By Marie Rutkoski
Summary:
The daughter of a general in an ever expanding empire which makes those it conquers slaves, Kestral has lived a life of privilege. In an impulse decision, Kestral buys herself a slave named Arin, setting off a chain of events that she could never have anticipated. In a world where her people have always been in charge, she will suddenly become a pawn as the tides change against them. A fast paced read, The Winner's Curse will be difficult to put down.
Review:
The Winner's Curse is a fun and fast read. I had a hard time putting it down. Kestral is a great character, at first a little insipid, but grows dynamically as she faces challenges she didn't expect. The love story between her and Arin is believable and a great aspect to the book, and the ending sets up nicely for a sequel. A great book to give to fans of Landry Park, Pawn, or The Selection.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The Impossible Knife of Memory
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Summary:
Hayley and her father moved back to his hometown to start over after spending the last five years on the road. But as she starts to settle into a normal life, her father's struggles with PTSD from his time in Iraq start to take over their lives. Though Hayley tries to keep his condition from her teachers and friends, she'll have to realize that sometimes you can't save the ones you love by yourself. A haunting look at PTSD, the book is a stark reminder that sometimes the worst scars we carry aren't ones you can see.
Review:
Anderson's book is an extremely powerful read about something that has affected so many people who've served, and how it has affected their families. Hayley is a great character, albeit sometimes a little older than her years (and sometimes extremely juvenile). The ending wraps up a little too nicely, but it's nice to imagine that things could be fixed. Overall it is a good read for anyone who likes realistic fiction, though the many references to excessive drinking and drugs make it a better read for older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Hayley and her father moved back to his hometown to start over after spending the last five years on the road. But as she starts to settle into a normal life, her father's struggles with PTSD from his time in Iraq start to take over their lives. Though Hayley tries to keep his condition from her teachers and friends, she'll have to realize that sometimes you can't save the ones you love by yourself. A haunting look at PTSD, the book is a stark reminder that sometimes the worst scars we carry aren't ones you can see.
Review:
Anderson's book is an extremely powerful read about something that has affected so many people who've served, and how it has affected their families. Hayley is a great character, albeit sometimes a little older than her years (and sometimes extremely juvenile). The ending wraps up a little too nicely, but it's nice to imagine that things could be fixed. Overall it is a good read for anyone who likes realistic fiction, though the many references to excessive drinking and drugs make it a better read for older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
When Audrey met Alice
by Rebecca Behrens
Summary:
It's not all bad being the President's daughter, there's a kitchen with everything you could want, you get movies before they come out in theaters, books sent to you before they're published. But you've also always got to act perfect, support your mom, and do great in school. And having friends over? Don't even think about it without them passing security protocols. Audrey just wants a little more excitement. in her life. When she discovers Alice Roosevelt's diary hidden in her room, she gets more than a few ideas from Alice for how to make her White House experience a little more fun.
Review:
When Audrey Met Alice is a fun read sure to appeal to younger teen girls. Audrey is a great heroine, relateable even as the President's daughter- because how many 13 year old girls haven't felt trapped by their age and parents expectations. Alice Roosevelt is a great figure for girls to learn about, and the book should inspire many readers to learn more about her.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Summary:
It's not all bad being the President's daughter, there's a kitchen with everything you could want, you get movies before they come out in theaters, books sent to you before they're published. But you've also always got to act perfect, support your mom, and do great in school. And having friends over? Don't even think about it without them passing security protocols. Audrey just wants a little more excitement. in her life. When she discovers Alice Roosevelt's diary hidden in her room, she gets more than a few ideas from Alice for how to make her White House experience a little more fun.
Review:
When Audrey Met Alice is a fun read sure to appeal to younger teen girls. Audrey is a great heroine, relateable even as the President's daughter- because how many 13 year old girls haven't felt trapped by their age and parents expectations. Alice Roosevelt is a great figure for girls to learn about, and the book should inspire many readers to learn more about her.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
The Tyrant's Daughter
by J.C. Carleson
Summary:
When the news talks about dictators on the other side of the world, it's easy to forget that they and their families are real people. It's hard to feel sympathy for them when their regimes fall, because we've heard the stories about how many people have died because of them. But what if you were the daughter of a dictator? Sheltered from the outside world, unaware of what was happening in your own country. And then you had to flee to America after a hostile takeover. And are now thrust into a world completely different than your own. Startlingly realistic, the Tyrant's daughter is difficult to separate from real life happenings.
Review:
This is a completely fascinating look at not only the consequences of a dictatorship, but also at the intricacies of modern political power-mongering. The many layers of intrigue played by the CIA, the royal family, and current despot in Laila's home country are scarily realistic in their nature. Laila herself is a teenager struggling to adjust to life in a country so completely opposite from her own. She is a strong girl who takes on the challenge by observing and imitating those she sees. In the book we see her grow from a girl who was completely sheltered to one who faces the difficult decisions and acts. It's a great modern read to give to any teen with an interest in the world. It probably has more interest for older teens because of it's many references to today's political landscape.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
When the news talks about dictators on the other side of the world, it's easy to forget that they and their families are real people. It's hard to feel sympathy for them when their regimes fall, because we've heard the stories about how many people have died because of them. But what if you were the daughter of a dictator? Sheltered from the outside world, unaware of what was happening in your own country. And then you had to flee to America after a hostile takeover. And are now thrust into a world completely different than your own. Startlingly realistic, the Tyrant's daughter is difficult to separate from real life happenings.
Review:
This is a completely fascinating look at not only the consequences of a dictatorship, but also at the intricacies of modern political power-mongering. The many layers of intrigue played by the CIA, the royal family, and current despot in Laila's home country are scarily realistic in their nature. Laila herself is a teenager struggling to adjust to life in a country so completely opposite from her own. She is a strong girl who takes on the challenge by observing and imitating those she sees. In the book we see her grow from a girl who was completely sheltered to one who faces the difficult decisions and acts. It's a great modern read to give to any teen with an interest in the world. It probably has more interest for older teens because of it's many references to today's political landscape.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Friday, March 14, 2014
Landry Park
by Bethany Hagen
Summary:
In a future United States where everything is powered by nuclear energy, Madeline Landry has lived a privileged life as one of the Gentry, the ruling upper class. As her father presses her to marry rather than go to college, she finds herself rebelling against things she's believed since childhood. A chance encounter with the oppressed lower classes called the Rootless leaves her questioning the reasons that society has been split into classes. She'll have to decide whether she can leave her life of luxury behind to fight for those who pay the price for it.
Review:
With so many dystopian novels out there it's easy for another to blend in. However Landry Park does an excellent job of bringing another dimension to the field. The society is a return to 19th century strict class rules. Madeline is a character who is believable in their struggle, it's easy to want moral justice for everyone but hard to leave a life where you want for nothing. It's a good read for fans of Downton Abbey or the Selection. There's little real violence in it, nor sex, though does feature a little drinking. It's overall a good book you can easily give to any teen.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
In a future United States where everything is powered by nuclear energy, Madeline Landry has lived a privileged life as one of the Gentry, the ruling upper class. As her father presses her to marry rather than go to college, she finds herself rebelling against things she's believed since childhood. A chance encounter with the oppressed lower classes called the Rootless leaves her questioning the reasons that society has been split into classes. She'll have to decide whether she can leave her life of luxury behind to fight for those who pay the price for it.
Review:
With so many dystopian novels out there it's easy for another to blend in. However Landry Park does an excellent job of bringing another dimension to the field. The society is a return to 19th century strict class rules. Madeline is a character who is believable in their struggle, it's easy to want moral justice for everyone but hard to leave a life where you want for nothing. It's a good read for fans of Downton Abbey or the Selection. There's little real violence in it, nor sex, though does feature a little drinking. It's overall a good book you can easily give to any teen.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Something Real
by Heather Demetrios
Summary:
Chloe Baker has finally managed to fit in. No one knows her as one of the infamous Bakers Dozen, a reality show that followed her family since she was born. Instead she's a normal teenager, with friends and a crush! Then she finds her nice normal world crashing down around her as Bakers Dozen prepares to return to TV. With cameras following her and her family 24/7, it's impossible to go back to her nice normal life. And now America is sitting in the front seat watching everything about her family implode.
Review:
This book is an amazingly written cautionary tale about the price of fame, particularly for those who don't choose it. With so many reality shows that feature parents and their children, the book really strikes a cord (and makes it even harder to condone watching shows with children who didn't sign up for the life). Chloe is a relateable character that teens will cheer for as she fights for her privacy. Definitely a good contemporary read for slightly older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Chloe Baker has finally managed to fit in. No one knows her as one of the infamous Bakers Dozen, a reality show that followed her family since she was born. Instead she's a normal teenager, with friends and a crush! Then she finds her nice normal world crashing down around her as Bakers Dozen prepares to return to TV. With cameras following her and her family 24/7, it's impossible to go back to her nice normal life. And now America is sitting in the front seat watching everything about her family implode.
Review:
This book is an amazingly written cautionary tale about the price of fame, particularly for those who don't choose it. With so many reality shows that feature parents and their children, the book really strikes a cord (and makes it even harder to condone watching shows with children who didn't sign up for the life). Chloe is a relateable character that teens will cheer for as she fights for her privacy. Definitely a good contemporary read for slightly older teens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Stolen
by Lucy Christopher
Summary:
Gemma was just mad at her parents. She wanted to make them wait a bit before she joined them at the boarding gate for the plane that they were catching. She had no clue that she was giving someone the opportunity they had been waiting for. The opportunity to take her. When she wakes up 2 days later in the middle of the Australian outback, she's going to find herself in the middle of a nightmare.
Review:
Stolen was an extremely creepy yet realistic read. One of the most disturbing things was how easy it would be to kidnap someone in an airport, because with a quick appearance change you can hop on the next plane with no one the wiser fairly simply. The only real flaw in the book is that Gemma develops a personal relationship with Ty, her kidnapper. While Stockholm syndrome is well documented, their relationship seems a little top easy, especially after she finds out he's been stalking her since she was a child. Overall, it's a good book for teens who like suspense.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Gemma was just mad at her parents. She wanted to make them wait a bit before she joined them at the boarding gate for the plane that they were catching. She had no clue that she was giving someone the opportunity they had been waiting for. The opportunity to take her. When she wakes up 2 days later in the middle of the Australian outback, she's going to find herself in the middle of a nightmare.
Review:
Stolen was an extremely creepy yet realistic read. One of the most disturbing things was how easy it would be to kidnap someone in an airport, because with a quick appearance change you can hop on the next plane with no one the wiser fairly simply. The only real flaw in the book is that Gemma develops a personal relationship with Ty, her kidnapper. While Stockholm syndrome is well documented, their relationship seems a little top easy, especially after she finds out he's been stalking her since she was a child. Overall, it's a good book for teens who like suspense.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
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