The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond

Release Date:  September 2014

Genre: dystopian/speculative fiction

When and Where:  near future, in an alternative world where the Axis powers won World War II

Protagonist:  16 year old Zara

The Story:  80 years following World War II, the former United States is occupied by Nazi soldiers who enforce the will of the Fuhrer.  Hitler's super-soldiers, genetically altered in a timely fashion that allowed the Axis powers to crush the Allies, are feared and respected.  Zara, only 16 years old, lives with her uncle.  She desperately misses her mother, who died in an act of rebellion.  When Zara witnesses a terrible act against a beloved family friend, she joins the resistance, determined to remove the Nazi government from power and ensure a different future for those she loves.  Added by an unlikely ally, Zara has a secret she's ready to use to support her cause.

Reaction:  At times disturbing and distressing, The Only Thing to Fear is a wildly imaginative speculative fiction novel that mixes history, science fiction, and hints of romance.  At times the novel read like an X-Men comic book, but I enjoy that style of writing, so I found the tale very entertaining.  There were some similarities to The Hunger Games (is Zara similar to Katniss, or what?), but I think fans of the genre will appreciate more of this type of character. 

If You Liked...  The Hunger Games and Among the Hidden, then The Only Thing to Fear is right up your alley.

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes: n/a

Ghosting by Edith Pattou

Release Date:  August 2014

Genre: Contemporary, Free Verse

Protagonist:  A ensemble cast of characters

The Story:  Told from the perspectives of an ensemble cast of characters, Ghosting is the tale of a group of high school students and their experiences when joyriding and a prank go terribly awry.  Each character is an archetypical character - the jock, the good girl, the popular girl, the stoner, the brainiac, the follower, the kid sister, etc., and each character's perspective reveals facets of a story no one ever wants to truly experience. 

Reaction:  Powerfully told through free verse, Ghosting is a cautionary, yet hopeful novel that promotes independent thinking and developing self-confidence, even in the face of overwhelming tragedy and adversity.  The novel is easy to relate to, and readers will recognize pieces of themselves or people they know within the well-developed plot.  This is a novel that sticks with you long after you've read the final sentence.

If You Liked...  Crank or Before I Fall, then Ghosting will be a great addition to your collection.

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes:  Touching on a variety of sensitive issues, such as drugs, alcohol, and violence, Ghosting is most definitely intended for a high school audience.  

Disclaimer:  This novel was given free from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Glitch (Lost in Time, Book 1), by Brenda Pandos

Release Date:  January 2014

Genre: Science Fiction/Time Travel 

Protagonist:  Abby, 18 years old

The Story:  In the not too distant future,  Abigail lives a simple life in Brighton.  She follows all the rules and allows every choice to be influenced by the Date of Death clock she wears on her wrist.  Wrong choice = less time to live.  As part of the transition to adulthood, Abby is excited to meet her Compliment (her future self) and glean all the wisdom she can from the experience.  Disillusioned by the entire situation, Abby soon realizes that the Brighton leadership is hiding some pretty profound secrets, and unauthorized persons with secret information is considered a threat.  Abby discovers she is not the rule-follower she believed herself to be, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves.  Government secrets, romance, and friendship all weight heavily into Abby's tale...and then there are the zombies Abby fears so much. 

Reaction:  Glitch is one of those stories that starts off strong, slows down a bit in the middle, then picks back up as the action starts.  Strengths:  zombie apocalypse novel told from a feminine perspective, interesting plot twists, zombies, and time travel.  Weaknesses:  Dare I say this?  Too many boys!  Other than Kaden, I had a hard time remembering which boy was who.  I also found the jumps to different time streams confusing at first.  It took some re-reading to keep everything/everyone straight.  Lots of new plot elements were introduced right at the end of the novel, too, and I would have liked at least of the major conflicts resolved prior to the conclusion of the novel.  I understand that series are all the rage right now, but typically at least one of the conflicts in the story arc are resolved before the next one is introduced.  I was left with a lot of questions at the end of this book, and I want some answers!  :) 

Rating:  3

Teacher Notes: Nice addition to a classroom library.  Plentiful of the tropes that are so popular in young adult fiction are present in this fun, little book, so students who enjoy science fiction, zombies, and romance will find Glitch quite entertaining.

Paradigm by Ceri A. Lowe

Release Date:  June 2014

Genre: Dystopian

When and Where:  Past - London, England; Future -  The Community, run by The Industry

Protagonists:  Alice (the past) and Carter (the future)

The Story:  87 years ago, the Storms started, destroying the land.  Alice Davenport, stuck in her apartment after her mother left for work, goes to sleep as the rain starts and wakes from a fever to find the world forever changed.  The Storms haven't stopped, London is flooded, and the water continues to rise.  Surviving by using her wits, Alice is rescued by a group of people from Paradigm Industries.  Taken to an underground stronghold to wait out the Storms, Alice grows from a timid child to a determined young woman.  Life as part of The Industry is infinitely appealing - everyone is treated equally, everyone's needs are met, and no one goes hungry.  The Model ensures that everyone and everything in The Industry runs efficiently, and Alice is an eager part of this new world order.

87 years into the future, Carter Warren has woken from stasis as a Candidate for Controller General.  He must prove his abilities outreach those of the other potential Candidates, and many people within the community believe that Carter will be able to bring dissenters back into The Industry fold.  As Carter prepares to prove himself, he investigates a rebellion to which he is unexpectedly tied; the rebellion has a stronger hold than Carter expects, and The Industry has been keeping secrets.

Reaction:  Wow, wow, wow!  I loved Paradigm!  Switching back and forth between the past and the present, this unique novel shares the end of the world and how people adapted to it through Alice's story and the outcome of the development of a new world order, through Carter's story.  This dystopian novel focuses more on the development of a new society and the implications for people as society continues to evolve (or devolve).  The narrative switching in this novel is artfully done, though I must admit that I found Alice's story more interesting than Carter's.  Left with a major cliffhanger, Paradigm is the first in a trilogy, and I will absolutely be reading the second and third stories in the series - Carter's story is just getting started, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

If You Liked...  Legend or The Knife of Never Letting Go, then Paradigm  will be right up your alley!

Rating: 5

Teacher Notes: This novel touches on sensitive issues including pregnancy and assault. 

Sempre by J.M. Darhower

Release Date: November 2013

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

When and Where:  Modern times, California

Protagonist:  Haven Antonelli, 17 years old

The Story: Born into slavery, Haven has no idea what life is like outside of the isolated ranch compound, but when an act of desperation ends up causing Haven to be relocated to the DeMarco household, an entire world of opportunity is presented.  Dr. DeMarco is deceptively kind, when in fact is an integral member of a Mafia family, serving as both confidant and enforcer to the Don.  Functioning more as a maid and less like a slave, Haven is desperately afraid of her new masters, Dr. DeMarco and his two sons.  Somehow, Haven develops an unlikely relationship with the younger son, Carmine DeMarco, and as romance blossoms between the pair, the mystery of Haven's paternity haunts Dr. DeMarco.  Dr. DeMarco is determined to prevent his son from repeating past mistakes and negatively impacting the future, but it may be too late.

Reaction:  This book was absolutely gripping, though I really don't know who is primary audience should be.  While the characters are 17, the subject matter is far beyond the scope of most high school students, in both background knowledge and maturity.  I was fascinated by Haven's adjustment to a "normal" lifestyle, though the lifestyle the DeMarcos live is far from normal, and  Carmine's self-destructive, impulsive tendencies a desperate cry for help that no one seemed to hear.  I just couldn't stop reading this book, and when the novel came to its conclusion, I was happily surprised to see that the second book is already available.

If You Liked...  movies and stories similar to The Godfather and Goodfellas, then Sempre may be right for you.

Rating: 4

Teacher Notes: Great book, but perhaps one to keep on the upper bookshelf for specific students, rather than full-class access.

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

Release Date: January 2014

Genre:  Mystery

Protagonist:  Emily Shepherd, high school student

The Story:  Although Emily is aware that her father, a former soldier, suffers from PTSD, she firmly believes that he would not harm another person.  Emily's beliefs are shaken when her father emerges from the woods near her home with the body of high school student Ashlee Parker in his arms.  Suddenly an outcast determined to prove her father's innocence, Emily unwittingly attracts  the attention of Emily's boyfriend, Damon, who seems to think Emily should be punished for her father's crime.

Reaction:  The mystery behind Ashlee's death drives The Killing Woods, along with Emily's determination to show that her father is a better person than the community is willing to believe.  I liked Emily's drive, but somehow the mystery of the novel fell flat.  Perhaps there was too much internal dialogue or too many vague references to "the game" that Ashlee played in the woods with Damon and his friends.  When the "secret" was revealed, it wasn't as shocking as intended.  What worked well?  The strange push-pull relationship between Emily and Damon.   For some reason, I would have liked to have seen what their interactions were like pre-death.

If You Like...  darker mysteries with a romantic undertone, this book may be a nice summer read.

Rating:  2

Teacher Notes:  The Killing Woods would be a nice addition to a high school teacher's bookshelf.  This is a good high interest, low level book that could be offered to reluctant readers.

Intangible (Piercing the Veil #1) by C.A. Gray

Release Date:  November 2013

Genre:  Fantasy

When and Where:  Modern time period, Britain

Protagonist: Peter Stewart, teenager

The Story:  Intellectually gifted by socially stunted, Peter Stewart is the consummate high school nerd; he has few friends and is bullied by the coolest kids in school.  When Lily Portman transfers into his school, Peter's life drastically changes, and there's no way things can possibly go back to the way they were before.  When an unexpected car accident allows Peter to break the laws of physics, Peter's adventure begins.  Peter discovers he is the latest in a long line of descendents of King Arthur, and all the magic of King Arthur's story is based on a truth that is hidden for most people.  Worse, Peter has a target on his back because of his lineage, and King Arthur's enemies are determined to destroy Peter at all costs.  Interestingly, Peter is in denial about the existence of magic and of his own role in the tale, which makes Intangible all the more fun to read.

Reaction: Intangible had many strengths, but the greatest appeal to the novel is its correlations to the Arthurian legends and the unexpected physics references.  Readers need not be experts at physics to appreciate the inclusion of the scientific connections, as the physics references are embedded more as a way to characterize Peter and his reactions to the magical events going on around him than they are to explain the magic to the reader.  I found most of these references to be funny, as they really showed just how much Peter was trying to find a rational explanation for the unexplainable.  

The main characters were engaging and I'd like to know more about them, particularly Kane and Lily.  Other characters were archetypical characters that are found in similar novels.  Isdemus reminded me quite a bit of J.K. Rowling's Dumbledore, just as Brock's parents reminded me of the Dursleys, also created by J.K. Rowling.  I did think that the villain's presence was not strong enough throughout the book, though it does seem that, as the first in a series, Intangible was intended to set the stage for a bigger villainous presence in future novels.  There were a few parts that were a bit redundant, such as when the same part of King Arthur's story was told twice in the tale, however, as a whole, Intangible was very entertaining and I really was curious to find out how the conflict would be resolved.  The teaser for the next book in the series really has me excited to find out what happens next!

If You Liked...  The Revenge of the Shadow King, The Once and Future King, or Harry Potter,  then Intangible is probably right up your alley.  Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians will also appreciate Intangible, though the text may be too complex for less sophisticated readers.

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes:  Intangible would be a strong addition to your fantasy collection; the novel would be nicely paired with literature circles using The Revenge of the Shadow King or The Once and Future King, as the series follows the hero's journey and incorporates the archetypes and structures of the genre.

Providence by Lisa Colozza Cocca

Release Date:  March 2014

Genre: Realistic Fiction

When and Where:  Small town Georgia in modern times

Protagonist:  Becky, age 16

The Story:  Hoping to avoid her abusive father until he becomes less enraged, Becky runs away at the advice of her mother and seeks shelter in an empty train car.  Becky is stunned to find a tiny baby, perhaps only hours old.  Relying on the experience of having cared for several younger siblings, Becky claims the tiny baby as her own and begins an unexpected journey towards a life she could never have expected.  In tiny Watson's Grove, Becky becomes both friend and family to Rosie, owner of the Second Hand Rose consignment store.  Struggling to provide the best of care to baby Georgia and to take care of herself, Becky hides Georgia's story of abandonment and lives as a teen parent.  Despite the town's initially close-minded response to Becky, the townspeople gradually open their hearts to both young mother and child, and soon Becky learns the value of putting trust and faith in humanity. 

Reaction:  Sweetly and beautifully written, Providence is crafted in the manner of small towns and the people who live in them.  The pacing of the tale moves in a similar manner, at times moving quickly, while at other times rambling slowly about, taking the reader on an unexpected journey of a character's growth over a period of time.  Author Lisa Colozza Cocca weaves a plot that is reflects the goodness of humanity, and she successfully keeps the reader uncertain of Becky and Georgia's fate up to the final pages; Providence is truly a unique read.

If You Liked...  Where the Heart Is, Taking Care of Max, and books that study and reveal human frailties and reality, then Providence is for you.

Rating: 4

Teacher Notes:  Providence is for thoughtful readers who enjoy stories involving character development.  This would also be an excellent book to use for teaching internal dialogue.