Reviews on our favorite and newest teen and tween books!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Zombies Are Back!

Dust & Decay (Benny Imura, #2) by Jonathan Maberry

Genre: YA Fantasy Horror
Published: August 2011 (Simon & Schuster)

In this thrilling sequel to Rot & Ruin, Benny Imura (16) and Nix Riley (15) are ready to venture out of their town and find out if there is something better to the east after seeing a rare thing: a jet flying in that direction. Benny's zombie-hunter brother, Tom, has been training Benny and his friends so that they can be prepared for the world that they now live in. Lilah (the Lost Girl) and their friend Lou Chong are going with them. The kids think that they are ready for what lies ahead, but even Tom is surprised by the enemies they encounter.

Although I haven't read the prior book, Rot & Ruin, I understood the basis of the story. This was a great read, and now I really want to read Rot & Ruin. This book is action packed with a bit of romance too. I could hardly put it down; I just wanted to know what happened next. I hope that this series will continue, because I am totally invested in the characters! They simply want to get away from their town where all people want is to close their eyes to what is going on in the world outside of their fences...but they can't expect to always keep the evil out.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

---Posted by Kameron S.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Teen Speak

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
Genre: YA Fiction
Published: May 2011 (Simon & Schuster)

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby is a book that follows a teen’s journey to understand her present and past. Ten years after her mother’s suicide, Anna is uprooted from the place she calls home to live with her dad in a beachside cottage that is situated in a place rooted in her family’s history. Accustomed to the beach lifestyle, Anna begins engaging in the activities that she loves: swimming, running, hanging out on the beach, and most importantly, collecting sea glass. As Anna tries to make peace with her new surroundings and its unforgettable residents, information and stories about her mother begin to surface, which brings to mind the good memories and the bad.  Teamed up with an assortment of friends that surprises even Anna herself, she must gather the courage to face her and her mother’s past.

I really enjoyed reading this book; in fact, I finished it in one day. I honestly couldn’t put it down after the first few chapters. The story from start to finish was wonderful and being a debut novel, I was impressed. Had I not known in advance, I would have bet Kirby was a well-established and widely published author with more than a couple books under her belt. The writing style was appropriate for the book and really engaging. It expressed the difficulty that people go through when dealing with grief and guilt and how they cope with situations that are deeply rooted in the past. Despite this, the overall tone of the book was not overbearing. Funny parts were mixed in effortlessly and truly made the book as enjoyable as it was. I also felt that the romantic aspect of Moonglass, which was not really the main focus of the story, was tastefully done, which I appreciated. It didn’t seem shallow like other teen books and had a believable build up. Also, I loved almost every single character! Each was so different and convincing that I was struck with the realization that I knew people just like the cast of characters from the book. The silly, genuine, and somewhat clueless Ashley was perhaps my favorite character. Although I did like Anna, I didn’t always approve of her choices. *Just so readers know, there is underage drinking in this book*. Apart from that, I highly recommend Moonglass to any person who is looking for a read that portrays reality well, has a great plot and wonderful characters! I received this book as an ARC from Simon & Schuster.

---Posted by Lauren G.

*Want to read this book? Enter our giveaway to win a copy of Moonglass from Simon & Schuster. Click here to learn how!*