Perfect Scoundrels

Perfect Scoundrels
By Ally Carter
Disney/Hyperion, 2013. 328 pgs. Young Adult

Kat and Hale have finally started dating, but their relationship hits a rather large snag when Hale's grandmother leaves him her billion-dollar corporation and Kat suspects the will might have been part of an elaborate con. As she and her crew set out to figure out if there's more going on than meets the eye, Kat knows she risks hurting Hale, but she also knows they need to figure out the truth of what's going on--and why.

The third book in the Heist Society series is just as much fun as the first two--and actually maybe a little bit more since we get to see a little more romance between Kat and Hale. As usual, there are lots of twists and turns as the plot moves along, and even though readers can predict that things will work out all right in the end, they'll enjoy the process of seeing just how that happens.

AE

Hysteria

Hysteria
By Megan Miranda
Walker, 2013. 326 pgs. Young Adult


After Mallory killed her boyfriend Brian in self-defense, no one in her town looks at her the same. Brian's mother is stalking her and Mallory can feel his presence as well, although she can't remember all of the details of what happened. Her parents send her off to a boarding school, and things there aren't much better. Although one classmate, Reid, is interested in getting to know her better, everyone else seems to know what happened and either steers clear or makes life harder for her. And Mallory is certain someone is following her, sneaking into her room, and even threatening her. And then something happens that shows Mallory and her classmates might be in more danger than ever.

Holy smokes! This book is one heck of a ride! It's so interesting to follow Mallory as she trying to figure out if she's just experiencing hallucinations or if something is really happening and trying both to remember and to forget what happened the night that Brian died. Absolutely gripping, with a nice little romance angle as well. Highly enjoyable.

AE

Endangered

Endangered
By Eliot Schrefer
Scholastic Press, 2012. 264 pgs. Young Adult

Sophie's mother runs a preserve for bonobos in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sophie goes to visit during the summers. Although this year, she's reluctant to visit, she quickly becomes more involved than she's ever been before when she basically adopts a malnourished, mistreated young bonobo, Otto, and essentially becomes his surrogate mother. When the country breaks out in war and the preserve is attacked while her mother is away, Sophie and Otto escape to the jungle, and it's up to Sophie to try to save Otto once again.

Schrefer does a great job portraying a fictitious--and yet entirely plausible--conflict and the way that it affects people. In the midst of that background, he also builds a beautiful relationship between Sophie and Otto, showing their attachment to one another and the difficult decisions Sophie faces as she tries to save Otto, who to most people is only a pet at best or a source of food at worst. Sophie is a strong, smart girl whose determination to save Otto will endear her to readers, and Otto is adorable. This is one that I debated whether or not to read, and upon completion, I'm thrilled that I didn't miss out on a such a wonderful story. There is some off-scene violence and a few descriptions of the repercussions of that violence.

AE

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
By Julie Klassen
Bethany House, 2011. 414 pgs. Romance

Margaret Macy is set to receive an inheritance on her next birthday, and her stepfather wants to make sure that money stays in the family. Therefore, he's determined that she will marry his lecherous nephew--and tells him to make that happen by any means necessary. To protect herself, Margaret disguises herself as a maid and runs away. She winds up working at Fairbourne Hall--the home of not one but two of her former suitors, Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch. Having rejected Nathaniel in favor of Lewis, only to have Lewis's interest wane, Margaret is desperate not to have either man recognize her and to maintain her disguise until her birthday comes. But as she's working in their home, she can't help but make new observations about both men and make an important discovery about her own heart.

I've read a few of Julie Klassen's books, and I liked this one the best. Both Margaret and her male counterpart (I'll leave it to you to see which brother gets to play the love interest) are likable and the plot line was interesting. Very enjoyable.

AE

Road Trip

Road Trip
By Gary Paulsen and Jim Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books, 2013. 114 pgs. Young Adult


At 5 a.m., fourteen-year-old Ben's father tells him to wake up and get in the truck; they're going on a road trip to pick up a border collie from a shelter before his time runs out. They hit the road, along with Atticus, the border collie they already have, and soon manage to pick up a cranky mechanic, a reformed thug friend of Ben's, and a waitress who just quit her job, as well as a new vehicle--a school bus. On their way to rescue the dog, they find themselves mixed up in an adventure, with a hint of a mystery.

This book is short and sweet. It's a quick read with quirky characters who are absolutely lovable, and the best part might just be that it's a dog story where the dogs don't die. Delightful. I loved it.

AE

125 True Stories of Amazing Animals

125 True Stories of Amazing Animals
National Geographic, 2012. 112 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

This book is tons of fun, with stories about pig sporting events, a music band made up of cats, a dog that rescues cats, a disabled rabbit who rides with a skateboard-like brace and cheers up hospital patients, a penguin who was knighted, and a camel who was made a sheriff’s deputy, just for starters. They’re short little stories--just a couple paragraphs each--so you don’t get a ton of details, but they’re super fun and cute. This is a great book for reluctant readers and animal lovers.

AE

The Friday Society

The Friday Society
By Adrienne Kress
Dial Books, 2012. 440 pgs. Young Adult

Cora is the assistant to an inventor, Nellie is the assistant to a magician, and Michiko is the assistant to a combat instructor. The three girls are thrown together when dead bodies start crossing their paths and they must use their combined talents to figure who is behind the murders. Individually, each girl has numerous talents, but together, they just might be able to save London.

This steampunk mystery-adventure story is tons of fun. It's lighthearted and fluffy, and all three of the girls are strong, likable characters. The language doesn't always the time period and can occasionally be jarring and distracting, but readers should be able to overlook that and enjoy the book's many good points.

AE

Drops of Gold

Drops of Gold
By Sarah M. Eden
Covenant Communications, 2012. 191 pgs. Romance

 When her father's death leaves her destitute and with no one to turn to, Marion lies about her name, her class, and her qualifications in order to obtain a position as a governess. When she arrives at Farland Meadows, she finds that Caroline, although really too young for a governess, is a delightful child, but both she and her handsome but troubled father, Layton need more joy brought into their lives. Layton Jonquil is pleased with the changes in his daughter brought about the new governess and finds himself falling for her, but after the tragedy of his first marriage, combined with the difference in their stations, he can't allow himself to act on those feelings.

Yet another delightful read for fans of Regency romances in general and Sarah Eden's works in particular. Both Marion and Layton are endearing characters, and Caroline is adorable. Guest appearances of Layton's large family (including Phillip, hero of Friends and Foes) add to the fun. There's a good mixture of deep issues and humor, and there's really nothing not to like.

AE

Violins of Autumn

Violins of Autumn 
By Amy McAuley
Walker, 2012. 326 pgs. Young Adult

After lying about her age, Betty has become a Special Operations Executive, alias Adele, and parachutes into France to serve as a courier for the French resistance. Adele has been well-trained but at the same time, nothing can quite prepare someone for the dangers of spying on and opposing the Germans, and Adele, who has been isolated and lonely for most of her life, isn't prepared for falling in love or even forming friendships with her fellow agents.

I really liked this book! It's similar to Code Name Verity, but I actually liked it better. There's a good mixture of adventure and suspense, with a little bit of romance. Adele's a great, well-developed protagonist, and supporting characters are great as well. Highly enjoyable.

AE

The Impossible Rescue

The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure
By Martin W. Sandler
Candlewick Press, 2012. 163 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

In September 1897, winter came early in Alaska, and eight whaling ships became stuck in the rapidly-forming ice at the northern tip of Alaska, leaving 265 whalers trapped with few supplies and little food. When word got out about their predicament, none other than U.S. President William McKinley ordered that they be rescued and provided the outline of just how that was to be undertaken: three men were to land on the Alaskan coast--as far north as they could go--and then cross the 1700 miles to the stranded men, along the way convincing two reindeer herders to let them buy their herds on credit and help bring the deer across mountains and ice through the blizzards of the Alaskan winter to the stranded men. Although the daring rescue seemed impossible, men volunteered to be the rescuers and set off to face the brutal conditions and harsh terrain in order to try to save their fellowmen.

This real life adventure is a must-read for anyone interested in fascinating but overlooked stories from history. It's made all the better by the fact that Sandler has included photographs of the expedition. Readers will enjoy following along as the three rescuers, and the Alaskans willing to help in their journey, race against time and the weather to make it to the stranded men in time.

AE

Home Front Girl

Home Front Girl
By Joan Wehlen Morrison
Chicago Review Press, 2013. 252 pgs. Biography

Joan Wehlen was just your average American girl, growing up in the Great Depression and then on the eve of, and during, World War II. She had a hard time getting to school on time and went through quite the series of crushes on boys, but she also worried about impending war and how those she knew would be impacted. While she worried about things like test grades, she also was a pacifist who didn't see how peace could come from war--and yet worked in aide movements to help the war efforts.

Covering from 1937 to 1942, this book is a compilation of Joan's diaries and school notebooks, which were found by her family after her death. Providing a day by day look at this time period, this is a fascinating look at the pre-war era. Although not as dramatic as The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, it's similarly poignant and also features a thoughtful teenager just trying to figure life out.

AE

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit: A Collection of Inspiring True Christmas Stories
Covenant Communications, 2012. 81 pgs. Nonfiction


This collection of twelve Christmas stories ranges from funny to touching, as the authors share stories about topics such as learning to receive, learning to look beyond the tangled Christmas lights and other obstacles to see the true meaning and spirit of Christmas, and other such topics. This short little collection can be read all in one sitting, or stretched out to enjoy one story per day, but either way, most readers should find a story here that touches their hearts with the Christmas spirit as well.

AE

A Game for Swallows

A Game for Swallows
By Zeina Abirached
Graphic Universe, 2012. 188 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction


Zeina was born in the middle of the civil war in Lebanon, so she's lived with bombings and a divided Beruit for all of her life. Her family's apartment is a gathering spot for the tenants of their building in the evenings as the war goes on around them. One night, as Zeina and her brother anxiously await their parents' return from their grandmother's house, the neighbors try to keep the kids entertained and distracted from the fear that this time, something bad has happened to them.

Done in graphic format, this black and white look at one night of life in war-torn Lebanon is a touching, important book, as it tells the stories of not only the children but also the neighbors and how they've been impacted by the war. Readers not familiar with the details of the war might need to do a little background research elsewhere, but those who just want to read straight through will still be able to grasp what's going on and appreciate Abirached sharing her story with the world.

AE

The Hunters

The Hunters
By John Flanagan
Philomel Books, 2012. 403 pgs. Young Adult

In the third book in the Brotherband Chronicles, Hal and the crew of the Heron have just missed capturing Zavac the stolen Andomal and set off to follow him once more. Zavac creates traps for them along the way, and the Herons find themselves facing mounting obstacles, until finally, knowing that Zavac has reached the safety of Raguza, a pirate cove, they must figure out how to get safely in the cove, defeat Zavac, and make it out again.

Flanagan provides just as much action, excitement, adventure and humor in this book as in his others. Fans of the series will not be disappointed--and while the book does wrap up the first main plot line of the series, there's just enough left open to leave readers hopeful that there will a whole bunch more books it the series. Set aside enough time to read this all in one day if you can, because once you dive in, you won't want to stop.

AE

The Small Woman

The Small Woman
By Alan Burgess
Buccaneer Books, 1959. 221 pgs. Biography

In the 1930s, Gladys Alyward was an English housemaid who felt compelled to go to China as a Christian missionary. However, when she tried to be placed as a missionary, she was told she wasn't educated enough and most likely wouldn't be able to learn the language. Rather than accepting defeat, she worked and saved her money until she could afford a train ticket to China and set out on dangerous journey, through warring countries to make it to China where she worked with an elderly missionary to establish the Inn of the Eighth Happiness. Over the next twenty years, Gladys worked tirelessly as a missionary and also become a foster and adoptive mother to many Chinese children, and, following the Japanese invasion of China, led nearly 100 children on a grueling journey through the mountains to safety.

This book is an oldie but goodie. It was fascinating to see Gladys's determination be a missionary and some of the impressive work that she did, which ranged from calming a prison riot to working at the foot inspector in charge of making families unbind their daughters' feet. This is an inspiring account of a woman putting her faith into action as well as a great look at this era of history in rural China.

AE

Friends with Boys

Friends with Boys
By Faith Erin Hicks
First Second, 2012. 169 pgs. Graphic Novel

Having been homeschooled for her entire life, Maggie isn't exactly ready to make the transition to high school. Add in the fact that her mother has recently left, she's got three older brothers, and she's haunted by a ghost, and her life's a little complicated.

I really liked this graphic novel. Maggie's an easy character to relate to, and her brothers add some good humor. The two friends Maggie manages to make are lovably flawed, and I'm really hoping there will be a follow up to this book soon.

AE

Sapphire Blue

Sapphire Blue
By Kerstin Geir
Henry Holt, 2012. 362 pgs. Young Adult

Gwen's life has been flipped upside down since it turned out that she, and not her cousin Charlotte, was the gene carrier for the time traveling gene. The secret society that protects the secret of the time travel is out to gather the blood of all the time travelers in history but they don't trust fully trust Gwen so they are selective in what they tell her, leaving her trying to piece things together on her own. The fact that her time traveling companion, the incredibly good-looking Gideon, wants to kiss her one day and then barely speaks to her the next, makes things all the more complicated. Not knowing who she can trust, Gwen is desperate to find out what is really going on and who is telling her the truth.

The second book in the Ruby Red series will be gobbled up by teen readers. Readers who loved the first book will be excited to see the developing romance in the second, and although Geir doesn't give many answers in this book, it does set things up nicely for the third book. This is a fun series, and I can't wait for the next installment.

AE

Against the Tide

Against the Tide
By Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House, 2012. 368 pgs. Romance

Lydia Pallas has a stable life working as a translator for the U.S. Navy, but her aptitude for language takes her on journeys she never expected when Alexander “Bane” Banebridge, a powerful man working to end the opium trade in the United States, asks her to do some translating work for him. Not only does the work pull her into more dangerous tasks than she is used to, but she also quickly falls in love with Bane, even though he has vowed never to marry as it would put his wife in too dangerous of a situation.

Fans of historical romance with a bit of mystery will enjoy Camden’s latest book. It has a little bit darker tone than a lot of inspirational novels do, simply because of the opium element, but it still offers the hope and romance that fans of the genre will need to be satisfied.

AE

Song of My Heart

Song of My Heart
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bethany House, 2012. 348 pgs. Romance

When Sadie Wagner's cousin writes to tell her he has found jobs for her working at a mercantile and singing at the opera house in Goldtree, Kansas, she's excited to be able to help out her family by earning money while her father is injured and can't work and even more excited to be able to fulfill her dream to sing. When she arrives in Goldtree, she finds the extra perk of handsome sheriff Thad McKane, who has recently been brought to town to track down a bootlegger. However, just as their relationship is blossoming, Sadie finds that her job at the opera house isn't quite what she expected, but she doesn't know how to give it up and still help her family. She's in over her head, and to make matters worse, Thad realizes that something is amiss and that somehow his sweet Sadie may be involved with the bootlegger he's trying to catch.

This is a satisfying story, a good choice for fans of western settings, outlaws, and inspirational romance.

AE

The Mark of Athena

The Mark of Athena
By Rick Riordan
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2012. 586 pgs. Young Adult

As the third book in the Heroes of Olympus series opens, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, and Leo are flying aboard the Argo II into enemy territory--the camp for the Roman half-bloods. Although they manage to successfully find Percy Jackson, along with two new friends of his, Hazel and Frank, they also inadvertently attack the Roman camp, which leads to the Roman half-bloods setting out to destroy the Greek half-blood camp, which fits in nicely with Gaea's plan to cause chaos and war among the demigods. Added to this complication is the prophecy of seven, and Annabeth's disturbing conversation with her mother, Athena, who has sent her on a quest to avenge her. The seven demigods must figure out what Athena even wants from Annabeth, save Nico di Angelo, who is being held captive by two of Gaea's minions, and try to figure out how to stop Gaea's return.

Another exciting novel from Riordan. Told from the viewpoints of four of the seven demigods, readers get a chance not only to follow along with the action but also to experience the characters' fears and insecurities. Per Riordan's usual style, there's enough humor, adventure, and interesting twists to keep readers going through nearly 600 pages of reading...and longing for the next book in the series.

AE