Are you normal!

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Genre: YA Fiction

Published: March 2011 (Simon & Schuster)

Janie Gorman (14) is just starting high school. She has always been enthusiastic about everything, especially her family’s move to the farm five years ago (in fact that was her idea!). But now as she is starting her freshman year of high school, she sees how uncool the move really is. Her many mishaps that are caused by the farm leave her just wanting to blend in with the crowd. But she is not the type to blend in, no matter what she does.

I received this book as an ARC from Simon & Schuster. This is a really well written story, and I loved to watch how the main character grows in this short time. Great story about finding yourself and being who you are.

Absolutely loved it!!

---Posted by Kameron S.

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.

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.

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.

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