Author: Alender, Katie Brief Summary: Mix a 100-year old house with a dysfunctional, antisocial teen, a little sister who is doll-CRAZY and things go haywire (like sister's blue eyes turn green, the AC freezes the house, doors close by themselves) and you have a perfect kid-friendly supernatural mystery. Thoughts on Appeal: Creepy without the blood or vampires! Who I Would Recommend This To: Junior high, 7th to 9th grade.
Title: Platinum Author: Barnes, Jennifer Lynn Brief Summary: Most popular girl in school discovers she has The Sight- she can see the past. She has to solve the mystery to save her boyfriend from getting killed. Thoughts on Appeal: Pure drivel Who I Would Recommend This To:
Title: Blood Roses Author: Block, Francesca Lia Brief Summary: Short stories of popular topics with teens- vampires, 1st love, etc. Thoughts on Appeal: Favorite story- a young girl falls in love with an older tattoo artist. She wakes up each day with beautiful tattoos- that finally fade away as she gets over her first love. Who I Would Recommend This To: Teen girls who like poetry, descriptive prose.
Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty Author: Bray, Libba Brief Summary: The first book in this trilogy of supernatural, depicts the life of a 16-year-old English girl who is sent to a boarding school in London. The story opens in India in 1895, however, the setting quickly shifts to London. Learn how, after the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma takes her clique into mystical realms. Thoughts on Appeal: I really enjoyed this book. It has strong female characters. It's fast paced and the tone is dark. The plot is highly character driven. The author got into the her characters' heads in an impeccable way. Who I Would Recommend This To: 8th grade and up.
Title: Dust of 100 Dogs Author: King, A.S. Brief Summary: This original pirate tale follows the life of Emer who is cursed to live the life of 100 dogs before turning into a human. With her memory still intact, she is reborn in 1972 as Saffron and decides to find a buried treasure and her lost love Seanie. This non-traditional tale has a rich mixture of adventure, revenge, and passion Thought on Appeal: Hard to place book in a genre, not really adult or YA. Author does not gloss over violence heartbreak or sex, can be crude at times. Enjoyed Emer's pirate language. Not for every teen. Who I Would Recommend This To: Intelligent outsider teen, those who hunger for a strong, independent female character. NOT for Twilight fans.
Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty Author: Bray, Libba Brief Summary: After the suspicious (and devastating) death of her mother in 1895, 16-year-old Gemma leaves India for a finishing school where she meets fascinating (and troubled) girls and becomes aware of her magical powers and connection with the spirit world. Thoughts on Appeal: Not great writing, predictable storyline and cardboard characters- but neither is it terrible. Who I Would Recommend This To: Young YA's into horror, light romance, historical fiction.
Title: Twilight Author: Meyer, Stephenie Brief Summary: Young lady moves to gloomiest town on Earth, falls in love with "statuesque" vampire, begs to be changed over and over and over again. Thoughts on Appeal: A tiresome riff, ultimate sexless (safe) romance(using a lot of that genre's dirty language), real page-turner. Who I Would Recommend This To: T(w)eens, the 2 or 3 that haven't read this. Older folks who LOVED Anne Rice, etc.
Title: Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire Author: Schrieber, Ellen Brief Summary: Goth girl, Raven Madison has always been intrigued by vampires. Her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, who is new to Dullsville, fulfills her desires, as he's the vampire of her dreams. Raven has an intact and loving family, from whom she manages to hide this pivotal fact. Much of the story revolves around the prom, the dress, the ditz, the vampire not being able to appear in photos. As book 4 in the series, Raven's still torn between being part of her family or accepting Alexander's eternal pledge and life in a coffin. Thoughts on Appeal: Part 4 ongoing series written with humor, not gory, very chaste romance Who I Would Recommend This To: Middle school students
Title: Lily Dale : Awakening Author:Staub, Wendy Corsi Brief Summary: Calla thought the worst thing in her life was the fact that Kevin broke up with her in a text message. Then her mother falls down the stairs and dies. That was worse. She has to go live with her grandmother in Lily Dale. Odelia turns out to be a psychic and Calla eventually awakens to find that she, too, is one. Thoughts on Appeal: Very good book for a young girl who does not have a high reading level. Who I Would Recommend This To: Girls- very easy read- no sex, basically no violence. Could be in juvenile because it is such easy language.
Title: Wicked Lovely Author: Marr, Melissa Brief Summary: Aislinn, who has always been able to see faeries, is suddenly being followed by faeries wherever she goes. She soon finds herself caught up in a centuries-old faerie curse- and caught between her best friend Seth and Keenan, the dangerously beautiful Summer King. Thoughts on Appeal: Fast-paced and dramatic. Intriguing glimpse into the world of faeries contrasted with the life of a plucky, independent teenager. Some sloppy plotting and issues with characterization, but overall a solid addition to this popular genre. Who I Would Recommend This To: Fans of Twilight and other supernatural YA or supernatural/ paranormal romance.
Title: Wondrous Strange Author: Livington, Lesley Brief Summary: Kelly Winslow is offered the role of Titania in an off-Broadway show, but when she gets mixed up in a real faerie war she must decide what's truly important. Thoughts on Appeal: Beautiful cover art, floridly written, and Obvious characterization. Who I Would Recommend This To: Teen fans of supernatural romance who were also theater fans- or not too discriminating.
Title: Blood and Chocolate Author: Klause, Annette Curtis Brief Summary: Vivian, teenage werewolf, relocates to Maryland after her home is destroyed by a fire which also killed her father, the pack leader. You're between the pack politics of who will become the next leader, and the shy "human" boy who gains her interest. Thoughts on Appeal: Well written, the descriptions of the inner workings of the werewolf pack was interesting. Typical teen angst; complex issues with her mother. Who I Would Recommend This To: Ages 13+. I would recommend this title to girls first. Seems to deal with feminine issues.
Title: Pemba's Song Authors: Nelson, Marilyn, and Hegamin, Tonya C. Brief Summary: Young African American girl moves with her mom from Brooklyn to a small Connecticut town. The house they rented is haunted by a slave. Thoughts on Appeal: I loved this book. The mix of past and present was very enjoyable. Who I Would Recommend This To: YA, Supernatural, or even history readers.
Title: Bad Girls Don't Die
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Alender, Katie
Brief Summary: Mix a 100-year old house with a dysfunctional, antisocial teen, a little sister who is doll-CRAZY and things go haywire (like sister's blue eyes turn green, the AC freezes the house, doors close by themselves) and you have a perfect kid-friendly supernatural mystery.
Thoughts on Appeal: Creepy without the blood or vampires!
Who I Would Recommend This To: Junior high, 7th to 9th grade.
Title: Platinum
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Barnes, Jennifer Lynn
Brief Summary: Most popular girl in school discovers she has The Sight- she can see the past. She has to solve the mystery to save her boyfriend from getting killed.
Thoughts on Appeal: Pure drivel
Who I Would Recommend This To:
Title: Blood Roses
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Block, Francesca Lia
Brief Summary: Short stories of popular topics with teens- vampires, 1st love, etc.
Thoughts on Appeal: Favorite story- a young girl falls in love with an older tattoo artist. She wakes up each day with beautiful tattoos- that finally fade away as she gets over her first love.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Teen girls who like poetry, descriptive prose.
Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Bray, Libba
Brief Summary: The first book in this trilogy of supernatural, depicts the life of a 16-year-old English girl who is sent to a boarding school in London. The story opens in India in 1895, however, the setting quickly shifts to London. Learn how, after the mysterious death of her mother, Gemma takes her clique into mystical realms.
Thoughts on Appeal: I really enjoyed this book. It has strong female characters. It's fast paced and the tone is dark. The plot is highly character driven. The author got into the her characters' heads in an impeccable way.
Who I Would Recommend This To: 8th grade and up.
Title: Dust of 100 Dogs
ReplyDeleteAuthor: King, A.S.
Brief Summary: This original pirate tale follows the life of Emer who is cursed to live the life of 100 dogs before turning into a human. With her memory still intact, she is reborn in 1972 as Saffron and decides to find a buried treasure and her lost love Seanie. This non-traditional tale has a rich mixture of adventure, revenge, and passion
Thought on Appeal: Hard to place book in a genre, not really adult or YA. Author does not gloss over violence heartbreak or sex, can be crude at times. Enjoyed Emer's pirate language. Not for every teen.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Intelligent outsider teen, those who hunger for a strong, independent female character. NOT for Twilight fans.
Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Bray, Libba
Brief Summary: After the suspicious (and devastating) death of her mother in 1895, 16-year-old Gemma leaves India for a finishing school where she meets fascinating
(and troubled) girls and becomes aware of her magical powers and connection with the spirit world.
Thoughts on Appeal: Not great writing, predictable storyline and cardboard characters- but neither is it terrible.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Young YA's into horror, light romance, historical fiction.
Title: Twilight
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Meyer, Stephenie
Brief Summary: Young lady moves to gloomiest town on Earth, falls in love with "statuesque" vampire, begs to be changed over and over and over again.
Thoughts on Appeal: A tiresome riff, ultimate sexless (safe) romance(using a lot of that genre's dirty language), real page-turner.
Who I Would Recommend This To: T(w)eens, the 2 or 3 that haven't read this. Older folks who LOVED Anne Rice, etc.
Title: Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Schrieber, Ellen
Brief Summary: Goth girl, Raven Madison has always been intrigued by vampires. Her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, who is new to Dullsville, fulfills her desires, as he's the vampire of her dreams. Raven has an intact and loving family, from whom she manages to hide this pivotal fact. Much of the story revolves around the prom, the dress, the ditz, the vampire not being able to appear in photos. As book 4 in the series, Raven's still torn between being part of her family or accepting Alexander's eternal pledge and life in a coffin.
Thoughts on Appeal: Part 4 ongoing series written with humor, not gory, very chaste romance
Who I Would Recommend This To: Middle school students
Title: Lily Dale : Awakening
ReplyDeleteAuthor:Staub, Wendy Corsi
Brief Summary: Calla thought the worst thing in her life was the fact that Kevin broke up with her in a text message. Then her mother falls down the stairs and dies. That was worse. She has to go live with her grandmother in Lily Dale. Odelia turns out to be a psychic and Calla eventually awakens to find that she, too, is one.
Thoughts on Appeal: Very good book for a young girl who does not have a high reading level.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Girls- very easy read- no sex, basically no violence. Could be in juvenile because it is such easy language.
Title: Wicked Lovely
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Marr, Melissa
Brief Summary: Aislinn, who has always been able to see faeries, is suddenly being followed by faeries wherever she goes. She soon finds herself caught up in a centuries-old faerie curse- and caught between her best friend Seth and Keenan, the dangerously beautiful Summer King.
Thoughts on Appeal: Fast-paced and dramatic. Intriguing glimpse into the world of faeries contrasted with the life of a plucky, independent teenager. Some sloppy plotting and issues with characterization, but overall a solid addition to this popular genre.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Fans of Twilight and other supernatural YA or supernatural/ paranormal romance.
Title: Wondrous Strange
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Livington, Lesley
Brief Summary: Kelly Winslow is offered the role of Titania in an off-Broadway show, but when she gets mixed up in a real faerie war she must decide what's truly important.
Thoughts on Appeal: Beautiful cover art, floridly written, and Obvious characterization.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Teen fans of supernatural romance who were also theater fans- or not too discriminating.
Title: Blood and Chocolate
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Klause, Annette Curtis
Brief Summary: Vivian, teenage werewolf, relocates to Maryland after her home is destroyed by a fire which also killed her father, the pack leader. You're between the pack politics of who will become the next leader, and the shy "human" boy who gains her interest.
Thoughts on Appeal: Well written, the descriptions of the inner workings of the werewolf pack was interesting. Typical teen angst; complex issues with her mother.
Who I Would Recommend This To: Ages 13+. I would recommend this title to girls first. Seems to deal with feminine issues.
Title: Pemba's Song
ReplyDeleteAuthors: Nelson, Marilyn, and Hegamin, Tonya C.
Brief Summary: Young African American girl moves with her mom from Brooklyn to a small Connecticut town. The house they rented is haunted by a slave.
Thoughts on Appeal: I loved this book. The mix of past and present was very enjoyable.
Who I Would Recommend This To: YA, Supernatural, or even history readers.