By John Green

www.sparksflyup.com/index.php

This book tells the story of Pudge, a newcomer to the boarding school, and the new friends he meets including Alaska, an unusual girl with a troubled spirit. An interesting feature of this book is Pudge’s obsession with famous last words. More about the book and the author can be found on the website. This book does contain mature content. Looking for Alaska recently won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature.

By James Patterson

Subtitled The Angel Experiment, genetic experimentation in the extreme has changed the main characters of this story into young people with wings. There are elements of the X-Men, and other super hero stories in this book. This is the first in what should be another wonderful fantasy/science fiction trilogy. The book is fast paced and often funny. It’s definitely a page turner! James Patterson has written many books for adults and this is his first book for young adults.

By Stuart Hill

“Blood! Blast! And Fire!” is the war cry of the Icemark Kingdom led by Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, their thirteen year old princess. The people of the Icemark must gather allies including vampires, werewolves, and giant snow leopards to defeat the invading forces of Scipio Bellorum. Much of this book is battles, but there was enough plot to hold my interest throughout.

By Malorie Blackman

(Please not: these are young adult books, but the content is mature)

Set in England in a parallel world, this story confronts racism with some new twists. The Naughts were the former slaves and the Crosses have all the power. Two young people have a “Romeo and Juliet” style love story developing, but the plot will keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen in this first part of a popular and controversial trilogy from England. One of the elements that keep the plot moving is Callum’s involvement with the Liberation Militia and how closely the bombings that happened in London last summer are predicted and form a part of the excitement of the book.

The book is followed by a novella (52 pages):

An Eye for an Eye

And the second and third parts of the trilogy:

By Markus Zusak

Ed Kennedy stops a bank robbery in progress, and from that day on his life is changed. He works as a cab driver in Sydney, Australia and he lives a quiet life with his dog, Doorman. This book is unusual and exciting. Ed starts getting playing cards with people’s names or addresses listed. He must then go to the locations and figure out what action he needs to take to help the situation he finds. There is mature content and violence in this book. The writing is excellent. I Am the Messenger was recently named a 2006 Michael L. Printz Honor Book for excellence in young adult literature.

Look for more books by Markus Zusak in our library soon!

By Kevin Brooks

Kevin Brooks, the author of Lucas and Kissing the Rain has written another fantastic book, The Road of the Dead. When their sister is killed by an unknown murderer, Cole and Ruben travel to the town to find the murderer and solve the crime so that the family can find peace. This is no simple task for Ruben who can sense unusual things and has visualized his sister’s death and Cole, who is not afraid to use force to get what he wants and needs. Highly recommended!

By Jonathan Stroud

Three young people meet by chance on the best sledding hills of the area surrounding a castle which is now toured in the summer months, but stands empty except for a caretaker during the winter. One of the boys comes from another town and he convinces them to spend the night in the castle, but is he being honest with his new friends, or putting them and himself in needless danger as what begins as a game becomes more and more serious and frightening. Jonathan Stroud is the author of the previously recommended Bartimaeus Trilogy. This book comes directly from England where it takes place.