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I had originally planned to make September all about women who write SciFi and Fantasy, or a blending of both a la N.K. Jemisin, who I believe is a goddess. Except, you know, life happened. I did manage to read this and I have to tell you, it's frakking awesome with a capital A. It helps that I was in the middle of a big life change and needed something light and engaging. The crew of the Wayfarer are basically the construction workers of the universe. They create wormholes that will be used as shortcuts on the highways of space travel. We begin with the addition of Rosemary, a human, to the crew in the position of clerk. The crew is an stew of different species, all of whom have interesting back stories and multilayered personalities. The plot moves along really quickly, even the overarching plot of traveling across the universe to a newly recognized alien government to create a wormhole happens in a timely manner. Nothing is drug out here, and while I normally do not mind a...

Series: Minerva Mint Title: The Order of the Owls Author: Elisa Puricelli Guerra Who to recommend it to: Kids who love offbeat mysteries such as Series of Unfortunate Events and anyone who loved Pippi Longstocking, Little Orphan Annie, and Gilda Joyce I'm not sure if the series will take a paranormal spin, but there are no paranormal elements in this one. Why it rocks: We have an orphan in a cool setting with complete freedom (she is "home schooled" by an absent adult), a level of danger, several interesting mysteries, and wild animals. We have a bully bad guy who is pretty scary, and three kids that get by on their wits. Lizard Manor, Minerva's home, is a character in itself. Think: Grey Gardens. I couldn't put it down. It's charming, but not so sweet that the reader wants to brush their teeth afterward. Most importantly, it's a fun read. Finally, diversity. Minerva is a ginger with an unknown background, her "perfect" blonde...

Scarlet  By A.C. Gaughen Published: Valentine's Day, 2012 Review copy from netgalley In the mood for swashbuckling fun? Read this. From Goodreads: "Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for" .  The tale of Robin Hood has always been a fave, so the premise appealed to me. The ...

The Girls of  No Return  By Erin Saldin Will be published: 2/1/12 From goodreads:  CUT meets HATCHET in this lacerating debut about girls, knives, and redemption. The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area stretches across two million acres in northern Idaho. In its heart sits the Alice Marshall School, where fifty teenage girls come to escape their histories and themselves. Lida Wallace has tried to negate herself in every way possible. At Alice Marshall, she meets Elsa Boone, a fierce native Idahoan; Jules, who seems too healthy to belong at the school; and Gia Longchamps, whose glamour entrances the entire camp. As the girls prepare for a wilderness trek, Lida is both thrilled and terrified to be chosen as Gia's friend. But everyone has their secrets--their "Things" they try to protect; and when those come out, the knives do as well.    This is a story of obsession and about finding out who you are and where you are going. Lida is h...

Graffiti Moon By Cath Crowley Goodreads link Will be out on Valentines Day, 2012 Review copy from ATWT From Goodreads: Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for.  Really  fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes. What a sweet surprise this book is! I don't normally care for contempt stories, or romance, but I LOVED this book. I read it in one shot today. Lucy and Ed live in Melbourne (Australia) and the en...

Anna Dressed in Blood By Kendare Blake Out: now Review copy from my library Goodreads listing MUST READ I have to admit, I was sold on this book months ago because I loved the cover that much. I did not care what the book was about. So, I went into this one not knowing what to expect and I was surprised. I LOVED this book. We have a ghost hunter, who happens to be a hot teenage boy and a ragtag group of friends who want to help him banish the most famous local ghost-Anna. Anna, however, is not like most ghosts. Blake writes really scary scenes and they do not come off as hokey, just the opposite. Some of the things that happen in this book are really frightening, and I cannot recommend it for the squeamish. This is so refreshing to see in YA-real horror. I also loved that Blake was not afraid to allow her characters to make fun of themselves. Repeated Ghostbuster and Buffy references abound, and the comments were funny and relieved some of the tension of the world she ha...

The Iron Witch By Karen Mahoney From Goodreads :  Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma. Published: Feb. 2011 I picked this one up at BEA, and I think it was an example of cover love. Honestly, I KNOW I don't enjoy fairy stories, so I probably should not have even have been remotely interested, but alas.  Sucked in by the cover, I did carry this home, and there it sat for months. Poor book. The good news is that there are NO fairies in it! So, here's my take. I liked Donna very much. I lik...

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) By Cynthia Hand Published: Jan. 17, 2012 Copy: AWBTours Goodreads (to go to the listing click here ):  For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing...

The Name of the Star By Maureen Johnson Goodreads  Review copy: From my library From Goodreads:  The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. I loved this book. At the same time, I could see why many readers would NOT love this book. There are some things that could turn readers away. The first thing is Maureen Johnson. She has this truly distinctive voice that comes out in her characters so strongly, it is as if she is sitting across the table from you and telling you this story. This voice, however is so strong it can overpower her characters. Rory is very similar to Scarlet from Suite Scarlet, because they are both Maureen Johnson. That said, Johnson's voice is smart, ...

Did you enter to win Perfect ? Banished  By Sophie Littlefield Published: October 12, 2010 Review copy: from the library I don't know why, but my library JUST got a copy of this. Why did it take so long, I don't know. I do know that I could not put the darn thing down and am now impatiently awaiting the purchase of Unforsaken (the second book in the series). From Goodreads:  There isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them. I will n...

I finally got a copy of Away by Teri Hall!!!! Yeah! I don't know what took the library so long. I read The Line last year and remembered really liking it. Plus, if you read The Line, you know it left off on a crazy cliffhanger! Away By Teri Hall Published: September 15 by Dial Sequel to The Line Find it on Goodreads Here's the breakdown from goodreads: After crossing the Line, Rachel finds herself in a world where survival is never guaranteed - a world where bizarre creatures roam the woods and people have strange abilities. Everything has gone to ruin Away and the survivors have banded into warring clans. Rachel finds her father being held prisoner by a tribe of Others, and she and her new friends set out to rescue him. But when they cross back over the Line, Rachel and Pathik make a foolish decision, bringing them into further danger that can only be resolved with an unthinkable sacrifice. An adventure filled with life-and-death choices, dark conspiracies, and hea...

Pure By Julianna Baggott Out: 2/12 Review Copy: tour Stars: 4.5 out of 5 Super short booktalk: In the future, after deadly bombs have laid waste to all of civilization there is a society of survivors living in a dome. In the wastelands, there are survivors as well. They are mutated, and waiting to be "saved" by the folks in the dome. One young man, in the dome, has just learned that his mother may be alive and living in the wastelands. He wants his mommy, even if he has to bring the entire world crashing down to get to her. Okay I can't say this is one of the best dystopians of 2011 because it does not come out until 2012, but believe me, it's a winner. All of the elements are right-the geography, the society (both in the dome and out), and the creatures, oh, the terrifying creatures. Horror fans will be pleased as well. The characters are drawn so well, they come to life. I felt a connection with all of them. The story is told in alternating POVs, each ...

The Flint Heart By Katherine Paterson and John Paterson Illustrated by John Rocco Out now! Review copy from my library I was not sure I would enjoy this one, as anyone who knows me knows that my tolerance for fairies (or pixies or brownies) is minimal. This is a charmer, however. From the moment the story first begins, in the Stone Age, I was transfixed. I do love how the story remains constantly intelligent: there are words in the story I needed to look up. "So the message was sent, the charades were acted, and the cold collation eaten." (271) This is a story that does not "talk down" to to children, and in fact, forces them to ponder such things as whether or not it is wise to consider the Point of View of someone else, the value of a hot-water bottle (made in Germany), and what could make a simple, kind person decide to make it their mission in life to be in charge of everything and every one. The tale reminded me very much of Alice in Wonderland...

In my quest to read more Middle Grade books, I am trying to read many of the books that folks think may win the 2012 Newberry. I am working my way along this ongoing  list . Today, I would like to share my thoughts on Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor. This book was not for me. First, the History major in me was going crazy trying to place this novel in time. Here is my mathematical formula for narrowing this down: First, no mention of cellphones or internet= time <1995 Mama's "hippie" stint in Amsterdam= time >1969 Several mentions of "paisley" and peasant blouses= 1970's Raine is 12, going on 13 + Mom (hippie)= late 70's to early 80's Final result= 1978-1989 Still, it is a range. Next, my major, major problem with this story is that it features a bunch of non-functioning adults who rely too much on a 12 year-old. A 12 year-old that they do not tell the truth to, and then expect her to make mature decisions. HUH? Several time...

Legend  By Marie Lu Published: Nov. 29/2011 ARC from publisher 4.5 out of 5 Stars In the Republic, children are sorted by a trial that they either pass and go on to lead productive Republican lives or fail and go to work camps. June is the daughter of a proud Republic family. She is the best of the best, even entering high school three years early due to her perfect score in the trial. She is 15. Day is a criminal mastermind who has brought nothing but trouble to the Republic-disrupting supplies, breaking into government facilities, and taking his spoils and giving them to the poor. This futuristic Robin Hood is also 15. Now, things have gone horribly wrong and it's the best of the best vs the worst of the worst. June vs Day.   I loved this book. It was like reading manga that had been converted to novel form. The action is solid, the conflict between the two solid characters is even and perfect. It reminded me very much of Death Note. The world building is ...

Frost Marianna Baer Goodreads link Published: September 13, 2011 Stars: 4 out of 5 I love crazy, quirky books. Sometimes I find a jewel of a nutty read and some of the images stick with me forever. This is one of those books. Perfect for Fall, Frost drops us back to school (a boarding school) and in a house on the property that is a dorm for four students and a totally absent house mother. Leena, studious and nerd-girl cool, is rooming with her two besties. Forced on them is Celeste, the school's crazy girl and the reader thinks "Oh, great, another book about friendship dynamics and how they change in senior year". Oh, hell to the no. This is a flat-out horror story complete with a gothic setting, unreliable characters, false leads, and red herrings. It is a strange (in a good way) read. Yet another book I wanted to put down and call everyone who was reading it and say, "Hey, did you just read that? Did that really just happen?" I needed a break fr...

Witchlanders By Lena Coakley Out: now Review copy: NG Stars: 4 out of 5 It actually took me a month to read this. I started out all gangbusters: probably did the first 200 pages in a night, them whammo. It just slammed to a halt in the middle. There is wonderful world building in this novel, and I enjoyed it, but when it came time for both sides to meet it sort of felt like a buddy comedy gone wrong. Then, during the hurricane, I picked it back up, and from part 3 on it was all action. Two cultures, divided by a great war, have remained apart for a generation. Now, a threat to restart the war has drawn together enemies who must work together-or everyone will die. That is the main premise. However, under all of that is what was, for me, the real story: a family that is being torn apart by drug addiction and mistakes of the past. Skyler, the daughter, is a strong character and I almost wish this had been her story. I found Ryder to be a little mean at times. On the flipside I foun...

Shifting By Bethany Wiggins Out: September 27, 2011 Review copy from publisher Stars: 4 out of 5 This was a pleasant surprise. The writing is way above par! Maggie Mae is a shifter stuck in the foster care system and because of problems related to her affliction, she has been passed around for years. Because of this she is fiercely independent and strong. At her final stop before she graduates high school and is cut free, she may just have stumbled on a place she can call home. I think the best parts of the novel have nothing to do with the actual transformations into animals (well, the horse part was hilarious), but in the great descriptions of life in New Mexico. I also loved the weaving of Navajo legend into the story. The male lead, Bridger (first time I have seen that name!) is strong, successful as a real friend, and really caring. I think I just loved Mrs. Carpenter the best! I hope for more from Wiggins, but especially this town and these characters. Surely, this could go...

Forgotten by Cat Patrick Goodreads Out: now 4.5/5 Stars Review copy: from the library I was not going to read this book, in fact I had "forgotten" to even add it to my TBR list. But, one of the perks of my library job is to see the new titles when they come in. When I pulled it from the pile, one of my Teen Book Club members was standing there, and we looked it over. She decided to check it out. Flash forward to the next day, when Cayla came screaming into the office: You have to read this NOW! O-kay. Well, I couldn't put the darn thing down and read it in one night. It's a winner! Why? Well, a big thumbs up for London who is a great character with a voice that just grabs you right away. There is very little angst here, and this girl has a lot to be depressed about-however, London never seems to mire in it. And Cayla and I agree, Luke is one of the BEST male characters, ever. He well developed, realistic, and has multiple levels-not the typical YA pretty boy...

The Revenant Sarah Ginsler Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers Released June 14, 2011 Review Copy: From Library Goodreads link What a pleasure! This is not only a spooky ghost story, but a highly researched historical novel as well. I could not put it down, and do not remember reading anything like it before. I was super pleased to see the main character grow up during this novel, the change was subtle,and realistic. Very well done! The ghost here is a real chiller, but scarier than the dead is the behavior of the living. This novel, at its core, is really about class and social standing. It is about how we treat each other and how money and standing effect that. There are really three stories in one here and each is handled very well. I recommend this for fans of Lois Duncan, Laurie Halse Anderson (for the history buffs), and anyone looking for something different to read.