The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver

Investigating a late night emergency call that came from a Wisconsin vacation home, deputy Brynn McKenzie narrowly escapes an encounter with two professional criminals, and flees into the woods with Michelle, the city-girl who rented the house for the weekend, but if the women want to survive, they will have to learn to trust one another.

What a great mystery adventure book. I have read most of Jeffery Deaver's books and I know he has strange plot twists what always surprise me....this book was no exception. I was certainly looking in the wrong direction most of the time! I liked this book so much that I almost forgot to be sad that it wasn't a Lincoln Rhyme novel. Loved it!

Rating: 9 of 10.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

What a great book! The only problem with this book is that the third one isn't out yet...waiting is SO hard! I would never watch reality TV, but I sure enjoy this series of books.

Rating: 9+ of 10.

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

A young woman who has endured unspeakable cruelties is magically granted a safe haven apart from the real world and allowed to raise her two daughters in this alternate reality, until the barrier between her world and the real one begins to break down.

This book started out fine, but just seemed to keep getting stranger. I only made it about half way through when I decided I just didn't care enough about it to keep reading.

Rating: 4 of 10.

Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith

When Miranda's guardian angel Zachary recklessly saves her from falling into an open grave and dying, the result is that she turns into a vampire and he is left to try to reinstate his reputation by finally doing the right thing.

One thing about vampires...every author makes them different. This book includes an angel and vampires and they aren't like the angels and vampires I usually imagine. This story is dark and the vampires are nasty creatures! Very intriguing reading.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver

Body language expert Kathryn Dance and deputy Michael O'Neil investigate attacks on and murders of individuals who have posted messages about the deaths of two high school students on a local blog and suspect the driver in the fatal accident may be leaving roadside crosses as warnings about who his next victim will be.

I love Jeffery Deaver! His books are the kind I stay up late to read. This was no exception. It was full of twists & turns. Very well-done. Although the Lincoln Rhyme books are my favorites, this will do until he comes out with another Rhyme book.

Rating: 8+ of 10.

The Naming by Alison Croggon

Maerad lives a miserable existence as a slave in Gilman's Cot, until her "Gift" is discovered by Cadvan, a Bard/Mage who stumbles upon her while passing through. Cadvan coordinates her escape. They journey to one of the Barding Schools so that Maerad can be recognized as a Minor Bard and begin proper training in magic. Minions of the Nameless One repeatedly stalk and attack them. Through these encounters, Cadvan realizes the extent of Maerad's powers and comes to believe that she is the Foretold who will fulfill an ancient prophecy and triumph over the Dark.

I liked this story; however, I didn't rush out to read the sequels so I guess I didn't like it enough to care about the results.

Rating: 8 of 10.

The Night Country: a Novel by Stewart O'Nan

Tim, the only one not injured in an automobile accident that killed three of his friends and left another brain damaged, plots to re-create the crash exactly one year later on Halloween night in hopes of putting himself out of his misery.

The aftermath of a Halloween tragedy haunts a New England town on the one-year anniversary of a typical teen joyride that ended with a car wrapped around a tree. Toe, Marco, and Danielle were instantly killed. Kyle lives on, sort of; a severe brain injury obliterates the rebel in him, the accident leaving him with the mind of a child. Tim, "the lucky one" in the backseat, his arms around Danielle, survived but now has a death wish. Officer Brooks, the first on the scene, was terribly altered by the event, and his life is in shambles. Now, on Halloween, he fears that Tim is going to do something horrible. Travis and Greg, buds of Toe, don't want the day to go by without memorializing their dear departed friends. At times this was confusing, it was hard to tell what was current or in the past. The shifting points of view is not my favorite type of writing; however, the story was a good one and I enjoyed reading it.
Rating: 8 of 10.

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason

Tom Sullivan and Paul Harris are determined to unlock the centuries old mystery behind an ancient Renaissance text before their graduation from Princeton, but just as they are about to discover its secrets, the campus is rocked with a series of suspicious deaths.

It's a complicated, intricate and sometimes difficult read. There are murders, romances, dangers and detection, and by the end the heroes are in a race not only to solve the puzzle, but also to stay alive. At times, I felt I wasn't smart enough to be reading this book; but, I stuck with it even if there were parts that I didn't understand at all. In the end, the feeling of being dumb left a bad taste in my mind and I couldn't say that I really liked the book.

Rating: 7 of 10.

Soldier's Secret: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Sheila Solomon Klass

During the Revolutionary War, a young woman named Deborah Sampson disguises herself as a man in order to serve in the Continental Army.

This is an historical novel based on a true story. Since I like historical fiction and stories about brave, strong women, I found this to be a good read. This would be a good novel to use in a classroom studying the Revolutionary War.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Madison, a senior at a suburban New York high school, tries to uncover who is responsible for the disappearance of her friends, popular students mentioned in the posts of an anonymous blogger, while she, herself, is being stalked online and in-person.

A cautionary tale about the dangers of blogging, Facebook & social networking that seemed somewhat forced to me. On the other hand, it was a thrilling page-turner with true evil mixed with the insecurities of high school students.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff

Fifteen-year-old Andrew Zansky, the second fattest student at his high school, joins the varsity football team to get the attention of a new girl on whom he has a crush.

What a funny book...full of the insecurities of the high school scene. Andy wants to be popular and by joining the football team he becomes one of the "in" crowd. He drops his best friend (who isn't cool) and finds his size to be an advantage on the field. BUT, he discovers that he was recruited & maybe even played.

Rating: 8 of 10.

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

Anita, an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl, is transported from modern-day London to the realm of Faerie where she discovers that she is Princess Tania, the long-lost daughter of King Oberon and Queen Titania.

I know that faeries are supposed to be replacing vampires, but I like faeries even less than vampires! We know what to expect from a vampire (bites)...but what do we know about faeries? In this love story we learn quite a bit about faeries, the story is typical teen drama. I expect it to be popular with freshmen girls.
Rating: 8 of 10.

You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn

In the wake of her cousin's suicide, overweight and introverted seventeen-year-old Miles experiences significant changes in her relationships with her mother and father, her best friend Jamal and his family, and her cousin's father, while gaining insights about herself, both positive and negative.

A dramatic tale of grief, depression & drug abuse showing that things aren't always as they seem. Good reading for those people who love looking at the dark side of others. The cover seems wrong for this book!

Rating: 8 of 10.

Last Voyage of the Valentina by Santa Montefiore

Beauty, wealth, and a succession of lovers are not enough to give Alba the peace and happiness she so desperately seeks, but she finds hope for the future when she discovers a picture of her dead mother and begins to uncover the secrets of the past.

Women who have it all (looks, wealth, etc) who still whine about how rough they have it are just plain irritating. I couldn't get past my dislike of the character.

Rating: 7 of 10.

Blue Skies & Gunfire

Josie, in her final term of school, is urged by her mother to leave London amid threats of an invasion by German troops, and though she is not expecting to like the countryside, Josie soon finds herself tangled in a web of romance along with the Patterson brothers, Jumbo and Chris.

Historical fiction about Great Britain during World War II...lots of rebellious attitude from Josie and then a love triangle that can't have a happy ending.

Rating: 8 of 10.

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

Young Razo travels from Bayern to Tira at war's end as part of a diplomatic corps, but mysterious events in the Tiran capital fuel simmering suspicions and anger, and Razo must spy out who is responsible before it is too late and he becomes trapped in an enemy land.

This book was a pleasure to read...the words were so perfect--it was SO well-written! Razo's ability to blend in and his lack of special skills make an entertaining tale. Great read! Kids aren't going to read it; but, I enjoyed it.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Two fifteen-year-old girls--one a slave and the other an indentured servant--escape their Carolina plantation and try to make their way to Fort Moses, Florida, a Spanish colony that gives sanctuary to slaves.

What a great classroom novel this would be! Beginning with Amari's capture in her village, this story really draws you into the feelings of "not being free". How cruel people can be to other people who they consider to be less than themselves! I had never heard of a slave sanctuary in Florida, so this historical fiction taught me something.
Rating: 8+ of 10.

The 8th Confession by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Det. Lindsay Boxer, of the San Francisco police department,áis searching for a killer who's knocking off the well-to-do without leaving any signs of violence on the bodies. The investigation is going nowhere until the department's repository of institutional memory recalls a series of unsolved killings from 1982, in which the unidentified perpetrator used a krait, a rare Indian snake, to poison the victims. Meanwhile, Boxer's gal pal, journalist Cindy Thomas, is pressing the police to devote resources to a low priority murder-that of a homeless man known as Bagman Jesus, whose real name is a mystery.

This is my favorite type of book: mystery with a female lead. I love Patterson's short chapters (just one more & then I'll do something else). The story was intriguing. The love story maybe a little too graphic for me to feel comfortable having on the shelves...fortunately, it's mostly faculty who read Patterson! Good quick read.
Rating: 8 of 10.

The Ask & the Answer by Patrick Ness

Alternate chapters follow teenagers Todd and Viola, who become separated as the Mayor's oppressive new regime takes power in New Prentisstown, a space colony where residents can hear each other's thoughts.

It had been a while since I read the first part of this series so I was lost at the beginning. I don't like the alternate chapters concept....messes with my caring about the people. That being said, the concept for this book is great. I loved the crowd control method of the Mayor & the way Todd justifies doing unspeakable evil...it speaks to all of us about the things we do because we are too afraid not to follow the crowd. The ending just blew me away--I couldn't believe he could be so stupid! Great fantasy.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You by Peter Cameron

Eighteen-year-old James Sveck copes with the uncertainties of adolescence as he works in his mother's Manhattan art gallery, falls for a charming older gentleman, and tries to decide what he wants out of life.

He's smart, witty, gay & unable to connect with the world. James's family is SO dysfunctional...almost a stereotype. James is hard to figure out and in the long run, I didn't care about him very much. The adult in me just wanted to tell him to "grow up".

Rating: 8 of 10.

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

In October, 1942, seventeen-year-old Helmuth Hubener, imprisoned for distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, recalls his past life and how he came to dedicate himself to bring the truth about Hitler and the war to the German people.

This is a fictionalized biography based on Helmuth Huber, told in first person from a teenage boy's point of view. Powerful reading about the power of evil and how hard it was to try to do something about it. Another book that would be a good classroom novel!

Rating: 8.5 of 10.

Evernight by Claudia Gray

When Bianca's parents accept teaching jobs at gloomy, gothic Evernight, she considers running away, but instead meets handsome fellow student Lucas. Their absorbing love grows rapidly despite his shady behavior. But both are hiding important truths: She's a vampire and he's a vampire hunter.

This is a weird book, the whole vampire thing just felt wrong. I'm sure this will be a big hit with the Twilight crowd; but I just couldn't get into it. The love story will be enough to interest the teenage girls.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks inherits her uncle's homesteading claim in Montana in 1917 and encounters some unexpected problems related to the war in Europe.

Somehow World War I and homesteading never seemed to have happened at the same time...but this marvelous story of a brave young woman who worked so hard and was influenced by world events was such a powerful book. I loved Hattie and her caring neighbors. This is historical fiction at its best!

Rating: 9 of 10.

My Mother the Cheerleader by Robert Sharenow

In 1960 New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Louise's mother pulls her out of school in protest when Ruby Bridges enrolls and desegregation begins. Louise, emulating her FBI heroes, spends her days spying on a visitor from up north. The violence she witnesses introduces her to new attitudes about courage, independence, and justice.

History looks different when it is seen through the eyes of a child! Very thought-provoking book...it would be great to read in a history class when talking about Ruby Bridges & desegregation.

Rating: 8 of 10.

If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

High school sophomore Lucy Norton's life is turned upside down when her father remarries and moves Lucy to Long Island, where she finds herself in a Cinderella story with a wicked stepmother, two evil stepsisters, and Connor, the dashing prince who could make all her dreams come true.

I've read two Cinderella type stories this month & enjoyed both of them. There is something comforting about reading a familiar story with a modern twist. Love the story, hope the kids enjoy it too.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Under the Baseball Moon by John H. Ritter

Andy and Glory, two fifteen-year-olds from Ocean Beach, California, pursue their respective dreams of becoming a famous musician and a professional softball player.

This book really seemed to be more about friendship that either music or sports. I loved the cover-- it was very clever. I read this book about 6 weeks ago and can't remember enough to write about. I was impressed with the devotion of both the kids to their respective dreams....they were willing to work hard to achieve what they wanted.

Rating: 8 of 10.

The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

Originally, I gave this book an 8; but as I continued to read many other books this summer, I realized that this one was one of the best I had read. The survival aspect was riveting and the zombie part was unusual enough to be interesting. Fantasy just isn't my thing, but this was a good one that I stayed up late to read.

Rating: 9 of 10.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

Having grown up in the shadow of his father’s failed NFL career, high-school football player Mick Johnson is determined not to make the same mistakes. But when he’s tackled just short of the goal in a pivotal game, he decides that vitamin supplements aren’t enough and begins purchasing “gym candy,” or steroids, from the trainer at his local gym. His performance starts breaking records and his father couldn’t be more proud, but along with gains in muscle, he suffers “’roid rage,” depression, and unsightly acne. When his secret finally comes out, he attempts suicide. Even after therapy, Mick is left wondering if he’ll continue to be tempted by steroids.

What a powerful book! Already this book is being read by the guy sports fans. The story was so believable...what pressure our student athletes have to deal with! Probably the best part about the book was the ending--not a feel good type ending. Good read for student athletes & parents.

Rating: 9 of 10.

Critical by Robin Cook

New York City medical examiners Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton are called in to help Doctor Angela Dawson track down the source of a deadly staph infection that threatens to shut down Angela's three successful hospitals, and in the course of their investigation, Laurie and Jack uncover some shocking secrets that could threaten the hospitals' futures.

Since I love conspiracy theories, I enjoyed this book. It had a few surprises (which was good). I felt the ending was too rushed, it spent hours building up to the final chapter & then (spoiler alert) she misses all of it and doesn't remember what happened. That was just TOO much!

Rating: 8 of 10.

Rumors by Anna Godbersen

After the death of Elizabeth Holland, all of New York speculates about her unfortunate demise and wonder what role her mischievous sister, Diana, and notorious cad Henry Schoonmaker played in the events leading up to her death.


Yes, it's shallow and something like Gossip Girls set in the late-19th century; but what a fun read! There is just something about the setting that makes me more likely to read this trivial stuff....after all, it is historical fiction, right? Great light read!

Rating: 8 of 10

Dancing in a Distant Place by Isla Dewar

Iris Chisholm arrives in the Scottish Highland community of Green Cairns hoping to recover from the shock of her husband's death and the news he has left her penniless, and soon finds herself distracted by the students at her small school and the two men vying for her attention.

A very quiet, slow-moving story of a woman who discovers secrets after her husband dies. When she has to live with the consequences of his actions, it disrupts the fabric of family that is left. The book cover is lovely and made me pick up the book. Some adult book have teen appeal, even though this one has teenage characters, it probably won't have much teen appeal.

Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala

Agu, a young boy in an unnamed West African nation, is discovered by guerrilla fighters after his mother and sister escape and his father is brutally murdered, and is forced into becoming a soldier at the mercy of a treacherous terrorist leader.

Very seldom do I not finish a book...I quit this one after 39 pages. The subject matter was too horrible, I just couldn't make myself read anymore of it. I hope it had an uplifting ending...I just couldn't stand to read any more of it.

Rating: 2 of 10

Learning the Game by Kevin Waltman

When he and his high-school basketball teammates steal from a fraternity house in their small Indiana town, Nate contends with his guilt, his loyalty to his friends, and his desire to help his older brother who comes under suspicion for the crime.

What a great book! There are so many layers to try to unravel. On the surface it is a great book about boys basketball in Indiana; but, the more complex issue is dealing with the consequences of bad decisions. I'm going to really push this book...I think it is an important read.

Rating: 9 of 10

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Seventeen-year-old Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see fairies, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle by Keenan, the terrifying but alluring Summer King, who determines that she must become his queen and save summer from perishing.

OK, I've heard that fairies are the new vampires...but I don't think I like them as well. I believe that teenage girls will love this book. It has lots of sexual tension. As an adult, I had several problems with this book; but I believe that teen readers who graduate from the Twilight series will enjoy this.

Rating: 8 of 10

A Curse as Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family's woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price.

Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family's woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Wolfskin by Juliet Marillier

Eyvind has always wanted to be a great Viking warrior and perform honorable deeds in the name of his Warfather god, Thor, and he finally has his chance when his leader and friend asks him to find a fabled land where men with courage can go to seize their destiny and bring glory to themselves.

Loved this book, I hadn't read any fantasy in a while and this was a good one. True, it didn't take a genius to figure out how the book would end; but the book was fun to read anyway. Has enough gore for boy readers and enough love for the girl readers.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Paper Towns by John Green

One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

I know John Green is supposed to be a wonderful author; the reviews on the book are impressive, etc.--BUT this book left me wondering why everyone likes him so much. The description of the various social groups in a high school were right on and I loved the interaction of the group of friends...but, come on, how many kids would skip their high school graduation (and the parties and the family gatherings and the gifts)? And I guess I didn't think that kids think so deeply, looking for meaning and significance where there might not be any.

Rating: 7 of 10.

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd

In 1981, the height of Ireland's "Troubles," eighteen-year-old Fergus is distracted from his upcoming A-level exams by his imprisoned brother's hunger strike, the stress of being a courier for Sinn Fein, and dreams of a murdered girl whose body he discovered in a bog.

Is something set in the 1980s old enough to be considered historical fiction? It felt like historical fiction.--it felt like it should have been in a much earlier setting. I liked the subplot about the Hunger Strike almost as much as the finding of the child's body in the bog.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Peeled by Joan Bauer

In an upstate New York farming community, high school reporter Hildy Biddle investigates a series of strange occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted.

I wasn't as fond of this novel as I have been other Joan Bauer works. The whole thing seemed weak and contrived. I liked the description of the town and enjoyed the whole play on the "apple" theme. I just can't imagine anyone getting so excited about a school newspaper.

Hush by Donna Jo Napoli

Fifteen-year-old Melkorka, an Irish princess, is kidnapped by Russian slave traders and not only learns how to survive but to challenge some of the brutality of her captors, who are fascinated by her apparent muteness and the possibility that she is enchanted.

There's a lot to like about this book....historical fiction set in early Ireland, strong female character faced with very difficult changes, good storytelling. I really liked the book. I doubt if it will have many student readers, but I enjoyed it.

Rating: 8 of 10.

Broken Moon by Kim Antieau

When her little brother is kidnapped and taken from Pakistan to race camels in the desert, eighteen-year-old Nadira overcomes her own past abuse and, dressed as a boy and armed with knowledge of the powerful storytelling of the legendary Scheherazade, is determined to find and rescue him.

The story had a historical fiction feel, but yet there were computers and televisions mentioned. I'll admit that I am a sucker for the poor, strong female overcoming huge obstacles type of book. Set in Pakistan it involves customs that are foreign to us. The story started out strong, but I felt the ending was too "pat". This was an enjoyable read, but not a great one. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to get any students to read this book...they don't seem to be interested in anything "multi-cultural".

Rating: 8 of 10

Cupid by Julius Lester

Cupid, the spoiled and mischievous god of love, is attracted to and marries the beautiful mortal, Psyche, and both learn many lessons about the nature of love.

I had a student recommend this book to me and I thought I would like it....but I didn't. The narrator irritated me...just get on with the story! I think the whole problem is that I thought the narrator was full of himself and I just didn't like him! I enjoyed the plot, but it wasn't enough to overcome my aversion to the narrator.

Rating: 7 of 10

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus is released into what is now a police state, and decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

I love conspiracy-type books (I read Tom Clancy & watch "24"), I have an interest in computers (but lots of what was in this book went way over my head). What a great book to pair with "1984"...this could lead to awesome class discussions. Paranoid person that I am, I think many of the surveillance issues are a valid problem. The teen characters seemed like those hackers you read about (but I have never known any in our school that are that capable...or maybe there have been & we just didn't recognize their abilities.) The whole teen game thing was something that I don't understand...but it was interesting to read about.

Rating: 9 of 10

Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling

Fifteen-year-old Abby Savage hopes that her five rules for falling in love will keep her from making the same mistakes as her mother and two older sisters--all unwed mothers who have slept with the same man, among others--while she also tries to help her best friend Cody admit that he is gay, and decide how she really feels about Cody's older brother, Jackson.

What is wrong with me? I loved this book...it is laugh out loud funny! I really cared about Abby and her strange and trashy family. Unfortunately, I think some of our students are living something very close to this reality. It is over-the-top and reminded me of a young version of Desperate Housewives (except I haven't found a redeeming character there yet). The next door neighbors might be too good to be true; but they have their problems too. Very surprising that I really loved this trashy book!

Rating: 9 of 10

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Handerson

Eighteen-year-old Lia comes to terms with her best friend's death from anorexia as she struggles with the same disorder.
Freshmen & sophmore girls are going to love this book! As an adult, I was not really fond of it...I guess I like to eat so much that I can't believe someone would choose not to! I did find it to be interesting the way Lia's mind worked.

Ratimg: 8 of 10

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence. In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence
What an read! The ethics of science and human engineering are fascinating. Jenna comes through as a real, strong girl with huge problems! She is indeed one-of-a-kind. The love of her parents is so strong that they will do anything to save their daughter....as would any parent. Great book.
Rating: 8 of 10

Run for your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

A killer who refers to himself as The Teacher stalks New York City, murdering powerful, arrogant people and drawing the attention of Detective Mike Bennett, who tackles the case while also caring for his ten children, who all have the flu virus simultaneously.

I think I am a shallow reader, because I enjoyed this book. I liked the short chapters (I'll just read one more and then I will get some work done). The home situation was funny and a comic relief to the thinking of The Teacher. The contrast between the detective and the killer was interesting. It was a good, quick read...a vacation for the mind. Did I figure it out before the ending? no, but I was happy to let the detective do the work for me.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

A generations-old family curse renders seventeen-year-old Lucy pregnant (the result of a supernaturally orchestrated rape at prom) and destined for insanity unless she completes three seemingly impossible tasks.

What a wonderful book! Things are not always as they seem and true love will prevail. There is a little fantasy, a lot of romance, and just a whole lot to like about this well written book with a strong female character. I think teen girls will love it....if only it had a better cover!

Rating: 9 of 10

The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff

Nineteen-year-old Emma Bau takes on a new identity after her husband, Jacob, is forced to disappear to escape Nazi forces, leaving Emma behind to face the atrocities of war and deny her growing attraction to another man.

This is an amazing book! It's one that I stayed up late to finish. The choices that Emma/Anna had to make were difficult and heart-breaking. This is a love story, a war story, and a story about how we live when we have to make choices that make us uncomfortable. It also puts a different face on a German leader as he struggles to deal with the choices he must make.

Rating: 9 of 10.

Here Lies the Llibrarian by Richard Peck

Fourteen-year-old Eleanor "Peewee" McGrath, a tomboy and automobile enthusiast, discovers new possibilities for her future after the 1914 arrival in her small Indiana town of four young librarians.

I'm a librarian...of course, I loved this book! Richard Peck is one of my favorite authors and this book didn't disappoint me. I think it is his sense of humor that I really like--he can poke fun at people and not be mean about it. Do I think my students will read it? probably not. It would be a great book to read aloud of for reader's theater.

Rating: 8 of 10