Divided We Fall

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 15, 2014

Review

Seventeen year old Danny is just starting his senior year of high school. Having already joined the National Guard, he is called to guard duty to help stop a riot. when his gun accidentally goes off it triggers events that change his life forever. The book takes place in a near future where the Governor of Idaho is at odds, with the president of the USA. Danny soon finds himself at the center of a possible rebellion. The book not only deals with politics, but with Danny's moral dilemma - he is being forced to choose sides in a no win situation. Danny just wants to do the right thing, but he is portrayed realistically, he makes mistakes and bad choices, and just wants everything to back to normal so he can play football and be with his girl. Reedy delivers a well paced, relatable, action movie of a book, and deftly handles the difficult morality of divisive political viewpoints. This book will likely have heavy appeal for boys. Note - there is underage drinking, bad language, character death, and lots of action/war violence in this book.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Reedy, Trent

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545543675

Price: 17.99

Cruel Beauty

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 10, 2014

Review

Her future was traded for her existence. The demon prince had bargained with her father - twin girls would be born, but one would be his bride. Nyx has spent her entire life being trained to defeat her future husband, kill him, and release her kingdom from his rule. Rosamund Hodge's delicious take on Beauty and the Beast twines the old French fair tale together with mythological gods and creatures, and replaces the standard selfless and kind heroine with one that is bitter, angry, and relatable. Being familiar with the original fairy tale will give the reader some sense of where the story is going, but that will in no way stop them from reveling in Hodge's twists and turns. Cruel Beauty had a heady, romantic pull. This book is for those of you that wish that sometimes the bad boy was the right guy. Recommended for readers who like dark, tortured heroes, lush, yet creepy, romantic settings, and epic fairytale romance.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Hodge, Rosamund

Publisher: Balzar + Bray/Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062224736

Price: 17.99

Catch a Falling Star

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library , Limington,ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 10, 2014

Review

Seventeen year old Carter is happy staying in her small home town of Little, CA working in her family's diner, and doing community service at the local old folks home. Teen movie star Adam Jakes needs some positive publicity, and while filming on location in Little he offers Carter a job as his pretend girlfriend. Carter's brother has a gambling addiction, not an issue often addressed in YA fiction, which brought an interesting angle to the story.The book also explores themes of growing up and leaving home, and growing as a person. Despite its predictability the light romance is enjoyable. The characters may lack a little depth - this book is fluff not grit, but it is good fluff. If you enjoy books such as This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith, or movies like Win A Date With Tad Hamilton, then Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson is for you.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Culbertson, Kim

Publisher: Point/ Scholastic Inc

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: romance, realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545627047

Price: 17.99

Mortal Danger

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington,ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 10, 2014

Review

Edie has been bullied to the point of extremis? - suicide - when Kian shows up and offers her a deal. His boss will give her "three favors now in return for three favors later"?. Ann Aguirre's Razorland trilogy was a fantastic series, her new offering - Mortal Danger, book 1 in The Immortal Game trilogy - is a big disappointment. Even without being compared to the author's previous work it suffers in comparison to other offerings in its genre. Marketed as a revenge story with a Faustian premise it fails to make good on the revenge. Edie's desire for revenge wanes almost immediately. The books beginning chapters mishandle the subjects of teen suicide and bullying, and the intense emphasis on looks seems to validate the thought that being beautiful will change your life. The books saving grace may be that as you get further into the story several creepy entities are introduced and the book begins to lean towards more of a possible horror story. If this is the set up for the next installment of the series then book 2 may be much stronger as Aguirre's creepy people are genuinely creepy.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Aguirre, Ann

Publisher: Feiwel And Friends/ Macmillan

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy, horror, romance, folklore

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9781250024640

Price: 17.99

Astray

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington,ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 10, 2014

Review

In Astray, the sequel to her book Gated, Amy Christine Parker follows Lyla as she tries to adjust to life after leaving the cult in which she was raised. Lyla has been removed from her family and is now staying with the sheriff and his family, including son Cody - Lyla's love interest. The author does a great job at expressing Lyla's internal struggle with leaving all she has ever known behind and coming to terms with her childhood in the cult. Adjusting to life outside the Community is not easy, and the townspeople don't make it any easier for her. Lyla must also deal with truly seeing, for the first time in her life, how crazy the Community's blind allegiance to their leader, Pioneer, makes them seem. Things escalate as Pioneer's trial looms, and the Community's fervor takes a sinister turn. You do need to read the first book to really understand what is going on, but Astray is a much better read than Gated. The first book was slow, and lacked suspense. The sequel is suspenseful and engrossing, a nice psychological thriller.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Parker, Amy Christine

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780449816028

Price: 17.99

The Murder Complex

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 11, 2014

Review

Fans of Marie Lu's Legend trilogy and Elsie Chapman's Dueled will be drawn to the premise of Lindsay Cummings The Murder Complex (The Murder Complex #1). Zephyr has been programmed to kill, Meadow has been raised to survive (i.e. kill). The two of them live in a militant dystopian city surrounded by a wall, and when their paths cross their lives will be forever changed. The dual narratives of Meadow and Zephyr are so indistinguishable that sometimes the only indicator as to which character is currently narrating is the chapter heading, and since some of the chapters are no more than a page long it is easy to become confused. Add to that the illogical world building, and the repeated instances of contrived coincidences to further the plot, and you end up with a disappointing addition to the genre.

Overall Book Score: poor

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About the Book

Author:

Cummings, Lindsay

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Children's Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure, science fiction

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062220004

Price: 17.99

Uncaged

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, ME, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 11, 2014

Review

Uncaged, the first book in John Sandford's new YA series The Singular Menace, is an action-thriller movie waiting to happen. Sixteen-year-old Shay Remby's older brother Odin gets himself mixed up with an animal rights group and disappears after things go wrong during a break in at a lab doing animal testing. Trying to find her brother will take Shay from her foster home in Oregon to the streets of L.A. where the enigmatic Twist takes her in. Soon the two of them, along with a few other new allies, find themselves in the fight of their lives. The Singular corporation is into far more than animal experimentation, and saving Odin may mean exposing it all. The fast-paced, action-based plot along with strong female characters should give the book appeal to male and female readers. The tone of the writing is a bit grittier than the average YA and may be more appealing to older teens and adults. This first installment ends with just enough plot points wrapped up to keep the reader from pulling their hair out, but leaves you hanging for book two, and wondering how long it will take for this series to get a movie deal.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Sandford, John

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf/ Random House

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure, realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780385753067

Price: 18.99

The Invisible

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2015

Review

The Invisible - the sequel to The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney - does not improve upon it's predecessor. The plot twists are obvious, the story contrived. It's as if the author decided on some things she wanted to have happen and then put little effort into thinking of reasons why the characters would do those things. The book picks up where the last left off - Anthem Fleet is still coming to terms with her new super powers while she tries to fight crime, Ford is recovering from his injuries, and the whole cast is doing things and making choices that make sense if you don't really think about it. Readers who enjoyed the first book will be happy with this sequel.

Overall Book Score: poor

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About the Book

Author:

Kahaney, Amelia

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: HarperTeen/ HarperCollins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,science fiction,romance

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062231925

Price: 17.99

Second Star

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2015

Review

Alyssa B. Sheinmel re-imagines Peter Pan as a modern day surf bum, Captain Hook as a reluctant drug dealer and Wendy as just a normal girl searching for her runaway brothers. Second Star is a book about hope and loss, and those feelings are conveyed. The book is a bit unrealistic in it's portrayal of drugs, and the main character twice finds insta-love with a boy that is obviously bad news, but despite these short comings the reader will be invested in Wendy's quest, and pulled into the drama happening in the idyllic surfer's cove representing Never-Neverland.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Sheinmel, Alyssa B.

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,romance,realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780374382674

Price: 17.99

Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library , Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

When Gemma was 11 she was purposely cruel to her new friend, Hallie, and unintentionally ruined Hallie's mother's career because she didn't want Hallie's mother to date her father.. Five years later, Hallie and her brother, Josh, don't recognize Gemma, so she decides to spend the summer using a fake identity so she can make friends with Hallie and make it up to her. Because we all know that the best way to make amends for betraying someone is to lie to them, right? Needless to say Gemma's plan isn't a huge success.

More than an acceptable amount of typos proved to be distracting while reading, or maybe they were just more noticeable because the story was not engaging. The plot was predictable and drawn out because--surprise surprise--this is going to be a series. If you like backstabbing and premeditated meanness, then you might want to check out this first installment of the Broken Hearts and revenge series.

Overall Book Score: poor

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About the Book

Author:

Finn, Katie

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends / Macmillan

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: romance,realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9781250045249

Price: 17.99

The Revenge of Seven

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

The Revenge of Seven, the fifth book in the I Am Number Four series, picks up where book four left off. John and his human friends (plus one Mog turncoat)are separated from the other Garde. Five is working with Setrakus Ra, and they have Ella. With Lorien numbers down, the Mogadorian invasion is beginning. Fans of the series will not be disappointed with the latest installment. As usual, this book is fast paced and action packed. The series definitely needs to be read in order as each book starts and stops in the middle of the action, leaving you anticipating the next. This is a fast, easy read with likable characters. The action and superpowers are divided between the male and female characters giving the book appeal to both sexes. Fans of alien, sci-fi, and superhero genres should like this one.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lore, Pittacus

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,science fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062194725

Price: 17.99

Love Monster

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

Rachel Bright's distinctive illustrations bring to life the story of a lonely little monster living in a town full of cute fluffy things. Younger children may not understand the alienation that Monster feels, but it's a good way to explain to little ones that nobody likes to feel left out. Monster goes on a quest in search of a kindred spirit, and finds one in the monster driving the bus home.

It's a bit British in spots (the costume shop is called a fancy dress shop), but the story is simple, and the pictures delightful.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Bright, Rachel

Illustrator: Bright, Rachel

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux/ Macmillan

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,romance

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780374346461

Price: 16.99

Little White Lies

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 14, 2015

Review

Little White Lies by Katie Dale is about Louise "Lou", a university student, and Christian, who is working at a pub in Sheffield England. The first half of the book is about the two getting to know each other. All their interactions are colored by the fact that Lou is using an assumed name because there was a tragedy in her family and they were in the press and now she just wants to be "normal" while in school. What happened isn't explained, it is part of the "mystery" of the book. Christian is obviously hiding something too.

The story is told through Lou's point of view, so it is rather jarring when, half way through the book, she suddenly lets the reader know that she not only knows Christian's real identity, but that she moved to Sheffield with the sole purpose of harassing him.

As the second half of the book progresses Lou pretends to be helping Christian, or she is helping Christian, depending on the chapter. As more and more new information is revealed she waffles back and forth between thinking he is innocent of the crimes she thought he committed, and wanting to turn him into the police. Lou's constant waffling does not generate suspense. The big reveal at the end was painfully predictable.

The book is also full of British-isms that the average American will be unfamiliar with. Most of it can be understood by context, but there are some terms and phrases that can be a bit confusing.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Dale, Katie

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte/Random House

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery,romance

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 978038574067

Price: 17.99

Princess of Thorns

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 9, 2015

Review

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay is not a re-imagined fairytale so much as it is a story set in a fairytale world. It has influences, and references several tales, but it is a new story. Princess Aurora (no, not that one) and her brother Jor have been raised by fairies after their mother dies in the dungeons of the evil troll queen that is now ruling their land (and who, incidentally, is her stepmother-in-law). There is a troll prophecy that involves Jor and Aurora, so when Jor is held prisoner at the castle Aurora disguises herself as a boy warrior and sets out to raise an army to help free him.

Prince Niklaas is from a neighboring kingdom, and has been cursed by his father. To break the curse, and save himself, he needs to marry a princess in line to inherit a throne, so that he will no longer be his father's heir. His quest leads him to Aurora, whom he mistakes for her younger brother Jor. He promises to help her on her quest in exchange for, well, for being introduced to her. Aurora accepts, but tries to dissuade him from courting her "sister" along the way. The two become good friends, at least, until Aurora's secret is revealed.

The book is both an adventure and a romance, and it gets points for the lack of "insta-love". They fall in love with each other by getting to know each other, which is very refreshing to find in YA. The adventure might be a little slow moving for some, and there are some convenient changes of heart from characters throughout, most notably at the books climax. Overall this is a fun story, and the characters have actual growth as they progress. If you are looking for warrior princesses and an actual love story then this would be a book for you. Recommended for readers who enjoyed Stacey Jay's Of Beast and Beauty.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Jay, Stacey

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte/Random House

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,romance

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 978038574322

Price: 17.99

A New Darkness

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 11, 2015

Review

Joseph Delaney's new series, Starblade Chronicles, is a continuation of the story of Tom Ward - the main character in The Last Apprentice (his previous series). The first book in the new series - A New Darkness - finds Tom working alone after his master has died, as the local Spook, ridding the area of evil creatures and ghosts. Fifteen year old Jenny appears and begins to harass Tom to take her on as his first apprentice. She claims to be the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter (an important fact in the mythology of this book), and when she exhibits talents that would be beneficial to a Spook, Tom agrees to train her. There is a new evil invading the County, soon Tom and Jenny find themselves on a dangerous journey with a witch named Grimalkin.

Fans of the first series of books will probably be very happy with this new venture into the life and times of Tom Ward. Those who have not read the earlier books will be able to follow the story without trouble, there are a lot of references to events and characters from the previous books, but it is all explained enough that this new book can be read as a standalone. This is the first of a planned trilogy and it ends with a horrendous cliffhanger, so be prepared. The book ends with what feels like a chapter break rather than a legitimate ending, and considering that there is still a large chunk of pages left after the climax - filled with a glossary of terms and "Grimalkin's notes" - the fact that it is indeed the end of the story comes as a bit of a shock.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Delaney, Joseph

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,folklore

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062334534

Price: 17.99

Unraveled

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 11, 2015

Review

Unraveled, the third book in Gennifer Albin's Crewel World trilogy, is not as interesting as its predecessors. Fans of the first two books will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion, and the book does tie up most loose ends. Previously, seventeen year old Adelice had escaped the fabricated reality of Arras, and while hiding on earth discovered why Arras was first created. As this book begins, Adelice is being taken back to Arras by Cormac Patton, who is trying desperately to maintain control. The majority of the book centers around her attempts to find a way to work around him, and hopefully, save both worlds. Unfortunately, all the action happens at the tail end of the book, leaving the reader to slog through what one can only assume is meant to be intrigue. It takes more than half of the book for favorite characters to show up, and they are given very little to do. The ending is less than satisfying. The author hints at what has happened with the brothers (read love interests), but she never spells it out. The reader is forced to make assumptions (which may be confusing for some), and character's motivations are never explained. Book three is necessary to finish the story arc, but it is the weakest of the trilogy.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Albin, Gennifer

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux/ Macmillan

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,science fiction,romance

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780374316433

Price: 17.99

Evertrue

Reviewed by: Mariah Machado - Davis Memorial Library, Limington, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 12, 2015

Review

Evertrue, the third book in the Everneath trilogy by Brodi Ashton, picks up directly where the last book leaves off - just as Cole has left with the physical manifestation of Nikki's heart. Cole is an "Everliving", who tricked Nikki into going to the "Everneath" with him in book one, but her attachment to the love of her life - Jack - saved not only her, but Jack, from being trapped there. Nikki and Jack have upped their ante in this third installment, setting their sights on destroying the Everneath completely. The trilogy is a romantic, exciting, modern day re-imagining of the myths of Persephone and Hades, and Eurydice and Orpheus. It definitely needs to be read in chronological order, as each book builds on the last, finally coming to its climax in book three. The intricate world building, aching love story, and high stakes intrigue will ensnare readers. The series is well done, and each book is its own act of the story, never suffering from redundancy. The characters are a good blend, none so strong as to be un-relatable. Even Cole - the amoral, yet likable, immortal - will wiggle his way into the reader's heart. Fans of Meg Cabot's Abondon trilogy, and Kelly Creagh's Nevermore series will love the Everneath trilogy.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Ashton, Brodi

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Balzer+Bray/ HarperCollins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,romance,folklore

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062071194

Price: 17.99