The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau-ESSENTIAL

Charbonneau, Joelle, The Testing. Pgs. 344. Houghton Mifflin, 2013. $17.99. Content: Language: PG (5 swears, no “f”s), Mature Content: PG-13, Violence: PG-23

Cia Vlae has one goal in life to be one of the few selected to attend university. When she is selected, her father tells his residual nightmares from the testing and givers her one warning: don’t trust anyone. Cia soon finds out that testing for the university is a matter of survival. Can she trust Tomas? Does she choose love? Readers will be clawing for the next installment. MS, HS. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

Seers by Kristine Bowe - ADVISABLE

Bowe, Kristine Seers, 209 pgs. Mackinac Island Press, 2013. $8.95 Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

This book brings invasion of privacy and identity theft to a whole new level. Leesie can enter the minds and memories of others and alter those memories if she decides it is helpful. Imagine the power of this talent in the wrong hands. Tobias, her Preceptor wants that power. Leesie is sent on a special mission to ‘navigate’ Dr. Kuono’s mind and learn the formula that turns a Seer into an Extractor. Danger awaits if she succeeds. Should she obey Tobias or her new friends Luke and Eri?

            

Interesting characters and plot twists but the ending is not satisfying.  

MS, HS - ADVISABLE.  Mary Jo Montoya, Special Education Teacher/Reading Specialist

Revolution 19 by Gregg Roenblum - OPTIONAL

Rosenblum, Gregg Revolution 19, 265 pgs. Harper Teen, 2013. Language - PG-13 (70 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; 

Nick, Cass, and Kevin have heard stories about the ruthless robots and death-camp cities, but now the bots have come to destroy their village. After their parents are taken, these three siblings cross unfamiliar terrain and find the city. While the supposed "death-camp" looks tranquil from a far, they soon discover that the stories were not wrong about the "ruthless bots" part. But it doesn't matter, Nick, Cass, and Kevin are ready to risk everything to get their parents back. 

I expected Revolution 19 to be more exciting then it actually was. There is lots of action, but it felt like Rosenblum rushed to fit everything in at the end. This makes it hard to feel the excitement and intensity that should be in the end because I was forced to re-read parts to make sure I didn't miss anything. Then, even after rushing to get all those last events in, Rosenblum leaves on a sudden cliffhanger. Overall, I think it is a good story, but it could have been written in a way to make it more enjoyable. 

HS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Altered by Jennifer Rush - ADVISABLE

Rush, Jennifer Altered, 323 pgs. Little, Brown and Company, 2013. Language - PG-13 (82 swears, 8 "f"), Sexual Content - PG-13; Violence - PG-13; 

Anna's life wasn't perfect, but she knew what to expect everyday. Now she is on the run with four boys who are experiments of the unknown organization "Branch" to uncover secrets kept from them--before Branch catches them. But the more they find, the more Anna wonders if she wants to know the truth. 

There was no way I was going to put these book down. Anna's story is captivating as she and the boys race against time and Branch. As each new clue was solved, the past was dug up, and betrayals became apparent, I could only hold on tighter. Also, while there is a sequel coming, Rush kindly does not leave a mooning cliffhanger--but that doesn't mean that the anticipation for Erased is any less. 

HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CCH

The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoake-ADVISABLE

Holyoake, Polly, The Neptune Project. Disney Hyperion, 2013. Pgs. 352. Language: G, Violence: PG, Sexual Content: PG. 

Nere feels more at home swimming with her mom and the dolphins they train than on land where she’s often gasping for air. While trying to escape from the government agents who want everyone to move inland, Nere’s mom dies and she’s left to wonder what is going. Everything seems to fall into place, however, when she discovers that she is genetically altered to survive in the ocean. To top it off, her father, who disappeared a while back, may be alive and there are other mutates like her. She and the others are part of the “Neptune Project. Scientists have developed a colony under the sea, safe from the barren country’s famine, wars, and harsh laws. The trick: they want the mutates to be a part of it, but there’s a problem, the government will do anything to destroy the project and the mutates. In order to get to the colony, the mutates will have to swim through hundreds of miles of dangerous waters, evade undersea creatures, and outrun the government. Will they succeed?

This action-packed adventure will draw in even the most reluctant reader. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, but they’re believable and complex. The plot is fast-paced and well-developed. Readers who like action, adventure, and science fiction will enjoy reading this book. EL (4-6), MS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.