The Scorpio Races

By Maggie Stiefvater, 409 pages

I have never been one for horse stories. Some people love them, some people do not, I have always firmly fallen into the latter category.

In this horse story, however, the horses eat people.

Yeah, got my attention too! Add to that an author who has been churning out popular books like there's no tomorrow and the book appearing on a slew of award and watch lists, and I had to read it pretty soon! The story has two main characters, both residents of the island of Thisby. Thisby is the home of the water horses, aquatic beasts who slightly resemble land horses but have a carnivorous appetite. The animals live in the ocean, but every fall come out of the water on the beaches of Thisby. The residents of the island are at once terrified and entranced by the beasts, people have died, every year for hundreds of years, but yet the people embrace the creatures with festivals and the Scorpio Races. This annual horse race drives the economy of the island where hundreds come to watch men ride the dangerous horses and tempt death. Sean Kendrick knows the horses all too well, his father was killed in the races before his eyes as a child and he has been catching and training the horses ever since. He is also the reigning champion, riding one of the best water horses on the island. Perhaps this year, if he wins again, he will have enough money to buy his beloved horse from his employer and finally be his own person. Puck has a different story. She was never that interested in the Scorpio Races, but that changed last year when her parents were killed by the horses in their boat. An orphan now, Puck is doing everything she can to keep her family - an older and a younger brother - together. Unfortunately, she needs money, and suddenly taking the risk of racing is her only option. But only one can win...

I found this book to be one of Stiefvater's best. The concept of the water horses gives just enough grit to make it less of a 'horse story' and more of a thriller. Pick it up if you haven't yet!

Jasper Jones

By Craig Silvey, 310 pages

I liked this Printz Honor more than I thought it would. It blends your basic coming-of-age novel with murder and mystery and keeps the reader hooked. Charlie has never had much to do with his town's outcast, Jasper Jones, he is usually too busy avoiding bullies, skirting his angry mother, and trying to spend some 'normal' time with his best friend. But Jasper brings Charlie into a nightmare when he comes begging him for help in the middle of the night. Jasper's discovery slowly opens Charlie's eyes to the societal injustices in his community, family, and the world. Suddenly Charlie learns that things are not merely right or wrong, but instead that moral gray area between the two where decisions are not so easy to make. This is about a small town mystery, but the book is about so much more than that, there is a depth here that is refreshing to discover. Spend some time with this book, it may make you question your position in that moral gray area too.

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak, 550 pages

Death meets Liesel Meminger three times. The first will be the experience that will define the rest of her life and set her on the path of being the Book Thief. Stealing books provides much more for Liesel than simply obtaining the item, it gives her life meaning and serves as a coping method for coming of age in Germany during World War II. This is a powerful book, highly deserving of its Printz Honor.

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

522 pages

Death and Chocolate. The Gravedigger's Handbook. Dead Letters. These are only a sampling of the interesting chapter titles from "The Book Thief." Set in Germany during World War II, it tells the story of young Liesel Meminger who is sent to live with a foster family outside of Munich. Her brother dies on the way to their new home and this leaves Liesel traumatized, causing her to have terrible nightmares in the middle of the night. To distract her and help her fall back to sleep, Liesel's foster father, Hans, begins teaching her to read after she wakes up from her disturbing dreams. Before long, Liesel begins to turn to books for comfort. Then the war begins, and Hans loses a lot of business because he doesn't support the Nazis. Things get worse and worse as the war rages on, and Liesel--desperate for comfort more than ever--begins to steal books. Her life gets even more dangerous, however, when Hans and his wife hide a Jewish man in their basement to protect him from the Gestapo. And, oh yeah, this book is narrated by Death.

This is going to be a totally random, sort of stream-of-consciousness review because "The Book Thief" stands out to me in so many different ways. I. Love. This. Book. I don't recommend doing any multitasking with this one, because I tried to read it on the workout bike at the gym and found that I had to stop and sit down so I could really focus on it. Not because it's hard to follow, but because I felt like it deserved my undivided attention. First of all, it drew me in immediately. The fact that it's narrated by Death is fascinating, and the list of chapter titles at the beginning of each part is intriguing. Furthermore, "The Book Thief" shows a perspective that is quite underrepresented in young adult literature: that of "good Germans" who defied the Nazis and assisted Jews in any way that they could. The characters are brought to life perfectly: Liesel, who has been through so much yet remains strong; Hans, who is the father every girl would want to have; Rosa, Liesel's tough but secretly soft-on-the-inside foster mother; Rudy, who once covered himself in black paint and called himself Jesse Owens; and Max, the guilt-stricken Jew hiding in the basement. I adored them all. Another thing that's great about this book is that it demonstrates the power of books and their ability to change peoples' lives. I also like the way that it shows the extremes of human nature: how horribly evil people can be but also how compassionate and courageous others are. That's really all I can say without revealing a spoiler, so I recommend that you check it out if you haven't already.

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher

2010/301 pgs

Written as a letter to the man who kidnapped her, Gemma recounts her kidnapping and her time spent in the Australian outback with Ty. She goes through a range of emotions and told she has Stockholm syndrome as she is conflicted with her feelings for her captor. Lucy Christopher messes with your head all throughout this book! We hate Ty with Gemma, but at the same time, we want to root for Ty and forgive him and view him as vulnerable. We understand Gemma's conflicted emotions. At times I wanted Gemma and Ty to end up together as twisted as that is!

It's not a book that everyone will love, but it's inventive and scary and totally deserving of the Printz Honor it received. It sucked me in and had me second guessing the characters and their emotions. I would highly recommend this one to book clubs-for older teens and adults. Lots of great discussion to come from it!

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart

2008/352 pgs

About the Book: Frankie Landau Banks has discovered that one summer can make a big difference in high school. Now a sophomore at an elite boarding school, Frankie has caught the attention of popular senior, Matthew Livingston. Matthew is a member of the secret all male society, The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Frankie's father was once a member and she has heard all about the Bassets growing up. But Frankie is barred from joining-it is an all male society after all, which Frankie doesn't think is fair. So she secretly organizes pranks and orders for the Bassets to perform.

Sarah Teenlibrarian Says: Oh, Frankie Landau Banks, I want to be you! Frankie is a fantasic character and this book is one I finished and want to go back and read all over again. She's smart, sassy, funny and tons of fun. She likes Matthew but never wants to be a waspy girl that lets him control her. She stands up for herself and is a strong character. And the pranks she pulls off are awesome!

There's plenty of mystery, humor, action and romance so I think a wide variety of readers would enjoy The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks. It's also a great book to give adults who might need a push to read YA-Frankie is such a great character they won't care that it's YA-they'll be so drawn into the story.

A great read and highly recommended.