I'd Know you Anywhere by Laura Lippman

4.5/5

Eliza is a mom of two. Perfect house, loving husband, normal kids. No one even knows that she is the only surviving victim of a serial killer. She'd like to keep it that way.

The novel alternates between present day and 1985 - the summer Eliza was 15, the summer she was kidnapped and held captive for six weeks, the summer she saw another young girl get murdered. This book explores the many relationships effected by these events, including the one between Eliza and her kidnapper. Due to be executed for his crimes, Walter Bowman reaches out to Eliza. Can she finally get the answers she needs from him? Does she even know the questions to ask?

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

4/5

How do you build suspense when your readers already know the main character survives the horrific ordeal that is the basis for your story? Just ask this debut author. In Still Missing, Annie O'Sullivan is telling the story of her year in captivity to her shrink - so we know she makes it out alive. Still, you will cringe and squirm with each new atrocity her captor inflicts upon her.

Alternating between the present and the past, this is a story that will make you double check your locks at night. Even though the ending seems just a little far fetched, readers will root for Annie to reclaim her old life at the same time they hope she finds a way to accept her new normal.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

2.75/5

This book is pretty gut-wrenching. It is about "Alice," a child kidnapped at the age of 10. She is now 15 and has outgrown her kidnapper's, Ray, tastes. Still she is subjected to daily physical, sexual and psychological abuse which is detailed pretty graphically. The chapters are short, usually lasting no longer land a single abusive episode. Alice (the name given to her by her kidnapper)has given up the hope of ever returning home. The only thing she looks forward to is the day Ray finally kills her because at least her pain will then be over. However, soon, even that hope is taken from her when he reveals his newest plan - to have Alice help kidnap a new little girl.

There is no happy ending. Despite the horriffic abuse and feeling incredibly sorry for the main character, I would not describe the book as character driven. Some of the violence felt gratuitous. Overall, it's a realistic and horrifying picture into a world no one should have to live in.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

4.5/5

The much-anticipated final book in The Hunger Games Trilogy packs quite a punch. I was literally exhausted at the end, even though there is probably a little less action in this book than in the previous two. In Mockingjay, Katniss and her friends embody the phrase, “War is hell.” We meet new characters, some of whom we love and many we despise immediately. We are reintroduced to old friends and enemies and are no longer certain who falls into which category. Be careful not to get too attached to any one character – there’s a fair chance he or she will die.

Overall, this entire series, including Mockingjay, is outstanding. War changes people, Katniss is no exception. The author does an excellent job of revealing exactly how people’s willingness to watch the suffering of others is a dangerous and slippery path. You never know when you may go from watching to watched.

How to Train Your Dragon by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III; Translated From the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell

3.5/5

I am no longer a teen librarian. I am now a youth librarian. I still read a lot of YA lit but now I also read many books targeted toward younger children. How to Train Your Dragon is one of those (It's the first book I selected for a new 4-6 grade book club).

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a ten year old member of an ancient viking tribe. To become a warrior, he must train a dragon to do his bidding - no small feat when you are, as Hiccup points out, not a natural hero. Clearly aimed at boys but with just enough appeal to keep girls reading too, the book is filled with clever references, disgusting names, inappropriate bodily functions, gross foods, and poor hygiene. Luckily there is quite a bit of love, cleverness, adventure, loyalty and humor to balance everything out quite nicely.

Hiccup learns that it takes more than muscles to make a hero, yelling is not always the best way to solve a problem - even if you are a viking, and friendship goes a long way. Overall, this is an excellent read for 4th grade plus, especially for male reluctant readers. I should probably add that the Disney movie of the same name veers drastically from this plot but that shouldn't deter anyone from either the book or the film.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

3.5/5

This was an interesting book told from the point of view of Mia, a teenager who has none of the issues that plague many female characters in YA novels. Her parents are happily married, she loves her little brother and her self esteem is healthy. Her boyfriend's only flaw is that he is successfully following his dream. Her own dreams are about to come true after a stellar cello audition for Juilliard. All of this is a refreshing change from the typical dysfunction found in the genre.

Of course, happiness does not make for a very compelling story. So this book centers around idea of what happens when such a perfect life is shattered. When her family is in a horrific car accident, Mia must decide whether she wants to live or die as a result of her injuries. She narrates both the past and present as she watches doctors attempt to save her life and her friends rally around her hospital bed. Her out-of-body experiences reveal how such an accident has rippling effects on the loved ones left behind. How can Mia possibly choose a life that her parents and beloved baby brother have left? How can she face the uncertainty of death and leave behind the loved ones already overwhelmed with grief? Is the choice really even hers to make? The answers are compelling and believable.

September Sisters by Jillian Cantor

3.5/5

"I hate you."
"So what? I hate you, too."

This is the last conversation 12 year old Abby Reed has with her younger sister, Becky. The following morning Becky has disappeared, seemingly into thin air. September Sisters chronicles the aftermath of that disappearance. Abby's mother falls into a suicidal depression at the same time she is considered the prime suspect. Her father tries desperately to keep the family together by endlessly searching for Becky while at the same time restricting Abby's life. Abby reflects on her relationship with Becky while dealing with her new normal - lifelong friends completely ignore her, she is not allowed out of the house unaccompanied, and neighbors she has known forever suddenly seem suspicious.

What I liked most about this novel is the honesty of Abby's thoughts and emotions. She was always jealous of Becky and her dislike went unabated after the disappearance. Readers will pick up on the fact that her memories reveal far more happy times with her sister than sad ones, something Abby herself realizes by the end of the book. Her relationships with her mother, father, and the new boy next door are well-told and believable. While it could probably have been shortened a bit, overall this is an above-average book that looks at family dynamics, friendship and grief through the filter of tragedy. Abby's memories provide the perfect "before" while readers are immersed in an often sad, occasionally humorous and always honest "after."

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

3.75/5

Brown's debut novel contains many layers because Valerie Leftman, the narrator, is many things. She is the daughter of parents who fight constantly, a teenager who loved the color pink as a little girl but now only wears black, a high school victim who deals daily with an onslaught of insults from the popular group, an above average student with her eye on college, and much more. All of that changes one May morning when her long time boyfriend walks into school and opens fire killing six people and injuring several more including Valerie. Nick ends his massacre by taking his own life leaving Valerie to deal with the aftermath of his crime and answer for the Hate List - a written inventory of all the people and things they had wished to destroy. Throughout the story, Valerie maintains that she never knew Nick took the list seriously but she is still overcome with guilt about the shootings.

In many respects, I really liked this book. Nick and Valerie's history is told beautifully. The bullying descriptions are authentic. Valerie's psychological struggles after the shooting are told in an unflinching manner. As far as school-shooting books go, this one is top-notch. Still some things seemed a bit unrealistic. The school does nothing to remodel the cafeteria where the shooting take place, physical security precautions such as locked classroom doors and bullet proof glass are not installed until well into the following year, the principal and guidance counselor are stereotypical characters not at all fleshed out. Still the book shines in its ability to reveal all of the relationships in Valerie's life and how they change after the incident. I'd definitely recommend for grades 8 and up.

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

3.5/5
Tangled begins with four teenagers at a Caribbean resort. At first only tangentially interconnected, this novel reveals how actions we consider inconsequential can impact others. Told from four different viewpoints and taking place in four consecutive months, YA readers will enjoy the varying characters and how each one grows.

It can be argued that the four main characters are simply stereotypical shells of common YA literature personalities. Jena is the shy girl who would do anything for a boyfriend; Skye is the poor little rich girl whose beautiful looks, endless bank account and acting talent are not enough to make her happy; Dakota is the jock with no regard for the people around him; and Owen is the nerd who is more comfortable in virtual reality than actual reality. Mackler, however, does a very good job exploring these personalities and explaining how each character came to be the way they are. The events, dialog and interactions are descriptive and believable. This book tackels depression, suicide, self esteem, divorce, parenting, sibling rivalry, grief and more. Yet, it never comes off as misdirected, heavy-handed, or confusing.

With each main character getting one fourth of the book to tell their story, I initially thought things were ending rather abruptly as we moved on to a new narrator. This problem resolves itself through the minor interactions the characters have with each other. I think it’s telling that I cannot pick a favorite among the four. Each one’s problems are different, but I ended up rooting for all of them.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

4/5

The Giver is the story of Jonas, a 12 year old boy who lives in the perfect world. Disease, disagreement and dissent have been eradicated – along with colors, individualism and love. The community elders decide who will marry who, what career each person will have, and even what word choice is appropriate.

When Jonas is named the community’s memory keeper, he is quickly exposed to a past that existed before all of the elders' rules. He absorbs emotions, triumphs and tragedies. He learns exactly how control is maintained and must decide what perfection truly means - is the joy of love worth the heartbreak of war?

Lowry excels in providing a vivid contrast between the perfect world and the memories passed on to Jonas. YA readers will enjoy the subtle suspense that builds throughout the story. Euptopia vs. dystopia is a common theme in the YA genre and it is nice to read a book in which the author does not feel compelled to blatantly reveal why one should fight for individuality. By creating a society that can actually be seen as appealing, Lowry lets readers decide for themselves between the safety of the elders's world and the freedom of the real world. The ending is open to interpretation, but personally, I think Jonas made all the right choices.

On a completely side note, the cover picture of an old man (The Memory Keeper training Jonas) seems to turn a lot of kids off. The cover alone often gets the books labeled as boring. I often have to convince them to give the book a try and I have not yet had one tell me they dislike it.