Velveteen

My, my, my, another dark and twisty book. This one takes us to purgatory, where Velvet is the team leader of a group of Salvagers. They are responsible for collecting any souls who sneak out to run amuck on earth. She is the current record holder, retrieving 57 souls. But something dark is coming and the repercussions will be devastating to those on earth and in purgatory. And of course, there is the complication that the last soul the team collected is a hot, smart and funny boy named Nick. Velvet DOES NOT have time for that. After all, she is not only dealing with a rogue group of souls, she is also intent on killing the man who killed her, which requires her to haunt him. A big no-no in purgatory. Between sneaking out to save her killers latest victim, teaching Nick the ropes, and keeping purgatory safe from shadowquakes, Velvet is one busy and grumpy girl. If only she didn't like kissing Nick so much. Such are the problems one faces while waiting to dim and go on to heaven or hell. This is a complicated read and wouldn't not be easy for an average 8th grade reader. There is a lot of exposition, explaining the rules of purgatory etc. Velvet's own death is really gruesome and not for the light hearted. And let's face it, in general the subject matter is rather dark. All that aside, however, I really enjoyed this book as an adult reader. Do I have students who can handle it? Of course, but it won't be for everyone. Velvet is a strong, confident character and feels intense loyalty to her team and mission. Nick is a great guy, ready to stand by his woman. And the other characters are funny and quirky. So read at your own risk, but let me know what you think, as always, happy reading my friends!

Quarantine- The Loners

Imagine if Lord of the Flies meets Hunger Games inside a high school where all the adults have died. You would have this book by Lex Thomas. One day, the high school is locked down because a virus has come in contact with the school's population. This virus kills anyone who is an adult, so all the teachers and older students are instantly dead. What happens next you ask? Well, everyone lives in perfect harmony, sharing the food drops and living as one big happy family. Yeah, right, have you even been to high school? The students fall into groups- Varsity, the Pretty Ones, the Nerds, the Freaks etc. Each stakes a claim to an area and expertise to barter on the black market. Except for David and his brother Will. They are alone and trying to survive under the radar. Of course, David has become the mortal enemy of Sam, head of the vicious Varsity group, who used to be his friend. When Sam tries to hang David for killing (accidentally)  a member of his gang (to save a girl), a group of Loners save David and they become an even bigger gang with David as their leader. Life in the school is brutal, deadly and a fight for survival. One thing after another goes wrong up until the very last word. Now, I enjoyed this book, it was a study of cliques and gangs and all that, but it is not a book for younger readers. I am even hesitant to give it to my 8th graders. It is extremely violent and there are many sexual situations, mostly in a harassing fashion. So, do not pick this up for your sixth grader. There are other books more appropriate for younger age kids with the same theme.  It was an interesting plot, I mean where the heck are the adults and why aren't they doing something if even from the outside, I'm sure the sequel will address that situation. Will I read the sequel? Most definitely, but I hate leaving things unfinished. Will I hand this to a student tomorrow- probably not. Read at your own risk my friends, and Happy reading!

The Dark Unwinding

When Katharine Tulman is sent by her Aunt to have her Uncle committed, she is certain it will be a quick trip there and back. After all, her uncle hadn't been heard from in years and her aunt was her only source of income/survival. But when Katharine gets to Stranwyne, nothing is what she expected. It is an entire village that employs families rescued from the workhouses of England. Not only that, but her uncle is a genius inventor albeit with an extreme case of autism. Katharine is met with hostility from the people of the village as well as the cook and her brooding, handsome nephew, Lane. They are sure she is going to get her uncle committed and destroy the village and all the people in it. As Katharine spends more and more time with her uncle, she realizes that she is willing to do anything to keep him and the villagers safe from her aunt. But strange things are happening to her and as time goes on, it may be Katharine who winds up committed and all she loves taken from her. This book is filled with drafty old houses, dashing apprentices, a mute boy with a rabbit and an uncle you can't help but love. It is an interesting look at what people will do to make a buck, help a war or save someone you love. Don't worry, there is a dastardly villain who will hopefully get his in the sequel. I enjoyed this book and look forward to a reunion scene between our heroine and hero. Happy reading my friends!

Burned

Somehow, I had missed this Ellen Hopkins novel along the way. I recently went to a book signing for her newest book Smoke and found that it was a sequel to this one. As usual, once I started, I couldn't put it down, Work really got in my way today. This is the story of Pattyn Von Stratten, a Mormon girl in a family of seven girls. The oldest daughter to an abusive father and abused mother. A girl who is at odds with what the church does to the girls in it's mix. She doesn't want to be like her mother, the punching bag, baby making machine, absentee parent that she seems to be. Pattyn just wants to be loved by her father and to find love. When she is sent to live with her Aunt J, her life changes forever. She learns what it feels like to be loved, not only by her aunt, but by her forever love, Ethan. She learns to be confident and think for herself. She learns that she wants so much more than is expected of a good Mormon girl. But in typical Ellen Hopkins fashion, there are no happy endings. Her books always burn a hole in my guts and linger in the back of my mind for weeks. What place does religion have in keeping women down, how can anyone defend abuse, and what message are we sending young girls that tells them they have no value. My heart is a little broken right now and I can see why girls wrote to Ellen to ask her what happens to Pattyn, I mean this is a literal cliff hanger ending and I'm so glad she has written a sequel that I will tackle once I get over this heartbreak. If you have never read a book by this author, do yourself a favor and try one. They are written in verse and laid out on the page in such interesting fashion, it is like art. Need to go have a little cry now, but happy reading my friends and to all the girls in my world, you are strong, powerful and cherished! Never forget that!!

Untold

I often mention which fictional boys make my top ten list. But I must say, if I had a top ten girls list, Kami Glass would be number one. This plucky heroine stars in the sequel to one of my favorite recent books Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. She is smart, loyal, and hilariously clever. She never lets anyone down and will fight to the death to protect those she considers family. And lucky for Jared Lynburn, he is at the top of her list. See, Jared spends much of his time moping and sulking because he can't have what he wants, which is mainly Kami. If he would just tell her the truth, much of the angst of this book would have been non-existent, but then it wouldn't have had the raging conflict it had. In part two of this series, Rob Lynburn is gathering his forces to take back Sorry-in-the-Vale for the sorcerers. Kami and her friends are trying to prevent this from happening and team up with Rob's wife Lillian who wants to stop him. Both Ash and Jared are powerful sorcerers, but are mostly untrained. And now that Kami is no longer Jared's source, his power isn't as great. The book builds to the climax on the winter solstice when a blood sacrifice will be made to solidify Rob's power. The gang tries to fight back, but when Kami's little brother is taken, all bets are off. I adore this series, it is SO clever and funny and edge of your seat exciting. I love Jared and Angela and omgosh even Rusty. I think Kami is delightful and a Nancy Drew of a supernatural variety. I will anxiously await the next book in this series and go to work tomorrow and rehash this one with Rylee. Happy reading my friends!

Steelheart

When Calamity arrived in the sky, some people changed into Epics. Superheroes or should I say Supervillians. They take over the world, destroy what they want and kill to suit their whims. David and his father are in the wrong place at the wrong time. David's father believes that the Epics can be heroes. Unfortunately, he is wrong and loses his life while his young son watches. David dedicates the rest of his life to killing Steelheart, the Epic who killed his dad and taken over Newcago. Only one problem, the Epics don't have many weaknesses and when they do they keep them secret. David concocts a plan to join up with the Reckoners, a rebel group determined to wipe out the Epics. David manages to get accepted into the group let by Prof. His team, Abraham, Cody (a hilarious Southern, Australian, Scotsman), Tia and Megan. He convinces them to stop attacking the minor Epics and go after Steelheart. All the planning comes to a head in an epic (no pun intended) battle at Soldier Field that reveals some startling information about everyone on the team. This was one ACTION packed book. It would definitely play well on the big screen, with lots of explosions and motorcycle chases. The book will appeal to many different readers. A couple little things bugged the heck out of me though, so be warned. The words they use in place of curse words are grating and there is a lot of talk about metaphors that took away from the humor they may have created. But neither stopped me from plowing through this book. The idea that a superhero may not be super isn't a new one, but there are enough twists and turns to keep this one going. Happy reading my friends!

The Madman's Daughter

If you are a fan of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells, you will love this tale. Juliet Moreau is an orphan trying to make her way in London. Her mother has died and her father was forced to flee under a scandal of epic proportions. Juliet doesn't believe what they say about him, but a part of her is afraid it just might be true. When she finds evidence that he is alive, she hunts down the clue and finds her childhood friend and family servant Montgomery. She hasn't seen him in years and is instantly attracted to him. She weasels it out of him that her father is alive and she insists he takes her with him to see him. He tries to warn her away, but she won't be dissuaded. On their voyage, they come across a boat containing a young man who survived a shipwreck. Juliet insists they save him and brings him to the island to meet her father. When she arrives on the island, all is lost. The villagers are strange, her father is distant and seemingly mad and the noises in the jungle are getting weirder and weirder. When Juliet discovers what experiments her father has been doing, she tries to find a way off the island with Montgomery and Edward. But one is not what he seems and the other may be just as guilty as her father. It took me most of the book before I realized who Edward was... yikes. This is a creepy story filled with ethical questions about science. Just because you can doesn't always mean you should. And maybe, don't mess with Mother Nature. This was a similar read to Inhuman, but set in the past and based on a classic. There is an interesting section at the end with some extras, I especially enjoyed the mini-prequel that introduces Jaguar. This may lead me to reread the source material, but first, I have to find the sequel and see what happens to Juliet and company. One weekend left before it's back to my laboratory. Happy reading my friends!

Belle Epoque

Maude is a plain girl. She lives in 1880's France with her father who wants her to marry the butcher. She wants something different. Maude heads off to Paris at the time when Eiffel is building his tower for the World's Fair. But Paris is more expensive than she had planned and so she answers an ad in the paper. What she finds is horrifying. She is hired to be a repoussoir which means rich. society women would hire her to make them look better. The theory was that if she was next to them, they would appear more beautiful. Maude doesn't want to take the job, but finds her options limited. She is hired by a rich countess to be a companion to her daughter Isabelle during her debutant season. Isabelle isn't to know the real reason Maude is around. Isabelle wants nothing to do with finding a husband, she wants to go to University and study science, unheard of for a rich society girl. Maude finds herself becoming real friends with Isabelle and feels guiltier and guiltier as she acts out the charade, feeding Isabelle's mother information about her daughter. Maude takes to the perks of society and dreams of living among the rich even betraying her true friends and possible love interest along the way. She has to decide if she can let Isabelle marry a cad to protect her own position in the family, or stand up for Isabelle and lose her place. I went through many feelings about Maude, at times I found her unlikeable, at others, she did what was right. This book put the question of "what is beauty" at the forefront. The beautiful. rich girl and the poor composer seemed to have a better grasp of it than Maude. I loved the setting of this novel, Paris, when the world was waking up to new technology- like photography. The information about the now iconic Eiffel Tower was so interesting, especially the fact that it was only supposed to remain standing for a few years! This was a unique story that I haven't come across before- J'adore! Don't worry, there's also a little romance to keep things interesting. I love the message of this book and hope my students will enjoy it the way I did. Heureux de lire mes amis! Look it up!

The Dragon Heir

I finished last year with The Crimson Crown, another book by Cinda Wiliams Chima, so it seems fitting for the first completed book of this year also be one of hers. This is the third book in the Heir Chronicles, tales of wizards, warriors, enchanter and a dragon. All the same characters are back: Jack and Ellen, the warrior heirs, Seph, the wizard heir; Jason, the angry young man out for revenge and Madison Moss, the elicitor. Each has a role to play in trying to save the Dragonstone from falling into the wrong hands. The guilds are at war and this group of teenagers are set to defend both the magical and non-magical of Trinity. Madison and Seph are trying to figure out how to be couple, seeing as how being around her is making Seph incredibly sick. She is also trying to protect her little brother and sister while trying to heed her grandmother's warning to stay away from the magic folk. Seph, Jack and Ellen are trying to keep the wizards from getting into Trinity to reclaim the stone that Jason has stolen from Raven's Ghyll. No one knows how to harness the power of the stone and the key to their survival depends on that power. Their trusty sidekicks, Will and Fitch stand by their sides in the heat of the battle that will decide the fate of them all. Not to be forgotten is the ghost army that fights with the warriors, some who will not make it out of this one alive (dead?)  I love this series, the way each book has woven itself into the next. The characters are well written and interesting. No one is safe from death, so their is a sense of dread that weaves through the series as well. Oh, and did I mention, this one has a dragon? I know their is a fourth book, but I don't think it continues with these characters, so I'll have to say goodbye to the gang from Trinity for now and start on the new pile of books stacked on my dining room table. 4 days left of vacation and I plan to make the most of it... Happy reading my friends and a happy, healthy new year! May 2014 be filled with adventure and good books.