Lost City Radio

Lost City Radio
by Daniel Alarcon
Harper Collins, 2007. 257 pgs. Fiction

For ten years, Norma has been the voice of consolation for a people broken by violence. She hosts Lost City Radio, the most popular program in their nameless South American country gripped by the aftermath of war. Every week, the Indians in the mountains and the poor from the barrios listen as she reads the names of those who have gone missing. Loved ones are reunited and the lost are found, but Norma is hiding her own personal loss: her husband disappeared at the end of the war. One day the life she has become accustomed to is forever changed when a young boy arrives from the jungle and provides a clue to the fate of her long-missing husband.

This was an interesting and challenging book to read. The country is never named and the author gives few concrete details about it, so the atmosphere of the book is somewhat confusing and chaotic. This reflects the reality of life under war and government oppression. I have seen this book compared to dystopian fiction like 1984 or The Hunger Games; it is similar in its themes and plot, but the writing is very different because the story is not told in a straightforward way. If you are looking for a book that is different from most, this is a great choice.

Belly Button Bliss

Belly Button Bliss: A Small Collection of Happy Birth Stories
Edited by Jennifer Derryberry Mann
Fairview Press, 2010. 104 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a short, sweet book meant to help soon-to-be mothers who may have been exposed to too many horror stories from the delivery room. The aim is to show the positive side of birth with stories from women who share their good experiences giving birth. I appreciated that many of these stories didn't hide the negative things that happened, but rather showed how the women pushed through them and ultimately triumphed. I was also touched by the descriptions of the moments that these mothers first hold their children and what they felt. "He gives a little cry and breathes his first breath of life while lying on my chest."

I think after reading this, women will be able to look on the delivery room experience with a little less foreboding and a lot more excitement. Highly recommended for first-time mothers.

BHG

Divergent

Divergent
By Veronica Roth
Katherine Tegen Books, 2011. 487 pgs. Young Adult


Chicago is divided into five factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Each faction exemplifies the behaviors and attitudes that they think will most benefit the world and combat the problems of human nature. At sixteen, teens are given an aptitude test that tells them which attributes they have, followed by a ceremony where they choose which group to remain with for the rest of their lives. Most people have one dominant attribute, but Beatrice Prior, who has been raised by her Abnegation parents and community, isn't sure she's selfless enough to stay with that faction. When her aptitude tests reveals that she has multiple dominant attributes, meaning she is divergent (something she has never even heard of before), she must choose which faction to join--as well as hide the fact that she's divergent, as she's been warned that her life depends on no one finding out her secret. Tris makes her choice, changing her name along with her alliances, and trains for her new faction. She struggles to know who to trust and starts to fall in love but also realizes that everything could be ripped away but a group that is ready to overthrow their way of life.

Some books just hook you, and some don't. For me, this one definitely did. I think this has the potential to be the new Hunger Games--the trilogy that everyone has to read and can't stop thinking about. With an intriguing dystopian world, engaging characters, action, adventure, romance, and more, there's not much that this book doesn't have. I will say that I thought the end of the book, where we see the conflict really unfolding, as the rebel group begins rolling out their plans, went by too quickly for me and was actually too easily resolved. Obviously, there's going to be a lot more going on in the next books, but I would have liked to see a little more in this one, as it all plays out in a matter of a few hours. On the other hand, Tris's training and personal growth and conflicts were explored in much more detail and over time, so the juxtaposition just made the larger, societal conflict seem glossed over. Still, I'm hooked, and I can't wait to see what happens next! A great choice for anyone who liked The Hunger Games, dystopia, romance, action, or kick-butt characters. This is one of those ones that you don't want to bring back to the library...but you have to so the next person can enjoy it as much as you did!

Aurelia

Aurelia
By Anne Osterlund
Speak, 2008. 246 pgs. Young Adult

Aurelia, the crown princess of Tyralt, wants control over her own life. Robert, her former classmate, wants Aurelia. And someone wants her... dead. Robert, the son of the king's former royal spy, is allowed into the inner circle to secretly investigate and watch over Aurelia. But the princess will not heed the danger around her, and she does not need Robert to save her. Just as their friendship begins to grow into something more, the threat on Aurelia's life becomes paramount.

Part mystery, part romance, this was a fun, light read. Unfortunately, it was a bit predictable, but it was still enjoyable to watch events unfold. I think teens will really enjoy reading this and I will definitely read the next book in the series.

BHG

Stone's Fall

Stone’s Fall
By Iain Pears
Spiegel & Grau, 2009. 594 pgs. Mystery

This story begins in 1909 in London and moves successively back in time first to Paris in 1890 and finally to Venice in 1867. In 1909 John Stone falls from a window and his widow hires a newspaperman to seek out a hitherto unheard of heir. In Paris Henry Cort is recruited as a spy. In 1867 John Stone becomes involved in financing the development and manufacture of submarine torpedoes. The events of these three time periods fit together to form in an intricate and complex mystery involving business and finance, mediums and séances, love and deceit.

SML

Say You're One of Them

Say You’re One of Them

By Uwem Akpan

Little, Brown and Co., 2008. 358 pgs. Fiction

This collection of five stories brings home the plight of children growing up under terrible circumstances in Africa. A young girl witnesses horrific events in her family that are part of the Rwandan genocide. Another young girl learns that she can no longer see her best friend, due to differences in religious beliefs. Another tale tells of a very young girl working the streets as a prostitute in order to bring in a little money for her family. These stories of intolerance, hatred, and violence seen from a child’s perspective are heartbreaking and disturbing.

SML

The Ginseng Hunter: A Novel

The Ginseng Hunter

By Jeff Talarigo

Nan A. Talese, 2008. 177 pgs. Fiction

The Ginseng Hunter is set in China just across the border from North Korea and depicts the lonely, difficult, and troubled life of a young man who survives by hunting ginseng roots. Early on in the story Chairman Mao has determined that all the people are to go out and kill sparrows because they are taking too much the seeds and grain. The results are devastating.

The story is interesting and poignant; however, the story is also one of sadness, loss, and survival with little hope.

SML

The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment
By Lindsey Leavitt
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011. 264 pgs. Young Adult

Desi Bascomb is still working as a substitute princess, taking their place when they want to jaunt off on vacation or avoid a particular event in their lives. While there are still things that Desi likes about her job--including advancing to the next level of training--she also comes to realize that the company she's working for has its secrets, some of which Desi doesn't like. Also, she messed up on a previous assignments by getting a crush on Prince Karl, and her latest assignment has her crossing paths with him again, although this time she's standing in for Karl's brother's girlfriend. If that's not complicated enough, Desi's realizing there's more to her magical potential than she realized and she's acting in her school play, opposite of her best friend's crush who seems more comfortable with her than with her friend.

This second book in the Princess for Hire series started out a little slow for me, but when I hit the middle and realized how things were going to work out, I couldn't wait to see how they played out. Readers will definitely be satisfied with where this one goes, but the cliffhanger ending will have them hoping Leavitt cranks out the next installment really quickly. This series is a lot of fun and will appeal to many tween and teen girls.

AE

Ammon

Ammon
by H.B. Moore
Covenant, 2011. 288 pgs. Fiction

With the fire of newfound testimony, Ammon and his brethren leave Zarahemla to preach the gospel in Lamanite lands. Ammon follows the Spirit to the borders of Ishmael, where he’s ambushed just seconds after spotting Elena, a fair-skinned woman who captures his interest. As Ammon gains renown in the kingdom, he defends Elena from the advances of Gad, the loathsome widower she’ll soon be required to marry. Then, swearing allegiance to the Lamanite king and trusting in the Lord, Ammon further proves his strength and devotion by sparing King Lamoni’s flocks from plunderers. The amazed king and his court are converted to the gospel through Ammon’s powerful teachings and the miraculous events that follow. But each action Ammon takes causes more and more disruption throughout the kingdom, and he finds that even becoming the king’s closest confidant does not ensure his safety.

This is the fourth book in a series that Moore has written based on stories from the Book of Mormon. Although I was already quite familiar with the story, this book was hard to put down. Moore adds so many details to the story and explores some of the unanswered questions from the source material in novel ways. This book has a little bit of everything: action, adventure, romance, and spiritual experiences.

JC

Courting Miss Amsel

Courting Miss Amsel
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bethany House, 2011. 346 pages. Romance

Edythe Amsel is the new schoolteacher in Walnut Grove, and while some of the parents seem opposed to her teaching methods and curriculum, Joel Townsend supports her fully. His two orphaned nephews finally love going to school and Joel appreciates what Miss Amsel has done for them. He begins to have feelings for her and wants to court her, but Edythe, who spent fourteen years raising her younger siblings, doesn't want to give up her teaching job and has no intention of getting married and taking on another family to nurture.

This is a satisfying historical romance. I enjoyed both Edythe and Joel as characters and thought the story moved well. Readers of inspirational romances will be pleased.

AE

Blood Red Road

Blood Red Road
By Moira Young
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2011. 459 pgs. Young Adult

In a distant future, eighteen-year-old Lugh is kidnapped, and while his twin sister Saba and nine-year-old Emmi are trailing him across bleak Sandsea they are captured, too, and taken to brutal Hopetown, where Saba is forced to be a cage fighter until new friends help plan an escape.

This was an interesting dystopian novel that I think fans of Hunger Games will enjoy. There is a lot of action and a touch of romance. It took me a while to get used to the dialect and was a little slow to start; but by the end, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Blood Red Road is the first book in this series. I look forward to meeting this author when she comes to the Library on October 11th!

AMM

Blindsided

Blindsided
By Priscilla Cummings
Dutton Children's Books, 2010. 226 pgs. Young Adult

Natalie O'Reilly has been losing her sight for years, but she's always held out hope that she wouldn't go completely blind. However, as the beginning of her sophomore year approaches, Natalie's doctor tells her that she will go blind and she needs to prepare for that. She reluctantly goes to a school for the blind, where she'll be taught to read in Braille, use a cane, and adapt to being without her sight. Even with the new skills she's learning, Natalie ultimately has to decide if she'll use them to face the world or if she'll go back home and hide.

I really enjoyed being able to see how a person would adjust from being able to see to living in darkness. Natalie's struggle to accept her condition, physically as well as emotionally, was realistic and gave readers an inside look at challenges faced by a blind person.

AE

Lost Encyclopedia

Lost Encyclopedia
By Paul Terry and Tara Bennett
Dorling Kindersley, 2010. 386 pgs. Nonfiction

Featuring over 1500 images, the Lost Encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference guide to the characters, locations, plotlines, relationships, and mythologies from all six seasons of the landmark series.

If you enjoyed the TV series Lost, are wondering what the show was about, or still feeling lost after end of the series… this book is for you! I enjoyed learning a bit more about the back stories of my favorite characters and being reminded of how the characters were connected to one another. This book is chock full of pictures and facts about this popular TV show.

AMM

If Life is a Bowl of Cherries—What am I Doing in the Pits?

If Life is a Bowl of Cherries—What am I Doing in the Pits?
By Erma Bombeck
Recorded Books, 2002. Nonfiction

In this collection of heartwarming essays, the bestselling author ponders what it takes to survive the rigors of contemporary living.

I enjoyed parts of this book, although I didn’t find it as funny as I thought it would be. This is a collection of Erma Bombeck’s essays, many of which were published in her newspaper columns. I didn’t particularly love the way the reader read the book, but on the whole was entertained by this collection.

AMM

Prophecy

Prophecy: An Historical Thriller
By S.J. Parris
Doubleday, 2011. 375 pgs. Mystery.

Giordano Bruno returns in this second installation of Parris’s new mystery series. This time, all of England is talking about the prophecies predicting Queen Elizabeth’s imminent death. Powerful astrological phenomena abound but when one of the Queen’s ladies is found violently murdered, Bruno is skeptical about the causes being supernatural and begins a hunt for conspirators and murderers.

Parris continues her series with vibrant historical settings and an intriguing mystery to unravel. Bruno is an entertaining and likable hero with virtues as well as faults providing a believable and multilayered character. This is a great choice for both mystery readers and those who enjoy historical fiction.

CZ

A Young Wife

A Young Wife
By Pam Lewis
Simon & Schuster, 2011. 289 pgs. Historical Fiction.

Based loosely on the life of the author’s grandmother, A Young Wife tells the story of Minke van Aisma. At the age of 15, Minke is sent to Amsterdam from her small fishing village to care for the dying wife of a wealthy businessman named Sander DeVries. After only a few months, the wife dies and Minke is caught completely off-guard when Sander proposes marriage and a plan to leave the Netherlands for opportunities in Argentina. Mistaking an exciting infatuation with lasting love, Minke agrees to the marriage and is soon saying farewell to her family and homeland. However, life in Argentina fails to live up to Sander’s promises and Minke is forced to face the consequences of her rash decision to marry a man she barely knew.

I thought the most interesting part of A Young Wife was the descriptions of turn of the century Netherlands, Argentina, and New York. Each stage of Minke’s journey illuminated the lives of immigrants who left the Old World searching for happiness in the New. I finished the book a bit curious as to what portions of the story were true and which portions were fictionalized. The plot’s conclusion seemed a bit too coincidental to be believable but sometimes truth can actually be stranger than fiction, so you never know.

CZ

The Mozart Conspiracy

The Mozart Conspiracy
By Scott Mariani
Simon & Schuster, 2011. 337 pgs. Fiction.

As a former British SAS officer, Ben Hope has a valuable skill set that he uses to help individuals in a variety of crisis situations. After rescuing a kidnapping victim, Ben’s hopes of several weeks of recuperation are destroyed by a call from a close friend’s sister, who also happens to be Ben’s ex. Leigh’s brother died months ago in an apparent accident, however recent events are making the circumstances surrounding his death look more and more suspect and Leigh’s own life has now been threatened. Here enters an intriguing and dangerous puzzle involving Mozart’s mysterious death and the Freemason movement of the late 18th Century.

This book has been described as “James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets The Da Vinci Code,” which is a tall order to fill. But Scott Mariani succeeds in this exciting adventure novel. The Mozart Conspiracy is the first American release for a British series that currently has six installments. I am anxiously looking forward to the next volume’s US release. Enthusiastically recommended!

CZ

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World
By Jennifer Armstrong
Crown, 1998. 133 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his crew set sail on the Endurance, headed for Antarctica, where they planned to be the first people to ever cross the entire continent. However, they never even reached land; the water was particularly icy that year, and the ship became trapped in the ice. Although they survived and were pulled along with the ice flows, when the ice finally began to thaw, the huge ice flows and icebergs proved treacherous; the Endurance was crushed and sank, leaving the men stranded with only three small lifeboats and no way to let anyone know they needed help. However, Shackleton was determined that they would survive.

This is a fascinating piece of history; Shackleton's story is certainly exciting and Armstrong's writing really makes it come alive for readers. This is jam-packed with interesting information as well--did you know that there are more than 80 kinds of ice? Or that the most fertile ecosystem in the world is at the Antarctic Convergence, where the polar water mixes with warmer water from the north? With a riveting story, captivating details, and lots of photographs, this is a first-rate piece of nonfiction.

AE

The Sons of Liberty

The Sons of Liberty
By Alexander Lagos and Christopher Lagos
Random House Children's Books, 2010. 1 volume (unpaged). Young Adult

Brody and Graham are slaves but when the master's son attacks Brody and Graham retaliates, they must flee. They're headed for Benjamin Lay's lair, as Lay is an abolitionist. However, before they meet up with him, they are found by William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son, who uses them as subjects for a scientific experiment. The experiment leaves them with extreme powers, which they use to fight back against their master and the slave catcher who is out to get them.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a historical fiction graphic novel series. However, I felt like this volume was a little bit confusing; I had a really difficult time figuring out if the protagonists were supposed to be children or approaching adulthood. In some of the illustrations they seemed older and more mature; in others (even ones that took place at the same time, since I do recognize that the book flashbacked to an earlier time) they seemed much younger. Overall, though, I am interested to see what happens to Graham and Brody in the next installment of the series.

AE

The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe

The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe
by Peter Godwin
Little, Brown 2011. 371 pgs. Nonfiction

Last year I read Peter Godwin’s memoir, When a Crocodile Eats the Sun, about his return to Zimbabwe when his father was dying and his realization while there that his homeland was dying too. In this book, Godwin and his sister return to Zimbabwe in early 2008 after dictator Robert Mugabe has been defeated by the popular vote. Mugabe refuses to give up the presidency and responds with a brutal campaign of violence and torture against his “enemies”. Godwin tours the country secretly interviewing victims of the regime and documenting the chaos in Zimbabwe.

This book was hard to read because some of the descriptions of atrocities were just too heartbreakingly vivid. I had to read it a little at a time, but I learned much more about the current situation in Zimbabwe than I had ever known before. Although some of the stories in it are truly devastating, there are also many accounts of bravery from people who are not afraid to stand up for they know is right.

JC

Eona: The Last Dragoneye

Eona: The Last Dragoneye
By Allison Goodman
Viking, 2011. 637 pgs. Young Adult

In this sequel to Eon, Eona and Lord Ido are the only two dragoneyes left alive, which means they are also the kingdom's only hope against Sethon, who, after slaughtering most of his family, has made himself emperor. Ido has been captured by Sethon; Eona has escaped to find Kygo, the true heir, but she is still untrained and doesn't know how to use her power, and she's discovering things both about her ancestors and herself that frighten her. While Kygo trusts her enough to make her his highest advisor, others are wary of her and even Kygo's feelings seem mixed. Eona must figure out how to control her power and how to even trust herself to make the right choices if Kygo has any chance of defeating Sethon and restoring peace to the kingdom.

Readers will be drawn once again into the Empire of the Celestial Dragons. Eona's internal struggles (including what her morals are, how she's willing to use her power, who she trusts and even who she's attracted to) are well-portrayed and make her into a round, but not always likable, character. Fans of Eon will like the conclusion; those who haven't read Eon will definitely need to read it first or they'll be completely lost in this intricate fantasy.

AE

What Can't Wait

What Can't Wait
By Ashley Hope Perez
Carolrhoda LAB, 2011. 234 pgs. Young Adult

Marisa Moreno has dreams bigger than her Mexican-American family can imagine. Her father insists she work to help pay the bills and cook him meals and her sister is always asking Marisa to babysit her daughter. Marisa understands that doing well in high school will get her to college, but no one else in the family appreciates that fact. As Marisa’s senior year passes, she faces several events and mistakes that will challenge her commitment to college, even forcing her to wonder if she is doing the right thing. Marisa comes from a completely different background than many and the differences may surprise the reader. Her attitudes and actions are completely understandable and her growth as a character is believable in this gritty, realistic, and unflinching look at one girl’s path to her dreams.

MN

Genoa Bay

Genoa Bay
By Bette Nordberg
Monarch Books, 2009. 319 pgs. Fiction

There is a quote from the book Genoa Bay that states, "Grief has been described as-the process of learning to live comfortably in a new normal." That is exactly what Brandy Beauchamp must do. Widowed, with a young daughter to raise, Brandy must learn how to make her own new life. She inherits, Maggie's Place, an old run down Bed and Breakfast inn, located on Genoa Bay, British Columbia, from the lady who took her in as a teenager. What should she do with it? It is such a long way from her current life in Florida. The decision will determine Brandy and her daughters' life path.

This easy to read, clean, Christian novel has adventure (is someone trying to sabotage Brandy's life?) and a bit of romance ( he's stocky with calloused thick fingers). Once in a while the references to God and Christianity seem a bit awkward, but REMEMBER, this is a Christian novel. I found this to be a surprisingly enjoyable book to get lost in and come out feeling good. mpb

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business

My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir
By Dick Van Dyke
Crown Archtype, 2011. 287 pgs. Biography

His father feared that he would never amount to anything. Boy, was he wrong. Dick shares his struggles in trying to make it in show business starting with local club acts to starring in his own show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, to making Hollywood classics like Mary Poppins. He decided early on that he wanted to be involved in productions that he would not be embarrassed for his family to watch, and for that, he has become a family favorite to many. Life was not always perfect for him; he discusses his battle with alcoholism and finding peace with himself. Dick Van Dyke keeps talking about retiring but it looks like this 86-year-old has no intentions of slowing down.

To be honest, I usually “read” biographies by looking at the pictures and checking the index who they mention and look at their connection but this memoir grabbed me from the beginning and I found myself reading into the night. You will not find any dirty gossip about Hollywood but you will hear a lot of funny stories.

KK

Accomplice

Accomplice
By Eireann Corrigan
Scholastic Press, 2010. 296 pgs. Young Adult

After attending a college prep seminar where an advisor informs them that good grades, extracurricular activities, and even community service aren't enough to distinguish themselves from the hoards of other students trying to get into college, Finn and her best friend Chloe hatch a crazy plan: they pretend that Chloe has been abducted and plan that Finn will be the one to find her, vaulting them both into celebrity status that will essentially guarantee them entrance to any college. So Chloe hides out in Finn's absent grandmother's basement while Finn pretends to look for her, gives press interviews, and tries not to panic. However, their plan quickly goes awry and Finn realizes she may be in over her head.

I found this book to be rather unsettling-- and not just because of the girls' rather disturbing way of thinking. While the plot of the book was enough to keep me reading since I had to see how things turned out, I also never fully believed that two intelligent girls would pull a stunt like this, and while there are several possible reasons why Finn might get involved (including her admiration of, and possibly even attraction to, her best friend) in it, none of them was fully developed enough for me to really buy it. It's definitely thought-provoking and there are many readers who will be drawn in by the plot, but at the same time, I think there are a lot of readers who will be put off by it as well.

AE

When the Black Girl Sings

When the Black Girl Sings
By Bil Wright
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008. 266 pgs. Young Adult

Lahni is an African American girl who was adopted as a baby by a white couple. She's always sort of wondered about that--why they wanted that and how her family fits together--and now, as a teenager attending a predominantly white school and with her parents on the brink of divorce, Lahni is wondering more than ever who she is. When she and her mother start attending church and Lahni hears the choir sing gospel music, she realizes that she wants to sing and joins the choir as well as prepares for a musical competition at school. At the same time, however, she struggles to reach inside her and truly find her voice.

Lahni is a realistically-portrayed character and her struggles to figure out her identity and to deal with her family troubles are problems that many teens will be able to relate to.

AE

Trespasser

Trespasser
by Paul Doiron
Minotaur Books, 2011. 310 pgs. Mystery.

When game warden Mike Bowditch is called out late one night for a car/deer crash on the Parker Point Road he arrives in time only to find the damaged car but no deer and no driver. He figures the deer has been poached post-mortem, but where is the young Asian woman who told the tow truck driver someone was coming to pick her up. He shouldn't have been worried to turn the whole mess over to the Highway Patrol, but he was. His concerns are borne out when he and his old pal Charley discover Ashley Kim's brutalized body. The police tell Mike to back off but he can't; he feels responsible and is drawn farther into the mystery when the current homicide mirrors one from some years back when a girl was murdered in the same fashion. The Maine coast in a wintry early Spring is the perfect cold and foggy setting for the monstrous doings of a man no one yet suspects. Second in the Mike Bowditch mystery series, after Poacher's Son, Trespasser is a fine story of a good but deeply conflicted man fighting his own demons as he takes on the very real devil next door.

LW

Emperors of the Ice

Emperors of the Ice
By Richard Farr
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. 217 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Aspley Cherry-Garrard, a.k.a. Cherry, was a surprising choice to go with Captain Robert Falcon Scott on his fateful expedition to Antarctica. However, he was selected to go on the journey and experienced the adventure of a lifetime, including a three-man expedition through unbelievable conditions to gather eggs from Emperor penguins for scientific research. Cherry was not one of the men chosen to try to make it to the South Pole, but he was one of the men who went to search for Scott's party when they did not return.

This book is an interesting blend of fiction (since the book is told from Cherry's first-person point of view but not written by Cherry) and nonfiction (since it's based extensively on Cherry's own writing and other historical documents and it's only the dialogue that is imagined). It was interesting to see how the trip was about more than just making it to the Pole; it was also about science and experimentation. This is a fine book for those interested in learning more about Antarctic exploration.

AE

Hidden

Hidden
By Helen Frost
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. 147 pgs. Young Adult

When she was a child, Wren was huddled in the back seat of her family's van when it was stolen; while the thief didn't know that Wren was in the back, his daughter, Darra, came to realize that she was there and wanted to help her escape. Wren managed to escape on her own, and years pass. However, as teenagers, the girls end up at the same summer camp and instantly know who the other is and must come to terms with the horrible event that connects them.

This verse novel is short but it packs a punch, with the two girls taking turns narrating and drawing readers into both sides of the story. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good, thought-provoking novel.

AE

Delirium

Delirium
By Lauren Oliver
Harper, 2011. 441 pgs. Young Adult

In a future United States, love has been classified as a deadly disease, causing madness, unhappiness, and a host of other problems. Scientists have developed a cure to be given to people when they reach the age of eighteen; once they are cured, they are no longer capable of loving and they have orderly, stable lives, devoid of pain. Lena, whose mother wasn't cured and went mad, can't wait to turn eighteen and be cured. At least until she meets Alex, that is. Alex has never received the cure and introduces Lena to a whole new way of thinking about love. Soon, Lena must decide if she'll adhere to the laws of her society or try to pursue a relationship with Alex.

I really liked the premise of the book; the idea of government regulating and banning love is certainly intriguing. There were times when I was completely drawn into the book and other times when I wished there was less descriptive information and more plot. I have to say, I didn't like the ending, not just for the way things played out but what I thought was almost too easy a response and acceptance of her new fate by Lena. All in all, though, I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book that gives a whole new meaning to being star-crossed lovers.

AE