Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Will Grayson and Will Grayson live rather close to each other but have never crossed paths until one day they do. Coming from different worlds, one Will Grayson lives a nice life and has his best friend Tiny. The other Will Grayson lives in another part of Chicago with only his mom and sort of friend.

        

The two Wills meet in unusual circumstances one night and befriend each other through Tiny, their not-so-tiny football player of a friend and his struggle to put on the musical he created.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Green, J.

Far, Far Away by Tom McNeal

A book review by Madeline Soucie

This is a story about a boy, a girl, and a ghost. The ghost is someone everyone has heard of at on point or another, but in his afterlife he becomes the protector of the boy.

         

Jeremy Johnson Johnson is quiet and shy and very studious. From time to time he hears voices. One voice in particular is that of his ghost.

         

Ginger is a wild girl always looking for an adventure and getting into trouble along the way. She and Jeremy become friends when she includes him in her next adventure of breaking and entering.

         

As this story unfolds and the trio carry out plans together, they will come upon an adventure they never expected and realize that far, far away can be so much closer than they expected.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC McNeal, T.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

 A book review by Madeline Soucie

             

The year is 1918. World War One is raging in Europe and the Spanish Flu is killing by storm. Mary Shelly Black (yes, named after the author of Frankenstein) has just moved to San Diego to live with her aunt.

      

It is here that she will be enveloped by the craze of spiritualism - something she doesn't believe in despite the amount of people that flock to get their pictures taken with dead loved ones.

      

Of course that could very well change for Mary Shelly. After all, anything is possible.

      

This historical fiction tells a tale of love, loss, and the fight to live during World War One and the Spanish Flu and the craze of spiritualism that kept hopes and spirits up in desperate times in a story you won't want to put down.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Winters, C.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Taking place in the '80s, Eleanor & Park is about two high school students who both stand out and as a result become an unlikely couple. It's a sweet story.

     

Eleanor's new to the high school. She's big and has crazy, unruly red hair. Plus she doesn't try to fit in -- she dresses outside the norm.

     

Park is Asian and isn't quite at the bottom of the social ladder where he gets picked on so survives when others are targeted instead of him.

     

When Eleanor needs a seat on the bus and the only one available is Park's, the two will slowly bond over comic books and music and come  to share a love story neither thought they'd be able to have.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Rowell, R.

The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong

A book review by Madeline Soucie

               

Chloe sees dead people... plain and simple. She learned this the hard way at school and now she's locked up at Lyle House, a home for troubled teens. But Chloe soon learns there is more to Lyle House and its residents than meets the eye.

Is Chloe the only one or are there others? And more importantly can Chloe uncover the secrets of Lyle House or will they get the best of her?

     

The Summoning is the first book in the "Darkest Powers" trilogy and combines different elements of the supernatural scene in a new take. If you like modern supernatural stories try this one out and you may -- like me -- end up rereading it from time to time when you just need a good book to read.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Armstrong, K.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

A book review by Faith Thompson

Aza has been blessed with a beautiful voice, and a skill called illusing -- or voice manipulation. Her greatest problem is that she is not beautiful. The jealous queen, Ivi, will use Aza’s skills in any way she can to get what she wants -- namely complete control over the kingdom of Ayortha.

Add to the mix a prince whose ears are a smidgen too big and who is interested in Aza. If that’s not confusing enough, a magic mirror is using Ivi for its own ends, and the king -- who didn’t know Ivi’s true nature -- is ill and can no longer speak after a grievous blow to the head. 

Aza is determined to make herself beautiful, and will stop at nothing… Not even the chance of death. 

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Levine, G.

Paper Towns by John Green

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Quentin Jacobs and Margo Roth Spiegelman used to be best friends when they were little but have grown apart over the years.  Though they went their separate ways, they haven't forgotten each other. Quentin has, not-so-secretly-to-his-best-friends, been in love with Margo for years.

        

As they get ready to graduate high school, Margo disappears again (as she has before), only this time for real. It's not a weekend disappearance with an awesome story to tell Monday morning. No -- she's gone and has left a trail of clues only Quentin can find, decipher, and follow to Margo. Of course he doesn't realize they are clues at first. They take time to be found and lead Quentin to wonder if he really knew the Margo he's chasing after. Or if anyone did.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Green, J.

Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Julep Dupree is a con artist. It's how she pays her tuition at St. Agatha's, the private school she attends. She runs little jobs for the students.

       

When she comes home one day to a trashed apartment and her father missing, things take a turn for the worst. Add to her stress, Tyler Richland -- a senior and the guy every girl wants.  Tyler takes an interest in Julep and wants to help her in any way possible. Following a trail of secrets and clues and stalkers won't be easy, but when is life ever easy.

       

Julep will soon find that she may be in over her head this time and that no amount of tricks will help her.

Find it in APL TEEN New Books YA FIC Summer, M.

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

 A book review by Madeline Soucie

               

Haley has spent the second half of her life on the road with her dad, Andy, trucking from place to place and learning as she went. Then her dad decides to move back to the town where he grew up so that Haley can have a normal senior year and prepare for college and the rest of her life.

But her dad's past haunts him and Haley can't do anything about it but watch. She struggles to fit in and get by. Soon the past will come out for all to see.

      

When Finn comes into the picture -- a sweet boy who cares about Haley -- he makes her think about the future for the first time in a way she has never been able to see it.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Anderson, L.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Dante and Aristotle (Ari) become friends the summer of their 15th year over swimming lessons. Dante is very open, into drawing and poetry and introduces Ari to poetry. Ari is quiet and angry about a brother in jail he can barely remember and no one will talk about.

    

As Ari and Dante spend the summer hanging out, they will learn new things and Ari will come to terms with his feelings and things about his brother's past that he didn't know will be revealed.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Saenz, B.

When We Wake by Karen Healey

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Tegan Oglietti lived her first life until 2027 when she was killed by a would-be assassin. But instead of dying, she wakes up a century later, much to her surprise.

    

It's hard to believe at first, especially when the footage is so crappy and could be anyone, but it's her. Life in the future is hard for Tegan to adjust to -- so much has changed. Tegan is supposed to be part of a government project, but she's not exactly on board with that. How could she go from her normal life of playing the guitar with her brother and going to environmental protests with her friends to the future she woke up in? Tegan is faced with the choice to keep her head down and go along with everything or make some big waves.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Healey, K.

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Alice's mother died and her father has since remarried and has a new baby. Alice doesn't like her stepmother or that her father is creating his perfect family without her. Trapped in her life she can't wait to move out and get away from her family. The only people that keep her sane are her best friend and her boyfriend, and of course her music.

When Alice gets stuck in the car in a snowstorm with no way out and no help, she will not only learn the true meaning of lonely, but will learn that hope isn't that far away; that she has an angel watching out for her.

     

Far From You is a quick, but really good book that may tug on your heart-strings a bit. It's a lot of loss and hope and new beginnings.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Schroeder, L.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A book review by Madeline Soucie                

Based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd, who died before she could write a story, this was finished by Patrick Ness. A Monster Calls is like Miss Peregrines's Home for Peculiar Children if anyone has read it. It's not like most books and has events that could be real or happen to anyone but has a fictional twist to it.

Conor has nightmares about his mother that have been going on ever since she got sick, and he has been waiting for them to come to life. So when a new monster comes to visit one night, it's not what Conor was expecting. This monster is worse; he wants the truth -- something Conor won't admit.

Conor is haunted by a monster who won't stop until he gets the ultimate truth that in the end will put Conor at peace with himself.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Ness, P.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Claire is super smart. As in the girl who graduated high school and is starting college at sixteen. She could have gone to schools like MIT or Caltech, that type of thing. Instead she is attending Texas Prairie University, a small school in a small town that everyone either transfers out of or disappears from. She didn't want to go here, but her parents were against her going far away at such a young age. 

From the beginning Claire had it rough, but it only got worse when she accidentally got on the wrong side of the mean queen bee of school.  Now Claire is looking for a place to live off campus and finds the Glass House and its tenants Shane, Eve, and Michael. Though they are hesitant to take her in, after seeing how she is attacked at school, they let her in and her world soon turns upsidedown.

To start, the town is run by vampires. Secondly, there is more to her new

roommates than meets the eye. Lastly, Claire just signed on to a ride with no end without even realizing it.

Glass Houses is the first book in the Morganville Vampire series. The books are

short and quick, but really good, especially if you like vampire/supernatural stories. This series takes a new turn on the vampire legend.

Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Caine, R.

Proxy by Alex London

A book review by Madeline Soucie


Knox is a wealthy boy in one of the wealthiest families of the Upper City. He has everything he could ever want or need. If he gets into trouble, well, he has a proxy who can take the blame -- that's what they're there for.

Syd is a proxy -- Knox's proxy to be exact. His whole life has been about taking punishments for his patron's crimes. He lives in the Lower City, just barely scraping by.  When Knox crashes into a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is sentenced to death.  When the boys meet and realize the consequences, they make a run for it hoping to make it to a secret society across the country. If they succeed, it could reset society and make everyone equal. But as the boys later find out, not all debts can be repaid.

This book is set in the future and is a really good sci fi for anyone who likes this genre. This book was interesting in how it took on servitude and a futuristic society gone wrong. 

For those who read and like Proxy try it's sequel Guardian.


Find it in APL TEEN New Books YA FIC London, A.

I Am Number Four by Piticus Lore

A book review by Kat Seevers

My favorite thing about this book was John. This novel was particularly good at creating a male that was both authentic and likable. Through his perspective we got to see how earth compared to his home planet. I liked that he didn't back down to bullying but was also sweet and devoted to Sarah. The combination of a sense of responsibility and his willingness to be a kid really made his character pop. 

I Am Number Four is stuffed with originality from the different type of legacies, the way the charms work, how the deaths are burned into their legs to the evil races hunting down the Numbers. This was definitely a page turner for me!

This is the first book in the Lorien Legacies.

Find it in APL Teen Fiction YA FIC Lore, P.

Frost by Marianna Baer

A book review by Madeline Soucie



Leena Thomas is starting her senior year at her boarding school, and everything should be great. She and her best friends are staying in the very cute Victorian dorm, Frost House. But Leena finds out last minute that she and her friends have an unexpected roommate, Celeste Lazar. Celeste isn't Leena's first choice for a roommate, but it's just one semester right? Besides, Celeste has a brother that's perfect for Leena. 


As her senior year starts, Leena finds out its not all it's cracked up to be. She soon has to play peacemaker between her friends and Celeste, which could cost her. Not to mention the strange happenings in Frost House -- falling pictures, locking doors, and trashed rooms behind locked doors. Leena finds herself struggling to keep the peace with her housemates -- and within her own mind -- as Frost House might become Haunted House.


Find it in APL Teen Fiction YA FIC Baer, M.

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

A book review by Kat Seevers

 

This book is a very compelling and poignant novel. The heroine is a very strong but bruised -- physically and mentally -- character who is not a vampire or shape-shifter, or a fallen angel. Because she is none of those is another reason I found this novel refreshing. That is not to say that horrible things do not happen -- and they do -- retold in flashbacks and memories, but it also shows that things can work out. That a path can be changed, and for the good. That a family can be made up of many different parts and still work.

Find it in APL Teen Fiction YA FIC Murdoch, E.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

A book review by Aisha Ali

              This book deals with an Indian Boy who lives on a small reservation. All his life he has lived there, and nothing seems to change. He starts his freshman year in high school, only to find out that the textbooks being used in class are books from the time his mother wen’t to school. His anger flourishes, and even though he doesn't mean to, he ends up throwing the textbook at his teacher.

                This was a crucial moment that would define his life forever. His teacher saw the potential he had, and sought to take action. The teacher told Junior (the main character'’s name) to leave the reservation. At first this was an unthinkable, never heard of decision, but it would be the one that would map out his future.

                Junior did leave the reservation. This came with a price. The people in his reservation turned their backs on him. His Indian people saw it as a form of betrayal to leave their reservation and go to a school where only white kids attended.They considered him a traitor. If this wasn’t bad enough, he had to come home everyday to deal with rude remarks from the people that lived in his reservation.

                At first it was hard to fit into this new school full of white kids, but soon after Junior's arrival he made friends who helped him make his time worth while. In the new school he went to, people were more welcoming, and most of all nonjudgmental. Back at the reservation, he would constantly get bullied. He only had one best friend on the reservation, Rowdy. Soon after leaving, Rowdy, too, turned his back on Junior.

                With the help from his new friends and coach, Junior was able to realize who he truly is. Through all the troubles he faced, he still kept going. His motivation and hardworking spirt is what makes this book inspiring.

Find it in YA FIC ALEXIE, S.

How To Save A Life by Sara Zarr

This book is centered around two girls whose lives are completely different. The story is written from two points of view, Jill's and Mandy's.

 

Jill grows up with heart warming parents, but when her dad passes away her life is turned upside down. To make it worse, her mom's thinking about adopting a baby. Jill pushes away everyone who cares about her. It’s not until she reunites with a friend from school that she realizes she doesn’t have to push people away, she opens up about her fathers death.

Mandy’s life is different. She didn’t grow up with such loving parents like Jill. Mandy becomes pregnant and makes a promise that her baby won’t end up living like this. She decides on putting the baby up for adoption. Here in the midst of looking for a baby to adopt and in the process of giving up her baby for it to have a chance in life, Jill's and Mandy’s life collide.

Jill's mother decides to adopt Mandy's baby. Mandy soon comes to live with Jill and her family for the last months of her pregnancy. Months go by and Mandy starts to think about her life after she has the baby. She hopes that she too can find a home as welcoming as Jill's.

 

Find it in YA FIC ZARR, S.

 

Reviewed by Aisha