poems of life

Tilt

by Ellen Hopkins

Three teens, three stories—all interconnected through their parents’ family relationships. As the adults pull away, caught up in their own dilemmas, the lives of the teens begin to tilt….

Mikayla, almost eighteen, is over-the-top in love with Dylan, who loves her back jealously. But what happens to that love when Mikayla gets pregnant the summer before their senior year—and decides to keep the baby?

Shane turns sixteen that same summer and falls hard in love with his first boyfriend, Alex, who happens to be HIV positive. Shane has lived for four years with his little sister’s impending death. Can he accept Alex’s love, knowing that his life, too, will be shortened?

Harley is fourteen—a good girl searching for new experiences, especially love from an older boy. She never expects to hurdle toward self-destructive extremes in order to define who she is and who she wants to be.

Love, in all its forms, has crucial consequences in this standalone novel.

Do you want to know the truth?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

By:Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. 

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Crossed

Crossed (Matched Trilogy Series #2)

By: Ally Condie

Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky taken by the Society to his sure death only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of a rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices every thing to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.
Narrated from both Cassia's and Ky's point of view, this hotly anticipated sequel to Matched will take them both to the edge of Society, where nothing is as expected and crosses and double crosses make their path more twisted than ever.

I Am Number Four

 by Pittacus Lore 

 In this book, John Smith is an alien from the planet Lorien. He came to earth when his planet was destroyed by the Mogadorians, with his guardian Henri who was sent to keep anyone from harming him. There were 9 Lorien children sent to Earth to preserve the species. These nine have been separated most of their lives. They are connected through a Lorien charm that protects the nine children from the Mogadorians. The Mogadorians are hunting down the Lorien children one by one. The children are numbered one through nine. The Mogadorians can only kill the children in order of their number. Three are dead. John Smith is number four. They will come for him next. I really enjoyed this book. I felt that it was well written and did a good job of drawing the reader into another world. When I first heard of this book from my friend, I was somewhat skeptical about how well the book would be written. However, after I read it, I have found that this has become my favorite book. I can't wait for more! The setting in I Am Number Four was very well manipulated. The book starts out with John and Henri living in Florida. They have to abruptly leave their home there and move on to somewhere else, do to the fact that they know the Mogadorians will soon catch up with them there. John and Henri leave their pristine private beach in Florida and move to Paradise, Ohio. John and Henri's home in Paradise is surrounded with dense forests and gives the feeling of being snug in their home. Paradise, Ohio really comes to feel like a home to John. All throughout the book Lore gives a very vivid description of the setting and allows the reader to fly across the country and enter the world that involves Paradise, Ohio and John Smith. This book is very good and I would certainly recommend it to anyone out there looking for a good book!

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Can you run from your past?

Darkness Falls
(Immortal Beloved Series #2) by Cate Tiernan

Nastasya has lived for hundreds of years, but for some reason, life never seems to get any better. She left her spoiled, rich girl life to find peace at River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. There, she learned to embrace River's Edge, despite som drama involving the sexy Reyn, who she wants but won't allow herself to have. But just as she's getting comfortable, her family's ties to dark magick force her to leave.

She falls back into her old, hard partying ways, but will her decision lead her into the hands of a dark immortal? Or will it be her first step to embracing the darkness within her?

Teen Speak

The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, #1) by Rick Riordan

Genre: Juvenile Fantasy

Published: May 2010

The Red Pyramid is the first book in Rick Riordan’s new series, the Kane Chronicles. Carter and Sadie are not the normal youths of this world. They are descendants of the Egyptian pharaohs. Despite what the general populous may say, Carter and Sadie find out that the Egyptian myths and gods are real, and magic doesn’t only belong at Hogwarts. On Christmas, Dr. Kane, Sadie and Carter’s dad, unleashes five Egyptian gods and as a result, he is dragged into the underworld. Set, the god of deserts, storms and evil, is one of the deities released from the stone and is intent on wreaking havoc on the world and causing trouble for the Kane family. Now Sadie and Carter must embark on a journey to save their father and restore order to the world.

A wonderfully charming mesh of magic, wit, and mythology, Riordan delivers another fantastic book that can charm readers of any age. I absolutely loved the characters, as all of them were well developed and by no means flat. The wit and well written dialogue made this book a pleasure to read. Riordan mixes modern day life and mythology in a way that is brilliant and believable. He breathes new life and fantastic personalities into the Egyptian gods and goddesses. I finally have all of the Egyptian gods sorted out and can remember which is which. After I read this book, I had to get the sequel, The Throne of Fire, and finished it off in no time at all. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a good adventure, mythology, or a fun read. People who loved this book would enjoy the 39 clues series and Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.

 ---Posted by Lauren G.

Teen Speak

Possession (Posession, #1) by Elana Johnson



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Genre: YA Dystopian

Published: June 2011 (Simon & Schuster)

Possession by Elana Johnson is a young adult dystopian fiction book that features action, rebellion, romance, and corrupt governments. Violet, Vi for short, is a member of the Goodlands, a place where the Goodies live. Goodies follow the rules, listen to the government recordings and do not under any circumstances oppose what the Thinkers say is right. Baddies live in the Badlands and are freethinking people that do not listen to or follow the Thinker ruled government. In complete violation of the law, Vi is caught a) walking in the park at night and b) walking with a boy. Even though Zenn is her match, Vi finds herself in serious trouble that lands her in jail with one of the Baddies, Jag. In order to get away from the government’s impending control over her mind, Vi must team up with Jag to escape her fate in jail and find a life where she can be herself. However, Vi has ties to the Goodland’s, the government is persistent, and they want Vi to join their ranks. She must find the courage to oppose the oppressive ways of the Thinkers in order to save the ones she loves. 

Possession was a very interesting read. Johnson can truly weave words to meet her needs. The style of writing was great and helped enhance the story; the emotions and sarcasm coming across without a hitch. I really love the premise of the book, though at first I thought this book was going to be predictable. Yet the plot just kept on delivering twist after twist and dragged me along for a ride that I never could have anticipated. The characters in this book had great depth. The secrets that their lives held and the ones that were shared added nice layers to the story and to the characters. I loved Jag, Zenn and for his brief appearances, Pace. Vi was a good, strong heroine, though to be honest, she was not my favorite main character. Despite that, I really did like the dialogue that featured Vi and the rest of my favorite characters. Overall, this book was good. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an action packed and surprising read. I look forward to reading book two. I received this book as an ARC from Simon & Schuster.

---Posted by Lauren G.

Teen Speak

Motorcycles, Sushi, & One Strange Book by Nancy Rue

Genre: YA Fiction

Published: April 2010 (Zondervan)

Jessie Hatcher is a fifteen-year-old girl with ADHD who lives with her bipolar mother. One day, out of the blue, Jessie’s father, who was said to be dead, suddenly calls her and comes to visit. This visit causes Jessie's mother to try to commit suicide by overdosing on pain medication. Since her mother is getting treatment at the hospital, Jessie has to stay with her dad. On the way there, she finds a book with the letters ‘RL’ on the cover. The book has bible stories in it that makes Jessie look at her life differently, as well as get through some hard times.

I really liked Motorcycles, Sushi, & One Strange Book, especially because the scriptures are written in the 'street language' of today. The cover makes it seem like the book is your typical fluffy chic-lit, but in reality it talks about some very serious and deep subjects. This book covers topics such as ADHD, mental illness, depression and alcoholism, but does it in a tasteful and thought provoking way. Thanks to Zondervan for donating this book!

---Posted by Natalie

The Summer I Lost It by Natalie Kath

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Published: August 2011 (Stone Arch Books)

Being fourteen years old is hard enough for Kat without having to worry about being overweight. Tired of feeling badly about herself, Kat decides that this summer she is going to do something about it. When her initial plan of attending “fat camp” falls through because her parents cannot afford to send her there, Kat doesn’t let that stop her. Instead, she joins the gym and changes her eating habits. Though losing weight isn’t easy, Kat never gives up and learns some important life lessons along the way.

The Summer I Lost It is a great motivational book for pre-teen girls who may be struggling with their weight. I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. It is a really quick read, but contains a strong message. For Kat, it’s not just about losing weight however she can so she can look like everyone else; it’s about liking who she is as a person, improving her self-esteem, and losing weight the healthy way. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with their weight. The Summer I Lost It is not only entertaining, but also a guide on how to lose weight the healthy way. There are even recipes at the end of the book to get you going!

---Posted by Ashley

The Princess and the Cokyri

Legacy (Legacy, #1) by Cayla Kluver



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YA Fantasy

Published: June 2011

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called Hytanica. The people of Hytanica were of a peaceful nature, but that peace was disrupted when the evil sorcerers of Cokyri waged war with them. Forty-nine newborn boys were kidnapped from Hytanica, and forty-eight lifeless children were returned. Just as suddenly as war began with Cokyri, so did it end.

Sixteen years later, Hytanica is prospering. Enter Princess Alera, heir to the throne of Hytanica. Alera is nearing her seventeenth birthday and must choose a husband to take over the throne when her father steps down. Though it is technically her choice who she marries, the king has made it known that he wishes Alera to marry Steldor, a handsome though pompous man who sets Alera on edge. This is bad enough without the threat of another war with the Cokyri, and when Alera meets Narian, a mysterious stranger, and falls in love with him, trouble ensues.  

I received Legacy as and ARC from NetGalley. I’m not going to lie, I really wanted to like this book, and in the end, I really didn’t. I really don’t like giving bad reviews, but I just couldn’t get into this one even though the cover was so pretty and the prologue captured my interest. Unfortunately, the book dragged on from there. Taking into account the author’s age when she wrote Legacy (she was just 14), I would say this book was a good first start. Ignoring Kluver’s age, I would say it needed a lot of work. The protagonist, Princess Alera, is immature, and though she was a feisty heroine, she often acted out irrationally causing herself and others to land in some very hot water. In truth, the only character I really enjoyed was London, her bodyguard, who wasn’t even in the whole book. I also found the language to be unbelievable. It was very flowery, stilted and overly descriptive. Kluver is a strong and imaginative writer, and I think that as she matures so will her writing.

--Posted by Ashley

Teen Speak

Check out what our teens had to say about some of their favorite books!

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Genre: YA Fiction

Published: May 2011

            Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley is a book that follows the lives of two teenagers. The bulk of the story focuses on Cullen, a recent high school graduate, who lives in the small town of Lilly, Arkansas. This dull town is brought to life upon the recent sightings of the Lazarus woodpecker that was previously thought to be extinct. As the town becomes invested in the woodpecker, Cullen’s family and friends must cope with the inexplicable disappearance of Gabriel, Cullen’s younger brother, who seems to have not an enemy in the world. Benton is a missionary that has gone to Africa to do God’s work. He begins his mission work only to become confused as to what his purpose in life really is. These two characters, though unknowing of each other’s existence, start a series of events that will reshape the lives around them and those that are far away.

            Although I was unsure as to how this book was going to pan out, I must admit that I am glad to have read this story. It touched on the important and difficult aspects of life and portrayed them in a way that was real and understandable rather than being stilted and shallow. The author captured the meandering way that the mind works without detracting from the integrity of the plot. Daydreams were intermixed with reality without confusion and gave the reader a sense of how the character was feeling without being blunt and tactless. This truly displayed the inner conflict that Benton was going through and the stress and monotony that plagued Cullen. Where Things Come Back is a book that is difficult to describe, however, I must say that it is worth the time to read. As I understand the small town life, this book really hit home and made me appreciative of my place in this world. With a plot filled with sadness and hope, and a cast of characters the likes of which everyone knows, Where Things Come Back brings readers into the lives of several young adults and shows the challenges that they must overcome to simply function in a world wrought with difficulty. I received this book as an ARC from Simon & Schuster.

--- Posted by Lauren G.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

YA Paranormal Romance

Published: 2011

            The main characters of this book are Pierce and John Hayden. Pierce is a sixteen-year old girl and John is Lord of the Dead. The main character changes from hating John to understanding him by the end of the story. The book takes place in present-day Florida in Las Islas Huesos, as well as the Underworld. This story takes place because Pierce trips over her scarf and drowns in her pool. She appears in the Underworld and John Hayden, who is like Hades, falls in love with her immediately. He attempts to keep her there forever but Pierce throws tea in his face and escapes. Pierce and her mom move to Las Islas Huesos, where Pierce hopes she can finally escape John, but meets up with him again when Furies, dead people unhappy where they landed in the underworld, attempt to kill her.   

            I like how the story was similar to the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, but I didn't like how Pierce thought she could handle stuff on her own when she actually couldn't. Because of this, sometimes Pierce annoyed me. Though the flashbacks were a little confusing, I liked the book and did not think it was predictable. If you liked Meg Cabot’s Avalon High series then you will enjoy Abandon.

 --- Posted by Natalie R.

Teen Speak

Check out what our teens had to say about some of their favorite books!

Breaking Up (Fashion High) by Aimee Friedman

Genre: YA Graphic Novel

Published: 2007



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Breaking Up is the story of four high school girls who have been best friends since they were little. There’s Chloe, the artist; Mackenzie, the drop-dead gorgeous, daring diva; Isabel, the talented self-assured type of person; and Erika, the sweetheart of the group. The story mainly takes place at Georgia O’Keeffe School of the Arts (aka Fashion High), during the girls’ junior year. The problem Chloe faces is that she is noticing that her relationship is starting to change with her three best friends.

I liked how the characters react to some of the situations that happen in the book. Chloe is a very likeable character and everything that happens in the story is easy to relate to, though I never would have guessed what was going to happen in the book. If you like this book them, I recommend Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia and Smile by Raina Telgemeier.

     --- Posted by Chandala W.

A Robot Stole My Hairbrush

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1) by Kady Cross

Genre: YA Steampunk

Published: May 2011



  

It may be 1897, but Finley Jayne is no Victorian miss. At sixteen, she has more to deal with than the average teenager. With her inability to hold down a job and a seriously dark alter ego that comes out unbidden whenever she’s threatened, Finley doesn’t know if she is insane or what. So when her employer, known for making untoward advances to his maids, crosses the line, Finley gladly puts him in his place. Which happens to be on the floor, unconscious, with a broken nose. Afraid she’ll be sent to Bedlam, Finley makes a run for it…right into the pathway of a velocycle.

Taking in a stranger wasn’t exactly what Griffin King, Duke of Greythorne, had in mind. But when you hit a girl with your steam-powered bike, you can’t exactly leave her lying in the road. Sadly, Grif has bigger problems to deal with - namely catching ‘the Machinist’ who nearly killed his friend and is responsible for a slew of seemingly random crimes across London. However, with a penchant for taking in strays (Emily – the brilliant inventor, Sam – the protector, and Jasper – an American cowboy), Griffin decides to help Finley learn how to control her other self.

I received this book as an ARC to review from NetGalley, and I have to say, this is my favorite YA steampunk novel to date. Finley’s Jekyll/Hyde personality really brought the book to life. The story was told from alternating perspectives (which I usually can’t stand), but Kady Cross made the transitions so smooth that you didn’t even notice. By writing in this way, the characters become so much more 3-D than if it was solely written from Finley’s perspective. The only (small!) problem I had with the book was that there wasn’t much focus on setting. I knew they were in London, but beyond that the description was fairly basic. Nevertheless, this book is fantastic and a wonderful debut for Kady Cross.

For those of you who haven’t read steampunk before, this is definitely a great book to start with. Steampunk is alternative history science fiction set in Victorian times. Kady Cross’s website says it best “History, Twisted.” The gadgets are cool, the heroes/heroines have attitude, and the clothes are awesome. If you like Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices or Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars, you will love The Girl in the Steel Corset.

Check out this awesome book trailer put together by Harlequin:

Posted by Ashley D.

There's an Alien in Home Ec.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, #1) by Pittacus Lore


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Genre: YA Science Fiction
Published: 2010

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is the first book in a science fiction series featuring teens with super powers. Following the destruction of the planet Lorien, nine teens with extraordinary abilities and their guardians are sent to earth to hide from the enemy alien race, the Mogadorians. Under the protection of a charm that makes them imperious to harm when separate from the others, the nine hide to develop their capabilities. The only catch is that if they are killed in order of their number, they can be strategically taken down. As the title suggests, the story follows the life of number four, John Smith. John and his guardian, Henri, settle in the town of Paradise, Ohio to live a normal life without attracting the attention of the Mogadorians and the human media. When John finds out that the first three of the nine have been killed, it is more important than ever to develop his powers and stay off the radar. The story follows his struggle to balance a normal life at school and his alien past. A mix of science fiction, action adventure and a touch of romance, this story is good for anyone who likes a quick, light science fiction read.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I kept on wanting to know what was going to happen next or what happened in John’s past. I appreciated the flashbacks because it gave a greater depth to the story and helped explain past events. Unlike some books that utilize flashbacks to explain the history of the story line and generally cause confusion for the reader, these actually worked. I also liked a majority of the characters. Some were quite stereotypical, but they served their purpose. The only thing I didn’t care for was the romance aspect, which came off as stereotypical. Good looking boy meets good looking girl, they fall in love, phone calls and family dinners ensue. I felt that had the dialogue been better, the relationship between John and Sarah would have been more convincing. Upon occasion John did exhibit the usual annoying character tendencies, such as blatantly ignoring sound advice, but apart from that, John was a likeable main character.

I am not a science fiction connoisseur, but for those who like I am Number Four, I would highly recommend Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
Posted by Lauren G.

Teen Speak

Check out what our teens had to say about some of their favorite books!

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Dystopian

Published: 2011

 

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This is a book about a seventeen-year old girl named Lena whose world is controlled by the government and love is not allowed. When she falls in love, Lena starts to see the flaws in her perfect world. As she learns of a new world, she challenges the old one. Lena’s character changes from being withdrawn to standing up for what she wants. I could identify with Lena when she was grappling with the problem of breaking the rules to fight for what she believes in. The end of the book is sad and challenging in a good way. If you like this book, you will like Matched by Allyson Condie.

 

      

               --Posted by Natalie & Sabrina

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Fiction

Published: 2010



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One night, driving home from a party, Samantha and her friends crash her car and she dies. After her death, Samantha gets seven chances to right her wrongs before she can finally let go. If you like books about getting second chances, then you’ll like this book.

     

             --Posted by Natalie R.

Sabriel (Abhorsen, # 1) by Garth Nix

Genre: Juvenile Fantasy

Published: 1995



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Sabriel is a fantastic adventure through a mysterious world of old magic and necromancy. Sabriel, the daughter of Abhorsen, has kept herself away from the Old Kingdom, but now her father is missing and she is out to find him. The final showdown is amazingly well done and will leave you happy for the heroes. If you enjoy a good tale of heroism and love, then this is the book for you.

      

               --Posted by Brandon E.

Enclave (Razorland, #1) by Ann Aguirre

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Summary: The Hunger Games meets I Am Legend

Deuce has lived in an underground enclave all of her life, where the rules are strict and the motto is ‘only the strong survive.’ Those fortunate enough to live until their fifteenth birthday are honored with a name and one of three jobs – Breeder, Builder, or Hunter.

For Deuce, all she has ever wanted is to be a Hunter and works with blind devotion towards her goal. Hunters are not only responsible for feeding the enclave, but also for protecting them from the Freaks – flesh-eating monsters who roam the dark tunnels outside the enclave for fresh meat. On her fifteenth birthday, Deuce has proven her worth and is officially initiated as a Huntress. Partnered with the brooding Fade, an outsider from Topside, Deuce is given the job of finding out why the once mindless Freaks are now showing signs of cunning intelligence, further threatening the survival of her people.

As Deuce and Fade work together, Deuce makes the realization that the enclave's leaders are not as perfect as she once thought they were; and when she is forced to  leave the only life she has ever known, she must learn how to survive Topside.

If you’re a fan of dystopian fiction, you will absolutely love this book! Enclave is action-packed and fast paced from the very beginning up until you turn the last page. The characters are strong, engaging, and very human in their emotions. I can’t wait for the next installment of this series.