Friday, July 1, 2011

DIVERGENT BY: Veronica Roth Young Adult Literature

DIVERGENT By: Veronica Roth
In the future, society is divided into five factions, each representing a different virtue: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Once every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives, leaving everything they hold dear behind. It's a difficult time for any young adult, but even more so for Beatrice Prior. As Beatrice begins to settle into her new life, she discovers that there is a growing conflict within her (seemingly) perfect society. Now it's up to Beatrice to stop the unrest before it tears everything she knows apart. But Beatrice has a secret. And, even though it could save everyone that she loves, if anyone where to discover what she was, Beatrice would be sentenced to death. Ages 14 and up. Katherine Tegen Books $17.99 Reviewed by Maggie

TEN THINGS WE DID (and probaby shouldn't have) By: Sarah Mlynowski Young Adult Literature

TEN THINGS WE DID (and probably shouldn't have) By: Sarah Mlynowski
In retrospect April probably shouldn't have tricked her father into letting her live alone with her best friend, Vi. But she saw an opportunity and, hey, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't kill form the chance to live unsupervised with a hefty monthly allowance. So what if April had to tell a tiny, itty-bitty lie to make it happen? April and Vi are very responsible young ladies, it's not like they will get into trouble. Right? I mean, buying a hot tub seemed completely necessary at the time. And the girls only skipped school once because it was, like, a total emergency. Okay and they maybe...probably..definitely shouldn't have harbored a fugitive, thrown a crazy party, played "I never", and paid $3000 for a cat, but they're two sixteen-year-old living without parental supervision. Did you really expect them to follow all the rules? Ages 14 and up. Harper Teen $16.99 Reviewed by Maggie age 16

HEREAFTER By: Tara Hudson Young Adult Literature

HEREAFTER By: Tara Hudson
The only thing that Amelia knows for sure is that she is dead. Floating alone, down a mysterious river, she has no memories of her past life and no actual memories of her death. She is trapped in a lonely nightmarish existence. That is, until one night, when she saves a boy named Joshua from drowning in her river, and everything changes, forever. As the days go on, Amelia and Joshua begin to grow closer and start to uncover the strange circumstances that surround her death. But while their relationship grows stronger and they begin to discover more about Amelia's past, an evil spirit named Eli is trying everything in his power to destroy their bond and drag Amelia back into the ghost world so he can keep her for himself, forever. Ages 12 and up. Harper Teen $17.99 Reviewed by Maggie

EVE By: Anna Carey Young Adult Literature

EVE By: Anna Carey
The year is 2032 and the world has been invaded by a deadly virus. Most of the population has been wiped out, and the girls and boys who survived the viruses have been sent off to boarding schools where they will stay until they are old enough to move into the City of Sand. Or so they are told. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve's graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her when she reaches the city. Fearing the worst, Eve flees the school and ventures into the wilderness where she encounters Caleb, a rebellious boy, escaped from a labor camp. He promises to protect Eve from the dangers of the wild, but when City soldiers begin to hunt them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. Ages 12 and up. HarperCollins $17.99 Reviewed by Maggie

THE LAST LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPE By: Maureen Johnson, Young Adult

THE LAST LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPE By: Maureen Johnson
Ginny Blackstone spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her eccentric aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. But, when someone stole Ginny's backpack and all of her aunt's letters, she never got to finish her journey. It's not until months later, when a mysterious boy contacts Ginny form London, saying he's found her bag that Ginny has any hope finally finishing what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure just as wild and crazy as the one before it. Only this time, she doesn't have her ant's instructions to guide her. Ages 12 and up. Harper Teen $ 16.99 Reviewed by Maggie

DIE FOR ME By: Amy Plum Young Adult

DIE FOR ME By: Amy Plum
After Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life behind to live with her older sister and grandparents in Paris. But the longer Kate spends in Paris, the more reclusive she becomes. That is, until she meets Vincent, a mysterious, charming and devastatingly handsome young Frenchmen. But as Kate begins to fall in love with Vincent, she discovers that he is hiding something dangerous. As Kate becomes closer to him and his friends the more trouble begins to unfold. And she soon realizes that if she follows her heart and stays by Vincent's side, she may never be safe again. Ages 14 and up. Harperteen $17.99 Reviewed by Maggie

CRYER'S CROSS By: Lisa McMann, Young Adult

CRYER'S CROSS By: Lisa McMann
When Tiffany Quinn disappears without a trace, the residents of Cryer's cross, Montana are distraught. Kendall Fletcher didn't know her all that well, but Tiffany's empty seat in the back of their one room school house is wreaking havoc on her OCD-addled brain. And when another student disappears, someone very close to Kendall, it becomes almost impossible for her not to obsess about the missing kids. Then Kendall begins to hear the voices of Tiffany and Nico (the other missing students), calling for help, and she fears that she may be losing her mind. But whether Kendall likes it or not, her OCD is forcing her to listen to the voices of the missing and act on her suspicions. Kendall is about to find out that something is amiss in Cryer's cross and that some of its residents will do anything to keep their secrets buried. Ages 14 and up. Simon Pulse $16.99 Reviewed by Maggie age 16