Inferno

Be careful what you wish for Nick Gautier!! I don't know which character in this series I love the most. The list is endless.  The fourth book in the Chronicles of Nick series sure didn't disappoint! Nick and his Scooby gang (thanks Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are trying to figure out a way to stop Nick from ending the human race. The powers that await him as he gets older are going to devastate the world and all he loves. His future self keeps trying to make sure Nick doesn't do anything to cause the Apocalypse, but no matter what Ambrose does, it always seems to end the same way- with death to all humans. Nick is just trying to get through high school with some small bit of dignity. Caleb, his demon protector, is bound to serve him, but deep down, I think he is rooting for Nick. Kody, the goddess girlfriend, is there to kill Nick, and when he finds that out- well, let's just say he isn't pleased. Kyrian, Ash, Bubba and Mark along with Cherise, all make their appearances to drive the story along. Even Nick's father turns out to be a little less the monster than we have been led to believe. The flashes to the past and the future are interesting and telling. The histories of Caleb and Kody also add to the appeal of this series. And the ending- let me tell you mon amis- is quite disturbing on so many levels. This is yet another book steeped in New Orleans culture and flavor. A trip has got to be in order. I love this series not only for how it entertains me, but how easy it is to recommend to the reluctant readers I have in class. So, start at the beginning and take the journey with Nick, you won't regret it. Happy reading my friends!

The Prey

In this fast paced, action filled sequel to The Hunt. Gene and his friends have escaped the Dome and are running for their lives. They are following the path The Scientist has left for them, who turns out, it Gene's missing father. As they figure out the clues he has left them, they stumble upon The Mission. A creepy, oasis, where things cannot possibly be as great as they seem. Too much food, too many young girls, too many creepy old men. Where does the food come from? Why are there no boys? Why are the girls feet so small? (weird I know) Where does the train go? Why are all the girls pregnant? Troubling. Sissy and Gene figure out what is going on and try and devise a way to escape. But are they too late? As the Duskers converge on the mission, hard choices must be made and some may fall to the night. Gene may have finally figured out what The Origin is. And as their train heads into the belly of the beast, he may not have much time to get out alive. This is a great series with such an interesting premise. What if vampires aren't all sparkly and friendly and just looking for love? What if all they want is to eat you? This book has gotten quite the reactions from students. They love the cover, even my hairdresser made a comment about the cover. It is a much better visual than the original. Of course, that has nothing to do with whether or not the story is good. But in this case, you can judge a book by it's cover and this one is fantastic. So enjoy- and I will be eagerly waiting the final book in the series in September. Until then, it's off to New Orleans with Nick Gautier in the next Chronicles of Nick book- Inferno. Happy reading my friends!

Breaking Point

I recently wrote about a book by Kristen Simmons called Article 5 and loved it. Little did I know, the sequel was already out and ready to be devoured. It picks up with Chase and Ember joining the resistance after their narrow escape. They are trying to find a safe place to be but things keep getting in their way. As one thing after another goes wrong, they continue to find a way to be together amidst the chaos of their existence. Ember is determined to help Sean find Rebecca even though Chase would rather take her somewhere safe on the coast. When her mortal enemy Tucker shows up and joins the resistance, she can't even begin to start to trust the boy who killed her mother. But in times of war, you may not have the luxury of choosing who is on your side and who to hate. Will her turn out to be the traitor, or will he save their lives? This one end in another cliffhanger, but at least Ember and Chase are together as they run off into the woods to find Chase's uncle. I really enjoy these books, they are filled with action, tension and a little romance. The society is one filled with moral dilemmas that make you wonder if our society is headed to the same place. I sure hope not. Anyway, another great book down and a miles to go before I sleep. Happy reading my friends!

The Vicious Deep

Well fans of Percy Jackson, there's a new sheriff in town. Meet Tristan. Ladies man, ball of teenage hormones, best friend of Layla, swim team hero, lifeguard. Then the big storm comes. Tristan is swept out to sea. He wakes up on the beach 3 days later. And thus his world changes. He dreams of an evil mermaid with razor sharp teeth who is out to kill him. Little does he know, he is the grandson of the Sea King and his time to return to take the throne is quickly approaching. The way he grows a tail may be his first clue. Along with his new guardians, Kurt and Thalia, Tristan must go to the sea court and meet his grandfather for the first time. He is thrust into a competition to take the throne and keep the peace between the sea kingdom and the mortal realm. Feisty friend Layla sneaks onboard the boat thinking she is going to help Tristan, only to find out he is a merman. When the fight for the throne starts to creep up on dry land, all hell breaks loose and Tristan must step into his role as a leader, while navigating his teen hormones as he realizes he loves Layla- who thinks he is using his merman powers to glamour her into loving him back. Loved this book. It was fast-paced, humor filled and one of the rare novels where the parents are still around and in the picture. Tristan is charming as he becomes more self-aware, realizing his lady-killer skills may be getting in the way of what he really loves. I look forward to the sequel-The Savage Blue-which will be gracing the shores in May. I have students waiting to get their hands on this one, so I'm off to read the sequel to Article 5 and the box of others that arrived this week. Happy reading my friends!

Out of the Easy

I have always wanted to go to New Orleans. It is now going to be a moral imperative! What a lovely, perfect book. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys is about Josie, the sassy, independent daughter of a prostitute, living in New Orleans in the 1950's. She is looking for a way out and away from her toxic mother. She lives alone above the bookstore where she works with her best friend Patrick. Her other job is cleaning up at the brothel run by the infamous Willie Woodley, her surrogate mother. One day a well to do man comes into the bookstore and sees something in Jo that no one else usually sees. He treats her like she is someone. She pretends he could be her father and becomes determined to get out of New Orleans and make something of herself. Josie meets Charlotte, a young student at Smith and they become fast friends and Jo's dream of attending Smith college begins. When the kind man turns up dead, Josie is embroiled in the murder investigation that is not surprisingly centered around her atrocious mother. This book is filled with the most wonderful characters. Patrick, the best friend with a secret. Cokie, the driver who loves Jo like a daughter. Sadie, the mute cook for the brothel. The prostitutes that work for Willie. And Jesse, the hot, schoolboy, mechanic who knows long before Josie does that they are meant for each other. I can't express how touching this book is. It is the perfect story, it has intrigue, danger, romance and at it's root the message that family isn't about who you are related to. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for Josie, who is no damsel in distress. With that, I hope you find the time to read this sweet little book- no zombies, vampires, or dystopian terrain. Just a little drama in the Big Easy. Happy reading my friends.

Article 5

Article 5: Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife.
Problem: Ember is the child of a single mother.
Consequence: Ember and her mother are taken away to await trial for being Article 5 violators.
Consequence 2: Ember's boyfriend, Chase, is the one who takes them away.

The United States is recovering from war and is under martial law. The Bill of Rights has been replaced and freedom is severely hampered. Men are conscripted into government service against their will and everyone is suspicious and scared that they may be carted off to never be seen again. Ember can't believe how her Chase has changed. How could he do that to her and her mother. When she is sent to a rehab center to change her subversive ways, she is devastated to be separated from her mom and by how much Chase has seemed to change. When he shows up to escort her to trial, she is so furious with him she no longer trusts him. He, however, is there to break her out and reunite her with her mom. They form an uneasy alliance, both of them holding back from saying what they are really feeling. And one of them is keeping a dreadful secret. I couldn't put this book down. It was fantastic. It made me feel so angry and helpless that all the rights we take for granted could disappear and we would be unable to do anything about it. The characters are both believable and well developed. You just want them to be honest with each other and get on with being in love. The villains are villainous and in a time when our rights are constantly being challenged, the book resonates to current events. There is tension from the first page to the last and then in the wait for the sequel. This book has been on my desk this week and more than one student has stopped, picked it up and asked what it is about. Oh, and when would I be finished with it. I'm sad that I have to find a new book and I hope it's as good as this one was. Well done Kristen Simmons, I look forward to more with Chase and Ember. Happy reading my friends.