Legend by Marie Lu

A book review by Madeline Soucie



The United States is no longer the United States. It is the Republic of America 
(west coast and "good guys") and the Patriots (east coast and "enemy/terrorists"). 

June is a prodigy of the Republic; at her trials, which are taken at ten and decide what career and or school children can attend, she scored a perfect 1500 out of 1500. She attended the best school in the country four years early, graduated a year early and is training to be one of the country's best soldiers. 

Day is the Republic's most wanted criminal and the police haven't been able to catch him. 

The two come from opposite worlds, but will meet when June has to hunt Day as he becomes the target of June's brother's murder. Together they will uncover startling secrets about their country that were meant to stay hidden. June and Day have to work together to stay alive and outsmart the government without
getting others hurt in the process. 

This dystopian fiction is a great read filled with action and some romance. It is also the first book in the
Legend series by Marie Lu.


Find it in APL TEEN Fiction YA FIC Lu, M.

Everneath by Brodie Ashton

A book review by Madeline Soucie

Everneath is a new take on the Persephone myth of Greek mythology. The main character, Nikki Beckett, vanished into the underworld six months ago. Six months that felt like a
century to her. She almost forgot everything about her life and would have stayed in the underworld if she hadn't held on to the memory of her boyfriend, Jack. 

Now Nikki is back on earth, but only for six months. No one knows what happened to her, which makes adjusting to life hard. Add to that the fact that Cole, who took Nikki to the underworld, keeps visiting her.

As six months slowly slip away and Nikki tries to reconnect with Jack, she searches for a way to stay on the surface with the people she loves. Her only other choice is to become Cole's queen. 

In the end, love will be Nikki's driving force and she will find out that staying on the surface is comes with a great cost.

Find it in: APL TEEN FictionYA FIC Ashton, B.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

This is the first book of the Reckoners series by the co-author of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.  Currently in its 8^th week on the New York Times bestseller list, this is the story of the Epics and the Reckoners – and of David.  The Epics were created when a burst in the sky gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers.  But with these powers came a desire to rule – at all costs.  The Reckoners, the group of ordinary humans, spend their time studying the Epics in an effort to destroy them.  David knows that Steelheart is the Epic who is responsible for killing his father, and he’s out for revenge.

Find it in: APL Teen New Books YA FIC Sanderson, B.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba

 

This is the autobiographical account of William Kamkwamba's life in drought-stricken Malawi.  When William was 14, his family -- who farmed for a living -- began to feel the impacts of the drought and the lack of food as a result.  William felt he should do something and was curious about "electric wind."  Thus began his quest to discover all he could about this form of energy.  Using borrowed library books and items from junk piles, he began to build a windmill.  This is a story of his determination and perseverance to do something to change the life of his family and the lives of those in his village.

Find it: APL Teen Nonfiction YA BIO Kamkwamba, William .K35 2010

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

 

Malala is a young woman who is wise beyond her years.  She had been outspoken about her belief that Pakistani women should have the same access to education as their male counterparts.  As a result, on October 9, 2012, she was shot by a member of the Taliban while riding the bus home from school.  Miraculously, she survived and is the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.  This is her story.

 

To place this book on hold, click here:  http://minerva.maine.edu/record=i6269922

 

 

The Ashleys by Melissa de la Cruz

a book review by Sydney Abbott

Meet the Ashleys, who rule the school and make life miserable for non-SOA (Seal of Approval) girls.  The three of them are gorgeous, wealthy, and have all the best clothing. This year, the three Ashleys watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star.  Lauren has arrived at a new state, or so she hopes.  Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashleys and then destroy them.  With her father's newfound wealth, she's gone from bargain shopper to having her own personal shopper.  Lauren Page, tired of being a loser, has received a makeover in an attempt to fit in at Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls, so she can wriggle her way into the inner circle of the most popular girls at school, the Ashleys.  She plans to break them apart and take charge as the new queen bee at Miss Gamble's.

I would really recommend this book.  It's a great book if you enjoy an easy-to-read, girly book.  The book keeps you interested throughout the entire story. 


The Ashleys is a page turner, also funny and enjoyable. The Ashleys sets its background on the social scene of a high-end society.  The Ashleys took place in San Francisco, and the characters were narrowed down to a group of pre-teens within an all-girl school.  You're definitely going to enjoy this book if you're interested in this genre!



Find it in YA FIC de la Cruz, M.

Haven (Winterhaven #1) by Kristi Cook

a book review by Sophie Messina

 

Haven by Kristi Cook is about Violet McKenna going to a school for gifted people. But she doesn’t realize this until her friends show her their powers. Violet’s visions are becoming stronger and now she thinks she can see the future. She sees visions of her father’s murder, and she wants to control them with the help of her new friends and Aidan.

This book was like Twilight goes to boarding school because Aidan turns out to be vampire, and he and Violet have a romance. Violets friends ( Kate, Sophie, Cece, and Marissa) have to learn to use their powers to face a group of vampires who are plotting to kill Aidan. Violet's visions help her learn about the killers and what’s coming up. They end up killing the vampires at the end of the year.

There are questions that pop up in the book. What do these vampires want? Is there someone on the inside of the school giving away information? What’s going to happen with Violet and Aidan? What will happen in the next book? Read this book and you decide.

Find it: YA FIC Cook, K.