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 Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson

Release Date:  February 2014

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction


Protagonist:  Laila

The Story:  As the daughter of a Middle Eastern King, Laila has lived a life of luxury.  When violence erupts in her country and her father is killed, she and the surviving members of her immediate family are whisked away to the United States and immersed in an American lifestyle.  Upon arriving in the U.S., Laila realizes that nothing is as it seems - the media has labeled her deceased father a dictator, her mother is working closely with a covert organization and carefully guards her secrets, and life in the U.S. is so profoundly different from her homeland that Laila struggles to acclimate.  Even something as simple as education and friendships are distinctly different, and Laila feels desperately alone.

Reaction:  I loved, loved, loved this beautifully written book.  Laila's observations of American people are equally fascinating and thought-provoking, and her understanding of the politics of her homeland made me wonder if there are many people in similar situations who just don't know nearly as much about how things works as they think they do.  I think most people have felt like an outsider at some point, which is how many readers will related to Laila, but I also believe that readers will end up reflecting upon their own beliefs and behaviors as a result of reading The Tyrant's Daughter; this is a book that sticks with you, so be prepared to be thinking about the novel long after you have put the book away.

If You Liked...  Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind, then The Tyrant's Daughter  will be a good addition to your TBR stack.

Rating:  5

Teacher Notes:  The Tyrant's Daughter would be a great book to use help teach point of view; it also highlights a culture that is not highly represented in good YA literature.

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.

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