Courtney Crumrin: Volume 1: The Night Things

by Ted Naifeh, 125 pages

Young Courtney Crumrin is none too thrilled when her parents eagerly agree to become "caretakers" of her wealthy, eccentric great (?) uncle Aloysius and move the family to his creepy old house beside some spooky woods in a class-conscious town where things go bump in the night (and not everybody comes out of the woods who goes in).

Naifeh takes the old fairy tale tack of keeping the darker bits in order not to shield children from the more unpleasant aspects of reality and, so, doesn't pretend bad things don't happen or that protagonists don't have personality flaws like everybody else.  His heroine makes as many selfish, ill-advised decisions as the rest of us, but she has the pluck to sometimes succeed in getting herself out of fixes, too.  No little angel role model, is Courtney, but she's got what it takes (including luck) to face both the school cliques and the things lurking in the shadows.  If she gets a little in over her head now and then, well, that's when kids need to rely on grown-ups, right?  Or at least on the reliable ones who understand her.

The Maze Runner

James Dashner
375 pages

Thomas is a teenage boy, about 16 years old, who is sent to live in a maze.  His memory has been wiped of all personal details relating to his life before the maze.  The maze is full of other teenage boys in the same predicament, but they are coping.  They have set up a structured settlement and are actively seeking ways to escape the maze.  They've been there two years and are no closer than they were when they started.  However, the day after Thomas's arrival the routine is broken and a chain of events is set in place that forces the boys to find a way out or die.

I liked it, but I didn't love it.  I would be happy if this series ended here...But of course not.  Authors never write self-contained books anymore.  *sigh*

Hikaru no Go: Volume 23

by Yumi Hotta (story) and Takeshi Obata (art), 189 pages

The Hokuto Cup draws to an exciting conclusion and the players are already looking ahead to the next chance to challenge themselves and take the go-world by storm.

The series may be over, but the reader can easily imagine Hikaru continuing to strive forward and catch up to Akira for a lifetime of mutually-fulfilling rivalry.  I do wish we could have seen Sai (the go-playing spirit who inspired Hikaru to play in the first place) again in something more than a flashback, but I'll have to settle for hoping he shows himself in a new player whenever the world once again needs its go-fire rekindled.  Besides, Akira's dad's waiting to play him (or whoever's channeling him) again, too.  Still, I kinda wish there were more volumes, as I'd rather see it than have to imagine it.  *sigh*  :)

Hikaru no Go: Volume 22

by Yumi Hotta (story) and Takeshi Obata (art), 189 pages

The first games of the Hokuto Cup are underway.  And because of Yong Ha's comments, Hikaru's all fired up and determined to play against him--but his team captain isn't sure that letting Hikaru play the match will be in the team's best interest.

I don't understand the minutia of the game play, but it sure is fascinating to see the inside of this real-world field.  I want Hikaru to play Yong Ha and teach him some respect!

Hikaru no Go: Volume 21

by Yumi Hotta (story) and Takeshi Obata (art), 189 pages

As Hikaru and the others prepare for the Hokuto Cup, an international youth competition, proud Ochi puts his place on the team on the line to prove a point, one of the players on the Korean team insults Japan's go heritage (according to the inexpert interpreter, at least), and star Akira's dad surprises everyone by retiring from the pros...so he can play in international amateur tournaments?

Who knew reading about a bunch of kids playing a traditional strategy game could be so interesting?

Crimson Hero: Volume 14

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 177 pages

Haibuki's emotional issues make him a prime target for a rival school that wants to woo him for their team.  But Yushin and the guys can't make it without him--and more importantly, they don't want to--so Yushin runs after him to apologize and convince him to return to Crimson.

This being shojo, blackmailer Kaz is as miserable as the people whose lives he's thrown into chaos.  There's some justice in that, I guess, but I still think he needs to answer to somebody besides beneficent Nobara.  But I guess since he's all reformed and repentant it'd be bad form to report his backside to the authorities now, eh?  Well, at least in a romance comic.  *the justice-lover in me still cringes, regardless*

Crimson Hero: Volume 13

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 170 pages

Kaz makes good on his threat and now nobody's happy.

Sheesh, Nobara, way to make things even more melodramatic than they already were.  Yes, volleyball is important.  But so is being honest with the people most important to you.

Crimson Hero: Volume 12

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 204 pages

Nobara's life gets complicated by the unwanted attentions of an unscrupulous boy at school who threatens to upend her whole life if she doesn't play by his rules.  Things go downhill from there.

Haibuki doesn't take it so well, does he?  And just when things were getting comfy again between him and Tomoyo.  Personally, I think Kaz (the blackmailing stalker) deserves a bit more official punishment than just getting yanked around by his shirt collar, but this is shojo, after all, and they like to gloss over the practical in favor of the emotional.

Friends with Boys

by Faith Erin Hicks, 219 pages

After years of homeschooling with her three older brothers, Maggie's finally starting her first day at a public high school.  She struggles to fit in, find friends, understand the cliques and pressures and personal histories, deal with teachers who aren't her mom, and do homework.  Plus, there's her mom's conspicuous absence, for which Maggie feels responsible.  To top it off, there's the ghost.

This is a sweet, funny, memoir-ish story of family bonds, awkward adolescence, and friendship that anybody can identify with, even if they weren't homeschooled or haunted.  Hicks's characters are relatable both physically and emotionally, with nobody "perfect," and her tone is a mix of melancholy, wit, and hope as her characters learn to move past their hurts and look forward to the inevitable challenges ahead with more confidence and the support of one another.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak
Narrated by Allan Corduner
552 pages

This is an incredible novel about a German girl living in Nazi Germany during World War II.  This novel, narrated by Death, tells how Liesel became a book thief.  This is the story of Liesel, the people she loves, and the negative impact of the Nazis.  This is an incredibly sad and moving tale.  Be prepared to cry.

I loved this book.  This is a great book for teens and adults.  However, I would not necessarily recommend this one for pre-teens because there is a fair amount of cursing in both German and English in this book.  If cursing is not an issue, this is a great read.

Crimson Hero: Volume 11

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 190 pages

Aiyu Gakuin's girls play for keeps, but would they go so far as to injure another player on purpose? When Tomo is hurt, the Crimson girls have to show their opponents what real teamwork is by stepping in for their vulnerable setter.

Ah, Nobara's heart is in the game, but when the whistle blows she's still stressing over keeping her and Yushin's secret, especially from Haibuki and Tomo and everyone else she's grown so close to.

The Pledge

By Kimberly Derting
323 pages

In Charlie’s world, people are divided by class.  Each class has its own unique language, and if someone makes eye contact with someone of a higher class while they are speaking their language, the punishment is death.  Control is the name of the game, the queen is desperate to keep her citizens in check and keep a tight grip on her throne.  Charlie is in danger every day, because for some reason, she was born understanding all languages.  She manages to keep a low profile and has learned to navigate her world well.  But things are changing, there is massive unrest and the rules are becoming stricter.  Even more disturbing, two strange men have both seemed to take an interest in Charlie, and she is not sure what that means.  What she discovers about her world and her identity will change her life forever.

I am torn with this book.  First, the good: This has a very intriguing concept.  The structure of the country and the control the monarch has over the subjects with language is gripping.  Charlie’s power and the truth about her identity also grabbed my attention.  But overall, the book fell a bit short.  I very much wanted to know more about the world Charlie lives in.  How did the current situation come to be?  Why is the queen so evil?  How does the magic come in to play?  Derting really didn’t delve in to any of that.  The romance was a bit distracting too, aside from being unbelievable (the guy is a bit stalkerish versus romantic) once that romance started to play out it was as though the rest of the storytelling stopped and the story focused primarily on that.  It was hard to truly sympathize with the characters too, I just didn’t feel like I understood them.  I didn’t dislike the book, but I was disappointed that such a great idea wasn’t supported throughout the entire story.

The Thief

By Megan Whalen Turner
280 pages

Gen is a successful thief.  Unfortunately, he has one major flaw: arrogance.  In prison after bragging about his skills, Gen is suddenly summoned to the Magus, the king’s top advisor.  The Magus needs his assistance in stealing the treasure of a neighboring country, and not just any treasure.  A treasure that will allow the king to realize his greatest plans.  Gen quickly discovers that this will not be a typical heist, he will be forced to not only find a relic that others have searched for for generations, but also determine which of his companions can be trusted, which cannot, and just what he hopes to accomplish for himself.  Appearances can be deceiving however, and Gen has a surprise of his own.

I was intrigued throughout this entire book and pleasantly surprised at the end.  A great adventure story for those who like to root for the unlikely hero.

Crossed

Crossed (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie
367 pages

In the 2nd book of the Matched trilogy, Cassia is in the Outer Provinces, trying to find a way to search for Ky.  Her and another girl, Indie, escape into the Carving where they've been told Ky has gone. The Carving is like a bunch of caves and caverns that Farmers and people of the Rising (a rebellion against the Society) used to live in until the Society found it and the two groups deserted it.  In the Carving, Cassia reunites with Ky and they both make their way to the Rising.  Will they both join? Or will they be torn apart again? 

This book is BORING.  It was all fluff and no substance.  Ally Condie knows how to use her synonyms, and she writes gorgeous passages.  But in this book they were like a gorgeous airhead.  I hope "Reached" (the final book in the series) is better. It can't be any worse than "Mockinjay" was for The Hunger Games trilogy.

Wither

Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #1)
by Lauren DeStefano
358 pages

In a not too distant future, males are dying at 25 and females at 20, due to a genetic mishap caused by previous generations.  To carry on the human race, females are being abducted right and left to become brides to wealthy males.

This is what happens to 16 year old Rhine, the protagonist.  Kidnapped and taken away from her twin brother Rowan, Rhine is taken from New York to Florida to become the wife of Linden, a wealthy 21 year old male.

Rhine becomes a bride along with two other girls: 18 year old Jenna and 13 year old Cicily.  While Rhine's goal is to become first bride, it is so that she can gain Linden's trust and escape.  During her time in Linden's mansion, Rhine becomes close with her fellow brides, and even closer to a male servant, Gabriel.  She also learns to fear her new father-in-law, Vaughn, who will stop at nothing to find a cure for the virus that is slowly killing his son.

I read this book based on a recommendation, and I actually liked it.  I'm intrigued to see what will happen in the next book.

The Tiger Saga: Book 1: Tiger's Curse

by Colleen Houck, 405 pages

Kels just wants a summer job when she accepts a temp position as an extra pair of hands for a small circus while it's in town. Ticket collection? Check. Cleaning up the bleachers after the show? Sure. Bonding with the troupe's oddly domesticated tiger, flying off to India on a private jet, traipsing Indiana-Jones-style through jungles and temples in search of mystical clues, and falling in love with a 300-plus-year-old prince? Not so much mentioned in the original job description. But Kels is an adaptable 17-year-old and throws herself into her "other duties as assigned" with conviction. What she does worry about, however, is what will happen when her mission is accomplished.

Oh, angsty youth. I wanted to smack Kels for being such a self-defeater in emotional matters when she's so willing to take on angry monkeys, murderous trees, and personal snake-spirits. This series has a nifty premise and offers a wealth of fascinating details regarding Indian culture, history, and religion. It feels a little too hokey-convenient and Indiana-Jones-like now and then, and the language has an odd, staid rhythm to it (mostly Kels's voice, as everyone else has an excuse to sound formal and mature--she's a teen from Oregon, but her dialogue could lose the quotation marks and first person indicators and easily blend in with the narration), but it's still a fun adventure-romance with a mystical heart. Also, I am a sucker for cats, large and small, and Houck knows her kitties. (I once cried from a Siberian tiger's facial expression on a PBS program. Like I said, sucker.) The attractive cover design and physical feel of the book are professional quality, so I didn't realize until partway through the novel that it was originally self-published. Knowing that, I cut the imaginative author some slack about the language, which is very "subject-verb, subject-verb" without as much switching-up of the order (for example, with lead-in prepositional phrases and other clauses) as one would normally expect. I think that's just her style, though, and I got used to it by the end, though I do wish Kels would talk a little more like the native speaker she is and let the natural verbal shortcuts fly. It may not be perfect (I have additional quibbles regarding the "translation" of rhyming texts related to the titular curse), but nevertheless I like these characters (teen angst aside) and the big story well enough to wonder what's next and look forward to the entrance of the big bad in book 2.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3)
by Suzanne Collins
390 pages

In book three of "The Hunger Games" trilogy, Katniss Everdeen, "The Girl On Fire", has survived the Quarter Quell.  Katniss is now the "Mockingjay" aka the face of the rebellion against the Capitol.  Her main goal (unbeknownst to her superiors) is to kill President Snow.  Having relocated to District 13 (which exists after all) when District 12 was bombed, Katniss is now a soldier hoping to be with the unit that gets sent to the Capitol.  There, she will kill Snow or die trying. 

People weren't kidding when they say that this is the worst book of the three. It just kind of dragged on and on, and there may have been a couple of times when I wanted to punch Katniss in the face.  I get that she's only seventeen so she's supposed to be kind of whiny and "woe is me" like most teenagers, but still. Katniss takes it to the next level. Definitely not my favorite.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2)
by Suzanne Collins
391 pages

"Catching Fire" is the second book in Suzanne Collins's "Hunger Games" trilogy.  In "Catching Fire", Katniss and Peeta are on their Victory Tour through all of the districts, having won "The Hunger Games" in Book 1.  Katniss is trying to convince President Snow that she is, indeed, in love with Peeta, so that Snow doesn't go kill Gale.  She is also trying to suppress the Districts because some have started a rebellion and are using her as their spokesperson.  She fails to do both.  Having a slight hope that President Snow will leave her and Peeta alone after the Victory Tour, Katniss is utterly surprised when it is learned that the participants for the 75th Hunger Games (aka the Quarter Quell) will be drawn from the victors of each district--one boy and one girl. 
Since Katniss is the only girl victor from District 12, she automatically goes back into the games.

The Games almost broke her once. Can she survive them a second time?

Most people thought that "The Hunger Games" is the best book in the series, but I think I actually liked "Catching Fire" better.

Crimson Hero: Volume 10

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 178 pages

Off the court, Nobara's having a hard time keeping the secret of her and Yushin's new couple status, especially since the once-brooding Haibuki has turned a new leaf and has never been kinder to her. On the court, the Crimson High girls throw themselves into the Newcomer's Tournament against a historically powerful team that has them beat in numbers; but Aiyu Gakuin's girls can't hold a shine to Crimson's unity, trust, and teamwork.

Ooh, see? He may have meant well, but this has got to be the worst idea Yushin has ever had. Duplicity is not compatible with either his or Nobara's naturally open personalities and the two of them are only going to hurt themselves and the people they care about by hiding the truth. That, and Nobara' just going to get more confused by the suddenly solicitous Haibuki's new vulnerability.

Crimson Hero: Volume 9

by Mitsuba Takanashi, 188 pages

Ryo's beach team, the Eagles, go up against his former schoolmates from Sokai in a battle for pride. With Yushin unexpectedly showing up and cheering her on, Nobara's encouraged to go all out on behalf of her temporary teammates as well as for herself.

Hmm, the mutual-understanding scene is a little anti-climactic given all the build-up, but I'm still happy for the kiddos. But I think their little "let's wait to be official till we succeed at our volleyball dreams" in order to avoid causing more friction on the boys' team until after the championship is not the best plan they've ever hatched. Foolish, idealistic children.