Caring is Creepy by David Zimmerman
Lynn Sugrue is a 15 year old self-centered, manipulating, all around nasty teenager. I found myself really disliking her and her best friend, Dani, by the end of the book but it did not stop me from reading it. Lynn's mother is a nurse who works too much and is too busy with her pill popping boyfriend, Hayes, to notice that her daughter is playing a very dangerous game. Enter Logan, a 25 year old soldier in the Army, who meets Lynn on the internet. Logan has his own troubles. He is AWOL. I found this part of the story a little hard to believe, I would like to think that no matter how busy or distracted a parent might be they would notice their 15 year old daughter having a relationship with a 25 year old man. Everything comes together in the end and Lynn's world will never be the same.
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore A Novel by Robin Sloan
Clay Jannon is a web designer in San Francisco, or at least he was before the recession, now he work the night shift at Mr. P's bookstore. This is no ordinary bookstore and it doesn't take Clay long to realize something is definitely different about the place. There are very few customers and the ones who do come in treat it more like a library than a store, borrowing and not buying the books, per instructions of Mr. Penumbra. Upon further investigation Clay learns they are part of a secret society trying to decode a 500 year old book to find the secret of immortality. Clay recruits some of his techy friends to try and decode the book. It is high-tech vs no-tech full of unexpected twists and turns.
This book reminded me of National Treasure crossed with the Da Vinci Code. Do I think everyone will like this book? No, but I did. If you are a techy and like to read adventure and suspense then this is the book for you.
Pure by Julia Baggot
First let me start off by saying this is the first book in a trilogy, so if you are expecting a nice clean ending it doesn't happen. I really liked this book but I found the relationship between Pressia and El Captain a little hard to swallow.
Pressia is a 16 year old girl who lives with her grandfather. They have survived the "Detonations", which happened 9 years earlier and totally changed the world. If you were outside the dome when the detonations happened you where fused to your surroundings; if you were lucky enough to be inside the dome then you escaped unscathed and you were "Pure". It is Pressia's birthday and she must choose, become a heartless solider or die. Today is the day she starts fighting for her life.
Girl Stolen by April Henry
Imagine going to the store with your mom, you're sick, you just feel awful and you fall asleep in the back seat, only to be abruptly awakened by a would-be carjacker. Well that's what happens to 16 yer old Cheyenne. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, she's blind! Griffin is the want-to-be carjacker, who only does it to make his loser dad and friends accept him. When he arrives home his dad is not exactly thrilled, that is, until he realizes the Cheyenne is worth a whole lot of money. Her dad is the CEO of Nike and would be willing to pay a lot of money to get her back. This is where the story takes a turn. You start to feel sorry for Griffin and realize he is a victim of his surroundings.
Cheyenne is a strong and believable character. This is an easy and quick read but don't let this fool you, you will be hooked from the moment you start reading.
UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand
I loved this book!!!! It is the incredible life of Louis Zamperini and it is truly a story of survival, resilience and redemption.
Louis is a rebellious teenager. He spends most of his time getting into fights and running from the police. It all changes when his high school track coach realizes he is a natural runner. Louis puts all his "energy" into running and it pays off. He earns a spot on the 1936 Olympic Team and continues to run until life gets in the way. It is 1945 and WW II is in full swing. Louis wants to do his part and joins the Army. While on a routine mission over the Pacific his plane gets shot down, this is where Louis' life spirals completely out of his control. Want to know more then you 'll have to read the book. You won't be disappointed.
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
First let me say this book is not written by Jodi Picoult. She co-writes it with her daughter Samantha Van Leer, who by the way is a junior in high school. This is a fairy tale with a modern day twist. It reminded me a lot of the book Inked.
Delilah is in high school and doesn't have time for the drama. She would rather go to the library then have to deal with it. One day while there she finds a fairy tale called Between the Lines but this is no ordinary book; the characters seem to come to life. Delilah is instantly drawn to the hero, Oliver. Oliver, it seems, also has feelings toward Delilah. The problem, they live in two different worlds. Together they must find a way to be together.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
What a great book!! Once again I leave the comfort of my reading zone and I find a book that I totally enjoyed.
Wonder is a heart-warming story of a young boy with a facial deformity. He has lived a somewhat sheltered life with an incredibly supportive and loving family. After many years of being home schooled August is finally ready for public school. Unfortunately for August he is entering the dreaded world of middle school. He will need all of his strength to deal with the bullies and drama that 5th grade has to offer.
