Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
Known as the son of the most notorious serial killer, Billy Dent, Jazz has been trying to live a normal life for the past four years--he even has a girlfriend and a best friend. However, when the body of a dead woman shows up Lobos Nod, Jazz can't help but investigate the crime scene because who would know crime scenes more than him? The thing about Jazz is that he didn't learn about his father's crimes from a report...his father actually brought him to the murders and forced him to watch. Although Jazz seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders, what he fears the most is the very idea that he could end up just like his father. When Jazz approaches G. William (the officer who captured his father and has tried to help Jazz live a normal life) about the victim, he is instantly told to mind his own business because not every dead body conveys a serial killer is on the loose. However, this body isn't just another dead body; the victim was found naked and missing three fingers where the killer "accidentally" drops the middle finger for police to find. There's something not right about the whole thing so Jazz and his best friend, Howie, break into the morgue to look over the corpse and Jazz' theory is starting to make sense when he noticed the bruising on her knuckles and the lack of it on her back. Despite being careful, Jazz and Howie are caught while "investigating" Jane Doe and the killer continues his rampage and, unfortunately, his pattern is awful familiar, which Jazz starts to believe that his father has returned. The only problem with this theory is that Billy Dent is locked away in solitary confinement so this must be copycat killer and, with copycat killers, they bound to make a mistakes. As Jazz continues to struggle with his own identity, and the fact there is a serial killer on the loose, he continues his own investigation because if could actually catch the killer, he will not be able to redeem his name, but prove to himself that he is nothing like his father. However, his nightmares continue to haunt him and Jazz starts to think that he isn't as innocent as everyone thinks.

Critical Evaluation:
WOWZA! I really don't have any other words to use to describe how amazing this book is. Although the subject matter may not appeal to everyone, Lyga is an incredible writer who knows to capture his audience. I will admit that I am a super huge fan of Criminal Minds [ a fictional television show focusing on a unit called the Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU)] where a lot of the terminology and descriptions are very familiar. However, to the unknowing reader, they will learn a lot about criminal investigations and what really defines a serial killer. Along with the murder and mayhem aspect, there is some serious character development going on this story because Jazz is concerned about his future and the prospect that he could become his father (i.e., the feelings and urges he has when approaches people). There has been a long debate about murders being genetically programmed to kill, but, in this case, Jazz was raised by a maniac that forced him to watch kill. I can't imagine what it's like being Jazz because he is constantly haunted by his father's words, actions,  and advice. Jazz really didn't have a chance at a normal life because of his father so I have to hand it to him for being so well adjusted. Than again, according to Jazz, serial killers can blend in perfectly with society, but what sets him apart from people like his father is his empathy. He stood up to Howie's bullies and made a friend for life and he genuinely loves his girlfriend despite the fact her father hates him. Serial killers, from what we learn, are narcissists and utterly selfish so Jazz doesn't "fit the profile" yet he is still paranoid that it's not real or genuine. What's troubling Jazz  is that he has no faith in who he is because he feels responsible for Billy's victims. No matter what Connie, Howie, or G. William say, nothing will ever be good enough until he brings this copycat down. The question is: how much is Jazz willing to risk to prove he isn't a serial killer. This novel packs quite a punch and I can't wait for the sequel!

Information about the Author:
According to the author's website:

After graduating from Yale with a degree in English, Lyga worked in the comic book industry before quitting to pursue his lifelong love of writing. In 2006, his first young adult novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, was published to rave reviews, including starred reviews from Booklistand School Library Journal. Publishers Weekly named Lyga a “Flying Start” in December 2006 on the strength of the debut.

His second young adult novel, Boy Toy, received starred reviews in SLJ, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus. VOYA gave it its highest critical rating, and the Chicago Tribune called it “…an astounding portrayal of what it is like to be the young male victim.” His third novel, Hero-Type, according to VOYA “proves that there are still fresh ideas and new, interesting story lines to be explored in young adult literature.”

Since then, he has also written Goth Girl Rising (the sequel to his first novel), as well as the Archvillain series for middle-grade readers and the graphic novel Mangaman (with art by Colleen Doran).

His latest series is I Hunt Killers, called by the LA Times “one of the more daring concepts in recent years by a young-adult author” and an “extreme and utterly alluring narrative about nature versus nurture.” The first book landed on both the New York Times and USAToday bestsellers lists, and the series has been optioned for television by Warner Bros./Silver Pictures.

Lyga lives and writes in New York City. His comic book collection is a lot smaller than it used to be, but is still way too big.

Genre:
Teen Mysteries, Teen Suspense, Teen Horror

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 10 & up

Books Similar to I Hunt Killers:

• The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Awards & Recognition:
From Amazon.com

"I Hunt Killers is an out-of-control hearse with one busted headlight, blood on the grille, a madman at the wheel, and laughter pouring out of the open windows... Climb in, buckle up, and go for a ride."—Joe Hill, author of Horns andHeart-Shaped Box

* "A superb mystery/thriller that explores what it's like to have a monster for a father...but it's Jazz's internal conflict about his exposure to his father's evil that adds extra dimension and makes the book shine."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"I adored this book. The mystery pulls you in from the first pages, and Jazz is a more chillingly charming protagonist than Dexter Morgan."—Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series

* "Lyga brilliantly combines the feel of a true crime story with mystery, adventure, and psychoanalysis."—VOYA, starred review --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Plot Summary:
The year is 2073 and Erik has finally made it to the island of Blessed to begin his investigation of the island; no one really knows the history of the island, other than rumors and stories. Erik has been hired to find out the truth, including the mysterious orchid knows as the the "Dracula Orchid," which is rumored to have immense healing powers and actually prolong life. When Merle and Tor introduced themselves to Erik, he has this nagging feeling that he has met Merle before, but how could when this is the first time he has been to blessed and the fact that he is unable to trace the connection using a program called OneDegree (based on the concept of Six Degrees of Separation). Although Erik is unable to use the devices and technological tools he needs to communicate, and research, he is grateful for the hospitality and company. After situating himself in a house the residents have provided him, Erik learns that Blessed is unlike any place he has ever been, including the unusual seasons where some days are covered in complete darkness or light and that everyone seems to be concerned about his research and well-being. From Erik's point of view, Blessed is a place of tranquility and beauty that is hard to not fall in love with, especially Merle. However, Erik notices that there are no children on the island and that Tor is starting to make him uneasy. Despite the fact that Tor is the Ward of Blessed, he seems to be everywhere and that concerns Erik. More importantly, the more time that Erik spends on Blessed, time starts to slip away then his luck changes when he makes it the other side of the island where inexplicable horror lies and the memories of previous lives come flooding back.  

Critical Evaluation:
Marcus Sedgwick is a literary genius. There is a reason why this book won the Printz award and that's because of the amazing storytelling. Midwinter Blood contains one plot where seven subplots take readers on an amazing journey starting from the future that works it way through the past. If one is not a believer in reincarnation, they will be one at the end of this story. To be honest, Sedgwick has literally thrown every literary genre into a tiny book that is exciting, frightening, captivating, and heart-breaking. This story revolves around two souls that are given the names of Erik and Merle. Although their physical entities and relationships differ in each story, the one constant is that they are always together. One theme that flows throughout the story is the various facets of love and loss. In every story, love is the culprit for a lot of the events that happened and it's comforting and disturbing at the same time. The story that touched me the most is the story of David and the family that saved him. Sedgwick has an amazing ability to portray the human condition, which is what makes the reader crave for more. Another dominant theme is sacrifice in the name of love. All of these stories have some sort of sacrifice whether it be body and soul. In David's story, he and Erik sacrifice so much to protect and honor the daughters they love and it's absolutely heart-wrenching because children need their parents and parents need their children. I can go on and on about this subject, but this book would be a great title for an inter-generational book club because teens and adults can discuss amongst one another the value of love, life, and sacrifice.

Information about the Author:
According to his website:

Marcus Sedgwick was born and raised in East Kent in the South-east of England. He now divides his time between a small village near Cambridge, England, and a remote house in the French Alps.

Alongside a 16 year career in publishing he established himself as a widely-admired writer of YA fiction; he is the winner of many prizes, most notably the Michael L. Printz Award for 2014, for his novel Midwinterblood.

His books have been shortlisted for over thirty other awards, including the Carnegie Medal (five times), the Edgar Allan Poe Award (twice) and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (four times). In 2011 Revolver was awarded a Printz Honor.

Marcus was Writer in Residence at Bath Spa University for three years, and teaches creative writing at the Arvon Foundation and Ty Newydd. He is currently working on film and other graphic novels with his brother, Julian, as well as a graphic novel with Thomas Taylor. He has judged numerous books awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the Costa Book Awards.

His first title for adults was published in March 2014 in the UK:-
A Love Like Blood. 

US publication will follow in early 2014.

Genre:
Teen Fantasy, Teen Romance, Teen Mysteries, Teen Horror


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Midwinter Blood:

• More Than This by Patrick Ness
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Awards & Recognition:

• 2014 Printz Winner

From Amazon.com:

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, December 17th 2012 issue:
"...a story that’s simultaneously romantic, tragic, horrifying, and transcendental is more than enough to hold readers’ attention, no matter their age." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

Starred Review, Booklist, December 1st 2012 issue:
"Part love story, part mystery, part horror, this is as much about the twisting hand of fate as it is about the mutability of folk tales. Its strange spell will capture you." - Booklist, starred review

Starred Review, Kirkus, December 1st 2012 issue:
"The Time Traveler’s Wife meets Lost in this chilling exploration of love and memory . . . Haunting, sophisticated and ultimately exquisite. " -- Kirkus, starred review

Starred Review, BCCB, February 2013 issue:
"Sedgwick’s prose is unadorned yet melancholic. . ." -- BCCB, starred review

Starred Review, The Horn Book, March/April 2013 issue:
"Sedgwick’s prose is taut, careful, and chilling." -- The Horn Book, starred review

"Reminiscent of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas . . . stark, suspenseful writing." -- School Library Journal

Plot Summary:
It's been five year's since Cassie's mother disappeared and no no leads have brought her hope. Cassie and her mother were always on the go because her mother was a self-proclaimed psychic, but, in reality, she taught Cassie everything she needed to know about profiling so reading people is like a sixth sense. One day, while on the road, Cassie returned to her mother's dressing room only to find blood everywhere and her mother had vanished.  It's been five years since that day and Cassie's mother's body has yet to be found and Cassie is still unable to fit in with her father's family except for Nonna. Cassie and her father don't have the same relationship that most girls have with their fathers (her father is in the military and has rarely been around). However, after her mothers disappearance, Cassie is whisked away to her grandmother's home and the family has taken her in so she rarely has to go without. However, something inside Cassie is missing and she misses her mother so Cassie closes herself off to everyone and then Michael walked into her world with a business card that will change her life forever. Michael, like Lia and Dean, is part of an FBI experiment where teens with exceptional abilities (i.e., teens who can read emotions, decipher if a person is lying, a statistician, and the ability to read people) are trained, and evaluated, to use their skills to assist agents with cold cases. Although Cassie thinks she might be able to investigate her mother's case, her handler (Agent Briggs) assures her that there is no new evidence and that her "gift" should be used to help others. Along with Cassie's story, there are sections entitled "You," which contain thoughts and evaluations about different crime scenes that tell a very chilling tale of things to come? Cassie and company may be "Naturals," but do they have the what it takes to track down and capture a real killer before someone gets hurt?

Critical Evaluation:
WOW! This book is amazing! It really is Criminal Minds for teens and I loved it! There is so much that can be discussed here (especially when it comes to the criminology and such), but I want to focus on the story and the characters. It is very obvious that the author has done her research because all of the characters display a variety of talents that are very useful in deducing crimes that require more than the average detective work; these characters are analyzing and solving crimes by some of the most notorious, and evil, people who have committed some exceptionally heinous crimes. Despite the gory details, it's refreshing to see these young people overcome and struggle with the work at hand. As a reader, I think it's important to see that even the most brilliant FBI agent is still human who knows what it's like to feel anger, sadness, and/or vulnerability. Cassie, for example, is not the average teenager who came from a good family. In fact, we find out some disturbing things about her mother's family that shed light on why Cassie was always guarding herself because never knew nothing about her mother's family (or her father) since he barely had the opportunity to be the parent he probably wanted to be. Nevertheless, Cassie has always depended on herself and it troubles her to accept help from Nonna, her aunts, and her uncles. Houghton they may be pushy, Cassie does have people who love her, which is something Michael is always lacking; hence, not allowing Cassie to profile him. For Dean, knowing his father's history, he is constantly struggling with himself because  he fears he will become him. As for Lia, she is a mystery all together because she comes of cool and confident, but there is a side of that refuses to let anyone in.  As for Sloane, she is the type of girl who clearly doesn't have the social skills of most teenage girls. When hyped on caffeine, she turns into a human super computer, which is helpful when necessary. When she isn't crunching numbers, she is kind of a loaner who struggles with relating to others, but, the Naturals project has given her the opportunity to become part of a team, which is a kind of family unit, giving her people to talk to and rely on (the same can be said for Cassie). All of these teens have amazing gifts, but they have paid a serious price for it, which is incredibly unfair because being a teenager is already difficult and they didn't ask for these gifts either. However, these teens managed to keep it together because they realized that they work better as one than against each other. A gripping read and I am definitely sensing a sequel!

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She was awarded a Fulbright to do post-graduate work at Cambridge, and then returned to the states, where she is hard at work on her PhD.

Genre:
Teen Mystery, Teen Suspense, Teen Horror


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up


Books Similar to The Naturals:

• Paper Valentine by Breanna Yovanoff
• I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Awards & Recognition:

• Positive reviews from School Library Journal
• Positive review from Booklist
• 2014 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults

From Amazon.com

'A page-turning thrill ride that will keep you guessing right until the very end' Ally Carter, author of the bestselling Gallagher Girls series

Plot Summary:
In the midst of WWI, Mary Shelley is on the run from the Spanish Influenza Epidemic while her father has been imprisoned for treason for helping young men dodge the draft. After making her way to San Diego, Mary must start all over knowing that her father, or Stephen (her best friend and first love), may never come back home. Named after the great author, Mary Shelley, Mary, just like her mother, has a fascination with inventions, science, and electricity, which most people find a strange except for Stephen. When Stephen's family moved to San Diego, Stephen and Mary would write letters to one another and, when Aunt Eva moved to San Diego, Mary was thrilled because she finally had a way to see Stephen. However, when Mary arrived, she saw that Julius (Stephen's troubled brother) has transformed the family's honest photography business into a business of deception and thievery. What's worse is that Mary has no idea that Stephen enlisted in the Army and will be shipping off to the very war she, and her father, despise. After the incident in the parlor that left a permanent rift between the brothers, Mary must to Stephen's home to pick package from Stephen. Sadly, the home that she admired so much was crawling with grieving families who are waiting to see their dearly departed loved ones. With the passing of Uncle Wilfred, Aunt Eva has become obsessed with Julius' work and doesn't allow Mary to say one bad thing about him. However, Mary's world is shattered when tragedy strikes and the only way she is going to cope with it is to find some sense of normalcy. The only catch is: what is normal when you can see, and speak, to the dead.         

Critical Evaluation:
It was very, very hard to not give the whole plot away in my summary because there is so much going on, but in an awesome and mysterious way. Mary Shelly is misfit who, like Dr. Frankenstein, has a fascination for everything scientific. What makes Mary Shelly a great main character is that she is an exceptionally bright young lady who, beneath the oddities she explores, is just like any other teenage girl. When I first read this story, I was dreading the romance, but this is definitely not a love story, but a story about love. Mary, who is struggling with the loss of her father, amidst a senseless war, is trying her best to make sense of the mess that she is living in. Her guardian, Aunt Eva, who is only ten years older than Mary, is also struggling with issues where her obsession, and fear of the flu, are driving her to the point of insanity. What I appreciate the most about this book is that the women in this story are undeniably strong and are true survivors. It was such a breath of fresh air to witness a young girl stand up for her beliefs and was willing to risk hell and high water to find the truth. Although I was put off by her attempt to electrocute herself (after finding out about Stephen and her father), the Winters had a reason behind this action because it was her momentary "death" that has allowed her to step in between the realm of the living and the dead. More importantly, has she not done this crazy thing, who knows what would have happened if she didn't. In the Shadow of the Blackbirds is a memorizing tale of a courageous girl who is deperately trying to fight for the ones she loves. Furthermore, it's a hunting portrayal of our own world that could easily repeat itself and let's hope that it will never happen again.

Information about the Author:
According to her website: 

Cat Winters was born and raised in Southern California, near Disneyland, which may explain her love of haunted mansions, bygone eras, and fantasylands. She received degrees in drama and English from the University of California, Irvine, and formerly worked in publishing.

Her critically acclaimed debut novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds, was named a 2014 Morris Award Finalist, a 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, a 2013 Bram Stoker Award Nominee, and a School Library Journal Best Book of 2013. Her upcoming books include The Cure for Dreaming (Amulet Books/Fall 2014) and The Uninvited (William Morrow/Publication date TBA), and she's a contributor to the 2015 YA horror anthology Slasher Girls & Monster Boys.

Cat lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two kids.

Genre:
Teen Historical Fiction, Teen Horror

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to In the Shadow of the Blackbirds:

• The Diviners by Libba Bray
• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
  

Awards & Recognition:

• 2014 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist
• School Library Journal Best Books of 2013
• YALSA's 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults
• 2013 Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Superior Achievement in Young Adult Fiction
• Booklist's 2013 Top Ten Horror Fiction for Youth
• Booklist's 2013 Top Ten First Novels for Youth
• Nominated for the ACL of Northern California's 2013 Distinguished Book List
• Starred reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School Library Journal
• Highlighted review, VOYA Magazine

Plot Summary:
It's been six months since Hannah's best friend, Lillian, died. For Hannah, losing Lillian was like losing a part of herself since they spent every moment together making fabulous outfits and hanging out with Carmen, Angelie, and Jessica. Life was good for the both of them until Lillian stopped eating. Sadly, Lillian suffered from Anorexia, which led to her untimely death. Although Carmen, Angelie, and Jessica were able to move on with their lives, Hannah cannot because the ghost of Lillian is now haunting her. Not only is Lillian "back from the dead," but there is a serial killer loose in the quiet city of Ludlow, which happens to be the one thing that Lillian has been obsessing over after discovering the crime scene photos that the Ludlow Police brought into her cousin's photo shop. In fact, Lillian's grim devotion to these unsolved murders forces Hannah to sneak into her room and fetch a scrapbook that has newspaper clippings of cold cases that are very similar to the current murders. What's even more odd is that Hannah is starting to notice Finn, who is the town bad boy and just as mysterious as the current string of murders. With the town on lock down, parents are ordering their kids and teens to be escorted everywhere, which gives Hannah the perfect opportunity to get to know the boy, whom Lillian despises, that made her cry only a few years ago. Despite the sudden turn of events, the murders are continuing and there is one link that connects them all: a paper valentine. The ending is to die for.
 
Critical Evaluation:
Brenna Yovanoff has written something I didn't expect at all and I really liked it. Not only does the reader feel like they are enveloped in a "murder mystery" atmosphere, they are also reading about very real issues that effect teens such as eating disorders, bullying, overprotective parents, abuse, and depression. By weaving these elements into the story, readers are very sympathetic to Hannah's struggles and, to an extent, Lillian's troubles as well. I can honestly say that I found Lillian to be selfish, judgmental, and cruel, but, when Hannah starts asking the questions that haven't been asked, we start to realize just how insecure, lonely, and scared Lillian is. Furthermore, we learn why Lillian decided to starve herself to death because it was the only ting, in her life, that she could control. Is this the reason why she hasn't been able to move on? More than likely. Just like the television show, Criminal Minds, Hannah and Lillian are looking at the behavior of the killer and are learning that he is not just some typical criminal--but a serial killer who enjoys what he does.Readers will never guess who the Valentine Killer is and, in the final showdown, we see a Hannah that has been hidden for too long and, when let lose, is unstoppable.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

I’m good at soccer, violent video games, and making very flaky pie pastry.

I’m bad at dancing, making decisions, and inspiring confidence as an authority figure. I suspect this is because I am short, and also terrible at sounding as though I have any idea what I’m talking about.

I was homeschooled until I was fifteen, which has probably affected my world view in ways I can’t fathom.

Also, I really, really like parentheses. (Really.)

On this site, you’ll find information about my books, answers to questions, and links to things I like. If you want to know more, you can check out my blog, where I frequently talk about zombies, high school, and dessert.

Genre:
Teen Horror, Teen Mysteries

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Paper Valentine:

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin

Plot Summary:
After losing his best friend in a plane crash, Ken is terrified of death. Not only does he want to evade death, but he wants to live forever. After researching psychics, and other spiritual advisers, he finds an ad from a Cheri Buttercup in Queens, New York. After traveling quite a distance by train and bus, he manages to cheat death after an almost accident with a car on the way to Cheri. When he gets there, he is beyond disappointed with what he sees. In her ad, Cheri guarantees that she can hide Ken's soul so he won't be vulnerable to death. Although Ken is skeptical, he agrees to her instructions that involve powder and paste. After surviving the ritual, Ken feels like a load has been lifted from his shoulders and that the pain of his best friend's death has dissipated. When Ken musters up the courage to ask the hottest girl in the school, and angering the jock who has claimed her as his own, Ken is testing his new invulnerability by getting beaten up. However, no matter how many punches or kicks the bullies make, Ken can't feel a thing. After realizing that he is practically invincible, he tricks his parents in to taking a vacation in the Caribbean where he will swim in shark infested waters. When he meets Sabine, not only does he fall for her, but he learns the truth about his invulnerability and goes on a journey to save his soul. The ending is definitely unexpected.

Critical Evaluation:
Honestly, we have to give William Sleator some serious cool points for writing this original zombie tale. Some readers my be familiar with voodoo, but those who do not know about this art will get a slap upside the head. Although Voodoo tends to have a negative connotation to its practices, Sleator outlines the culture and the history of the people who practice. I will confess that Voodoo does tend to creep me out, but, from what Sabine tells us, it's not meant to be evil. With any religious practice, there is always going to be a good side and a bad side. Unfortunately for Ken, he made a deal with the dark side and he has no control, whatsoever over his mind and body. The irony of this story is that Ken wants nothing but control, but, now that he is a zombie under the control of a black magic user, he gave that up. The real issue at hand, in this story, is that we cannot escape because whether we like it or not, it will find us. For Ken, death found him and now controls his mind, will, and soul. Ken's character is very stereotypical rich kid who gets what he wants, but, in the end, he falls prey to his own ambitions that leaves him soulless and unsatisfied. Although this book is tiny, and quick to read, it packs a lot of serious consequences, especially when we deal with things that are beyond our knowledge. Call me a pessimist, but Ken really got what he deserved, but, as he develops his relationship with Sabine, he almost starts to look more like a human than a zombie. This story is seriously twisted and complicated, which makes it a great read for all of those who love a zombie love story.

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of The Boy Who Couldn't Die:

For more than thirty years, William Sleator has thrilled readers with his inventive books, which blend real science with stories that explore our darkest fears. His House of Stairs was a groundbreaking books for young adults, names on the best novels of the twentieth century by Young Adult Library Services Association. Critics call his writing "cleaver and engrossing...and just plain fun" (Booklist) and "gleefully icky" (Publisher's Weekly). Mr. Sleator divide[d] his time between homes in Boston, Massachusetts, and rural Thailand.

William Sleator passed away on August 3, 2011 at his home in Bua Chet, Thailand. The New York Times published the following quote:

Moody, psychologically probing and sometimes terrifying, Mr. Sleator’s work chronicled young people’s passage through all manner of dystopias. It was a fitting juxtaposition of age group and subject matter, for what, after all, is more dystopian than adolescence? In confronting the grotesque, the menacing and the outright evil, Mr. Sleator’s protagonists simultaneously confront their own identities and their relationship to their families, especially to brothers and sisters.

Genre:
Teen Zombie Lit, Teen Horror

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to The Boy Who Couldn't Die:

• Thirsty by MT Anderson
• Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Awards & Recognition:

•  Starred review ALA Recommended Reluctant YA's (2/15/2005)

Plot Summary:
Never in a million years would Danny believe in ghost stories, but, this time, they are real. After moving to a town covered in snow, Danny, Howie, and Ash, take a joy ride on the snow covered roads. Although Pike, the driver, decided that he want to set fire to the store of a known pedophile, Danny will never forget that night where he was stalked and attacked by a hideous creature. What seemed like an awful nightmare, Danny tries to shrug off this "dream" until the local bully disappears out of nowhere he believes that his attack, and this disappearance, are related. What is even more suspicious, is that his friend, Howie, also meets this beast and is obsessed with finding this creature, which leads Danny, and his friends, on a dangerous journey to destroy the beast. 

Critical Evaluation:
Bonechiller is an amazing horror story packed with suspense and mystery. In this story is a teen who is not only struggling with the loss of his mother, he is also having to deal with his father inability to cope with his wife's death, which forces Danny to move all around the country to escape the memories of his mother. This story is not only scary, but incredibly touching that many teens can relate too. Moreover, one of the main themes of this story is about making choices; when bad things happens do we face them or run away. For Danny, he has decided that the only way he can move on with his life is to stop running away from the past and face his fears (the beast and living without his mother). Teens will not be able to put this book down because not only are they awaiting an epic battle, they want to see Danny triumph.


Information about the Author:
Graham McNamee is an incredibly mysterious man. Although he is well known as an amazing young adult author, his background are under lock and key. According to Teenreads.com, McNamee is an incredibly shy man who is  5'10" with brown hair and eyes.He was born in Toronto, but there have been very few sightings of him. However, his publisher (Random House) said that he can be found working at the Vancouver Public Library from time to time. McNamee based Bonechiller after a nightmare he had when he was staying at his uncle's cabin in the winter and this is what he had to say about this place:

Outside, the squall was howling, heaping drifts up against the cottage and trying to pry the wooden planks off the boarded windows. I stayed up half the night peering through knotholes in the wood, trying to spot the 'thing' that was making that howling noise. More than just the wind, I was sure there was something alive out in the freezing dark. Something big and mad, and hungry. In bed, even with my ear muffs on, that arctic howl found me. And when I finally slept, 'it' came to me. A huge snow-pale beast with blade-like teeth, ice pick claws and big silver eyes. It chased me through my dreams, through the ice-bound town. And when it caught me--it always caught me--all I could do was stare at my own reflection in those hideous, silver-mirrored eyes. And scream until I screamed myself awake.

After two nights of nightmares we finally made it out, driving over the frozen lake to get back to the main road. I remember looking through the rear window, searching the snowy landscape for my beast. The dreams haunted me for months after. And the cottage was never the same after that. Because even in the heat of summer I knew something was hiding, and only waiting for the deep freeze to come back out" (para. 3).

Needless to say, this book was real fun for him to write since it is based on a nightmare that probably continues to haunt him to this day. No one knows what is out there in the wild, and McNamee is definitely not one to say otherwise.


Genre:
Teen Horror


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9& up

Books Similar to Bonechiller:

• Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
• Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

Awards & Recognition:

•    Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2009
•    Georgia: Georgia Peach Award Nominees: 2011
•    Indiana: Eliot Rosewater Award Nominees: 2011
•    Texas: Tayshas Reading List: 2011

Plot Summary:
William Henry, assistant to Dr. Pellinor Warthrop, has seen too many things that a twelve-year-old should never see, do, or hear. In fact, William is "indispensable" to the Warthrop, which means that he cannot survive without him. One late night, a grave robber appears before Warthrop to show him that something horrific lay in his buggy and only Warthrop can identify it. When the grave robber brings the "thing" in, Warthrop immediately identifies this gruesome creature: Anthropophagi. The doctor is completely amazed that this creature still exists; more importantly, the fact that it is native to Africa, and is living in New Jerusalem, makes this finding even more intriguing since this creature cannot swim. In order to find out how this creature came ashore Warthrop must figure out how many of them exist, where this one was hiding, and who, or what is responsible, for their appearance.

Critical Evaluation:
Yancey provides an incredibly chilling and scary story that draws an unusual, but plausible comparison between the actions of monsters and people desperately fighting for survival.Although the Anthroprophogi eat humans, they eat because they have to survive. Moreover, they are called abominations since they consume human flesh, but the past proves that humans are also guilty of devouring their fellow man in order to survive (i.e., Donner Party). Just like Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Warthrop is obsessed with the oddities of the world that he not only risks his own life, but that of his apprentice. For William, he has literally grown-up around the madness of Warthrop that he finds himself desensitized; however, with the discovery of the Anthropophagi, all of his fears break the wall that he has built up in his soul and mind. This book is not just a scary tale, but a warning of  how obsession, narcissism, and ignorance can not only destroy lives, but bring down the world. Lastly, Yancey clearly conveys that even though nightmares are not real, the very world we live is filled with more frightening things than we could every dream of, especially when people matters into their own hands under the guise of "the greater good." Readers will not be able to put this book down and some of them, unfortunately, will need to leave  the light on before going to sleep.

Information about the Author:
According to Rick Yancey's website, he had always wanted to be writer since he was very young. He earned his Bachelor of Art in English at Roosevelt University, in Chicago. After graduating, Yancey returned home to Florida where he started teaching and worked in the the theater (para. 1). Eventually, he ended up taking a job with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and worked there for ten years, which inspired his memoir entitled "Confession of a Tax Collector." The Wall Street Journal has praised his memoir calling it one of the five best books on taxes.

Yancey is also author of the Alfred Kropp Trilogy and the Teddy Ruzak adult mystery series that have quite a following and his titles have been nominated for prestigious awards. Monstrumologist is Yancy's first young adult series and the second book of this series, The Curse of the Wendigo, is available for libraries to purchase. Lastly, Monstrumologist was also selected as a 2010 Michael L. Printz Honor Award.

Genre:
Teen Horror

Reading/Interest Level:
Grades 9 & up

Books Similar to Monstrumologust:

• Reckless by Cornelia Funke
• Bonechiller by Graham McNamee

Awards/Recognition:

• 2010 Michael L. Printz Honor Award
• Starred review Booklist (09/1/2009)