Partials

Kira lives in a world where 99.9% of the population has been killed by a disease. The country has just lost a war to an engineered species called Partials who turned on the humans. Only a handful of humans are living on Long Island under increasingly harsh conditions. And worst of all- no one is able to keep new babies alive- they die as soon as they are born. The Senate has implemented the Hope Act- which makes it a law for everyone who is sixteen to be pregnant as often as possible. A splinter group called the Voice is viciously opposed to this act and actively fights the Senate. Along with the impending Partial attacks, all is not well in Kira's world. Kira is a medic and works in the hospital. When her best friend gets pregnant, Kira is determined that Madison's baby will live. She convinces her friends to help her capture a Partial so she can study it's blood and come up with a cure for RM. Of course, she runs into many obstacles and learns some terrifying things about the Senate, the Partials and even herself. Who is she? What does her blood tell her? And who are her real enemies? When she meets Samm- a Partial, she must decide who to trust. This was a good book. It was an interesting take on what a society would do in the face of impending extinction. It leaves you hanging in the end with the promise of an inevitable love triangle in the future as Kira decides where she fits in and what she wants from life. She leaves on a quest to discover the truth behind the disease and the company who may have created it- and her. Happy reading my friends!

The Monstrumologist

This book has left me puzzled. It took me a while to finish it and I think I only did that to see if I could. I wanted to love it. I don't think I do. It is about Will Henry, an orphan, who lives with Dr. Pellinore Walthrop- a monstrumologist. They go on a hunt to track down a pack of Anthropophagus- headless creatures who feast on humans. It is violent and extraordinarily bloody for a YA book. It is also not an easy read, and I find it hard to imagine which of my students could make it through and understand it. I think Jack the Ripper is in the story as a fellow monster hunter. I like Will Henry, he is an engaging character. I like monster books. But something isn't sitting right with this one for me. I'm glad I'm done, I won't read the sequel and I'm ready to move on to something more pleasant- like dystopian fiction. Because even I, who has read it all, found parts of this book stomach turning. Step lively Will Henry Snap to! and Happy reading my friends.

The Apothecary

I don't know if I've said this before, but I hate reading books people recommend. Weird- I know. So sometimes in my book club, I get passive aggressive and don't read the book. Yes- hypocritical for someone who is recommending books all the time. I decided to man up and read this book. We are meeting on Monday, so I sat down and opened up the book to read it. And was pleasantly surprised. Maile Meloy wrote a great little novel. It is the story of Janie- who is forced to flee America to London with her "communist" parents in 1952. She meets the son of the Apothecary and finds him interesting. Benjamin wants nothing to do with his father's business, he wants to be a spy. Well- be careful what you wish for. Janie and Benjamin get wrapped up in a bit of international intrigue, including finding a way to stop an atom bomb. Along the way they meet Pip, get arrested and turn both invisible and into birds. "After all, its important to allow for possibilities" This is a charming book, the action never stops. The characters are very entertaining. The magic is fun and the hopefulness of the story is inspiring. Janie and Benjamin are quite a team and if you allow for possibilities, you will enjoy it too. I suppose it could have a sequel, but it doesn't need it. It was a great way to sneak some history in when you aren't looking. Happy reading my friends.

Dead to You

Lisa McMann is one of those writers who makes it easy to read her books. Dead to You is no exception. It is the story of Ethan De Wilde, who was abducted when he was seven. Nine years later, he finds his way home to his family. One problem, he doesn't remember the first seven years of his life or his abduction. And he is strangely protective of the woman who raised him. Ethan tries to find where he fits in this family, trying to reconnect to his little brother and new sister. He goes back to school and makes friends with his neighbor, who he falls for- after all they used to take baths together. He tries hard to remember things about his life before. His brother Blake, though, starts to suspect Ethan isn't who he says he is. As tensions rise between Ethan and Blake and his relationship with Cami takes off- a shocking discovery is made. I will leave you there. Just like Lisa McMann does!! This was a fun, fast, read, that really kept me questioning what Ethan's motives were and whether or not I liked him. Puzzling. I loved the character of Gracie, Ethan's precocious little sister, and she's the one I worry about at the end. I'm hoping this isn't the end of this story, but it could be. If you like this one, check out her Wake trilogy or the creepy Cryer's Cross. Happy Easter and happy reading my friends.

Infamous

Right off the bat- I love this series. It started with Infinity and then came Invincible and the newest installment in the Chronicles of Nick is Infamous. This is the story of Nick Gautier, a poor kid from New Orleans who just happens to be the heir to the most evil demon dynasty know to - well- everyone. His father is the evil Malachai, who is dead set on killing Nick so he can absorb his powers. Nick is surrounded by an amazing cast of characters. His fiercely protective mom, his girlfriend Kody, his protector Caleb, his boss, Kyrian, his friends Ash, Mark and Bubba, and the mysterious Ambrose. They are all trying to keep Nick from becoming evil. Of course, not all motives are pure and you just aren't sure who is really on Nick's side. I don't know which character I love the best- sometimes it's his Dark Hunter boss, Kyrian, sometimes it's Caleb, a VERY old demon who is posing as his high school friend and sometimes it is Ash, another VERY old vampire. Then there is Bubba- a genius disguising himself as a good ole' New Orleans boy. Nick is the subject of ridicule and scorn at his school because he is poor. His mother is always on his case to not fight and he finds himself constantly grounded- usually unfairly. In this story, someone is turning the students against each other with vicious gossip, Adarian is trying to kill Nick and Noir is looking for Nick so he can enslave him. Then you have Kody, who is trying to figure out if she loves Nick or if she needs to kill him. This book is filled with great messages about gossip, self respect and standing up for what is right. It also lets kids know they are not alone in their suffering. I am a huge fan of this series and eagerly await the next one- so hurry up Ms. Kenyon! Happy reading my friends!

Hereafter

First off- Hunger Games rocked! Great movie. Totally enjoyed. That being said, if you want a nice, light ghost story romance, Hereafter by Tara Hudson, may be the book for you. Amelia is dead. She keeps reliving her death in the river. One night she sees a boy struggling in the water, she tries to help him, but she's a ghost, so... He dies for a moment and sees her, and she urges him to the surface. He is brought back to life by the paramedics and much to her surprise, he sees her. He comes back to look for her the next day and she has to break the news to him that she is a ghost. Joshua doesn't care, and of course, they fall in love. Obstacles? Of course. His grandmother is a Seer and has made it her life's work to exorcise all ghosts, and Amelia is no different. An evil ghost named Eli wants her for himself- to help capture souls and lead them to the afterlife- not a place of love and roses. And of course, the main obstacle- SHE's A GHOST!! Amelia and Joshua try and figure out who she was and how she died, all the while trying to avoid Joshua's grandmother and Eli. They are determined to overcome the obstacles that are in the way of their love. This is a fun book, the ghost- human loves story is not one I'm fond of- give me vampire, werewolf, Shadowhunter and even zombie love over ghosts anyday. But it is a good read that moves along at a good pace. Doesn't seem like there will be a sequel- but you never know. I've moved on to Infamous, the third book in the Chronicles of Nick series and so far, so good. Spring break is coming to an end my friends, so I need to go and make the most of it. Happy reading my friends!

MIsfit

So after my one book break from the supernatural- I picked up Misfit by Jon Skovron. It is the story of Jael, a sixteen year old girl whose father is an ex-priest and her mother an ancient demon. Need I go on? Jael has always known of her parentage but her father refused to talk about her mother. They spent much of her life moving from one place to another, running before she could make friends. On her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a gift from her mother, a necklace, and tells her she can never wear it. Did I mention she was 16? So obviously, she puts it on and learns of her true self. She is a halfbreed and the necklace contains her demon half. She convinces her father and demon uncle to put it back in her and she becomes GPS to the evil Grand Duke Belial whose mission in life is to kill her. As Jael tries to protect her friends, get in touch with her demon side and learn things about her mother, she must find a way to channel her power to defeat Belial. This was a good read, but not my favorite by a long shot. The love story is really weak and I didn't feel overly connected to any of the characters. It was a pleasant enough way to pass the time, but I don't think I would eagerly await a sequel. 4 days until Hunger Games... now that is worth waiting for. Happy reading my friends.