Warp: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer-ADVISABLE

Colfer, Eoin, Warp: the Reluctant Assassin. Pgs. 341. Hyperion, 2013. $17.99. Content: Language: PG (5 swears, no “f”s),  Mature Content: PG-13, Violence: PG-13

Riley is an orphan from Victorian London and is apprenticed to Albert Garrick. Garrick tries to get him to commit his first murder, but Riley can’t do it. A scientist from the future, a member of WARP, takes him through a wormhole into the future. There, he meets Chevron Savanno, a 17-year-old FBI agent moved to London to keep her out of the press. Everything would be a great start to a new life, but Garrick follows Riley into the future and now it’s up to Chevron and Riley to save the future. Returning to his time period, the two try to stop Garrick before he takes over the world. Will they succeed?

The story is fast-paced and engaging. The characters are developed as the story goes along, but draw the reader in. Readers who like Eoin Colfer’s books and like science fiction, adventure, and time travel will enjoy reading this book, MS, HS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

The Glass Puzzle by Christine Brodien-Jones - ADVISABLE

Brodien-Jones, Christine The Glass Puzzle, 317 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2013. $16.99. Language: G (no swears), Mature Content: G, Violence: PG; 

During a summer vacation at their grandfather’s home in Wales, Zoe and Ian discover a glass puzzle that acts as a portal to an alternate world. Scravens, monsters from the world of Wythersea, are escaping their own world and taking over the people of Tenby. Zoe and Ian join forces with Pippin, a local waif, and Bron, a seer with magical powers to try to save the town of Tenby. 

This was a cute book full of adventure and imagination. The characters and their quirky personalities were a little overdeveloped and occasionally distracted from the plot, but demonstrated the importance of being yourself and not conforming to societal norms. 

EL/MS ADVISABLE. SBenson

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler- - ADVISABLE

Gensler, Sonia The Dark Between, 340 pgs. Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. $16.99. Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG. 

At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, superstition and science are colliding. In the college town of Cambridge, England, mediums are playing on the vulnerabilities of the grief-stricken and scientists are trying to find a way to the other world through experimenting with the powers of the mind. Kate, Asher, and Elsie all find themselves at Summerfield College seeking refuge and instead find danger. When bodies start showing up around the college, the new friends will have to balance investigating the metaphysical with finding a flesh and blood killer.

An entertaining read, the plot of this book takes a scientific approach to the supernatural. The characters are engaging and genuine, if a bit annoying owing to the self-centered attitudes and actions resulting from their young ages. This is a mystery and as such works well, however, some of the misdirection and foreshadowing feels clumsy and obvious at times. The ending seems to be setting up a sequel as many of the plot points are unresolved.

MS/HS—ADVISABLE AEB Social Studies Teacher

Texting the Underworld by Ellen Booraem- ADVISABLE

Booraem, Ellen Texting the Underworld, 319 pgs. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. $16.99. Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG. 

Twelve-year-old Conor loves South Boston and sees no reason to ever leave. His biggest problem is figuring out how to dumb down his academic achievements so that he won’t be sent to a more academically elite high school across town. At least that was his biggest problem until a floating girl shows up outside his window one night. Ashling is a banshee and has been sent to the O’Neill family. This can only mean that someone in Conor’s family is going to die. As Ashling inserts herself into Conor’s life he has to figure out how to keep her identity a secret while protecting his family and finding a way to beat Death.

This book has an original plot that plays out well. The main character of Conor is the typical anti-hero who is afraid of spiders and leaving his neighborhood, but in the end manages to complete the heroic task set before him. The interweaving of modern day and ancient Irish lore is intriguing and will keep readers interested. The story addresses death, including loss of family members and when can it be considered the appropriate time for someone to move on to the next world. Overall a pleasant read with only a few missteps with stilted dialogue as a result of an adult author trying her best to speak with the voice of a modern teenager.

MS/HS—ADVISABLE AEB Social Studies Teacher

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire - OPTIONAL

St. Claire, Roxanne  Don’t You Wish, 360 pgs.  Delacorte Press, 2012.  $17.99  Content: Language (101 swears); Mature Content: R (lots of sex talk; drug use); Violence: PG.  

Annie Nutter finds out that the man her mother dated before her father is filthy rich, and while wishing that she lived a more glamorous life she is zapped into another dimension.  In this new dimension she is dropped into the middle of Ayla’s life, a girl who is beautiful and popular.  Ayla has Annie’s mother and the ex-boyfriend as her parents and they may have a lot of money, but Annie quickly learns that money can’t buy happiness.  Ayla does illegal things to maintain her position as queen bee as well as promise her virginity to keep the most popular boy, Annie is not willing to do either of these things and quickly finds herself friends with a cute social outcast named, Charlie.  Ayla’s life may look great from the outside, but as Annie lives inside Ayla’s life, she is willing to trade anything to get back to her old boring life, where she now realizes she was happy.  The hardest part of going back to her old life would be leaving Charlie behind.  

This book has a good message about being happy with our lives and not wishing to be anyone else.  The romance between Annie and Charlie is sweet.  I had issues with all of the talk of sex, the drug use and stealing.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris - NO

Norris, Elizabeth Unraveling, 445 pgs. Balzer + Bray, 2012. Language - R (149 swears, 64 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; 

Janelle died when a pick-up truck came out of no where and hit her. However, no one believes her because she walked away without a scratch. Janelle knows Ben Michaels did something to bring her back, but getting the whole story takes snooping through her FBI-agent-father's confidential files, doing research with her best friend, and even blackmailing an FBI rookie. Nothing could have prepared Janelle for the universe-changing news she uncovers. 

The story itself was awesome. I loved the idea of different universes and interuniverse travel and how Norris presents it in a captivating mystery to solve. Unfortunately, I have a couple complaints. First, too many conflicts attempt to be resolved with guns. I would have liked more variety and creativity from Norris and, thus, her characters. Secondly, the vulgar language was over the top. The use of unnecessary swearing took away from the brilliance of Norris's ideas. 

HS - NO. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

DiSemblance by Shanae Branham - OPTIONAL

Branham, Shanae DiSemblance, 262 pgs. CreateSpance Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. Language - PG (2 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG; Violence - PG; 

Jason lives in both the real world and the digital world. After meeting Boston, though, a series of events leaves him alone and confused as both worlds tumble down around him. Now Jason has to figure out who can be trusted, who the bad guy is, and, more importantly, who is real. 

Branham wanted her book to be full of mystery and suspense, and I can see her good faith effort, but she could not pull it off. The mystery part confused me to the point that I wanted to put the book down and forget about it rather than take the time to untangle what was going on. This ruined all attempts of the suspense trying to build up and keep my attention. The last 60 pages were the best, but it was hardly worth the effort to get there. 

MS, HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH