Michael Vey seems like a normal teenager. He’s small, a little dorky, and regularly picked on by school bullies. What they don’t know is that Michael has special powers that he works hard to contain and conceal. During a fight Michael accidentally lets his powers loose and a cheerleader named Taylor sees it happen. He’s worried until she later reveals that she also has powers that she keeps hidden. When a powerful group that has been searching for them for years discovers where they live, they capture Taylor and Michael’s mother as well, using her as leverage to control Michael. Michael and his best friend Ostin set out to save them, getting help from an unlikely source. They must use their wits to help them survive the Read more…

By Raymond Benson What if you learned your mom, who has Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home, was a vigilante crime fighter called the Black Stiletto when she was young? Her son receives a real shock when he starts reading the diary she directed her lawyer to give him. As his mother’s story unfolds, he learns she was an early feminist, was a martial arts expert, and battled (and killed) common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse. All while garbed in a black leather costume and great boots. Set in the late 1950’s, it’s fun to read about the time period as you follow the Black Stiletto on her adventures. One caveat . . . her moral values – it was okay to murder her enemies if they had done bad things. Although Read more…

The Fan Letter by Lee Child They say the past is another country, and in my case it really was: provincial England at the end of the fifties and the start of the sixties, the last gasp of the post-war era, before it surrendered to the tectonic shift sparked by the Beatles.  My family was neither rich nor poor, not that either condition had much meaning in a society with not much to buy and not much to lack.  We accumulated toys at the rate of two a year: one on our birthdays, and one at Christmas.  We had a big table radio (which we called "the wireless") in the dining room, and in the living room we had a black and white fishbowl television, full of glowing tubes, but there were only two channels, and Read more…

Are you claustrophobic?  If so, you might think twice about reading the latest from Joseph Finder — or maybe it will thrill you all the more. Buried Secrets is the second Nick Heller novel, after Vanished (St. Martin’s, 2009). This is Finder’s first attempt at a series, something he avoided for a long time. For the many, many Jack Reacher/Lee Child fans out there, Amazon includes a fun feature on its Buried Secrets page. FINDER, Joseph. Buried Secrets. 390p. St. Martin’s. 2011. Adult/High School — Being buried alive is surely one of the most terrifying circumstances imaginable, but teenager Alexa is a severe claustrophobic and no one could have devised a more horrible fate for her. The scenes from her Read more…

by Meyer, StephenieIn this follow-up to the smash hit, Twilight, Stephenie Meyer devotes much of this book to exploring the Bella and Jacob relationship. Following some extreme circumstances, Edward leaves Forks, leaving Bella completely devastated. Enter Jacob. As her world falls apart, Jacob manages to pull Bella back from the brink. In this equally notable second novel, the reader gets a chance to really find out who Jacob is and what his role in Bella’s life is becoming. And just to keep things interesting, Jacob, like Edward, has a secret of his own! While some characters are conspicuously absent for most of the book, the beloved Cullen vampires do make an appearance. Trust me; it’s not something you want to miss!- reviewed by Read more…

by Meyer, L.A.After being orphaned and left to survive on the streets of 18th-century London, thirteen-year-old Mary spends her days begging and scrounging for food. But in a split-second twist of fate Mary makes the decision to become “Jacky” and takes to the high seas as a ship;s boy. Disguising herself as a boy and making use of her quick wits, Jacky sets off on a life-changing adventure filled with hard work, excitement, and danger. This novel brings to life the experience of being in the British navy during its heyday–traveling to exotic ports, battling pirates, and enduring wild storms. Author L.A. Meyer infuses this story with history, humor, and heart–a winning combination.- reviewed by Erin, Independence Regional, Read more…

by Murdock, Catherine GilbertFans of Bella in Twilight, will especially admire the flawed heroine, Princess Ben. Ben is distraught to discover her uncle and mother have been brutally murdered. Her father is considered dead although he hasn’t been located. She is thrust into the role of soon to be Queen, with her controlling Aunt Sophia as the orchestrator of Ben’s transformation into a stately ruler. Refusing to go along with her Aunt’s demands, she acts like a spoiled brat! In desperation, Sophia locks Ben in an isolated tower and this leads Ben to realize she has secret powers. Plenty of action follows including the threat of a brutal takeover by another kingdom, the attack of a deadly dragon, and an arrogant Prince who haunts Read more…

By Moira Young Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That’s fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives bearing four cloaked horsemen, Saba’s world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on a quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she’s a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And Read more…

By T.L. Higley Pompeii, a city that’s many things to many people. For Cato, it’s the perfect escape from a failed political career in Rome. A place to start again, become a winemaker. But when a corrupt politician wrongfully jails Cato’s sister, he must oust the man from power to save her.  For Ariella, Pompeii is a means to an end. As a young Jew, she escaped the fall of Jerusalem only to endure slavery to a cruel Roman general. She ends up in Pompeii, disguised as a young man and sold into a gladiator troupe. Her anger fuels her to fight well, hoping to win the arena crowds and reveal her gender at the perfect time. Perhaps then she will win true freedom. But evil creeps through the streets of Pompeii. Political Read more…

by Abbott, TonyDarn! Summer has just begun but Jason must go to Florida to help his dad with his grandmother's belongings. Jason had never even met his now deceased grandmother, Florida is hot, and his best friend is in Boston – BUMMER! But after a strange phone call leading to a hidden postcard, a thrilling nonstop adventure commences intertwining current life with an old magazine story. According to the magazine the author died after writing Chapter 1, but Jason is convinced there is more to the story. And is the bizarre story about his grandmother? Postcard clues of nearby locations lead Jason and his new friend Dia on a race with unknown felons to uncover family secrets. Intrigue grips the reader as you read this fast-paced Read more…

By Ruta Sepetys Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother’s was worth a pocket watch. In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina’s father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost. Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make Read more…

by Golding, JuliaThe marriage between Taoshira, Fourth Crown Princess of the Blue Crescent Islands, and Ramil ac Burinholt, Prince of Gerfal, was arranged as a political alliance. The two unhappy teens reluctantly meet to commence their royal engagement, but with disastrous results. The sinister warlord Fergox Spearthrower kidnaps and imprisons them while he amasses his armies to invade Gerfal. Suddenly, Tashi and Ram are thrust into a fierce struggle for their lives. They must put aside their differences and use all their ingenuity to avert the conquest of their kingdoms. They must decide who they can trust and who will betray them to their enemies. From perilous escapes to raging battles, this is a riveting adventure – not to be Read more…

by Westerfeld, ScottIn this sequel to Leviathan, runaway Austrian prince Alek and British Air Corps member Deryn (still disguised as a boy) find themselves in Istanbul where, amidst a dizzying combination of cultures, creatures, and machines, they join a revolutionary group whose actions might change the course of the war. In addition to breathless action and adventure, Westerfeld also supplies plenty of personal and political intrigue as the characters cope with increasing feelings of responsibility, romance, and uncertainty about who to trust. Keith Thompson's wonderfully detailed drawings don't distract, but rather enhance the story and draw the reader further in. – reviewed by Rebecca, Independence Regional, Read more…

by Pearson, Mary E. Just one day, where the world is fair, that’s all that Destiny Faraday wants. Little does she know, how her one fair day will change her life. After all today is October 19, and she is only 76 miles from the truth. Destiny has a thing for numbers and coincidences. But is it just a coincidence that today, she finds a pink convertible, doors open with keys in the ignition? Is it chance that leads Destiny and three classmates on a one day road trip to encounter the President, a lamb named Lucky, a hidden stash of hundred dollar bills, and great shoes? The Miles Between is a witty, thoughtful and magical journey of friendship, life and fate. Worth the trip! – reviewed by Kim, University City Regional, Read more…

by Dashner, James Thomas and the Gladers may have escaped the Maze, but now they find a tougher challenge — reality. Back in the real world, they find a world after the end: a wasteland devastated by sun flares, brutal climate changes, disintegrated governments, and deadly disease. Yet somehow WICKED is still in control, changing the variables and using the Gladers in more life and death trials which are deemed necessary for the survival of humanity. Yet, Thomas isn’t so sure any longer. He just wants to be free — free from WICKED, free from the experiments, free from the horrors. Courage, friendship and loyalty are tested is this fast paced, action packed second installment of The Maze Runner Trilogy. – reviewed by Kim, Read more…

by Reichs, Kathy Tory Brennan’s life has been all about change lately. Her mother recently died and she is sent to live with her father, Kit, a man she has never met and until her mothers’ death, never knew he was a dad. Her new home is on Morris Island, South Carolina. Being on an island really limits your access to friends. Luckily she finds a group of boys, Ben, Shelton and Hi, who share her love of science. When a local wolf-pup goes missing Tory and friends decided to investigate. What they discover is something much more sinister then they could ever imagine. Who knew that one choice could change so much. – reviewed by Angela, Cornelius Branch, Read more…

By Orson Scott Card Rigg is well trained at keeping secrets. Only his father knows the truth about Rigg’s strange talent for seeing the paths of people’s pasts. But when his father dies, Rigg is stunned to learn just how many secrets Father had kept from him — secrets about Rigg’s own past, his identity, and his destiny. And when Rigg discovers that he has the power not only to see the past, but also to change it, his future suddenly becomes anything but certain. Rigg’s birthright sets him on a path that leaves him caught between two factions, one that wants him crowned and one that wants him dead. He will be forced to question everything he thinks he knows, choose who to trust, and push the limits of his talent . . . or forfeit Read more…

In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by 12 outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s Read more…

Yes, this is a baseball story. If you aren’t a fan, some of the passages will go over your head like foul ball, but the thing is, you won’t care. You’ll be too engrossed in the story. The next thing you’ll know, the story will be over and you will feel a sense of satisfaction and completion. This novella is a very fun and very fast read. For sports fans that love King, this book will probably be a dream come true. For King fans that don’t like sports… it is a new King story! I’ll admit, I don’t really care too much for baseball. I know it. I’ve played it, but I don’t watch it. Yet, I still really enjoyed this story. In the end, it is a story about the people, not the game. Yes, the book is short, but you will enjoy it. This is a Read more…

Jack Reacher, 6 feet 5 inches tall, 250 pounds, with a 50 inch chest, dirty-blond hair, ice blue eyes. Multiple scars from shrapnel, bullets and knives. A stone cold killer when he has to be. A West Point graduate, 13 years as an army investigator, the best of the best. Now he’s a drifter, his only possessions a foldable toothbrush and an expired passport. He buys new clothes every few days and throws the old ones out…Reacher travels light. He has an imaginary iPod in his head which he uses to listen to music and is addicted to coffee. Although he does not have super powers, Reacher sure seems like a super hero with abnormally fast reactions. He’s a superior tactician – he always knows the other guy’s position and what he is Read more…

By Charlie Higson In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone older than sixteen is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living at Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over— the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it. Full of unexpected twists and quick-thinking heroes, The Enemy is a fast-paced, whiteknuckle tale of survival in the face of Read more…

by Dashner, JamesSixteen year old Thomas wakes alone in an elevator, no memories except his name. Suddenly the doors open and he is in a courtyard enclosed by four massive stone walls. Thomas is welcomed to the Glade by other boys who came before him also without memories. He learns the Glade is surrounded by the Maze, a vast area of mysterious doors, shifting walls and dangerous creatures. Thomas soon breaks the number one rule and finds himself in the Maze at night after those doors have closed. Can Thomas find his way out of the Maze, back to his memories, back to his life and home? Does he want to find what is waiting on the other side? Enjoy a fast-paced adventure which is just the beginning with this first installment of The Read more…

by James Patterson On a trip to Africa to help out at a refugee camp, Max and her flock meet a brand new kid/bird hybrid — genetically engineered to be Max’s perfect other half. Then a mysterious message arrives, warning them “The sky will fall.” Being a kid with wings, and having to be constantly on the run–has never been an easy life, and the flock is becoming more uptight than ever. As if a looming catastrophe weren’t dreadful enough, Angel prophesies about Max’s soul mate: Fang will be the first to die. Max’s desperate need to shield Fang brings the two closer than ever. Can the team weather the storm, or will the mayhem tear them apart forever? Excerpt: I’m a girl of extremes. When I love something, I’m like a Read more…

It was not the cover that drew me to this book, THE DEATH-DEFYING PEPPER ROUX. I am not a big fan of books that look a little like pirate books. But I do love Geraldine McCaughrean, so I took the cover off and sat down intending to read a few pages. Well, here it is mid-afternoon and the book is done. Yep, that good. Meet Pepper Roux whose name is due to an unfortunate misunderstanding when he was but a babe. His name was intended to be Le Pauvre (for poor little one) and instead was heard to be Le Poivre (pepper). Good thing that there was a misunderstanding because Pepper is a much more apt name for this plucky (and yes that is the right word for this guy) boy who steals away hoping that perhaps he might escape his death, one that is Read more…

by Patterson, JamesExperience the world of the flock, genetically enhanced teens that are 98% human and 2% bird. With wings, super strength, and raptor vision, they have set out to find if they have actual parents. Escaping from “The School” that created them but chased at every turn by mutant wolf-like Erasers, it all comes down to their leader Max and “The Voice” she hears in her head. This fast paced story is action oriented and entertaining. You’ll enjoy getting to know all of the bird kids and their discovery of individual special talents. Highly recommended for those that dream of flying.- reviewed by Christie, Independence Regional, Read more…