Crunch (Katherine Tegan Books, 2010) by Leslie Connor is one of those books I’ll be rereading again and again. It was very, very good!
14-year-old Dewey and his 5 siblings, ranging in age from 5 to 18, are alone. Mom has gone with Dad on his long haul truck for their 20th anniversary. But what is supposed to be a short trip becomes something else when there’s no fuel. Dewey and younger brother Vince were simply keeping the Mariss Bike Barn going, but now everyone is coming to get bikes repaired. The roads are empty, even the freeway. When will their parents be able to come home?
Don’t miss out on this near future story that also has some mysteries going on!
You can read about the author and her other books on her site, where I learned her favorite treat is dark chocolate. Yumm!
Category: YA Novels
young adult novels (for 13+ yo)
The Everafter
How could you resist an opening like this? “I’M DEAD. Not by-parents-told-me-to-be-home-by-twelve-and-it’s-two-o’clock-now dead. Just dead. Literally. I think.”
In The Everafter (Balzar & Bray, 2009) by Amy Huntley, Madison doesn’t know where she is or how she got to what she calls “It.” She finds objects from her life and finds she can revisit the events where she lost that item. If she finds it in real life, the object is gone in “it,” so what’s the point? You’ll have to read it to find out!
Visit Amy at her website where you can also watch a book trailer, and listen to an excerpt from the audio book.
Divergent
Divergent (Katherine Tegan Books, 2011) by Veronica Roth is one of those incredible books that holds you tight to itself.
Beatrice has been raised in a very self-abasing faction, but now has to choose which faction to belong to. Her tests were . . . inconclusive . . . a fact she must keep to herself. Choosing another faction will mean she will be separated from her parents and her brother, but how can she stay? Abnegation doesn’t really fit her.
Veronica Roth has created such a strong and believable world that it’s hard to imagine this society doesn’t exist. I’m not alone in admiring her work–today I found out there’s going to be a movie! And I came across a fansite for the trilogy. I, too, am really looking forward to the next few books, although I was very satisfied with book one–it truly could stand alone.
If you like The Hunger Games, I bet you’ll like Divergent.
Read more abut Veronica on her website.
Across the Universe
Step on board the spaceship, Godspeed, after you’ve experienced the horror of the freezing process with 17-year-old Amy in the best selling debut book Across the Universe (Penguin/Razorbill , 2011) by Beth Revis. The first in a trilogy, not only is it scifi, but there’s mystery and romance.
Amy, and her parents, should wake in 300 years, however, she’s been awakened 50 years early. It’s not an accident or a malfunction. Could someone have meant to kill her? And will they kill her parents? She has to protect them as she learns about this odd shipboard society where she’s a misfit simply for her red hair.
You’ll also get to walk with the lone teen, Elder, who is being trained to take over the leadership from Eldest. He’s attracted to this strange girl Amy, and he’s finding out very disturbing things about Eldest and the ship.
Then after you read the book, you can explore the ship on the website and explore the author’s site where you can find out about the making of the book and more.
Beth Revis has created a fascinating society. I’m really looking forward to the next book from this imaginative author!
The Lost Gate
You haven’t seen the Norse Gods like this!
In The Lost Gate (Tor, 2011) by Orson Scott Card, Danny North doesn’t fit in to his family. Even though he’s a descendent of the gods, he doesn’t have any “godly” talents. Being very smart isn’t enough in the North family. The other kids consider him Drekka (an outsider who is less than them). Danny’s always trying to slip away from his tormentors and one day discovers himself outside the compound. But life outside isn’t going to be easy either.
Enjoy Danny’s journey to finding himself in this very good story. This book might especially appeal to teen boy readers. It’s book one of three in the Mither Mages. I’ll be definitely watching for the others when they come out.
Here’s the wonderful Orson Scott Card’s official website.