The Knife of Never Letting Go

Patrick Ness is a masterful storyteller surrounding us with the Noise of Todd’s Prentisstown and the silence of Viola in a quest for a true new world. We follow by turns hopeful and hopeless, as madness and lies pursue Todd and Viola. Sometimes I enjoy a book so very much and hope for a sequel. This time I must have it! You must read this one – share it with your fans of dystopias, coming-of-age, sci-fi, fantasy and everyone who loves a good story!

Headlong by Kathe Koja

Kathe Koja’s latest is a great story of the lifecycle of  a friendship.  The fact that Hazel is a scholarship student & that Lily lives outside the life of the Vaughn Virgins, and their romantic interests become the background story as their friendship propels them deeper into their own lives. I loved this look at how intense and encompassing friendships are to teens in the present and throughout a life.  I loved the honest portrayal complete with the loss that ripples with a splash onto a life well lived.

What~the~dickens by Gregory Maguire

If you want a lighter story to pair with Life as We Knew it, Maguire’s book is it.  Wicked fans will also want this one.  And I’m sure a few friends of The Wee Free Men will enjoy the skibereen.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Maguire takes a storm and a story, three children, Dinah, Zeke, and Rebecca Ruth, one almost adult, Gage; leaves them on their own at night and tells a  wild tale of tooth faires.  The adventures of Pepper and What~the~Dickens as they try to become, “agents of change,”  will delight readers of fantasy, cat books, survival, adventure and orphan stories.  They will all find a home with this one.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

When I first read Bloom, I thought that Elizabeth Scott had an incredible talent for getting the teen voice right.  I had no idea how talented she was until I heard Alice, and scarier, Ray.  “Words are just letters, A-L-I-C-E, and I know the ones he wants to hear,”  we hear in Alice’s head.  And we don’t want to hear this story; the story of Alice, an abducted and sexually abused girl.  But it’s a story that deserves to be told, and I can only imagine that if Alice’s story was one you knew, you would have to find the words to tell it, to find hope, to want grace.  Death is the only respite imaginable for Alice, but anyone reading this story will be forced to find the truth and another girl’s story, the story Alice can’t even see through to the end.  This book is a must read for all of us who cannot imagine how this happens. For those who may be living these lies, we must learn to listen.

The Ghost’s Child by Sonya Hartnett

There is just enough magic in Sonya Hartnett’s writing to connect with the young adult reader I once was…  The Ghost’s Child is a wistful blend of Maddy’s looking back and exploring her love for the mysterious Feather and of course, her bond to her fay.  Reading Hartnett reminds me of reading Ruth M. Arthur’s books way back when.  I was caught up in this book trying to place the right reader when I realized that reader was me!  And I’d like to believe that there are girls today who would take a look at this quiet love story and find themselves too.

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Sometimes for an unknown reason I think I don’t want to read a book.  Yes, The White Darkness had high acclaim and an intriguing title, but it kept falling to the bottom of my list.  Why didn’t I read this sooner?  At least I had a  summer read worthy of the experience – an adventure that captured my imagination and a character I wanted to spend time with.  Symone’s inner voice exploring silence, history, and human motivations are worth the trip to the Arctic’s vast void.  As she learns to listen to herself, enough mystery remains to let us dream… Add this to your vacation reads if you haven’t already explored the land of Titus Oates.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson

Part science-fiction, part thriller, part mystery - the essence of this story is like the discovery of Jenna herself.  Jenna is on a quest to discover who she is, making this a very typical teen story, but this complex search to regain her memory after a severe accident is extraordinary.  This book deserves a spot on your next book discussion group for the story of Jenna’s relationships with her parents, her grandmother and her friends.  The beauty lies in the exploration of the soul and the ethics as much as the biology of who we are.  This is a must read for all of us. I would have chosen to read this based on the cover alone and would have been well rewarded.

The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas

Besides having a name worthy of fame, Antonia Lucia LaBella is a believer in miracles, the power of prayers, and divine intervention from her beloved patron saints.  She is a girl on a mission to petition the Vatican for a new patron saint (with herself as a living candidate) and to have her first kiss.  She doesn’t wait for miracles to happen however, and it’s her spunk and spirit that make this such an enjoyable read.

The Klipfish Code by Mary Casanova

For your tween readers who want to learn all they can about the Holocaust, this story of the Nazi invasion of Norway will expand their persepective on  both history and sympathy.  Marit faces an internal struggle for courage and acceptance as she fights the enemy and for understanding of individuals whose choices can be life altering and confusing.  The effects of adult choices on children’s lives and the courage it takes for a child to grow into their own adult path is beautifully explored here.  Sadly we are still in an incomprehensible time of war, and the need for humane titles will continue. 

Varmints by Helen Ward and Marc Craste

Once upon sometimes you find a book that truly delights you –  is different and leaves you different too.  That’s what happened with Varmints which feels like a picture book graphic novel.  It’s a book about perspective, loss and ultimately hope. Sharing picture books with teen readers is always a wonderful experience, in the real “wonder” sense of the word.  This book is meant for them; thank Dewey when they discover ‘e’ is for everyone.