If I Should Die by Amy Plum - ADVISABLE

Plum, Amy If I Should Die, 405 pgs.  HarperTeen, 2013.  $17.99  Content: Language: PG-13 (22 swears; 16 God); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

Kate is devastated since her boyfriend, Vincent, was burned and taken by a back-stabbing Revenant.  Revenants are people who have lived for a long time and spend their immortality saving humans from death, Vincent was also a Revenant and now that he has been burned, his immortal body is nothing but a ghost.  Luckily, Kate thinks she can find a way to bring Vincent back to human form.  Kate spends the bulk of this book researching a solution to Vincent’s death.  

This is the third and final book in the Revenants series.  Although the middle part of this third book is heavy in theories and research and lacking in action, the ending of the book makes up for the slow middle.  The characters in this series are fun to follow and the sweet romance between Vincent and Kate will snag any young adult girl reader. 

 MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins - ADVISABLE

Higgins, Wendy  Sweet Peril, 373 pgs.  HarperTeen, 2013.  $9.99  Content: Language: PG-13 (29 swears; 9 God); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

Anna is the daughter of a guardian angel and the Duke of substance abuse.  It is her job as a Nephilim (child of a demon), along with all other Nephilim to lead humans to sin; however, Anna has a pure heart and is having a hard time fulfilling her job.  The other demon dukes are suspicious of Anna since they are aware that she has guardian angels watching over her.  Anna is also in love with Kaidan, who is the Nephilim of the Duke of Lust, but their love is tried because it is forbidden among the demon dukes, Anna’s dad is encouraging her to be with someone else, and they also have to face the temptations of their father’s sins.  A prophecy is given that Anna must follow and she has to find allies in a dark world full of sin.  

This is the second book in the Sweet Evil trilogy and it is hard to put down.  Not only are the main characters well developed, but so are the minor characters.  The romance between Kaidan and Anna is intense.  The storyline is action packed and I can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy.  I would have this book be essential, but the mature content is some steamy almost sex scenes that aren’t necessarily appropriate for all young adults, so it depends on the school.  

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama-ADVISABLE

Fama, Elizabeth. Monstrous Beauty, 295 pgs. Farr Straus Giroux, 2012. $17.99. Language R (16 swears, 3 ‘f’), Sexual Content R (Rape), Violence PG.

Seventeen year old Hester believes that there is a curse on the women of her family. After giving birth to their first daughter, the mother will mysteriously die. Therefore, Hester has decided that she will never have children. But when she meets a mysterious stranger who has a link to her past, she dives into history and finds that a mermaid curse maybe be playing on the souls of the women in her family.

I enjoyed this book. It flipped back and forth between 1872 and today, and I like the idea that mermaids are real. The curse, when it was all explained, was a little bit hard to follow at times but it all came together in the end.

HS - OPTIONAL (see ratings). Reviewer: AL

Life Eternal by Yvonne Woon - ADVISABLE

Woon, Yvonne  Life Eternal, 416 pgs. Hyperion, 2012. $16.99  Content: Language: G (1 God); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13. 

This is the second book in the Dead Beautiful series.  Renee is a Monitor, a person who can feel the Undead around her, and she goes to a special school so that she can learn how to take care of reburying the Undead.  The problem, in this second book, however, is that Renee has died and been brought back to life as well, and she should also be Undead, but is not because the person who brought her back to life, Dante, also shares her soul.  Dante and Renee love each other but can’t be together, and they are searching for a solution for their shared soul.  Renee has two new friends from her new school, Noah and Anya, who help her follow clues that should lead them to the secret of immortality, which Renee hopes will allow her and Dante to be together. 

This is a typical second book in a series, in the fact that it feels like a bridge between the first book and a conclusion.  The ending totally leaves the reader hanging and annoyed that the third book isn’t out yet.  The characters are okay, but the story is creepy and exciting, making it hard to put down.  This is a good book for girls who like supernatural trilogies set in boarding schools, along the lines of the Hex Hall and Haven series. 

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Black City by Elizabeth Richards - ADVISABLE

Richards, Elizabeth  Black City, 400 pgs. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2012.  $17.99 Content: Language: PG-13 (25 swears; 2 God); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13. 

Natalie Buchannan comes from a Sentry family, her mother is an important government official, so it is shocking when she is placed at the local Workboot school, where all the blue collar workers’ kids go.  While at her new school, Natalie feels a physical draw, an actual physical pull on her heart, to a boy named Ash Fisher.  However, any relationship between them is forbidden because Ash is half-human and half-Darkling.  The reconstruction of their city is not going smoothly between the Sentry and the Darklings, and Ash and Natalie can’t seem to fight their feelings for each other, regardless of the legal implications of their relationship.  Because they care about each other, they are more willing to see the truth behind the political uprisings, and they begin to unravel the truths behind the façade put out by the government. 

This book is hard to put down, the storyline revels pieces of the puzzle at just the right time to keep the reader interested.  The characters both carry a lot of baggage so I liked how they were able to use their pasts to show character growth.  The violence is war violence and a lot of blood from vampire deaths.  There is also off page sex.  This is the first book in the series. 

MS, HS-ADVSIABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Vanquished by Nancy Holder and Debiie Viguie - ADVISABLE

Holder, Nancy and Debbie Viguie  Vanquished, 462 pgs.  Simon Pulse, 2012.  $16.99 Content: Language: PG-13 (63 swears; 14 God); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13. 

In this third and final book in the Crusade trilogy, the vampire war with the humans is finally coming to a head.  Team Salamancan, after some upsetting setbacks, has gathered their forces and weapons and they are preparing for war.  The vampire kingdom, after breaking apart the vampire nations, is also preparing to annihilate any humans who will not submit to them.  As the two sides face off, the main characters Jenn and her partner, a good vampire, Antonio, are unsure of where their relationship stands.  The other team members also face interesting relationship changes.  All of them hope they can preserve the human world against the growing evil. 

This is a fun series that has lots of action, romance and adventure.  The characters are relatable and I found myself cheering for Team Salamancan.  The violence seemed almost rated R because the battle scenes were quite gruesome and descriptive and the hybrid vampire/werewolves seemed grotesque.  Overall, it was a fun series to read. 

HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh - OPTIONAL

Creagh, Kelly  Enshadowed, 429 pgs.  Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon), 2012. $17.99  Content: Language: PG-13; Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

In this second book of the Nevermore series, Varen is still stuck in the dream world that Isobel left him in from the first book.  Isobel is having bad dreams and obsessing about Varen being trapped in the netherworld.  She decides to try and meet the mysterious man who visits Poe’s grave every year on Poe’s birthday because she believes the mystery man may know a way to get into the netherworld.  Isobel’s family is very concerned about her because although she has continued to work hard at school and cheer, she is distracted and distant from them.  Isobel prepares to lie to her family and with the aid of her best friend find a way to get to Baltimore to meet with the mysterious man and get to Varen, but even if she goes through all the trouble what will be left of the Varen that she knew from before?  

This is a creepy, well written ghost story with an angsty main character.  Parts of this book frustrate me, such as Isobel’s willingness to give up everything for a boy that she hardly knows and whose character is not well developed, a boy who chose to go into the netherworld.  I was also frustrated because her family is very supportive and loving towards her, but she never confides in them and lies to get what she wants.  My biggest complaint is that the teaser in the cover of the book practically tells the whole story.  The ending leaves you hanging, and I will read the third book to find out what happens to all the characters.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready - OPTIONAL

Smith-Ready, Jeri  Shine, 399 pgs.  Simon Pulse, 2012.  $17.99  Content:  Language: R; Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13. 

 In the final book of the Shade trilogy, Aura comes to terms with losing her boyfriend Logan and realizes that she cares for her friend Zachary.  Aura, along with everyone who was born since her, has always been able to see people who are dead, except when she is with Zachary who seems to have a ghost repellant quality about him.  As they get to know each other better and start to uncover the story behind their abilities they learn that their parents are the reason that the shift happened and ghosts are visible.  Aura delves into her dead mother’s journals and decides she needs to travel to Ireland and visit the places that may have answers to why the shift happened before the government takes her and Zachary for good.   

This book wrapped up all the questions that the rest of the series presented.  Like the other books in the series, the language has a lot of swearing, including the “F” word.  The story moves along quickly and is hard to put down and the romance between the two characters is fun.  This book would be hard to recommend because of the swearing, but the storyline is entertaining, making it optional.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - OPTIONAL

Hodkin, Michelle  The Evolution of Mara Dyer, 527 pgs.  Simon and Schuster, 2012.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (80 swears; 14 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

This is the second book in the Mara Dyer trilogy.  The first book left Mara in a police station screaming because she thought she saw her supposed dead ex-boyfriend, Jude.  Her screaming turned into an “episode” and she wakes up in a mental institution.  Mara tries to convince her psychologist, Dr. Kells, and her mother, who is also a psychologist, that she just had an episode because of her post traumatic stress disorder and that she isn’t actually schizophrenic.  Mara has very loving parents and two sweet brothers who want the best for her, she also has a boyfriend, Noah who has special powers like Mara and seems to understand her when no one else believes her.  Noah and Mara have to battle the very alive and cruel Jude, while convincing Mara’s doctors and parents that she believes he is dead.  Noah and Mara’s fight against Jude turns violent and Mara ends up in a permanent resident mental institution where Noah and Mara uncover the truth behind Mara’s and Noah’s abilities. This is an intense read that is hard to put down.  

I loved the character development in all the characters, both major and minor.  The story moves along quickly with different revelations throughout and it is fun to guess what the answers to Mara’s problems are going to be.  The book does leave the reader anxious for the third and final book.  This novel has a lot of “F” words, which makes it optional, but if it didn’t have those swears, I would put it as essential.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

A Stranger Came Ashore by Mollie Hunter - ADVISABLE

Hunter, Mollie A Stranger Came Ashore, 134 pgs. Kelpie Classics, 1975, 1994.  New edition, 2012. $9.95. Language: G ( 0 swears, 0 “f” ); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

Robbie Henderson, a teen Shetlander, lived when the only transportation was horse and buggy.  He lived with his family near the sea.  His grandfather told him many tales of the Selkie Folk: seals that take on human form and lure unsuspecting islanders to their deaths.  A stranger, named Finn Learson, comes ashore after a shipwreck and falls in love with Robbie’s sister, Elspeth.  Robbie finds reasons to believe that Finn is the “Great Selkie” of lore.  He believes his sister is in danger and takes every opportunity he can to save her. 

Hunter creates a gripping folk tale from the British Isles.  The use of “common” speech by the characters contributes to the overall flavor of the story.  The book is hard to put down since Hunter creates such suspense throughout the novel.  This is a fun, cultural read. 

EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: MOMMC

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan - ADVISABLE

Brennan, Sarah Rees Unspoken: The Lynburn Legacy, 384 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. $18.99. Language: PG (20 swears; 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13

 Kami has been talking to the voice in her mind for as long as she can remember. He knows everything about her and she is unsure of who she would be without him. When the Lynburn family of the manor house returns to Kami’s small English village after a long absence, the voice becomes a flesh and blood person. Can Jared Lynburn help Kami figure out the strange events that have begun to occur or does he represent more danger than comfort?

This book is a fun twist on the overdone supernatural genre. Overall there are some dark elements to the book, but nothing too disturbing. Unspoken is well written with a story that moves quickly and keeps the reader intrigued. There’s humor residing comfortably next to a haunting gothic romance that modernizes a drama filled plot perfect for teenage readers. As this is the first book in a series more questions than answers are given, but with clearly drawn characters and at least one mystery solved the reader won’t be left frustrated.

MS,HS—ADVISABLE. AEB Social Studies Teacher

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - ADVISABLE

Peterfreund, Diana For Darkness Shows the Stars, 416 p. Balzer + Bray (Harper), 2012.  Content: G.  

Genetic experimentation has ruined the world.  All Elliot North has ever known is that since then, her people, the Luddites, have ruled the world, to control the Reduced and keep it safe from further genetic experimentation.  But Elliot’s family estate is dying – her father and her sister do nothing to improve their property.  And things have been especially bad since Elliot’s friend Kai left – without her.  Now foreigners have come to the estate, renting part of it to build a new type of ship, one that may help the island connect with the rest of the world.  But Kai has returned with them and Elliot is torn between her strict upbringing, her love for the estate and her love for Kai.  

Honestly, I have never read Persuasion, and if it hadn’t been mentioned on the cover, I would have never cared.  And students will not care; they will just enjoy watching the forces in Elliot’s universe as they separate, intermingle and collide.  

MS, HS – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks - ESSENTIAL

Banks, Anna  Of Poseidon  Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2012.  $17.99  326 pages.  Content: Language: PG-13 ( 9 swears); Sexual Content: PG; Violence: PG-13 (shark attack).  

Galen is a prince from an undersea kingdom and his people are known as the Syrena and their heritage is of Poseidon the Greek god.  Galen is an ambassador for his people and he keeps abreast of the goings on of the human world, so when he hears about a Syrena who is posing as a human, he comes on land to check it out.  Emma, has no idea that she is a Syrena and if she did she might have been able to stop a shark from killing her best friend on their vacation.  Emma returns home after losing her best friend, to find a new kid at school named Galen, a kid that was at the beach the day she lost her friend.  Galen tries to figure out if Emma knows that she is a Syrena while not falling for her, because if she is a Syrena then she has the heritage of Triton and she would need to marry Galen’s older brother to unite the kingdoms.  Emma and Galen work together to try and understand who she is.  

This was a great story with an original storyline and great chemistry between the characters.  I can’t wait for the next book.  

MS, HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay - OPTIONAL

 Jay, Stacey  Romeo Redeemed  Delacorte Press, 2012.  $17.99.  365 pages.  Content:  Language: R (58 swears; 1 “F”; 20 God); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG.  

In this sequel to Juliet Immortal, Romeo has lost all his power as a Mercenary of Dark, a person who ruins people’s lives by tainting their love, because his latest act was to save Juliet’s newest love in the modern world.  An Emissary of Light comes to Romeo and tells him that if he can convince a girl named Ariel to love him within three days, she will give him a body and allow him to become an Emissary, restoring him from his withered body.  Romeo finds that Ariel has knowledge of the spirits of good and evil and is the person who can tip the balance to good or bad.  If Romeo can’t bring Ariel over to the side of love, then the Mercenary’s will win the battle.  Romeo doesn’t expect to really fall in love with Ariel, but he does.  Romeo also realizes that there isn’t a clear line between who is good and bad and he will sacrifice himself for Ariel’s protection.  

In a story with a lot of twists and bends in reality, this is a crazy sequel to the first book Juliet Immortal.  The ending is satisfying and the character development is great, but sometimes the rules of the fantasy element in the book are unclear.  

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston - ADVISABLE

Livingston, Lesley Tempestuous, 361. Harper Teen, 2011. $16.99. Language PG-13 (35 swears), Sexual Content G; Violence PG-13; 

Kelly with just five simple words sends herself and Sonny on a dangerous adventure full of suspense to save Sonny's life. Sonny returns to the King and goes back to work all while believing that Kelly doesn't love him. Why does he believe so? Because the faerie cannot lie and Kelly is faerie. She told the single lie, "I don't love Sonny Flannery." And sent his world spiraling. Kelly however still loves Sonny and employs the Janus Guard to help save his life. 

A magnificent story that was captivating and impossible to set down. The final book of an enchanting story. I loved it so much that I went and read the first two as well. Sonny and Kelly's love story will creep its way into your heart and will find a place to stay in the ranks of several other fictional couples such as Katniss and Peeta. 

HS - ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: KU

Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly - ESSENTIAL

Weatherly, L.A.  Angel Fire  Candlewick Press, 2011.  $17.99.  638 pages.  Content: Language PG-13 (47 swears;  98 swears); Violence: PG; Sexual Content:  PG.   

Willow and Alex go to Mexico City to start a new team of Angel Killers, people who hunt and kill the angels who feed off humans’ spirits.  These angels are causing illness in humans around the world, so Alex and his half-angel girlfriend Willow, both of whom have had families suffer at the angels hands, have figured out a plan to destroy all angel kind.  With the help of the Angel Killer team and another half-angel they make a plan to destroy the Council of Angels, which are the original 12 angels.  They believe that by killing these 12 angels they can stop all angels from feeding on humans.  After making elaborate plans, Willow gets a premonition that splits the Angel Killer team in half, and causes doubt about the results of their plan.   

I loved this book and could not put it down, regardless of the fact that it is more than 600 pages.  The chemistry between the two main characters adds a romantic side to the plotting and fighting with the angels.  I can hardly wait to see what the end of the trilogy will be like.  MS, HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready - OPTIONAL

Smith-Ready, Jeri  Shift Simon Pulse, 2011.  $17.99.  367 pages.  Content:  Language: R (67 swears; 25 “F” words; 31 Gods); Violence: PG; Sexual Content: R.   

Aura’s boyfriend died, but instead of going towards the light he became a Shade, which is a tormented spirit that stays on earth.  In a world where everyone under the age of sixteen can see ghosts, a Shade is seen as a threat.  Once someone becomes a Shade they aren’t supposed to be able to turn back to a spirit, but somehow Aura turns her boyfriend, Logan, back to a spirit who still has the potential to move on.  As Aura is trying to figure out what makes her different she comes to terms with losing Logan as a human, they agree to be best friends.  Aura takes up her quest to figure out who she is with a guy, Zachary, who has been waiting for her to get over Logan.  Aura and Zachary have to avoid getting caught by the government who is suspicious of their role in the Shift, which is the point when the world could start seeing ghosts.  

 I enjoyed the overall story, it’s fast paced and hard to put down; however, the language and sexual content was distracting.  Also the main character kept waffling between the two boys and leading them both on, which was frustrating to read.  HS-OPTIONAL.   

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer - ADVISABLE

Cremer, Andrea  Bloodrose  Philomel Books, 2012.  $18.99.  406 pages.  Content:  Language: PG-13 (77 swears; 9 Gods); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   

This is the final novel in the Nightshade trilogy.  Calla has saved Ren, the alpha male from her old pack, but when she returns to the academy with Ren, a love triangle becomes uncomfortable between Calla, Ren and Shay.  Their relationship is put on hold because they are in the middle of locating the three weapons that Shay, as the Scion, will need to end the war with the Keepers, who are the humans that have controlled everyone with their connection to the underworld.   Most of this book is the search for the magical weapons that can seal this world from the demons of the other world.  When the weapons are acquired, then the war begins.  

 This book still has great characters, but the main characters indecision about the two boys is frustrating.  The ending wasn’t my favorite, but sometimes at the end of a trilogy not everyone is happy.   If you own the other two books, then you have to own this final installment.  

 HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young - ADVISABLE

Young, Suzanne  A Want So Wicked Balzar and Bray, 2012. $17.99.  282 pages.  Content: Language: PG-13 (17 swears; 4 Gods); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG.  

 Charlotte is a Forgotten, which means that she lives on this world for a short time delivering messages of hope and help to people who are overcome with hardship.  But after a few years the Forgotten eventually fulfill their role and disappear as they go into the light.   At the beginning of this book Elise keeps having memories from Charlotte’s life, but it takes her awhile to figure out that she is Charlotte reincarnated, which is unusual because Forgottens do not usually come back to earth.  However, Charlotte has unfinished business with one of the Shadows (the people who do the opposite of what she does, and try to make humans do bad things).  Elise/Charlotte with the help of her boyfriend Harlin find the Shadow who is destroying so many Forgottens, and Elise/Charlotte sacrifices her life to send the Shadow back to the underworld.   

I love this series and this book because I think the idea is creative.  The characters are fun to cheer for and the romance has great chemistry.   

MS-ADVISABLE.  HS-ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Until I Die by Amy Plum - ESSENTIAL

Plum, Amy  Until I Die  Harperteen, 2012.  $17.99 352 pages.  Content:  Language: PG-13 (18 swears; 8 God); Sexual Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

In the second installment of the series Die for Me, Kate and Vincent declare their love for each other and try to find a way to live a relatively normal life regardless of the fact that Vincent is a revenant.  Revenants are people who have died saving another’s life and because of their sacrifice they are immortal, but with that immortality comes the task of continuing to save people.  Vincent tries a new theory on how to stave off the desire to save others so that he and Kate can live a long life together, but along the way he becomes subject to the underhandedness of a trusted revenant.  Kate and Vincent both become targets of the enemy and their efforts to live together become more impossible than ever.  

I love the characters in this novel and I thought the storyline was very creative.  The girl character is as strong and independent as the boy and she is reasonable and believable.  I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.  I am hooked.  

MS-ESSENTIAL, HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.