal. Your students will love this book (especially girl students- boys may see it as a "chick flick book".

The Broken Universe (384 Pages)

Paul Melko has written a very interesting "what if" science fiction novel.  I love "what if" books! Authors who dream up these think about known facts in the sciences, in things we take for granted in living our lives, and they stretch them. Most people remember Alfred Hitchcok's movie, The Birds, developed from a short story by Dauphne du Maurea which poses the question what would happen if all the birds in the world, tired of seeing their species being caged by humans,  turned against that human race? In this story, Melko asks the question, What if there are duplicate universes out there? He further stretches this question to ask what if humans could visit these twin planets in alternate universes? Although I will admit that I got a little confused as a John Prime and a John Ten and a John Home were introduced ( and every other character has a duplicate as well! ) I eventually just ignored trying to keep them separate, and this helped quite a bit. It does seem that it is ridiculous to assume that there is no other inhabited planet "out there." The young men and women in this novel are in early years of college. They are in the process of starting a new business. They are bright and most of them are caring individuals. There are many "bad guys" in this book and the young people must deal with them. The book moves fairly quickly, and I found it to be fascinating in the scientific information the book reveals. Boys, in particular, should find this book a good read.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home ( 355 Pags)

This is Carol Rifka Brunt's debut novel, which explains why I've never read anything of hers! It is an interesting look at several subjects, which at one point were taboo, but have become accepted today! A young girl is unaware that her godfather, uncle Finn, is gay and has developed A.I.D.S. June is in middle school and early high school during the course of the book. Her character changes as she becomes less naive and more independent. After her uncle's death, she secretly meets and becomes friends with his lover, Tony. Her mother and father know nothing about this. Unbeknownst to both June and Tony, Finn has asked both of them to care for the other. And they do, right up until June brings Tony to her home where he dies. There are all kinds of opportunities for discussion after this book has been read. Is it ever OK to keep secrets from your parents? Why do some people feel jealousy and the need to compete in family relationships? If this book is read by students, it's important for them to realize that time has changed attitudes and fears about AIDS.