In the After

by Demitria Lunetta

Summary:
When the Florae invaded, no one was prepared. Most people were killed, and the few that survived did so in silence and alone. Amy and Baby communicate via sign language, surviving thanks to skills learned fast and a compound built by her parents to be self sufficient and protected. Until the day that they are rescued and find themselves in a protected fort with other survivors. Yet this rescue protects a bigger secret, one that will shatter the few things that Amy still believes in.

Review:
In the After is a well written dystopian. While inculcating typical elements (end of the world as we know it, strong female heroine who survives against all odds, rebellion against the establishment that prevailed), it brings in a slightly different aspect with the aliens. The twist at the end you kind of see coming but that doesn't detract from the books quality. A good read for fans of dystopian novels, not quite as good as Divergent and the like but with definite promise for the series. Good for those who liked  the 5th Wave.

Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancy

Summary:

No one knows what the 5^th wave is yet. The first 4 waves killed almost everyone. For Cassie the only hope for survival has been to stay alone. To keep away from other people, while searching for her younger brother. But when Evan Walker saves her life, she begins to hope that staying with him will be the right choice. As they work together to try and find her brother, she’ll learn things that will cause her to question everything she knew, everything she’s learned since the invasion, and everything that might come after.

Review:
Not your typical alien invasion book, Yancy has weaved an interesting tale of a being that comes to our planet with the aim of living here. Cassie is a strong character who has survived through a combination of luck and resourcefulness. The book weaves her story with that of her brother's and her high school crush's. The book is original and keeps you guessing til the end. It's well worth the read, an edge of your seat book you'll have a tough time putting down. It is part one of a series.

Genre: Sci Fi

Age Level: 8th Grade

Tomorrow, when the war began

Tomorrow, when the war began

Author: John Marsden

Publisher: New York: MacMillan, 1995.

Plot Description:

            A group of 6 teenagers takes a camping trip into the outback, only to return to find that in their absence their country has been invaded and their family and friends all taken hostage.  They all must face a difficult decision- turn themselves into these invaders who have taken over their lives and homes for a reason unknown to them, return to the wilderness and hide in hopes that equilibrium will return to the country, or fight for their homes and families.  This book is told through the viewpoint of Ellie, who is chronicling their ordeal so that a record of what they do and why exists. 

Review:

            This book is a gritty and realistic take on how a group of teenagers, saavy about the wilderness and survival, reacts to finding their entire lives turned upside down for reasons they do not understand.  It gives an interesting perspective on how they make the decision to fight for their country on their own with no outside help, and how they decide to do it.  It is an excellent story of not only physical survival against immense odds, but also of the psychological impacts of surviving.  These aren’t kids who were built for war, but their courage and mature decision making make for very interesting reading.  The book is incredibly well written, with excellent character development which ensures that anyone reading will be able to identify with the emotions of the characters involved.  While it could be construed as a bit old for tweens, other similar titles have proven popular with this age group which is why I included this.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Reading level: 7^th, 8^th Grade

Similar Books: Hunger Games

Reader’s Advisory:

Personal thoughts- Fantastic!

Subjects/themes-  War, Survival, Invasion, Fiction

Series information- Part of a 7 book series, followed by a 3 book trilogy about after the war

Character names/descriptions-

             Ellie- unelected leader of the group, her survival skills and ideas for fighting the enemy lay the basis of their lives

            Homer- the goofy yet incredibly smart second of the group

            Lee- the most serious of the group, he lacks the survival skills of the others but is always ready to learn

            Fi- often the most sensible of the group

            Corrie- Best friends with Ellie, she sees the reality of war first hand

            Robin- level headed and calm

            Kevin- Corrie’s boyfriend, learns that the strength he thought he had is not what he thought it was

Annotation: What would you do if your country had been invaded, all your family and friends taken hostage, and you were the only one left free?