Hollow City ( 396 Pages)

Ransom Riggs is the author of book two of his Peculiar Children series. It is set in London over a  three day period in September, 1940 (World War II). Jacob Portman continues to be the voice in this book. The ten children spend much of the book trying to safely make their way towards London where they hope to get some help for their beloved Miss Peregrine. They encounter adult peculiars, murderous wights, and stinking hollows, who are sort of like octopuses, that are also trying to kill them. The book includes wonderful photographs of the various characters as did the first book. If your students enjoyed book one, they will also enjoy this one, and will look forward to a soon to be published book three!

No safety In Numbers: Book 1 (263Pages)

Dayna Lorentz has written a "What If..." book in which four teens are imprisoned in a Westchester, N.Y. mall. Now this might sound like a heavenly dream to many teen readers, in this case it is far from heaven! A "bomb" of biological terrorism has been exploded through the mall's ventilation system. One of the teen's parent is a U.S. Senator. Therefore, she becomes the person in charge. The chapters of this book vary from teen to teen. Some kids may enjoy this book. It raised a "meh!" for me.

the impossible knife of memory (391 Pages)

Here is the new novel from Laurie Halse Anderson. I've read all of her YA novels and this is just as terrific as Speak was for me. In this book, Anderson presents us with Haley Kincaid, a high school senior who is attending a school for the first time. That's a really tough thing for a student to face, being a new student in your senior year! But it is made even more difficult for Haley as she deals with her father who is suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He has turned to drugs and alcohol to escape his demons, and Haley  has become his caretaker- a reverse in parent child expected relations. They are living in her grandmother's home, the home her dad grew up in, and where he believed things would improve for both of them. So things are looking pretty grim for Haley, and then she rekindles a friendship with Gracie, a friend from years ago. Gracie attempts to renew past memories from which Haley has escaped.  In addition to Gracie and Gracie's boyfriend, Topher, Haley meets and falls for Finn.  It is Finn, who accepts and soon adores Haley, that she is able to almost cope with the new school and her father's PTSD. I found this book to be a great read, an easy read, and Anderson's ability to build characters who seem so very real, and who matter to the reader only make the reading of her novel better. 

far far away ( 369 Pages)

Tom McNeal is another new YA author to me. I actually fought with the reading of this book, because in the first few pages the reader is introduced to a ghost. I don't do ghosts. I don't do vampires. Sorry, guys. But there was something about this ghost (named Jacob), and I fell in love with him. By the end of the book,  I found myself in tears- not the things one wants to do just before going to sleep. No body present to hear my snores...But I digress. Jeremy Johnson Johnson is the main character along with ghost Jacob. Also Jeremy's school mate, Ginger to become his girl friend as the plot thickens, is an absolute hoot. She is part tomboy, part tease, and is absolutely delightful. The two teens get into some trouble, and as the plot continues, it unfolds and an unbelievable mystery develops. I found myself holding my breath as well as my seat. This is a terrific read. I was very aware of the language(s) used throughout and found myself thinking this author speaks the way people really speak.  Your students will adore it and so will you.

All The Truth That's In Me ( 274 Pages)

What an interesting read Julie Berry has created! I always enjoy discovering an author I've never read before, and this jewel did not disappoint. Written in short "chapters" each numbered with Roman numerals, it tells the story through the main character, Judith as she "speaks" to the young man she has been in love with her entire life. So why those two words in quotes? Some of the "chapters" are only a few lines long and some are about a page and a half. This offers multiple opportunities: 1) teaching Roman numerals to students is one which will serve them well- especially if any if them become crossword puzzle addicts as I have! 2) Judith can not really "speak" since her tongue has been cut off by a cruel man who has abducted her. Who this man is and why he performed such cruelty are explained over the course of this novel. As teachers continue (I hope) to point out the organization of text to students, this example is certainly both new and interesting. Students will enjoy the novel, as I did.

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.