Ask Me Why I Hurt

Ask Me Why I Hurt by Randy Christensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Dr. Christensen treats homeless teens by driving around in a moblie medical unit (a winnebago). While not the most well written - you will be haunted by the teens that Dr. Christensen treats. Thank goodness there is someone like Dr. Christensen (and his staff) in this world!



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This Dark Endeavor

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Victor Frankenstein stumbles upon "The Dark Library" hidden in his family's estate. Although he is forbidden to enter the library again, he does so in order to save his twin brother from death. Victor goes to extraordinary lengths and blurs the line between life and death.



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Matched

Matched by Ally Condie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the correct choices for her and her family, for the good of everyone. The Society chooses her best friend Xander as her life-long match and Cassia is thrilled. When she gets home and reads the data pod provided to her at the Match Banquet there is another person listed as her match - Ky. Is this a mistake? Is the Society capable of making mistakes? Is the Society acting in the best interest of its citizens?



I am hooked and can't wait for the sequel - "Crossed" to come out.



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A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I can't believe how AMAZING this book is!! Everyone must read this. If you like to listen to your books, check out the Playaway. It is FANTASTIC!!



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Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Clay has a crush on Hanna but for reasons he doesn't understand she commits suicide. A couple of weeks later he receives a package containing cassette tapes that Hanna recorded before she killed herself and she gives 13 reasons why she did it. Clay is worried that he did something but can't think what it was - but he had to have done something or he wouldn't have been mentioned on the tapes. Heartbreaking and eye-opening.



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The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Josh works for Nick Flemming in a old bookstore and his twin Sophie works across the street from him at a tea shop. The twins were going about their day when a limo shows up and their world as they know it is turned upside down. It turns out that Nick Flemming is THE Nicholas Flamel - the alchemyst that supposedly died in the 1400s. This is a fun fantasy and I can't wait to read book two - "The Magician"



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I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I was expecting the standard teenage romance book, but this was so much more! Sam, and his brother Riddle, were kidnapped by their father and have been living on the run for as along as Sam can remember. His father is a criminal and when the cops start moving in, they all have to move to a different city. This life is normal to Sam - until he meets Emily and her family and discovers how different things could be. This is a "one sitting" read. You will remember Sam, Emily and Riddle for a very long time.



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Everlost by Neal Shusterman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nick and Allie are killed in a car crash and they end up in Everlost - a place for the lost souls of children. Nick and Allie struggle to come to terms with their death and their new "life" Allie is determined to get back "home" and stumbles upon a special power that may help her get there. One thing is for sure, things are NOT as they seem in Everlost. This is the first book in the Skinjackers trilogy



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Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Laugh out loud chick-lit. Just don't read it during study hall because you won't be able to read quietly. This is the first in the Confession of Georgia Nicolson series.



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The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


WOW!! I loved this book. Todd lives on New World, a place where everyone can hear everyone's thoughts. (including animals) There is no privacy and no quiet. New World is full of NOISE.

With all of this noise, you would think that there couldn't be any secrets - but there are PLENTY - including the real reason there are no women left on New World. This is the first in the Chaos Walking trilogy. I can't wait to read the next two books. Make sure to checkout the Playaway because this is a FABULOUS audiobook!!!



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Ten Miles Past Normal

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's hard to fit in when you are known as "goat-girl" because once you rode the bus with goat poop on your shoes. But just like everyone else, Janie longs to be "normal".



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Shine

Shine by Lauren Myracle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cat's best friend, Patrick, is a victim of a vicious hate crime just because he is gay. He is beaten, tied to a gas pump and left to die. He is in a coma, but the doctors aren't sure if Patrick is going to make it. To add insult to injury, this crime is not being investigated by the local sheriff (is he indifferent or prejudiced?) and Cat is afraid that the people responsible will not be found and punished.



This is a fantastic novel! In addition to the main story, there are other stories expertly woven in. You might just finish this on one sitting!







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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When Jacob was little, his grandfather used to tell him stories about the strange kids he grew up with. The stories were spectacular and his grandfather even had the pictures to back up his stories. By the time Jacob was a teenager - he thought all of his grandfather's stories were made up. He even doubted the pictures were real. Then is grandfather is killed and it is up to Jacob to figure out why


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Ship Breaker

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is set in the future in what once was New Orleans but after 6 hurricanes and countless oil spills the coast looks nothing like it does today. Nailer works on "light crew" pulling copper wire from wrecked oil tankers. It is extremely dangerous and like everyone else working on the coast, Nailer gets paid just enough to survive. When you work on a crew, you are tattoo and owned by your boss. Nailer lives in a shack on the beach with his very abusive and dangerous father. One day he stumbles across a treasure - oil, but can he cash in before he is killed for it?

2010 Printz Award winner



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Where She Went

Where She Went by Gayle Forman




This is the sequel to the wonderful book, "If I Stay". Fast forward a few years and Adam is a rock star but he is still reeling from Mia's accident and he is self-destructing. It takes an army of people to try to keep him on track but it's not helping. Adam is losing it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the sequel because I was afraid that "Where She Went" wouldn't live up to the original. I am so glad I did. You're on an emotional rollercoaster the whole time but it's a great ride!



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Imaginary Girls

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ruby has practically raised her younger half-sister, Chloe. They live in a small town where Ruby is the star and she gets whatever she wants. No one messes with Chloe because they are afraid of what Ruby would do. One night, at Ruby's insistence, Chloe goes for a swim and finds the body of one of her classmates. Chloe's father immediately takes Chloe away from Ruby. Ruby is convinced that she can fix everything and Chloe can move back home; and Ruby does - sort of. Paranormal fans, this one's for you!



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Forever

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and it does not disappoint. The wolf pack is in danger and Sam bay be able to save them from destruction; however, what Sam wants most of all is a cure for Grace. Will they be together?



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White Cat

White Cat by Holly Black

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cassel comes from a family of curse workers; people who can influence you just by touching you. Cassel doesn't have the magic touch, but he does have a secret - and it's a BIG one. This is a fabulous start to the Curse Workers series. I can't wait to read the second one - Red Glove.



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Heist Society

Heist Society by Ally Carter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Kat comes from a family of thieves and she is trying desperately to get out of that life. Unfortunately, Kat's father is blamed for stealing paintings from a dangerous man. It's up to Kat to steal the artwork from the real thief. If she fails, her father will be killed. This is the first book in a series.



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They Called Themselves the KKK: the Birth of an American Terrorist Group

They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Did you know that there is a terrorist group in the United States? That it has been around for many years? This is the history of the Ku Klux Klan; why it began and how it survives. This is NOT a gentle read, but it is definitely worth reading!


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House of Night - Marked

Marked by P.C. Cast

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I didn't think that I was going to like this series. A vampire marks Zoey as a fledgling vampire and she must join the House of Night, a boarding school for fledglings, or die. Zoey discovers that she is not like other fledglings - she is powerful! I'm hooked!!!



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Skulduggery Pleasant

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The BEST audiobook EVER!!! Skulduggery Pleasant is a walking talking skeleton sent to save Stephanie from all sorts of evil beings - Turns out however, that Stephanie didn't need saving. This is the first book in one of my favorite series of all time. You'll be hooked after the first chapter.

Unraveling Freedom

Unraveling Freedom by Ann Bausum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


During World War One the United States enacted laws which surpressed the civil liberties of certain American citizens. This book asks important questions such as: Why did the government believe that these laws were necessary? Was the government right in passing these laws? Are there parallels today?



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