Young Adult Books

Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series is her first novel. Find out more about Brigid and the Elemental series on her website. Apples or Bananas? Both! Twilight or Mortal [...]

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes Hardcover, 48 pages Published: May 7th, 2013 by Sourcebooks Jackerwocky Source: Publisher A lonely, invisible bird mistakenly believes that adorning himself with flashy feathers and flowers will make him beautiful and win him new friends. Except his plan quickly backfires when his magnificent plumage attracts the attention of everyone, even the fox! In his rush to safety the little bird loses every last bit of his new decorations, making him invisible once again. Except now in place of his loneliness is the knowledge that putting others first is the key to friendship and high self-esteem. This book is adorable! It's very simple with more scarce illustrations, but they are beautiful and fit the story incredibly well. The story is very cute and is about an invisible bird who just wants to be seen and noticed but finds a way to accept himself as he is. The description of the book pretty much explains everything that happens so I won't recap that for you, but I thought the story brought a good message about being happy with yourself and thinking of others will bring you new friends. It was fun to read, I found it very enjoyable to read but my kids (4 & 8) also enjoyed it. My 8 year old called it a 'baby book' but I happened to notice she stayed right there and paid attention the whole time. After finishing it I asked them what they thought about what the bird did, if maybe accepting yourself as you are is better after all, and it led to some great discussions. In my opinion this is a book that needs to be on every child's bookshelf. I highly recommend it! Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way. Thanks for subscribing!

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos Publisher: Starscape Release Date: May 21, 2013 Pages: 256 Source: Publisher Buy the Book: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository Rating: 4 stars The Planet Thieves is the first thrilling installment of a new middle-grade series by Dan Krokos. Two weeks ago, thirteen-year-old Mason Stark and seventeen of his fellow cadets from the Academy for Earth Space Command boarded theSS Egypt. The trip was supposed to be a short routine voyage to log their required spacetime for summer quarter. But routine goes out the airlock when they’re attacked by the Tremist, an alien race who have been at war with humanity for the last sixty years. With the captain and crew dead, injured, or taken prisoner, Mason and the cadets are all that’s left to warn the ESC. And soon they find out exactly why the Tremist chose this ship to attack: the Egypt is carrying a weapon that could change the war forever. Now Mason will have to lead the cadets in a daring assault to take back the ship, rescue the survivors, and recover the weapon. Before there isn’t a war left to fight. The Planet Thieves is a strong middle grade debut from author Dan Krokos. With it’s intriguing premise and unique way it entwines a typical school story with that of saving the world, The Planet Thieves was a treat. I really enjoyed the characters, particularly the female characters. Both Merrin and Susan were both just really well rounded characters and I loved how loyal they were to their cause. The rivalry between Tom and Mason really added to both of their character as well. While I did really enjoy all the specifics of the premise, I never completely fell in love with the story line. There were some parts I just wanted to be pushed a little further. Dan Krokos‘s world building is completely solid – the way he incorporated magic and the different galaxies was really neat. There are super cool sketches throughout the book which really add to the story. They helped to solidify what these different elements and beings Dan Krokos introduces in the story. While this one was not as strong as Dan Krokos‘s YA series, I still thought it was a solid start. I loved the high stakes throughout the book and the fact that he doesn’t offer security to anyone really. Related posts: False Memory by Dan Krokos Book Review Video Teaser Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos Starling by Lesley Livingston Book Review

Insight by Terron JamesPublished Date: June 2013Publisher: Jolly Fish PressGenre: YA SciFiThe Story: James has masterfully crafted the mystical land of Appernysia, a world brimming with rich history and magic that readers of all types will find delight in discovering. Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium. Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen. Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong.Amazon / B&N / GoodReadsMy Reivew: I enjoyed reading this book. Insight takes us into a world of swords, horses, and magic. Lon has some choices to make, and those choices take him far from his family, and his beloved. Through the connection that Mellai has with him (being twins and all) she is able to "keep tabs" and know at least that he's alright.I like the format in which this is written. We're not just getting it from one person's POV. We're able to "see" what's going on with the different characters. As you're reading, you can tell that Terron James put a lot of research into his book! About the Author: Born in the wrong age, TERRON JAMES continually fantasizes of shining steel, majestic stone architecture, thundering cavalry rushes, and opportunities to prove his honor. James is an English teacher and a member and recent president of the Tooele Chapter of the League of Utah Writers. He currently lives in Tooele, Utah, with his wife and four kids.Facebook / Twitter / Website***Interview***What is one book everyone should read?Duh! INSIGHT! *snicker*Besides my book, though, a must read is The Diary of Anne Frank. Sadly, I wasn't a very academically ambitious student growing up, so I didn't pay much attention to this book in grade school. Also, I never would have considered Anne's diary to be a book that interested an adult. I had always assumed teenagers would enjoy it more than us old farts. Boy, was I wrong! I just finished reading The Diary of Anne Frank with my 7th and 8th grade students. Now the Franks, Van Daans, and Mr. Dussel are all stuck in the forefront of my mind. My friends can tell you that I've become quite passionate about WWII over the past few years, partly to help build my own world of Appernysia, but mostly because it captivates me. I love individual stories, like those surrounding Quentin Aanenson (a fighter pilot). I'm glad to add Anne's story to that collection. I wept many times over the past two months as I taught about the heroic and tragic experiences of her life.What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?The Hardy Boys! I loved the tension and "Scooby Doo" moments where all the pieces finally fit together. I read so many of those books. I've even contemplated dipping back into them again, but I'm terrified that I'll ruin one of my fondest childhood memories. Movies and books are rarely ever as good as we remember them to be from our youth.Can you see yourself in any of your characters?I'm complex man, so I would say a little bit of me exists in all of my characters, but I didn't write anyone based off of me. The closest thing would be the sassy sibling relationship between Lon and Mellai, with an deep underlying bond of love for each other. That would fit me and my sister, Melanee.If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?Whew, this is a hard one to answer. My childhood was full of physical, social, and emotional trials, the most difficult of which was the death of my older brother when I was in 9th g

Title: Safekeeping Author: Karen Hesse Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publish Date: September 18, 2012 Genre: YA, Dystopian Pages: 304 Source: Publisher Radley just wants to get home to her parents in Vermont. While she was volunteering abroad, the American People's Party took power; the new president was assassinated; and the government cracked down on citizens. Travel restrictions are worse than ever, and when her plane finally lands in New Hampshire, Radley’s parents aren’t there. Exhausted; her phone dead; her credit cards worthless: Radley starts walking. Radley's life is in upheaval, to say the very least. She returns home from volunteering overseas because she's concerned for her parents' safety in the new American regime, but when she does, her family is nowhere to be found. Everything has changed while Radley was gone and, following the collapse of the American government, Radley is forced to navigate life alone. But where should she go? She has nothing. She has no one, and her only option is to just keep walking until she finds shelter. I didn't hear much about Safekeeping before I received it for review, and frankly, I thought it was going to be a contemporary novel based on the cover alone. However, I was pleasantly surprised upon reading the synopsis to hear that this was actually a dystopian novel. Author, Karen Hesse, has taken a new approach toward the time-tested dystopian genre. Rather than simply giving us a world ravaged by death, famine and disease, she's given us a very realistic take on what could possibly happen should our government fold in the future. Weaving a textured novel with stark contrasts and brutal simplicity, Safekeeping give us so much more than a sheltered, protected take on a broken future world. For a while now, I've been a bit burned out on the dystopian genre in general. I felt that something that was once so promising was becoming littered with cliche love stories, unrealistic takes on future worlds and, frankly, watered down versions of what the genre was meant to be. I didn't expect much from Safekeeping because of that and partially because many, many reviews state that that is exactly what the novel did. I have to say, however, that the book pleasantly surprised me in the best possible way. Radley, as a main character, was believable. Rather than being fueled by angst and unrequited love, she was fueled by the desire to reunite with her family and regain a sense of stability. She wanders, lost and alone, until she finds Celia and her dog, Jerry Lee. The two travel together through this barren wasteland of a once-prosperous nation to find peace, safety and comfort together. I can see where a lot of the dystopian critiques come in. People are used to vivid images of blood and violence. Readers have come to expect a looming and faceless entity forcing people into ravaged submission. Safekeeping, however, wanders into a realm of silent tension. It's more thoughtful than horrible, and the lurking tension from the underbelly of the broken America simmers lightly below the surface, fueling the story along. Honestly, the devil is in the shadows of this novel, and while it might not ultimately display the dystopian nature on the surface, it's definitely there. Personally, I found Safekeeping to be a refreshing take on the genre. It was so different though, that I can understand where the meaning and purpose might have been lost. Despite feeling a bit hurried and, at times, overly introspective, I think there is a definite beauty to this book. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I recommend it to YA audiences, especially those who enjoy fresh dystopian reads. I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

How do literary awards factor in your reading? I pay attention to new of the awards but only one captures my attention continuously and factors in my reading: The Booker Prize. I read before that Book has a diverse panel of judges that changes every year. The line-up that picked Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger for the 2008 Booker is entirely different from the one that selected Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty in 2004. Nevertheless, the criteria used to select those judges has been consistent, and while even the most breathless prize-watchers seldom stop to consider such details, it’s these criteria that determine the character of each prize. Pulitzer Prize is the most influential of the American prizes. It is awarded by the Pulitzer Board, which is mostly composed of newspaper editors and journalism professors. However, the board selects its winner from a list of three candidates chosen for it by a panel of three jurors. The National Book Awards, by contrast, are chosen by panels of five judges in each category (fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people’s literature), who have “written and published works in that category.” Nobel Prize to me has been an enigma: partly because of its very insular panel, and partly I’ve been keeping records of winners and short-lists in my journal. Over the years I have seen a prominent trend: My reading identifies with the Booker Prize shortlists more likely than any other awards. Of the 20 short-listed books between 2009 and 2012, I read 7 and own another 9. As for Pulitzer, (surprisingly) I read all 3 winners from 2009 to 2011, and no award was given in the fiction category in 2012. Last year’s omission stirred up a storm among the literary circle. The Pulitzer judges did reveal that three books had been named finalists, but declined to award one the prize. A committee of readers, which changes annually, recommends a small slate of titles to a panel of judges, who choose the winner. I am neither a writer nor a critic. But I feel that civilian perspective should be respected. It is no wonder that I’m familiar with a high percentage of the Book nominations. I credit Booker for routinely bringing in non-writers as judges—not as the only judges, but as an essential part of the mix. A literary culture in which the only people who read novels are other novelists is neither healthy nor, ultimately, sustainable. There is a need for conversation between novelists, critics and readers. Any literary prize that wants to be valued by a wide variety of readers must, like the Booker, be willing to return the favor.

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New Loot:Paris by Edward RutherfurdA Blunt Instrument by Georgette HeyerThey Found Him Dead by Georgette HeyerNo Wind of Blame by Georgette HeyerDeath in the sTocks by Georgette HeyerIn Need of a Good Wife by Kelly O'Connor McNeesLeftover Loot:The Queen's Governess by Karen HarperThe Lady and the Poet by Maeve HaranHere I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. BaintonSix Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries. © 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book ReviewsIf you're reading this on a site (other than Becky's Book Reviews or Becky's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Winger Fri, 2013-05-24 Sat, 2013-06-08 - Fri, 2013-08-30 Winger by Andrew Smith http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/winger This is the Year When Ryan Dean West Will Manage to Remake His Image. Are rugby and his crush on his best friend, Annie, enough to outweigh his bully roommate and the strict rules of his pretigious bording school? ShareThis Image Size Standard (157px wide) Don't display book covers Do not show publication date Ryan Dean West is a 14-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy. read more

Thousand Words Fri, 2013-05-24 Sat, 2013-06-08 - Fri, 2013-08-30 Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/thousand-words What Would You Do If You Thought Your BF Will Forget You When He Goes to College? Ashleigh decides to send her boyfriend a racey picture, but things don't go as she planned... ShareThis Image Size Standard (157px wide) Don't display book covers Do not show publication date Ashleigh's boyfriend, Kaleb, is about to leave for college, and Ashleigh is worried that he'll forget about her while he's away. So at a legendary end-of-summer pool party, Ashleigh's friends suggest she text him a picture of herself --- sans swimsuit --- to take with him. Before she can talk herself out of it, Ashleigh strides off to the bathroom, snaps a photo in the full-length mirror, and hits "send." read more