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.

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

Luck for the Luckless

The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Published: April 2011 (Candlewick Press)

The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker is a story about a twelve-year-old girl, Tugs Button. Tugs is from a long line of luckless, somewhat unhappy and completely undistinguished family, who consider the eating of pie to be a sign that something is wrong. Needless to say, nobody expects much from the Button family. One day Tugs meets a young charismatic gentleman, Harvey Moore, who plans to start a newspaper to bring progress to the small town. As the town of Goodhue is swept up in the anticipation of the newspaper’s promised publication, Tugs finds a mystery and sets out to solve it. Armed with her Brownie camera that she won in a raffle and backed by several unlikely characters, Tugs will start a journey that proves that luck may just be attainable for those who look for it.

I loved this book. Not only did the cover art win me over, but the story did too. It was adorable, and I must admit that I am a sucker for cutesy stories. Tugs was such a charming and spunky character, I couldn’t help but laugh and get swept up into the plot. Although the plot was straightforward, I felt that it delivered a great young heroine, an upbeat tale, and a wonderful message: You are what you make of yourself. Despite the fact that this book is targeted to a younger audience, I feel that it can be appreciated by people outside of the intended audience, as long as the reader is not looking for anything overly profound or complex. Great characters populated the book. Most were flat, but they were likeable, especially Tugs, Granddaddy Ike, and Aggie. Although development for secondary characters was lacking, Tugs definitely was a figure that was responsive to the environment and grew throughout the book. The story does use terms and phrases that are typical for the time setting, so be ready for that when reading the book, though it didn’t detract from the story at all. In fact, I think it enhanced the authentic, rustic feel of the story line. On a more nitpicky note, some of the wording in the beginning was a bit awkward, but for the most part, that was my only real complaint. As long as the reader goes in with the expectation that this story is a quick, easy, and fun read, it will be enjoyed. I acknowledge that this book is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. I liked it but others may not. I would recommend The Luck of the Buttons to someone who is searching for a fun-loving, at times silly, but completely charming tale. This book was given as an ARC from Candlewick Press.

---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



Request This Title!

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