After the End

by Amy Plum

Summary:
Growing up in a commune in the Alaskan wilderness, Juneau never had any reason to doubt what her elders told her. That there was a world wide war that wiped out everyone. That they were lucky to have survived. But that was a lie. When Juneau returns to camp after being out hunting she finds her entire commune gone, and now she'll have to find them in a world she's been told doesn't exist.

Review:
Most dystopian novels start with the end of the world, and After the End is no different. But from here it changes. Instead of the world actually being over, it has thrived. It's an interesting twist that Plum pulls off. The novel is told in alternating perspectives between Juneau and Miles, the boy who becomes her companion. It's the first in a series, so don't expect it to be resolved in this one book.

Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Age Level: 7th Grade

Nearly Gone

by Elle Cosimano

Summary:
Nearly just wants to keep her head down until the end of the school year. She's one of the top 3 contenders for a huge chemistry scholarship that is her ticket out of town and into college. But when the students she tutors start turning up dead, she finds herself the prime suspect in the police investigation. When she discovers an ad in the personal section that promises more attacks, she realizes that it's up to her to figure out who's behind the killings before she becomes the final victim.

Review:
There's not too many books that glorify girls who love math and chemistry, but this one does a great job of making up for that! Nearly is a great character. She's incredibly smart and knows it, and is using those smarts to get a better life for herself. The premise of the book is good, and the twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing who's behind it all until the very end. There are references to drugs and alcohol, and an entire plotline about a drug dealer. And there's a little romance mixed in for Nearly as well. It's a great read about a strong female character, but one that will appeal to both boys and girls.

Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 9th Grade

Six Months Later

by Natalie Richards

Summary:
Imagine waking up to discover you've missed the last 6 months of your life. You haven't been in a coma, but you can't remember anything from the last 6 months. But now you're suddenly a star student, one of the popular kids, you're dating the most popular guy in school and you've got your choice of colleges just waiting for you. You might be happy about the great turnaround in your life, but wouldn't you wonder about the cost?  Chloe will stop at nothing to figure out why she can't remember the last 6 months, because if she doesn't she just might end up dead.

Review:
Six Months Later is a great read for anyone who likes mysteries. While slightly far fetched, Richards' book is fast paced and hard to put down. Chloe is a likable character who's desire for the truth is pretty realistic. She doesn't want her fancy new life if it comes at a terrible price.  The intrigue, danger and suspense make this a solid read for anyone who likes these types of novels.

Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 10th Grade

True Blue

by Deborah Ellis

Summary:
Would you be able to stand up for your best friend if she was accused of murder? What if all the evidence pointed to her? What if everyone else already believed it? Jess might have thought she would, but when her best friend Casey is arrested for the murder of a  young girl who was in their cabin at summer camp, she finds herself swayed by the masses. As Casey is put on trial, Jess harbors a secret that could set her free. But she has to be brave enough to say it. And what happens if she is not?

Review:
When I picked up this book I thought it would end pretty typically, with Jess coming to Casey's rescue and becoming a better person. Without too many spoilers, it doesn't, and in not coming to a perfect happy ending the book becomes more realistic. It is incredibly hard to stand up for something when everyone else isn't behind it. We'd all like to think we'd stand up for the right thing, but how many of us actually would? Jess' story is a bit of a cautionary tale, and one that is definitely worth reading.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade

The Girl of Fire and Thorns

by Rae Carson

Summary:
Elisa is not your typical princess. Overweight, not graceful, and quick to say what's on her mind, she never thought she'd amount to much. Except she's the bearer of the Godstone, a divine gift which is only bestowed on one person every 100 years. And Godstone bearers each have their own task to complete, though none know what it will be til it happens. Elisa begins the tale as a princess, but what she becomes (though marriage, kidnappings, rebellion and more) is more than she can imagine.

Review:
I started off not really sure about the book as the religious aspects can be a bit much. However, Elisa is one of the most refreshing characters I've encountered in awhile. She's not perfect, and is quite all right with it. The changes she goes through in the book, both physical and mental, are believable and impressive. The story takes several twists you don't see coming, and turns into much more of an adventure story than  you might think at first. The book will definitely leave you excited to grab the rest of the trilogy.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock

by Matthew Quick

Summary:
Today, Leonard Peacock is going to kill himself and one of his classmates. He will first say goodbye to the only four people he cares about, but then he will do it. Leonard's last day is a cry for help, but no one pays enough attention or seems to care enough to follow through. As he says goodbye to his four, we learn the struggles that led him to the decision, and have to hope that someone will save him from himself. A haunting novel which portrays the struggle and many causes that lead someone to this decision, the book will keep you hoping that's it's protagonist finds something to live for.

Review:
While the premise itself is violent, the book is more about the myriad of factors that led Leonard to where he is now. We learn about the abuse he suffered in silence, about the constant bullying and his absent and clueless mother. The four people he says goodbye to are the only ones who appear to care, but even then are not aware of how desperately he struggles. It's a chilling reminder that you never know when how you treat someone will have the power to pull them from an abyss, or give them that last push to jump over. A great read for older teens.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade

One Moment

by Kristina McBride

Summary:
If only Maggie could remember what happened at the top of the cliff. Maybe if she could remember those moments before her boyfriend Joey fell to his death it would make more sense. But as Maggie starts to remember snippets of what happened, and what led up to that moment, she realizes that maybe she never really knew Joey at all. As the secrets that he kept start coming out, she realizes that maybe the boy she loved was never really who she thought.

Review:
A well written novel, One Moment  is the story of how secrets never stay hidden. What struck me the most is how everyone, Joey's family, Maggie, and their friends, all had to learn to accept everything Joey had done while alive that they never knew about. His secret life made them reexamine the "perfect Joey" they thought they knew, but all had to realize that they were still allowed to love and miss him.  Maggie is a great character, and the book does keep you interested throughout. 

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

Summary:
Imagine never having a private thought. Imagine if everything you thought everyone could hear.  If everything animals thought you could hear.  It would be endless Noise right? Todd has grown up in Prentisstown. A town of only men. A town where no thought is private, even from your dog.  But in a town where you know every thought of every person, secrets can still be kept.  Secrets that can destroy a world.  When Todd discovers a girl named Viola hiding in the nearby swamp, a girl whose thoughts he can't hear, everything he ever knew is shattered.  And when they become the most wanted people in Prentisstown, and in all of the New World, they will have to find a way to survive.

Review:
At first I had a hard time getting into this book, but the more I read the more the book drew me in.  At first you are led to believe that Prentisstown is all there is in this world, but as Todd meets Viola we discover that Prentisstown is one of many towns on the New World; a world that was supposed to be a utopian society until the problems that plague all societies emerged.  The book kind of mirrors the hope of the Puritans landing in Plymouth, only to discover that the perfect world is not as easy to make as you want.  The book is extremely engaging and will be liked by any teen who enjoys dystopian fiction or epics. The characters are extremely interesting, especially Todd as we can hear every thought he has.  The book does a good job of discussing the concepts of good and evil, and as you get further in the series you see the characters struggling with the definition of both in the same way Katniss has to in Mockingjay (as in President's Snow v Coin, but in this book it is Prentiss v Mistress Coyle). 

Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Series Information: Knife of Never Letting Go (Book 1), The Ask and the Answer (Book 2), The Madness of Men (Book 3)

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone

by Kat Rosenfield

Summary:
Becca can't wait to move away from college, to shake off the trappings of her small town life and move somewhere new and exciting, never to come back.  But when a girl from out of town is found murdered on the same night Becca graduates, the repercussions shake the entire town's foundations. Becca finds herself trapped, worrying about the girl that no one knows, unsure of who is telling her the truth.  Murders don't happen in her hometown, or at least they didn't.  Now they are left wondering who among them could have done it, who among them has gotten away with it.

Review:
Rosenfield's book is both well written and engaging.  The book is told mainly from Becca's point of view beginning at the time when the murder occurs, the book is interspersed with chapters from Amelia Anne's point of view from her last day alive.  The resulting novel draws readers in and leaves them guessing til the very end about who did it.  It is a great story about the repercussions a tragic event has not only on those immediately involved but also all those peripherally around it.  The book is great for any teens who like murder mysteries. 

Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8-9th Grade

Where I Belong

by Gillian Cross

Summary:
Sent to England to get an education and earn money to help her family back in Somalia, 13 year old Khadija finds herself living with Abdi's family.  Abdi wasn't too terribly thrilled about it.  He had just lost his father to some sort of accident in Somalia, what exactly it was no one seems to know, and now he has a new 'sister' Khadija, as if taking care of his mother and 2 younger sisters wasn't enough. 

Freya knew when her mother got on crazy kicks there was nothing stopping her until she got it all out of her system.  Except this time the crazy kick is Somalia.  And her mother happens to be one of the most famous fashion designers this century. When her mother sees Khadija she knows she has found the perfect centerpiece for her collection. But what none of them know is what will get set in motion when Khadija is discovered, what devious plots are launched and whose lives will hang in the balance by those they thought they trusted most. 


Review:
One of the most interesting things about Where I Belong is that it is narrated in turn by Khadija, Abdi and Freya.  They pass the story back and forth in a way that makes it seem like they are right there telling you in person.  The book doesn't really touch on any heavy immigration issues (a topic which is quite sensitive in England) but does interestingly talk about the disconnect many immigrants feel to the country they are from when they have never even seen their home country as well as the love many still have when living somewhere else.  The book does touch on the problems of Somalia, but also focuses on how it is still a place where people live, and that people love.  It's a really good read and great for older tweens.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade

You Against Me

by Jenny Downham

Summary:
Rape is an ugly thing.  It tears up not only the victim, but their family and friends.  But the family of the perpetrator, what about them?  What is their family supposed to do?  When Mikey's sister claims she was raped, Ellie's brother is the one accused of it.  As he goes to jail, and then is released, she stands by him because that's what sisters do.  But what if the claim is true?  Who can she stand by then?

Review:
"You Against Me" is interesting because it not only looks at the aftermath of rape from the point of view of the victim's family, but also of the perpetrator.  The book addresses the shame and fear experienced by the victim, but also the social and emotional repercussions that those related to someone who commits a terrible crime face.  Both Ellie and Mikey have to come to terms with the face that the other's family is not the enemy, and have to learn that regardless the truth is the only thing that is really important, even if it is what tears one of their families apart.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10-11th Grade

Want to go Private?

by Sarah Darer Littman

Summary:
Abby knew high school was going to be different than middle school, she just didn't expect everything to be so hard.  Her best friend Faith is making new friends left and right, joining clubs and having fun, but Abby can't seem to find her place.  Combined with parents who just ignore her and the most annoying little sister, it's no wonder she prefers to spend all her time online with her new friend Luke.  She's never met him, in fact they met in a chat room on her favorite website, but he understands her more than anyone else.  When she's fed up with everything he suggests they have a fun weekend together.  He loves her after all, so Abby decides to meet him.  But what happens when online fantasy changes to reality, what's actually real and what's not.  For Abby it might be too late...

Review:
Want to go Private? is a story about the dangers of the internet, about the dangers that anyone who goes online is exposed to.  Abby has been taught all about how to be safe on the internet, that she shouldn't give out personal information to people she doesn't know, but Luke slowly gains her trust and she is convinced she's doing the right thing by telling him her name, about her life, giving him her address.  The book is a chilling reminder that even when someone knows the facts about something, all it takes is someone pushing the right buttons to get them to forget themselves.  A really good read for older tweens and younger teens about the dangers of falling for a fantasy.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade

Legend

by Marie Lu

Summary:
June has been a child prodigy since day one.  She is the only person in the Republic to ever score a perfect 1500 on the nation's aptitude tests, setting her up to become one of the eventual military leaders.  But as she finished her training her brother is killed, and she is appointed to lead a squad in tracking down his killer.  A killer who also happens to be the Republic's number one most wanted.  Day is well known for his acts of terrorism, for destroying Republic equipment and disrupting supply lines to the front of the war with the Colonies.  But what June is about to find out is that Day is no ordinary terrorist, he is just a boy who wants to help his family in a system that has abandoned him.  A boy who has discovered that the country that is supposedly there to protect them, is actually the one killing them.  Now June must decide who to believe: the people she has trusted all her life, or the evidence given to her by a boy she barely knows.

Review:
Legend is another dystopian novel about the destruction of the world we know and the rigid militaristic societies which have taken it's place.  What sets the novel apart from others of it's ilk is the character's themselves.  Day is one of the poor, destined since birth to never amount to more than his parents, and kept there until he escapes and decides to live on his own terms.  June is affluent, born to a life of privilege, but one which has been filled with personal tragedy.  In the novel, it is June who has to realize that everything she has been taught has been a lie, that the world she lives in is not as black and white as she has been told.  The book itself is fast paced and well written, drawing you in and leaving you wondering what happens next.  Great for tweens who like other dystopian novels.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade

Luxe

by Anna Godberson

Summary:
In the year 1899, the rules determining the behavior and conduct of New York's high society are strict and final.  They have the power to make or break a young socialites standing. In a world where old money rules and new money has to make it's standing known, Luxe follows the lives of several of New York's finest bachelors and debutantes as they learn to decide which rules are worth following, and which are worth breaking.

Review:
Luxe is a historical fiction version of many popular tween books, like Pretty Little Liars.  It is filled with intrigue, secret affairs, loves torn apart, and even a murder.  The book is well written, drawing the reader in and painting extremely intriguing characters.  It stays fairly true to realism in it's depictions of life at the dawn of the last century.  The book is a great read for older tweens due to some of the more mature content about the characters love lives.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 9th-10th grade
Series: Book 1 of 4 (Luxe, Envy, Rumors, Splendor)

The Unwanteds

By Lisa McMann

Summary:
Alex and Aaron are twins.  While they are alike physically, their personalities are different.  Alex is the creative one, while Aaron is studious and a strict rule follower.  Normally this wouldn't be much of a problem, but in Quill being creative is a death sentence.  As they both turn 13 they are separated, with Aaron being deemed wanted in society, and Alex being deemed unwanted and thus sentenced to immediate death.  But death isn't what is waiting for him.  Instead he finds that creativity itself can be his salvation. 

Review:
The Unwanteds is not just another dystopian novel.  The book combines the depressive characteristics of this type of novel (a city full of neutral colors, no fun, and rigid societal roles) with fantasy (mixing in magic and pronouncing that creativity can overcome any obstacle).  The book is well written and good for tweens of all ages, as it broaches topics like war but has little tangible violence. 

Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 4th Grade

Hate List

by Jennifer Brown

Summary:
No one really knows what to make of Valerie.  Innocent victim, hero, or accomplice in the murder of several of her classmates?  It might have been her boyfriend Nick who pulled the trigger, but she was the one who lived.  Now she not only has to recover from a devastating bullet wound, but also learn to make her way in a school where no one trusts her.  Where everyone is recovering from losing someone they loved, but she is the one recovering from loving a killer. 

Review:
School shootings are a sensitive topic, one which Hate List is able to bring up in a very powerful way.  The book focuses not only on Valerie as she attempts to heal from the trauma of being shot, but intersperses it with flashbacks to the day of the shooting as she attempts to figure out where everything went so wrong.  It all began with a list she made about things she hated, people who were annoying her, but spun so out of control the reader truly empathizes with her and the situation.  The book is a great read which focuses on devastating consequences bullying and social seclusion can have.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: 8-9th Grade

Pretty Little Liars

by Sara Shepard

Summary:
Spencer, Hanna, Emily, Aria, and Allison were not only the most popular girls in the 7th grade, but they were the very best of friends.  But even friends have secrets.  After Allison disappears, the girls left behind see their friendship disintegrate.  Now they are in the 11th grade, and those 7th grade secrets are coming back to haunt them.  They think Allison might be behind the emails and texts threatening to expose them since she has never been found, but when her body is discovered behind the house she used to live in, it leaves them all questioning everyone they know.

Review:
Pretty Little Liars is about 'mean girls.'  It's not a book with substance, though the plot line does draw one in, wondering who could be behind it all, and makes one want to read the next in the series to find out.  The book is not for younger tweens, though is similar, though darker, to the Clique books.  Not a great book to recommend young tweens, but could be a good guilty pleasure for older ones.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Series Information: Book one of the Pretty Little Liars series, currently 10 altogether
Grade Level: 8-9th grade

The Compound

by S. A. Bodeen

Summary:
While the rest of the world has been destroyed by a nuclear bomb, Eli and his family are safe in an underground compound built by his extremely wealthy father.  Trapped underground for the last 6 years with no communication with the outside world, 16 year old Eli is beginning to question his survival.  Why has he and his sisters survived while his twin perished outside? How are they going to leave when it's finally safe outside?  As their food supply diminishes faster than anticipated, Eli is forced to confront everything he believed in, only to discover that nothing is actually as it seems.

Review:
The Compound is a book not only about a monstrous betrayal, but about what people will or won't do to survive.  Eli's father is a cunningly evil man, who has turned his family into a great experiment in survivalism.  Eli himself shows remarkable fortitude in grasping the situation as it develops, and is a character that many teens will identify with.  Overall a really good book that was hard to put down.

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade Level: 8th Grade