Red Glove (Curse Workers Book 2)

Holly Black
336 pages

In Red Glove we return to the life of Cassel Sharpe not long after White Cat ended. Cassel thought everything was finally sorted out then his Mom trying to be helpful used her talents to make Lila love him. The problem is he really loves Lila and doesn't want to take advantage of Lila in this state. Instead he goes off to Atlantic City for the Summer with his Mom. He is relieved when school starts again and he can get back to "normal" life. Of course for Cassel there is no normal. His brother Philip has been killed and FBI agents are questioning him. Can Cassel figure out who killed his brother before they can?

I really enjoyed this sequel by Holly Black. I really like Cassel's character and how he interacts with his friends. The mystery is a great backstory to the intricacies of his life.

Death Note Black Edition Vol. 1

Tsuqumi Ohba
400 pages

There are deaths gods who hold the power to kill people just by writing them down in a notebook. If that god loses their notebook a human can find it and use it in the same way. Our main character Light has just found one of these notebooks and determines that he will use it to rid the world of criminals into a kind of utopia. With all of these criminals dying like flies the police become suspicious and Light must stay a few steps ahead of them. L is working with the police to find the killer but stays hidden himself.

I enjoyed the interesting story that plays out in Death Note and will have to read the other volumes. It is more in depth than most of the manga I have read before. It more like a short mystery novel.

City of Fallen Angels

Cassandra Clare
432 pages

Clary has returned to NYC and hopefully normal life, well as normal as her life can be. Jace is finally her boyfriend and she is training to become a shadowhunter. Her mother and Luke are getting married soon. Simon is dating two girls, both of which are very dangerous and no one will leave him alone. Jace is having nightmares about killing Clary but things are about to get much worse.

I really liked this fourth installment of Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instrument series. Clary has learned enough now that the reader isn't being constantly lectured at which is nice. There isn't a lot of action but the pace is still pretty quick and keeps you interested. I read it in one day on a road trip so I can attest to the gripping storyline.

vampire Knight vol 11

Matsuri Hino
200 pages

Zero did not kill Yuki and she left the academy with Kaname. They return to the Kuran mansion where Yuki tries to learn how to be a vampire again. There is a year skip in time and we find Zero still at Cross Academy splitting his time between school and hunting vampires. His old mentor is temporarily the head of the school. Zero is considered to be a good candidate for the Vampire Hunter Association. Yuki is always hungry for more blood, Kaname explains that only the blood of the one you love can truly satisfy her hunger but his blood doesn't work for her. He explains that this is because part of her still loves Zero.

The time skip was weird for me but anyways more of the same. Yuki still doesn't know who she really loves Zero or Kaname. I personally think the reason Kaname's blood doesn't satisfy her is because she really loves Zero . We'll see what happens in vol 12.

Vampire Knight vol 10

Matsuri Hino
200 pages

Zero has killed Rido and Kaname has destroyed the Vampire Senate, now what? Zero pledged to kill all pureblood vampires which now includes Yuki. The Night and Day classes stand side by side to protect each other. Will Zero stand by his word or will his feeling for Yuki get in the way?

Once again Vampire Knight just gets more confusing. There are not enough explanations and the reader is left to wander aimlessly though the story. I want to know why the crazy brambles around Zero? It gets more and more complicated but I still want to know what happens next.

Odd Thomas

Dean Koontz
416 pages

Odd is really his first name and it suits him. Odd Thomas is a short order cook in Pico Mundo and he plans to marry his girlfriend Stormy. On the surface he is pretty normal but can see the dead. If he had a choice he would really rather not see them but he can't help it. Odd tries to help them move on. One day a strange man walks into the Pico Mundo Grill and Odd must try and save his town from a catastrophe.

I enjoy reading Dean Koontz novels, they are smart and little scary. I had put off reading this one for a while but now I'll have to get a hold of the whole series. If you like mysteries a little on the strange side Odd Thomas is for you.

Nevermore

Kelly Creagh

543 pages

School Project+Cheerleader+goth kid= Isobel's life. She had been partnered with Varen Nethers to do an English project about Poe and she is not happy about it. He is creepy and never talks to anyone. Her boyfriend Brad doesn't like it either. Slowly Isobel learns how good her friends really are and finds a few new ones along the way. She starts seeing things that can't be real and Varen seems to be the cause but can't control it. Can she save him before it is too late?

I really liked "Nevermore". The theme at surface value can be seen as overused with the blonde popular girl growing as a person and becoming friends with the outcast boy but there is a lot of original idea too. There is more to Varen than meets the eye and Isobel is drawn into his world. As a fan of Poe I really liked all the references but the dreamworld is confusing. Towards the end I got pretty lost and frustrated. Great story and will definitely be awaiting the sequel.

Crescendo

Becca Fitzpatrick

432 pages

Nora and Patch are still dating but hit a rocky patch, he has been seen with Marcie Millar who is Nora's least favorite person. She's mad at Patch who won't tell her what's going on like normal and then she starts seeing her dead Dad around town. Nora's life is falling apart again..

I loved "Hush,Hush" but this was a real disappointment. Nora was all over the place emotionally. One minute she is in love with Patch the next super pissed usually we don't know why either. Patch never says anything useful. Vee is the steady friend as always but usually talks bad about Patch. The new character of Scott was intriguing but we don't see much of him. This book was very up and down, I was mad at Nora a lot of the time. The last fifty pages or so has some action and revealing tells but the rest I could have done without. Maybe the 3rd book will be better.

Mockingjay

Suzanne Collins

370 pages

SPOILER ALERT for those who want to know NOTHING plotwise in this installment.

Katniss has survived another Hunger Games since she was rescued and taken to District 13 but Peeta was taken to the Capitol. The heads of the rebellion including President Coin (of District 13) want Katniss to be their symbol as the Mockingjay. She is rejoined with her mother, sister, and Gale since District 12 was destroyed by the Capitol. She is very confused about many things on just about every level from her feelings about Peeta and Gale to if the Rebellion is really an answer to the problems the districts feel. She feels out of place in the highly militarized District 13 and wants to do something, she agrees to be the Mockingjay but with several conditions. Will they be able to bring down the Capitol?

This was a bit of a letdown after reading the first two books in the series. I felt like Suzanne Collins was grasping at straws a bit plotwise. It was very disjointed and lacked the flow that seemed so natural in the other books. I did not like how Katniss spent most of her time doing nothing. There is a definite lack of Peeta which I don't care for either and when he does come back he is crazy. There is too much self reflection and not enough actual action. When things do start happening I found it confusing. The end is a bit vague and abrupt. The deaths that occur I found pointless and frustrating. There is a short epilogue but it didn't answer many qustions. I don't know what happened to many of my favorite characters. The questions that were answered were more like notes instead of a full fledged concept that had been thoroughly thought out. I don't know if the author was rushed to finish the story but it was even a different tone from the others. Not my favorite but not completely horrible either. I recommend it only to know what happens not on writing merits.

*NPR Best Book 2010

Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins

391 pages

SPOLIER ALERT for those who want to know NOTHING plotwise in this installment.

They've won! Katniss and Peeta both got through The Hunger Games but what do you do after surviving an ordeal like that? Afte a few months of quiet Katniss gets a visit from President Snow threatening her family and friends for making the Capitol look foolish. The districts are unhappy and he wants Katniss to help quell rebellion when touring the districts with Peeta. She realizes there is nothing she can do to help the unrest within the districts and fears for her life and those around her. The Quarter Quell (a special Hunger Games every 25 years with a twist) is announced and all participants will be past winners. Katniss has to go back into the arena but this time she has a new goal in mind. Read the book to find out more!

Out of the trilogy "Catching Fire" is probably my favorite. I find the personal relationships of the characters in this installment to be even more integral to the story than ever. I love how everyone interacts in their own ways. Katniss is almost indifferent to most people because she doesn't want to get too close then ends up realizing how deeply she cares for them. Peeta wears his poor heart on his sleeve and usually Katniss tramples on it a bit. He is very friendly and without his social skills who knows where she would be. Haymitch seems like a drunken fool but there are plans just being cranked out in that brain of his. He is outwardly bristly but cares a lot about Katniss and Peeta. All the while Katniss is afraid of people lying and doesn't know who to trust.We also learn more about how their society works. Loved it.

*Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year 2009

*YALSA Teen's Top Ten 2010

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

374 pages

Katniss Everdeen spends most of her time caring for her mother and sister Prim in District 12. She hunts with her friend Gale and just tries to make it through every day. Every year The Hunger Games are held with twenty-four contestants (one boy and girl selected from each district). The contestants must fight to the death with only one winner left standing. When Prim is chosen to go Katniss goes in her place along with Peeta the boy chosen from her district. Who will win? I'm not telling.

I had this on my reading list for quite a while but this weekend I read the whole trilogy. I found the story to be engrossing and could not put the book down. There are a lot of books based on dystopian futures but this is one of the most original. I highly reccomend the whole series.

*New York Times Notable Children's Book 2008

*School Library Journals"Best Books 2008"

I Heart You, You Haunt Me

Lisa Schroeder

227 pages

Ava is a happy teenager with the perfect boyfriend until he dies in an accident. Her world is shattered and she doesn't know how to go on without Jackson. Luckily for her he comes back as a ghost and haunts her.

I was very intrigued when I learned the plot of the book and felt that I had to read it. I did not realize the book was written in verse so that was a surprise but a good one. The pace was fast since the chapters were really one to three page poems. I felt like the story ended when our main character was just starting to change and it felt a bit abrupt. Overall a great insight on grief and putting your life back together after the death of a loved one.

*ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

The Girl Next Door

Selene Castrovilla

240 pages

Samantha or Sam has been friends with her neighbor Jesse for 13 years when he is diagnosed with cancer. The cancer is very aggressive and the chance of survival is minimal but Sam doesn't care about the numbers. She tries to rouse Jesse out of depression and get him to fight the cancer even staying in his room overnight so he won't be alone. Will their frienship turn into something more as they face this very adult situation?

I liked the story the author laid out for us but it is bleak. Even in the happy moments she reminds us of how sick Jesse really is or how emotionally unstable Sam is. SPOILER ALERT - I really hated how they story ends much the way it begins and we don't know if Jesse survives or not.

Cycler

Lauren McLaughlin

256 pages

For four days a month Jill is Jack. This isn't just a name change for those four days Jill is a boy and Jack isn't very happy about this arrangement either. Jill is always trying to forget about her little problem like her mom wants while Jack learns from Jill and wants out of his prison.

I picked this book up because I was intrigued by the cover. The story is decent but confusing. We don't know why Jill turns into a boy or if she and Jack are even the same person. There are a few interesting side characters but we don't really know them. The ending came much too fast and was abrupt. There is a sequel which I plan on reading just for clarification. This was a strange read and reccomend it if you have nothing else to read.

Bitter End

By Jennifer Brown

368 pages

Alex doesn't have the perfect home life but her two best friends Zack and Bethany are her family. When their senior year begins they plan a trip that means everything to Alex. A new boy Cole comes into the picture and Alex can't believe her luck and finding a cute boy that likes her, even loves her. Slowly the relationship becomes more toxic and Alex alienates herself from all her friends until Cole's love becomes deadly.

I enjoyed the story of Bitter End quite a lot. I would have liked to see more of Alex's friends but that alienaton and lonliness reflects what abusive relationships do in terms of cutting people off. It also brings to light how easy it is to forgive some one that is not treating you well. Overall an insightful look into domestic violence for teens but the ending could have been more finished.

Street Magic (Black London Book 1)

By Caitlin Kittredge

326 pages

Street Magic follows Pete a London detective as she tries to stop the kidnapping and maiming of young children. The sinister undertone of these crimes is of a magical variety and she gets help wherever she can. This help includes Jack Winter whom she saw dies twelve years ago or so she thought. He now has a bit of a heroin problem but has a lot of magic at his disposal.

I suggest reading this blend of mystery and the supernatural if you like books concerning magic. Pete complains quite a bit and the author keeps us waiting on details of Jack's death 12 years ago as well as Pete's special abilities but overall a good read. The cover does not match the description of either character but especially Jack since heroin addicts are never buff.

Bloody Valentine

By Melissa de la Cruz

160 pages

A collection of short stories vaguely Valentine's Day related that involve some favorite characters from the Blue Bloods series. Sadly this is just another lackluster installment in the series lacking any real depth. I did like to see Oliver get over Schuyler because we all know that boy has moped after her long enough with nothing in return. The book in whole had some good moments but that was it moments. I only suggest this to those readers like myself that must read every part of a series.

Stolen

By Lucy Christopher

304 pages

Gemma is kidnapped from an airport and taken to a deserted place in Austrailia by Ty who has watched her for years. He has done this to save Gemma and he loves her. Gemma isn't so sure about this and writes him a letter from her point of view about her captivity at his hands.

Stolen is a captivating look into kidnapping and an angle we rarely hear about, when the captor and captive work together and eventually maybe like each other. True Ty kidnaps her and this is wrong but throughout the story we are shown time and time again how much her cares for Gemma. The more Gemma learns about Ty's past she begins to understand his behavior but not to the point of excusing it. In the end everyone this she has Stockholm Syndrome but I don't think she does. Gemma sees things very clearly but it doesn't make sense to an outsider.

I reccomend this book to any fan of teen literature and anyone intrigued by people living outside the law so to speak. It was very interesting and I like it a lot, I'm not the only one either. Winner of the Branford Boase award, Michael L. Printz award and the Southern Schools Book Award. It was featured on other literary lists as well.

Wolfsbane

By Patricia Briggs

304 pages

We return to Aralorn's story to find not much has changed. She is still a spy and Wolf comes and goes as he pleases. Aralorn hears her father the Lyon of Lambshold has died so she goes home to place she hasn't seen in many years. Some reunions are joyful while others just bittersweet.

I was disapointed with such a time gap in writing the first and second books that the author didn't do more with the story. We get it, sorcerers can be evil and only Wolf/Cain is strong enough for many magical tasks that will arise but isn't there more to their story? It is pretty clear Aralorn and Wolf are together but little is explained about their relationship. I can only hope there will be a better third installment in the future.

Beastly

Alex Finn

304 pages

We are all familiar with the story Beauty and the Beast and Beastly follows that story with a few changes. In this retelling our main character is Kyle Kingsbury a rich and handsome high school freshman. His father is a news anchor who has taught him looks are all the really matter and Kyle believes that to his core. He isn't a very nice guy even to his supposed friends. When a girl in his English class call attention to herself by complaining about voting for people for a school dance just by looks alone. He decides to teach her a lesson and asks her about the dance fulling intending to take another girl. At the dance he gives a white rose corsage to the ticket girl since his girlfriend didn't like it and publicly humiliates the girl from English class, or tries to. Later she shows up in his room and puts a curse on him to be ugly outside to match his insides. Because he showed some kindness in giving the rose to the ticket girl he will have two years in which to find a girl who loves him. We follow him though these two years.

I enjoyed Beastly quite a bit. You know how the story will end but the modern adaptation was original and engaging. The main character changes quite a bit throughout the story and learns that there is way more to life than how you look. I'm waiting for the movie adaptation but I'm afraid they will have changed to much of the story.