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.

Pretenders by Lisi Harrison

Release Date:  October 2013

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

When and Where:  Present day America

Protagonist: This novel has multiple high-school aged characters and the point of view alternates with each chapter

The Story:  Beginning with an unexpected letter from one of the Phoenix Five, Pretenders follows the freshman year of the top five students of the school.  Each character represents a specific high school stereotype, including a jock, a home schooled nerd, an over-achiever, a loner, and a drama queen.  Each of the characters was tasked with keeping a personal journal by their English teacher, and the students completed the task with the understanding that no one will ever read the journals.  One of the Phoenix Five is outing the entire group, however, and the reader gets to gorge on the drama and angst that make up these characters' lives.

Reaction:  I don't know why, but I really found myself entertained by this book...perhaps I liked it because it fed my drama llama.  The book is filled with the self-absorbed ramblings of five teens, has hints of romance, and definitely has all kinds of betrayal.  Frankly, some parts read like a CW television show, and people watch and read this fluff for a reason - simple, mindless entertainment.  Author Lisi Harrison nails the teens' voices, which really makes the book fun to read.  I do think the author did us a disservice providing us with zero resolution to the conflicts in the novel; I'm not sure how much of a hurry I will be to pick up the second book when it is released.

If You Like...  Gossip Girl or Revenge, you'll enjoy Pretenders.

Rating: 4

Shadow Allegiance (Unholy Alliance #2) by Lacey Yager

Release Date:  December 2013

Genre:  Paranormal

Protagonist: Rachel Compton, aged 16

The Story:  Rachel Compton is a Chaser.  All her life she has trained to hunt and kill vampires, but when a shocking turn of events causes Rachel to go down in battle and rise as a vampire, Rachel's life is turned upside down. Half a world away from her family and anyone who can help her, Rachel reluctantly puts her trust in Alex, a vampire who is a bad boy with an agenda of his own.  Being close to Alex puts Rachel in close proximity to her enemies, and Rachel intends to use her new status as a vampire to help the Chaser cause.  Rachel is completely unprepared for how the change to vampire impacts her, however, and she is even less prepared for how her feelings for Alex influence her.

Reaction:  A word of warning:  if you have not read the first book in the Unholy Alliance series, please do so, as Shadow Allegiance does not stand alone.  Stories with vampire plots are pretty common these days, so it's hard to find books that fit within this genre that are unique; one way author Lacey Yager sets her series apart is by the use of multiple perspectives to tell the story; readers will like the "he said, she said" feel to the tale, though at times I struggled to find the characters' voices to be truly distinct from each other.  I also found the language used by the vampires to be quite modern, which is in contrast to other vampire tales in which vampires who are 70+ years old speak in less modern language patterns.  Shadow Allegiance has action sequences that are sure to please action fans and enough romance to appeal to a variety of readers. 

If You Liked... The Vampire Diaries, then Shadow Allegiance will appeal to you, as the novel touches on vampires and other supernatural beings.

Rating:  3

The Dream Keeper by Mikey Brooks

Release Date:  June 2013

Genre: Fantasy

When and Where:  Present day America

Protagonist:  Parker and Kaelyn, middle schoolers

The Story:  Determined to save the human race, Gladamyr, a nightmare determined to be good, seeks out the help of Parker and Kaelyn, two middle school students who are struggling to fit in at school.  Joining forces to help ensure humans are able get the sleep they so desperately need, the unlikely trio must defeat a band of nightmare determined to destroy humanity. 

Reaction:  Younger fantasy fans will enjoy this easily read adventure that chronicles the hero's journey, both in the physical and emotional sense.  While Parker and Kaelyn are not particularly unique and tend to be "stock characters," young readers will relate to the struggles they face, including peer pressure, the struggle to fit in, and the challenge of "doing the right thing over the easy thing."  The plot is pure fantasy, which is sure to please imaginative readers.  There are some sections that are a bit confusing, but the author is able to resolve this issues by the end of the novel

If You Liked... Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper may be right up your alley.

Rating: 3

Teacher Notes: While not as complex as Fablehaven or Inkheart, then The Dream Keeper is a good addition to your fantasy collection.  It will appeal to both boys and girls, particularly those who are interested in video games.

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.