Ask the Passengers by A.S. King Astrid is a high school junior who keeps everyone's secrets but has no one to keep hers. She decides to tell them to the people in the planes flying overhead. Everyday she sends them her secrets and her love hoping they can use them more than she does. Unity is a small Pennsylvania town and you know the expression, "Small towns equal small minds" well it is true in this case. Astrid's secret gets out and it almost destroys her and her family.
This is a story of strength, tolerance and acceptance. You feel Astrid's pain and you just want someone to listen. This is a beautiful story and I really liked it.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman A man in his mid 40's returns to his hometown of Sussex, England for a funeral. For some reason he is drawn to the farm of his friend, Lettie Hempstock. He hasn't seen or thought of her in over 40 years. He wanders to the backyard and sits down next to a pond where he is flooded with the memories of his 7th birthday. This was a time he had forgotten and for good reason, an evil was unleashed that nearly cost him his life.
This is a story of magic, evil and sacrifice all told by a 7 year old boy. I was so drawn to the characters that I read it in one sitting. If you like a good scary story then this is for you. it reminded be of his book Coraline with more of an adult tone.
Ten by Gretchen McNeil Ten friends, a mansion on an island, sprinkle in a little jealousy and add a vengeful killer. Let it simmer for 3 days and you have the recipe for a great book. Ten is full of suspense at times it can be a little predictable but it is a fun read. It has teenage slasher movie written all over it.
Megan and Minne thought they were going to a 3 day bash with their friends. It was going to be a final farewell to their senior year in high school. They had no idea just how final it would be.
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen This is a quick read but by no means boring. Right from the start Bodeen wastes no time getting to the action. Robie is a strong, likable character and must make some tough decisions. It reminded me of the movie Castaway.
Robie is your typical teenage girl. She lives on one of the Midway Atoll Islands, to say she is isolated would be an understatement. The lack of modern conveniences would make most of us cringe. Robie is resourceful. She spends as much time as possible with her aunt who lives in Honolulu and it's on one of those visits where things go horribly wrong. Her aunt is called away on business and Robie must cut her visit short. She decides to catch a ride on a cargo plane and from the cover you can guess what happens. Robie is not only fighting for her life but her sanity.
Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott Suzume is no ordinary 16 year old. She is a "shadow weaver," someone who can recreate or weave a new identity from her surroundings. Her life is pretty much perfect until her father and cousin are murdered. Shortly after her father's death her mother marries her father's best friend, Lord Terayma. Lord Terayma is a cold and ruthless man. Suzume starts to suspect that her new step dad may have had something to do with the murders of her family. She is bent on revenging their deaths but it will come at a price.
I liked this book, although at times it did drag. Suzume is far from perfect. She rides a roller coaster of emotion even considers suicide.Her emotions are real and raw and that's why I like this book.
The Burn Palace by Stephen Dobyns Brewster, RI is a small town with the usual small town problems but that is all about to change. An infant is taken from its crib in the hospital and replaced with snakes, a man is found murdered and scalped and there is a pack of aggressive coyotes roaming the streets. The residents seem to think it is the work of a satanic cult. It is up to Detective Woody Potter and the local police to try and solve these crimes before the town goes completely crazy. I loved this book! It had a little bit of everything murder, mayhem and even romance. It is action packed with just the right amount of dark humor. This is one you will want to read with the lights on!
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey If you thought this book was about alien invasions then you would be right. Cassie Sullivan has survived 4 waves of alien attacks but will she survive the 5th. In this the 5th and final wave the aliens intend to kill every remaining human being. She has already lost her parent but believes that her younger brother, Sammie, is still be alive. She won't give up until she finds him. In a world where it is kill or be killed and trust no one, she must learn to trust if she is to find her brother and survive. As far a science fiction goes I am usually not a fan but this book blew me away. I liked that it is told by different characters, each having a strong and distinct personality. If you like fast paced action I highly recommend this book.
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight I loved this book.The characters are so strong and wicked you can't help but have a love-hate relationship with them. I started reading and didn't stop until I was done.
Amelia is a 15 year old girl who just wants to fit in at her private school. This leads her to the "Magpies", a club of really mean girls who make her life miserable. Amelia is humiliated and bullied at the hands of the club leader, Zadie, but this is only part of her trouble. She's accused of plagiarizing and gets suspended. Kate, Amelia's mom is dealing with the suspension when she gets a phone call telling her Amelia has committed suicide. Kate is in shock and confused she thought she knew her daughter. Adding to her confusion is a text message she received: Amelia did not jump. The story is told in alternate voices. Amelia tells her story leading up to her death and Kate is in the present. We find out that both had secrets but are they worth dying over?
Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan and Erik Landemalm Jessica Buchanan was a humanitarian worker in Kenya. This was something she always dreamed of doing but on October 25, 2011 her life changed forever. Jessica and a co-worker, Poul, were kidnapped by Somalian pirates and held for ransom. This is her story and the unwavering effort of her husband, Erik, to get her back. I really liked this book. This is an incredible story of strength and faith.
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane The story takes place in 1868, a 14 year old Sherlock Holmes tries to solve the deaths of two men. They appear to have died from small pox or the plague. This intrigues young Sherlock and he and his friend Matty investigate. The investigation takes them from small town England to the shores of France. What they find is a mysterious cloud of death and a baron worthy of Moriarty. I liked this book. It was a really quick read and had all the "quirks" of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. I will say that I was disappointed with the actual "death cloud". The premiss behind it was brilliant but the reality of it was a little farfetched. Sherlock Holmes fans you will not be disappointed.
